Beach Barrels — Restaurant in Ocean City

I have waited a year to post this because I was hoping the last time I went would be better, but it wasn’t.

We love Primo Hoagies, which is connected to Beach Barrels and wanted to grab a drink last summer (2023) while waiting for our food. For context, I am 35, my husband is 42. It was late afternoon, so not “party time” and I offered up my ID for my drink (Tito’s and soda) after being asked and was told that my passport - which doesn’t expire until November 2026 - is not a valid ID. I do not drive. I can’t - but the peanut gallery which I believe included a manger/owner decided to chime in and say that I was probably “only using the passport because you have a DUI and passports are easier to fake than state IDs or drivers licenses” which is patently ridiculous and also funny, because neither are true. Some people simply don’t drive and no one is going to commit a federal crime (with a faked passport, much less one that says they are 35!) to drink at this place. That being said, they did eventually serve us, with great attitude and the drinks weren’t great. My husband’s beer also has the black floaters from their tap lines which are never sanitized or cleaned and lipstick prints on the glass (I too am a bartender, iykyk.)

We also went in early June of this year and while the peanut gallery was noticeably (and thankfully) absent, the service was still abysmal as if we were an...

First, there was no hostess. Ok, but no sign to “Seat yourself”. We sat for awhile until we realized we had to find our own server. She came and took our drink order. Another server took our food order, another person finally delivered it to our table. Second, we both wanted another drink-that wasn’t happening. One of our servers was sitting with some patrons-saw two other servers behind the cash register doing nothing. We wanted the check. Again unless I specifically asked one of the servers for our check, we honestly could have walked out without paying. Not sure what was going on 8-11-24 but not good. We saw two tables walk out. I have a beach condo here in OC and I will never recommend it to anyone. I know it isn’t 5 star but really who wants to be ignored-there were less than 15...

It started as a package goods store with a bar in it. And, well, it still is. But they've recently remodeled by removing a bunch of the walk-up refrigerators and now there's a good amount of room for the bands to play and the fans to dance. The food consists of appetizer-type foods as well as hoagies provided by Primo Hoagie right next door!

The bands are always good, especially my favorite beach band, Tranzfusion! If you love good classic rock (Doors, Who, Stones, Beatles, Petty, Jackson Browne and THE CARS!), don't miss these old guys! Beach Barrels will charge a $5 cover for this band specifically, but totally worth it! Bands start at 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Good selection of whiskeys...