Carrol's Creek Cafe, Annapolis

As they cross the Spa Creek Bridge and spot the bright-red exterior of the Carrol's Creek Cafe, fans of the restaurant know that they're just a few steps away from a delicious bounty of bay treasures. Planted along the famous restaurant row in the Eastport section of Annapolis, Carrol's Creek overlooks a bustling dock and the city's waters. Such a location hints at the restaurant's specialties, which include Maryland cream of crab soup and herb-encrusted rockfish fillets served over sun-dried tomato pesto risotto. An extensive selection of wine, craft beer, and cocktails complements the restaurant's new-American spread. The views aren't bad, either, since diners can peer out into the bay and watch the sail boats play round after round of Marco Polo.