SHADE-O-METER RATING
4 OUTTA 5 WERKS: “SHE GAVE GOOD FACE – SHE SERVED IT”
What’s Hogfish Bar & Grill? It’s a seafood restaurant in Stock Island. Was there an age restriction? No. What time did we go? Around 1:30 p.m. How was the hostess? Fine (not to be ageist, but they’re basically kids).
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What was the décor like? Nautical, but also with imagery from fishing piers. What was the seating like? The main dining area is basically a large tiki hut. There’s also a bar, and a dockside dining area as well. What was the atmosphere like? Key-West casual. It’s waterfront dining on both sides.
What was the crowd like? Although the restaurant’s slogan is, “A great place if you can find it,” the restaurant likely isn’t a secret. It seemed like the crowd was comprised of about 50 percent tourists. When’s happy hour? Monday through Saturday, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
What libations were ordered? A Hogfish Margarita for $11, and chardonnay for $8. Were they served timely? Yes. How were the drinks? The margarita tasted good—it had a Grand Marnier float on top of it—and it was strong. The wine was fine.
What was ordered? Based on the server’s recommendation, a Killer Tuna Nachos appetizer for $17.95, Stuffed Hogfish with Crabmeat Stuffing for $26.95, and Jose’s New Orleans Seafood Gumbo (advertised as a house specialty) for $13.95. Was the food served timely? Yes.
How was the food? Excellent. The tuna appetizer had a lot going on in it, with seaweed, scallions, sesame seeds, and two kinds of sauces on top of it—tamarind glaze and wasabi cream. Despite the abundance of ingredients, or maybe because of them, it all worked. The fried wonton “nacho” was a nice touch as well in the dish. The one comment is that the salt in the tamarind glaze slightly overwhelmed the taste of the other ingredients. Concerning the entrées, hogfish is a high-end fish, and with the first bit, one could see why. I’ve had it before, but this time it had a slightly smoky taste to it, akin to the smokiness that delights the palate in the first sip of a single malt scotch. Overall, the fish was suburb. The cold bean salad that was served with the fish was a fitting complement. However, the beans were slightly overcooked. Concerning the seafood gumbo, it tasted more like tomato-based New England seafood bisque rather than gumbo, but that was not necessarily a bad thing. The soup was great, but there was no need for both rice AND white bread.
How was the service? Casual, yet knowledgeable and affable. What stands out about the restaurant? The locale, and the quality of the food.
What could be improved? As far as the food goes, not much, other than the minor comments above. However, if you’re going to serve bread with soup, the bread must be as high-caliber as the dish. Regarding the ambiance, if they really want to brand themselves as a hidden gem that can only be found based on a “tip from a local,” then the merchandising of Hogfish t-shirts appears incongruous with this claim. Either one is Disney World, or they’re not. Personally, I would ditch the merchandising. Concerning the prices, they’re a bit high for Stock Island.
What was surprising? They have a tiny, little stage in the corner, which I never noticed before, so they must have entertainment at night (only on the weekends, according to the website).
so thats lunch for two for 150 dollars
hence, that was part of why they got 4 stars instead of 5.
again, part of the reason why I gave 4 stars instead of 5.
Their prices sure seem pricey lol