Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar — Restaurant in Wichita

Put on a waitlist on Yelp for 2 an hour before and there were 45 people ahead of us. When we got there an hour later we were seated right away which was super nice but the people who weren't on the waitlist who just got there said the wait for them was going to be an hour and a half. If I waited that long for the food, I would be disappointed. Overall rating for the food is a 5.5/10. Rating for the atmosphere and service 9/10. It's clean and decorated nicely and out server checked in on us frequently. I went with my bf and I'd go again to try a different flavor but we were kinda let down. We got the reel catch boil. It came w 3 corn, 2 potatoes, and we chose 2 snow crab clusters and 1lb of crawfish and 1lb of shrimp. They wouldn't let us do 2lbs of crawfish with it in the pick 2. The service was nice and they took our orders on a little device instead of writing it down and our order automatically got sent to the kitchen. They brought us out a bucket w forks, bibs, gloves, napkins, and crab leg crackers. When it came out, it came in a bag piping hot. Food review‼: we got the hook and reel special blend w a spicy level. It was NOT spicy at all. It was very mild. I'd go again and get a different flavor and would do the fire spice. We asked for melted butter on the side bc the sauce alone was just not doing it. I like my sauces garlicky but with the hook and reel blend we didn't know what to except. The corn was weird. It was mushy/over cooked. The shrimp to me was overcooked but my bf said he liked it. Crab legs were alright. Nothing special just regular. The crawfish though... it definitely did not look like a lb maybe it's bc they were big. I like my crawfish kinda small/midsize and these ones were all big/old/blackish brown. The total after tax was $62. Overall, if we had waited it would've been not worth it for the price. Would go again just to try a different flavor or maybe they were having an off day and maybe next time the crawfish would be different. We have gotten the same amount of food at different seafood restaurants and left stuffed. However, this place left us...

Food: 9/10 Wow!! The seafood here was outstanding, with everything we ordered tasting incredibly fresh. We started with oysters on the half shell, which were briny, ice-cold, and perfectly shucked. Next, we tried the crab legs, which were meaty, easy to crack, and served with a warm, buttery dipping sauce that complemented the sweet, tender crab. We also tried the crawfish – juicy and seasoned to perfection, with just the right level of spice. For something different, we ordered the wings, which were crispy on the outside and packed with flavor, and the fried catfish, which had a golden, flaky crust that didn’t overpower the delicate fish inside. Every bite showcased the kitchen’s commitment to quality and freshness.

Service: 100000/10 Our server, Keely, was phenomenal. From the start, she ensured we felt welcomed and well-informed, walking us through the menu with patience and sharing her personal recommendations. Keely was attentive, making sure our drinks were always topped off and checking in with us regularly. Her knowledge of the menu and dedication to excellent service added a lot to our experience. It was clear she cared about making our meal memorable, and she succeeded!

Atmosphere: 10/10 This place is massive, with plenty of space to accommodate large groups or parties comfortably. The layout is open and airy, allowing for a lively yet relaxed atmosphere where everyone can enjoy themselves. With coastal-inspired decor and ample seating, it’s perfect for group gatherings and celebrations. Despite the restaurant’s size, it felt welcoming and well thought out, with a noise level that was lively but not overwhelming.

Overall: For fresh seafood, stellar service, and a spacious setting ideal for larger gatherings, Hook and reel is a must-visit. Keely’s attentive and thorough care, paired with the high-quality food, made for an outstanding experience we can’t wait to repeat! Highly recommended for any...

To be honest I was highly disappointed with the food. I read a lot of the reviews that all ranged from loved it to hated it. First off if you're going to have a hostess the individual should be a happy bubbly person, make you feel welcome for being at the establishment, something we didn't get. The young lade looked and sounded like she hated her job. Our waitress was the opposite, Navy was more welcoming. The food was extremely disappointing, I don't know how you could order food with the hook and reel seasoning with the fire heat level and it come out bland and mild at best. None of the shrimp, scallops or crab had any flavor of the seasoning or "heat". If you drenched it in the liquid in the bottom of the bag and managed to get it in your mouth before it dripped off then it had flavor but zero heat. It tastes like all the food was cooked and then put in the bag with the seasoning poured in top right before it was served. On top of that I feel the food wasn't cooked entirely. The shrimp wasn't crispy, the scallops were too soft and the snow crab didn't taste right. In addition the food was way to expensive. You can get more food at a better price over at the Blue Hook with much better flavoring. If you enjoy bland food that is overpriced then this is the place for you, if you want better pricing and better food there are better places. This is the type of food we really enjoy and unfortunately we will never eat at this establishment again, if your still reading this I would I would think twice about eating here.

Edit: Thank you for the copy and pasted reply that is on every bad review with the only change if a wait staffers name is mentioned. Obviously you don't take the reviews seriously otherwise they would be tailored to each bad review and there might have been some improvements at your establishment since what I wrote is similar to reviews going back...