Restaurant Reviews: Phillip's Crab House in Ocean City, Maryland

When it comes to food, going on a vacation can be both a wonderful and frightening thing at the same time. Although going to any popular tourist location offers perhaps dozens of new locations to try, it is a sure bet that some of those locations are going to disappoint. However, for those who may be traveling to Ocean City, Maryland, one of the restaurants that simply must be experienced is known as Hooper's Crab House. Hooper's can be found at 14101 Coastal Highway, right in the middle of Ocean City. Although there are many choices for possible all-you-can-eat's and other restaurants to go to, for those who truly love good food, Phillip's may be one of the best all around choices in Ocean City.

From the start, one can tell that the experience at Philip's is going to be something special. The outside of the building has a classic charm, and if the waiting lines stretching around the block don't offer enough incentive to attend, surely the smells emanating from the restaurant should be. With a classy exterior, resembling perhaps a medieval restaurant, Phillip's is an enjoyable experience from the get go.

As one enters the restaurant, it becomes apparent that the staff at Phillip's have thought of everything. There is separate seating for those who want the buffet and for those who prefer to take their time and dine on an entrée. The buffet dining is located upstairs, and the entrée dining is located in the bottom part of the restaurant. However, no matter which type of meal that one prefers, the tables are nicely set up, and the restaurant is remarkably clean. Even the buffet section has tables which are nicely spaced out, and the staff does their best to make sure that the floor and tables remain clean, even when the juice from the crab legs starts to fly.

Speaking of crab legs, there are few other places in Ocean City where the food is this good. There are any number of delicious entrée's to choose from, but the heart and soul of Phillip's come from the buffet dining experience. There are tables upon tables of delicious seafood to feast on. And, even if seafood may not be your cup of tea, there is freshly prepared pork and beef dishes, some cooked on demand. There is a section of food for the kids in the family, and it is hard to imagine seafood courses which are more tasty and unique than those served at Phillip's. Even though the dishes are prepared in bulk, one can taste the individual attention that has been given to each and every dish that appears on the buffet menu.

The crab legs come especially recommended, and there is a full raw bar for those who enjoy it. The pasta is another highlight of the dining experience. Patrons can mix and match almost any style of pasta with a number of different seafood and sauce combinations. The pasta is great, although it is suggested as an appetizer, for it is hard to eat when one is so full of so many other good seafood dishes. All of the soups available are very good, and although they may not be home-made, they certainly taste better than what is usually available at an all-you-can-eat restaurant. There is a great dish of maui-maui, which is spicy, yet tender and juicy at the same time. It is safe to say that there is no poor choice on the buffet menu, and diners will be happy with no matter they choose. The only possible problem is deciding what to eat, as there is simply no way to fit in everything on the buffet in a single trip.

After dinner is over, there is also a full desert section on the menu, with enough choices to satisfy almost anyone's sweet tooth. From home-made apple and peach cobbler to ice cream, there is almost everything you could want to finish off your dinner.

Of course, what makes this dining experience even more pleasant is the friendly staff and employees which will stop at nothing to make your dining experience the best that it can possibly be. They are always friendly, always helpful, and even try to make the experience of waiting in line as pleasant as it can possibly be.

Although there are an almost unlimited amount of choices when deciding to eat in Ocean City, there is no way to go wrong when eating at Phillip's. So, make sure you bring your appetite with you, and make sure that you either go early, or don't mind a decent wait, and Phillip's is sure to be one of the best dining experiences that you will have in Ocean City. Whether it be for a nice dinner out for two, or a fun buffet style meal for the entire family, Phillip's is an overall great choice.