Fager's Island — Attraction in Ocean City

While visiting Ocean City for a wedding, my friend made a reservation for the Fine Dining area at Fager's Island as she had been here several times and wanted me to experience this place. We sat in the dining room off to the side with a view of the bay and the late afternoon sun. Our server was Robert, and he was attentive and professional.

We started off with some great drinks, including Fager's Old Fashioned, the Garden Party and the All Cracked Up. All cocktails were fantastic! My friend's daughter ordered the Cream of Crab soup, and she shared some of it with me. It was heavenly; the broth was thick and had plenty of crab. For dinner, my friends had the Steak and Cake (6 oz beef tenderloin with a jumbo lump crab cake, roasted potatoes, asparagus and carrots) and the 8oz Filet of Beef Tenderloin with caramelized onions, mashed potatoes, asparagus and carrots). They both raved about the flavor and cooked temperature of their tenderloins. I decided to go with the Maryland Style Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes because I cannot seem to find better crab cakes than when I visit the Maryland area. These crab cakes did not disappoint! They were stuffed full of fresh crab and light on the breading, which is usually the opposite at other restaurant locations I've found while traveling. The cakes came with roasted rosemary potatoes, asparagus and carrots. It was a fine meal indeed!

After dinner, we walked around the outside patio dining area and the pier area. It was a beautiful evening and the breeze off the bay was very nice. We enjoyed another cocktail as we watched the sunset. Afterward, we went to the dance bar area and were entertained by an excellent live band. This bar area was really hopping that night and we stayed for two sets as we were having a blast! They are several bar spots throughout Fager's Island, so it is always easy to purchase a drink here. It was an all-around Five Star...

I write many reviews because I enjoy sharing our positive experiences with others. Unfortunately, this review isn't even remotely close to positive. And, yes, we've provided this same critical review to Fager's Island separately via the agent through whom we made our reservation.

We waited OVER 1 HOUR for our food after ordering, while watching tables whose patrons arrived AFTER us get their food, many times the same food we ordered (50% off prime rib special). After many discussions/questions with our server (who lied 2x by telling us she'd put in our order, and she didn't understand why the kitchen was being so slow), our food FINALLY came, after we'd waited for OVER 1 HOUR. At that point, we requested they just box up the food and give us the bill, so we could eat at home.  When they brought the bill, I was VERY UNPLEASANTLY SURPRISED to see they'd overcharged us (check was presented for 4 meals instead of the 2 we'd ordered and received). At this point, they insulted us by 'comping' 2 drinks (1 glass of wine + 1 bottle of beer) as compensation for our less-than-stellar dining experience. A gentleman who identified himself as the manager (server had told us the female employee who first brought the food to the table was the manager) admitted that the server was responsible for the problem.

Final insult came later, at home, when we sat down to eat: we'd ordered 2 prime rib special dinners, 1 cooked medium and 1 cooked well-done; both delivered were cooked medium. And they only gave us 1 small container of sour cream + 1 'au-jus' for our 2 meals.

It was my wife's birthday, and she really wanted to celebrate at Fager's Island. We're in agreement that we're NEVER going back - we thought Fager's Island was a 'classy' restaurant, but they're just 'fancy,' not 'classy.' And,sadly, I doubt they understand...

Everything about this place was amazing, except our server was so rude that it ruined our entire night. UWe went there so excited to bring our friends, after an amazing experience in the past. The atmosphere is gorgeous, the food delicious. I would give it 5 stars but for our waitress who accused us of lying about not receiving our scallop appetizer. We ordered about 7 appetizers, and when we were finishing, entrees came out before the apps were finished and all taken away and my friend said they never brought the scallops so you can just cancel it since dinner is here, and our waitress goes, they brought them out. My husband then said no I’m sorry they never came out, and the waitress goes, no I saw them with my eyes on the table! I was shocked because we clearly never got them, and I said well that’s a mistake because they never came, I don’t think they even took most of the apps away yet, to which she then said well you ordered the mozzarella and it’s not here. At this point I’m in disbelief, I didn’t take an inventory of what plates they removed, so I didn’t realize they took that plate but myself and 3 other adults clearly knew what we didn’t get or eat. We ended this conversation because we couldn’t even believe this was a conversation actually happening, and she finally said I’ll take it off the bill with an attitude. We had planned to sit and order drinks and have a great night but that turned us all off so much, and if it weren’t for the kids I would’ve walked out. I’ve never been so insulted in my life, to be accused of lying about a $18 appetizer, when ordering $500 in food/drinks. Unfortunately I don’t think I’d ever go back or recommend this...