Hooked is among the best dining spots at the beach. My late wife and I first went there a few years ago based on recommendations from friends and business connections. We were never disappointed at Hooked. Friday night, Thanksgiving weekend, gave me the opportunity to take my daughter to Hooked as my son running late coming town from Newark DE after returning from Thanksgiving in NE PA. If the atmosphere at Hooked isn't coastal, nothing is. We were seated immediately upon arrival and greeted by our waitress who took our drink orders. I settled on the Orange Crush. Yum. I thought about seafood at first and looked at my favorite- Cioppino. Then I saw "The Burger" and decided on that item. My daughter ordered Salmon to top off her modified Greek Salad. Food was expedited quickly. The Salad and Salmon was very good. The Burger- topped with bacon, cheese, tomato jam (I think) was cooked a perfect medium. The accompanying julienne fries were abundant and tasty. When finished, our server suggested dessert. We declined as we had brought some leftover pies from Thanksgiving to OC which we finished over the long weekend. I hope to get Hooked again next visit to OC. read more

Hooked - Crushed. - Seafood Near Me - Ocean City, Maryland

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Hooked is a gourmet seafood restaurant that opened in Ocean City, Maryland in 2013. It was founded by restaurateurs Steve Hagen and Kevin Frey. In 2010, the partners started Indian River Seafood Company and also opened their first seafood restaurant, Off The Hook, in Bethany Beach, DE. A year later, they opened a second restaurant, Just Hooked, in Fenwick Island, DE. A seafood market opened up next to Off The Hook in 2012. The partners made the move south to Ocean City with the opening of their third restaurant: Hooked. The latest restaurant, like it's predecessors, is open year-round with menus and ingredients that are determined by the seasons and the local produce. All three restaurants also use a farm-to-plate mentality by sourcing local artisans, farmers and watermen. Their philosophy is to focus on simple, well-executed dishes. My family and I recently visited Hooked while we were on an East Coast Road Trip. It was our first night in Ocean City and my wife had heard excellent things about Hooked. The restaurant has two floors as well as an outdoor seating area. All three dining areas are equipped with their own bar. We were seated on the upstairs floor. To drink, I ordered a draught pour of RAR Brewing's "Nanticoke Nectar" (IPA) and my wife ordered "Tito's Strawberry Lemonade" (Tito's Vodka, Lemonade, Fresh Strawberries, Fresh Lemon, Simple Syrup). We ordered the Baked Crab Dip as an appetizer and it was excellent! For entrées, I ordered the "Blackened Salmon" (sautéed zucchini, squash, red onion, red pepper, jalapeńo, corn in butter, with a green goddess finish), my wife ordered the "Shrimp & Grits" (chorizo, baby spinach, tomato wine broth, anson mills grits), and our son had Mac & Cheese off of the Kid's Menu. We were all very happy with our meal choices. Before leaving, I ordered a "Burnt Old Fashioned" (1776 rye whiskey, bitter truth orange bitters, luxardo cherry, char-grilled orange, simple syrup). It was definitely my kind of cocktail! If you're looking for great seafood in Ocean City then look no further than Hooked! read more

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The food was horrible and when I sent the fish and chips back no manager came to see what was wrong. They also charge a fee to use a credit card which is posted on their menu at the bottom in very small font. STAY AWAY. read more

Discovered Hooked on a previous trip to OC and had to return during this visit. We ate outside this time due to COVID-19 and this is why I must give it just 3 stars. The outside seating was limited but it should have been cleaned up. Leaves needed to be raked and swept; they were clumped under the table and in corners all around you. The outside area was small with a bar and it was no reason to have been so messy. I also went inside to the bathroom and that too needed to be tidied up. The food was good. I had the crab cake platter and they gave me two large crab cakes with a mountain of fries. I could only eat half of the meal. My husband had grits and scallops and said it was delicious. He ate all of it. I was disappointed in the ambiance. It took away from enjoying the meal. read more

(Nov 2022 review). It is the third time we dined here. Once again, we were not disappointed. Even off season, the chef's cooking is superb and the service is excellent. We couldn't resist to order fried calamari with spicy mayo that we liked last year and these are still grate. The main course was a new dish - large roasted shrimp with pasta in a creamy spinach & bisque souse. I am not big fan of pasta but this was delicious. My partner had chioppino ( fish stew) and it came in a large bowl, full of freshest seafood and some chopped chorizo. It was excellent. 5 stars for everything - the food and the service. Strongly recommend, especially now ( off season) - main dishes on a dinner menu are half price off. If we lived nearby, I would dine here every day read more

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Sat at the bar for a meal. Was greeted by Julia and Sean. I watched while they took all other orders. Had to ask for water 3 times after I received my drink. The tacos were great. I heard them tell everyone the specials which I never received this information. They definitely had their favorites. I will take a table next time and hope for better service. read more

Honestly one of the best shrimp tacos I have ever had. I was very impressed with the shrimp tacos it doesn't have a heavy batter and lightly seasoned the shredded cabbage with the spicy mayo is perfect. I enjoyed the broth of the mussels and they have pieces of roast pork with it and it was awesome. The fish spread was really good with pickles and pickled onions and cracker. Really great place! read more

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It was mid November and my wife and I were looking for a nice place for dinner. My daughter told me the food was good so we gave Hooked a try. We were not disappointed. The atmosphere was upscale casual. Instead of sitting at a table we decided to eat at the bar. Our bartender was attractive and made a very good martini . I chose the swordfish while my wife got a salad. The meal was excellent. Roasted Brussel sprouts surrounded a perfectly cooked fish. Reportedly the salad was also good. Our server recommended the key lime pie for dessert and I'm glad she did. Check out the little lights that sit on the bar and at each table. The illuminate your meal without shining in your eyes. I like them so much I bought two of them from Amazon when we got home. read more

After a week of bad food we went to Ocean City to get a decent meal. Hooked was our chosen for our 53 anniversary celebration and they came through with great food, helpful staff, Drinks and Nice table with a romantic light. First the food we had a bowl of mussels in a wine sauce. I had the shrimp and grits with a sausage and tomato sauce. I would say there was not enough grits but the taste was excellent. My husband tried the salmon with roasted beets and pistachios. This is not something he would usually eat but he truly enjoyed. We are trying to see when we can return it was well worth the trip. It really made our anniversary since the food we try in Georgetown didn't live up to our standards. read more

One of the best restaurants in OCMD Tonight I started with Town & Dock Calamari this has their spicy mayo w/ lemon and micro greens it's a great twist on Calamari because of the light breading and the their spicy may! My entree was Blackened Mahi with Grits the Blackened Mahi had a great char and the spice was tangy not overly hot! The grits were tender as were the squash & tomatoes that complimented the dish! My BIL & SIL split the Bang Bang Shrimp for an My BIL had the Basil Encrusted Tuna and My wife and her sister had the Fish and Chips! All delicious meals we were all literally stuffed with no room for deserts this time. read more

I was driving around looking for a seafood place, luckily spotted this place touring local honest fresh food, looked right up my alley. So happy I trusted my instincts. A classy little place, super friendly bartender. And the food! I started w the cranberry lemonade cocktail-perfectly refreshing, not too sweet. Had the winter farm salad, I wasn't certain based on the menu description but found it unique and absolutely delightful- fresh greens, a touch of acidity and spice, very satisfying first course. Then I went for the shrimp and grits and oh my! Decadent, creamy, delisvious, and I could only eat half of it. Some of the best shrimp and grits I've had, and it's a favorite order of mine anywhere in the southeast. If you like a relaxed fine dining experience while in OCMD I'd highly recommend Hooked. read more

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Overall I liked this place but did not love it. Crab dip was liquidy, crab cake was good if that is all that you are looking for and fries were okay. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal. Everything my party and I ordered was amazing. The salmon, the monkfish, the bread, the mushrooms, the tomato jam on the burger, everything. Literally, every single item we ordered was perfect! read more

To start, we are from the NYC suburbs where food is culture! So... I have to say this was one of the best meals of my life. I had the cippolino, my wife had a Caesar salad and tabouli, and our son had the steak frites. My seafood was the freshest I've ever tasted, and our son's steak frites were awesome. From appetizer (Old Bay Wings) to dessert (Key Lime Pie), we were extremely happy and would recommend this restaurant to anyone coming to Ocean City. So flavorful, so fresh. Solid place to visit, will definitely return! Be sure to try the craft brews they have on tap as well. I personally had the Duckpin Pale Ale which was a perfect blend of hoppy yet not overpowering. read more

Came here for a beer and fish and chips.The draft system was broke and they don't carry my brand in bottles (Miller Lite).The server said they were changing out the deep fryer so he recommended to pass on the fried food items,most items on menu were deep fried.We settled for their burger and a chicken wrap. The food was good so it saved the day also server was very good read more

The food was good, shrimp and grits. The cream of crab corn chowder soup was very good, the server was not the friendliest . I think they are a bit pricey so I would not go on a regular basis, but have been several times. Highly recommend, but if on a budget may not be the best place to go read more

This place looks cute and I chose it for its 1600 good reviews on Yelp which now I realize were clearly fake! The music and ambiance were nice but the food was terrible. No one liked there's but the scallop dinner was especially bad. read more

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Food is always good. Please have servers take convenience fee off check when paying with cash.

Sat at the upstairs bar orders the Tuna. Several people sat at the bar and orders after me and received their food before me. Asked the bartender and was informed they needed to cut more tuna. 10 min latter received my dish with half the Tuna as my last few visits. Three small pieces. Informed the bartender and she responded with not sure what they are doing down there. I like this place but the service, food and response was extremely poor this visit. I don't post but felt this visit was extremely poor read more

Hooked. (4 stars). Cute name. That's what first caught my eye when we were walking the pups around the area we are staying. Since there was no outdoor patio seating, I decided to do takeout. Randy wanted the fish and chips but wanted asparagus instead of fries and I was going to order off their menu when the host handed me their daily specials. I saw Shrimp Fra Diavolo on the daily special menu and the rest was history! Anyone who knows me knows pasta and seafood together are my absolute favorite!! Hey, I grew up in an Italian neighborhood in Worcester. What do you expect?? :) Randy said his fish was flaky and tasty. My Shrimp Fra Diavolo was surprisingly executed well! The pasta was cooked al dente. The shrimps (approximately 7 shrimps) were ginormous and fresh! The tails were still attached but I was too lazy to pull them off so they just added a "crunchiness" to my dish. The Fra Diavolo sauce was spicy and FLAVORFUL?!! Usually when I order this dish at most restaurants, it just taste like tomato sauce with no other facets. The garlic was prevalent but not overpowering. The spice hits you after a few seconds. A slow nice burn that left me smiling. :) Hooked is one of the few restaurants opened year round and luckily for me, it's right across the street!! The staff were friendly and efficient. Parking is available in a private shared lot. I do hope I get to visit hooked one more time before heading out to New England!! I wish Hooked well. read more

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Stopped by for a late afternoon meal from the Happy Hour menu. Staff was welcoming and server was very friendly. I really liked the chowder, flavorful, not too thick. The Mahi sandwich was absolutely perfect, moist and nicely seasoned with side of rosemary shoe string fries-I found the mussels to have a strong wine taste, but still a good dish. We sat at a high top near the window but the lively bar seemed like a nice option for a light snack and sports viewing. read more

Hooked - Mahi Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Ocean City, Maryland

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This place was highly recommended and it was honestly disappointing. The service was great, but the food was very bland. Like zero seasoning. read more

Great for a date night. Hostess weren't the most friendly or accommodating. Small menu but the wings and roasted chicken were amazing as well as the crab dip. The salmon was just ok as it was over cooked. Nice selections of drafts with a cool two story atmosphere. Downstairs seemed more lively. read more

Overall a pleasure experience. Waiter Michaela did a great job and the food was delicious. We sat upstairs got apps, entree, and drinks they also gave bread to start. Everything came out at a reasonable time and fresh. Definitely will come back again read more

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No hostess at the hostess stand so we stood there waiting to be acknowledged for 5 minutes even the bartender who was right infront of us behind the bar didn't acknowledge us Food was overall good but my halibut was overcooked and dry...the bread stix were amazing with the olive oil and spices...server was a sweet heart but it was near closing time and she disappeared doing sidework ‍then the check came and we were being charged a separate fee for using our credit card...cmon people you own a business and offer credit card as a payment therefore as a business owner you should be sucking up the cost to run your credit card machine not the consumer...running your credit card machine is your expense not mine..thats a HUGE turnoff and a sneeky cheap move... we wont be returning... read more

A little on the pricey side, but a not a bad seafood bar restaurant in Ocean City, MD! Items I tried: 1) Corn and Jalapeno Crab Bisque 2) Hooked Tacos - buttermilk battered rockfish, cabbage, pico, spicy mayo, pickled red onion 3) Pan Seared Scallops - roasted corn and poblano, smoked bacon, cheddar grits, beer broth 4) Boom Boom Shrimp - spicy mayo, micro celery, lemon Everything was above average, but not out-of-this-world. All of it is the straight seaside bar food type. I'd leave 4 stars but I kinda left with a bad taste in my mouth because I think I could've gotten happy hour prices but they didn't tell my party that we if just sat in the bar area, we could've got cheaper prices. Or, better yet, if we could get the cheaper prices in the non-bar area. This is how you get a repeat customer, which I will not be. read more

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Restaurant looks trendy and fun upon entering. I was seated upstairs as I was dining alone so I didn't mind being out the way. I started with The Boom Boom Shrimp as an appetizer which was really good. I wanted to order the scallops and grits but it was no longer on the menu but I'm sure could have been substituted my server was too lazy to find out. They had a scallop dish but it was served with pork rice. I asked if anything else could be substituted and was told a salad. Then he told me the salad would have been a better option for me . I'm not sure if he was calling me fat in that moment or offering his idea of what he thgt was best for me. I ended up ordering the shrimp and grits which looks nothing like the shrimp and grit photos on Yelp. Looks like their menu changes consistently which is not good when none of the options you want are available. I wanted to really enjoy this place but the only thing that was good was the 1/2 off entrees on Mondays. The shrimp and grits had some kind of peppers and greens on it. Didn't taste like green peppers but looked like them. The grits were buttery and creamy and the shrimp were a nice size. read more

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Came here for early dinner based on the yelp reviews and we were glad we got a table right away! What we got: Boom boom shrimp Sofrito baked oysters Pei mussels Cioppino Creekstone grassfed steak Shrimp & grits Orange crush Service was friendly and quick. If you're looking for a light refreshing alcoholic drink, get the orange crush! I look for replicas of this drink in other restaurants now. The appetizers were all yummy but definitely get the sofrito baked oysters! I'm not a fan of cooked oysters, but the waiter recommended it and wow!! My daughters enjoyed the steak and how soft and juicy it was, and my fiancé and I enjoyed the cioppino and the shrimp & grits as well! read more

Hooked - Seafood Near Me - Ocean City, Maryland

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Restaurant dining at the beach is a challenge. Poor quality and high prices are the norm. Hooked defies the usual mediocrity to serve up exceptional food at a fair price. We shared a Caesar salad. The greens were crisp and fresh. Slices of Parmesan cheese were of high quality. The dressing was applied in just the right amount, and didn't taste like some of those super market offerings that are forgettable. My wife got the scallops. I am allergic to them, so I have her opinion that they were moist, and flavorful. They were over grits flavored with bacon and ham. She loved the dish. I chose a mahi-mahi over a corn relish with several fried green tomatoe slices, and an aioli sauce. My fish was blackened, and the inside was moist. With this process, the fish is often overcooked, but not this time. A little heat was added to the relish, and some small lettuce greens were thrown in. I just loved this entree. Both dishes contained a lot of food. No chance of going away hungry. Our waiter was attentive. More water glass was refilled when needed, without my having to ask. The salad course was completed before the entrees were brought. This restaurant could stand up to the competition of a major urban area. Hard to believe we were at the beach. read more

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In a day and age when too many restaurants seem satisfied with simply getting a plate of food in front of your face, however uninspired or poorly executed, HOOKED is like a beacon of hope in a sea of bad restaurants. It was clear even upon entering that much thought and care goes into the customer experience..... from the management, to the food concepts, to the execution of the food, to the service....HOOKED endeavors to give the customer an experience not only worth remembering, but one that's worth repeating. If you're looking for thoughtful and delicious casual dining, this is your place. My sister and went on a short 'sister's trip' to Ocean City in late January. MANY restaurants are closed for the off season and in reading the menus for the few that were open we were left not hoping for much. Then, we happened upon HOOKED. The first night we were seated upstairs at the bar. Jay took excellent care of us. She was personable , professional, and helpful. We enjoyed 3 appetizers, each had an entree, and then shared the homemade key lime pie which did not disappoint. The food and service were so good that we returned the following night to sample more of the menu. We were seated downstairs on this night and were served by Kaylie who was excellent from start to finish. We tried 3 different apps again, each an entreee, then shared the bread pudding at the end. Neither one of us was disappointed in any of the food or any aspect of the service. Delighted isn't a strong enough word for how we felt to have happened upon HOOKED. It made our trip that much more fun and memorable. We're already planning next year's trip, knowing full well that we'll be dining at HOOKED again..... most likely more than once. read more

Had dinner this evening at Hooked. Wonderful meal. Mussels and Boom Boom shrimp for starters. The mussels were awesome in a lovely, flavorful broth. The shrimp were perfectly crispy and the sauce yummy. Main were: rib eye, crab bisque, crab cakes and bbq pulled pork sandwich. They were all really good. Service was ok. Our server checked in and ensured we were ok. This will remain in my OC list of places to eat. read more

Hooked - Rib eye, fingerlings, broccolini. - Seafood Near Me - Ocean City, Maryland

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RIP Hooked Used to be a staple of our trips. I'm sitting here with a tasteless and tiny portion of halibut. For $37, you should expect more than 4oz of fried fish without seasoning. The new menu is horrible and so is the food. Guess this place was sold. Save your money and go to McDonalds. read more

Ocean city was pretty much dead in the winter but had an opportunity to Yelp a recommendation and found this place. Service was nice and friendly. They provided us with a quiet corner as we dined in. read more

Service was horrible. Was told 25 minute wait and waited over an hour, so finally left. Everyone working there was rude. No one seemed to care that we waited so long. Do not recommend. read more

I took my family of 6 here on a Monday. Week before 4th of July. Two adults and 4 kids. There was plenty of parking right in front. We walked up the ramp to a door that directed us back down the ramp to the front door. I feel that many first timers make this mistake. There was an outside bar, being Monday there was only one customer at the bar. We were greeted and offered a table upstairs, which was nice. Inside there was another bar upstairs and we were seated at a booth. Our waitress was very nice, but seemed a little new. We ordered drinks for the kids. One of my kids ordered tea, which was unsweetened and I ordered a coffee. We asked for sugar, and the waitress brought over a tray. The tray only had artificial sweeteners, so I asked for actual sugar. She brought over three packs, which I gave to my son. I asked for more sugar, and she brought over a single packet. I ended up just drinking my coffee with the one pack of sugar. Then I needed to ask for a spoon for the coffee. The food itself was delicious. We ordered some appetizers which consisted of the chicken wings, a crab bisque, mussels and the boom boom shrimp. We ordered as entrees, the Halibut, fish tacos and fish and chips. Everything was a huge hit. This was the priciest of all the restaurants we dined at during our trip, but we were on vacation, and we were happy to pay for good food. It was a Monday, so it was pretty empty. I'm sure it gets packed on the weekends. Would definitely dine here again. read more

I love the blueberry salad. Makes me happy. Food is good. Bar seems understaffed and takes awhile to get waited on each time we go. read more

Definitely diggin Hooked. We arrived at approximately 8:15 on a Friday night and were given a 45 min wait, but actually seated about 20-25 mins after arrival. We were outside behind the bar area and Jeff was the bartender and the waiter. Listen, I get it...sometimes the bartender is better at making drinks than waiting on you, but Jeff did a great job at both. He gave me good recommendations for me and gave great service. We ordered the crab dip, the crab cakes, calamari, chicken tenders, and new York strip. All were delicious and I would recommend any and all. They all had a good twist on a classic. The bottom line is GO HERE!! You won't regret it. Kudos to Jeff! Keep him around. He's def an asset. read more

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This place has absolutely become a staple in our OCMD trip! They recently redid the inside and it's gorgeous - so inviting! Our server was Cayley and she did a phenomenal job. She was great at answering questions regarding the menu. We started off with the olives and seared ahi tuna crudo. Definitely a different take on olives but delish. The ahi crudo was flavorful and the chef put a creative spin on it. The fried mozzarella was excellent with the tomato jam and dipping sauce. We just wish there was a bit more or plated differently to give you the perception that there was more. The beignets were FABULOUS! I was a bit skeptical on the pimento cheese but wow! My only suggestion would be to do cornbread to give you the real southern feel. Lastly, the cioppino dish is my favorite! I got it last year and this year. Drinks could use a little perfecting but good. Definitely recommend this place while visiting!! read more

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My new favorite place here. I've lived here for 2 years and finally went last Saturday and again tonight. Went with my bro and mom on Saturday and we all split apps. The octopus was delicious and I'm not usually a huge fan but I'd eat this again. The fried oysters and calamari were very tasty and had great breading. The mussels were also good The service and cocktails were excellent Went back tonite for the $20 cioppino special. Wow, another delicious meal The broth was great and plenty of seafood ( shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, fish which I think was salmon, Mahi and rockfish and andouille sausage which had a nice kick plus the toasted bread to sop up the broth My spicy Paloma was tasty and our servers were attentive and friendly ( and cute ) I will definitely be back read more

Hooked - Seafood Near Me - Ocean City, Maryland

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Food was good but fell short of my expectations. I mean the flavors were there for the most part, but at this price point I was hoping for more. Arrived 12 minutes before our to-go order pickup time and the food was ready to go. When we got home just 4 minutes away, everything was lukewarm at best. My hooked burger was delicious but disappointed that the only veggie topping was a sheet of lettuce and the fries were soggy and clumped together. The grilled mahi was a bit dry and wasn't a big fan of the orzo side that it was plated with. Just too sweet and the cauliflower was mostly raw. The rest of the items were pretty good though besides being lukewarm. Enjoyed the scallops and everything on the plate, creamy corn and crab bisque, and boom boom shrimp. Good flavors, these three dishes I would order again. Overall, I'd give our experience 3.5 but since half stars aren't available, had to round down to 3. read more

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