Where the Town Meets

FOOD & DRINK > DINING SPOTLIGHTS

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Oct. 2, 2008

Brittany Werkley and Candace Wilent

Name: The Chatterbox

Address: 500 9th St., Ocean City. 399-0113

Open: 7am-8pm Mon.-Thurs., 7am-9pm Fri.-Sat.

History: The Chatterbox has been an institution in Ocean City since opening in 1937 across the street from its current location (it moved in the '40s). Through the years the restaurant became famous for its homemade food and its bright pink exterior. The Repici family took over the operation in 1972. "The previous owner had tried to turn it into a teahouse and had painted it girl-scout green," says Marie Repici, who runs the restaurant with her son Tom and daughter-in-law Aimee. "People were pretty up in arms about it at the time, but when we came in we went back to pink. We've been here ever since."

Atmosphere: The restaurant's slogan is "Where the town meets" and it fits. "We're very family-oriented and very kid friendly," Repici says. "We have a great kids menu and lots of high chairs and we'll put together as many tables as you need for large groups. We always have people coming in with large groups." The restaurant's décor is filled with pictures of Ocean City's past.

Menu: To put it simply, it's comfort food. The restaurant serves breakfast lunch and dinner and runs daily specials. "We've got everything but lobster tails," Repici says. "We have everything else. Take something like liver and onions. Some people really like that, but they can't find it anywhere. We have all the comfort foods." Along with burgers and cheesesteaks and bacon and eggs, the restaurant's dinner menu is classic American at a reasonable price. Classic entrees include the T-bone steak dinner for $18.99 (the highest priced thing on the menu); liver and onions ($11.99); spaghetti and meatballs ($9.99) and cheese ravioli with meatballs ($9.99).

Owner's tip: The Repicis have worked hard to maintain traditions that date back to the restaurant's early days. Among them are toasted cinnamon rolls, homemade ice cream and real milk shakes. "The Chatterbox has always been known for its milkshakes and we still make them the old-fashioned way, with real ice cream," Repici says. "People just assume they're getting something out of a tin, but we use homemade ingredients and people are usually thrilled. Some people come a long way for that."