in annapolis? try carrol’s creek.

i feel like we have been everywhere in the last couple of weeks. my schedule with work, traveling and other social er, stuff just won’t quit – i have bags under my eyes and have consumed my fair share of fried.

in the midst of all this movin’ and shakin’, there have been some very, VERY nice highlights of the food persuasion. a recent jaunt to annapolis produced one of them.

settled in at the back of the bay is a waterfront ol’ school restauranty. a little research tells me this restaurant has been around for a while and sadly the place looks it. far away from dilapidated but nowhere close to renovated, this throw-back sports shabby carpeting and old chairs-  sitting inside feels  “easter brunch after church” BUT sitting outside feels like “vacation”. (and that is cake, imo.)

we snapped up the last umbrella table over-looking the boat-filled bay and opened the menu. this online menu is nowhere near (save the scallops) close to the menu handed to us.  so if you are looking to take a gander before you travel, i would suggest a ring to their blower for a fax copy.

a round of cocktails (and coffee -for the hungover member of our posse.) later, we laid out our game plan for food. four appetizers and two entrees were spouted off to the accommodating waitress and she sped off to check on other patrons.

again, i must pay homage to the scenery from the landing where we were sitting. boats gliding by large and small, waterfowl and other marine life all with the added bonus of water breeze made the very short wait for our appetizers seem even shorter.

appetizers in no particular order: tuna tartar served over sushi rice with wasabi and ginger – stacked circle-y, the dish was beautifully presented and tasted just as extraordinary. simple tuna, rice and seaweed made for clean and light bites.  prosciutt-wrapped asparagus with blue cheese mousse: i love married pork and vegetables and this satisfied that love.  the blue cheese mousse being the stand-out in this dish with a creamy buttery texture that worked surprising well with the pungent balsamic. if they had only given us more than three asparagus spears…. fried calamari: average and elevated none by the jar marinara that it was served as its dipping sauce. sea scallops: hands down, my favorite appetizer. served rolled in julienne phyllo, two ginormous scallops fried expertly were melt in the mouth delicious. the incredibly generous addition of lump crab and proscuitt -balancing flavors made this whole dish go from “this is sick!”  to “my goodness, you can’t be serious.” excellent. i would repeat my visit for this alone.

entrees arrived with excellent timing as our all-but-one empty appetizer plates were taken away. a jumbo (JUMBO!) lumb crab cake was notable and had it been served with any great additions than it could been a contenda’.  it was 98% crab and seared pretty darn well. scallops tequila was a highlight and brought out more of those large sweet scallops. brown- edged skillfully for the exorbitantly large size, they were only made better when chowed down with the salty, spicy griddle cornbread and the wilted peppers. however for 25.00, i would have like more than three.

normally, i would lament here about pricey bs and wax poetic about side dishes being as important as main dishes. with the sun shining and the boats passing, i just can’t bring myself to do such.  if you are in the nautical mood or fancy a tennis ball-sized scallop, this is worth checking out.