After being recommended Hooks by a friend in Torquay, I decided to travel down from Exeter to see what all the fuss was about, and i must say the whole experience surprised me...
on entry i was greeted by a lovely door host who seated me in one of the most charming parts of the restaurant, overlooking the open plan kitchen...
however the fault lied in management. we ordered our food with a very snappy general manager, who acted like he was on something other than just a power trip...
the kitchen didn't seem to undetstand what we had ordered (simply a starter as a main) and the general manager attempted to resolve their confusion by shouting at the kitchen staff across the restaurant, when my husband and i (as well as other customers) were trying to relax.
our food was incorrect, perhaps because the gm didn't record our order correctly (due to lack of care or concentration) or perhaps because of the kitchen staff's confusion with the order. the food was in fact wholesome and beautiful - the chef did a fantastic job of cooking my steak (eventhough the incorrect size) to perfection!
the door host cleared our plates as the general manager seemed to have been too busy swearing at his 'shipmates' over the kitchen - perhaps it was a private joke, however we could hear the taunts crude between them and found it highly unflattering to our evening. the host apologised to us and we asked for our bill
the general manager brought us the bill and we asked to pay by card, he shoted at the host to bring him the machine - an unprofessional role for any manager to play.
in conclusion, the food was beautiful, the service was brilliant, however the owners should rethink the management, as at most times it seemed like the gm was simply ordering people around and shouting obsenities, which intimidated my husband and i, as well as other near by customers
gassbags
We unfortunately chose Hooks for a birthday last Saturday. We booked and were given a reservation for 9pm. We arrived and were told our table was given to people who hadn't booked and would we mind waiting for them to reset a table. We did so, and the took another twenty minutes to seat us. We didn't get any food until 10.35, the steaks were well cooked, served with frozen chips, and an undressed salad. Service from the staff was attentive, but management thought the long wait was acceptable.
alice
We went to Hooks for my friend's birthday and found our night absolutely lovely. It is definitely busy restaurant; the atmosphere is lively and keeps you entertained all night. We had to wait for the meal for a while though. We all had steaks and were surprised by truly huge portions. Service was very good, and they made our night by giving a picture of our party at the end. Will definitely recommend the place for having a fun party.
lou
We loved hooks but took the kids and found they didn? really have a children? menu so had to order and pay for adult meals that they couldn? manage....I would not recommend this restaurant for families....but it is great otherwise...I will be going again but without the kids
