Hook Fish Co. at Proof Lab Beer Garden — Restaurant in Marin City

My husband and I have been passing through this area for years, but this is the first time that we’ve tried this, after seeing it on Check Please. What a great place to eat, drink and relax! the vibe is very chill and relaxed, with beautiful local plants. Plenty of seats for groups and individuals. The food is very clean and delicious: the flavor profile is Mexican: burritos, tacos, pico de gallo, guacamole, etc. They are all flavorful and let the fish shine. The guy at the order counter was very friendly and knowledgeable about fish. He recommended the grilled black cod for the plate, and the halibut for the fish and chips. The cod was so delicate, flaky and rich in flavor, wich went well with the pico, slaw, rice and beans. deep fried halibut had a thin crispy batter and tender juicy center. It was gold brown and piping hot when it arrived at the table. The fries were crispy and well seasoned. Loved the condiments, too: The carrot habanero hot sauce was great with everything, not that anything lacked seasoning. We ended up buying a bottle to go. The ketchup was not the regular Heinz one, it was less vinegary and more fruity. We finished the meal and told the guy that we loved his recommendation, and that the fish and chips were better that what we had in London. We came around 11am, soon after the restaurant opened, and it filled up very soon. Many families with young kids, friends, and individuals just having a good time. It is next to a beautiful local plant nursery, a surf shop, an outdoor apparel store, and a coffee shop. Plenty to enjoy there, and I only regret not knowing...

tl;dr: Great food and a chill mission, but dog policy confusion, DIY service expectations, and a few facility hiccups hold it back.

Hook Fish Co. at Proof Lab Beer Garden wants to be your go-to neighborhood spot, and I really wanted to love it. Let’s break it down.

On the upside: parking is surprisingly decent for Marin, there's a lot, but get there early. Once it's full, street parking is a bit of a circus, and nearby options aren’t exactly plentiful. The food? Absolutely delicious. Fresh, coastal-inspired, and clearly sourced with care. Their commitment to sustainability and community is admirable, and I’m always here for a spot that walks the walk with its mission.

But here's where it gets murky. First, the dog situation: they have a clear "No Dogs" policy posted, but it's basically ignored. It’s frustrating, if you’re going to have the sign, either enforce it or don’t bother. I get that we’re in California, where dogs are basically plus-ones everywhere, but consistency matters.

Then there’s the tipping situation. They strongly encourage a 20% tip. Understandable if you’re getting full service. But here? It’s counter-service, grab-your-own-water, and busing-your-own-table. A 20% tip for that feels like a stretch; 15% is more reasonable.

And lastly, bathrooms. Functional, but barely. The faucet situation? Broken. No paper in the stalls? Not ideal, and it leaves a bad impression in an otherwise solid space.

Overall, I’ll absolutely be back for the food, but the experience could be so much better with just a bit more...

I’ve been to Hook Fish several times in the past but had a very disappointing experience this past Labor Day weekend. I hope that management can better define and maintain quality standards even when the restaurant becomes more crowded.

We ordered the ceviche chips and the grilled fish burritos. The chips in the past had been delightful —clearly fresh and warm, with a light crisp and flakiness that melted in your mouth. In contrast, our experience this weekend was the opposite. The chips tasted stale, evidently made far in advance judging from the stale hardness and dull flavor.

The fish burritos were even more disappointing. The fish tasted overcooked: tough, chewy and lacking flavor. The composition of the burrito was also poorly made; the ingredients were not evenly distributed, such that in one bite you only got cabbage, another bite you only got fish, etc. It was definitely one of the worst burritos I’ve had in a while.

I’ll assume attribution for this poor execution due to the Labor Day crowds, but our disappointment was only compounded after waiting over 75 mins for an extremely mediocre meal. If customers are going to wait that long for a meal, one would hope that they would be delighted and rewarded for their patience, not left dejected by a...