Absolutely delicious ! There were 4 of us, and we shared all meals and every single one of them was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rick M.
Great food and daily specials. A locals favorite. Inside and outside tables (during the warmer season). Nice bar to sit and have dinner. Low key atmosphere. Dinner last night with friends was great.
bev smith
ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN OC!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Dip, Crispy Coated Fried Green Tomatoes & Large Grilled Shrimp with Spicy Mayo, Baby Scallops Shrimp Cut Up Asparagus over Resoritta, Rockfish Chesapeake
Sutirtha Bagchi
My wife, daughter, and I stopped by here for a dinner on our way from Philadelphia to Ocean City, MD, on a Saturday evening in December 2023. Although given the restaurant’s excellent reviews one would expect the place to be crowded on a Saturday evening, we were the only patrons at the restaurant that evening. This may have been because we were there on the 23rd of December, and the restaurant was closing down after that evening’s dinner. The experience of being the only three folks seated at the restaurant was a bit surreal, but it did make sense given the time of the year, and then later on we saw that almost as soon as we left the building, the staff brought the wreaths inside and started shutting the place down.Coming to the food, which is what one cares about the most at a restaurant, I had been following the restaurant’s Facebook page for a few days prior to our visit and was getting excited at seeing some of the specials that were being listed. During our visit, we ordered an appetizer from those specials – a beet salad with pan fried goat cheese, as well as an entrée – red wine and rosemary braised leg of lamb. The other entrée we got was from their regular menu – shrimp and grits – and finally for our daughter, we got the chicken tenders. The lamb was rich and flavorful and what shocked us was the price tag for that item at $22. I doubt I have ever seen a place, including food trucks not to mention sit-down places, offer that quantity of lamb for $22. For my wife for whom lamb is her favorite meat, this entrée proved to be an excellent choice. The shrimp and grits I had were nice as well, although a tad under salted. It came with a side of fresh veggies that were nicely done and flavorful. My daughter enjoyed her chicken tenders as well. The portion sizes were huge, and the chicken tenders had more fries than I ever recall seeing accompanying a kids’ meal!! Prices were reasonable enough that even with all of this food, plus a drink, and a fairly generous tip, the total came to $98.While the ambience of the place isn’t much to write home about, situated as it is in a generic nondescript shopping mall, we would happily come back to this place if we were in Ocean City again, attracted especially by their wonderful specials and great value-for-money.Parking: The restaurant is located in a nondescript shopping mall so parking is not hard to come by.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Shrimp and Grits
Sutirtha B.
My wife, daughter, and I stopped by here for a dinner on our way from Philadelphia to Ocean City, MD, on a Saturday evening in December 2023. Although given the restaurant's excellent reviews one would expect the place to be crowded on a Saturday evening, we were the only patrons at the restaurant that evening. This may have been because we were there on the 23rd of December, and the restaurant was closing down after that evening's dinner. The experience of being the only three folks seated at the restaurant was a bit surreal, but it did make sense given the time of the year, and then later on we saw that almost as soon as we left the building, the staff brought the wreaths inside and started shutting the place down. Coming to the food, which is what one cares about the most at a restaurant, I had been following the restaurant's Facebook page for a few days prior to our visit and was getting excited at seeing some of the specials that were being listed. During our visit, we ordered an appetizer from those specials - a beet salad with pan fried goat cheese, as well as an entrée - red wine and rosemary braised leg of lamb. The other entrée we got was from their regular menu - shrimp and grits - and finally for our daughter, we got the chicken tenders. The lamb was rich and flavorful and what shocked us was the price tag for that item at $22. I doubt I have ever seen a place, including food trucks not to mention sit-down places, offer that quantity of lamb for $22. For my wife for whom lamb is her favorite meat, this entrée proved to be an excellent choice. The shrimp and grits I had were nice as well, although a tad under salted. It came with a side of fresh veggies that were nicely done and flavorful. My daughter enjoyed her chicken tenders as well. The portion sizes were huge, and the chicken tenders had more fries than I ever recall seeing accompanying a kids' meal!! Prices were reasonable enough that even with all of this food, plus a drink, and a fairly generous tip, the total came to $98. While the ambience of the place isn't much to write home about, situated as it is in a generic nondescript shopping mall, we would happily come back to this place if we were in Ocean City again, attracted especially by their wonderful specials and great value-for-money.
Max ..
Everything is good there, the food, service and drinks. Close to the park so it's easy to walk to and see the fireworks or Winterfest.
A Spence
Top rated for a reason. My favorite restaurant in ocean city. Great food. Great service. Don't let the mall location scare you away.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Richard T.
Cafe Mirage is one of our "always go to" restaurants when visiting Ocean City. So many other restaurants are "corporate concepts," but although this unpretentious location in the southwest corner of the Montego Bay shopping center can be easily overlooked, it has a great mom-and-pop vibe, delicious dishes, a good selection for the whole family, and solid value, that should not be missed. On a September 2023 visit, I started with a beet salad. I don't see beet salad on anybody's menu but here, and for the past few visits, I have always ordered it. Jay's pot roast was a special, and I received a generous serving perfectly paired with mashed potatoes and green beans. Another guest in our party got the breaded flounder and it was fried to perfection. On a previous visit, I had gotten the seafood pot pie, a rich and delicious "filling" of shrimp, scallops, rockfish, and vegetables topped with a square of puff pastry and sprinkle of paprika that hit all the right notes. My wife always seems to get the steak and crabcake and it has never failed to please. Happy wife, happy life. My kids get either chicken tenders and fries or a plain grilled chicken sandwich, and they enjoy both equally. There is also a smaller steak on the kids' menu. We can never decide on dessert, so we usually order the two or three on the menu and share them. Recently, this has been salted caramel brownie bread pudding and peanut butter pie. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. On our most recent visits, the restaurant wasn't overly crowded, and our food came relatively quickly. Service has always been attentive. Be sure to check their operating days/times before you go so you're not disappointed. No credit card surcharge.
Tara M.
We were excited to dine again at Cafe Mirage as our first visit, albeit a few years ago, was delicious. We checked out the menu online and it looked great. When we arrived it was quite empty. We ordered the crab dip for our appetizer. It tasted more like tuna, like canned tuna rather than crab. They didn't give enough bread and when we asked for more, we got charged $4 more for the bread when then dip was already $17. I ordered the rockfish, scallop and shrimp gumbo. My husband got the crispy flounder. The food came out super fast which was probably due to it being in a pot all day. The gumbo had no flavor and was super overcooked. The shrimp were definitely frozen and so over cooked they tasted like mush. The scallops ended up being tiny bay scallops and the fish had no flavor. Looking back, I should have just told the server it wasn't good and to take it off my bill but I just really wanted to get out of there. My husband's crispy fish had zero flavor as well. It's unusual that we leave a half drunken bottle of wine but I really couldn't even finish my drink due to the subpar dinner. I'm not sure what happened between the first time we dined here and now, but save yourself a bad dinner and over $100 and go somewhere else. Total waste of money and a date night with my husband. On a scale of one to ten, I give it a two, as in two thumbs down.
Beth Griggs
Rarely do I give 5 stars. But the food was amazing. The staff was awesome and the ambiance was laid back, yet slightly upscale. I got the rockfish with crab cake and imperial sauce. Just wow. This may be my new favorite place. The mashed potatoes were creamy and tasty, the mhi wrap was tender and delicious. Definitely will be back.
Was looking for a but of an upscale dining experience in OCMD and read reviews about this place and decided to stop in. Food was excellent. Had a rockfish topped w crab cake and it was amazing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Vicki Bolger
Cocktails were not good unless you get orange crush. Food was fair including crab cake and a shrimp dish. One of us got a pot pie which seemed weird to be on the menu but she liked it. Would not recommend and will not go back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Henry S
we have been here a lot, but the last time, not happy with food when the menu says jumbo cake cakes, does that mean jumbo crab meat or jumbo in size, it was the other dish was rockfish with crab cake with crab imperial. rockfish had a crab cake on top with some imperial, not at all happy for the money we spent the dip was good but it was in a very tiny shallow dish, mashed potatoes were runny, maybe just a bad day in the kitchen our waitress was GREAT! WILL BE SOME TIME BEFORE WE GO BACK OR NOT GO BACK.
dezirup113
We've visited this restaurant before and it remains one of the best places to dine at the beach ! They always have plenty of seating. We prefer the view and bay breezes upstairs on the deck. We enjoyed fabulous cocktails : margarita and special (grapefruit crush). For dinner hubby ordered (naked) wings and a side of fries. i ordered the grilled shrimp. Both were delicious and cooked with care. The service was impeccable and restrooms clean. We love this place and will surely be back next time we're here. Try it but don't tell everybody or the line will be rapped around the building ;)
Vicki B.
Not impressed by crab cakes and a shrimp dish. Cocktails were awful. Have not found a good restaurant in Ocean City, MD
Absolutely delicious ! There were 4 of us, and we shared all meals and every single one of them was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food and daily specials. A locals favorite. Inside and outside tables (during the warmer season). Nice bar to sit and have dinner. Low key atmosphere. Dinner last night with friends was great.
ONE OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN OC!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Dip, Crispy Coated Fried Green Tomatoes & Large Grilled Shrimp with Spicy Mayo, Baby Scallops Shrimp Cut Up Asparagus over Resoritta, Rockfish Chesapeake
My wife, daughter, and I stopped by here for a dinner on our way from Philadelphia to Ocean City, MD, on a Saturday evening in December 2023. Although given the restaurant’s excellent reviews one would expect the place to be crowded on a Saturday evening, we were the only patrons at the restaurant that evening. This may have been because we were there on the 23rd of December, and the restaurant was closing down after that evening’s dinner. The experience of being the only three folks seated at the restaurant was a bit surreal, but it did make sense given the time of the year, and then later on we saw that almost as soon as we left the building, the staff brought the wreaths inside and started shutting the place down.Coming to the food, which is what one cares about the most at a restaurant, I had been following the restaurant’s Facebook page for a few days prior to our visit and was getting excited at seeing some of the specials that were being listed. During our visit, we ordered an appetizer from those specials – a beet salad with pan fried goat cheese, as well as an entrée – red wine and rosemary braised leg of lamb. The other entrée we got was from their regular menu – shrimp and grits – and finally for our daughter, we got the chicken tenders. The lamb was rich and flavorful and what shocked us was the price tag for that item at $22. I doubt I have ever seen a place, including food trucks not to mention sit-down places, offer that quantity of lamb for $22. For my wife for whom lamb is her favorite meat, this entrée proved to be an excellent choice. The shrimp and grits I had were nice as well, although a tad under salted. It came with a side of fresh veggies that were nicely done and flavorful. My daughter enjoyed her chicken tenders as well. The portion sizes were huge, and the chicken tenders had more fries than I ever recall seeing accompanying a kids’ meal!! Prices were reasonable enough that even with all of this food, plus a drink, and a fairly generous tip, the total came to $98.While the ambience of the place isn’t much to write home about, situated as it is in a generic nondescript shopping mall, we would happily come back to this place if we were in Ocean City again, attracted especially by their wonderful specials and great value-for-money.Parking: The restaurant is located in a nondescript shopping mall so parking is not hard to come by.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Shrimp and Grits
My wife, daughter, and I stopped by here for a dinner on our way from Philadelphia to Ocean City, MD, on a Saturday evening in December 2023. Although given the restaurant's excellent reviews one would expect the place to be crowded on a Saturday evening, we were the only patrons at the restaurant that evening. This may have been because we were there on the 23rd of December, and the restaurant was closing down after that evening's dinner. The experience of being the only three folks seated at the restaurant was a bit surreal, but it did make sense given the time of the year, and then later on we saw that almost as soon as we left the building, the staff brought the wreaths inside and started shutting the place down. Coming to the food, which is what one cares about the most at a restaurant, I had been following the restaurant's Facebook page for a few days prior to our visit and was getting excited at seeing some of the specials that were being listed. During our visit, we ordered an appetizer from those specials - a beet salad with pan fried goat cheese, as well as an entrée - red wine and rosemary braised leg of lamb. The other entrée we got was from their regular menu - shrimp and grits - and finally for our daughter, we got the chicken tenders. The lamb was rich and flavorful and what shocked us was the price tag for that item at $22. I doubt I have ever seen a place, including food trucks not to mention sit-down places, offer that quantity of lamb for $22. For my wife for whom lamb is her favorite meat, this entrée proved to be an excellent choice. The shrimp and grits I had were nice as well, although a tad under salted. It came with a side of fresh veggies that were nicely done and flavorful. My daughter enjoyed her chicken tenders as well. The portion sizes were huge, and the chicken tenders had more fries than I ever recall seeing accompanying a kids' meal!! Prices were reasonable enough that even with all of this food, plus a drink, and a fairly generous tip, the total came to $98. While the ambience of the place isn't much to write home about, situated as it is in a generic nondescript shopping mall, we would happily come back to this place if we were in Ocean City again, attracted especially by their wonderful specials and great value-for-money.
Everything is good there, the food, service and drinks. Close to the park so it's easy to walk to and see the fireworks or Winterfest.
Top rated for a reason. My favorite restaurant in ocean city. Great food. Great service. Don't let the mall location scare you away.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cafe Mirage is one of our "always go to" restaurants when visiting Ocean City. So many other restaurants are "corporate concepts," but although this unpretentious location in the southwest corner of the Montego Bay shopping center can be easily overlooked, it has a great mom-and-pop vibe, delicious dishes, a good selection for the whole family, and solid value, that should not be missed. On a September 2023 visit, I started with a beet salad. I don't see beet salad on anybody's menu but here, and for the past few visits, I have always ordered it. Jay's pot roast was a special, and I received a generous serving perfectly paired with mashed potatoes and green beans. Another guest in our party got the breaded flounder and it was fried to perfection. On a previous visit, I had gotten the seafood pot pie, a rich and delicious "filling" of shrimp, scallops, rockfish, and vegetables topped with a square of puff pastry and sprinkle of paprika that hit all the right notes. My wife always seems to get the steak and crabcake and it has never failed to please. Happy wife, happy life. My kids get either chicken tenders and fries or a plain grilled chicken sandwich, and they enjoy both equally. There is also a smaller steak on the kids' menu. We can never decide on dessert, so we usually order the two or three on the menu and share them. Recently, this has been salted caramel brownie bread pudding and peanut butter pie. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. On our most recent visits, the restaurant wasn't overly crowded, and our food came relatively quickly. Service has always been attentive. Be sure to check their operating days/times before you go so you're not disappointed. No credit card surcharge.
We were excited to dine again at Cafe Mirage as our first visit, albeit a few years ago, was delicious. We checked out the menu online and it looked great. When we arrived it was quite empty. We ordered the crab dip for our appetizer. It tasted more like tuna, like canned tuna rather than crab. They didn't give enough bread and when we asked for more, we got charged $4 more for the bread when then dip was already $17. I ordered the rockfish, scallop and shrimp gumbo. My husband got the crispy flounder. The food came out super fast which was probably due to it being in a pot all day. The gumbo had no flavor and was super overcooked. The shrimp were definitely frozen and so over cooked they tasted like mush. The scallops ended up being tiny bay scallops and the fish had no flavor. Looking back, I should have just told the server it wasn't good and to take it off my bill but I just really wanted to get out of there. My husband's crispy fish had zero flavor as well. It's unusual that we leave a half drunken bottle of wine but I really couldn't even finish my drink due to the subpar dinner. I'm not sure what happened between the first time we dined here and now, but save yourself a bad dinner and over $100 and go somewhere else. Total waste of money and a date night with my husband. On a scale of one to ten, I give it a two, as in two thumbs down.
Rarely do I give 5 stars. But the food was amazing. The staff was awesome and the ambiance was laid back, yet slightly upscale. I got the rockfish with crab cake and imperial sauce. Just wow. This may be my new favorite place. The mashed potatoes were creamy and tasty, the mhi wrap was tender and delicious. Definitely will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Dip, Rockfish Chesapeake, Wrap
Restaurantji Recommends
Was looking for a but of an upscale dining experience in OCMD and read reviews about this place and decided to stop in. Food was excellent. Had a rockfish topped w crab cake and it was amazing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cocktails were not good unless you get orange crush. Food was fair including crab cake and a shrimp dish. One of us got a pot pie which seemed weird to be on the menu but she liked it. Would not recommend and will not go back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
we have been here a lot, but the last time, not happy with food when the menu says jumbo cake cakes, does that mean jumbo crab meat or jumbo in size, it was the other dish was rockfish with crab cake with crab imperial. rockfish had a crab cake on top with some imperial, not at all happy for the money we spent the dip was good but it was in a very tiny shallow dish, mashed potatoes were runny, maybe just a bad day in the kitchen our waitress was GREAT! WILL BE SOME TIME BEFORE WE GO BACK OR NOT GO BACK.
We've visited this restaurant before and it remains one of the best places to dine at the beach ! They always have plenty of seating. We prefer the view and bay breezes upstairs on the deck. We enjoyed fabulous cocktails : margarita and special (grapefruit crush). For dinner hubby ordered (naked) wings and a side of fries. i ordered the grilled shrimp. Both were delicious and cooked with care. The service was impeccable and restrooms clean. We love this place and will surely be back next time we're here. Try it but don't tell everybody or the line will be rapped around the building ;)
Not impressed by crab cakes and a shrimp dish. Cocktails were awful. Have not found a good restaurant in Ocean City, MD