Every Tuesday at Station 7 Restaurant is “Guns & Hoses” night, when firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians are treated to food and drink discounts. But you don’t need to be a hero to enjoy special treatment at Station 7. Every Friday night is Prime Rib night, and each Saturday features a chef’s selection entrée. This weekend, catch live music from 8-11 p.m. with the Landers Heinz & Pic trio on Friday night and more live entertainment on Saturday night. Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 4-7 p.m., and extended from 11 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.

On Sundays, enjoy the best brunch in town at Station 7 Restaurant. Try the Seafood Omelet with shrimp, lump crab meat, and cheddar jack cheese, or try the Crab Benedict—an English muffin topped with egg, homemade crab cake, and béarnaise sauce served with home fries. I indulged in Sunday brunch last weekend on Mother’s Day, when I sampled the Greek Omelet—spinach, tomato, feta cheese, and bacon—along with the “Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar.”

On Mondays at Station 7, the service industry is welcome to reap the benefits of well-earned food and drink discounts. Wednesday is “Bird, Bones, & Bombs” night with 50-cent Wings. On Thursday, visit Station 7 for $5 Burgers. I enjoyed Burger Night with my family at Station 7 last week too.

My fiancé, Joey, ordered his 8-ounce certified angus beef burger on a Kaiser roll with lettuce, tomato, raw onion, bleu cheese crumbles, and sundried tomatoes. Our sixth grader, Nevaeh, built her burger with bacon, pickles, “hazmat” BBQ, and pepper jack cheese. Available toppings for Burger Night range from a variety of cheeses and vegetables to chili and meats, such as pulled pork and chopped brisket.

When our family cruised into Station 7 for a celebratory dinner after Nevaeh’s performance in a chorus concert at Berlin Intermediate School, our attentive server, Chris, graciously greeted us with a wealth of information. He explained that Station 7 is a big supporter of local brewers and mixologists. On tap is EVO, Burley Oak, and a creation made exclusively for Station 7—“Back Draft.” Also available at Station 7 is locally made “George’s Bloody Mary Mix,” which you must try.

While our family admired life-size firefighter mannequins in full gear wrapped around the top of firehouse poles that protrude from ceiling to floor, Chris presented us with mouth-watering appetizers from the kitchen. For starters, we munched on Company Crab Dip—lump crabmeat mixed with flavored cream cheese, baked with cheddar jack cheese, and served with grilled pita bread. We also sampled the Old Bay Wings. If you’re not from Maryland, or if you’re a first-time visitor to the Eastern Shore, you must try Old Bay Wings. They are finger-licking delicious.

Next, Chris surprised us with a special order of “Hot Tomato! Hot Tomato!,” which turned out to be my favorite appetizer. A tower of panko-breaded, deep-fried green tomatoes are topped with creamy crab dip, Parmesan cheese, lump crabmeat, and remoulade sauce.

To keep your engine running, Station 7 offers “Engine Entrees” of epic proportions. Try the Cedar Plank Salmon for 8-ounces of Ahi tuna steak, grilled or blackened, and served with two sides. The Stuffed Chicken Breast is encrusted with panko and Parmesan cheese, stuffed with spinach and feta cheese, and topped with homemade cream sauce. Try the 1st Responders’ Chicken for boneless chicken breast grilled and topped with honey mustard, Station 7 BBQ, applewood smoked bacon, honey cured ham, and melted cheddar jack cheese. Order the Crisfield Station 2 for your choice of 10 fried oysters or butterfly fried shrimp. Tuna Steak, Cajun Catfish, FDNY Strip, Firefighter’s Ribeye, Eastern Shore Fried Platter, Engine Crew Crab Cakes, and Fire Brigade Fish & Chips top-off The Engine Entrées selections.

If you have a really big appetite, or a crew to feed, order the BBQ Smoke House—your choice of BBQ meat (half back ribs, chopped brisket, chicken breast, pulled pork, or shredded chicken), and a Crab Cake. Or, you can try the Fully Involved Rack for a full rack of St. Louis style ribs seasoned with Station 7 spices, slow-smoked, and mopped. Station 7 also serves up pasta entrées, including Chicken Parmesan, Auxiliary Vegetable Pasta, and Spot Fire Blackened Pasta.

Do you like it hot? Try Station 7’s False Alarm, Hazmat, Hotspot, or 5-Alarm hot sauces. The restaurant’s Award-Winning Firehouse Chili won first place in Ocean City’s 2013 Chili Cookoff. This lip-smacking recipe is topped with chives, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, and served with tortilla chips.

A few other dishes at Station 7 that I highly recommend are the Smoked BBQ Pork Sandwich and the Stop, Drop, & Rolls—steak, American cheese, and sautéed onions rolled in a wonton wrapper and deep-fried. The restaurant also serves up Lubbock Fire Department Brisket Sandwich, the “Big H” Rachel Sandwich, and the Oyster Po’Boy Sub. I also suggest the Turkey, Avocado, & Bacon Sandwich or, if you’re a vegetarian, order the EMS Wrap—carrots, cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheddar cheese with balsamic vinaigrette.

Family friendly, Station 7 also features a lengthy “Cadet’s Menu.” A “Rapid Response Menu” features $7.77 lunch specials from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The venue is available for private parties and meetings, and gift cards are also available. Call Station 7 at 443-664-5342, visit their website at www.station7restaurant.com, or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Station7WestOc.

Stop by Station 7 any time and you too can have a great time. We always do!

    Mother’s Day Weekend is the perfect opportunity to treat your family to a savory meal at Coins Pub & Restaurant on 28th Street & Coastal Highway in Ocean City. Half-priced entrees are available all day on Sunday, along with Early Bird Specials from 4:00 to 6:00. Flounder, Sirloin, Prime Rib, Crab Cake, Chicken Teriyaki, Seafood Marinara, Spaghetti & Meatballs, and Chicken Parmigiana are featured on the Early Bird menu, which is served seven days per week, 365 days per year.
    Home-style cooking and wallet-friendly prices keep loyal customers returning to Coins year after year. Everything on the menu is fresh, homemade, and made-to-order. Hand-cut steaks, hand-breaded veal, and homemade gravy are just a few of an abundance of comfort foods.
    From homemade soups—French Onion, Cream of Crab, Chili con Carne, and Cream of Crab Cake—to a tempting array of desserts displayed in a glass showcase, Coins offers a selection of top-quality food that is guaranteed to please every generation. Plenty of fun is waiting for your family, too, at Coins. Keno, music, arcade games, simulcast horseracing, flat screen televisions, and Maryland Lottery entertain the crowds and enhance the lively atmosphere at Coins. A sign at the entrance of the restaurant features monthly trivia questions, including this tricky riddle, “If you say my name I’ll no longer exist. What am I?”
    My family and I are regular customers. We enjoyed dinner at Coins Pub & Restaurant this week. We said hello to manager Charlotte, who is a devoted employee at Coins for 24 years. Her son and daughter work at Coins too, and Charlotte was glowing with pride as she showed us photos of her adorable one-year-old granddaughter. That genuine family cheer is contagious at Coins.
    We arrived at Coins during the last few minutes of Happy Hour, which occurs every day, year round, from 3:00 to 6:00. Mussels, Hot dogs, Buffalo Wings, Steamed Shrimp, and Steamed Clams are discounted to complement $3.50 wine, $2 drafts, and other drink specials during Happy Hour. We also noticed that Coins serves up $5.99 daily lunch specials.
    My family—Joey (Hertrich Dealerships) and Nevaeh (6th grade, Berlin Intermediate School)—started our meal with the Crab Dip and the Clams Casino from the appetizers menu. The creamy Crab Dip is bursting with Old Bay flavor and served steaming hot with crisp toastettes. We let Neveah eat the last forkful of dip. Almost every time I eat at Coins, I treat myself to an order of Clams Casino. Butter, juicy, and smothered in cheese, the topneck clams are topped with bacon and homemade garlic butter. Also on the appetizers menu is the Seafood Sampler for Two, which consists of Crab Balls, Stuffed Mushroom Caps, Clams Casino, and BBQ Shrimp.
    For our main course, the three of us shared two entrees—Veal Marsala and the Broiled Seafood Platter. Hearty and fulfilling, the tasty veal is served in a homemade Marsala wine sauce and topped with mushrooms. Flounder, Scallops, Shrimp, and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake comprise the Broiled Seafood Platter, which is more than enough to feed a table full of appetites. “These scallops are so plump,” remarked Nevaeh. I was impressed with the flounder filets, which are meaty, buttery, and seasoned with Old Bay. Our favorite dinner item was the Crab Cake, which seems like the size of a baseball, and is broiled with mounds of jumbo lump crabmeat.
    Other entrees at Coins are Stuffed Shrimp and Stuffed Filet of Flounder, both of which are topped with jumbo lump crab imperial. Fried Shrimp, Broiled Scallops, Soft Shell Crabs, and Twin Lobster Tails are “From the Sea” entrees on the menu. Try the Seafood Imperial for an irresistible blend of shrimp, sea scallops, and jumbo lump crab in a delicate cream sauce. “From the Land” entrees are Filet Mignon, Chicken Imperial, Fried Chicken Chopped Sirloin, New York Strip, Chicken Marsala, and Veal or Chicken Parmigiana. Try Steak and Cake for the best of both worlds.
    Each entrée is served with your choice of two homemade sides: Pasta, Cole slaw, French Fries, Baked Potato, Pickled Beets, Applesauce, Garden Salad, or Field of Greens. We selected Beer-Battered Onion Rings, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Vegetable du jour—steamed vegetable medley with squash, broccoli, and cauliflower—for our side items. Every meal at Coins is also served with a basket of warm bread and sweet butter.
    Coins presents a tempting selection of Sandwiches and Burgers too, including my favorite, Open Faced Reuben (corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese). Also a must-try sandwich, the Sesame Teriyaki Tuna is served with wasabi mayo on a Kaiser roll. The menu at Coins features Pasta dishes, such as Spaghetti & Meatballs, Fettuccini Alfredo, and Linguini with white or red clam sauce. Try the Seafood Alfredo for mounds of fettuccini served in a creamy Alfredo sauce and topped with shrimp, scallops, and jumbo lump crab.
    For lighter fare, order the Potato Skins, Buffalo Wings, Smothered Fries, Mozzarella Logs, Chicken Fingers, or Steamed Shrimp from the appetizers menu. Salads are also plentiful and large enough to make a meal.
    We completed our dinner with a slice of Cheesecake and Peanut Butter Pie. After we said goodbye to Charlotte and our server, Christy, we tried our luck at the claw-grab arcade game. We noticed that Coins is staffed with plenty of attentive servers and busers, and the team has a great sense of camaraderie. Laugher and a lighthearted ambiance distinguish Coins Pub & Restaurant. Visit the restaurant on 28th Street and find plenty of parking in the rear, where benches and a back entrance add to the convenience. Call Coins at 410-289-3100 for more information, and check Coconut Times for the pub’s live entertainment calendar.

Captain Ernie’s Seafood is a carryout marketplace, where you can select your favorite seafood from a beautiful display case to take out. Behind the counter, you’ll see Vickie’s pretty, smiling face. Her customer service skills are unmatchable, and you can hear her smile each time she answers the phone. Call ahead at 443-664-5198, and she’ll have your order waiting for you when you arrive. Or, come inside and check out the amazing display case with expertly showcased fish and seafood. Make your selection and grab a comfortable seat while you wait for your order. Bonus: Captain Ernie will steam, cook, broil, or prepare your selection for you.

Can’t get enough of Maryland seafood? Captain Ernie has a wonderful deal for you. Stop into his market and he’ll provide you with a travel pack—ice, seasonings, and a cooler to accompany your seafood. Captain Ernie will carry the cooler and load it into your vehicle for you. Guaranteed to remain fresh for the duration of your travels, the travel pack deal is an excellent gift or souvenir. The market also sells vinegar, Old Bay seasoning, and fish and shrimp batter, plus Captain Ernie’s “at home steaming” recipe is available on a take-home flier.

Grab some extra menus to share with your friends, and you’ll be amazed at the affordable prices on the freshest seafood available. Order Steamed Hard Crabs by the dozen, 1/2 bushel, or bushel. Alaskan Crab Legs, Lobster Tails, Jumbo Shrimp, and Crabmeat (jumbo, lump, backfin, and claws) are just a few delectable treats from the sea at Captain Ernie’s Seafood. Platters are served with two sides, and include Flounder, Scallops, Clam Strips, Fried Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp, Soft Crab, Crab Cakes, Chicken Chesapeake, or Seafood Platter. Sides include Potato Salad, Apple Sauce, Macaroni Salad, French Fries, and Corn on the Cob.

I cruised into Captain Ernie’s Seafood this week with my fiancé, Joey Steward (Hertrich Dealerships), and immediately recognized local faces inside the market. “This place has the best seafood, and it’s so convenient to Berlin and Ocean Pines,” said my longtime friend, Kelly Quinn (Mann Properties). “We’re picking up fresh fish and grillin’ in my backyard.”

Captain Ernie treated Joey and me to steaming pints of Cream of Crab Soup. The perfect blend of lump crabmeat and tasty seasonings, the creamy soup is sold in a cup, bowl, pint, or quart. Maryland Crab Soup is also available. We enjoyed every warm spoonful of soup, and then indulged in a pound of Steamed Jumbo Shrimp.  You’ve heard the expression, “size matters.” Captain Ernie’s Seafood lives up to this expectation. These shrimp are colossal, and we savored every last bite. We polished off our sampling of Captain Ernie’s Seafood with a humongous, gigantic, enormous Crab Cake. The Crab Cakes are nothing but lump crabmeat. I highly recommend the Crab Cake Platter.

Unique specialty items on the menu are Crab Fluff, Fisherman’s Grilled Cheese, and Seafood Pizza. Try the Rockfish Bites or Fried Stuffed Shrimp for a lip-smacking treat. Appetizers on the menu are super affordable, and include classic recipes such as Crab Pretzel, BBQ Shrimp, Crab Dip, Chicken Tenders, Seafood Skins, Boardwalk Fries, Corn Nuggets, Fried Mac & Cheese, Hush Puppies, and Onion Rings—just to name a few. Fresh salads are comprised of greens, garden vegetables, shredded Parmesan, and croutons, and you can add any ingredient at market price.

Sandwiches are served on potato rolls with pickles and chips. Try the Catch of the Day, Fried Oyster, Shrimp Salad, Soft Crab, or Tuna Salad Sandwich for lunch. The Chicken Chesapeake Sandwich is a popular menu option too.

If you loved Bahama Mamas, you’ll notice some familiarities at Captain Ernie’s Seafood. Ernie’s zany personality and unmistakable sense of humor shine at the seafood market. On the wall, you’ll notice a mounted buck that moves its lips and nods its head while Ernie quips into a synchronized microphone. Words can’t describe it. You must see for yourself. Kids love “Buck.” You’ll also notice Ernie, the certified, qualified, bona fide Crabologist, in his new outrageous costume—a Sea Captain, complete with hat, pipe, and snarly scowl. Aye aye.

On the walls and countertops, fishing memorabilia and nautical décor welcome customers. Captain Ernie continues to do business with many of the regional suppliers that have worked with him for the past 25 years. “I just quit the band and started my solo career,” jokes Ernie, referring to his new journey after Bahama Mamas. You’ll also notice that the quality of food is top-shelf. In fact, Captain Ernie’s crabs were voted best crabs 10 years in a row. “It’s the weight of the crab that matters,” explains Ernie. Hence, his locally famous mantra, “All jumbo, no mumbo, baby.” Another familiar feature on the menu is the Fried Hard Crab. It’s as unique as it sounds—a jumbo steamed crab dipped in beer batter and deep fried.

“What’s most important to our new business is promoting good will among locals,” explains Vickie. From buying local supplies to supporting the local commercial fishing harbor, Captain Ernie’s Seafood is earning much positive feedback from the local community. Complimentary tastings and exceptional customer service are just a few of many ways that the staff at Captain Ernie’s Seafood Market thanks patrons.

Captain Ernie’s Seafood Market is located on Route 50 West, next door to Hooters, at 12523 Ocean Gateway, Ocean City, MD 21842. Call ahead at 443-664-5198. Look for a Facebook page and website coming soon, www.captainerniesseafood.com, and make sure to stop into Captain Ernie’s during Springfest at the beach.