Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar — Restaurant in Jacksonville

I am so disappointed. We’ve come here probably 10-15 times and have recommended this establishment so many times! However, last night was absolutely appalling. I am so disappointed because I was so excited to come here tonight.

We got the crab meat fries as we have had on serval occasions. The waitress went into the kitchen after we ordered and then literally came right back with them. I took 2 big bites because they’re usually my favorite and then realized something was off, my husband took a few bites as well because we just couldn’t understand what the heck. They were soggy and tasted sour, when we mentioned this to the waitress and asked if it had been sitting under the heat lamp for a long time, she said “maybe it’s because it had blue cheese in the sauce so it tastes like that.” I again mentioned that we’ve had this dish probably 5+ times and it NEVER was like how it was served last night and asked her to take it because we’re not eating that because it was nasty. She took it back, didn’t offer a fresh basket (I guess she just thought that she knows better but just pick one up and see how soggy it is!) We never asked for it to be taken off of our bill but when she brought the bill she said “ The managers said you are most of it so it’s not going to come off the bill” Ummmm we probably did eat maybe 1/2 of it mostly because my excited bites before it hit me that it was gross.

What happened to the potatoes?! The potatoes are typically the mini potatoes but these came out in huge wedges like someone took a russet potato and cut it in 1/3rds. At least cut it up or use a firmer potato like a yellow potato if you’re out of the mini potatoes or better yet go right over to Sam’s club and get the right ones.

Idk how you mess up mozzarella sticks but they tasted sour like someone had put lemon juice on it and just off in general. Again we’ve had these several times and never had issues/know what they taste like.

Either the catfish was over fried or you really need to change your oil….my husband did say it tasted a bit off but at that point we didn’t even bother to bring it up.

I’m fairly certain that I got a crab cluster that was bad or on the verge of going bad. I know shells can differ but the meat smelt of ammonia, the texture was different and it was softer than the other crab bundles I had gotten.

We got the AYCE and asked to sub the aps to just one order of the crab fries, she said “oh it should be on there but let me ask”. She said that she asked her 2 managers and they said no. Which didn’t make sense because it was cheaper than some of the aps listed on the AYCE. We ended up ordering it anyway and just paying the $10. But they were disgusting (see #1). From that point on because I had mentioned that we had done it several times in the past I think they just wrote us off as just “wanting something” as with the comment about not taking it off of the bill.

Remember where I said there were TWO MANAGERS there not once did they come and check on us/try to solve any of the issues. One actually came and talked to the bartender about movies, I thought he was just a customer because of the convo/no name tag but when we were leaving I realized he wasn’t.

At that point I was so freaking over it and just fit to be tied at the way that they treated us, I had to leave. I’m not normally one to complain but $100 for sour food AND being talked down to/counted out, I left incredibly disappointed and annoyed. Along with the huge disappointment of the food and treatment being so different than we’ve had in the past. I got AYCE but left still a little hungry because after getting served bad crab, I had completely lost my appetite and fear of getting sick.

I have a video of the crab I wish I would’ve thought to take a picture/video the rest of the mishaps. The waitress quickly took my plate when I told her and showed her “to show the kitchen” so there was just a piece on my husband’s plate where I had...

Hostess was very friendly, explained well how the menu worked. Restaurant atmosphere was low key and not crowded. Hostess provided a bib/ utensils and later I learned people should probably bring a face shield or wear protective clothing too lol. When someone in your party sitting across from you starts snapping crawfish the sauce slings clear across the table to hit you in the face or get on your clothes haha. The music can get annoying- as it was for one person in my party- if you don't like current pop music that sounds like a club when you dine-in, or loud music very early in the day. Presentation of the food was picture perfect. The Shrimp Po' Boy presentation was actually so perfect the sandwich was hard to eat. Shrimp was huge, piled on top, and there was a disproportionate amount of lettuce underneath-way too much- making the shrimp topple off top and making this a sandwich you definitely can't eat on the run if you want clean clothes. The Cajun fries were a disappointment-Bojangle's and Popeyes Cajun fries are better IMO. The crab fries, were a little better because of the added crab, but the remoulade sauce drizzled on top was very skimpy. The lack of sauce made the fries quite dry and didn't seem to make the fries stand out as anything unique. All of the side sauces are actually quite skimpy here, also. The restaurant doesn't leave ketchup at the table and they only give you small plastic containers pumped with a certain amount of remoulade or ketchup to use- which isn't nearly enough. The remoulade is not that zesty and doesn't stand out on its own like I have had at other Cajun restaurants, made myself, or bought from Cajun grocer stores online. The calamari was good with light crispy fried seafood breader, not soggy. Kinda typical breader found at some of the local seafood restaurants. The stand out for me was the one thing not listed on the menu in restaurant but I saw on the online menu before going to the restaurant-the Chinese donuts. They are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, kinda Angel Food Cake, fried donuts. Hook and Reel put a sauce in my donut basket. It was neither sweet, nor tangy. It could have been another container of remoulade just put in the basket, idk, lol but I dipped my donuts in the sauce and it gave the donuts a unique taste. Overall, this is a place I would want to check out again for their Karaoke. Food wasn't bad, just not the best Cajun, or enough of a true authentic selection of Cajun specialties. Was the food like the Cajun food I had on Beale Street in New Orleans? No. But for a local substitute because there aren't many local Cajun restaurants- Cajun Queen that was in Snead's Ferry was better- this place will have to do for...

My husband and me have been wanting to visit this restaurant for quite some time, and we finally got around to doing so this evening for our anniversary dinner. Unfortunately, as excited as we were to try this place out, we will NOT ever go back! First off, the live music, was just too loud. We literally had to yell over the music in order to have some resemblance of a conversation! I was relieved when he finally stopped for a break, but needless to say, he was right back on the microphone just a few minutes later! Also, our waitress “JESS” had a funky attitude from the moment that she initially stopped by our table to take our order. The very first thing that I ordered was a water, and I didn’t even receive it until I was about finished with my meal! I had to ask for it 3 times-and even then, I watched her as she bounced around to every one of her other customers’ tables with my darn drink on her tray before she finally brought it over! Also, I changed my mind about what I initially ordered about 2 minutes after I placed the order, and she gave my husband a nasty attitude when he approached her about changing it. Each and every question that I asked her, seemed to be an issue as she responded with sarcasm and rudeness each time. Also, and this may seem a bit petty, but I really didn’t like the way she scribbled her name across the paper tablecloth that was on our table. I don’t know-that just seemed unsanitary to me. Oh! …and when JESS did bring our food to our table, she just tossed the seafood boil bags at the table and left! That was it! I noticed that the other customers with similar orders bags were not thrown at then that way! For the life of me, I honestly do not know what that lady’s problem was! She was kind to the other customers around us, but was just plain rude and nasty towards my husband and me the entire time! Lastly, we did discuss our concerns with the owner of the establishment regarding “Jess’ ” unprofessionalism and poor customer service, but he honestly seemed as though he couldn’t care less! The food to me was just ok. My margarita was warm and salty, and my lobster tail was overcooked. We spent over $120 on a meal for 2, and couldn’t even have access to water while we ate the meal! Like I said, we will never-ever visit that restaurant again! This was the worst experience that I have ever had in...