Carrol’s Creek Cafe

went for valentine’s brunch, nice folks working there, a little dirty (floor and tables next to us) calamari was recooked frozen sam’s club style, sauce was vinegar-​based and not tastey, luckily hot sauce was available. Scallops we great, crab cake was fine, grits and shrimp we cold and firm enough to use a fork to lift over half of serving. overall tasty and can’t beat the views and locale. Really good wait staff even though busy with crying babies and parties. Will not return, better seafood away from downtown Annapolis and overpriced for the food quality

We had dinner there last night and they only had there Valentine’s Day weekend menu. The food wasn’t as great as it had been on our first visit but it’s a busy weekend I’m sure. The food was only average/​okay. I had the rack of lamb and my husband had the lobster. I found the Israeli cous cous to be too mushy to eat, which was too bad bc I love Israeli cous cous. The rack of lamb was good but fatty. The artichokes were good. The rosemary bread was great as before. My husband lobster was a little hard and plain but the butter was good. He thought the jasmine rice and vegetable medley were good. We split the cheesecake which he liked and I thought was fine but I like my cheesecake a particular way – but too small to share. Next time I want to try the flourless chocolate cake – and not share it!
As before the waitstaff are pleasant though our server didn’t know about the wine.
We’ll be back bc really Valentine’s Day is not a good measure.

My favorite Annapolis restaurant, cream of crab and rock fish over spinach is the bomb! Have it twice a month … worth the money and very good bartenders and staff

Definitely one of my favorite places in Annapolis! The Sea Bass was amazing! Great service & ambiance too! Fantastic dinner with friends!

And in conclusion…
I’d really rate it a 3.5. This place could be a 4.5 — 5 star rating from me if they corrected just a few things.
Wait staff — Great job. Perfect amount of attention. Not too much to be annoying.
My only real issue is with the ambience. Why are the lights so bright? Considering there are overhead spotlights lighting all of the walkways very brightly, you just see stains and bits of trash on the walkways. I’m not saying the place is trashy. It’s actually nice. Just stating the psuedo-​fact that they are running about 70k watts of lights beaming down from the ceiling and they make every blemish very obvious. I don’t understand this issue with some restaurants. It’s like they don’t have any comprehension of lighting ambience. The other lighting issue is that many of the lights are a bluer spectrum than they should be. It’s very slight, but it makes peoples faces have a bluer hue. People look best, and feel best in warm lighting. This is the reason some people feel weird in or don’t like fluorescent lighting. No one wants to feel like they are in a lab when eating. The room is about 1000 Kelvin and 20% brightness off from what would make a significant difference. If anyone from Carrol’s Creek Café knows about lighting or has taken color theory courses (or many as I have) then you should know that I’m correct. If no one understands, feel free to private message me.
Scallop entrée — $ 30 — The scallops were cooked perfectly in my opinion. I would have been ecstatic with this entrée had the scallops all been the size of the 2^nd or 3^rd largest of the group. They ranged from pretty small, maybe nickel sized, to a decent size, in a row by size. It was actually a slightly larger platter than some restaurants at the same price range. I’d give it a b+ with a «*you could do better» if I was rating it like an elementary school teacher. Otherwise, no sand in the scallops which is nice.

This place projects a desirable seaside ambiance if you wish to visit and eat at a harbor side view restaurant in Annapolis. The service staff is pretty good. Free parking (for up to 3 hours) is available for customers in an on-​site parking lot (validation required). Also, alcoholic drinks are pretty good. These are the pros.
The cons? This place is pricey. Three entrees with two appetisers and three drinks for our party set us back around $ 150. The quality of the food was average. Given this, all in our felt the price — performance ratio just is not there for this place.
For example, we ordered Scallop appetiser for $ 19. One would think an appetiser for this price would be extraordinary. It was, but not because it was excellent. It was extraordinary because it was way overpriced for what is delivered to the customer in terms of portion and quality.
Visit if you long for a seaside dining experience if you think this place will fulfil you. Otherwise, look elsewhere. It’s not bad. It’s just the price-​performance is not there.
Foreign travelers: this place is about as pricey as places in Europe in Euro-​zone member countries. And, like some of those places, the prices are high but the quality is average.
We won’t visit again.
Visited July 2015

We’ve been going to Carrol’s Creek regularly ever since moving to Annapolis and we’ve never been disappointed. Not once.
Their food has always been phenomenal. The crab cakes are a MUST. The scallops are fantastic and the filet simply melts in your mouth. Sure, it’s a bit of the pricey side but it’s absolutely worth it.
The atmosphere is great. The view of the bay really adds that little extra something that most food establishments this side of the bridge simply don’t have. The wait staff is always so helpful and well informed when it comes to the menu. Their beer selection is varied and they have tons of beers on tap, including the flight option of trying three different beers for a small price reduction.
Would definitely recommend.

My husband and I went here for a second time and I have to say I wasn’t impressed. We just came for a snack — oysters and wine. There was an awful smell inside the restaurant (dirty mop water?) This was a few months ago, so maybe this is no longer an issue. The service was slow. All in all, come for the outside view, not for the overpriced food and meh service.

We came here for brunch after a girl’s trip to Annapolis, and had read that Carrol’s was a great place to go. I was pretty disappointed for all the hype. It’s very traditionally and formally decorated– this is not your fun lively Sunday Funday spot. This is probably (I would guess) where all the midshipmen take their parents to brunch when they visit. It’s a very 55+ vibe, and the food seems similarly outdated. Our waitress wasn’t very attentive, and the food was something I easily could have made at home. Not to mention no bottomless mimosas. Two stars only because it wasn’t actively horrible. Just… bleh. I would definitely not come back here for brunch, and would recommend looking elsewhere if you’re looking for a fun trendy brunch spot!

Once upon a time, Carrol’s Creek was my go-​to Sunday brunch spot. Their buffet was unforgettable and if Unilocal had been around then, I would have given it a minimum of four stars. However, our dinner a few nights ago was substantially less impressive and more pricey. The food was excellent, but for the amount we paid I would expect a truly dazzling experience!
We were dining with friends who had made a reservation, so were seated overlooking the bay — a lovely, romantic panorama. Inside, the atmosphere was very sleek and modern; a touch too sterile for the bayside location, in my opinion, but very nice. Our server was a little too talkative and familiar for my taste; she was prompt but always had a comment or joke to go along with the plate or glass she was delivering, and that got old quickly, as did the comments about what a long night she had had. The last thing I need during a nice dinner is to feel guilty for asking someone to do her job!
The food, as I said, was quite good but overpriced. Our friends ordered the scallops appetizer, and although I don’t like scallops I did try some of the sculptural shredded phyllo with shrimp cream sauce. It was amazing, but wow, $ 19 for an appetizer? I’m not sure I could spring for that even if scallops were my favorite! My husband began with the cream of crab soup, which was delicious but so thick and rich it was hard to finish. My wedge salad was probably the best thing I ate all night: it was done exactly as it should be, simply with fresh ingredients and the perfect contrast between salty bacon, creamy bleu cheese and crispy iceberg lettuce. Our shared entrée, crab cakes, didn’t quite live up to its $ 34 price tag: the seasoning was on point, but the portion was reasonable enough that either of us could have finished it, and the sides (whipped potatoes and steamed vegetables) were fairly predictable and pedestrian. The espresso crème brûlée was fine, but again, not innovative in any way.
None of these small quibbles would matter as much if the meal were offered at a more reasonable cost. It could be that over time they have tried to gentrify their reputation, but for a dockside self-​proclaimed «Café» I think the check was unnecessarily high. Interestingly, when I went to look up their brunch price just for a reference point, I discovered they no longer serve it buffet-​style, so it looks like that ship has sailed. If you missed it, I am truly sorry! Maybe someday it will return.

The restaurant has a typical Annapolis waterfront restaurant feel. I must say after the hype I’m not as pleased as I thought I would have been, perhaps it was killed by the hype. Anyways, we had quite a group and ordered five of the seafood based appetizers, all of those were excellent. We each ordered entrees including crab cakes, scallops, rockfish and shrimp entrees and they were presented pretty but all were sooo rich and likely chock full of butter as they glistened until they got cold. The value is pretty good, I’m giving it the 3 star rating because the whole entrée experience seemed drenched in butter and oils for flavor. I also wasn’t that impressed with their cocktail selection, I think metropolitan kitchen does it better. The service was great, but honestly my palate and atmosphere desires the chart house or chop house.

I’m not always a contrarian, but based on my experience last night, Carrol’s Creek is a bit overhyped.
First, the restaurant needs to update its beer menu. I ordered the Waterkeeper by Sweetwater Brewing only to be told minutes later that Carrol’s Creek was out of it. It’s no big deal that the restaurant is out of a beer, but it smacks of amateurism when the server does not know that the restaurant has been out of the beer for quite awhile.
Second, I realize that Carrol’s Creek specializes in seafood, but the filet mignon was flavorless and dry. I have had significantly better steak from the chain steakhouses. The scalloped potatoes left a lot to be desired too.
I might go back to try some of the seafood. Supposedly, the lunch menu is better than the dinner menu.

Bottom Line: Elegant dining, great views, highly-​trained staff and delicious, fresh seafood.
I hadn’t been to Carrol’s Creek Café in a long time but recently took some friends there for lunch and the experience was perfect.
Elegant Dining and Great Views — We were there on a warm summer day so we opted to sit inside at the window. The view of the draw bridge opening and closing and sailboats coming and going made for some good background entertainment. When not peering out the window I enjoyed checking out Liz Lind’s artwork throughout (fun whimsical watercolors inspired by the Chesapeake Bay region). Our seats were comfortable and the décor was elegant without being stuffy.
Highly-​Trained Staff: I was really impressed with the service. Our young waitress delivered top not service of a true professional. She knew the menu, answered our many questions and timed her appearances at the table perfectly. All went smoothly at the hostess stand too — getting seated promptly and getting parking validated. (Parking is free up to 2.5 hours in Carrol’s lot.)
Delicious and Fresh Seafood: We ordered a variety of dishes including oysters on the half shell, a shrimp salad sandwich, and a few specials featuring scallops. The seafood was obviously fresh and well-​prepared. The presentation was great too. Its clear that Carrol’s Creek chooses their seafood carefully and that there is a lot of pride being served in the kitchen.
I’ve always known that Carrol’s Creek was one of the best restaurants in Annapolis and I was certainly reminded of that last Saturday afternoon.

While browsing through Livingsocial for an anniversary gift for our parents, my brother and I discovered Carroll Creek Café. The restaurant had a private lot and a great view of the Spa Creek. We went pigged out like there was no tomorrow and it was definitely worth it!
We ordered the following:
(1) Prince Edward Island Mussels
(2) Maryland Cream of Crab Soup, a rich, creamy soup with an abundance of jumbo lump crabmeat and a hint of sherry
(3) Red Wine Onion Soup, a fancier version of French Onion Soup with three types of cheese
(4) Carroll Creek Salad, baby greens, walnuts, dried cranberries tossed in a tarragon-​raspberry vinaigrette
(5) Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, a pair of jumbo lump crab cakes served with garlic and herb red bliss potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and a mustard vinaigrette
*we loved how the crab cakes were pure crabmeat and didn’t have much filler!
(6) Herb Encrusted Rockfish Filet, a roasted rockfish filet served over sun dried tomato pesto risotto with sautéed baby spinach and jumbo lump crab, and finished with a beurre blanc.
*our favorite dish of the night
(7) Cioppini, linguini topped with fresh fish filet, clams, mussels, scallops, and shrimp in a tomato basil broth
*We liked how it was flavorful but not spicy.
(8) Almond Encrusted Mahi Mahi, a mahi mahi topped with toasted almond and tropical fruit salsa and served with jasmine rice and sautéed sugar snap peas
(9) Grilled Filet Mignon, filet mignon grilled to perfection, served with with caramelized sweet onions, sautéed wild mushroom, and scalloped potatoes, and finished with a cabernet glaze
(10) Grilled Salmon, a grilled salmon served over cauliflower purée and with baby bok-​choy in a light saffron cream sauce
(11) Pear Tart

Ate here on a Sunday night during the height of tourist season but it wasn’t too crowded; we had a reservation. Got a great table outside near the water and watched the sunset. Our waiter, Corky, was very personable and interesting. He was great. We started by splitting the crab soup; the kitchen split it for us. It was very rich and delicious. Worth every calorie. I would get it again but splitting is the way to go. Next we split the scallops with phyllo. Wow! This is a must get! The waiter said this is a popular dish. So popular they buy the phyllo already shredded or else someone should have a full time job shredding it! We finished with the Brie in puff pastry which was good too.
Not being able to resist dessert, we then split the pecan bread butter bread pudding with Ice cream and salted caramel Makers Mark sauce. This was seriously delicious! The portion was a good size for splitting also. The wine selection was decent.

The view is beautiful from the back patio, but just be aware that you will get some sun even when the sun is setting. We ended up sitting in the lounge area and made a meal from the appetizers that were half price. Good decision.
I highly reccomend going that route.

Lovely spot for a special occasion dinner (anniversaries, Mother’s Day, holidays), though I’d be interested to try it for a happy hour. The service was great, the view is beautiful (obviously), and the food was delicious! I really enjoyed the salmon and my date had the filet mignon (my bite of it was delicious).
Ask about their frequent guest program. They have some great discounted deals.

Seven of us went here on a Friday night. The outdoor seating area was pretty packed on a nice night with a great view of Annapolis Harbor, where Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti docks his yacht, the «Winning Drive.» A die-​hard Ravens fan, this was probably the best part of my dining experience.
Not too hungry, I settled on the jumbo lump crab cake appetizer. Was quite tasty and paired well with the mustard vinaigrette. Everyone else enjoyed their meals as well.
Our service was really good and at one point, the owner came over to talk to us to gave us some wine suggestions. The guy’s been in business for over 30 years so he must be doing something right.
Overall, you can’t beat the location.

I’m rounding up to 4 stars, but I think this place is about a 3.5…
The crowd here is very Annapolis– older, wealthy, predominantly white. We saw plenty of people sitting outside, but we chose to sit at the bar. We were by far the youngest people on both of our visits. The bar especially seems frequented by regulars, some of whom are prone to over-​sharing about their lives.
The food, while good, is not super memorable and very expensive. Even with a gift card, I felt guilty about spending so much. Come here for happy hour, when you can get appetizers half price. The truffle lobster pot pie was good.

I’m giving 3 stars due to my table preference of the Harbor View and the Hostesses who were very friendly and engaging.
Our server was horrible! Not sure if he had been working all day leading up to the dinner crowd, but everything about him was unpleasant. It took him 5 minutes to approach us & due to arriving an hour before closing, the patio was ¼ at its capacity, not sure why he was such a delay with our service. When he finally made his way over, he was very dry & bland «What can I get you guys»? Not a basic salutation or inquiring if we have been here before or even the generic «how is your evening going». None of that. As a people person I expect the basic friendly interaction from servers & their service regardless of the type or restaurant and or location.
& oh boy, when I asked at his chance with no rush for a glass of water with lemon & no ice, he grabbed my glass & walked alway… I just put 1 foot back on the Water Taxi.
My counterpart stated we would start with an appetizer and the server just started rambling off the specials. So I interjected with a question about our selection for the Calamari & he looked dumbfounded as if I broke his concentration of stating the specials. Since he didn’t offer anything from the bar menu, I asked for a glass of Malbec. I waited a few seconds for him to offer me the choices, yet no cigars. I settled for the house brand.
By now I’m in quiet beast mode & was getting ready to unleash the cordial yet crass light I can illuminate :-) I told him to slow down, and answer the question pertaining to the appetizer & he could resume with the specials. I then noted that we haven’t been here before & what our preferences were such, was he able to recommend any selections accordingly. That process was like pulling teeth as well. I refuse to be rude at any given time for someone serving me, yet best believe I can make it an interesting banter & or exchange to say the least.
The Calamari was thrown together, with no seasoning & was just OK. So when I was ready to order my meal, I went for the Ahi Tuna and asked for the sushi rice to be on the side. As a Sushi fanatic, I love Sashimi and will do brown rice when I can. He told me that the presentation would be off with the rice on the side.
Excuse me?! What did he just say to me? I told him it made me no never mind, I don’t like to waste food & that was my preference for my selection & is there a problem? & I then answered for him by saying OF COURSE NOT.
My CP ordered the Crab Cake Sandwich & I the Seared Ahi Tuna. We didn’t see nor hear from our Server until someone else brought out our food. He did bring the Ketchup, job well done on that. He disappeared again for about another 15 minutes.
Our food came out & it was actually very good… nice presentation & all LOL. A good grade, clean cut & the ginger glazed was the perfect combination. My CP’s Crab
Cake Sandwich didn’t seem too be tantalizing as he picked at the crab cake. & no, the server never stopped by to inquire why the sandwich was barely consumed.
Even with decent food on my end & a cool view, I doubt I’ll be back as there are so many other establishments around to try & partake in. Especially after a 45 minute drive, I’d to have a good experience across the board.
The trip to the candy store made the awful dinner experience so much better. :-)