Restuarant favored by locals and tourists

is how accommodating they are to everyone, said Bartosz Rafinski, sonin-law of the Leiners and now the Bonfire’s leading chef. “The variety of food that we have accommodates large families, so everyone can find something for themselves.”

As Ocean City evolved, so did the way people spent their money.

“The town grew and more bars and nightclubs started showing up,” Rafinski said.

Over the past decade, outdoor dining has also become more prevalent, his father-in-law added.

A more recent change to the business came with the covid-19 pandemic.

“Buffets were the last restaurants to get the green light to reopen,” Donna Leiner said. “We served à la carte meals just like anyone else and also had carryout.”

“It was a little bit more of an adjustment for us due to the type of restaurant we are,” Mark Leiner added.

“We couldn’t put a tent out in the parking lot like a lot of places did, because the logistics of running a buffet just aren’t viable,” his wife said.

The Bonfire’s clientele consists of both area residents and tourists, with their local crowd coming from places such as Berlin, Salisbury, Snow Hill and Princess Anne.

“Thanksgiving is one of our busiest days of the year,” Mark Leiner said, also noting how their Mother’s Day and Father’s Day dinners always see a large local crowd come to dine.

“We are active in supporting the local community,” Donna Leiner said, noting how having a year-round community works in their favor. “The town has grown exponentially over the last 50 years and we’ve tried to change to grow with that.”

Mark Leiner added that they’ve donated to golf tournaments, school proms, the volunteer fire department and to paramedics.

“Our motto is to have everyone who walks in here return,” he said.

The Bonfire is open from 3-8:30 p.m. daily. For more information on its menu and pricing, visit thebonfirerestaurant.com.