Review: Join the tourists at Margie and Ray's in Sandbridge

Soon some locals will go into hiding as tourists flood our region.

Before you hide, take a ride to Sandbridge to Margie & Ray’s Seafood Restaurant, originally a country store and tackle shop in 1964. In 1997 Margie and Ray’s son, Thomas Blanton, renovated it into the haunt it is today. Weekly beach house tenants waiting for a table will crowd the front deck overlooking a dirt parking lot as the temperatures rise and blue crabs come into season.

Mounted fish, checks from Blanton’s fishing tournaments and beach-themed decorations fill the restaurant and bar. A large-screen television in the fireplace dining room and four in the bar are well-placed for sports enthusiasts.

Tuna bites ($7.99), fried oyster basket ($8.99), crab balls ($7.99) and she crab soup (cup for $4.99, bowl for $5.99) were sumptuous starters . Seasoned tuna morsels, rare as requested, titillated our taste buds. Fried oysters were plump and succulent. Golden orbs of seasoned, moist crab and the creamy soup full of sweet crab and a touch of sherry made me crave crab-picking days.

Surf and turf options include shrimp, scallops, oysters or snow crab legs combined with prime rib, ribeye steak or barbecue ribs. Rib­eye (12-ounce for $17.99, 8-ounce for $13.99), prepared medium, was tender and flavorful. Quality scallops, the “surf add-on” ($5.99), were delicious.

All-you-can-eat flounder ($13.99) was too good a bargain to turn down, and came broiled, blackened and fried. Broiled was dry. Blackened was better with a dry perimeter. Fried was just right – golden, flaky and moist. The homemade cole slaw was good, but the baked potato disappointed owing to its butter blend.

Featured rockfish with sweet and spicy glaze ($17.99) was grilled to perfection. The accompanying salad was fresh and bountiful with packaged dressing. Firm, fresh broccoli was appealing with or without the hollan­daise sauce in the side cup.

Homemade key lime and peanut butter pies ($4 each) were sweet and satisfying. Service was friendly and laid back, the whole essence of Margie & Ray’s. If you embrace our tourists, Margie & Ray’s is a great place to eat, drink and be merry as if you, too, were on vacation , anytime of year.

Tammy Jaxtheimer, flavor@pilotonline.com