Hook Line & Sinker — Restaurant in Dysart et al

EDIT FOR THE OWNERS REPLY: Thank you for confirming that your burgers are not made in house. Since you didn’t add any comment to defend that your burgers are house made and you are merely defending the price, that should tell any review readers what they need to know. Your online menu may say $19.25 but that can easily have been changed after my review was published, as a web designer myself a change such as that can be accomplished in under 15min. I have a receipt from our meal last weekend where it clearly states that I paid $24.95 before taxes for my burger. And if that sounds outlandish to you then your restaurant has bigger issues at hand. Why was I charged more in store? Paper doesn’t lie, and my receipt very clearly states that number.

Original review:

My husband and I frequent Haliburton a couple times a year. We tried Hook, Line & Sinker for the first time over the weekend.

We had high hopes when we saw the aesthetics, menu & prices.

We started with the calamari, it was cooked very well.

Our mains were ok. We ordered one piece haddock dinner and the burger dinner and we shared both entrees.

The fish was a larger than expected piece but I’m not convinced it was fresh fish. The onion tangles were lovely. And we enjoyed the coleslaw.

The disappointment of the evening was the burger. I am fairly confident that the burger itself had been previously frozen. It had that watery texture of meat that had been frozen. We did ask our waitress if the burgers were prepared in house, she told us yes, but I suspect due to her wavering tone of voice and obvious throat swallow before replying that her reply was one she was told to give and not one she believed.

Due to her body language, my palate and the menu not specifying that it was house made I find it very difficult to believe that it was. The burger was dressed nicely but it was very disappointing to bite into a $25 burger that sure tasted and looked like a generic frozen Costco burger.

I have been to many burger spots with real fresh ground daily beef burgers are made for around the same price point.

We were also disappointed to learn that there were no free refills on soda. I can understand if you are serving a large glass but for small normal sized glasses to not be free for a restaurant with food priced above average was a bit of a surprise.

Since the prices didn’t match the quality of food expected we won’t be...

Place looks beautiful when you walk in, unfortunately you almost feel ignored by staff until your seated. Had 3 different servers come to host stand and not one person would even make eye contact with us or say we will be with you in a moment. This place could be the true staple for the area but minor things definitely need to be improved to see it go the next level. If the owner made a smidgen of effort to interact with the tables and check on things it would have made the experience way more special. She was nice but so reserved she didn't feel approachable or like she wanted to be seating people. Beyond that laminate a seating chart so u can quickly look see whats taken and not have to search the restaurant for a hopeful open spot everytime someone walks in. Could save alot of time and get the other staff more involved with people vs everyone awkwardly walking by the door until your seated. Beyond that. Service wasn't bad just a bit unorganized. Food was good for the most part. Wouldn't even notice there fish batter is gluten free if it didn't say so on menu. The tuna crisps where good but personally mixing a cold fix product with a hot base doesn't mix the best. If you don't eat them fast enough you definitely notice the fishy taste set in from the crisps heating the tuna right up. The place is good, the people were nice, but yes definitely little things that I noticed from other complaints that definitely hold true to the place. It could be one of the best places in tbe county but until they make minor improvements its gonna hold them back....and im not just some random running his mouth. I have over 12 years experience in hospitality front and back of house from fine dinning to bar style i know my stuff and wouldn't point this out if it...

I wish I could be writing a glowing review about the food and service, but unfortunately, my experience at Hook, Line & Sinker, was completely overshadowed by something far worse—dishonesty.

We had lunch for my wife's birthday and then took a stroll through town. When we got back to our house we realised that my wifes purse was missing. When we checked our bank accounts, we found that the cards had been fraudulently used in a couple of businesses in downtown Haliburton & the last transaction was at this restaurant.

We went into the other businesses and found CCTV of the couple who were using our cards. We went into this business, and we said the card was used here, we gave the amount & the description of the suspects. The owner actually recognized the suspect as the suspect was a member of her kitchen staff & the transaction was for his staff food.

The owner did not offer to return the money to our card or reverse the transaction (easily done) when she spoke to me.

The owners did manage to return my wife's debit card to her after they spoke with the staff member & he handed it back (after using it in the restaurant). We are still missing IDs, cash, gift cards, credit cards, keys & more.

The owner mentioned to me on a phone call that there was nothing she can do as she claims the purse was found outside the premises, even though it was an employee of hers who used the card in her restaurant to purchase food, on his shift.

We do not know if the purse was stolen when we were in the restaurant, if my wife left it in the bathroom, or if it was dropped in the street.

Because of everything above, I would not trust dining at this business & I would suggest dining elsewhere in Haliburton where you...