Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar — Restaurant in Washington

Hook and Reel disappointment

On 6/5/2024, I joined some family and friends at Hook & Reel (Dakota Crossing - DC). This was my first visit and an opportunity to scout the venue for an upcoming engagement. To say this experience..... well I'll let you decide. The party (5) arrived by 345 PM and the place was packed. It seemed like a lively venue which was promising. The bartender Blaze was amazing. The bar was full and she was moving. There was another server who was taking care of a party of 50 but they both maintained professionalism in their engagement. We were finally able to get our order in (since it was busy we anticipated it) Kimmie took everyone's selections and it didn't take that long to come out. My only downside was I ordered a chicken Caesar salad but it had tomatoes and I have a severe food allergy. Blaze sent it back to be fixed. It wasn't a long turnaround so I was happy. We enjoyed the time even with the larger crowd and noise. Around 5 PM, one of our party members left to pick up children from school and bring them back for dinner. When she left, a new bartender, Ty, came in. He came in and talked with the server about a family issue he didn't answer the phone for. He appeared distracted and frustrated. Upon returning, our party member inquired about ordering food for the children and were told that we would have to go through Ty. It took about 20 additional minutes before he was able to come over. One of the party members made the comment, "hey can we put an order in, the kids are getting hungry" to which Ty replied, "them ain't my kids" which was shocking and appalling to hear. Our party member was hurt by the comment as this wasn't her first visit. He begrudgingly took the order but never filled it. The young lady had to track down Kimmie to get beverages for the children because he never returned to being the drinks or anything. We waited for an extensive time for the food to come out and again, nothing from Ty. We watched him come to our side multiple times but no communication happened past the earlier comment. Even if we wanted something else, he never acknowledged our party until we asked Kimmie to close out our tab. Then Ty became combative and extremely aggressive towards one of our female party members. As she began talking to Kimmie, Ty kept interrupting and trying to argue and stating that "she had an attitude since she came in the door" and that he thought we had closed out our tab. As the supervisor, Kimmie should have asked him to step off the floor, given him some time to regroup/recover/check on the family issue instead of letting him stay there in a combative mode in front of the rest of the restaurant and patrons. It was so hostile and escalating to take a negative turn that other patrons were asking him to stop the aggression. He was gaslighting the young lady into a full fledged argument in front of children and patrons. I was sorely disappointed with the exchange as Kimmie never was able to de-escalate the situation with her staff. The young lady in our party removed herself and went outside. All the while, the children of our party and others in the building were onlookers of this negative exchange and he was STILL fussing and cussing about the incident. I asked if Kimmie could just close us out so we could leave. While we were working to pay our bill, Ty was complaining to anyone who would listen and said to the other young lady in our party "you brought your folks down here to act like this?!" To which she replied, "she was fine until you were being rude and made the comment about the children". Then he began to recount the entire incident as if the children weren't still in earshot. A person in the building commented that he's only that aggressive because he's sober. The experience left a lot to be desired. It started off great with me wanting to host an event at the location but ended like I want the $210.10 I paid back! I would never return there, recommend anyone to dine there especially if they keep this type of behavior on staff. He clearly has NO...

I came to this Hook and Reel a few times and the service was not so bad however, when I went to this establishment on 6/5/2024 the service was the worst I ever experienced. I went to grab a friend and my Child from after school as the group I came with was still at the restaurant. 20 minutes later I returned to the restaurant and asked the bartender Ty if I could place an order for the kids. Ty response was " Them, not my kids" Looking at him shocked I was in awe. If anyone comes into a restaurant to be serviced, you should be kind enough to take their order. This bartender had an attitude coming through the door dealing with personal issues as we overheard him say to another coworker. Neither I nor my party have anything to do with his personal issues; he should have left those issues at the door. Ty finally took our order however he never came to us the whole hour we were at the bar to see if we needed anything. After waiting 30 mins and seeing Ty service 5 new customers I went to the Manager Kimmy pulled her to the side and explained the type of service we were receiving from Ty. Upon telling Kimmy that I asked Ty if we could put a food order in for the kids she laughed and said OK I will get the kids their drinks and food. Kimmy did give the kids their drink however, Ty never asked once again if we needed anything or if the kids were ok with their food. At this point his service and professionalism if he even knows what that is had gotten me and my party to the point, that we were just ready for the check and leave. I asked Kimmy if she could close our tab out because Ty service was a disservice and I explained to Kimmy that he did not do what he needed to do for us as a paying customer. Ty very loudly cursed at me while he was on the floor and stated I have this whole restaurant to serve drinks. I stated " Sir I am not talking to you about 3 times until another lady had to tell him to be quiet and get off the floor. Kimmy did not diffuse this altercation this male had with a female and to this point I was concerned because as a manager he should have been told to get off the floor until the customer was gone. This was a very hostile situation that should have been avoided if Kimmy just would have serviced us herself. Ty is very disrespectful and should either be suspended or written up due to his lack of professionalism as a bartender. Needless to say, the lack of training that I can tell coming from this establishment is diabolical. How do you treat paying customers rudely, curse and yell at a paying female, and still inform the manager and nothing happens to the worker? Per the owner's expertise what would you have done. What if I was having a bad day like Ty and all hell broke loose? What would be your response? My family or friends would not put money in this establishment's pockets ever again and I will report this location to the Better Business Bureau. God Bless!

Under any circumstances I do not feel comfortable to leave my personal email address after your worker was combative towards me. however, you can provide yours so that I can reach out to...

As a seafood lover living in the nation's capital, I've had the pleasure of trying numerous restaurants throughout the D.C. area, but the Hook & Reel on Market Street NE stands out as a true gem. This vibrant, modern eatery has quickly become one of my go-to spots for satisfying my craving for fresh, expertly prepared coastal cuisine.

What sets the Hook & Reel apart is its unwavering commitment to quality and authenticity. The menu boasts an impressive selection of seafood specialties, from the classic New England-style clam chowder to the mouthwatering Cajun-spiced shrimp and crab legs. Each dish is prepared with the utmost care, showcasing the natural flavors and textures of the high-quality ingredients.

One of the standout features of this Hook & Reel location is the inviting atmosphere. The spacious, open-concept dining room is adorned with nautical-inspired decor and warm, rustic accents that create a lively yet relaxed vibe. The energy is further amplified by the friendly, attentive staff, who take pride in providing exceptional customer service and ensuring that every patron leaves feeling satisfied.

But it's not just the food and ambiance that impress - the overall value proposition at this Hook & Reel is truly unbeatable. The portion sizes are incredibly generous, and the prices are more than fair, especially considering the quality of the ingredients and the skillful preparation. Whether you're indulging in the seafood boil or sampling the creative cocktail menu, you're sure to walk away feeling like you've gotten your money's worth.

What I particularly love about the Market Street NE Hook & Reel is its commitment to fostering a sense of community. The restaurant frequently hosts themed events, live music performances, and happy hour specials that attract a diverse crowd of seafood enthusiasts, local residents, and visitors alike. This vibrant energy adds to the overall appeal and makes it a hub of social activity in the neighborhood.

In a city with no shortage of seafood dining options, the Hook & Reel on Market Street NE stands out as a true standout. With its unwavering focus on quality, its inviting atmosphere, and its unbeatable value, this restaurant has firmly cemented its place as one of the premier destinations for coastal cuisine in Washington, D.C. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a truly memorable...