Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar — Restaurant in Pembroke Pines

Pros: The food was very good and well seasoned. The atmosphere was about what you'd expect if you've ever been to a seafood boil place. High marks for a very clean bathroom, which is something I always pay attention to whenever I go out. Expect to spend roughly about $50pp before any alcoholic drinks. The garlic noodles were excellent!

Cons: Keep in mind that if you choose the "Own Your Combo (what my receipt read)" option which allows you to build your boil, the seafood is priced in half-pound increments. Our server explained that if you picked two seafood options (which would total a pound) you could choose to have more of one protein over the other. In my case, I chose the scallops and head-off shrimp (keep in mind that you have to pay about $2 extra to not have your shrimp be able to look at you, but head-off doesn't mean shell-off, so you're peeling anyway). After the server explained the "more of one thing over the other" option, I replied, "Cool, I'd like more scallops than shrimp." Food came out, she opened our bags, we donned our protective gear and went to work on our meals. The bill came and I immediately noticed that I was charged for "Scallops x 2," which was totally wrong. I did not order two half-pound portions of scallops; I only wanted more scallops than shrimp, which the server previously explained was a "thing." When I asked about what must have been an error, the server replied, "What? You think we weigh the portions in the back?" Keep in mind, she did not say it in a snarky way, but it was almost as if she never mentioned the option as previously explained, and I was the dummy for simply thinking that they would "WEIGH THE PORTIONS IN THE BACK!" Otherwise, I would have stayed with the sizes as listed on the menu and ordered another half-pound myself! I was not even aware you could do anything different until her unsolicited explanation. Hell, I am a reasonably intelligent guy, and I immediately thought they would simply put together a pound's worth of seafood that was heavier on the scallops. Seemed pretty logical at the time. That miscommunication on her part, cost me an additional $16.00.

Alas, rather than push the issue or ask for a manager, I just copped to being responsible for "my misunderstand" and paid the bill. I also tipped the customary 20% because service jobs are difficult and often thankless, but in this case I almost deducted what I considered an unwarranted upcharge from the gratuity.

Final Verdict: I was not disappointed in the food or the service, prior to the ordering snafu. The server was pleasant and personable, but she could have done a better job with the explanation on the increased portion thing. Something like, "Hey, if you want more or something, just order a second serving"; but that would be unnecessary as most people would already understand that would be the most obvious thing to do. I did not do order a second half-pound and never intended to. That is why I rated the service a three as opposed to a five. I would recommend giving them a shot if you have a hankering for a good boil, just ensure you understand that "more" means a...

I give this place 1 star because the service sucks a$$. Let’s start of with the “Manager” or whoever she is, Jennifer. Jennifer is NOT a very good listener, or maybe she just doesn’t comprehend well. So I celebrated my Bday this past Wednesday with a group of 10ppl. Food was good. (We dined there less than a week prior). Drinks were meh, to say the least. I informed Jennifer that I didn’t like my drink, I ordered a Passion Colada that just tasted like milk, I couldn’t even taste the rum. My friend also had the same drink and hers was okay but she didn’t mind the taste. So Ms. Jennifer has the audacity to say that my friend liked her drink, therefore I should have liked mine. Anyway, I ended up getting a different drink. Their drinks are trash, to say the least. So our orders are taken, and then retaken 20mins later because it didn’t go through on the tablets. Anyway, I ordered the special which was suppose to come with boiled eggs, like the last time I went less than a week prior. I was told that it was no longer offered in the special but they would give them to me anyway. So after waiting 30 minutes, mine and my cousins eggs come out. The 1st egg we had was ice cold but completely cooked but the second egg was RAW. Both of our eggs. So we send it back and advise our waiter that we didn’t want it anymore. He came back with more eggs, we told him we didn’t want them. So Jennifer comes out with the same eggs we sent back and proceeds to explain to us why the eggs were raw. By this time we’re over it and over Jennifer. She said she would discount our meal. So our waiter comes back out and states that Jennifer blamed him for everything that went wrong. So it’s time sing happy birthday to me with a slice a cheesecake from the restaurant. Afterwards, our waiter tells us that Jennifer purposely put a dirty spoon on the plate with my cheesecake. He said he replaced it with a clean one and she again took the clean spoon and put the dirty one back and then states to him, she doesn’t see the “big deal”. After all of that, she gave $4.00 off everyone’s bill. Jennifer needs to be fired but I’m sure the owner is probably a relative. There’s no way someone with her lack of leadership skills and refusal to take accountability for the poor service, is fit to be manager, supervisor or even...

After fasting for 45 days, I was really looking for something great to eat, and after running a couple of errands, I decided to go to Hook and Reel restaurant in Pembroke Pines. I was greeted by the host, who seemed a little busy, and she told me to go ahead and have a seat, and she would bring me a menu; about 10 minutes later, she brought me a menu she apologized. I sat for another 15 minutes until a server approached me and asked what I would like to drink. I sat for another 10 minutes while she prepared my drink. Fifteen minutes later, she returned, and she took my order. I ordered the coconut shrimp and the catfish basket. When the coconut shrimp came out 15 minutes later, they seemed to be very light on color and undercooked; oh, she never brought over any utensils or anything for me to eat with. When I asked her about the undercooked shrimp, she told me that they all looked light that way, and I couldn’t possibly believe that everybody was eating undercooked shrimp. 20 minutes later, I called her over again, and I asked about my catfish basket. She would check on it, and by that time, a couple had sat down next to me. I happen to be seated outside with a large dog, and while I don’t mind pets, that’s not my thing to sit with them and eat my food. She came back with my fish basket. I asked her to wrap it up; she snatched food up and walked away after sitting there a few minutes. I got up, and I went to the front of the restaurant and asked for my bill; she rudely gave me the bill, and I left the restaurant; needless to say, I will never ever be back. I understand being understaffed, and I realize that servicers these days are under pressure because now everyone wants to get out and eat. Still, there’s a difference between understaffed and poor management in the restaurant because I blame management, not the server, for having customers wait so long to...