Hooks Sushi Bar

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:

By Cuisine  /  By Country

Hooks Sushi Bar Zomato rating:

 

Old Castle

September 2017 review   /  July 2016 review

Even Better Than The First Visit

Ruskin, Florida USA

Cuisine Style: German

Average Price: $$

Overall Rating: 3/5

Dined in: September 2017

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:

By Cuisine  /  By Country

Executive Chef:

Joe Syed

The Old Castle Restaurant in Ruskin is the second location opened in 2006, the original opened in 1999 and they provide locals with a taste of old world Berlin. The restaurant has recently expanded and is decorated with authentic artifacts, shipped straight from Europe, and is designed based on the original "Burg Schanke" in downtown Berlin. This is my second review of Old Castle from another visit that my wife, father, and stepmother had in September 2017. From the first review this restaurant made the Top 100 list of Wine Dine and Play, and for this visit, they still impress.

We began with a few drinks as we looked over the expanded menu. My father started with a glass of  Radeberger Pilsner, which has been dedicated to producing pilsners since 1872. According to the brewmasters tasting notes, the Radeberger is a Pilsner-style lager; full-bodied and harmoniously balanced with a slight, bitter hop character. The beer presents with a brilliant, honey-gold color with an above- average head retention. Fresh green walnuts, juniper, and slight hints of vanilla fill out the complex aroma. A combination of high-quality hops, pure spring water, and lively carbonation offer a delightful and unique texture.

My wife had a glass of Rosé from Ros de Pacs, a Spanish organic wine from the Parés Baltà Vineyard. This wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. According to the winemakers tasting notes, it is delicate on the nose with notes of red fruit like raspberry and cherry. In the mouth, it is light and fresh, with an interesting balance between the acidity level and the light sweetness of the residual sugar.

I had a glass of the Köstritzer Dark Lager, and according to the beer makers tasting notes was an expressive fragrance of intense spicy aromas, including sage, roasted chestnuts, dark honey, bitter chocolate and fresh, farm-baked bread. Dry on the palate, and marked by bitter-sweet herbal and toasting aromas. The intense aromas are balanced by the gently sparkling carbonation with freshness and elegance. With delicate bitter tones and malty sweetness, it finishes slowly on the palate. It was a little too strong for me, so for my next beer, I went with my fathers selection the Radeberger Pilsner.

Menu:

• Starters
• Salads
• Soups
• Sides
• Sausage Corner
• Potato Pancake Dishes
• Entrees
• Schnitzel Entrees
• Iron Pan Entrees
• Dinner for Two
• Kids menu
• Desserts
• Lunch Menu
• Sandwiches

On our previous visit to Old Castle, our entree selections included the appetizer pretzel which my wife and I enjoyed so much that we ordered it once again. Other selections we enjoyed were the schnitzel “a la Vienna,” the schnitzel cordon bleu, the veal hunters schnitzel with homemade cream of mushroom sauce and Spätzle which my wife had, but on this outing, my father tried it this time. They have a total of eight schnitzels on the menu. Finally, the sample platter and the dessert hausgemachter apfelstrudel would round up that spectacular experience. 

My wife ate lite having a soup and salad combination with the soup of the day or as on the menu the spontaneous soup, with the Shepherds salad - feta cheese, and Greek pepper. It was very similar to a Greek salad with some minor variations.

Shepherds salad

My stepmother had the Black Forest entree which was a schnitzel with Spätzle, red cabbage, and covered in a pork sauce. It was an extremely tender cut of meat, fried perfectly, with juice still oozing out from the meat. Spätzle is a kind of soft egg noodle found in the cuisines of southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Moselle and South Tyrol. 

Black Forest entree

For my entree, I had the Berlin curry sausage which came with two Bauern sausages, one of nine sausage entree selections from the menu. It was covered in curry-tomato sauce and served with french fries plus a warm German potato salad. Compared to the sampler platter I had on the last visit, plus the tastings of the other entrees my family had, I didn’t think any of the dishes could get better, but I was wrong. This sausage was fantastic. This traditional German favorite was originally called “farmers sausage”. Bauernwurst is made by combining pork and beef with onion, garlic, and marjoram.

Bauernwurst

Dessert:

We did not have dessert on this visit, though our favorite Apfelstrudel was still on the list, while they had a few changes since the remodeling to include Eis & Heiss Drachenliebe (dragons love) “hot berries and ice cream”, Hausgemachte rote Grütze “thickened berry compote with vanilla sauce”, Black Forest Cake, and German iced coffee “Eiskffe”

Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.

Other Noteworthy German Articles & Restaurants:

A Taste of Berlin Relaxed hangout serving German grub in Brandon, Florida

Josty Bistro Eatery serving German regional cuisine at the Potsdamer Platz Sony Center in Berlin, Germany 

Restaurant Mark Brandenburg Sustainable & regional German cuisine at the Hilton in Berlin, Germany

See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”

A Few Florida Favorites:

Waterfront Restaurant Steakhouse restaurant on inlet offering Gulf views Sarasota, Florida, USA	Osaka Sushi Thai Restaurant Seminole, Florida USA Thai and Japanese fare including sushi	Chill Restaurant & Bar New American Cuisine, tapas, and exotic cocktails St Pete Beach, Florida, USA
Mojo Old City BBQ Vibrant Southern cuisine & BBQ  St Augustine, Florida USA	The Mill Restaurant  New American, Southern Twist St. Petersburg, Florida, USA	Gino’s  Old-school & modern genial Italian eatery Tampa, Florida, USA

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:

What Is A Restaurant Review, And Am I Any Different?

Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Old Castle a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations in a dining experience compared to most restaurants, The first review score was also 3 of 5 stars, so they have remained of high integrity since my last visit in 2016.

Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:

Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings	Max Points Possible:	Total Points Awarded:	Total Points deducted:
Ambiance	7.5	7	0.5
Food quality	10	7	3
Plate presentation	8.5	8.5	0
Customer service	7.5	6	2
Alcohol and other beverages	6	3	3
Total regular points awarded	39.5	31	8.5
Total percentage — less the Bonus		0.794810126582278
“Wow” factor BONUS	5	1	0
Total bonus percentage		0.0253164556962025
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating		0.820126582278481
Stars Awarded (see chart below)	0 - 5	3

**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:	3 of 5 Stars:  82% Rating with a 1 point “wow” bonus Exceeded My Expectations in a Dining Experience
Corkage fee’s:	This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge  $25.00 per bottle
Restaurant style:	Casual dining
Cuisine style:	Austrian, German Allergen or dietary accommodations:  Low Carb, Pescatarian, Vegetarian
Reservations:	Not Required, But Recommended Walk-Ins: Accepted
Dress code:	Casual attire It’s Florida, everybody wear’s flip-flops
Child policy:	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!
Experiences:	Place for foodies, Good for special occasions, Beautiful décor, and a Neighborhood Gem.
Payments:	Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
Parking:	Private lot
Wifi	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.
Noise level:	Low
Smoking:	Nonsmoking restaurant
Patio or terrace:	No

Food Prices 

(excludes, alcohol, taxes and 20% gratuities)

$£€¥ -                Under 50.00 (inexpensive)

$£€¥ x 2 -          51.00- 99.00 (moderate)

$£€¥ x 3 -          Over 100.00 (pricy)

$£€¥ 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:	Price
United States Dollar (USD)	$$
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)	££
Canadian Dollar (CAN)	$$$
Chinese Yuan (CNY)	¥¥¥¥¥
European Union (EUR)	€€

 Alcohol prices:

$28.00 USD

Old Castle Restaurant:

3830 Sun City Center Blvd 

Ruskin / Sun City, Florida 

33573

Contact Information: 

Restaurant website:	Old Castle Restaurant
Maître d or host:	+1 813-633-3331
Email Contact:	Contact the restaurant
Serving hours: Eastern Standard Time (GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)	Daily: Mon-Sun 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Social Media  &  Accolades:	Facebook link
	Pinterest
	Instagram

****

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…

Armani / Amal Fine Indian and Pakistani Cuisine at the Burj Khalifa Armani Hotel, Dubai, UAE

Ponte Vecchio Fine dining Italian classics  Niagara, Canada

Zuma Contemporary Japanese restaurant, sushi, & cocktail mixology DIFC, Dubai, UAE

Other Pictures:

“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things, 

But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”

-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)

Who is John Galt?

TTFN