A Small Cafe That Hooks You With Great Sushi
St Petersburg, Florida
Cuisine Style: Asian, Japanese, Sushi, Thai
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined: May 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Hooks Sushi Bar Zomato rating:
Hooks Sushi Bar and Thai Food is a dream made real by popular area sushi chief and owner Hook Atsavinh who died in 2009 of unknown causes. His wife Michelle continues the legendary Hook’s tradition of fresh delicious, innovative sushi and offerings and opened a second location on 4th opened in 2014. Hook brought Asian recipes from Thailand, Japan, Korea & China and even opened the original Hook’s across the street from his former employer.
Their slogan “All Fish and No Bull!” is based on the beliefs that, yes… you can go to other restaurants where your money goes more toward fluff than quality food…Or you can come to Hook’s where your taste buds come first!”
Hooks Sushi Bar Menu:
- Lunch Kitchen Dreams
- Lunch “I love sushi” and “Sushi Dreams” specials
- Sushi nigiri and Sashimi
- Appetizers
- Salads
- Soups
- Sides
- Makimoto Rolls
- International Dishes
- Desserts
They 25+ Makimoto rolls on the menu from the dragon to the Tampa roll. My wife and I would split a roll, plus I would order my own roll. We shared the Tekyu Tri-color roll stuffed with avocado and three fish selections; a tuna, salmon, and yellowtail and topped with Tamago. The word Tamago means egg in Japanese, or “Tamagoyaki,” a Japanese omelet dish. It is a basic staple in Japan found as a complementary ingredient in their bento boxes or sushi. If you go to your local sushi restaurant, you should be able to find Tamago either on or over sushi rice (nigiri).
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| Hooks Sushi Bar / Tekyu Roll |
Under the international dishes, my wife had the Pad Thai which is stir fried with rice noodles, scrambled eggs, scallions, bean sprouts, and a choice of either meat or tofu. The dish had good texture and flavor with the spice blending in well with the ingredients. Other selections from the international menu include Korean items such as bibimbap, bulgogi, and jabchae, Thai dishes such as basil chicken, red or green curries, and Chinese classics like GeneralTSO and teriyaki. With her meal, she had Hogwash Rosé from St. Helena, California by Tuck Beckstoffer Wines.
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| Hooks Sushi Bar / Pad Thai |
My entree selection was the TST sushi stuffed with spicy tuna, imitation krab, and cream cheese. The sushi is tthen rolled panko bread crumbs and deep fried topped with scallions, masago, and a house sauce. The sushi was crunchy and flavorful with the house sauce tempering the stronger tuna flavors and the very common flavorless Krab meat. Massago is a smelt or fish roe are the fully ripened eggs of many types of fish, including sturgeon, salmon, herring, and capelin or caplin fish. “K” or imitation crab (krab) is a type of seafood made of starch and finely pulverized Alaskan pollock and other white fish called surimi which is then shaped and cured to resemble the leg meat of snow crab or Japanese spider crab. It is a product that uses fish meat to imitate shellfish meat (though there are some traces of shellfish in this product for those who suffer from shellfish allergies). Sugiyo Co., Ltd. in Japan first produced and patented imitation crab meat in 1974, calling it Kanikama.
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| Hooks Sushi Bar / TST Sushi |
Dessert:
My wife and I rarely have dessert when we dine out, but it was recently our birthdays, so we celebrated by ordering a panko crusted and deep fried ice cream dessert with a side of whipped cream and chocolate syrup. This was a dessert I would not expect to find at an Asian-Japanese restaurant, and more a Mexican or classic American restaurant. Either way, the fry was crispy and hot while the ice cream inside was still chilled and absolutely delicious.
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| Hooks Sushi Bar / Fried Ice Cream |
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
Sub-Napa AVA’s:
Other noteworthy sushi / Japanese articles and restaurants similar to Hooks Sushi Bar:
(restaurants that may not be Japanese, but still serve sushi)
Sushi (すし, 寿司, 鮨) is the Japanese preparation and serving of specially prepared vinegary rice (鮨飯 sushi-meshi) combined with varied ingredients (ネタ neta) such as seafood (often uncooked), vegetables, and occasionally tropical fruits. Styles of sushi and its presentation vary widely, but the key ingredient in all cases is the sushi rice, also referred to as shari (しゃり), or sumeshi. A sushi restaurant specializes in the service of this dish, or in this section will be a restaurant that highlights sushi on its menu.
Ambrosia Japanese restaurant and saké bar with sushi in Key West, Florida
Basil Asian Bistro Pan-Asian favorites from China to Vietnam with sushi specials in Canton, Ohio
Blue Fugu Japanese Steakhouse Table-side hibachi with a sushi bar in St. Pete Beach, Florida
Dunes Beach Restaurant and Bar Eclectic Cape Malay cuisine with sushi in Hout Bay, South Africa
Junsui An eclectic taste of Asia with buffets at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Kuneho (Formally Qui Restaurant) Eclectic global plates and sushi in Austin, Texas
Morimoto Asia Japanese and upscale pan-Asian fare with sushi at Disney Springs Orlando, Florida
Osaka Sushi and Thai Restaurant Thai and Japanese fare including sushi in Seminole, Florida
P.F. Chang’s A ‘farm-to-wok’ concept Asian chain reviewed at the Tampa International Airport, Florida
Rock 'N' Raw Asian restaurant with sushi at the Hard Rock Casino, Tampa, Florida
Signature Restaurant Contemporary and elegant eclectic eatery in Sandton, South Africa
Saké 23 Formally Souzou with a new name and same great vision in St. Petersburg, Florida
Sushi Sleek Japanese eatery with sushi/sashimi at The Grand Hyatt Dubai, UAE
The Lemon Grass Casual fusion of Thai and Japanese with tapas portions in St Petersburg, Florida
Wolfgang Puck Celebrity Chef’s California cuisine and fine dining chain; reviewed in Orlando, Florida
Zuma Contemporary Japanese restaurant, sushi, and cocktail mixology in Dubai, UAE
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other St Petersburg restaurants, and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
|
Izakaya Japanese restaurant focusing on ramen bowls
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Pizza and calzones covers this 2nd review
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Local and organic at the Birchwood
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
A few Florida restaurant favorites:
|
Events and Seasonal American cuisine dinner cruise
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
Gourmet Grilled Cheese and a bar in Greek Country
Tarpon Springs
|
President Donald Trump’s Kitchen
West Palm Beach
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Hooks Sushi Bar a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Hooks Sushi Bar
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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11
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10
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1
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Food quality
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11
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9
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2
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Plate presentation
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12
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10
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2
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Customer service
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14
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10
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4
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Alcohol and other beverages
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7
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5
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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55
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44
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11
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.8
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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0
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.8
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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3
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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3 of 5 Stars:
80% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded my Expectations in a Dining Experience
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Corkage fees:
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Hooks Sushi Bar does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at Hooks Sushi Bar:
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Asian, Japanese, Thai
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Low Carb Choices, Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wear’s flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Hooks Sushi Bar Experiences:
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Contemporary, Hole-in-the-wall, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Hooks Sushi Bar has a public lot
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Low
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Smoking:
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Hooks Sushi Bar is a non-smoking restaurant
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Patio or terrace:
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No
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Alcohol prices:
$14.00 USD
Hooks Sushi Bar:
1210 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr St N
Saint Petersburg, Florida
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 727-898-4665
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Website Contact:
Email Us:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Lunch: Mon - Fri
11:30 am - 2:00 pm
Dinner: Mun - Sat
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sunday
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Hooks Sushi Bar:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Quintessential Modern Australian Cuisine
Sydney, Australia
|
Old School Rustic Tuscan
Gulfport, Florida, USA
|
Eclectic global plates and sushi
Austin, Texas, USA
|
Other Hooks Sushi Bar Pictures:
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| Hooks Sushi Bar / Krab Rangoon |
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| Hooks Sushi Bar / Miso Soup |
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| Hooks Sushi Bar / Asian Salad |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
