Off The Hook at Inlet Harbor — Restaurant in Ponce Inlet

Lets call it 2.5 STARS!!! What a let down! So after reading some of the reviews, I had high hope for Off The Hook. So here is my story, arrived about 630 on a Friday night. We knew before we left the house that we would probably be in for a wait. Pulled into parking lot that was 90% full and expected a solid 30-45 minute wait. Walked to the hostess stand to find no one standing there. Looked over the Merch window for a few moments and the wife said " Were bar people lets go see if there is a seat". So we never saw a hostess and realized as we walked into the seating area about half the tables were empty and the inside bar was even less. We saw the large outside bar and it was a humid but cool night so went out there. It was much fuller but we still were able to find 2 seats without a problem. We sat and after about 5 mins of waiting for one of the 2 bar staff to greet us she left to use ladies room. About a mini later the male Bar tender who seemed completely annoyed to have to take our order came up and asked if we wanted waters. I replied yes and I asked if they had Corona Premier, to which he said no. So I got Light and ordered the wife a Capt and Coke. The drinks came fairly quick after that. I finished my first beer before he even returned to take an order after he was speaking with the people next to use and had to prompt he to order another beer and appetizers. Throughout the evening the service was completely 1 Star worthy. I can understand when the bar is busy, because this is a very large outdoor bar. But when over half empty and the outside tables were to and the number of drinks they had to make were less and less you would think it might have slightly improved. NOPE not the case at all.

Now for the food. Beer not very cold, Fish Dip app Excellent, great flavor and the mixed jalapeño and tomatoes were perfect. The Rock Shimp my wife got, in the shell hard to eat but good taste, the potatoes side, two bites and she wanted nothing to do with them. I got a joke of Mango Bacon Salad with Mahi. The wife Cezar Side salad was what your would expect. When my dinner salad came it was in the same size bowl with sandwich size fish filet. The flavor was good, the fish was cooked correct but for $22 it left me very hungry. I jokingly asked if they mistaked my order for a side salad vs a Dinner salad. He rudely said "that is what it is!"

On a nice Friday night and 75 min we were there it emptied out pretty fast. I have a feeling this place is more geared to afternoon fisherman coming in after their day on the water and early bird diners. A band did start to play about 8pm as we finishing up. No even close to worth a 100$, I highly doubt I will be visiting again. Shame because its in a prime spot and would have loved to pull up in the boat some time. Sorry the photos of the food were after we started to eat, because were we so hungry. Ended up getting a late night flat bread pizza and drinks at another...

Visited while on a stay at Daytona. Slightly expensive but the food was great!

I ordered a half a dozen raw oysters along with a side of Calamari, Buffalo wings and a main dish of PEI Mussels. Courtesy of some other guests attending with me, I also got to try other dishes including their tacos.

The raw oysters were very fresh and clean. I had it paired with cocktail sauce and while their cocktail sauce is rather strong, it paired very nicely. No complaints there.

As for the buffalo wings, they’re cooked well and relatively crispy, however upon first try the flavor was pretty basic, however, it’s important to consider that this restaurant equips every table with their own sauces from low to mild to hot levels of heat. Make use of them! Doing so drastically improved my experience with the wings, even just with the low heat sauce.

The calamari was decent. Probably one of my least favorites from my time dining here. The first batch that came to our table had no crisp and was rubbery, indicating that it clearly sat out for a while. However we made sure to bring this up to the waiters and they had it changed for a fresh batch that was much better. Even with the fresh batch, the Calamari still just can’t compare to something like that of a restaurant in Tarpon Springs on the west coast, such as Mama’s.

The tacos were good. Again there was a slight misconception with our order. There was a promotion where for only a small charge we could load the side of fries that came with the tacos with mushrooms, bacon and cheese, however when we ordered the tacos with loaded fries, the loaded toppings came on the tacos instead. Again, we brought it up to the waiters and they quickly exchanged it for a new dish as we ordered it.

My favorite was the PEI Mussels, You get a loaded bowl full of fresh mussels and an amazing sauce they were sautéed in with fresh bread on the side. Even as a large bowl the mussels are light on the stomach and very tasty, leaving just enough room to dip the very crispy bread that came with it in that delicious sauce. Needless to say that plate was cleaned quick!

Although there were some issues with the food we got, the service was amazing and the restaurant worked to fix everything to the best of their ability. That’s proper service! For the mishap they also offered all four of us a free key lime pie. That’s $24 dollars in value of desserts on the house - and the key lime pie itself was definitely worth that kind of value with the flavor, texture and freshness it had.

Even with the slightly steep price here I will surely visit again if I ever come by the area! The restaurant is also right over the water with easily accessible docks. I was able to get some great views of the sunset and a nearby light house while I dined here.

Also important; Plan ahead for weekend visits! I went here on Sunday and the wait time for a table was around 40 minutes to an hour. Plan with...

A Perfect Evening at Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor!

During my birthday/vacation getaway, we tried multiple times to dine at Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor, only to find it packed—a true testament to its popularity! On our last night, we finally got in, and it turned out to be the perfect way to end our trip.

⭐ VIP Service from Start to Finish

We were greeted by Dustin, our server, who delivered a 5-star experience from the moment we sat down. His unwavering attentiveness, deep menu knowledge, and warm personality made us feel like VIP guests. He was so fantastic that we honestly didn’t want to leave!

🍽 An Explosion of Flavor

We kicked things off with the Thai Chili Ribs—and let me tell you, I can’t even put into words the explosion of flavor that took over my taste buds! Every bite was phenomenal—savory, sweet, tender, and packed with bold, irresistible goodness.

For our main course, we had the stuffed Golden Tilefish platter with potatoes and a side Caesar salad—a dish that was absolutely incredible. The fish was cooked to perfection, fresh, flaky, and bursting with flavor.

The drinks were decent, but the fun bonus was that we received signature souvenir glasses to take home—a small but memorable touch.

To top it all off, we indulged in a chocolate fudge brownie dessert topped with vanilla ice cream—rich, decadent, and the perfect sweet ending to an amazing meal.

🎶 Live Music & Breathtaking Views

The live music was another unexpected highlight of the night. First, we were entertained by Brent Clowers, a one-man band who alternated between the saxophone and guitar, adding a smooth, lively energy to the atmosphere.

Later in the evening, the Tree Brothers took the stage, delivering an incredible set of rock classics from The Allman Brothers, The Who, and even a few original songs. Their performance carried us into the beautiful twilight, making the night feel truly magical.

We were also able to capture some amazing sunset and night sky photos, as the stars twinkled and glistened over the river, adding the perfect final touch to our unforgettable evening.

Final Thoughts

From the breathtaking Halifax River views to the outstanding service, incredible food, live entertainment, and stunning scenery, our experience at Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor was nothing short of spectacular.

If you’re in the area, this is an absolute MUST-VISIT!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ HIGHLY...