Carrol’s Creek Café Turns 35
The Eastport waterfront overlooking Spa Creek was evolving in 1983, when Carrol’s Creek Café became one of the first tenants in the Annapolis City Marina.
“The Annapolis Yacht Club, Chart House and working boatyards were our neighbors,” says Jeff Jacobs, second-generation owner of Carrol’s Creek Café. “Eastport was seeing its renaissance.”
Back then, Jeff’s father, lawyer Joseph Jacobs, was silent partner to entrepreneur and restaurateur Jerry Hardesty, with Jeff working as dishwasher and cleaner. By 1990, the Jacobs family became full owners.
Between then and now, when Jeff is the man in charge, he’s done pretty much every job in the restaurant.
Over those 35 years, Carrol’s Creek Café made itself the place to experience Annapolis at its best, with its distinctive combination of Bay flavors, water views and casual elegance. Locals routinely award Carrol’s Creek “best of” honors for food, atmosphere and expansive views.” Bay Weekly readers concur, ranking the restaurant Most Romantic and Most Scenic.
“Our customers want the feel of Annapolis, and we want to give them what they’re looking for,” Jacobs says.
The native Annapolitan restaurant’s reputation has spread far and wide. This year, Open Table named Carrol’s Creek one of the nation’s 100 Best Al Fresco Restaurants and put it on its list of the 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in the U.S.
Fifty-nine percent of hospitality facilities fail in their first three years. Carrol’s Creek Café has persevered, providing a fine dining experience through challenges of economy, weather and more.
So, on this 35th anniversary, “I am proud to be here and celebrating,” Jacobs says.
To commemorate the milestone, Carrol’s Creek is giving back to the community. Anniversary festivities include an Oct. 28 presentation of $35,000 in $5,000 checks to each of seven local institutions, which Jacobs calls “organizations close to our hearts”: the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, Eastport Elementary School, Food Allergy Research at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Lighthouse Shelter Pantry, Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland and the Naval Academy Glee Club.
We can all join in by treating ourselves from Oct. 15 to 27 to Carrol’s Creek’s anniversary three-course $35 prix fixe dinner menu. From a first course of scallops, shrimp, salad or soup … to a main course of steak, swordfish, surf and turf, cioppino or vegetarian … to dessert of chocolate Grand Marnier pots du crème or apple cranberry cobbler, it all sounds grandly celebratory, whether you’re visiting for the 35th time or the first. Call for reservations: 410-263-8102.