O’Learys Seafood Restaurant Menu

  • Starters
  • Mains
  • Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for O’Learys Seafood Restaurant

  • Starters
  • Mains
  • Desserts
  • Geoff G.

    I have eaten at O'Leary's 6 times in the last 6 years I have lived in Annapolis. I lived next door to O'Leary's for 2 years and always had to fight my temptations of wanting to dine at one of the restaurant triangle establishments (Ruth's Chris, Lewnes' Steakhouse, and O'Learys are all within a block of each other and I lived on the middle of the block!) I have debated for weeks before writing this review on how many stars they deserve. If I could rate them a 4.5, I would, but felt they deserved 5 stars moreso than 4. Look, this is going to be a great dining experience as long as you are OK with a few logistical things about the restaurant. The place is tiny, which means the restaurant is going to be loud. If you aren't OK with a small restaurant that is loud, then this is not the place for you. If you walk into the restaurant and your table is not ready, you will have to either wait outside or stand at the bar.... and the bar, again, is tiny. Those are the two major flaws of the restaurant, but it is what it is. As far as the food is concerned, O'Leary's is in a small minority of GREAT restaurants in Annapolis. Look for my upcoming thread on "Best of the Best - Annapolis" edition, because I will have O'Learys listed as best fine dining for seafood, no questions asked. The service has always been impeccable, the food always delicious, and the price tag always reminds you that you won't be back until the following year. Still, from a value standpoint in my opinion, you get more for what you pay for at O'Learys than their archrival Severn Inn and Carroll's Creek has had food quality issues the last several years. The salads and appetizers are always very good, but may not be worth the money. I prefer the Lobster Cappuccino, Tuna Tartar, Calamari, Escargot, and Beet Salad. The entrees, specifically the seafood, and more specifically the Crabcakes and Tuna, are why I come to O'Learys. In addition to the two entrees I mentioned above, the Grouper, Salmon, and Duck Breast are very noteworthy. The only forgettable meal in my opinion is the whole fish. Always a different white fish but always served teh same way.... it just isn't my thing. The balance of flavors and complexity of the entrees are detail oriented and 5 star quality. If you want to experience one of the best that Annapolis has to offer, look no further.

    (5)
  • Grant D.

    I love this place. I love many places in Eastport but between O'Leary's, Chart House and Carrol's Creek, I pick O'Leary's. Get a reservation. Guaranteed a great meal with broad seafood selection.

    (5)
  • Michael V.

    Traveled up to Annapolis for dinner at O'Learys to celebrate my wife's birthday, and it was a great choice. Even with a late reservation the restaurant was full and bustling. Still, the staff was welcoming and friendly. Our meals were amazing, very fresh and flavorful. We'll be back again.

    (4)
  • John K.

    Sample take: I'll always remember the aroma of the creosote wafting from the pilings on the docks that warm night. It simply smells like Annapolis. **************************************************­********************************* Almost a four. I'll give it a 3.5 for now. Rounded up some old friends to see the musical, "Into the Woods" in Annapolis. If you haven't heard of it, this Sondheim vehicle hit Broadway in the late 80s, picked up some Tonys, including one for Bernadette Peters, but suffered from the misfortune of coming out the same time as Phantom of the Opera. It was edgy, not your typical feel-good musical á la "42nd Street," but still fun. We had reservations for O'Learys afterwards. I think it was the first time for all 3 couples. We were seated in a cozy booth, and the server took our drink orders. The Guenoc chard was a good deal at $10/glass. It had a touch of oak (but not too much) on the front end, some green apple notes, and a hint of butter on the finish. I wish I would have taken a pic of the awesome "legs" as it returned to the bottom of the glass. Our server, it seems I didn't get her name, was amazingly efficient. She took care of us throughout our 2-hour repast, kept the water glasses full, checked in at just the right moment, but could have benefited from just a wee more warmth and personal touch. She did light up at the end when she saw that we were generous tippers. Sunday through Thursday they have the $29.95 price fixe menu with a wide variety of appetizers and entrées. I really wanted the top sirloin steak with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans, or even the pork chop, but that just seemed wrong in so many ways. I opted for baked oysters followed by pan-seared swordfish served with spicy sautéed broccolini (it looked like a cross between broccoli and asparagus) and garlic-oiled sweet potato rounds topped with fried sage leaves. Other main course choices sampled by our party included mahi mahi, and crispy fried grouper. Not on the value meal plan was rockfish which one of the ladies ordered á la carte and evidently was incredible. The swordfish was a good-sized steak that was very moist but cooked a few minutes longer than would have been my preference. I know, I should have expressed my desire when I ordered it. My bad. It had a good flavor but could have benefited from a drizzle of sauce or better yet, a light rub. Dessert choices were chocolate mousse, crème brulee, key lime custard, and bread pudding. I had the custard which came in a light pastry shell and had that characteristic tang and tartness. The crème brulee, however, lacked the ground vanilla beans. Maybe because my expectations were so high and because Annapolis has so many good seafood restaurants, or because we were in blazers and slacks and there was a guy at the table next to us in cut-offs, or perhaps because it isn't right on the water with a view of the city, but I'm not sure I'd come back. But I'll always remember the aroma of the creosote from the pilings on the docks that warm night. It simply smells like Annapolis.

    (3)
  • Jay N.

    A great dinner to close out the year. I came with my family on New Year's Eve, and although we had a reservation, were told when we arrived there would be a short wait for the table. The manager brought us complimentary glasses of wine while we waited. We shared a trio of great appetizers. The lobster "cappuccino" is a bisque soup delightfully made up to look like the drink. Two specials were available, one the Chincoteague oysters, which were good (even though I'm not normally an oysters fan), and the thoroughly enjoyable shark bites. My entire family raved about their entrees (crab cakes, trout, shelffish medley), but the most talked about was my branzino (Meditteranean sea bass). The fish itself was huge, with a wealth of soft, delectable flesh subtly affected by lemon juice and salt. It came with a great prosciutto-infused side of savory bread pudding.. Dessert was the only time I wasn't wowed, by a mediocre bread pudding with currants. But the creme brulee (of which I'm also not normally a fan) was very good, as well as the coffee. Further, O'Leary's bartender made such a good sidecar, I had two. In 2009, I only gave three 5-star reviews to sit-down restaurants. Scarpetta in NYC, Rasika in DC, and now O'Leary's. Bravo!

    (5)
  • Darrell J.

    good steak. nice location.

    (3)
  • Mister E.

    Good food and good service. Had reservations and was promptly seated. The wait staff were polite and responsive. I ordered a non-seafood dish but they were out by 6:30pm. Our party of four had various fish dishes and appetizers and everyone seemed happy. As more time went by, the place got noisier and noisier. The acoustics of the place seemed to echo, echo everyone's lively chatter. Dinner and drinks for four, with tip $300.

    (4)
  • David N.

    Make a reservation, great food, high quality place. Small parking lot.

    (4)
  • Stephen H.

    Now THIS is a seafood restaurant. So many places out there call themselves seafood restaurants, as if they specialized in seafood. So many times, not the case. But O'Learys, these guys (or girls) know how to rock a fish. We ordered the following on decently sized budget, and everything was 5 stars: Seabass - whole fish, the best, most tender I've had. A bit tough to get out the bones, but my Chinese parents taught me well. Tuna Sashimi Crab cakes - so far, the best crab cakes I've found in Maryland, and I've been all over now. Salmon - excellent Prawns If you're looking for great seafood, the kind of seafood that rivals experiences in Hawaii, come to O'Learys. Well done. Uh, I mean medium rare?

    (5)
  • Seth G.

    Dinner and drinks. Reservation was for 8:00, and we got there a little early, so we waited at the bar and had a glass of wine. We were seated on time, and it was packed. So as fast as reservations go, it was great. We started with the sea scallops in phyllo, which was out of this world. Two large sea scallops wrapped in phyllo and baked in garlic, served with an aoli, pesto, and red pepper puree. No joke,I could have easten only those the entire night. The wife had the duck breast with mashed sweet potatoes and mushrooms. The duck was fairly tough, but had good taste. I had the special which was a panko and parmesan encrusted salmon with three large grilled sea scallops and broccoli. It was excellent. Finished with coffee and southern bread pudding, and the bread pudding was decent. Service was excellent. No 5 stars because of duck issue. Will definitely be going back.

    (4)
  • Stacey P.

    Filet stuffed w/jumbo lump crab meat boursin cheese with cous-cous and haricots verts was delicious!

    (4)
  • Gary B.

    I had gone to O'Leary's a number of times over the years, but finally gave up on it. The food is delicious, but expensive for what you get. It can be a very loud place as it is an open area where noise echoes about a great deal. The chairs are not very comfortable. I finally gave up on the place; it is expensive and I would have thought at those prices the management would discourage families with noisy babies and toddlers. The last time I went that was exactly what I experienced. Never again!

    (2)
  • Stephen W.

    Really great meal. We ate there after a Navy football game. They took a reservation on short notice. It's located along a restaurant row in Eastport, in what looks like a converted home. Our server, Elaine, was OUTSTANDING, among the best we've ever had. We had the grouper, salmon, whole rockfish and soft shell crab/crab cake combo. We cannot find a single thing to critique about the food. The fish and seafood dishes were cooked perfectly, were not overly gooped up, and everything tasted exceedingly fresh. Highly recommended.

    (5)
  • Bulgit K.

    I was not that Impressed about this place.

    (3)
  • Frank G.

    The food at O'Leary's is nearly five star. It takes me *forever* to settle on a choice because everything on the menu looks good. Obviously, the seafood shines here (it's what I always get), but some dining companions have had the land options and been equally pleased. (From the tastes I've sneaked off their plates, I can see why!) The wine list is well-organized, listing light-, medium- and full-bodied options for both the reds and whites. The selections are a bit pricey, but in line with the rest of the menu. The service at O'Leary's is nearly five star. The waiters are knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating, some of the best I've had at any restaurant. We did have some issues with getting them to call us back when attempting to make a reservation for a large group (10), but it all worked out in the end. So why the four star rating? The physical space itself. I don't usually like to ding a restaurant for stuff like this, but in O'Leary's case, I feel that it really detracts from of the overall experience. There's basically no indoor waiting area, which is fine assuming the weather is nice. The acoustics in the front dining area can make it very loud, meaning it's difficult to hear someone even across the table. The main dining area is more than a bit cramped, and tends to get *very* warm when at capacity. Don't bother with a sweater in the winter, you won't need it. I went back-and-forth in my head about the fifth star because like I said, food and service are my most important considerations. I just felt that the negative impact of these space issues -- especially with everything else about the place being so good -- made them stand out even more. I might come in here next week and edit this review, but for now I'll keep it as is.

    (4)
  • Paul T.

    Went here a few weekends ago. Food was great but who I assume to be the manager was rude. Had some first time visitors to Annapolis and requested a window table when I called for a reservation. Upon arriving I asked the front of the house guy (manager) whether we were going to get a window seat. We did but he was then overheard speaking to the waitstaff about us like we were ridiculous for making the comment about a window. Get a clue, your there to please your guests. I'll gladly take my guests to another friendlier option in Eastport next time like Carrol's Creek.

    (2)
  • Gerald F.

    Simply the best. Deeelish. Fried Oysters and seafood. WOW.

    (5)
  • Greg G.

    Decent quality. Good not great. I went with a group and the menu was planned and therefore limited. Several fish choices as well as one meat choice. I was not too wild about the types of fish and went with the meat. I had some local crab cakes as an appetizer as well as some calamari, shrimp and mussels. Pretty decent but once again, good, not great. I am not sure what the rage is about Maryland crab cakes because it just does not compare in terms of flavor and texture to West Coast Dungeness crab. In fact, the meat is very similar to many types of white fish. I would be curious to try this place when I could choose from their entire menu. Annapolis is a very charming place and I am sure there area ton of great places to eat here (besides this one).

    (3)
  • J A.

    Delicious and enjoyable. I took my boyfriend to O'Leary's Seafood Restaurant for his birthday this year. He has become a foodie in recent years and LOVED it - as did I. Our server was a tad arrogant and rude and seemed irritated that neither of us ordered an alcoholic beverage (neither of us are drinkers), but the food and overall service was really great. We had the fried calamari for our starter - it was a bit oily and the sauce was a tad heavy, but overall it was tasty. I had the swordfish with shrimp, broccolini and mashed sweet potatoes and gobbled up every last bite. It was absolutely delicious! My boyfriend had the mahi-mahi with shrimp, jasmine rice and pineapple mango salsa and loved it as well. We opted to not get dessert there because their options just weren't what we wanted. Entrees run about $30 a piece and, while expensive, it's worth it.

    (4)
  • Milee T.

    Hands down the best crab cakes ever! Everything on the menu is superb!

    (5)
  • myra S.

    Went from DC to Annapolis to eat at O'Learys. Before today it was a seafood favorite for us and we would travel 40 miles to have dinner there. Tonight, the lemon sole was old and lacked flavor. The waiter RECOMMENDED it to the both of us. We had the same reaction -- OLD FISH that SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SERVED.

    (1)
  • Ian L.

    Went with 3 generations, and everyone was happy. Very impressed with my barramundi - light flavorful sauce, and a great mix of vegetables that matched it. My 94 year old grandmother-in-law had a seared scallops appetizer that sounded plain on the menu but ended up being so good that (at her invitation) we were fighting over the right to mop up the spicy sweet sauce it was served with our (fresh) bread. Delicious food served in just the right atmosphere for a marina-side upscale place.

    (5)
  • Kate M.

    EXCELLENT service. Their crispy grouper is amazing! And if they have the fried oysters as a special app, you should definitely get it. The sauce has a bit of a kick and is fantastic. Great wine list too!

    (5)
  • Toya R.

    This was a great choice for a girlfriend's birthday. We tried a lot of appertizers: the calarmari, the crab and lobster cake, and the scallop pastry, they all were great. The entrees were tasty as well, from the crab cakes, to the fried grouper, to the pork tenderloin and the mahi mahi was also great. The coconut cake was one of the best I have ever tasted. Service was great as well. I will return soon!!

    (4)
  • Patrick H.

    Ok, so if you want to feel like a complete, totally insensitive American A**hole, go see "Slumdog Millionaire" followed by an 8:30 reservation at O'Leary's seafood. If the food wasn't so damn good, the guilt could be overwhelming. So, it is with the humblest of apologies to Salim, Latika and Jamal that I tell you how fantastic our dinner at O'Leary's this past Saturday was. Myself, the dining partner in crime and our good friend C just made our 8:30 reservation after hurridley rushing from the theatre. We were welcomed warmly and escorted to our table nestled gently in the corner. We had a charming bayside view which gave way to the twinkly lights of boats moored in Eastport and over to Annapolis. We started with three appetizers. Seared Scallops over Mushroom Polenta, Lobster Cappuccino and the Grilled Romaine Salad. The scallops were perfectly seared with an aggressive crust giving way to a tender opaque center over the creamy polenta. The grilled romaine was nice but I don't know that I would order it again. The Lobster Cappuccino, however, I will order each and everytime I visit O'Leary's. A deep rich Lobster bisque topped with a generous dollop of Lobster foam and served with a spoon of Lobster Ceviche. Our lovely server told us to stir in the ceviche and enjoy. Indeed we did. O'Leary's is a seafood house and the chef clearly knows his way around a fish or two. For entrees, we had the crab cakes, which are baked rather than broiled or fried, the Sea Bass and the Crispy Grouper. Crab Cakes: Extraordinary. No filler, all jumbo lump crab meat with a simple beurre blanc and a nice roasted root vegetable hash. Crispy Grouper: Extraordinary. Simple seasoned grouper battered and flash fried at an ultra high temp, sealing in all the juicy goodness of the fish and creating an almost impossibly crisp exterior which was light and greaseless. It was served over a Succotash and a very simple sauce. Sea Bass: Holy Moly! One large simple generous piece of bass, seasoned with nothing more than salt, pepper and olive oil, oven roasted and served over candied brussels sprouts with crisp pancetta lardons and a saffron rice gallette. The rich and sweet brussells sprouts mixed with the salty, fatty pancetta was the perfect foil for the luscious and creamy bass. For desserts we had the Bread Pudding, Carrot Cake and the Coconut Cream cake with Mango Sauce. All were exceptional but I have to say the bread pudding is something transcendant. I love it when a chef realizes that quality ingredients, cooked properly need nothing more done to them. Service was delightful. Casual, friendly, suggestive and efficient. All in all a charming restaurant worthy of the high price you will pay to dine there. Next time I go, though, I will try to see a movie that is a little less challenging to my moral compass. Hmmm... when is the next showing of "He's Just Not that Into You"?

    (5)
  • Mike A.

    Wow, the short version....over priced mediocre food right out of the eighties. I can only guess where all the glowing reviews came from. Must be from another restaurant.

    (1)
  • Christine P.

    Ehhh ... not as good as it was a few years ago, or I just hit it on an off night. The food was good, don't get me wrong, but a pit pricy for the quality. If the quality was better, $35/entree wouldn't have been as painful. My boyfriend and I tried a few different dishes (ordered 4 appetizers between the both of us) and I'd say that 2 of the 4 were really good, and the other 2 were just OK. Not sure I'll be back the next time I am in town visiting.

    (3)
  • Howard R.

    Had a wonderful first experience at O'Leary's last night. We were promptly seated for our reserved table. The host was professional but perhaps a little distant and cold. Maybe having a bad day like most of us do from time to time. No harm, no foul. Our drinks were brought quickly and well executed. The waitress gave very thorough descriptions of the daily specials and did so with some enthusiasm which ended up selling us on the oyster appetizer which was brought out extremely hot and also well executed. The lobster cappuchino was excellent, if not a bit overpriced but you know this restaurant isn't exactly cheap when you make the reservation. The barramundi was wonderful and our first experience with this Australian fish. The fish itself was light and flaky with an almost neutral to sweet flavor. It was offset by the stronger flavors of the capers and artichokes and made for an interesting and balanced dish. The zarzuela was delicious and was amply apportioned with clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops and lobster. The creme brulee' for dessert was a nice end to a great meal. Our server was attentive yet not smothering and our water glasses were always full. Love the decor. Was a bit disappointing to have a couple seated after we arrived and the man was wearing flip flops, wife beater and cut off shorts. One doesn't go to a fine dining restaurant just for the food. It's about the total experience and to have someone walk in like they were going to Chipotle detracts from the overall experience. Would like to see management have some expectations of a minimal level of acceptable dress for this otherwise wonderful restaurant.

    (4)
  • Kara T.

    We were so excited to try out a higher end restaurant in Annapolis since we've been disappointed thus far. We go out pretty often and do not mind spending more on good food. OLearys was extremely unseasoned, overrated and overpriced. The menu doesn't make sense. It's all over the place and all of our food was cold (appetizer, entree, and coffee later on). Our server was polite but very awkward. He was not very attentive, but again very nice. Unfortunately, we will not be back to OLearys. Great location though!

    (2)
  • Fred G.

    we've been there half a dozen times and always loved it. The food quality seems to have fallen over the last year or so. At hose prices, it needs to be a home run.

    (3)
  • Greg B.

    All I've ever heard about O'Learys is that it is an amazing restaurant, so when I saw it on the list of restaurants participating in the 2009 Restaurant week I figured it would be good to give it a try. Now let me prefice this with the fact that I believe that Restaurant Week is not about quality, but more about getting people in and out of the door as quickly as possible. Now that you understand this, I'm not going to knock the restaurant; however, I felt that the fish entree that was served was far too dry and lacked any taste whatsoever. Now where the chefs fell short on the fish, they more than made up for on the dessert! The bread pudding I chose was more like heaven than actual food! If you have a chance to stop in for dessert, please do! Also, they have a very extensive wine list to boot. I am looking forward to trying this restaurant again sometime soon!

    (4)
  • Janet K.

    Ok, let's start by saying this is really a 4 1/2 star review---Yelp, I want those half stars please!!! 5 stars to me means flawless and this wasn't, but most of the glitches--like cold coffee--were quickly and pleasantly corrected. I have eaten at O'Leary's a number of times over the years and almost always the food is to die for. We went this time for Mothers' Day. We were thrilled when we walked in to see Chef Russell Brown (former owner of Northwoods) He had been briefly at Rockfish where I suspect his considerable skills were wasted. The creamy red pepper/crab soup was so fabulous I threw vanity to the wind and sopped up the bottom of the bowl with my bread. (I would like to see more bread variety--ciabatti just is not my favorite at all--Chart House offers a wonderful basket of mixed breads and crackers) My mother pronounced her soft shell crab dinner to be the best ever---and she has eaten quite a few in her 80+ years. I was just not into seafood that night so had the beef--wonderful! My nephew had a pasta dish that was divine--except--please remove the bay leaves before serving! Also, I am not a big fan of whole cloves of garlic in a dish (We counted 10 of them) Now here comes the downer--the leftovers were brought out in Chinese style paper conainers. When you serve a beautiful gourmet dinner and then dump leftovers into a box, something is greatly amiss. Also--a BIG pet peeve of mine is when the kitchen decides to pick through what is on the plate to determine what goes home and what doesn't. (The thought of someone doing this is a bit revolting) I always tell the server that I want everything on the plate to go home--and when I get home and find some of the food missing I am mightily ticked. It is SO presumptuous! So, O'Leary's, if you don't want your customers to be so gauche as to scrape their leftovers into containers themselves at the table, STOP picking through their food deciding what goes and what doesn't! And get some decent containers where the food can go home in as lovely a manner as it is originally presented. (You might want to check Cheesecake Factory--it is about the only thing they do well..) And now for a final positive note--I love that O'Leary's has it's own free convenient parking lot! I think that makes up for it's lack of water view... So, all in all, some pretty spectacuar food, top knotch service, lovely ambiance, but lousy take home department... I'm sure Chef Russell will fix the little problems in no time... We're SO glad you are back!!!!

    (5)
  • Brendan D.

    Terrific food. Went here every now and again when I was an Annapolis resident, and frankly I lament the commute it would take now. Crabcakes are the signature dish, but really all the seafood is fresh and delicious. Underrated Caesar salads too. Its pricy, but your getting excellent quality for your bucks. Check it out, make reservations- its filled every night.

    (4)
  • H.A. T.

    Oh boy, I go to a seafood restaurant and order duck! Living near Annapolis I get my fill of seafood pretty regularly, but always order duck when it's on the menu. I loved it! It had a been a fantastic afternoon of fishing with a friend and enjoying a beautiful day on the water and to follow it up with a great duck dinner, was wonderful. I visited with a friend who is an owner of a nearby restaurant. They wanted to revisit O'Learys as they had not been in while and wanted to patronize their neighboring business. We both agreed the atmosphere was enjoyable, the service was attentive and the food was delicious. I look forward to returning and sharing this little gem with good friends and family. Dined on 10/20/10

    (4)
  • Alex L.

    I guess this is a 3.5. Boyfriend's parents were in town for his mom's birthday so we took a trip down to Annapolis. The restaurant was small but pretty funky. My wine was too sweet for my taste, but I guess that's my problem. Starters: boyfriend and his dad got the mussels, I got the fried oysters. SO disappointed--I felt like I could taste the old oil they were fried in. Yuck. Mussels were good but DC Coast set a really high bar that has yet to be topped. Mains: I got cornmeal fried trout--zillions of tiny bones on the edges of the fillet. Again, my problem? Not sure. But not enjoyable. Flavor of the fish was great though! His mom got the Thai mahi mahi that she said was great; his dad got the crabcakes which were WAY overpriced, although didn't have a lot of fillers. He said they were good but not stellar. Boyfriend got the rockfish special, topped with lump crab. It was very tasty though I can't remember a thing about it at this point... Dessert: Best part of the night. His dad got carrot cake and refused to share, it was that good. The rest of us got dessert martinis which was so fun! My double espresso was amazing; boyfriend's white chocolate raspberry was great and his mom enjoyed her "candy bar." All in all, a great dinner but not necessarily because of the food.... As enjoyable way to drop $300 as any I guess.

    (3)
  • Phil B.

    I overheard a bartender at the Westin recommend this as the best place in Annapolis. I tend to agree. I thought the food was excellent, the restaurant atmospheric without being too much, and the parking lot is large enough for the establishment. Plus you can see the harbor from the front door. Its a bit on the pricier side, so expect to pay 40, 50 dollars a person with a drink & gratuity.

    (5)
  • Kristy B.

    Amazing, eclectic food. Expensive but worth every penny. It's been quite a while since we've eaten there (out of our price range unless it's for a special occasion) so I don't remember what we ordered, but I do remember that we left there fat and happy!

    (5)
  • Nathan W.

    Probably the best staple for high end dining out in Annapolis. O'Learys combines the charm of the Eastport section of Annapolis with the bold flavor profiles of a much larger city. Its a seafood lovers haven, but dont fear for there are plenty of options for our more terrestrial gastronomes.

    (4)
  • tracey s.

    We went here when our friends were in town from Boston. I had to send my food back 3 times and everyone else's food was average....barely average. The atmosphere was nice and espresso martinis were very good though. Overall, it was very overpriced mediocre overrated food.

    (1)
  • Brian S.

    I would give it 5 stars, but my wife said 3 at the most, so I'll average. I loved the selection of fish that you can't find elsewhere, and they're prepared in a myraid of ways. Our service was excellent and the waitress did a good job of recommending wine. The dining room is a little cramped and there is no view at all, but I had a great time. Highly recommended.

    (4)
  • DML K.

    One of the best dining experiences I have had. On our spur of the moment trip to Annapolis, we chose O'Leary due to the rave reviews on several sites. This place lived up to the expectations. First and foremost, if you want a view -- this is not the place. O'Leary's is situated in a little house with what looks like a little porch. The inside is warm, inviting and cozy. We had dinner at 9:45 so the restaurant was not crowded but it is also January (not the height of tourist season). The waitress was friendly and engaging. She gave several great recommendations. She was helpful but not intrusive. The food -- to die for. Just writing this makes me want to take the hour trip right now. From what I understand, the menu changes with the seasons and what is available. Our appetizer and bread were wonderful. The crab cakes -- they are what crab cakes should be. Hubby's dish was great too but all I remember are those crab cakes.

    (5)
  • Angela K.

    We had a wonderful family dinner to celebrate our sons graduation at Oleary's. If you want good seafood then this is a great choice. We each had a starter and each one was delicious. I had the grilled calimari, others at the table had the Tuna Sashimi (excellent), crab cake, and clams. The best dish was the soft shell crab dinner and the Grouper with Gulf Shrimp. The light batter on the grouper allowed for all of the flavors to come out. Our server set the right tone for our dinner which was not to rush and to enjoy each others conversation. The owner made a number of rounds to make sure everything was done well. On the way home we were discussing when we can go back again.

    (5)
  • Maureen P.

    Although Annapolis is thought of as a "fish" sort of town I have never found very good fish restaurants here. O'Learys is the total exception and has been for about 10 years. I recently visited during restaurant week with a friend. My friend chose the mushroom bisque as the first course. It was hot, yummy, and rich. I chose the grilled romaine with warm whole grain mustard dressing and bacon fat croutons. Hmm well a little disappointment here...not warm and not a lot of flavor in the dressing and the croutons were, well unexciting. I think I should have had the mussels. For the entree we both chose the Mahi-Mahi with sweet potato chips, green beans and gorgonzola balsamic vinaigrette. It came hot and moist with a nice crust on the outside. The vinaigrette was tasty but not really distinguishable as gorgonzola so I was a tad disappointed. But overall the dish was cooked perfectly and was very tasty! Both the creme brulee and chocolate mousse we good and a nice end to the dinner. As always the wait staff if the best in Annapolis. I really mean that. Knowledge of food and wine, thoughtful, engaging and everything you always want a wait staff to be...attentive, but not annoying. Not surprising the "restaurant week" menu was not quite as good as the normal menu, but it won't really stop me from going back to O's or telling others to try it.

    (4)
  • Michael B.

    I gave it 5 starts because it is exactly as it say's it is. It is not the best food in the world but for the price it was darn good. This is on my short list of good Annapolis restaurants. My GF and I went here for restaurant week. I was expecting diluted service and food but what we got was an excellent meal. Without going into every detail about what we got I will just say that this place has the attention to detail I have been looking for. Everything that was served was prepared and executed properly. This may seem simple but really so many places can't even fry something right. i.e. calamari was perfect and not chewy at all with a nice sauce. Everything served was tasty and the flavors blended nicely. The service was attentive without being overbearing and offered good input when asked. No beer on tap but an ok selection in bottles. I am not a wine drinker so I can't comment on the wine list but it seemed fairly extensive. The atmosphere was nice and cozy, warm on a cold rainy night and high enough ceilings to feel more open then it is. Long story short I would go back.

    (5)
  • Monica S.

    I travel quite frequently for my job so I have eaten at many fine restaurants around the country and the food at O'Leary's would absolutely fall in the top 5 best meals. I had the pleasure of dining there for my anniversary and found it was worth every penny. The pairings of the sides with the entree are perfectly complimentary. We started out sharing the lobster bisque and the arugula salad and for entrees I had the crab cakes with potato salad and asparagus and my boyfriend had the encrusted tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes. All of it was truly amazing. Definitely recommend this if you are looking for a food experience that will leave your mouth watering as you reminisce the evening. I mentioned it was our anniversary in the comments of the reservation and when we decided to pass on dessert, they surprised us with one anyway to celebrate our special occasion. We loved it!

    (5)
  • Derek D.

    The food here is nothing less than phenomenal! The lump crab meat coconut bisque special was amazing. The Panko-Wasabi Scallops were the best I've ever eaten. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better the Cedar River Farms Filet Mignon melted in my mouth, again the best I've ever eaten. I recommend coming from far and wide to sample the cuisine here I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

    (5)
  • Vannie N.

    We came here for our wedding anniversary. The place is pretty small so I highly recommend a reservation. It's located near down town by the bay. We ordered the mussels, combo soft shell crab with crab cake, and crispy grouper. Everything was delicious. We would come back again if we were in the area.

    (4)
  • Geoff And Jenni G.

    The tables at O'Leary's are a little too close for comfort and it does make it feel a bit crowded, but the food was excellent... as were the cocktails :-) We had the shark, which was quite a small portion for the price to be fair... Would definitely recommend though - would probably choose the swordfish over the shark next time! ;-)

    (4)
  • Mark J.

    Split the shrimp and grits. It was very good. They charged a $5 split plate fee. Don't know if that meant they put more food on the 2 plates or not, but the dish was sufficiently large enough to feed 2 adults. Room was at times a bit loud, they could use some acoustic foam on the ceiling. Staff were very friendly.

    (5)
  • Mike J.

    Met some old friends at O'Learys two nights ago. We don't go that often and every time we do we wonder why. We ordered a couple of Margritini's which are the best version of a traditional Margarita that can be found. As usual we were served with class and care and the Margaritini's were flowing. For apps we had fried oysters which were better than I had expected as I am not an oyster lover. But these were great. Large oysters fried with light breading and served with a dipping sauce that was outstanding. We normally go for the shrimp app but our venturing from that staple was well worth it. My tuna was served rare which I had ordered medium and the waitress noticed it and brought it back without me asking. I would never ask, so that was a nice touch. The view looks at the back of a building but the food is so much better than anything seafood oriented within walking distance that we forgo the view for the high quality food and drink. We skipped dessert as we try to control the waist line but I have had dessert their in the past and remember it being very good. It is pricey but the food is worth it.

    (4)
  • Jonathan N.

    ***** My fiancé currently has food poisoning from our dinner on March 28th! ***** We made the decision to go to O'Leary's when all other restaurants in the area had an extremely long wait. Amazingly (and suspiciously), O'Leary's had plenty of seating! This was our first hint that maybe this isn't a great decision to eat here. But, we seen all of the positive reviews and awards on the wall on the restaurant and decided to take our chances. Upon walking in, it has a lower-middle end seafood chain restaurant feel. Not a high-end seafood restaurant feel. I've had better ambiance at a Red Lobster! The one positive, their service was excellent with the exception of the waitress taking forever to give my fiancé a straw for her glass of water. All of the negatives: - Their $15 grilled shrimp had only 4 pieces of shrimp and it was mediocre. That's right, 4 pieces! - Their butternut squash bisque can only be described as 'okay'. - They have NO draft beer available and their bottled beer was luke warm. - My fiancé ate the Atlantic salmon. I tried a bite after she was done eating and it didn't seem to be cooked right. (Likely what gave her food poisoning.) - I had the crab cakes. They were mediocre to average. You can find much better in Annapolis alone! - We had the crème brulee for dessert. It was cold like they didn't prepare it before bringing it to our table. - The tables are extremely crowded together and make it difficult to not hit the patron behind you with your chair. SUMMARY: For about $150, we didn't plan on paying for a meal that's below Red Lobster standards and ruin our Sunday with food poisoning. We appreciated their service, but everything else needs a drastic improvement!!!

    (1)
  • South D.

    It's slightly "fancier" than the other casual restaurants and bars in the area. Service was awesome! Heavier type of food, beware. If you want something light, go elsewhere, but if you want a fancy, huge meal, this is the place. Bring your wallet. One tip, avoid the calamari. Our waitress said it was great, it wasn't. It's not bad, it's just average, and with so many other good things to eat on the menu, why fill up on an average appetizer. Enjoy!

    (4)
  • Richard S.

    I used to come to O'Leary's often about 10 years ago. it was a great place to get a nice piece of fresh fish in a nice environment with great service. However, the last few times I have been everything is still great except for the food. I mean it's not terrible, but it is so over "chef'd" if you know what I mean. The offerings are so complex that the fish is almost secondary. Here is the description of the Crispy Grouper: "served over black beans and rice, sautéed jumbo shrimp, tomato-cilantro salsa, finished with chipotle aioli and barbecue sauce" am I the only one who thinks that's a bit over the top? Gimme a break, really? I had the Halibut special which was very average and overcooked and didn't taste like fish. Two in the party had the rockfish, which was also "meh", also over created and very greasy. A bit more favorable review for the Grouper, but no raves. Notwithstanding the above, the presentation is a picture perfect work of art, although I came here to eat fish not admire how it looks on the plate which is the primary redeeming value. I will say the atmosphere and the service is awesome. Bottom line is that I know why I don't come back (and will not) very often. There are better places to get great fish. Also the prices are on the high side given the mediocre food. if you want a nice place to go and don't like fish, you might like this place because you can't taste the fish anyway since it will be buried in all of the convoluted concoctions. My three star rating is generous because it really deserves two, but considering the service and atmosphere, I erred on the high side. If get dragged here again, I will ask the chef to just put salt and pepper and grill whatever fresh fish they have that night. Now I remember why I don't come back and am not likely to repeat anytime soon.

    (3)
  • Khalid Z.

    Very over priced but great food Ribeye steaks from creekstone farms Kansas and lamb chops from New Zealand and great entrees with options, romantic setting right off the creek. Great service.

    (4)
  • Howard B.

    This is a sold three star restaurant. It can't compete with a Ruth Chris or some of the other higher end restaurants in the immediate area but that's okay. The service from the lady that served us was excellent! The food was good. The only issue I had was with the flies. If I need to shoo away flies in a restaurant..........we've got a problem.

    (3)
  • Randy W.

    My wife and I had a wonderful July 4th dinner here which included soft-shell crabs and crab cakes entrees. My soft shell crab dinner came with two soft shell crabs over a bed of fresh tomato and corn. Simply fabulous! My wife had the crab cakes dinner and loved it. The service was first rate and very informative about not only the menu but the Annapolis area. I would highly recommend O'Learys Seafood for a great dining experience.

    (5)
  • Jenny C.

    O'Learys is a seafood restaurant in the Eastport neighborhood of Annapolis. Right next to the water, so it's perfect for dinner in the summer time (when it's still light during dinner time). Food served there is on the traditional side and has great flavors. Must tries: - Lobster cappuccino: Flavorful lobster bisque-like soup with fresh lobster meat served on the side (for dunking into the "cappucino" cup) - Scallop lamb pops: Fresh scallop ceviche helps to cut through the heaviness of the lamb chops. I had it as an entree but it's really an appetizer My husband had a grilled swordfish with mashed potatoes. Great flavors but it's expected of a high end restaurant like O'Learys. The reason why I didn't give the restaurant 5 stars is due to the oily salad we had. There was way too much dressing (oily) on the salad and made it unappetizing. Service was attentive and non-snooty.

    (4)
  • Matt B.

    We quickly got a table. Ordered the swordfish and mussels. The swordfish was very good. The mussels were excellent. The servers were quick to service tables. Overall would recommend this place to others.

    (4)
  • Gary H.

    We were really expecting a LOT out of this restaurant from what we heard. The reviews were great and the location is perfect from Eastport. We got all dressed up and when we got there, realized we were about the only people dressed up in the entire restaurant! Most were wearing "Annapolis Casual" - or even shorts. Well, it was summer. The service was very good. The host was either part owner or the owner. The table clothe were crisp and white, nice and tight. It was a fancy setting in an old building. Very enchanting and I suppose could be romantic, but we just weren't feeling it. Our food was pretty good, but not fantastic. It may have been an off night for them but I certainly would recommend checking this place out if you have not already. I suppose my expectations were much too high - I was thinking it was more formal than it was. That is not their fault. By the way, the free bread they provide is amazing. :)

    (4)
  • RaShonda R.

    This place had pretty good reviews, which is why we chose it. When we drove up it seemed to be an old house located near, not exactly on, the Annapolis harbor. On the inside there was a tiny bar with 3 seats. Despite its size, it was very cozy and felt more like we were in someone's home than in a restaurant. As soon as we were seated, we noticed all of the meals coming out from the kitchen from appetizers to desserts, everything looked amazing. We ordered the Lobster Cappuccino and Crab Tower for starters. Both were extremely fresh, my fiance loves bisques so this was a hit for him. Pretty sure I could eat the crab tower every day. There was so much crab. For our entrees, we had the Crispy Flounder and Crab Cakes. The portions were huge. My dish had three large portions of flounder that were lightly breaded with a drizzle of mustard sauce served on top of rice and a fresh salsa. His 2 crab cakes (jumbo lump, very little filler) were served over fried green tomatoes. I'm very picky when it comes to fried green tomatoes as they have to still be firm and at least 1/4" thick with a crispy coating. These were exactly how I like them. When I say everything was delicious, everything was delicious. The portions were huge so I ended up having left overs. Pretty sure I've never had crispy fish the next day that was just as good as the night before. Excellent service & food! Next time we'll definitely have to save room for dessert.

    (5)
  • M. A.

    We had high expectations for this restaurant. The service was subpar. Our waitress was very snobby compared to the cheerful lady the greeted and seated us. We had the grilled shrimp dish for the appetizer which was delicious and the sauce that accompanied it was tasty. My husband had the Ribeye Steak. The steak was average at best and no steak sauce was available. He also had the Mac and Cheese which was very bland. I had the Lobster. It was overcooked, and tough to chew and cut. I was very much looking forward to the Lobster and to say it was a disappointment would be an understatement. The asparagus that came with the Lobster was burned and overcooked. Disappointing: that's the best way to describe this meal and experience O'Learys.

    (2)
  • Marivic L.

    O'Learys is a tiny restaurant right near the water in Annapolis. The dining area has lots of windows so you can take in the views and it seems like this is the neighborhood restaurant for many of the people who were dining last night. How lucky to live so close to the water in Annapolis and have this as your regular restaurant, huh? The staff is SO nice and makes you feel very welcome - and not in the generic restaurant server kind of way. The atmosphere is casual but on the dressier side of casual - many blazers, vests, etc. were worn. In addition, we were probably a good 20 years younger than the average diner there. There were probably only 2 more tables with people our age - and I'm no spring chicken. Just an FYI for peeps who tend to like a younger crowd. I'm not one of them. HA Anyway, the gratis bread was served warm with room temp butter. The menu featured lots of seafood, naturally. We started out with a half dozen oysters which tasted fresh and were nice and meaty. I also had a martini which was poured at the table. I love how people are doing that now. The one thing I have to say is, they sure don't skimp in the alcohol here. It was quite strong. Being a fatty kind of day, I decided on the seafood alfredo which had scallops, shrimp, lump crab, mushrooms, and snap peas. The alfredo sauce was just ok in flavor and thickness, but the seafood in it was better and cooked perfectly. I tried my friend's healthy fish dish and it was fantastic. This is a good place but I wasn't impressed enough to make it on my must-eat list when I come back to Annapolis.

    (3)
  • John S.

    O'Learys was recommended by a good friend who is familiar with Annapolis' better establishments. My wife and I were celebrating our 30th anniversary and wanted good seafood, good atmosphere, good service and just a nice restaurant to have dinner with some special friends and family. O'Learys was an excellent experience. We opted for a later seating time, which was a good idea, as it was packed - yes, make a reservation! I had one of the specials, halibut with crab meat. Delicious! My wife had the soft shell crabs, which you could opt for one soft shell crab and a crab cake, which she did. Very good our daughter-in-law to be had the lobster, about two pounds, which melted in your mouth. The veggies were fresh and not overdone! The desserts were just the right size, after the excellent meal. The service was impecable. My thanks to everyone at O'Learys for making our evening truly memorable.

    (5)
  • Mark W.

    This place was very accommodating to our party of 10 that night. We all had different plates ranging from scallops, crabcake dinners, shrimp pasta, salmon etc. Everyone's plates looked delicious. I had the panko scallop appetizer and the crabcake dinner. The scallops were perfectly cooked and soooo tender. The crabcakes rank amongst the best I ever had, We had a great time here. If I lived out this way I would be a regular.

    (4)
  • Ces O.

    You know, we have checked out most of the Annapolis restaurants ( as local residents of Eastport. ). We have survived numerous "bate and switch" happy hour deals BUT. Recently we checked out O Learys for dinner and it was spot on, Fabulous! The cocktails were strong and true. Oyster appetizer was tasty and super chrispy. But our main dishes of rockfish, tilefish and softshell crab were all totally awesome.

    (5)
  • Jamie G.

    Meh. Our table of 4 couldn't get past the pretentious, aloof, and indifferent host to get seated and served. The restaurant was busy. He took my cell number and said he'd call when a table opened up. A day later, we're still waiting for the call. Never got seated. Never got to taste the food. DID get a definite vibe of "No Franklin? No table." from the host. Not impressed.

    (2)
  • Paul T.

    Outstanding place for special occasions. Great food!

    (5)
  • Jason M.

    Just Ok. So we've been hearing about O'Leary's reputation as the go to restaurant for seafood in Annapolis. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Our waitress was nice but did not speak with us much. We had the calamari as an appetizer, which was good, but a little oily. For dinner I had the crispy grouper, which was not bad while my wife had a lobster served over a pancetta risotto. The lobster was cooked very well but the risotto must have been drowned in butter. We found a decent wine which I thought had an unusually high mark-up considering we purchase it from total wine on occasion. For dessert we tried the creme brûlée which was deep dished but overcooked and a little stiff. All-in-all nothing was bad, just kind of mediocre for a $300 dinner.

    (3)
  • Jack J.

    Great seafood and service!

    (5)
  • t m.

    Very accommodating and friendly staff. Decor is great and food presentation traditional/classy. My wife and I had a great time. Mussels and squash soup were both very good, wife loved the small crab cake main course. Have to say shrimp and grits were a miss. Grits tasted a little off and I did not detect any cheddar, jalapeño or butter in them. Also thought the finely diced ham would be better served in larger pieces (or maybe even andouille slices instead). Desserts were good. Wine was a small pour and selection OK. Had a great night that the staff, decor and a few of the dishes helped make that way.

    (3)
  • James W.

    $36 for Frozen Tuna...used to be GoTo Fine Dining at its BEST! My wife and I went to Oleary's tonight and had Andrea as our server. We have been dining at Oleary's since 2007 when we used to visit 2 to 3 times a month since we were kidless and full of extra money. We now have 3 kids and going out to dinner is like plaaning a bar mitzvah! We started off with the calimari which came out promptly and was delicous as usual. We always order fried calamari at Oleary's because I like the tentacles and my wife likes the rings so it is the perfect starter to share....we usually order the Lobster Cappuccino as well but we are slimming down! My wife ordered the usual Tuna Steak which changes preparation but is always top notch. I ordered the Zarzuela which I have had before and enjoyed...I would have chose the duck but unfortunately we are not in the duck season. I did inquire about whether they were planning on having the duck this year with the Foie Gras and Andrea proceeded to tell me that if they served that on the menu she would have to quit since she knows how it is "made." So our dinner came out and my wife proceeded to take a picture of her dinner to send to a friend....she was so excited to be going out for a nice dinner and wanted to share! She took her first cut into her tuna steak and it was grey...not over cooked grey but previously frozen grey. She touched it and felt that it was cold so we knew it was not overcooked eventhough we could look at it and tell that. I took a look at me Zarzuela and it just looked like it was missing something....rice??? veggie??? it was only seafood in a sauce with one 3 inch piece of bread....uggghh i'm a bread lover so that is not good! Let me start here with we NEVER EVER send food back!!!! Andrea came over and we showed her...she said maybe they sauteed it a little too long. We told her it was still cold in the middle and it looks like it was most likely previously frozen. She said again it may have been cooked a little too long. We knew that was not the case but we are not ones to argue so we just reluctantly asked if we could get a replacement. She obliged. I should of asked about my dish or just asked for some more bread but....who likes to argue or ask for something they should have already received....not me! I put my fork down and waited for my wife's food to be recooked...we just looked at each other and said...it didn't used to be like this! This used to be a really nice place to come to dinner! I told her about how it looks like my dish is missing something and she said to me that the tuna is usually always perfect. Moments later my wife's dish came back out and the tuna was magnitudes better! The down side was the asian slaw was hot...either microwaved or sitting under a heat lamp. For this caliber of restaurant I would think they would have redone the entire plate...how much is asian slaw??? how much is grilled shrimp??? I just would have taken the initiative to redo the entire plate...its the least you could do for serving old tuna! The bottom line is we will most likely not visit Oleary's again! It is sad because this has been our favorite restaurant for 7 years running. The problem is we have 3 kids and our time is precious...we do not have time for second chances and there are so many up and comers out there! I would rather go out and try something new not knowing what I am going to get, than going to Oleary's and wondering if they are going to redeem themselves. P.S. - We had a bottle of white wine with no chiller...we were not there long but it would have been nice!

    (1)
  • Rebecca M.

    Lives up to the hype---the food is incredible. Fresh tasting, well prepared, and DELICIOUS. Oh my. This is not the place for someone looking for 'healthy' fare nor someone on a serious budget---but if you're looking for a treat that will leave you swooning, you must try O'Learys. I went there late on a Sunday (during the Annapolis boat show) with my parents and boyfriend, and had no trouble getting a table. The restaurant is relatively small (looked like 20 tables) and situated on a quiet part of town...over the bridge and a short walk from downtown. We had the oysters on the halfshell (oyster season in VA), and found the oysters briney and slightly sweet. My parents had the heirloom tomato salad, which was good, but their entrees---the Seafood Alfredo (scallops, jumbo prawns, crab meat, green beans, in a browned butter Alfred sauce) was heartstoppingly delicious. My boyfriends crab cakes were meaty, light on the filler, and nicely browned on the outside. My lobster with prosciutto and fresh corn risotto, was INCREDIBLE. I love lobster like any gal, but the meat on this one was fresh, slightly grilled on the outside, meaty, and combined with the risotto---very filling. The wine list was fair (the French chardonnay was reasonably priced at $36) and the garlic butter spread served with the bread was heaven-ly. While the total damage I'm fairly certain was near $250 for 4, if you're looking for amazing seafood while in Annapolis---this is the joint.

    (5)
  • Lisa L.

    This is my favorite spot , but I have to tell you I tried the crab cakes last week and was not impressed . They were large in size but lacked flavor and were very wet and mushy . The cakes came with pretty lame sides too - especially for the $36 price . Everything else : service, drinks and appetizers were great . Will stick with the salmon and grouper next time .

    (2)
  • George M.

    Cute little restaurant one block from the waterfront. Drunken mussels were soft and succulent. Juice was tasty but bread was a bit on the oily side. The Australian Barramundi was really really good. I mean seriously good! Service was good. As soon as a customer complained about the low temperature it was immediately adjusted...no lame excuses....only ding and the reason for the 3 stars was the rude bartender/host? As soon as we walked in he said to our greeter "to the back". Granted we were not dressed to the nines but we found it rude nevertheless. Price-wise for two around $140 without tip but with lots of food, probably a little too much food to be honest.

    (3)
  • Lew S.

    Gone down hill - service good, but food mediocre- not worth the cost - much better places in Annapolis to go to..

    (3)
  • Britton B.

    3.5 Stars. O'Learys had a lot of good things, but does not have the whole five star classy restaurant package. Lets start with the good. The food was fantastic. The menu was quite nice, accurate pricing, and good quality. I had the special; rockfish with a garlicky butter sauce all covered with fresh Maryland crab meat. The rockfish was superb and the green beans and baby potatoes complimented the fish well. We had creme brulee for dessert and that was so delicious. The top layer of the creme brulee had the standard hardened sugar, which was fun to eat. The atmosphere was awkward, felt somewhat up tight, and not so friendly. When we walked into the host just put off a non-welcoming, I'm too busy for you right now, type of vibe. Our server was fine, but nothing extraordinary. Again, we just got that vibe that the service wasn't sincere and kind of fake... ... Again, the atmosphere was awkward. It sort of felt like the restaurant didn't know its own identity. The architecture of the "seafood" restaurant was vessel like, which was cool. However, the paintings on the wall, the paint colors on the walls, and the overall decor just didn't fit together. Don't get me wrong, I'm usually not this picky, but the awkwardness level of the decor was distracting me.. I'm glad we went to O'Learys. It was a nice resturant to visit for our Annapolis weekend. And the seafood was superb, which was fitting for the seaport type culture of Annapolis. It was nice, but too many loose ends and missing pieces for a five star restaurant.

    (3)
  • Chris T.

    Not bad but not great. My wife and I had dinner here over labor day weekend. Service was great. Everything else was just OK. Ambiance was lacking charisma a bit, the place was a little cold, tables needed candles, cocktail and wine were just ok, and both our fish meals seemed a bit over cooked (mahi mahi and swordfish). Overall not bad, didn't quite feel like it deserved the top rated restaurant in Annapolis on yelp, felt overpriced for what we got. Won't be in a rush back.

    (3)
  • Rob B.

    SECOND HELPING Still one of the gems of Annapolis. We went for his birthday with the neighbors and though it's spendy, you can't find better service with seafood in DTA. Wonderful fried oysters and beet salad to start. My softies were as indulgent as they were perfect. The mustard cream sauce served with the crab cake and soft crabs was impeccable. Crab cake is stellar best in town for sure. While we think of it as O'Leary's seafood they do just as great of a job with the steak and pork. The crispy grouper is my "go to" but soft crabs are fleeting. FYI Chef Russell was on the floor and while dressed in Sunday suit that night, he is the man in the whites who makes the magic !

    (5)
  • Elizabeth L.

    Disappointed Sub par ambience and same for the food. Would recommend heading next door to Carol's Creek for similar pricing, Better food and even better ambience and service. Took about an hour to get our entrees-- of which 2 were overcooked and under seasoned, one was luke warm to borderline cold. Appetizers: excellent Escargot (3/5) Scallops (5/5) Fried oysters (5/5) Entrees Ordered: The salmon special was good as we're the crab cakes. (3/5) Australian barramundi and mahimahi dishes were underwhelming (2/5) The seafood stew was also satisfactory All dishes had overcooked "jasmine" rice and spinach Pros: great area, appetizers, parking Cons: food, value

    (2)
  • Laurie C.

    Had dinner at O'Learys based on Yelp reviews . Lovely location--1/2 block from the marina but no full water views. Arrived at 6:00 pm, mid week, with a reservation . It was not at all busy and we were given a window seat . I would recommend to always ask for that although there aren't many. The cocktails we ordered were fantastic--Bees Knees and my husband ordered. Margarita like drink-- both were great but the Bees Knees was incredible! Had Virginia Fried Oysters--cooked perfectly with a mango salsa. Super good! For an entree I had shrimp and grits , and it was good but not great . It had too many peppers (which I don't care for) and it was a bit tasteless . I added salt and that made it much better . My husband had the crab cakes and was swooning! They had been recommended by other reviewers so that's what I would order on my next visit ! The restaurant is very charming and cozy and looks like an old house from the outside. Adorable ---free parking too! Highly recommend although it's pricey---$12.00 cocktails, $30-40 entrees. We really did love it!

    (4)
  • Joe M.

    Meet a customer here for dinner. I loved the food. Easy to get to from my hotel. We had apps, dinner and dessert. Loved every bite. It was loud but the food made up for it. This is a must stop if u like seafood. Really glad we ate here Jan 2012

    (4)
  • Bob J.

    First of all the crab cakes were delicious, but way overpriced at $37. Too much mango!. We love mangoes, but it appeared on 3 of 4 of the dishes we ordered: - the Crab Tower - mangoes overpowered the entire dish. Could barely taste crab that was the smallest component or the avocado. - Virginia Crispy Oysters - mango added nothing to dish - BBQ Mahi Mahi - mango here is typically a good partner butwe were mangoed out by this time Service was great. Everything else was just OK. Ambiance was okay - liked art-filled rooms but noise level was way high. Didn't feel like it deserved the top rated restaurant in Annapolis on yelp, felt overpriced for what we got. Won't be back soon..

    (2)
  • Scott C.

    I came here with a group of 9 so I was prepared for some delays. Our server was dead on and started us off with some drinks and appetizers. I had the lobster cappuccino which was creamy and spot on. For the main I chose the crab cakes and fried green tomatoes. Once again I was note disappointed as it was a great pairing with good proportions. Overall, great tasting food with good service. I would strongly recommend this place.

    (5)
  • Megan P.

    My parents recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary at O'Learys and as a surprise gift for them my siblings and I wanted to pay for their meal as we all live out of state. I spoke with Paul the day of their reservation to set this up; not only was he very accommodating, he graciously took my information and even wrote out a card for my parents letting them know we took care of their bill. They said they had a fantastic waitress and their entire experience was excellent. I cannot thank Paul and the entire O'Learys staff enough for creating a wonderful memory for my parents on their anniversary, and I will absolutely be visiting the restaurant myself when I return home. Thank you!

    (5)
  • Vishal S.

    One of the best seafood restaurants Annapolis. Just make sure to make a reservation or you will have to wait a long time on Summer weekends. The tables are cozy - close to each other, since the entire restaurant is not that big to begin with. Folks waiting for the table crowd around the minuscule entrance or the small bar. We had a table reservation at 7:30 PM but were not seated until 8 PM and hence the minus 1 star for that. Some local politician who just happened to show up got our table. The maitre d knew we saw that so he came over and kinda apologized to us and "promised" we were next in line. Service was good and food was excellent once we were all settled in. I had the crab cakes and my wife had the Australian Barramundi. Both dishes were very good and went well with the wines that they offer. A note about the dress code - since I did not want to look out of place here 9summer season) - This is a fancy restaurant with prices on the menu to match the ambiance. But, as expected, most folks were dressed up in either pants or "preppy" shorts. Though there were a few in their summer shorts too - but I am kinda used to that. don't know if restaurants can really enforce that policy - so be comfortable in what you are wearing as long as it is not a t-shirt and shorts kinda gear.

    (4)
  • Chad C.

    The food and service was awesome. Friendly and prompt. Multiple dishes ordered at our table and not a bad meal was had. Great!

    (4)
  • Hima R.

    SUPERB! I had the Bee's Knees cocktail which was tasty but strong in terms of the lemon juice aspect. Husband had the Tempranillo red wine which he definitely enjoyed. I had the fried oysters appetizer - very yummy. Husband had the lobster cappuccino and loved it. For my entree, I had the lobster special - all "work" done, served over lobster risotto - lobster was super fresh and testy and risotto was yummy but very heavy. Husband had the Zarzuela and liked that a lot too. Only thing that was "disappointing" was the coconut cake that I took to go for dessert - it was fine, but not anything special. Overall though a great place to eat, great service, and definitely great seafood. We were also considering Carroll's Creek Cafe just down the road (on a friend's recommendation), but chose O'Leary's based on my Yelp research, which worked out well!

    (5)
  • Barbara S.

    6 people last night Every meal was 5 star Along with Joe our waiter Outstanding time Wine choice was excellent

    (5)
  • Jason M.

    Several things about O'Learys made my trip disappointing. 1) Yelp and opentable indicated this establishment was dressy / business casual (respectively). I, with my button down oxford, khakis and jacket, felt overdressed. The person behind me had a hat on. The table of 8 next to me was half children. And as I was paying I noticed a couple seated with denim (one was ripped). I spotted a couple other tables of denim in the place. Generally sweaters (with no dress shirt underneath) prevailed. I'd recommend snappy casual. It's also quite a bit louder than I expected, though not overwhelming. Finally, the table cloths were covered with paper which was a red flag for me that this might not be the night I intended. I half expected our waitress to write her name in crayon on the table a la Macaroni Grill. 2) I ordered an old fashioned to start my experience. I couldn't taste any whiskey, which was a shame. Very weak. 3) For a starter, I ordered the corn chowder with crab soup. While the taste was promising, it was masked by the coldness of the soup. And it wasn't just "cold" as in that's intentional. It was room temperature, as in tasted like this bowl was poured, sat on a counter for 20 minutes, and was then served to me. The top of the soup was slightly warmer, leading me to believe it was under a heating lamp or something. Really? For soup? 4) After ordering the waitress said "I'll be right back with some rolls." We were then approached by the waiting assistant who gave us each 1 roll with his tongs. This is the only restaurant I've seen that is transparently stingy on a basket of rolls. 5) Big minus points for their seafood market. I asked the waitress what fish was caught locally, as I stared (past an ugly brick building and vacant parking lot - which was our wonderful window view) into a small piece of the bay. She went through the seafood dishes and everything was from california or flordia. What a joke. Not even the atlantic salmon, which I'm sure is farm-raised like most atlantic salmon these days, was local. She did say she *thinks* the Rockfish was local, and the oysters were, but given the seafood emphasis and the proximity to the ocean, I found the lack of freshly caught fare inexcusable. 6) This is a plus, my dish was pretty good. I got shrimp, scallops and crab tossed in fettuccine alfredo. The mushrooms in the mix were a bit undercooked for my liking, but the dish was overall solid. Conclusion: O'Learys is just OK. I hate to say it, but the experience reminded me more of Olive Garden than a really fine dining restaurant. And for $107 before tip for two starter soups, two entrees and two drinks (no dessert even) you can absolutely do better for your money.

    (2)
  • John P.

    This was the second time we went there. It is great place for good food and drink. My wife and I would recommend to all our friends. .

    (5)
  • Alan A.

    Beware! I had dinner at O'Leary's on 1/16, and ordered the Shrimp and Grits. Within two hours it was clear that I had food poisoning... the effects of which were horrible beyond belief (or relief!). I called the next day, not to complain, but to let the restaurant know they likely had a very bad batch of shrimp, so that others would not have to suffer my fate. The owner got on the phone, and said he'd immediately look into it and call me back... which he never did. Last week I called twice to contact the owner again, curious to know if there had been other cases of food poisoning. I left a message with a person there, and haven't hear back yet... Although there would be no reason for me to ever come back -- I live 2,500 miles away -- I'm extremely disappointed in how the owner dealt with the situation, especially since my only interest in following up was so others wouldn't suffer the same fate. I've never written a restaurant review before, let alone such a negative one... but for a restaurant and owner that likes to boast on their website about providing the best of seafood and the best of service... they failed miserably on both fronts.

    (1)
  • Susan M.

    Overall, a disappointing experience. Fried calamari: Good. The garlic aioli sauce was delicious. I didn't understand the random patches of baby lettuces scattered across the plate - seemed irrelevant. Duck breast (my entrée): They do ask if you are ok with the duck being served rare. I should have asked for medium or medium-rare. It was just too rich for me so I ended up leaving most of it on the plate. The mission fig and cherry dressing served with the duck was outstanding. The sweet potato mash was also tasty so I filled up on that. Crab cakes (the boyfriend's entrée): Under-seasoned and nothing special. The fingerling potatoes had absolutely no flavor. Even after we salted them, they weren't good. Wine recommendation: We enjoyed a rosé cabernet (Mulderbosch) that was served at a perfect chilly temperature. I think this wine would pair perfectly with most seafood entrées. Coconut cake: Moist and light. I wasn't fond of the mango sauce they served it with. It sent the sweet factor over the top and could have been omitted - the cake was good enough on its own. Service was attentive and satisfactory. FYI: -The main dining room can get chilly. -They cover the tables with black paper vs table cloths. I don't think this is wise because any type of moisture causes the dye to start bleeding. I had to be careful not to get any on my clothing. I don't think we will return to O'Learys. It was nothing special.

    (2)
  • Makeya B.

    The food was okay

    (3)
  • Neil C.

    Wife and took advantage of Annapolis Restaurant week to eat here. We've want to try O'Leary's for a long time and finally made it. Our server was excellent. He checked in on us but not to much. We were able to have a nice conversation (without the kids) which was nice. The food was very good. The appetizers were spot on. I had the calamari which was fried but the batter did not overwhelm the calamari and the dipping sauce was an excellent and the spiciness added. My wife had the mussels and the sauce was perfect. We both dipped our the fresh rolls to finish of the sauce. The was a little to spicy for my wife, she ate it anyway but I thought it was about right. Our many course were the crab-cakes and duck breast. Both were delicious and the right portions. My wife felt her meal could have arrived at the table a little warmer but my was fine. To be honest she is the same way at home and it was a Friday evening. The other issue we had was it was loud. I know open table calls it "energetic" but it seems that most restaurants are loud. Not a real complaint but an observation. So, neither of our negatives are a show stopper for us and will return. We would recommend O'Learys to our friends.....

    (4)
  • Brian R.

    I always say you go to O'Learys for the food and Chart House for drinks after. OLearys food is super fresh and incorporates a lot of fusion. We love it. The ambiance is small and intimate. The place is well kept and I always find the staff friendly and professional.

    (4)
  • Bob H.

    Our business dinner was early 5:30pm on a Monday night, so no crowd. The calamari appetizer was fried light and was delicious. I enjoyed the Grouper with shrimp definitely a keeper. The other diners had the Shrimp and Grits and the seafood special which was a Cobia. All enjoyed the meals and the quiet unhurried atmosphere. After dinner we walked to the water to take in the view. A good place for a business dinner

    (4)
  • Travis I.

    I think these are the crab cakes they eat in heaven.

    (5)
  • Shantrell B.

    I am so full but not heavy! The food was awesome from the starters to dessert! My first Anniversary night was fabulous! O'Leary's is delicious and the service was great! This was my first time and I would come again.

    (4)
  • Bernice S.

    Had dinner there. Generous, free lot parking (a plus for the Annapolis waterfront area). Quaint, comfortably appointed interior, though small. While things started off well with waiter, he seems to have lost his way. Brought the herbal tea the two of us wanted, but then disappeared for 20 minutes and was somewhat aloof when he returned, though basically polite. Bread was warm and tasty; the butternut squash soup was good (but my young cousin who's a chef in training makes a far better one). It was topped with bland lump crabmeat that didn't enhance the flavor any. My main course, swordfish accompanied by small sliced potato and carrots and other veggies, arrived beautifully presented; however, the taste was just okay - nothing I'd order again. Every dish I saw arrive at other tables was also beautifully presented. It seems the chef has a greater flair for art. I really expected better tasting food, given the high ratings listed.

    (3)
  • M2 M.

    Maybe because my expectations were so high and because I eat on may seafood restaurants all over the world but I was disappointed about this restaurant, which I believe had a good reputation from a few years back but lacks of enthusiasm now . I love seafood and I was surprised by the limited selection of the menu... so I ended up in having pork with gorgonzola which was good. Unfortunately I had still had the taste of OVER cheesy scallops in my mouth that I had to get the pork to go. Service was excellent but the ambiance is poor. Except for my husband none of the men present was wearing a tie and the noise was very high making impossible to have a conversation. We were lucky because another table (near the wall ) became available a few minutes after we were seated at our table and the waitress accommodated our request and allowed us to change. Again the service was great but the food is meh. The menu seems put together by a Chef with fogged ideas about food.

    (2)
  • Kea S.

    1-10 this restaurant is a 20...the food was sooooo good!!! I will be back

    (5)
  • Steven H.

    This is the second time I have visited O'learys, and I left with the same feelings both times. Great food and so so service, but the noise in the restaraunt is unforgiving. The first visit I attributed the noise to the fact there was a large regatta in town so there were a lot of tourists. My second visit was even worse. My girlfriend and I sat at a very small table, though for the first part of the evening I could barely hear a word she was saying. Service was good, though at times we had to wait for refills on drinks and about 45 min for the delivery of our main course. All in all, its a great place, but if I want to celebrate a special occassion, or I'm looking for a nice romantic spot for dinner, I will be looking elsewhere.

    (3)
  • Amanda S.

    My friend did his homework and chose O'leary's and I'm glad I left the selection to him. We were seated immediately as our reservation was for 9pm. And at that hour, the place was still busy. We were seated near a group of drunk dinner guests who were very loud, flashing cameras, taking calls and one lady was 8 decibals above everyone else in the entire restaurant! She was annoying, yes, but we just rolled with it. Our server was lovely and very attentive. We started with the Tuna Sashimi and Oysters Italienne. The consistency of the yellowfin was a bit too rubbery for my taste and my friend felt that the Oysters were overwhelmed with garlicky bread crumbs. He had the Lobster cappuccino and said it was pleasing and satisfying. I chose the Seafood Alfredo which was very delectable. The Alfredo was creamy and was not too heavy. it was loaded with scallops, shrimp and an abundance of crab. The veggies were fresh and plentiful too. He had the O'Leary's Crab Cake, but this isn't just any crab cake! He renamed it "The Best Crab cake ever"! We share food and it really was scrumptious! We ordered dessert to go and later in our hotel room he said it was outstanding. I passed on dessert as I had too many carbs already! Overall, it was a nice establishment. The food was great, service was great. Nice wine selection too.

    (4)
  • Ali A.

    Just decent food and very pricey

    (2)
  • Cici W.

    I've lived in the Annapolis area all of my life, and can't believe that it took me this long to try O'Learys! Tucked away off of Severn Ave, this cozy little restaurant was the perfect place for a date night dinner. I started with the "lobster cappucino" and it was fantastic! My husband had the escargot and he raved about them (though I will have to take his word on that one, as I am not much of an escargot fan). Each of our entrees were over the top delicious - bright, balanced flavors that offered generous portion sizes and just the right hint of spices. Even though I was completely stuffed, we opted to try the coconut cake and an after dinner scotch. Both were a great way to cap off a wonderful meal. Aside from the food, the service and atmosphere were spot on. The interior is a good blend of rustic charm and modern eclectic stylings. Our waitress, wish I could recall her name, was very pleasant and offered great suggestions. As others have mentioned in their reviews, the place is a bit small and yes, some of the chatter from nearby tables can carry over, but I think it just lended to the cozy atmosphere. We will definitely be back to O'Learys again and again now that we finally discovered this little gem!

    (5)
  • Christine S.

    My fiance and I ate here for our 4 year anniversary and it wasn't the most romantic setting, but the food was delicious. Here's the breakdown: AMBIANCE: It's very small, almost crowded. It's not very romantic because you are sitting so close to others. And I just want to know what the deal is with black butcher paper covering the tables because this is not okay for an establishment such as this one. SERVICE: Or lack thereof. The service was terrible. The staff was not friendly, and they hardly checked on us. FOOD: The saving grace. The swordfish au poivre is the best prepared fish I've ever eaten, and I'm from an island. It was so good it was featured on The Today Show. Highly recommended. The zarzuela was also very good, but not something that I would throw $35 down for on a regular basis. It was a good experience, but you're better off going to one of the steakhouses like Lewnes for a special occasion.

    (4)
  • Ann K.

    This place is like going on a date with someone whom you enjoy talking to so much but may not look super cute. Great food with no water view. I love the taste of the food like lobster cappuccino and zarzuela, cioppino like with almond. The taste is so well-rounded, so balanced, so aligned, so good and so memorable. They should change the brand of jasmine rice they are using. It's like from a cheap Chinese food carry out kiosk. It has so many broken rice grains. It is like eating spaghetti bolognese but all spaghetti strains are broken up to 3". Great restaurant and service! Bravo!

    (4)
  • Fred G.

    we've been there half a dozen times and always loved it. The food quality seems to have fallen over the last year or so. At hose prices, it needs to be a home run.

    (3)
  • Greg B.

    All I've ever heard about O'Learys is that it is an amazing restaurant, so when I saw it on the list of restaurants participating in the 2009 Restaurant week I figured it would be good to give it a try. Now let me prefice this with the fact that I believe that Restaurant Week is not about quality, but more about getting people in and out of the door as quickly as possible. Now that you understand this, I'm not going to knock the restaurant; however, I felt that the fish entree that was served was far too dry and lacked any taste whatsoever. Now where the chefs fell short on the fish, they more than made up for on the dessert! The bread pudding I chose was more like heaven than actual food! If you have a chance to stop in for dessert, please do! Also, they have a very extensive wine list to boot. I am looking forward to trying this restaurant again sometime soon!

    (4)
  • Mark J.

    Split the shrimp and grits. It was very good. They charged a $5 split plate fee. Don't know if that meant they put more food on the 2 plates or not, but the dish was sufficiently large enough to feed 2 adults. Room was at times a bit loud, they could use some acoustic foam on the ceiling. Staff were very friendly.

    (5)
  • Mike J.

    Met some old friends at O'Learys two nights ago. We don't go that often and every time we do we wonder why. We ordered a couple of Margritini's which are the best version of a traditional Margarita that can be found. As usual we were served with class and care and the Margaritini's were flowing. For apps we had fried oysters which were better than I had expected as I am not an oyster lover. But these were great. Large oysters fried with light breading and served with a dipping sauce that was outstanding. We normally go for the shrimp app but our venturing from that staple was well worth it. My tuna was served rare which I had ordered medium and the waitress noticed it and brought it back without me asking. I would never ask, so that was a nice touch. The view looks at the back of a building but the food is so much better than anything seafood oriented within walking distance that we forgo the view for the high quality food and drink. We skipped dessert as we try to control the waist line but I have had dessert their in the past and remember it being very good. It is pricey but the food is worth it.

    (4)
  • Jonathan N.

    ***** My fiancé currently has food poisoning from our dinner on March 28th! ***** We made the decision to go to O'Leary's when all other restaurants in the area had an extremely long wait. Amazingly (and suspiciously), O'Leary's had plenty of seating! This was our first hint that maybe this isn't a great decision to eat here. But, we seen all of the positive reviews and awards on the wall on the restaurant and decided to take our chances. Upon walking in, it has a lower-middle end seafood chain restaurant feel. Not a high-end seafood restaurant feel. I've had better ambiance at a Red Lobster! The one positive, their service was excellent with the exception of the waitress taking forever to give my fiancé a straw for her glass of water. All of the negatives: - Their $15 grilled shrimp had only 4 pieces of shrimp and it was mediocre. That's right, 4 pieces! - Their butternut squash bisque can only be described as 'okay'. - They have NO draft beer available and their bottled beer was luke warm. - My fiancé ate the Atlantic salmon. I tried a bite after she was done eating and it didn't seem to be cooked right. (Likely what gave her food poisoning.) - I had the crab cakes. They were mediocre to average. You can find much better in Annapolis alone! - We had the crème brulee for dessert. It was cold like they didn't prepare it before bringing it to our table. - The tables are extremely crowded together and make it difficult to not hit the patron behind you with your chair. SUMMARY: For about $150, we didn't plan on paying for a meal that's below Red Lobster standards and ruin our Sunday with food poisoning. We appreciated their service, but everything else needs a drastic improvement!!!

    (1)
  • South D.

    It's slightly "fancier" than the other casual restaurants and bars in the area. Service was awesome! Heavier type of food, beware. If you want something light, go elsewhere, but if you want a fancy, huge meal, this is the place. Bring your wallet. One tip, avoid the calamari. Our waitress said it was great, it wasn't. It's not bad, it's just average, and with so many other good things to eat on the menu, why fill up on an average appetizer. Enjoy!

    (4)
  • Vannie N.

    We came here for our wedding anniversary. The place is pretty small so I highly recommend a reservation. It's located near down town by the bay. We ordered the mussels, combo soft shell crab with crab cake, and crispy grouper. Everything was delicious. We would come back again if we were in the area.

    (4)
  • Richard S.

    I used to come to O'Leary's often about 10 years ago. it was a great place to get a nice piece of fresh fish in a nice environment with great service. However, the last few times I have been everything is still great except for the food. I mean it's not terrible, but it is so over "chef'd" if you know what I mean. The offerings are so complex that the fish is almost secondary. Here is the description of the Crispy Grouper: "served over black beans and rice, sautéed jumbo shrimp, tomato-cilantro salsa, finished with chipotle aioli and barbecue sauce" am I the only one who thinks that's a bit over the top? Gimme a break, really? I had the Halibut special which was very average and overcooked and didn't taste like fish. Two in the party had the rockfish, which was also "meh", also over created and very greasy. A bit more favorable review for the Grouper, but no raves. Notwithstanding the above, the presentation is a picture perfect work of art, although I came here to eat fish not admire how it looks on the plate which is the primary redeeming value. I will say the atmosphere and the service is awesome. Bottom line is that I know why I don't come back (and will not) very often. There are better places to get great fish. Also the prices are on the high side given the mediocre food. if you want a nice place to go and don't like fish, you might like this place because you can't taste the fish anyway since it will be buried in all of the convoluted concoctions. My three star rating is generous because it really deserves two, but considering the service and atmosphere, I erred on the high side. If get dragged here again, I will ask the chef to just put salt and pepper and grill whatever fresh fish they have that night. Now I remember why I don't come back and am not likely to repeat anytime soon.

    (3)
  • Khalid Z.

    Very over priced but great food Ribeye steaks from creekstone farms Kansas and lamb chops from New Zealand and great entrees with options, romantic setting right off the creek. Great service.

    (4)
  • Howard B.

    This is a sold three star restaurant. It can't compete with a Ruth Chris or some of the other higher end restaurants in the immediate area but that's okay. The service from the lady that served us was excellent! The food was good. The only issue I had was with the flies. If I need to shoo away flies in a restaurant..........we've got a problem.

    (3)
  • Randy W.

    My wife and I had a wonderful July 4th dinner here which included soft-shell crabs and crab cakes entrees. My soft shell crab dinner came with two soft shell crabs over a bed of fresh tomato and corn. Simply fabulous! My wife had the crab cakes dinner and loved it. The service was first rate and very informative about not only the menu but the Annapolis area. I would highly recommend O'Learys Seafood for a great dining experience.

    (5)
  • Jenny C.

    O'Learys is a seafood restaurant in the Eastport neighborhood of Annapolis. Right next to the water, so it's perfect for dinner in the summer time (when it's still light during dinner time). Food served there is on the traditional side and has great flavors. Must tries: - Lobster cappuccino: Flavorful lobster bisque-like soup with fresh lobster meat served on the side (for dunking into the "cappucino" cup) - Scallop lamb pops: Fresh scallop ceviche helps to cut through the heaviness of the lamb chops. I had it as an entree but it's really an appetizer My husband had a grilled swordfish with mashed potatoes. Great flavors but it's expected of a high end restaurant like O'Learys. The reason why I didn't give the restaurant 5 stars is due to the oily salad we had. There was way too much dressing (oily) on the salad and made it unappetizing. Service was attentive and non-snooty.

    (4)
  • Matt B.

    We quickly got a table. Ordered the swordfish and mussels. The swordfish was very good. The mussels were excellent. The servers were quick to service tables. Overall would recommend this place to others.

    (4)
  • Gary H.

    We were really expecting a LOT out of this restaurant from what we heard. The reviews were great and the location is perfect from Eastport. We got all dressed up and when we got there, realized we were about the only people dressed up in the entire restaurant! Most were wearing "Annapolis Casual" - or even shorts. Well, it was summer. The service was very good. The host was either part owner or the owner. The table clothe were crisp and white, nice and tight. It was a fancy setting in an old building. Very enchanting and I suppose could be romantic, but we just weren't feeling it. Our food was pretty good, but not fantastic. It may have been an off night for them but I certainly would recommend checking this place out if you have not already. I suppose my expectations were much too high - I was thinking it was more formal than it was. That is not their fault. By the way, the free bread they provide is amazing. :)

    (4)
  • Ces O.

    You know, we have checked out most of the Annapolis restaurants ( as local residents of Eastport. ). We have survived numerous "bate and switch" happy hour deals BUT. Recently we checked out O Learys for dinner and it was spot on, Fabulous! The cocktails were strong and true. Oyster appetizer was tasty and super chrispy. But our main dishes of rockfish, tilefish and softshell crab were all totally awesome.

    (5)
  • RaShonda R.

    This place had pretty good reviews, which is why we chose it. When we drove up it seemed to be an old house located near, not exactly on, the Annapolis harbor. On the inside there was a tiny bar with 3 seats. Despite its size, it was very cozy and felt more like we were in someone's home than in a restaurant. As soon as we were seated, we noticed all of the meals coming out from the kitchen from appetizers to desserts, everything looked amazing. We ordered the Lobster Cappuccino and Crab Tower for starters. Both were extremely fresh, my fiance loves bisques so this was a hit for him. Pretty sure I could eat the crab tower every day. There was so much crab. For our entrees, we had the Crispy Flounder and Crab Cakes. The portions were huge. My dish had three large portions of flounder that were lightly breaded with a drizzle of mustard sauce served on top of rice and a fresh salsa. His 2 crab cakes (jumbo lump, very little filler) were served over fried green tomatoes. I'm very picky when it comes to fried green tomatoes as they have to still be firm and at least 1/4" thick with a crispy coating. These were exactly how I like them. When I say everything was delicious, everything was delicious. The portions were huge so I ended up having left overs. Pretty sure I've never had crispy fish the next day that was just as good as the night before. Excellent service & food! Next time we'll definitely have to save room for dessert.

    (5)
  • M. A.

    We had high expectations for this restaurant. The service was subpar. Our waitress was very snobby compared to the cheerful lady the greeted and seated us. We had the grilled shrimp dish for the appetizer which was delicious and the sauce that accompanied it was tasty. My husband had the Ribeye Steak. The steak was average at best and no steak sauce was available. He also had the Mac and Cheese which was very bland. I had the Lobster. It was overcooked, and tough to chew and cut. I was very much looking forward to the Lobster and to say it was a disappointment would be an understatement. The asparagus that came with the Lobster was burned and overcooked. Disappointing: that's the best way to describe this meal and experience O'Learys.

    (2)
  • Jamie G.

    Meh. Our table of 4 couldn't get past the pretentious, aloof, and indifferent host to get seated and served. The restaurant was busy. He took my cell number and said he'd call when a table opened up. A day later, we're still waiting for the call. Never got seated. Never got to taste the food. DID get a definite vibe of "No Franklin? No table." from the host. Not impressed.

    (2)
  • Paul T.

    Outstanding place for special occasions. Great food!

    (5)
  • Elizabeth L.

    Disappointed Sub par ambience and same for the food. Would recommend heading next door to Carol's Creek for similar pricing, Better food and even better ambience and service. Took about an hour to get our entrees-- of which 2 were overcooked and under seasoned, one was luke warm to borderline cold. Appetizers: excellent Escargot (3/5) Scallops (5/5) Fried oysters (5/5) Entrees Ordered: The salmon special was good as we're the crab cakes. (3/5) Australian barramundi and mahimahi dishes were underwhelming (2/5) The seafood stew was also satisfactory All dishes had overcooked "jasmine" rice and spinach Pros: great area, appetizers, parking Cons: food, value

    (2)
  • Marivic L.

    O'Learys is a tiny restaurant right near the water in Annapolis. The dining area has lots of windows so you can take in the views and it seems like this is the neighborhood restaurant for many of the people who were dining last night. How lucky to live so close to the water in Annapolis and have this as your regular restaurant, huh? The staff is SO nice and makes you feel very welcome - and not in the generic restaurant server kind of way. The atmosphere is casual but on the dressier side of casual - many blazers, vests, etc. were worn. In addition, we were probably a good 20 years younger than the average diner there. There were probably only 2 more tables with people our age - and I'm no spring chicken. Just an FYI for peeps who tend to like a younger crowd. I'm not one of them. HA Anyway, the gratis bread was served warm with room temp butter. The menu featured lots of seafood, naturally. We started out with a half dozen oysters which tasted fresh and were nice and meaty. I also had a martini which was poured at the table. I love how people are doing that now. The one thing I have to say is, they sure don't skimp in the alcohol here. It was quite strong. Being a fatty kind of day, I decided on the seafood alfredo which had scallops, shrimp, lump crab, mushrooms, and snap peas. The alfredo sauce was just ok in flavor and thickness, but the seafood in it was better and cooked perfectly. I tried my friend's healthy fish dish and it was fantastic. This is a good place but I wasn't impressed enough to make it on my must-eat list when I come back to Annapolis.

    (3)
  • John S.

    O'Learys was recommended by a good friend who is familiar with Annapolis' better establishments. My wife and I were celebrating our 30th anniversary and wanted good seafood, good atmosphere, good service and just a nice restaurant to have dinner with some special friends and family. O'Learys was an excellent experience. We opted for a later seating time, which was a good idea, as it was packed - yes, make a reservation! I had one of the specials, halibut with crab meat. Delicious! My wife had the soft shell crabs, which you could opt for one soft shell crab and a crab cake, which she did. Very good our daughter-in-law to be had the lobster, about two pounds, which melted in your mouth. The veggies were fresh and not overdone! The desserts were just the right size, after the excellent meal. The service was impecable. My thanks to everyone at O'Learys for making our evening truly memorable.

    (5)
  • Geoff And Jenni G.

    The tables at O'Leary's are a little too close for comfort and it does make it feel a bit crowded, but the food was excellent... as were the cocktails :-) We had the shark, which was quite a small portion for the price to be fair... Would definitely recommend though - would probably choose the swordfish over the shark next time! ;-)

    (4)
  • Mark W.

    This place was very accommodating to our party of 10 that night. We all had different plates ranging from scallops, crabcake dinners, shrimp pasta, salmon etc. Everyone's plates looked delicious. I had the panko scallop appetizer and the crabcake dinner. The scallops were perfectly cooked and soooo tender. The crabcakes rank amongst the best I ever had, We had a great time here. If I lived out this way I would be a regular.

    (4)
  • James W.

    $36 for Frozen Tuna...used to be GoTo Fine Dining at its BEST! My wife and I went to Oleary's tonight and had Andrea as our server. We have been dining at Oleary's since 2007 when we used to visit 2 to 3 times a month since we were kidless and full of extra money. We now have 3 kids and going out to dinner is like plaaning a bar mitzvah! We started off with the calimari which came out promptly and was delicous as usual. We always order fried calamari at Oleary's because I like the tentacles and my wife likes the rings so it is the perfect starter to share....we usually order the Lobster Cappuccino as well but we are slimming down! My wife ordered the usual Tuna Steak which changes preparation but is always top notch. I ordered the Zarzuela which I have had before and enjoyed...I would have chose the duck but unfortunately we are not in the duck season. I did inquire about whether they were planning on having the duck this year with the Foie Gras and Andrea proceeded to tell me that if they served that on the menu she would have to quit since she knows how it is "made." So our dinner came out and my wife proceeded to take a picture of her dinner to send to a friend....she was so excited to be going out for a nice dinner and wanted to share! She took her first cut into her tuna steak and it was grey...not over cooked grey but previously frozen grey. She touched it and felt that it was cold so we knew it was not overcooked eventhough we could look at it and tell that. I took a look at me Zarzuela and it just looked like it was missing something....rice??? veggie??? it was only seafood in a sauce with one 3 inch piece of bread....uggghh i'm a bread lover so that is not good! Let me start here with we NEVER EVER send food back!!!! Andrea came over and we showed her...she said maybe they sauteed it a little too long. We told her it was still cold in the middle and it looks like it was most likely previously frozen. She said again it may have been cooked a little too long. We knew that was not the case but we are not ones to argue so we just reluctantly asked if we could get a replacement. She obliged. I should of asked about my dish or just asked for some more bread but....who likes to argue or ask for something they should have already received....not me! I put my fork down and waited for my wife's food to be recooked...we just looked at each other and said...it didn't used to be like this! This used to be a really nice place to come to dinner! I told her about how it looks like my dish is missing something and she said to me that the tuna is usually always perfect. Moments later my wife's dish came back out and the tuna was magnitudes better! The down side was the asian slaw was hot...either microwaved or sitting under a heat lamp. For this caliber of restaurant I would think they would have redone the entire plate...how much is asian slaw??? how much is grilled shrimp??? I just would have taken the initiative to redo the entire plate...its the least you could do for serving old tuna! The bottom line is we will most likely not visit Oleary's again! It is sad because this has been our favorite restaurant for 7 years running. The problem is we have 3 kids and our time is precious...we do not have time for second chances and there are so many up and comers out there! I would rather go out and try something new not knowing what I am going to get, than going to Oleary's and wondering if they are going to redeem themselves. P.S. - We had a bottle of white wine with no chiller...we were not there long but it would have been nice!

    (1)
  • Jason M.

    Just Ok. So we've been hearing about O'Leary's reputation as the go to restaurant for seafood in Annapolis. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Our waitress was nice but did not speak with us much. We had the calamari as an appetizer, which was good, but a little oily. For dinner I had the crispy grouper, which was not bad while my wife had a lobster served over a pancetta risotto. The lobster was cooked very well but the risotto must have been drowned in butter. We found a decent wine which I thought had an unusually high mark-up considering we purchase it from total wine on occasion. For dessert we tried the creme brûlée which was deep dished but overcooked and a little stiff. All-in-all nothing was bad, just kind of mediocre for a $300 dinner.

    (3)
  • Jack J.

    Great seafood and service!

    (5)
  • t m.

    Very accommodating and friendly staff. Decor is great and food presentation traditional/classy. My wife and I had a great time. Mussels and squash soup were both very good, wife loved the small crab cake main course. Have to say shrimp and grits were a miss. Grits tasted a little off and I did not detect any cheddar, jalapeño or butter in them. Also thought the finely diced ham would be better served in larger pieces (or maybe even andouille slices instead). Desserts were good. Wine was a small pour and selection OK. Had a great night that the staff, decor and a few of the dishes helped make that way.

    (3)
  • Rebecca M.

    Lives up to the hype---the food is incredible. Fresh tasting, well prepared, and DELICIOUS. Oh my. This is not the place for someone looking for 'healthy' fare nor someone on a serious budget---but if you're looking for a treat that will leave you swooning, you must try O'Learys. I went there late on a Sunday (during the Annapolis boat show) with my parents and boyfriend, and had no trouble getting a table. The restaurant is relatively small (looked like 20 tables) and situated on a quiet part of town...over the bridge and a short walk from downtown. We had the oysters on the halfshell (oyster season in VA), and found the oysters briney and slightly sweet. My parents had the heirloom tomato salad, which was good, but their entrees---the Seafood Alfredo (scallops, jumbo prawns, crab meat, green beans, in a browned butter Alfred sauce) was heartstoppingly delicious. My boyfriends crab cakes were meaty, light on the filler, and nicely browned on the outside. My lobster with prosciutto and fresh corn risotto, was INCREDIBLE. I love lobster like any gal, but the meat on this one was fresh, slightly grilled on the outside, meaty, and combined with the risotto---very filling. The wine list was fair (the French chardonnay was reasonably priced at $36) and the garlic butter spread served with the bread was heaven-ly. While the total damage I'm fairly certain was near $250 for 4, if you're looking for amazing seafood while in Annapolis---this is the joint.

    (5)
  • Lisa L.

    This is my favorite spot , but I have to tell you I tried the crab cakes last week and was not impressed . They were large in size but lacked flavor and were very wet and mushy . The cakes came with pretty lame sides too - especially for the $36 price . Everything else : service, drinks and appetizers were great . Will stick with the salmon and grouper next time .

    (2)
  • George M.

    Cute little restaurant one block from the waterfront. Drunken mussels were soft and succulent. Juice was tasty but bread was a bit on the oily side. The Australian Barramundi was really really good. I mean seriously good! Service was good. As soon as a customer complained about the low temperature it was immediately adjusted...no lame excuses....only ding and the reason for the 3 stars was the rude bartender/host? As soon as we walked in he said to our greeter "to the back". Granted we were not dressed to the nines but we found it rude nevertheless. Price-wise for two around $140 without tip but with lots of food, probably a little too much food to be honest.

    (3)
  • Britton B.

    3.5 Stars. O'Learys had a lot of good things, but does not have the whole five star classy restaurant package. Lets start with the good. The food was fantastic. The menu was quite nice, accurate pricing, and good quality. I had the special; rockfish with a garlicky butter sauce all covered with fresh Maryland crab meat. The rockfish was superb and the green beans and baby potatoes complimented the fish well. We had creme brulee for dessert and that was so delicious. The top layer of the creme brulee had the standard hardened sugar, which was fun to eat. The atmosphere was awkward, felt somewhat up tight, and not so friendly. When we walked into the host just put off a non-welcoming, I'm too busy for you right now, type of vibe. Our server was fine, but nothing extraordinary. Again, we just got that vibe that the service wasn't sincere and kind of fake... ... Again, the atmosphere was awkward. It sort of felt like the restaurant didn't know its own identity. The architecture of the "seafood" restaurant was vessel like, which was cool. However, the paintings on the wall, the paint colors on the walls, and the overall decor just didn't fit together. Don't get me wrong, I'm usually not this picky, but the awkwardness level of the decor was distracting me.. I'm glad we went to O'Learys. It was a nice resturant to visit for our Annapolis weekend. And the seafood was superb, which was fitting for the seaport type culture of Annapolis. It was nice, but too many loose ends and missing pieces for a five star restaurant.

    (3)
  • Chris T.

    Not bad but not great. My wife and I had dinner here over labor day weekend. Service was great. Everything else was just OK. Ambiance was lacking charisma a bit, the place was a little cold, tables needed candles, cocktail and wine were just ok, and both our fish meals seemed a bit over cooked (mahi mahi and swordfish). Overall not bad, didn't quite feel like it deserved the top rated restaurant in Annapolis on yelp, felt overpriced for what we got. Won't be in a rush back.

    (3)
  • Rob B.

    SECOND HELPING Still one of the gems of Annapolis. We went for his birthday with the neighbors and though it's spendy, you can't find better service with seafood in DTA. Wonderful fried oysters and beet salad to start. My softies were as indulgent as they were perfect. The mustard cream sauce served with the crab cake and soft crabs was impeccable. Crab cake is stellar best in town for sure. While we think of it as O'Leary's seafood they do just as great of a job with the steak and pork. The crispy grouper is my "go to" but soft crabs are fleeting. FYI Chef Russell was on the floor and while dressed in Sunday suit that night, he is the man in the whites who makes the magic !

    (5)
  • Laurie C.

    Had dinner at O'Learys based on Yelp reviews . Lovely location--1/2 block from the marina but no full water views. Arrived at 6:00 pm, mid week, with a reservation . It was not at all busy and we were given a window seat . I would recommend to always ask for that although there aren't many. The cocktails we ordered were fantastic--Bees Knees and my husband ordered. Margarita like drink-- both were great but the Bees Knees was incredible! Had Virginia Fried Oysters--cooked perfectly with a mango salsa. Super good! For an entree I had shrimp and grits , and it was good but not great . It had too many peppers (which I don't care for) and it was a bit tasteless . I added salt and that made it much better . My husband had the crab cakes and was swooning! They had been recommended by other reviewers so that's what I would order on my next visit ! The restaurant is very charming and cozy and looks like an old house from the outside. Adorable ---free parking too! Highly recommend although it's pricey---$12.00 cocktails, $30-40 entrees. We really did love it!

    (4)
  • Joe M.

    Meet a customer here for dinner. I loved the food. Easy to get to from my hotel. We had apps, dinner and dessert. Loved every bite. It was loud but the food made up for it. This is a must stop if u like seafood. Really glad we ate here Jan 2012

    (4)
  • Bob J.

    First of all the crab cakes were delicious, but way overpriced at $37. Too much mango!. We love mangoes, but it appeared on 3 of 4 of the dishes we ordered: - the Crab Tower - mangoes overpowered the entire dish. Could barely taste crab that was the smallest component or the avocado. - Virginia Crispy Oysters - mango added nothing to dish - BBQ Mahi Mahi - mango here is typically a good partner butwe were mangoed out by this time Service was great. Everything else was just OK. Ambiance was okay - liked art-filled rooms but noise level was way high. Didn't feel like it deserved the top rated restaurant in Annapolis on yelp, felt overpriced for what we got. Won't be back soon..

    (2)
  • Scott C.

    I came here with a group of 9 so I was prepared for some delays. Our server was dead on and started us off with some drinks and appetizers. I had the lobster cappuccino which was creamy and spot on. For the main I chose the crab cakes and fried green tomatoes. Once again I was note disappointed as it was a great pairing with good proportions. Overall, great tasting food with good service. I would strongly recommend this place.

    (5)
  • Megan P.

    My parents recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary at O'Learys and as a surprise gift for them my siblings and I wanted to pay for their meal as we all live out of state. I spoke with Paul the day of their reservation to set this up; not only was he very accommodating, he graciously took my information and even wrote out a card for my parents letting them know we took care of their bill. They said they had a fantastic waitress and their entire experience was excellent. I cannot thank Paul and the entire O'Learys staff enough for creating a wonderful memory for my parents on their anniversary, and I will absolutely be visiting the restaurant myself when I return home. Thank you!

    (5)
  • Lew S.

    Gone down hill - service good, but food mediocre- not worth the cost - much better places in Annapolis to go to..

    (3)
  • Vishal S.

    One of the best seafood restaurants Annapolis. Just make sure to make a reservation or you will have to wait a long time on Summer weekends. The tables are cozy - close to each other, since the entire restaurant is not that big to begin with. Folks waiting for the table crowd around the minuscule entrance or the small bar. We had a table reservation at 7:30 PM but were not seated until 8 PM and hence the minus 1 star for that. Some local politician who just happened to show up got our table. The maitre d knew we saw that so he came over and kinda apologized to us and "promised" we were next in line. Service was good and food was excellent once we were all settled in. I had the crab cakes and my wife had the Australian Barramundi. Both dishes were very good and went well with the wines that they offer. A note about the dress code - since I did not want to look out of place here 9summer season) - This is a fancy restaurant with prices on the menu to match the ambiance. But, as expected, most folks were dressed up in either pants or "preppy" shorts. Though there were a few in their summer shorts too - but I am kinda used to that. don't know if restaurants can really enforce that policy - so be comfortable in what you are wearing as long as it is not a t-shirt and shorts kinda gear.

    (4)
  • Chad C.

    The food and service was awesome. Friendly and prompt. Multiple dishes ordered at our table and not a bad meal was had. Great!

    (4)
  • Hima R.

    SUPERB! I had the Bee's Knees cocktail which was tasty but strong in terms of the lemon juice aspect. Husband had the Tempranillo red wine which he definitely enjoyed. I had the fried oysters appetizer - very yummy. Husband had the lobster cappuccino and loved it. For my entree, I had the lobster special - all "work" done, served over lobster risotto - lobster was super fresh and testy and risotto was yummy but very heavy. Husband had the Zarzuela and liked that a lot too. Only thing that was "disappointing" was the coconut cake that I took to go for dessert - it was fine, but not anything special. Overall though a great place to eat, great service, and definitely great seafood. We were also considering Carroll's Creek Cafe just down the road (on a friend's recommendation), but chose O'Leary's based on my Yelp research, which worked out well!

    (5)
  • Barbara S.

    6 people last night Every meal was 5 star Along with Joe our waiter Outstanding time Wine choice was excellent

    (5)
  • Jason M.

    Several things about O'Learys made my trip disappointing. 1) Yelp and opentable indicated this establishment was dressy / business casual (respectively). I, with my button down oxford, khakis and jacket, felt overdressed. The person behind me had a hat on. The table of 8 next to me was half children. And as I was paying I noticed a couple seated with denim (one was ripped). I spotted a couple other tables of denim in the place. Generally sweaters (with no dress shirt underneath) prevailed. I'd recommend snappy casual. It's also quite a bit louder than I expected, though not overwhelming. Finally, the table cloths were covered with paper which was a red flag for me that this might not be the night I intended. I half expected our waitress to write her name in crayon on the table a la Macaroni Grill. 2) I ordered an old fashioned to start my experience. I couldn't taste any whiskey, which was a shame. Very weak. 3) For a starter, I ordered the corn chowder with crab soup. While the taste was promising, it was masked by the coldness of the soup. And it wasn't just "cold" as in that's intentional. It was room temperature, as in tasted like this bowl was poured, sat on a counter for 20 minutes, and was then served to me. The top of the soup was slightly warmer, leading me to believe it was under a heating lamp or something. Really? For soup? 4) After ordering the waitress said "I'll be right back with some rolls." We were then approached by the waiting assistant who gave us each 1 roll with his tongs. This is the only restaurant I've seen that is transparently stingy on a basket of rolls. 5) Big minus points for their seafood market. I asked the waitress what fish was caught locally, as I stared (past an ugly brick building and vacant parking lot - which was our wonderful window view) into a small piece of the bay. She went through the seafood dishes and everything was from california or flordia. What a joke. Not even the atlantic salmon, which I'm sure is farm-raised like most atlantic salmon these days, was local. She did say she *thinks* the Rockfish was local, and the oysters were, but given the seafood emphasis and the proximity to the ocean, I found the lack of freshly caught fare inexcusable. 6) This is a plus, my dish was pretty good. I got shrimp, scallops and crab tossed in fettuccine alfredo. The mushrooms in the mix were a bit undercooked for my liking, but the dish was overall solid. Conclusion: O'Learys is just OK. I hate to say it, but the experience reminded me more of Olive Garden than a really fine dining restaurant. And for $107 before tip for two starter soups, two entrees and two drinks (no dessert even) you can absolutely do better for your money.

    (2)
  • John P.

    This was the second time we went there. It is great place for good food and drink. My wife and I would recommend to all our friends. .

    (5)
  • Alan A.

    Beware! I had dinner at O'Leary's on 1/16, and ordered the Shrimp and Grits. Within two hours it was clear that I had food poisoning... the effects of which were horrible beyond belief (or relief!). I called the next day, not to complain, but to let the restaurant know they likely had a very bad batch of shrimp, so that others would not have to suffer my fate. The owner got on the phone, and said he'd immediately look into it and call me back... which he never did. Last week I called twice to contact the owner again, curious to know if there had been other cases of food poisoning. I left a message with a person there, and haven't hear back yet... Although there would be no reason for me to ever come back -- I live 2,500 miles away -- I'm extremely disappointed in how the owner dealt with the situation, especially since my only interest in following up was so others wouldn't suffer the same fate. I've never written a restaurant review before, let alone such a negative one... but for a restaurant and owner that likes to boast on their website about providing the best of seafood and the best of service... they failed miserably on both fronts.

    (1)
  • Susan M.

    Overall, a disappointing experience. Fried calamari: Good. The garlic aioli sauce was delicious. I didn't understand the random patches of baby lettuces scattered across the plate - seemed irrelevant. Duck breast (my entrée): They do ask if you are ok with the duck being served rare. I should have asked for medium or medium-rare. It was just too rich for me so I ended up leaving most of it on the plate. The mission fig and cherry dressing served with the duck was outstanding. The sweet potato mash was also tasty so I filled up on that. Crab cakes (the boyfriend's entrée): Under-seasoned and nothing special. The fingerling potatoes had absolutely no flavor. Even after we salted them, they weren't good. Wine recommendation: We enjoyed a rosé cabernet (Mulderbosch) that was served at a perfect chilly temperature. I think this wine would pair perfectly with most seafood entrées. Coconut cake: Moist and light. I wasn't fond of the mango sauce they served it with. It sent the sweet factor over the top and could have been omitted - the cake was good enough on its own. Service was attentive and satisfactory. FYI: -The main dining room can get chilly. -They cover the tables with black paper vs table cloths. I don't think this is wise because any type of moisture causes the dye to start bleeding. I had to be careful not to get any on my clothing. I don't think we will return to O'Learys. It was nothing special.

    (2)
  • Makeya B.

    The food was okay

    (3)
  • Ian L.

    Went with 3 generations, and everyone was happy. Very impressed with my barramundi - light flavorful sauce, and a great mix of vegetables that matched it. My 94 year old grandmother-in-law had a seared scallops appetizer that sounded plain on the menu but ended up being so good that (at her invitation) we were fighting over the right to mop up the spicy sweet sauce it was served with our (fresh) bread. Delicious food served in just the right atmosphere for a marina-side upscale place.

    (5)
  • Kate M.

    EXCELLENT service. Their crispy grouper is amazing! And if they have the fried oysters as a special app, you should definitely get it. The sauce has a bit of a kick and is fantastic. Great wine list too!

    (5)
  • Neil C.

    Wife and took advantage of Annapolis Restaurant week to eat here. We've want to try O'Leary's for a long time and finally made it. Our server was excellent. He checked in on us but not to much. We were able to have a nice conversation (without the kids) which was nice. The food was very good. The appetizers were spot on. I had the calamari which was fried but the batter did not overwhelm the calamari and the dipping sauce was an excellent and the spiciness added. My wife had the mussels and the sauce was perfect. We both dipped our the fresh rolls to finish of the sauce. The was a little to spicy for my wife, she ate it anyway but I thought it was about right. Our many course were the crab-cakes and duck breast. Both were delicious and the right portions. My wife felt her meal could have arrived at the table a little warmer but my was fine. To be honest she is the same way at home and it was a Friday evening. The other issue we had was it was loud. I know open table calls it "energetic" but it seems that most restaurants are loud. Not a real complaint but an observation. So, neither of our negatives are a show stopper for us and will return. We would recommend O'Learys to our friends.....

    (4)
  • Brian R.

    I always say you go to O'Learys for the food and Chart House for drinks after. OLearys food is super fresh and incorporates a lot of fusion. We love it. The ambiance is small and intimate. The place is well kept and I always find the staff friendly and professional.

    (4)
  • Bob H.

    Our business dinner was early 5:30pm on a Monday night, so no crowd. The calamari appetizer was fried light and was delicious. I enjoyed the Grouper with shrimp definitely a keeper. The other diners had the Shrimp and Grits and the seafood special which was a Cobia. All enjoyed the meals and the quiet unhurried atmosphere. After dinner we walked to the water to take in the view. A good place for a business dinner

    (4)
  • Travis I.

    I think these are the crab cakes they eat in heaven.

    (5)
  • Shantrell B.

    I am so full but not heavy! The food was awesome from the starters to dessert! My first Anniversary night was fabulous! O'Leary's is delicious and the service was great! This was my first time and I would come again.

    (4)
  • Bernice S.

    Had dinner there. Generous, free lot parking (a plus for the Annapolis waterfront area). Quaint, comfortably appointed interior, though small. While things started off well with waiter, he seems to have lost his way. Brought the herbal tea the two of us wanted, but then disappeared for 20 minutes and was somewhat aloof when he returned, though basically polite. Bread was warm and tasty; the butternut squash soup was good (but my young cousin who's a chef in training makes a far better one). It was topped with bland lump crabmeat that didn't enhance the flavor any. My main course, swordfish accompanied by small sliced potato and carrots and other veggies, arrived beautifully presented; however, the taste was just okay - nothing I'd order again. Every dish I saw arrive at other tables was also beautifully presented. It seems the chef has a greater flair for art. I really expected better tasting food, given the high ratings listed.

    (3)
  • M2 M.

    Maybe because my expectations were so high and because I eat on may seafood restaurants all over the world but I was disappointed about this restaurant, which I believe had a good reputation from a few years back but lacks of enthusiasm now . I love seafood and I was surprised by the limited selection of the menu... so I ended up in having pork with gorgonzola which was good. Unfortunately I had still had the taste of OVER cheesy scallops in my mouth that I had to get the pork to go. Service was excellent but the ambiance is poor. Except for my husband none of the men present was wearing a tie and the noise was very high making impossible to have a conversation. We were lucky because another table (near the wall ) became available a few minutes after we were seated at our table and the waitress accommodated our request and allowed us to change. Again the service was great but the food is meh. The menu seems put together by a Chef with fogged ideas about food.

    (2)
  • Kea S.

    1-10 this restaurant is a 20...the food was sooooo good!!! I will be back

    (5)
  • Steven H.

    This is the second time I have visited O'learys, and I left with the same feelings both times. Great food and so so service, but the noise in the restaraunt is unforgiving. The first visit I attributed the noise to the fact there was a large regatta in town so there were a lot of tourists. My second visit was even worse. My girlfriend and I sat at a very small table, though for the first part of the evening I could barely hear a word she was saying. Service was good, though at times we had to wait for refills on drinks and about 45 min for the delivery of our main course. All in all, its a great place, but if I want to celebrate a special occassion, or I'm looking for a nice romantic spot for dinner, I will be looking elsewhere.

    (3)
  • Amanda S.

    My friend did his homework and chose O'leary's and I'm glad I left the selection to him. We were seated immediately as our reservation was for 9pm. And at that hour, the place was still busy. We were seated near a group of drunk dinner guests who were very loud, flashing cameras, taking calls and one lady was 8 decibals above everyone else in the entire restaurant! She was annoying, yes, but we just rolled with it. Our server was lovely and very attentive. We started with the Tuna Sashimi and Oysters Italienne. The consistency of the yellowfin was a bit too rubbery for my taste and my friend felt that the Oysters were overwhelmed with garlicky bread crumbs. He had the Lobster cappuccino and said it was pleasing and satisfying. I chose the Seafood Alfredo which was very delectable. The Alfredo was creamy and was not too heavy. it was loaded with scallops, shrimp and an abundance of crab. The veggies were fresh and plentiful too. He had the O'Leary's Crab Cake, but this isn't just any crab cake! He renamed it "The Best Crab cake ever"! We share food and it really was scrumptious! We ordered dessert to go and later in our hotel room he said it was outstanding. I passed on dessert as I had too many carbs already! Overall, it was a nice establishment. The food was great, service was great. Nice wine selection too.

    (4)
  • Ali A.

    Just decent food and very pricey

    (2)
  • Cici W.

    I've lived in the Annapolis area all of my life, and can't believe that it took me this long to try O'Learys! Tucked away off of Severn Ave, this cozy little restaurant was the perfect place for a date night dinner. I started with the "lobster cappucino" and it was fantastic! My husband had the escargot and he raved about them (though I will have to take his word on that one, as I am not much of an escargot fan). Each of our entrees were over the top delicious - bright, balanced flavors that offered generous portion sizes and just the right hint of spices. Even though I was completely stuffed, we opted to try the coconut cake and an after dinner scotch. Both were a great way to cap off a wonderful meal. Aside from the food, the service and atmosphere were spot on. The interior is a good blend of rustic charm and modern eclectic stylings. Our waitress, wish I could recall her name, was very pleasant and offered great suggestions. As others have mentioned in their reviews, the place is a bit small and yes, some of the chatter from nearby tables can carry over, but I think it just lended to the cozy atmosphere. We will definitely be back to O'Learys again and again now that we finally discovered this little gem!

    (5)
  • Christine S.

    My fiance and I ate here for our 4 year anniversary and it wasn't the most romantic setting, but the food was delicious. Here's the breakdown: AMBIANCE: It's very small, almost crowded. It's not very romantic because you are sitting so close to others. And I just want to know what the deal is with black butcher paper covering the tables because this is not okay for an establishment such as this one. SERVICE: Or lack thereof. The service was terrible. The staff was not friendly, and they hardly checked on us. FOOD: The saving grace. The swordfish au poivre is the best prepared fish I've ever eaten, and I'm from an island. It was so good it was featured on The Today Show. Highly recommended. The zarzuela was also very good, but not something that I would throw $35 down for on a regular basis. It was a good experience, but you're better off going to one of the steakhouses like Lewnes for a special occasion.

    (4)
  • Ann K.

    This place is like going on a date with someone whom you enjoy talking to so much but may not look super cute. Great food with no water view. I love the taste of the food like lobster cappuccino and zarzuela, cioppino like with almond. The taste is so well-rounded, so balanced, so aligned, so good and so memorable. They should change the brand of jasmine rice they are using. It's like from a cheap Chinese food carry out kiosk. It has so many broken rice grains. It is like eating spaghetti bolognese but all spaghetti strains are broken up to 3". Great restaurant and service! Bravo!

    (4)
  • Kara T.

    We were so excited to try out a higher end restaurant in Annapolis since we've been disappointed thus far. We go out pretty often and do not mind spending more on good food. OLearys was extremely unseasoned, overrated and overpriced. The menu doesn't make sense. It's all over the place and all of our food was cold (appetizer, entree, and coffee later on). Our server was polite but very awkward. He was not very attentive, but again very nice. Unfortunately, we will not be back to OLearys. Great location though!

    (2)
  • Geoff G.

    I have eaten at O'Leary's 6 times in the last 6 years I have lived in Annapolis. I lived next door to O'Leary's for 2 years and always had to fight my temptations of wanting to dine at one of the restaurant triangle establishments (Ruth's Chris, Lewnes' Steakhouse, and O'Learys are all within a block of each other and I lived on the middle of the block!) I have debated for weeks before writing this review on how many stars they deserve. If I could rate them a 4.5, I would, but felt they deserved 5 stars moreso than 4. Look, this is going to be a great dining experience as long as you are OK with a few logistical things about the restaurant. The place is tiny, which means the restaurant is going to be loud. If you aren't OK with a small restaurant that is loud, then this is not the place for you. If you walk into the restaurant and your table is not ready, you will have to either wait outside or stand at the bar.... and the bar, again, is tiny. Those are the two major flaws of the restaurant, but it is what it is. As far as the food is concerned, O'Leary's is in a small minority of GREAT restaurants in Annapolis. Look for my upcoming thread on "Best of the Best - Annapolis" edition, because I will have O'Learys listed as best fine dining for seafood, no questions asked. The service has always been impeccable, the food always delicious, and the price tag always reminds you that you won't be back until the following year. Still, from a value standpoint in my opinion, you get more for what you pay for at O'Learys than their archrival Severn Inn and Carroll's Creek has had food quality issues the last several years. The salads and appetizers are always very good, but may not be worth the money. I prefer the Lobster Cappuccino, Tuna Tartar, Calamari, Escargot, and Beet Salad. The entrees, specifically the seafood, and more specifically the Crabcakes and Tuna, are why I come to O'Learys. In addition to the two entrees I mentioned above, the Grouper, Salmon, and Duck Breast are very noteworthy. The only forgettable meal in my opinion is the whole fish. Always a different white fish but always served teh same way.... it just isn't my thing. The balance of flavors and complexity of the entrees are detail oriented and 5 star quality. If you want to experience one of the best that Annapolis has to offer, look no further.

    (5)
  • Grant D.

    I love this place. I love many places in Eastport but between O'Leary's, Chart House and Carrol's Creek, I pick O'Leary's. Get a reservation. Guaranteed a great meal with broad seafood selection.

    (5)
  • Michael V.

    Traveled up to Annapolis for dinner at O'Learys to celebrate my wife's birthday, and it was a great choice. Even with a late reservation the restaurant was full and bustling. Still, the staff was welcoming and friendly. Our meals were amazing, very fresh and flavorful. We'll be back again.

    (4)
  • John K.

    Sample take: I'll always remember the aroma of the creosote wafting from the pilings on the docks that warm night. It simply smells like Annapolis. **************************************************­********************************* Almost a four. I'll give it a 3.5 for now. Rounded up some old friends to see the musical, "Into the Woods" in Annapolis. If you haven't heard of it, this Sondheim vehicle hit Broadway in the late 80s, picked up some Tonys, including one for Bernadette Peters, but suffered from the misfortune of coming out the same time as Phantom of the Opera. It was edgy, not your typical feel-good musical á la "42nd Street," but still fun. We had reservations for O'Learys afterwards. I think it was the first time for all 3 couples. We were seated in a cozy booth, and the server took our drink orders. The Guenoc chard was a good deal at $10/glass. It had a touch of oak (but not too much) on the front end, some green apple notes, and a hint of butter on the finish. I wish I would have taken a pic of the awesome "legs" as it returned to the bottom of the glass. Our server, it seems I didn't get her name, was amazingly efficient. She took care of us throughout our 2-hour repast, kept the water glasses full, checked in at just the right moment, but could have benefited from just a wee more warmth and personal touch. She did light up at the end when she saw that we were generous tippers. Sunday through Thursday they have the $29.95 price fixe menu with a wide variety of appetizers and entrées. I really wanted the top sirloin steak with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans, or even the pork chop, but that just seemed wrong in so many ways. I opted for baked oysters followed by pan-seared swordfish served with spicy sautéed broccolini (it looked like a cross between broccoli and asparagus) and garlic-oiled sweet potato rounds topped with fried sage leaves. Other main course choices sampled by our party included mahi mahi, and crispy fried grouper. Not on the value meal plan was rockfish which one of the ladies ordered á la carte and evidently was incredible. The swordfish was a good-sized steak that was very moist but cooked a few minutes longer than would have been my preference. I know, I should have expressed my desire when I ordered it. My bad. It had a good flavor but could have benefited from a drizzle of sauce or better yet, a light rub. Dessert choices were chocolate mousse, crème brulee, key lime custard, and bread pudding. I had the custard which came in a light pastry shell and had that characteristic tang and tartness. The crème brulee, however, lacked the ground vanilla beans. Maybe because my expectations were so high and because Annapolis has so many good seafood restaurants, or because we were in blazers and slacks and there was a guy at the table next to us in cut-offs, or perhaps because it isn't right on the water with a view of the city, but I'm not sure I'd come back. But I'll always remember the aroma of the creosote from the pilings on the docks that warm night. It simply smells like Annapolis.

    (3)
  • Jay N.

    A great dinner to close out the year. I came with my family on New Year's Eve, and although we had a reservation, were told when we arrived there would be a short wait for the table. The manager brought us complimentary glasses of wine while we waited. We shared a trio of great appetizers. The lobster "cappuccino" is a bisque soup delightfully made up to look like the drink. Two specials were available, one the Chincoteague oysters, which were good (even though I'm not normally an oysters fan), and the thoroughly enjoyable shark bites. My entire family raved about their entrees (crab cakes, trout, shelffish medley), but the most talked about was my branzino (Meditteranean sea bass). The fish itself was huge, with a wealth of soft, delectable flesh subtly affected by lemon juice and salt. It came with a great prosciutto-infused side of savory bread pudding.. Dessert was the only time I wasn't wowed, by a mediocre bread pudding with currants. But the creme brulee (of which I'm also not normally a fan) was very good, as well as the coffee. Further, O'Leary's bartender made such a good sidecar, I had two. In 2009, I only gave three 5-star reviews to sit-down restaurants. Scarpetta in NYC, Rasika in DC, and now O'Leary's. Bravo!

    (5)
  • Darrell J.

    good steak. nice location.

    (3)
  • Mister E.

    Good food and good service. Had reservations and was promptly seated. The wait staff were polite and responsive. I ordered a non-seafood dish but they were out by 6:30pm. Our party of four had various fish dishes and appetizers and everyone seemed happy. As more time went by, the place got noisier and noisier. The acoustics of the place seemed to echo, echo everyone's lively chatter. Dinner and drinks for four, with tip $300.

    (4)
  • David N.

    Make a reservation, great food, high quality place. Small parking lot.

    (4)
  • Stephen H.

    Now THIS is a seafood restaurant. So many places out there call themselves seafood restaurants, as if they specialized in seafood. So many times, not the case. But O'Learys, these guys (or girls) know how to rock a fish. We ordered the following on decently sized budget, and everything was 5 stars: Seabass - whole fish, the best, most tender I've had. A bit tough to get out the bones, but my Chinese parents taught me well. Tuna Sashimi Crab cakes - so far, the best crab cakes I've found in Maryland, and I've been all over now. Salmon - excellent Prawns If you're looking for great seafood, the kind of seafood that rivals experiences in Hawaii, come to O'Learys. Well done. Uh, I mean medium rare?

    (5)
  • myra S.

    Went from DC to Annapolis to eat at O'Learys. Before today it was a seafood favorite for us and we would travel 40 miles to have dinner there. Tonight, the lemon sole was old and lacked flavor. The waiter RECOMMENDED it to the both of us. We had the same reaction -- OLD FISH that SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SERVED.

    (1)
  • Seth G.

    Dinner and drinks. Reservation was for 8:00, and we got there a little early, so we waited at the bar and had a glass of wine. We were seated on time, and it was packed. So as fast as reservations go, it was great. We started with the sea scallops in phyllo, which was out of this world. Two large sea scallops wrapped in phyllo and baked in garlic, served with an aoli, pesto, and red pepper puree. No joke,I could have easten only those the entire night. The wife had the duck breast with mashed sweet potatoes and mushrooms. The duck was fairly tough, but had good taste. I had the special which was a panko and parmesan encrusted salmon with three large grilled sea scallops and broccoli. It was excellent. Finished with coffee and southern bread pudding, and the bread pudding was decent. Service was excellent. No 5 stars because of duck issue. Will definitely be going back.

    (4)
  • Stacey P.

    Filet stuffed w/jumbo lump crab meat boursin cheese with cous-cous and haricots verts was delicious!

    (4)
  • Gary B.

    I had gone to O'Leary's a number of times over the years, but finally gave up on it. The food is delicious, but expensive for what you get. It can be a very loud place as it is an open area where noise echoes about a great deal. The chairs are not very comfortable. I finally gave up on the place; it is expensive and I would have thought at those prices the management would discourage families with noisy babies and toddlers. The last time I went that was exactly what I experienced. Never again!

    (2)
  • Stephen W.

    Really great meal. We ate there after a Navy football game. They took a reservation on short notice. It's located along a restaurant row in Eastport, in what looks like a converted home. Our server, Elaine, was OUTSTANDING, among the best we've ever had. We had the grouper, salmon, whole rockfish and soft shell crab/crab cake combo. We cannot find a single thing to critique about the food. The fish and seafood dishes were cooked perfectly, were not overly gooped up, and everything tasted exceedingly fresh. Highly recommended.

    (5)
  • Bulgit K.

    I was not that Impressed about this place.

    (3)
  • Toya R.

    This was a great choice for a girlfriend's birthday. We tried a lot of appertizers: the calarmari, the crab and lobster cake, and the scallop pastry, they all were great. The entrees were tasty as well, from the crab cakes, to the fried grouper, to the pork tenderloin and the mahi mahi was also great. The coconut cake was one of the best I have ever tasted. Service was great as well. I will return soon!!

    (4)
  • Frank G.

    The food at O'Leary's is nearly five star. It takes me *forever* to settle on a choice because everything on the menu looks good. Obviously, the seafood shines here (it's what I always get), but some dining companions have had the land options and been equally pleased. (From the tastes I've sneaked off their plates, I can see why!) The wine list is well-organized, listing light-, medium- and full-bodied options for both the reds and whites. The selections are a bit pricey, but in line with the rest of the menu. The service at O'Leary's is nearly five star. The waiters are knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating, some of the best I've had at any restaurant. We did have some issues with getting them to call us back when attempting to make a reservation for a large group (10), but it all worked out in the end. So why the four star rating? The physical space itself. I don't usually like to ding a restaurant for stuff like this, but in O'Leary's case, I feel that it really detracts from of the overall experience. There's basically no indoor waiting area, which is fine assuming the weather is nice. The acoustics in the front dining area can make it very loud, meaning it's difficult to hear someone even across the table. The main dining area is more than a bit cramped, and tends to get *very* warm when at capacity. Don't bother with a sweater in the winter, you won't need it. I went back-and-forth in my head about the fifth star because like I said, food and service are my most important considerations. I just felt that the negative impact of these space issues -- especially with everything else about the place being so good -- made them stand out even more. I might come in here next week and edit this review, but for now I'll keep it as is.

    (4)
  • Paul T.

    Went here a few weekends ago. Food was great but who I assume to be the manager was rude. Had some first time visitors to Annapolis and requested a window table when I called for a reservation. Upon arriving I asked the front of the house guy (manager) whether we were going to get a window seat. We did but he was then overheard speaking to the waitstaff about us like we were ridiculous for making the comment about a window. Get a clue, your there to please your guests. I'll gladly take my guests to another friendlier option in Eastport next time like Carrol's Creek.

    (2)
  • Gerald F.

    Simply the best. Deeelish. Fried Oysters and seafood. WOW.

    (5)
  • Greg G.

    Decent quality. Good not great. I went with a group and the menu was planned and therefore limited. Several fish choices as well as one meat choice. I was not too wild about the types of fish and went with the meat. I had some local crab cakes as an appetizer as well as some calamari, shrimp and mussels. Pretty decent but once again, good, not great. I am not sure what the rage is about Maryland crab cakes because it just does not compare in terms of flavor and texture to West Coast Dungeness crab. In fact, the meat is very similar to many types of white fish. I would be curious to try this place when I could choose from their entire menu. Annapolis is a very charming place and I am sure there area ton of great places to eat here (besides this one).

    (3)
  • J A.

    Delicious and enjoyable. I took my boyfriend to O'Leary's Seafood Restaurant for his birthday this year. He has become a foodie in recent years and LOVED it - as did I. Our server was a tad arrogant and rude and seemed irritated that neither of us ordered an alcoholic beverage (neither of us are drinkers), but the food and overall service was really great. We had the fried calamari for our starter - it was a bit oily and the sauce was a tad heavy, but overall it was tasty. I had the swordfish with shrimp, broccolini and mashed sweet potatoes and gobbled up every last bite. It was absolutely delicious! My boyfriend had the mahi-mahi with shrimp, jasmine rice and pineapple mango salsa and loved it as well. We opted to not get dessert there because their options just weren't what we wanted. Entrees run about $30 a piece and, while expensive, it's worth it.

    (4)
  • Milee T.

    Hands down the best crab cakes ever! Everything on the menu is superb!

    (5)
  • Howard R.

    Had a wonderful first experience at O'Leary's last night. We were promptly seated for our reserved table. The host was professional but perhaps a little distant and cold. Maybe having a bad day like most of us do from time to time. No harm, no foul. Our drinks were brought quickly and well executed. The waitress gave very thorough descriptions of the daily specials and did so with some enthusiasm which ended up selling us on the oyster appetizer which was brought out extremely hot and also well executed. The lobster cappuchino was excellent, if not a bit overpriced but you know this restaurant isn't exactly cheap when you make the reservation. The barramundi was wonderful and our first experience with this Australian fish. The fish itself was light and flaky with an almost neutral to sweet flavor. It was offset by the stronger flavors of the capers and artichokes and made for an interesting and balanced dish. The zarzuela was delicious and was amply apportioned with clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops and lobster. The creme brulee' for dessert was a nice end to a great meal. Our server was attentive yet not smothering and our water glasses were always full. Love the decor. Was a bit disappointing to have a couple seated after we arrived and the man was wearing flip flops, wife beater and cut off shorts. One doesn't go to a fine dining restaurant just for the food. It's about the total experience and to have someone walk in like they were going to Chipotle detracts from the overall experience. Would like to see management have some expectations of a minimal level of acceptable dress for this otherwise wonderful restaurant.

    (4)
  • Patrick H.

    Ok, so if you want to feel like a complete, totally insensitive American A**hole, go see "Slumdog Millionaire" followed by an 8:30 reservation at O'Leary's seafood. If the food wasn't so damn good, the guilt could be overwhelming. So, it is with the humblest of apologies to Salim, Latika and Jamal that I tell you how fantastic our dinner at O'Leary's this past Saturday was. Myself, the dining partner in crime and our good friend C just made our 8:30 reservation after hurridley rushing from the theatre. We were welcomed warmly and escorted to our table nestled gently in the corner. We had a charming bayside view which gave way to the twinkly lights of boats moored in Eastport and over to Annapolis. We started with three appetizers. Seared Scallops over Mushroom Polenta, Lobster Cappuccino and the Grilled Romaine Salad. The scallops were perfectly seared with an aggressive crust giving way to a tender opaque center over the creamy polenta. The grilled romaine was nice but I don't know that I would order it again. The Lobster Cappuccino, however, I will order each and everytime I visit O'Leary's. A deep rich Lobster bisque topped with a generous dollop of Lobster foam and served with a spoon of Lobster Ceviche. Our lovely server told us to stir in the ceviche and enjoy. Indeed we did. O'Leary's is a seafood house and the chef clearly knows his way around a fish or two. For entrees, we had the crab cakes, which are baked rather than broiled or fried, the Sea Bass and the Crispy Grouper. Crab Cakes: Extraordinary. No filler, all jumbo lump crab meat with a simple beurre blanc and a nice roasted root vegetable hash. Crispy Grouper: Extraordinary. Simple seasoned grouper battered and flash fried at an ultra high temp, sealing in all the juicy goodness of the fish and creating an almost impossibly crisp exterior which was light and greaseless. It was served over a Succotash and a very simple sauce. Sea Bass: Holy Moly! One large simple generous piece of bass, seasoned with nothing more than salt, pepper and olive oil, oven roasted and served over candied brussels sprouts with crisp pancetta lardons and a saffron rice gallette. The rich and sweet brussells sprouts mixed with the salty, fatty pancetta was the perfect foil for the luscious and creamy bass. For desserts we had the Bread Pudding, Carrot Cake and the Coconut Cream cake with Mango Sauce. All were exceptional but I have to say the bread pudding is something transcendant. I love it when a chef realizes that quality ingredients, cooked properly need nothing more done to them. Service was delightful. Casual, friendly, suggestive and efficient. All in all a charming restaurant worthy of the high price you will pay to dine there. Next time I go, though, I will try to see a movie that is a little less challenging to my moral compass. Hmmm... when is the next showing of "He's Just Not that Into You"?

    (5)
  • Mike A.

    Wow, the short version....over priced mediocre food right out of the eighties. I can only guess where all the glowing reviews came from. Must be from another restaurant.

    (1)
  • Christine P.

    Ehhh ... not as good as it was a few years ago, or I just hit it on an off night. The food was good, don't get me wrong, but a pit pricy for the quality. If the quality was better, $35/entree wouldn't have been as painful. My boyfriend and I tried a few different dishes (ordered 4 appetizers between the both of us) and I'd say that 2 of the 4 were really good, and the other 2 were just OK. Not sure I'll be back the next time I am in town visiting.

    (3)
  • Janet K.

    Ok, let's start by saying this is really a 4 1/2 star review---Yelp, I want those half stars please!!! 5 stars to me means flawless and this wasn't, but most of the glitches--like cold coffee--were quickly and pleasantly corrected. I have eaten at O'Leary's a number of times over the years and almost always the food is to die for. We went this time for Mothers' Day. We were thrilled when we walked in to see Chef Russell Brown (former owner of Northwoods) He had been briefly at Rockfish where I suspect his considerable skills were wasted. The creamy red pepper/crab soup was so fabulous I threw vanity to the wind and sopped up the bottom of the bowl with my bread. (I would like to see more bread variety--ciabatti just is not my favorite at all--Chart House offers a wonderful basket of mixed breads and crackers) My mother pronounced her soft shell crab dinner to be the best ever---and she has eaten quite a few in her 80+ years. I was just not into seafood that night so had the beef--wonderful! My nephew had a pasta dish that was divine--except--please remove the bay leaves before serving! Also, I am not a big fan of whole cloves of garlic in a dish (We counted 10 of them) Now here comes the downer--the leftovers were brought out in Chinese style paper conainers. When you serve a beautiful gourmet dinner and then dump leftovers into a box, something is greatly amiss. Also--a BIG pet peeve of mine is when the kitchen decides to pick through what is on the plate to determine what goes home and what doesn't. (The thought of someone doing this is a bit revolting) I always tell the server that I want everything on the plate to go home--and when I get home and find some of the food missing I am mightily ticked. It is SO presumptuous! So, O'Leary's, if you don't want your customers to be so gauche as to scrape their leftovers into containers themselves at the table, STOP picking through their food deciding what goes and what doesn't! And get some decent containers where the food can go home in as lovely a manner as it is originally presented. (You might want to check Cheesecake Factory--it is about the only thing they do well..) And now for a final positive note--I love that O'Leary's has it's own free convenient parking lot! I think that makes up for it's lack of water view... So, all in all, some pretty spectacuar food, top knotch service, lovely ambiance, but lousy take home department... I'm sure Chef Russell will fix the little problems in no time... We're SO glad you are back!!!!

    (5)
  • Brendan D.

    Terrific food. Went here every now and again when I was an Annapolis resident, and frankly I lament the commute it would take now. Crabcakes are the signature dish, but really all the seafood is fresh and delicious. Underrated Caesar salads too. Its pricy, but your getting excellent quality for your bucks. Check it out, make reservations- its filled every night.

    (4)
  • H.A. T.

    Oh boy, I go to a seafood restaurant and order duck! Living near Annapolis I get my fill of seafood pretty regularly, but always order duck when it's on the menu. I loved it! It had a been a fantastic afternoon of fishing with a friend and enjoying a beautiful day on the water and to follow it up with a great duck dinner, was wonderful. I visited with a friend who is an owner of a nearby restaurant. They wanted to revisit O'Learys as they had not been in while and wanted to patronize their neighboring business. We both agreed the atmosphere was enjoyable, the service was attentive and the food was delicious. I look forward to returning and sharing this little gem with good friends and family. Dined on 10/20/10

    (4)
  • Alex L.

    I guess this is a 3.5. Boyfriend's parents were in town for his mom's birthday so we took a trip down to Annapolis. The restaurant was small but pretty funky. My wine was too sweet for my taste, but I guess that's my problem. Starters: boyfriend and his dad got the mussels, I got the fried oysters. SO disappointed--I felt like I could taste the old oil they were fried in. Yuck. Mussels were good but DC Coast set a really high bar that has yet to be topped. Mains: I got cornmeal fried trout--zillions of tiny bones on the edges of the fillet. Again, my problem? Not sure. But not enjoyable. Flavor of the fish was great though! His mom got the Thai mahi mahi that she said was great; his dad got the crabcakes which were WAY overpriced, although didn't have a lot of fillers. He said they were good but not stellar. Boyfriend got the rockfish special, topped with lump crab. It was very tasty though I can't remember a thing about it at this point... Dessert: Best part of the night. His dad got carrot cake and refused to share, it was that good. The rest of us got dessert martinis which was so fun! My double espresso was amazing; boyfriend's white chocolate raspberry was great and his mom enjoyed her "candy bar." All in all, a great dinner but not necessarily because of the food.... As enjoyable way to drop $300 as any I guess.

    (3)
  • Phil B.

    I overheard a bartender at the Westin recommend this as the best place in Annapolis. I tend to agree. I thought the food was excellent, the restaurant atmospheric without being too much, and the parking lot is large enough for the establishment. Plus you can see the harbor from the front door. Its a bit on the pricier side, so expect to pay 40, 50 dollars a person with a drink & gratuity.

    (5)
  • Kristy B.

    Amazing, eclectic food. Expensive but worth every penny. It's been quite a while since we've eaten there (out of our price range unless it's for a special occasion) so I don't remember what we ordered, but I do remember that we left there fat and happy!

    (5)
  • Nathan W.

    Probably the best staple for high end dining out in Annapolis. O'Learys combines the charm of the Eastport section of Annapolis with the bold flavor profiles of a much larger city. Its a seafood lovers haven, but dont fear for there are plenty of options for our more terrestrial gastronomes.

    (4)
  • tracey s.

    We went here when our friends were in town from Boston. I had to send my food back 3 times and everyone else's food was average....barely average. The atmosphere was nice and espresso martinis were very good though. Overall, it was very overpriced mediocre overrated food.

    (1)
  • Brian S.

    I would give it 5 stars, but my wife said 3 at the most, so I'll average. I loved the selection of fish that you can't find elsewhere, and they're prepared in a myraid of ways. Our service was excellent and the waitress did a good job of recommending wine. The dining room is a little cramped and there is no view at all, but I had a great time. Highly recommended.

    (4)
  • DML K.

    One of the best dining experiences I have had. On our spur of the moment trip to Annapolis, we chose O'Leary due to the rave reviews on several sites. This place lived up to the expectations. First and foremost, if you want a view -- this is not the place. O'Leary's is situated in a little house with what looks like a little porch. The inside is warm, inviting and cozy. We had dinner at 9:45 so the restaurant was not crowded but it is also January (not the height of tourist season). The waitress was friendly and engaging. She gave several great recommendations. She was helpful but not intrusive. The food -- to die for. Just writing this makes me want to take the hour trip right now. From what I understand, the menu changes with the seasons and what is available. Our appetizer and bread were wonderful. The crab cakes -- they are what crab cakes should be. Hubby's dish was great too but all I remember are those crab cakes.

    (5)
  • Angela K.

    We had a wonderful family dinner to celebrate our sons graduation at Oleary's. If you want good seafood then this is a great choice. We each had a starter and each one was delicious. I had the grilled calimari, others at the table had the Tuna Sashimi (excellent), crab cake, and clams. The best dish was the soft shell crab dinner and the Grouper with Gulf Shrimp. The light batter on the grouper allowed for all of the flavors to come out. Our server set the right tone for our dinner which was not to rush and to enjoy each others conversation. The owner made a number of rounds to make sure everything was done well. On the way home we were discussing when we can go back again.

    (5)
  • Maureen P.

    Although Annapolis is thought of as a "fish" sort of town I have never found very good fish restaurants here. O'Learys is the total exception and has been for about 10 years. I recently visited during restaurant week with a friend. My friend chose the mushroom bisque as the first course. It was hot, yummy, and rich. I chose the grilled romaine with warm whole grain mustard dressing and bacon fat croutons. Hmm well a little disappointment here...not warm and not a lot of flavor in the dressing and the croutons were, well unexciting. I think I should have had the mussels. For the entree we both chose the Mahi-Mahi with sweet potato chips, green beans and gorgonzola balsamic vinaigrette. It came hot and moist with a nice crust on the outside. The vinaigrette was tasty but not really distinguishable as gorgonzola so I was a tad disappointed. But overall the dish was cooked perfectly and was very tasty! Both the creme brulee and chocolate mousse we good and a nice end to the dinner. As always the wait staff if the best in Annapolis. I really mean that. Knowledge of food and wine, thoughtful, engaging and everything you always want a wait staff to be...attentive, but not annoying. Not surprising the "restaurant week" menu was not quite as good as the normal menu, but it won't really stop me from going back to O's or telling others to try it.

    (4)
  • Michael B.

    I gave it 5 starts because it is exactly as it say's it is. It is not the best food in the world but for the price it was darn good. This is on my short list of good Annapolis restaurants. My GF and I went here for restaurant week. I was expecting diluted service and food but what we got was an excellent meal. Without going into every detail about what we got I will just say that this place has the attention to detail I have been looking for. Everything that was served was prepared and executed properly. This may seem simple but really so many places can't even fry something right. i.e. calamari was perfect and not chewy at all with a nice sauce. Everything served was tasty and the flavors blended nicely. The service was attentive without being overbearing and offered good input when asked. No beer on tap but an ok selection in bottles. I am not a wine drinker so I can't comment on the wine list but it seemed fairly extensive. The atmosphere was nice and cozy, warm on a cold rainy night and high enough ceilings to feel more open then it is. Long story short I would go back.

    (5)
  • Monica S.

    I travel quite frequently for my job so I have eaten at many fine restaurants around the country and the food at O'Leary's would absolutely fall in the top 5 best meals. I had the pleasure of dining there for my anniversary and found it was worth every penny. The pairings of the sides with the entree are perfectly complimentary. We started out sharing the lobster bisque and the arugula salad and for entrees I had the crab cakes with potato salad and asparagus and my boyfriend had the encrusted tuna with wasabi mashed potatoes. All of it was truly amazing. Definitely recommend this if you are looking for a food experience that will leave your mouth watering as you reminisce the evening. I mentioned it was our anniversary in the comments of the reservation and when we decided to pass on dessert, they surprised us with one anyway to celebrate our special occasion. We loved it!

    (5)
  • Derek D.

    The food here is nothing less than phenomenal! The lump crab meat coconut bisque special was amazing. The Panko-Wasabi Scallops were the best I've ever eaten. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better the Cedar River Farms Filet Mignon melted in my mouth, again the best I've ever eaten. I recommend coming from far and wide to sample the cuisine here I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Dressy
    Ambience : Romantic
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

O’Learys Seafood Restaurant

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