O’Loughlin’s Preserve The Friendly, Neighborhood Restaurant Experience

For those who enjoy going out to dinner - and who doesn’t - it seems as if there’s a new restaurant opening every time you take a trip into Annapolis. But for those who enjoy a welcoming, relaxed visit to a neighborhood restaurant, where the food is well prepared and the wait staff is friendly, O’Loughlin’s Restaurant and Pub has the down-to-earth atmosphere that can make both loyal and new patrons feel right at home.

“We work hard to deliver a good product at a good value and provide great service,” said Tom Crawford, the restaurant’s owner, who is a familiar face to regular patrons.

Crawford opened O’Loughlin’s nearly 30 years ago in a small location on Shore Acres Road, where the business enjoyed 14 years of success before moving to a bigger, more visible space in the shopping center on Bay Dale Drive, where it currently operates.

In the 14 years since moving, O’Loughlin’s has continued to thrive, gaining a reputation among local diners who appreciate the accommodating manner and efficient work ethic of the team, many of whom have been with Crawford for many years. In fact, he cited one server who has been there since the day he opened and at least 10 who have been with him for more than 15 years. He even indicated that many of the high school students he employs come back to visit the restaurant throughout college and afterward. “It’s rewarding to see kids grow up and come back to see you; even though they’ve moved on with their lives, they’re still part of the O’Loughlin’s family after that,” Crawford reflected.

A priority for Crawford as a business leader is to remain involved in the community and help local charities and nonprofit organizations. The number-one philanthropic effort for the team year after year is the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to conquer childhood cancer. O’Loughlin’s has hosted St. Baldrick’s head-shaving events for the past six years, raising a total of about $400,000 in that time. Additionally, Crawford has helped out local schools, from Broadneck High all the way down to the elementary schools, and civic groups by donating gift cards for door prizes and raffles. “We give back because we have an interest in people and we want to see the community thrive,” he said.

And despite the recent years’ bad economy and explosion of corporate-run restaurants, Crawford and his team of employee have continued to be a viable part of the culture on the Broadneck Peninsula. Recently, the restaurant’s middle room underwent a renovation to open up the space, making the venue better suited for watching the game on one of the pub’s television screens. Furthermore, development plans for the Bay Dale shopping center will make it possible for O’Loughlin’s to have a patio and outdoor dining, which will make a nice addition to the property and provide one more way for the staff to better serve guests.

For a return to the neighborhood restaurant and pub of yesteryear, visit O’Loughlin’s at 1258 Bay Dale Drive in Arnold. The restaurant is open for lunch at 11:00am Monday through Friday and noon on Saturday, and at 10:00am for brunch on Sunday. Dinner is served 4:00pm to 10:00pm Monday through Friday, 4:00pm to 11:00pm Saturday and 4:00pm to 10:00pm Sunday. The pub menu is served until 1:00am every night. For more information, call 410-349-0200 or visit www.oloughlinspub.com.