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    Hooks Waterfront Bar and Grill

    3.2 (155 reviews)
    ModerateBars, American
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Hooks Waterfront Bar and Grill Photos

    Business Info

    HOOKS WATERFRONT BAR AND GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Hooks Waterfront Bar and Grill

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    Shrimp BLT
    Bernadette P.

    Service is painfully slow. Food is pricey for what the items are. But taste is good. Outdoor deck seating is pleasant and there is usually a breeze with shade if you prefer. We tried once before to eat here and the service was so slow we walked out. I suppose it's a good option if you just want to have a few drinks and admire the view.

    Fresh Fried Fish Sandwich
    Devann C.

    This is a nice little place on the water in Ruskin. I decided to come here during lunch on a weekday. There's plenty of seating outside and very limited seating inside. I ordered the fresh fish sandwich. The sandwich was very fresh and hot but it could've used some more seasoning. My server was very nice and made good drinks lol. Overall, I had a good experience and I do plan on returning to try more items on the menu.

    Irene E.

    Casual, on the water, one server during our visit on a weekday lunch - good service. Most fried food - I don't go to bars ... and they don't have crab cake that day . We ordered the big plate of fried seafood - calamari shrimp - they're good. I've chips and tails (?) ... more fried food - they taste good but I always feel unsettling afterward. Oh well, the view is great They don't have deck hand - park on your own. The water level is low, (global warming?) so makes it in and out of boat a bit more difficult. Women's bathroom - you need to pull the door knob really hard to open it.

    Hooks Famous Fish and Chips
    Shannon R.

    Not bad, not great. I will say that it's very cool of them to take the fish you caught (cleaned and filleted already) and cook it for you. We got ours fried and it was good. Tasted kind of plain but that could 100% be because most of our fish were grunts. But the fries were lacking salt so I'm not sure if they just don't season aggressively or if it was a one off and it was the fish. Our waitress was great though. And the view is great with it being right in the water.

    Gator bites
    Terri N.

    What a charming spot Hooks is! Hooks is everything you want from a waterfront shack style seafood joint, alongside the lovely chill of a neighborhood restaurant. This California girl loved this quiet dose of tasty Southern hospitality. Sitting outside on their patio on a lovely warm day looking out on the still water flowing by, the yummy smells of the nearby kitchen teasing what was to come - my goodness, I was happy. It just wouldn't have been a Southern seafood feast without kicking it with some gator bites! Generously served, and oh so tender and flavorful, with nice spice and a tasty dunking sauce. Online pics of the fish & chips ensured it would be my order, and it was yummy! The fries were yummy and had a very satisfying texture, though better while warm. The fish was huge and tasty, with the same batter/coating as the gator. It could have been a little juicier but still very satisfying, with an addictive homemade tartar sauce for dipping! To wrap things up we all shared a slice of key lime pie, and its tartness hit the spot - great way to end a meal of fried delights. A meal by the water, with fun tunes playing overhead, enjoying the afternoon with family on a gorgeous day - Hooks and their kind crew treated us to a lovely afternoon meal. I would happily return!

    Grouper sandwich
    Sue N.

    On the Saturday before DD (Darling Daughter) would be returning to California, we took her for a late lunch at Hooks. This was the first time here for us all. The restaurant is our style, kind of a dive, nothing fancy, but on the water which is a plus. Seating is primarily outdoors, with a very small amount indoors if you prefer, but we chose outdoors in a porch type area so DD and I wouldn't melt away from the sun. Fans kept us cool and we really enjoyed it. We started by sharing an order of Gator bites. As far as I know they don't live in California so thought this would be something great for DD to try, since hubby and I had already tried them. The batter was thick and tasty and although fried, they were not greasy at all. The gator was a little chewy with a very mild flavor. We devoured them. DD and I both ordered the fish and chips (they use Basa, a type of Asian local catfish) and it came with tartar sauce and a spoonful of coleslaw (could be a larger serving). It had the same batter as the gator bites, which is good, but not like the fish I can get home in New England. But I enjoyed it, despite I didn't think the fries were that great. Hubby had the grouper sandwich, blackened. For $20 he got a very small piece of fish on his bun, with fries and lettuce, tomato and onion. I know he was a bit disappointed, definitely not worth the cost, but he said it tasted good. I gave him some of my fish! We ended by sharing a piece of key lime pie. It was small, but just enough for the three of us to have a few bites and it cleansed our palate perfectly. Nothing special for drinks, diet cokes all around. Our server was excellent. No complaints there at all. Very attentive, didn't have to ask for drink refills, and so so nice. Never felt rushed. I think we will return here and try something different. All in all it was a wonderful way to spend our Saturday afternoon.

    Hooks Restaurant
    Jonathan S.

    Great little place, sits on the water with a great view. It was quite and quaint with a really nice breeze. The food was not bad, I started off with the cheesesteak which was just okay. I've lived in Philly so it's a hard comparison. The burger on the other hand was delicious and I'm not much of a french fry guy but theirs were great. My Wife had the shrimp po-boy and she really enjoyed that. But most of all the customer service was outstanding, we are both big on that so we will definitely return.

    Not the best pic
    Tracey Y.

    This place is all about location and being by the water. Super casual - pull up in your boat, wear your bathing suit - it's all good. Menu has a nice variety like what you'd expect from a little water-side hut-style restaurant. The food is good. We had fried shrimp and crab cakes, both good. Fair amount of beverages available. Service was prompt and friendly. This isn't a five start restaurant and they're not trying to be. Come here for the view and relaxing atmosphere. Forgot to take pics of the food, we were hungry. We'll be back - by boat :)

    Greg E.

    Atmosphere - decent. this is very rustic, informal restaurant that sits on an inlet next to a modest resort swimming pool. We had lunch outside on the wooden patio near the inlet. Certainly nothing special, but we enjoyed the setting Food - I had an iced tea, a cheeseburger and French Fries. The bun was stale and the burger pretty dry. The food came rather quickly and I am assuming that the burger was pre-cooked and warmed up. The fries were pretty good. Service- very good. Our server was attentive and pleasant. Overall - eh. My wife had the nachos appetizer (which was also disappointing) and an iced tea. The bill came to $29.50 before tax and gratuity! WOW! I certainly we not return and would not recommend the restaurant to friends.

    Dolphins in the bay@Hooks

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    11 days ago

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    13 days ago

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    1 year ago

    Food was outstanding we had the burgers and wings . Service was outstanding, we were blessed with a beautiful day and ate outside.

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    8 months ago

    There's a local dolphin there we love sitting outside, watching the dolphins and the charters come in too see what what they caught

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    1 year ago

    Ate there once and it was good! Had the Grouper and enjoyed it very much. Will definitely go back again

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The staff is super friendly and the food is pretty good. The feel and environment is very relaxing and enjoyable!

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Best lunch place south of Tampa. Great food great people. The burgers and cold beer; better than y any.

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    2 years ago

    Great service. Good food. It's a local place so usually it's the tourists that complain.

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    6 years ago

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    Sunset Bar & Grill at Little Harbor

    Sunset Bar & Grill at Little Harbor

    3.4
    (838 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    We were in town for the weekend and we heard that the oysters at Sunset grill were really good, so…read morewe had to check it out. It was only three of us but we wanted to try it all. The raw oysters were great and the baked oysters almost as good. We enjoyed the clam chowder, the grouper oscar style and the cajun pasta. The lobster grilled cheese was good. The cod was just alright, the snapper wasn't our favorite. Both the cod and snapper were overcooked. We didn't the sides cause it was just ok. The cocktails weren't the best. But the service was great, we were the only ones that sat inside because of the love bugs. But the inside was a bit old and the bathroom wasn't the cleanest. We're just glad we got us some good oysters.

    Gorgeous location for dining outside (especially at sunset!). Came here for the first time back in…read moreFebruary during Fat Tuesday. Everyone was in the best mood, spirits were high, and live music was a great addition. Service and food were good, loved the dessert--key lime pie! The location is drop dead gorgeous, a great place to stay for an overnight and or vacation. The beach is also very pretty, it is on the small side but perfectly situated on the property. Would definitely recommend coming here for food and drinks, staying overnight, or just hanging out on the beach.

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    Sunset Bar & Grill at Little Harbor
    Outdoor seating with the best view in Tampa Bay!
    Outdoor seating with the best view in Tampa Bay!
    A crave-able menu that keeps our guests coming back for more!

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    A crave-able menu that keeps our guests coming back for more!
    Lazy Gator

    Lazy Gator

    3.8
    (198 reviews)
    2.5 mi
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    Got into town and was starving! This place popped up as places near me so we decided to give it a…read moretry. Great idea, thanks Yelp! First impression was a little suspect because it's clearly a house turned restaurant/bar. Once we got inside though, I loved the charm of it. There are different rooms you walk through and they have it all set up with tables and chairs....all different kinds so it's a modge podge of tables. Then there are cool chandeliers over the tables and bar signs everywhere. Our waitress was a new implant to Florida and she was super sweet and helpful. She also made a mean vodka tonic! Ok so let's get to the food. First we ordered the Fried Alligator Bites and the Fried Green Tomatoes as appetizers and they were both delicious! The alligator wasn't super chewy and the voodoo sauce was banging! I went with the Shrimp and Grits and sheesh I was blown away! I loved the texture and the taste of the grits. They had just the right amount of cheese and the shrimp were cooked perfectly! The hubby got the Grouper Tacos and he said they were good but a little dry. He wished they had some more toppings...either sauce or pico de gallo. My daughter got the mussel pasta. She loved the mussels but was disappointed by the penne pasta. She wished it was a bit saucier as it only had a lemony/wine liquid that wasn't sticking to the pasta. All in all this place was good. We will go at least once more since it's by where we're staying and I want to try a couple more things on the menu.

    Grouper Tacos - best I have ever had - grilled tortilla, the slaw, the sauce - SO GOOD! I would…read moreshare a picture we ate them all to quick! Also tried the spicy garlic parm wings on Wing Wednesday - very good! Older building and a restaurant that has character but really good food - just try it!

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    Main dining room
    Main dining room
    Main bar area
    Main bar area
    Main bar area

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    Main bar area
    Circles Waterfront at Lands End Marina

    Circles Waterfront at Lands End Marina

    3.8
    (1.5k reviews)
    4.7 mi
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    I have dined there a number of times with my relatives from south Florida. The service is great…read more and the food is prepared to our satisfaction. We have enjoyed the Grouper, Gulf Shrimp, and the desserts are to die for. Circles offers outdoor dining. There are boats and marina on property. It's worth the drive and the time spent there.

    We've lived in FL & haven't been here before! What is wrong with us? Why hasn't someone told us…read moreabout Circles before now? Wish we knew about it sooner. From the moment we walked in we knew we were going to be in for a great experience. It is overwhelming when you arrive. So many different venues with different names. Very confusing at first. But the staff were helpful, friendly & explained they're all the same place just different areas of appeal. They have a beach area, typical dining areas, intimate cove areas, and bar areas. Well done on atmosphere! DH & I came for dinner around 6 on a Sat evening. We figured we'd have a wait but they seated us within 20 mins of arriving. We asked to be seated outside with a water view. They don't disappoint. Our waiter was fantastic. Always tentative and remembering the little things. To start DH ordered a beer. It was served & cold. I ordered a Mojito which was ok, nothing special. For dinner I got the Lump Crab BLT. Don't expect big lumps of crab meat. The rest of the ingredients are a hint of flavors & that really made it great. Beware, it is a delicious but very messy sandwich. The side salad was a hit. Very fresh & flavorful. DH ordered the Tenderloin Steak Sandwich. He was very happy with the flavor. It was not dried out and had a good seasoning. His side of fries were good too. The atmosphere can't be beat. Walk around & check out all the areas.

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    Circles Waterfront at Lands End Marina
    Circles Waterfront at Lands End Marina
    Circles Waterfront at Lands End Marina

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    Finn’s Dockside Bar & Grill

    Finn’s Dockside Bar & Grill

    3.6
    (342 reviews)
    4.7 mi
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    Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5…read moreAmbiance: 5/5 Went here for lunch and wow great food with great views for sure! (Also iykyk BTS members were here too :DD) We arrived around 3 PM, and the restaurant was super busy and packed. I was expecting a wait but we got seated right away. Initially, we asked to sit outside and it was really nice at first. The breeze and fresh air in the shade were definitely 10/10. But as the afternoon went on, the sun got much hotter and the seagulls became absolutely VICIOUS LOLL, so we ended up asking to move inside. The staff were so accommodating and let us pick whichever table we wanted, which I really appreciated. Now onto the food, WOW was the first word that came out of my mouth the portions are HUGE. There were a lot of great options to choose from, but I ended up getting the grilled lobster mac and cheese. The portion was HEFTY. I ate so much, yet it still looked like I barely made a dent in the bowl lol. The flavor was good, but it was saltier than I expected, and the more I ate, the more noticeable the saltiness became. I didn't catch the names of my friends' dishes, but they all really enjoyed their meals. Overall, it's a great spot with amazing views, generous portions, and great service. I'd love to come back again in the future!

    Not super busy on a gorgeous Saturday night…read more The good: the shrimp boil is amazing. I do wish there was an option to order more bread to go along with it. The location on the water is beautiful and the patio tables are great, with fans to help with temperature control. The meh: This place is super inconsistent, even within the same visit. I had one spicy margarita that was amazing and had a couple of jalapeno slices. My friend ordered one that was missing the jalapenos and was just ok. The cooks forgot to add the honey sriracha sauce to our brussel sprouts (which I've had here before so I knew something was missing). The solution to just bring a cup of the sauce to the table was not it. The bad: That parking lot. Not a single place to park, yet the restaurant was not at all busy. It seemed like people parked there and walked next door. Just ok. $75 for two drinks and two apps seems excessive when they just can't get it right.

    Photos
    Inside bar
    Inside bar
    Brussel sprouts
    Brussel sprouts
    Beautiful scenery

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    Beautiful scenery

    Hooks Waterfront Bar and Grill - bars - Updated July 2026

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