Captain Hook's Best Sushi/Best Pho/Best Thai — Restaurant in Cape Coral

I will start by saying that I will likely eat here again. The food was good, though not great, but we liked it well enough. However, after visiting for our first time on a Saturday night, we felt very awkward throughout our meal. The server was very nice and we enjoyed engaging with him. Unfortunately, we arrived between 815 and 830. The restaurant closes at 9. We typically try to avoid going to a place in the last hour of business, however after a busy Saturday we wanted to have a nice sit down dinner and didn't think that it could be THAT BAD. We chose our meals within a few minutes and began to relax. I was sitting directly across from the kitchen door, which was propped open giving me a clear view of the kitchen activity. As we waited for the food, I watched the kitchen starting their closing preparations. The back door was open to the outside the entire time we were there. A mop bucket was being filled right next to the food prep line with chemicals from 2 different bottles being poured in to the bucket from waist height. This was the first thing that made me a little uncomfortable. The kitchen staff was also getting pretty excited to close and get off, and at 845 we saw a party of 4 get turned away. One gentleman actually said "WE'RE CLOSED" in a fairly loud voice a soon as he heard the door chime. Our server embarrassingly snapped at him as if telling him to behave. As the mop bucket was still being filled, the kitchen was getting more playful with one another and a box actually fell from somewhere over head, hitting the man filling the bucket. I could only wonder what kind of dust and debris could have been stirred up by the commotion of the box, falling from a location very near and above the food prep area. The food arrived and was good. We did add some chili oil to spice it up a bit because we forgot to ask for it to be spicy. Almost as soon as our food arrived, we were also greeted by a fly, which surely had no trouble finding his way through the open back door of the kitchen. From then on, it was a constant contest between me and the fly for rights to my plate. As I was nearing the halfway point of my meal, another worker grabbed a broom. She walked out of the kithen to an area with a rug that covers the first few feet of the dining room and begins to sweep side to side, with BIG FAST pendulum style sweeps, almost like a hockey player taking a slap shot in both directions! Having enough, I calmly asked the server for a box to protect our food from the fly and Brooming Gretzky, to which he obliged and apologized. He kindly boxed our food for us and we paid. We definitely felt awkward and kind of unwelcome during this experience. If we go back, it will definitely be earlier in the evening, though I don't think this should be the norm for the final customers of the night. We were one of 5 or 6 tables closing out the evening with the Captains...

2022 Update: While my original review below was based on my first visit, I felt it only fair to update it. Capt Hooks has, by far, become one of my favorite places to eat in Cape Coral. We've been here numerous times now, even opting to hold a work Christmas party here and celebrate birthdays at this restaurant. The food has never disappointed...it's delicious every time. The staff has greatly improved since my initial review. The service has become top-notch, and I look forward to seeing the familiar faces of the staff when we visit. The prices have gone up a bit (just like everything else this year) but it's still a great experience for the money. My only regret is they've removed Kanisu from the menu :( That was one of our favorites! Overall though, I highly recommend Capt Hooks, you won't be disappointed.

Original review: The positive: The food was excellent. We tried a variety of dishes - kanisu, pho, drunken noodles with beef, California roll, as well as a black dragon roll. All of it was absolutely fantastic. A little pricey compared to similar restaurants nearby, but overall I felt it was worth it for the great quality of food we received. The negative: The staff, while friendly, were not very attentive. We were there on a weekday evening when the restaurant was only filled to maybe half capacity. First, we ordered the kanisu as an appetizer, but it wasn't brought out til just a moment before our meals arrived. Second, of the three of us dining, only two of us received our meals. Either our waitress or the kitchen completely forgot one of the meals, so one of us had to wait for their food - again- after the rest of us were served. And third, I asked for a refill and 15 minutes later had to ask again because our waitress completely forgot about it. Normally I'd overlook something so minor, but since the service was already sub-par, it's just one more thing to add to the list. Overall, I look forward to trying more dishes that Captain Hooks has to offer and we will go back. But when we do, it will likely be for takeout to avoid the absent...

I consider myself a Sushi connoisseur. I've been on the search for the most perfectly made Sushi rolls, and after several trips to various Sushi restaurants throughout all of SW Florida I've finally found it at Captain Hook's Sushi/Thai restaurant. Way too many Sushi restaurants loosely and sloppily roll their rolls where they simply fall apart as you try to pick them up, either by hand or with chopsticks. Ronnie the owner and head Sushi Chef and Tip the other expert Sushi Chef roll the most PERFECT rolls with generous portions that hold together. I've known Ronnie & Tip for many years from when they worked at other Sushi restaurants, but I had lost track of them after the pandemic, but I'm SOooo happy that I've very luckily stumbled on where they're at now. Although I live over 30-miles away, I now know where to go for the BEST Sushi.....Captain Hook's Sushi/Thai restaurant is where it's at. It is so worth the trip!!!

3/19/23 Update: Captain Hook is still the BEST Sushi & Thai food throughout ALL of SW Florida. I've been to many, many Sushi Thai restaurants in Naples, Bonita Springs, Ft.Myers, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Sarasota, none of them can measure up to Captain Hook. Ronnie is a true Artist in creating the PERFECT Sushi Rolls. Plus, their Lobster with Basil sauce is truly AMAZING. I just wish they were located closer to Bonita Springs, I would be dining there at least once a week. As it is, I'm still willing to drive the 30-miles to eat there. It is just that GOOD!!!

**Update 7/3/23

Just when you think you've had the Very BEST Sushi ever from Captain Hook, I go back there and Ronnie out does himself and somehow improves on Perfection. Ronnie is a Master in the Art of Sushi Rolls. It's a very long drive for me coming from Bonita Springs, but Ronnie & Tip always makes it real worth it. NOBODY DOES IT BETTER!!! After you've tried the rest, come to Captain Hooks and...