Feed The Need, notes from The Target

5/24 - Not impressed

 
 












 
   Our mid-week surf sessions this Spring have been a disappointment.  Last Thursday was no different.  Another week of cool on-shore breezes, somewhat cloudy skies and moderate temps.  But it was the wave that lent the biggest disappointments.  Low tide (approx 4:45pm), should have produced the best sets, but as the Watt drifted by time after time on a swift northerly current waiting for an opening, each attempt to jump a swell was met by a poorly timed closeout...enveloped by the surge...impatience incarnate.  I could feel...and hear...his frustration.  It makes one wonder if it's worthwhile to keep trying - if perhaps we shouldn't have made a short night out of it.  But then it happens, the perfect takeoff.  Out of the middling comes the atypical and Wattman catches a smooth clean right.  Just the type of morsel that feeds the need to surf.
   As we leave the beach we realize that this session marks the last before the official start of the resorts summer season, and we reflect.  Has the Crusade we started in the waning winter months been justified? The pursuit of surf, wings, beer and good times substantiated? Questionable service, grody wings, crummy weather, trashy surf, and even the self-sanctioned sidelining of one of our own worth sustaining the cause? The answer has come to us in the surprise discovery - big expectations such as the Turtle and the Taphouse can prove disastrous, gems such as the Red Onion Grille and Pizza Tugos will deserve return trips and Bull on the Beach not only gave us a great time, but wings to rival the best we can remember. And, most importantly, the one or more clean rides snagged during the initial surf sessions.  All of this contributes to the need to feed - and the hunger continues to grow!
   As part of our reflective journey we returned to Smitty's and got what was needed to fulfill the night.  The bar staff was unfamiliar, but on point. It was a bar filled with golfers, college kids, and families with Randy Lee providing a background mix.  But, as always, it is the wings that bring us back.  A standard all others are judged against and one all others must meet.

Consistency is key -  2nd Round Score:
Medium Hot Wings: A-
BBQ Wings: B
Beer: B-
Music/TV: B+
Atmosphere: B
Overall Score: 3.15

Here Nice, There...Not So Much, notes from The Target

Line 'em up! 5/17

   At home it's a gorgeous day.  Sunny skies. Warm. So, we do what we do on Thursdays...we head to the beach feeling the stoke already.  But, once again the affects of a cool Spring Ocean have brought drastic changes to conditions.  A cool northeast wind blowing a tight 15-20 knots chopped up the surf sectioning the hell out of it.  Even the most feverish attempts at manufacturing a ride were flawed.  Truth be told all we found was a cold solitary beach with nothing to show but a new set of trash cans neatly rowed for the upcoming Memorial Holiday weekend.

Watt's weakness; the backside.

 










   However, it is Cruisin' Weekend in Ocean City.  Hot rods, muscle cars, loud exhausts, screaming tires, and old men playing with their toys reminiscent of times gone by. I found myself asking, "so where are the hot cover girls that stand next to the cars in the photo shoots?"  Magazines only? Hmmmm.

   So, post session we head to a true local surf shack and one we've hit before, Belly Busters.  Part of local history for more than twenty years, it's been a surf dive the entire time.  Perfect location to view the parade of cruisers.  
   Simplicity here is everything; from the decor, kitchen-bar set up (just one bathroom, and ya gotta go thru the kitchen to get to it!), to the food offerings.  And what's not to like: a 12 seat wooden plank bar, and picnic bench style seating both inside and out.  Clearcoated pine walls are all the decoration needed here.  We stick to the protocol...icy cold brews and an order of both Spicy Buffalo and BBQ style wings.  The food is delivered BB style- plastic plates and a roll of paper towels.  Don't let that fool ya.  They are perfectly cooked, large, meaty, and under nine bucks!  The Buffalo was good but not a stand out- the Bar-B-Que however, was outstanding.  We have always been surprised that dives can put out such a quality product, but this place has been doing so consistently for years.  Crabs, shrimp, subs...all good.  Hard to judge the atmosphere with only a couple of TV's and a sound system that did not reach over the night's crowd.  All we could hear was the scream of headers as the cruisers pulled away from the stoplight outside.  And outside is where we finished.  As we watched, we weighted the merits of this fine, locals favorite, establishment.  Belly Busters is always worth a return trip!

The T-Man on point.

The Ratings:
Buffalo Wings/ B
BBQ Wings/ A-
Beer/ B
Music/TV/ C-
Atmosphere/ B
Score: 2.95

Holding Back, notes from the Target

5/10

     Each of us had a week that we just as soon would have left behind us.  So once again we head to Holidays on 66th, and the beach to seek out the peace only nature can provide.  Spring can be all show and and no tell, as this week she dolled out tempting morsels, without real bite.  Clear skies, a shimmering ocean, chest high waves on a low tide.  One might expect the best sets so far.  But the Atlantic held back its favors giving no clear lines with faces that simply rolled over.  Never to be denied, the Wattman continuously searched for an opening, finding small cracks to slide through and riding the slim pickin's nature begrudged 'im.

 



   Leaving an uneventful evening at the beach the Crusade continued goin' old school with a visit to Big Peckers up the road on 73rd.  It's been a number of years since our last visit, but not much had changed.  We weren't expecting much.  The real question was would the wings hold true to the name or should they file away the ruler.  The beer selection was slim, but a frosty glass and a cold amber draft can overcome many limitations.  Bar service was reliable and friendly.  But the real surprise was the 80's pop tunes playin' overhead.  You know the words, but are embarrassed to admit you like the songs.  So, while we head bopped along our wings quickly arrived. If wing size on a rooster is like shoe size on a man, this bird was hurtin'...for real!  More in line with baby chick wings.  We would've had to call a cab after drinking the number of beers it would have taken to grow these nubs. Cooked well and the sauces tasted good though the BBQ had an overtone of cinnamon...amusing.  As we left we had the feeling that this bar was as it's offerings- little better than average.  We got what we expected, no more no less. Onward Crusaders.

The Ratings-
Hot Wings: C+
BBQ Wings:  C+
Beer: B-
Music/TV: C+
Atmosphere: B
Overall Score- 2.5

Less Than Promised, notes from the Target

    Last week (5/3), we were once again baptized by the Ocean and Beach. With four weeks left in our Spring season we will take all that they have to offer.  Spring weather and surf are always unpredictable and this session's beach conditions and surf promised more than than they provided.  Warm sunny skies and clean surf gave way to a slightly cool and overcast beach day with inconsistent waves that didn't quite hold up thru most of the evening. Watt struggled with finding a steady line but as always, took advantage of a couple of small waves  that held up the stoke.  And HT was no longer totally alone on the beach, however the encroaching gulls provided the only narrative.

    It was decided that we needed some new construction to uplift the trip so we headed to the recently opened 45th Street Taphouse.  It was Grand Opening week and while the bar may have looked new and shined with a large outdoor deck, trouble was in development (or was that in THE development?).  The small bar was packed to the gills as we entered so we seated ourselves at one of the many empty shared long bench style tables and started to review their 36 varieties of craft brews.  We waited, and waited, and waited, and waited some more while the wait staff of four passed us by again, and again, and again (get the picture?). Fortunately an opening at the bar presented itself to begin our culinary challenge.
   This is a tap house so the draft selection was impressive including Nattie Boh with the domestics and a variety of microbrews.  Our brews of choice came from the Colorado Rockies- Dale's Pale Ale and Breckenridge Agave Wheat, both very enjoyable.  Cold beer for between $5 and $6 cannot be understated, but the beer was definitely the highlight of the night.  Our food...we ordered their Medium-Hot Wings and the BBQ. Nothing that "WOW'd" us.  Wings coated with Tabasco and a generic tasting BBQ sauce.  Bland.  Couple of flatscreens, but no music playing. Bar staff - adequate, but the wait staff left us wanting...literally. New or retrain...quick!...before the summer slam arrives.
   As we departed we wondered about a return visit in the fall, when the kinks were worked out and the staff more seasoned (maybe the wings too!). Besides...2 beers down, 34 more on the wall to go. The Crusade rips on.

The Evenings Ratings:
Hot Wings: C
BBQ Wings: C
Beer: B
Atmosphere: C
TV/Music: C
OVERALL: 2.2