Abu Dhabi diners are spoilt for choice when it comes to culinary options, but we get particularly excited when something new comes around. And that’s exactly why we’ve come to the newly-opened seafood joint Off The Hook.
The idea is quite simple. You firstly choose your catch (in batches of 1kg or 500g), which includes shrimps, crabs, lobsters, salmon and mussels. You then pick a sauce (lemon butter, garlic butter or their secret recipe house speciality) and tell them how spicy you want it. It’s as easy as that. And if you want some extras you can opt for the likes of French fries, corn on the cob, chicken fillet, fish fillet, crab balls and rice.
What we really like about the diner is that it’s not glamorous in any way. While we do love a swanky fine-dining experience, there’s something satisfying about getting your hands dirty from time to time. At Off The Hook there are no plates and the food is served in plastic bags.
Being such a messy affair, the tables are covered in tissue paper and we’re given plastic gloves and aprons.
Today we’ve ordered a half kilo of shrimps, medium spicy in garlic butter, and a kilo of mussels in lemon butter sauce. Firstly, the shrimps are large and juicy. And considering the price of Dhs59, we’re particularly happy with our order. And the mussels don’t disappoint either, as we’re presented with a bag filled with some of the biggest and tastiest we’ve ever seen.
Although the corn on the cob is only a half portion and nothing much to write about, the crab balls are a real treat. Tasty dough balls are filled with crab meat and, again, served in a bag. They’re so good we have to fight our guest for the last one.
Considering the quality and value for money at Off The Hook, we could become regulars.
The bill (for two)
1kg mussels Dhs79
1/2kg shrimps Dhs59
Corn on the cab Dhs7
Crab balls Dhs13
Total Dhs158
The bottom line Top seafood at a fantastic price.
