Tanzania Seafood & Jazz restaurant opens in downtown York

Kerry Kirkland said he loves to catch, cook and eat seafood. He's a painter, who appreciates the art of jazz.

Kirkland, 60, has found a way to bring all these elements into one place.

On Friday, Kirkland and his wife, Juanita Kirkland, opened Tanzania Seafood & Jazz restaurant at 29 E. Princess St. in York City.

"We had a full house and had to turn people way," Kirkland said. "We had people coming in from Harrisburg, Baltimore, York and Lancaster. It was incredible."

The restaurant, open 5 to 11 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, seats close to 45 people and features jazz performed live and on video, Kirkland said.

The seafood restaurant's menu features entrees named in honor of Jazz greats, including Eubie Blake's Crab Cakes and Ella's Teriyaki Salmon, referring to singer Ella Fitzgerald. Also on the menu are fish, shrimp, pasta and steak dishes, soups and desserts.

The menu's cover features a painting called "Calico Kid" done by Kirkland, whose nickname is Calico for the type of bass he enjoys catching.

The Kirklands, married 40 years, are the restaurant's cooks. Their experience comes from at least 25 years of holding cooking free fish dinner events for neighbors and friends, said the couple.

"Now, we're doing something that allows more people to enjoy our cooking of fish," Juanita Kirkland said.

The Kirklands, who live in the city, purchased the building four years ago. The red brick building had housed a law office and coffee shop.

The property was gutted and recreated into a restaurant with three dining areas named Dar es Salaam, Tanga and Zanzibar, all ports in Tanzania, East Africa.

Kirkland said he chose the name Tanzania because it's known for its seafood industry, and because he simply likes the name.

Though the restaurant just opened, there are plans to add a deck in the summer for outside eating, Kirkland said. He added he's working to get jazz musicians - from York and around the nation - to perform at the restaurant.

"At our restaurant, we're presenting excellent food, outstanding service and great jazz," Kirkland said.

For information, call 846-8000.

-Reach Eyana Adah McMillan at 505-5438 or emcmillan@yorkdispatch.com.