CIRCA 81 LLP

What CIRCA 81 LLP does

Circa 81 LLP operates a single farm-to-table and sea-to-table tapas restaurant at 4650-C Arendell St, Morehead City, North Carolina, serving diners in Carteret County and the Crystal Coast under the 81 Hospitality Group umbrella. Founded in 2010 by Chef Clarke Merrell and his wife Liza Merrell, the business generates revenue through four primary streams: dine-in restaurant service (tapas, craft cocktails, and full plates served Wednesday through Sunday), take-out orders (subject to a 20% service fee), full-service catering across Carteret County leveraging menus from sibling concepts, and gift cards sold in $25 to $200 denominations. Menu pricing ranges from $3.99 for bread service to $39.99 for premium large plates, with a private dining room accommodating up to 30 guests for events. The business sources ingredients from a network of regional suppliers including Benton's Ham, Ashe County Cheeses, Anson Mills, Heritage Farms, Lady Edison, and Blue Ocean Market, and exclusively features products from the founder's adjacent Beaufort Olive Oil Company in signature dishes.

The restaurant's go-to-market relies on direct-to-consumer channels: OpenTable for reservations, the circa-81.com website for menu information and gift card sales, and word-of-mouth driven by 15 consecutive years of OpenTable Diner's Choice awards (2011-2025) and TripAdvisor Hall of Fame status. Reservations and event inquiries route through a single email ([email protected]) and phone number, indicating lean operational staffing (8 employees per firmographic data). The business is family-owned with no disclosed institutional investment, structured as a limited liability partnership domiciled in North Carolina. The Merrell family has built a broader hospitality ecosystem — including Prime Bistro (2023), Social Q Smokehouse (2020-2021), Dank Burrito (2014), Beaufort Olive Oil Company (2013), and Merrell Estate & Gardens event venue (2019) — though Circa 81 LLP itself remains a single-unit restaurant operation constrained to its Morehead City footprint.

Name

CIRCA 81 LLP

Legal name

Circa 81 Tapas & Cocktaileria

Website

https://circa-81.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Circa 81 LLP is a family-owned farm-to-table and sea-to-table tapas restaurant in Morehead City, North Carolina, founded in 2010, serving local diners and Crystal Coast visitors with dine-in service, take-out, catering, private events, and gift cards as part of the 81 Hospitality Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Restaurant Dining

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm-to-Table & Contemporary American Restaurants (THAFACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cocktail Bars & Lounges (CRANACAD), Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK)

Keywords

• Farm-to-table dining
• Tapas restaurant
• Craft cocktails
• Private dining events
• Catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Morehead City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Restaurant: Full-service restaurant offering tapas, cocktails, and full plates for dine-in customers during lunch, dinner, and brunch service.
2. Take-out Orders: To-go orders with 20% service fee applicable. Customers can order from the full menu for pickup.
3. Catering Services: Custom catering menus combining dishes from Circa 81, Prime Bistro, Social Q Smokehouse, and Dank Burrito. Private dining room available for events.
4. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold in denominations starting at $25, available for purchase through the website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Circa 81 is a farm-to-table and sea-to-table tapas restaurant in Morehead City, North Carolina, offering Spanish-influenced small plates, craft cocktails, and full dinner service since 2010. The business also operates a private dining room seating up to 30 guests for events and provides full-service catering combining dishes from sister concepts in the 81 Hospitality Group.

Product overview

Circa 81 is a farm-to-table and sea-to-table tapas restaurant operating since 2010, offering Spanish-influenced small plates, craft cocktails, and full dinner service. The core product is the main dining restaurant, supplemented by a Private Dining Room for events up to 30 guests, full-service catering featuring dishes from the 81 Hospitality portfolio, gift cards in various denominations, and take-out service with applicable service fees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Circa 81 Tapas & Cocktaileria — Dine-in Restaurant Full-service farm-to-table and sea-to-table tapas restaurant offering Spanish-influenced small plates, craft cocktails (cocktaileria menu with over 30 specialty drinks), large plates, soups, salads, desserts and a curated cheese and charcuterie program. Open Wednesday-Saturday for lunch and dinner and Sunday for brunch and dinner; serves individual diners, families, and walk-in guests in Morehead City, NC.
• Private Dining Room Intimate private dining space accommodating up to 30 guests, entirely separated from the main dining room, for rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, birthdays, corporate events, business meetings and bridal showers. A/V presentations can be accommodated and a custom catering menu can be built for each booking.
• Catering Services Full-service off-premise catering across Carteret County and beyond, providing custom menus that combine dishes from across the 81 Hospitality portfolio (Circa 81, Prime Bistro, Social Q Smokehouse, Dank Burrito). Engagements are scoped via direct email inquiry to [email protected].
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards sold through the Circa 81 online store in fixed denominations of $25, $50, $75, $100, $125, $150 and $200, redeemable at Circa 81. Cards can be sent to the purchaser or directly to the recipient.
• Take-Out Service Full-menu take-out service for pickup, ordered by phone or in person, with a 20% service fee added to all to-go orders.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 81 Hospitality GroupcoreOthersParent company that owns and operates Circa 81 along with sister concepts: Prime Bistro, Social Q Smokehouse, Dank Burrito, Beaufort Olive Oil Company, and Merrell Estate & Gardens. Provides shared resources, cross-promotion, and unified catering services.
• Beaufort Olive Oil CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium oils and vinegars, exotic salts and specialty provisions provider founded by owner Clarke Merrell in March 2013. Multiple locations. Products are used in best-selling dishes at Circa 81 including Tomato Basil Soup, Bread Service, and Caprese Salad.
• Dank BurritominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood truck concept launched May 2014 by Clarke Merrell, now expanded with locations in Morehead City and Raleigh. Named 2014 National Food Truck Rookie of the Year and 2016 Best Food Truck Graphic Design. Franchise operations in NC and SC.
• Merrell Estate & GardensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate event venue purchased and renovated in 2019 by Clarke Merrell. Located in Indian Beach on Crystal Coast with grand spaces, ballroom, portico, and lawn areas. Popular destination for weddings and events.
• Social Q SmokehouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPop-up meals started in 2020 with Social Q Smokehouse, own location opened early 2021 in Morehead City. Offers smoked meats and craft barbecue.
• Prime Bistro and Wine BarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpened in 2023 by Clarke Merrell, elevated dining experience with wood-fired steaks, fine seafood, house-made pasta, and robust wine menu.
• OpenTablecoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline reservation service platform used by Circa 81 for managing table reservations. Reservation widget embedded on website.
• Blue Ocean MarketminorOthersLocal ingredient supplier in Morehead City, NC providing fresh seafood and produce for farm-to-table/sea-to-table concept.
• Allan Benton (Benton Ham)minorOthersPremium country ham supplier from Monroe County, TN. Benton's Ham is featured on Circa 81's menu.
• Ashe County CheesesminorOthersNorth Carolina artisan cheese producer supplying cheeses for Circa 81's cheese and charcuterie menu.
• Anson MillsminorOthersGrain and flour supplier from Columbia, SC used for menu items at Circa 81.
• Heritage FarmsminorOthersLocal farm supplier from Goldsboro, NC providing ingredients for the farm-to-table menu.
• Lady EdisonminorOthersArtisan charcuterie producer from Chapel Hill, NC supplying Lady Edison Dry Cured Spanish Chorizo for Circa 81.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bartaco: Tapas-style concept offering small plates inspired by coastal Latin cuisine alongside craft cocktails and tequila/mezcal program. Comparable shareable-plates, cocktail-forward small-format dining experience.
• Boqueria: New York-based Spanish tapas restaurant group with multiple locations, focused on authentic small plates, Spanish wines, and cocktails. Directly comparable to Circa 81 in cuisine focus and tapas-led casual-but-premium positioning.
• Jaleo: Spanish tapas and cocktails concept from chef José Andrés with locations in DC, NYC, and other markets. Closest direct comparability to Circa 81's tapas-and-cocktaileria concept and similar reliance on Spanish small plates and craft beverage program.
• True Food Kitchen: Farm-to-table, season-driven full-service concept with bar program emphasis. Comparable to Circa 81 in farm-to-table sourcing ethos and elevated casual-dining format with craft cocktails.
• Bulla Gastrobar: Multi-location Spanish tapas and gastrobar concept. Comparable to Circa 81 in pairing traditional Spanish tapas with an elevated cocktail program and shareable-plate dining model.

Broad incumbents

• Bonefish Grill: National upscale coastal seafood casual-dining chain. Less specialized than Circa 81 (not farm-to-table or tapas-led) but comparable in upscale coastal seafood menu positioning and craft cocktails.
• Seasons 52: National seasonally-inspired farm-to-fork concept focused on rotating menus and an extensive wine list. Comparable in seasonal/farm-to-table sourcing story and full-service premium casual format.

Others

• Social Q Smokehouse: Sister concept under 81 Hospitality offering craft barbecue and smoked meats in Morehead City. Sharing owner, catering network, and donor/community engagement channels with Circa 81.
• Dank Burrito: Sister concept under 81 Hospitality operating a food truck/brick-and-mortar burrito brand with multi-state franchise operations. Connected via shared owner Clarke Merrell, shared catering infrastructure, and joint brand portfolio.
• Prime Bistro: Sister concept under 81 Hospitality opened in 2023, featuring wood-fired steaks, seafood, and a robust wine program. Operates in the same Morehead City market under shared ownership and catering network with Circa 81.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circa-81-llp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIRCA 81 LLP