Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar — Restaurant in New York

A pretty new seafood spot that opened up across the street from my job a few months ago. I've been wanting to come here to try their happy hour once I saw the sign posted outside the restaurant a while ago. I will sum up my experience in one line then elaborate after: A beautiful and spacious establishment, delicious food and potent cocktails, TERRIBLE customer service.

Their happy hour is Monday through Friday from 3 pm until 7 pm, and Saturday & Sunday from 12 pm until 4 pm. Their happy hour specials consist of $4 draft beers, $5 Reel Classics (Rum Punch & Margaritas), $7 Signature Cocktails (Hook Punch & Voodoo Lemonade) and half-off food specials (hush puppies, crabmeat fries, fried calamari and a shrimp basket).

I had two glasses of rum punch during my time there and I will say that they were potent and well made considering the fact that Wray & Nephew wasn't used. I was buzzed after those two. For food I had the fried calamari and the crabmeat fries. The fried calamari was well seasoned and breaded perfectly. The marinara sauce was a perfect compliment. The crabmeat fries had real crabmeat and had a spicy mayo-like drizzle over them. Really delicious. Both starters were nice portions and had me full.

My issue with this establishment is the customer service. The majority of the staff is very young and immature. They need some serious customer service training. I know I wasn't alone because I heard other patrons around me complaining. The girl behind the bar took forever to come back around to ask if I needed another drink, etc. My glass was empty for at least 25 minutes. I saw other patrons wave her down to get service. This should never be the case, especially since it wasn't busy whatsoever. This young staff was more concerned with entertaining their friends from the neighborhood (one of their friends was at the bar for happy hour with her baby in a stroller. At one point the bartender left the bar to come around a pick up baby up out of the stroller). At one point there were a few of us patrons who needed service but the staff were gossiping about whatever. It was so unprofessional and quite annoying. Management definitely needs to do some...

Ok so today I was taken out to dinner at the Hook & Reel at 161st. In the Bronx NY. By my sister for a pre- fathers day dinner. It was very slow as far as patrons are concerned. We were greeted promptly and politely. Our Server Bri was Amazing.. she attended to us and did her best to correct or have our order corrected as many times as requested with a smile and polite/helpful attitude. I actually felt bad for her as i saw the way the Owner treated her.. our server Bri was made to leave almost immediately as we started to eat. And told that if we tip her they will make sure she gets it tomorrow. Unsatisfactory!!! But she stayed with us and made sure we were good almost until we were finished eating. The drinks were Extremely Watered Down! As for the food. everything tasted like it was precooked and sitting out or under a heat lamp and got dry. And when someone orders they just heat it up throw some Super Salty "Seasoned" butter in a bag and shake around the seafood that was precooked and sitting. The dungeness crab meat was dry and kinda grey in color. The head-on shrimp was almost as Mushy as the Head-butter in the shrimp. The sausages were dry, and had a "Dried Meat" Darkness to them, even down in the butter. The corn tasted like pure water. The side of garlic butter was the Saltiest thing on the table… I did really enjoy the Hush Puppies though! And the fried shrimp, although it tasted as if there was No seasoning, the tarter sauce balanced out the flavor, and the shrimp were cooked perfectly, fried Beautifully, Hot, Crispy, and Succulent. The owner came out stood over our table and looked down at our food. And when I asked her was there an issue, she spoke to me as if I was an infidel who didn't know anything. But on the contrary I am a Fine dining back and front of the house Culinary School Graduate! So I COOK!!! And I'm a Fisherman. So seafood is my specialty!!!! we also ordered the steamed blue crabs, and again my sister and I both tasted them and threw them back in the bag.. they were HORRIBLY DRY!!!!!!! If I did return to hook & reel... especially the one @161st. In the Bronx NY, it would Most Definitely NOT Be For The...

I've visited this restaurant at 236 East 161 street in the Bronx because my sons really enjoy the food. We were turned away the first night because we arrived a little after 9pm and was told the kitchen was closed but the restaurant doesn't close until 10pm. So, we returned the next day to dine-in. All was well with the WHITE server until he learned that I was not going to leave a tip. The manager, a young Asian looking boy began questioning me and stating that the next time the server will refuse to serve me and that I shouldn't come back. I recorded him and informed him that I would sue for discrimination if I was treated that way. I then explained that tiping is my personal choice for exceptional service, at which I did not receive. After, the server and the manager became very rude and disrespectful ( I guess at this point, it was no need to mask their racism) The server refused to process my payment and asked another server to assist me. The server expressed he could not because he had his own customers he was seating at the time. The server proceeded to shove his probable payment processing device in my hand for me to process on my own. When I asked for a receipt, I was told to wait because he was busy. I then sought the help of the manger who also said I needed to wait. He then began cursing at me in front of my children. Im glad this happened because it shows their not interested in providing a service, their only tip chasing. Their true feelings about serving a Black woman came. Im never returning. If you don't RESPECT me then don't EXPECT my money. I wouldn't advise any of my people to go here. Their located in the mall on 161. There are many other seafood restaurants like Cap't Loui that value and treat their customers with respect. To the owner, save the apology because you know exactly how your establishment is being run. You're enabling it. Im sure I'm not the first person to be...