We arrived at Hook Seabar because we were craving oysters and could not get a last minute reservation at Rodney's or Chewie's. It is with great dismay that I announce that our second alternative offered an unacceptable experience. Throughout the review, I will outline exactly what incensed me to get off my ass and log onto Yelp to take a moist dump and projectile vomit on Hook Seabar. **Spoiler Alert** It was partially because of the food poisoning. In this essay, I will discuss the unfortunate flavour profiles of the food offered at this establishment, the poor service that I had received when I dined at this establishment, and finally the food poisoning that I acquired after dining at this establishment. If one were to open a restaurant named Hook Seabar and place it directly in front of a large body of water, it wouldn't be a stretch to deduce that the seafood served would be good. With our bill coming out to about $90 a person, this was unfortunately not the case. Their Caesar (drink) was quite bad. Hook Seabar decided to remix the Canadian classic by using nasty ass Walter's Caesar mix instead of Clamato. The restaurant was out of the oysters that we wanted so they brought us ones that were larger in size. In short, they tasted off. The Westcoast chowder was exceptionally salty. So salty that I had to send it back. As chowder is made in large batches, it is possible that it had been left in the warmer for too long and simply reduced too much. Overall, we could get pedantic and talk about how the baguette underneath the crab was DRY AF and basically cut our mouths but we will focus on the seafood and drinks, which I will remind the audience that it costed $90 a head. Another aspect of Hook Seabar that was particularly disappointing was the service. They seemed to have enough staff but overall it appeared disorganized. We noticed dishes sitting on the pass for extended periods of time and the people running the food kept going back, presumably because they had grabbed the wrong plate. Not sure if this was the FOH or BOHs fault, but it looked messy. The night came to a climax when I told the manager that the Westcoast chowder was too salty. Apparently, the saltiest thing at this establishment was actually his attitude. He looked at the chowder and said "maybe don't over season it next time." I told him that I had only added chili flakes, which do not contain sodium, but he still looked skeptical. I will not mention his background but he had the appearance of someone who has never tasted chili flakes. I also pointed out that the restaurant did not provide salt or pepper on the table and that the chowder was probably salty because they left it in the warmer to reduce for 12 hours. He ultimately took back the chowder. It was fun but strange to have to defend our opinion on a bowl of chowder, especially since it was the only concern that we had communicated to them out of a bill of 30+ plates. The final nail in the coffin for this establishment was the horrific food poisoning that I suffered after ingesting and digesting this mediocre meal. The next day, I had projectile vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, along with chills and sweats. Basically the Holy Trinity of foodborne illness with a few added bonuses because sometimes it's nice to go above and beyond (Take notes, Hook Seabar). It is understandable that sometimes a restaurant is having an off day and the food is bad or the manager is rude, but serious food poisoning from seafood that is not properly handled is a hard NO. Hook Seabar shows promise with its excellent location, inviting nautical themed interior, and umm... I can't think of a third good thing to say about it. However, the quality of the food, the service offered, and the FOOD POISONING that I got from an establishment at this price point is disappointing. The best part of this experience was how it miffed me enough to write this scathing review. Maybe scathing is a bit self-congratulatory, but in my humble opinion my review is definitely hotter than the lukewarm and bacteria laden food that they served. read more

Great atmosphere Friendly waiters Everyone enjoyed there meal We where a party of 10 Nice beers Good seafood No complaints read more

Food was good and server service was good, however this place needs to improve Management service up front. I almost wanted to leave because of poor management. We did stay and enjoy delicious, overpriced Cajun corn, and fish tacos and drinks. read more

There were two of use so we decided to order a couple of starters and a sandwich and an entrees to share. We got the Char-grilled Prawns, and Calamari. Both starters were really good. Then for the entrees we got the BBQ Baby Back Ribs. It was also very good. For the sandwich we got the Lobster Roll and we both felt it was a big disappointment. It was more like a lobster salad sandwich with very little lobster, only small pieces, and too much salad type stuff. You couldn't even taste the lobster. Not worth the $23. We would never order it again. Don't know why Vancouver's restaurants can't make a good lobster roll. We have also tried the $23 Lobster Roll at Papi's Seafood and Oyster Bar, also on Dennan and it wasn't very good either. They all use the same excuse that they can't put much lobster on their Lobster Rolls because of the price of lobster. If that is the case they shouldn't even offer it on the menu. I would rather pay a little more and get an actual Lobster Roll. The price of lobster is poor excuse because you can get a really good Lobster Roll here in Vancouver from the food truck called Salty's Lobster Shack. It only cost $19 and it is loaded with large chunks of lobster. read more

Came here for some dinner after a day of travel back home to Vancouver. Ribs were on special which is what I ordered and they were AMAZING. Literally falling off the bone, so delicious. Service was slow but this is no fault of the waitress, it's an extremely busy place any day of the week. She was very attentive the best she could be. I would definitely return. read more

this was a great venue in many ways: the service was super friendly, the view next to the window of the sunset on English Bay was fantastic and the food very well presented, delicious and well worth the price which was not as high as the presentation would have denoted; I will be back indeed and appreciate having this restaurant amidst the many fast food places in the West End. read more

Hook Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Awesome experience! Food was top notch, and the presentation was amazing. Couldn't be happier with the serving staff. The bartender Jeanine kept us laughing all night, and the manager Joel was....tall? I guess he was ok, haha ;) Thanks for treating us so well! Definitely coming back. read more

Gross! Nothing appealing in the fish department on the menu. Lamb shank is still making me burp and fart three hours later. read more

We were there last night with Dine Out. One point about the booking through Open Table and in comparison of reality for seating times. When we arrived a bit early, 6:30pm to the time we left around 8:30pm, there was ample to plenty of space but through Dine Out/ Open Table, the timing only allowed us for 6:45pm instead of 7pm which I was trying to book. This typically would not be a big deal but being that our work finishes off in North Delta, we were afraid of being late and rushed over through rain, pick up our friend downtown and then go find parking in the area so that we would not be late for our sitting time. Now to the food: the three of us had picked the Tuna Tataki, Braised Lamb Shank, and the Salted Caramel Budino. Okay we agreed we could not complain too much but a little bit. Tuna was fresh on a lovely bed of arugula (love arugula so could have eaten at least triple amount of that) but the Ponzu soy used as dressing was much too salty. We had to drain off as much as we could. Secondly the Lamb Shank was reasonably cooked but lacking a bit in flavour and slightly dry, that I had to ask for salt and pepper. It seems that it may have been boiled beforehand and my husband had to ask for more juice as his was a very dry with no juice surrounding. Salted Caramel Budino was quite lovely with toasted coconut on top except mine was the least amount of all three of us!?! In hind site, I should have had the Fisherman's Stew since they are a seafood place. The view/ ambiance is fairly lovely with the view of the ocean and evening lights. And the service was good overall! read more

This is a mommy approved restaurant to bring a toddler and preschooler. They had yummy adult food, plus food my picky eaters loved such as guac and chips, fried chicken wings and tacos. The oysters were fresh, hook caesar comes with a poached prawn and is one of the spiciest caesars I've had (in a good way!). Food came out quickly and our waitress was super nice. This was our first time to the restaurant and we will definitely be back. read more

This place has a great view of English Bay and the ocean, but I was disappointed with the food. I ordered the fish and chips special - for the quality, I think it was overpriced at $19. The ling cod was crispy on the outside but mushy on the inside. I am used to flaky fish on the inside of the batter. Also, the tartare sauce was not my favorite. The fries were fine. Also, I noticed the tip option menu has increased to options of %18, %20 or %22. That's too high, especially if service doesn't match those rates. Remember, there's always a dollar amount option. I'm glad I tried this restaurant, but I won't return. read more

We just had a great dinner at Hook. We found the restaurant when we were looking for places that were open on Thanksgiving (which coincides with Columbus Day in the US). We were a bit nervous after reading the mixed reviews but our experience was very positive. We had the fried artichokes, poke, clams and mussels, and BLT with soft shell crab and prawns. Everything was good, with the clams and mussels with the bone marrow broth being amazing- worth getting extra bread to dip in. The selection of wines, including lots of local BC wines, was impressive. Our server was friendly and attentive, and gave us good recommendations, but was never intrusive. Overall a great experience, especially for a holiday! read more

Hook Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Have been to this place three times.. great fish tacos! Disappointed in the beet salad which was mostly salad, very very little goat cheese and a few bland beets, tho the hazelnuts were tasty. Nice and reasonably priced selection of draft beer. A printed list would be nice, rather than the server's iPad. Friendly service. The tip option started rather aggressive at 22 percent.. 18 percent was the lowest before 'other'. Given that this is a relatively casual place seemed a bit inappropriate. Also the happy hour starts at four ( til 6) ; whereas the Cactus club ( across the street with a better view), starting theirs an hour earlier.. at 3 pm ( til 6). Don't think this is a wise move for Hook, as they were almost empty at 3, whereas the Cactus club had a waitlist. read more

What a fantastic happy hour! I was on a trip in Vancouver and I walked the entire Stanley Park only to end up right in front of her just in the nick of time for happy hour. The prices were fantastic and I got a seat outside so I could sleep on my glass of white wine while I slipped down oysters looking at a beautiful view. I also have the guacamole which was really delicious and filling. Between what doesn't oysters and a guacamole it was a pretty satisfying dinner, on top of that the prices were happy hour price of the oysters were $1.50 and I think the guacamole was about eight dollars. Either way I felt super fancy and the service was wonderful. I asked the waitress to sit me somewhere where there would be an Outlet so I could charge my phone and she was very happy to accommodate me. The other things on the menu looks really good as I saw them being ordered by people at other tables but I was there to chow down on oysters which were very fresh and delicious. Totally recommend this to anyone especially visitors who take the long walk around Stanley Park and then need a place to sit and enjoy the view for a little while read more

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Visiting Vancouver from Portland Oregon with my sister. We some up to see the Christmas lights at Capilano. We stayed at a Hotel fairly close & passed by Hook on our way up to Capilano, it looked interesting & I'm so glad we stopped in for dinner after our Capilano. The food was delicious & service was very good. My Ahi Tuna & the crispy cauliflower was scrumptious. The homemade papaya hot sauce is fabulous. The only suggestion for improvement would be a better lemon drop. read more

We were definitely a difficult party to host tonight, but we do so appreciate the amazing service we got from Narcissa (so sorry if I butchered the spelling). She handled our difficult questions and requests with total professionalism and top quality humour. She was seriously so pleasant and kind. Our friends are regulars and we will most certainly be as well going forward. Great experience and just the best service ever. Thanks so much Hook! We can't wait to come back :) read more

Rather than standing for an hour in line at the Cactus Club we decided to walk up the Hook and check out their lineup. To my surprise, they take your name and text you when your patio table is ready. Bree, the greeter was amazing, as were our servers. Our table was ready in less than 20 minutes. The food was distinctive, and really good. Possibly the best crab cakes, popcorn shrimp and guacamole with nachos I've had in a long time. Their non-alcoholic cocktail; " A whole lot of love", is similar to a pinacolada but lighter and more refreshing. Their draught beer was also very good. Their elevated patio is a great place to watch the sunset, people and exotic cars. All together is was an amazing evening out in a spectacular location for a reasonable price. Kudos to the friendly and attentive staff. We will be back! read more

Very disappointed in meal and service.. Halibut was cooked nicely but the risotto was extremely salty Very small portion of halibut Service was extremely poor.After clearing plates there was debris on table ex spilt sauce and food which was left not very enticing to order dessert so we passed on dessert.. Upon leaving 4 service personal standing at door talking and not one bother to say thank you or goodbye.. Definitely must improve customer service.. Will not be returning read more

I really wanted to love this place as I live just around the corner. The atmosphere is amazing, the make over was gorgeous and its a lovely spot to watch the sun set. Our server was also fantastic, she was prompt, attentive and engaging. However, whoever was shucking the oysters gets an F... I had a piece of broken shell in my oyster which I swallowed and got stuck in my throat. There was no apology and the manager/waitress didn't comp anything. We spent close to $200.00 at dinner so a glass of wine on the house or the 18$ oysters would have been a nice gesture and probably left me with a much better memory of the place. My biggest criticism however was the food. I knew the price point going in, entrees are 35-45$ which was fine by me.... as long as the food was good. I got the fish tacos which were subpar compared to even street vendors and the portion was incredibly small with guacamole that left a lot to be desired. My friend got the KF Chicken which was decent but by no means what you would expect from a high end restaurant. I will go back to give this place a second chance because the service and atmosphere was so great. They have only been open a month or two so hopefully they can work out the kinks. My suggestion to management though is to make sure your oysters are being shucked properly... I eat oysters a few times a month, usually at Rodeny's and Chewey's downtown and in the 5 years I've been working here in Vancouver I've only had a shell in my oysters once and the manager came out and personally apologized - its dangerous and a sign of sloppy work. Also, if you're going to charge 30+ for an entree lets get some food in there that reflects that price point. I went to Cactus Club across the street for the civeche and a drink before heading to Hook for dinner that evening. Sadly Cactus' food was by far superior which was so disappointing because I very much wanted to support a smaller new place in my neighbourhood. Good luck going forward Hook, I hope you can turn things around! read more

Nice view and location but food was truly mediocre. Stopped by here on a Sunday with husband and kids. The fish tacos ordered were a bit bland (not enough sauce) and husband hated the greasy hash browns. Service was just ok and nothing to write home about. If not for the wonderful view of English Bay this would have been completely forgettable. read more

One of my favourite spot in the city! The beers are an actual pint (20 ounces) and the selection is always superb. All pints are $5.75 during happy hour and the view of the beach/sunset is one of the best around English Bay. The food is delicious, leaves me very satisfied, and is reasonably priced for the location. Always recommend this place to my friends! Great service, great pints, and lots of locals :) read more

When in and ate there last night for the first time. Was amazed by the menu! Definitely a new local hotspot for seafood!! I will be coming back often. read more

Came her with another couple and really enjoyed the food. Our meal took 3 hours. The space is modern and nice. The service was good and our server was attentive but bizarre at the same time . He cleared our plates so fast and a few times we weren't finished. Then he took away half our plates and cutlery and not the other half. We had the oishi sushi and sushi stack and both were delicious . The oysters were ok but not fabulous. The weakest dish was the mussels and clams. 4 mussels and 3 clams and they were very fishy and the dish was not very unsubstantial. The K's FC fried chicken was delicious - flavourful and juicy and the mashed potatoes were very good too. I enjoyed the crispy artichokes. The desserts were also all very good. We had the pear bread pudding, mini donuts with sorbet and earl grey creme brûlée. They charge $25 for corkage fee. I will definitely come back. read more

We absolutely love this place, we go here for Sunday Funday after around of pitch and putt at Stanley Park. We normally order everything we can eat with at least one fishbowl for three ;) Thanks for the great service, see you soon! :) (bring sunglasses at sunset!) also...I recommend the rotator cocktail if a fishbowl is too big for you haha read more

Beautiful scenery and presentation! Delicious Salmon! Great service! Not sure they have AC- but the atmosphere and food were worth the sweat! read more

Beautiful view, however food was mediocre. Ordered the NY Strip Steak medium, which our server told us they only do medium, which made us hopeful they knew what they were doing with steaks at a seafood joint. When it came out, it was well done. Mentioned this to the server whom ignored the comment the first time. Upon bringing it up again, she said the reason was the process in which the restaurant prepared their steaks (not sure what process justifies overcooking a steak) and did not apologize or offer any alternative. We weren't expecting the best steak ever given it's a seafood restaurant, but some acknowledgement would've been nice! read more

Chicken had absolutely no taste, not cooked and way to much oil. You couldn't taste the calamari because of how deep fried it was it just tasted like eating solid grease. And read more

Redemption! Gave them a second try and it was a positive experience! Our server was in training, it was her first day, and she rocked it! Adam was the guy overseeing our table and he was great- personable and friendly! Food was good and will be back due to friendly server and Adam! read more

Food was very good. Service was not. Was there for happy hour. Had raw oysters and the fried ones. Both excellent. Raw were perfectly shucked - always nice when there are no bits of broken shell to contend with. Had both the 'buck a shuck' (technically $1.5 is not a buck. Just saying) and the premium ones, the cheaper royal miyagis were the winner! Also had their spectacular chicken wings. Juicy, crispy and sweet with excellent buffalo and ranch sauces. The sauces with the oysters were also on point. I had a passion fruit margarita. Pretty perfect balance of Sour and sweet. The service was a whole other matter. The hostess was not at all welcoming. That's pretty much her job right? I'm not a fan of overly friendly service but if you're not thrilled that people are actually coming to your restaurant then maybe you're in the wrong field. Our waiter, though nice, was incredibly distracted and stressed. I'd say the service was a solid 2. Then when you get 'the machine' to pay, the tip options start at 22% What in the name of all that is holy is that about? You have to go to a different screen to even find the 15% option. Which we chose, even though he did not deserve that either. We normally tip in the 18-20% range. Overall I can't wait to go back as living to eat is the name of my game. Particularly fried chicken! I'm looking forward to trying the soft shell crab BLT, the clams and mussels and the fried chicken sandwich. I know it was happy hour and they were busy - but by no means full, but they kinda have to be used to that no? It's a patio on English bay in the summer. It's their reason for being . Hoping the service improves or that it was just a glitch. My husband thought maybe they were still recovering from the crazy pride/fireworks weekend. It was Wednesday though! Take a shot of wheat grass and move on people. read more

Quick tip: Skip unless you only want drink and are guaranteed spot on patio. Food is dive bar quality at best. The details: Saw Hook while walking down Denman and decided to try it as the patio space looked amazing. Few really great patios in Vancouver, but getting better. This was a good sign, love a good patio! Joined lineup for table. Hostess said 15-20min, turned into 30min+ while multiple empty tables laughed at us ...or my hunger was making me hallucinate. Likely the later. A lineup like this usually happens on purpose to slow service down for the kitchen and/or draw attention to the new spot via the hangry waiting in line. That was us. But our patience was rewarded and we were seated in the back of the restaurant. No big deal, I'm not much for patios anyway. Silver lining was that I could see my car parked in the alley next to resto, so that's something. Server was friendly and apologetic about wait, and got the drink order under way. Cocktails are 4/5, would drink again. 1st appetizer arrived, the Fries With Eyes. It was incredibly salty and batter was over cooked. Could not taste the calamari or the smelt as the salt just killed it. The second appetizer, Lobster Guacamole, would arrive at the end of the meal, as it went MIA. Stay tuned. The Salmon Oishi sushi is strip mall sushi grade and person making it should be severely reprimanded. The Fish and Chips, well, it arrived. Best part was the coleslaw in this dish. The fries were starchy rubbish and fish needed seasoning but the soy sauce helped. THEN the Lobster Guacamole appetizer arrived. It tasted like my first attempt at making guacamole. I just went off on the random seasonings and hoped for best. The poor lobster, I assume it was there but saw no evidence of it, should not have been subjected to this. Anyway, I finished it as per my "avocado a day keeps the doctor away" policy. If you're sensible, like I'm not, send it back if you don't like it and demand reparations. read more

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Love the location! The view of English Bay is incredible. Great people watching spot as well. The lobster guacamole is fantastic!

This is our new " best place to go" in English bay where the old Milestones used to be. After a good bike ride all over the city, this brand new restaurant caught our eye with its welcoming patio and thoughtful menu. The staff are all sweet and high energy and got us seated fairly quickly with an amazing view of the bustling English bay district. We met Niamh, who served us and she was high energy, friendly and simply amazing. We got there for happy hour and had some gorgeous fresh oysters, chicken wings and chips and guacamole along with wine and beer. Delightful experience. Compliments to this new, hip English bay restaurant. read more

This is one of the best patios in Vancouver. Rotating tap always make for a great new selection. Great twist on classic cocktails. Get to Happy Hour right at 4pm or it might be a lineup. Food has been great every time I go. It's more than just seafood too. I live the lobster guacamole, chicken wings, crispy chicken, and the burger. The Hangover Burger and fish and chips are my top picks for brunch. read more

I would come back here if I was only having oysters and drinks, minus their Caesar which is actually an awful Bloody Mary. The service is decent but the food was terrible. If they fix their kitchen, they'd have an amazing spot with a fresh new look. So much potential... unfortunately that's all it is. read more

Hook is my favorite place in English Bay. They have a good assortment of wine and craft beer and the best view of the beach. Great place for subsets. read more

A great experience all round. These jokers whipping out their disdain after a few weeks of operation need to have a swift word with themselves and give a new restaurant time to find their feet. Awesome addition to the neighbourhood wth lovely staff. Will be back read more

The food is okay. The service is great. The view is awesome

3 stars for location, view and good presentation and flavour but I have to knock 2 whole stars off for serving size. I don't mind spending the money for a special meal, which this was and at $180.00 for 3 it was not cheap, however I expect to be full. Unfortunately, we went away hungry. Everything presented to us from the appys to the mains were tiny baby portions. How disappointing. read more

Hook has amazing seafood absolutely. Oysters were delicious with three amazing sauces. One with an eye dropper, yes it's hot! Stunning fish and chips and excellent service. What rates this as 5 stars for me is the stunning land dishes. One of the ' best lamb dishes ever' claimed my wife, and she's a lamb connoisseur. A good indicator was the wait staff not asking 'how would you like your lamb?' As there is really only one way to cook it properly. The cheeseburger was also yummy. Meaty, juicy, fresh toppings, and fresh cut fries. If you're looking for excellent seafood, by all means Hook is a great place, but don't be afraid to order a meat dish! read more

The fish and chips were good, though not brilliant, as was the crab dip. The server took the crab dip off the final bill because we had to wait a long time for the food to come. The service was attentive. It was extremely loud inside and hard to hold a conversation without yelling. As well, I did not appreciate having to leave at minimum of an 18% tip when using the debit machine to pay. read more