Off the Hook

Our family cannot get over how fantastic the food is here. By far the best fish & chips, calamari, and cosmos we’ve ever had and easily the best restaurant in Bethany! This place deserves all the praise and we will definitely be back!

Our party of 5 arrived at 8:30pm on a weeknight without a reservation. The restaurant’s Google site states the restaurant is open until 10pm. The ambiguous lettering on the door lists the hours as being “11:30am ~ pm” The host did not tell us that service shut down at 9pm, which probably should have been disclosed as we were led to our table. The restaurant is very brightly lit, perhaps to showcase the Chihouly like hanging lamps, but it unfortunately looks like a cafeteria. However, the prices are anything but… The 2 page menu is fairly limited, one page lists drinks and the other one is food. We started with a bottle of wine, an order of Boom Boom Shrimp ($16) and Kung Pao Calamari ($15) to share. Judy, our server, apologized for rushing us, but said orders needed to be in by the last call at 8:45pm. A few minutes after she took our orders we requested she put in for a 2nd bottle of wine—it all felt very hasty. I ordered the Cioppino ($42) which although tasty did not justify its price, especially given the meager amount of protein it contained—which would have been better priced at $24. My husband had the Pan Seared Scallops ($34.) Our table companions had the Smith Island Stuffed Fluke ($36) and the Seared Tuna Tataki Salad ($18.) For the vegetarian, it was a Caesar Salad ($11) with sides of Creamed Spinach ($9) and Truffle Mac and Cheese ($10.) Both those sides arrived cold and needed to be sent back. Desserts were outstanding. We consumed every bit of an excellent Key Lime Pie and the Peach Cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream. By the time we ordered dessert we were the last diners in the restaurant. The food was good, and exemplifies the buzzwords used in their marketing: “upscale,” “farm to table.” However it should be less about being “passion driven” and more “attention to detail.” What could have been an elevated dining experience was marred by feeling rushed due to the lack of clarity over service hours. Since it takes less than a minute for an establishment to update the hours on their Google site, there’s no excuse.

Food was ok, calamari was a lil unique, they added rings of fried chili 🌶️ made it spicy which i love, the crab cakes were lil mushy, came from Maryland . Desert was made there, super sweet, I couldn’t finish it, just ate the ice cream . Server was very nice and helpful.

Hadn’t been to OTH in a while - but really glad we stopped in for what was a fabulous meal! Sat at a high top in bar area - great service and atmosphere. They’ve done a great job with updating the decor! My wife had the pan seared scallops and I had the cold smoked salmon. Both were excellent! My wife also got the braised bacon beans and raved about them. Very nice cocktail menu (blackberry gin smash 😎) - the whole experience made for a great night out. Will be back!!

Judy was our server and she was excellent! Tough call as to whether the food or the service was better and the food was phenomenal. We had the Band Bang shrimp- -let’s be clear these are not popcorn ship but honest to goodness real “prawn sized “ shrimp. Also had the Smith Island Stuffed Fluke- think tender whitefish wrapped around a A-1 Crab cake- JoJo had the Cobb salad(she’s allergic to seafood) noteworthy presentation (see pic)tMinced Egg, shredded cheddar, an entire Avocado sliced- grilled chicken and bacon….Let’s just say the bacon in the salad was definitely farm to table bacon - basically call Fatback- and farm fresh Cherry tomatoes- all arranged over a bed of fresh field greens and spinach. If you can get in- you’d be crazy not to stop by!

Excellent service, and every dish we ordered was fantastic! The flavor combinations were amazing! We will come back!

We discovered Off The Hook on our drive back to Arlington from Rehoboth Beach, and it turned out to be the nice lunch stop. The place already had glowing Google reviews, and now I can see why. 🌊 Freshness That Stands Out Seafood is the star here. Everything we tried tasted fresh, vibrant, and cooked with care. The staff’s recommendations were spot-on—each dish was thoughtfully prepared and brought a pleasant surprise to the table. 🌍 Creative Global Flavors What sets this spot apart is how it blends global culinary ideas into classic seafood. The menu feels adventurous and inventive, elevating familiar dishes into something memorable. 🍤 A Must-Try Dish Our favorite was the Kung Pao Calamari—crisp fried squid rings tossed in a Kung Pao–style sauce with a balanced savory-sweet kick. Bold, unexpected, and truly memorable. Don’t miss it.

Our first time and it was absolutely wonderful. We were in town for my birthday celebrating. Judy was our server and was great at suggestions. We started with the crab and corn soup! Get this if you love cream of crab, the sweetness from the corn complemented it beautifully. I had the tuna tataki and it was just what I wanted. Rare and full of flavor from the sauce. For dinner: We had the surf and Turf with delicious filet and perfectly cooked scallops. I had the stuffed fish with burre blanc sauce and wanted to lick the plate. The mashed potato’s were some of the best I have ever had!! We finished with cinnamon bread pudding and it was a perfect way to end the meal. We will definitely come back!!!

The staff were very attentive, the food was "off the hook"!!! It was so good. We had the carb & lobster bisque, green salad, Fish board (swordfish and it was FABULOUS!) and 2 fish tacos & 2 shrimp tacos. We will definitely be back. It was a Monday night and the place was packed (but not a long wait)

As you can see from my more than ten past reviews over 4 years and my last review in August 2025 this is now one of my top three happy hour restaurants during the off season. I will summarize my four most recent happy hour off season visits. We were first here at the bar with my six family and friends. Well finally the off season happy hour half price dinner entrees have finally returned here starting around mid October with pretty much the same entrees and menu as last year. They subsequently updated the half price entrees in early November. All items have pretty much returned here except for some new entrees. The good news is that at least two new half price happy hour dinner entrees were added including the surf and turf with espresso encrusted 4 ounce demi filet mignon with two skewered shrimps, yukon mash, tomato garnash with blue cheese in the middle of the tomato for $40 or half price for only $20. I never had espresso encrusted filet mignon, therefore I ordered and enjoyed mine medium rare. I could barely taste the encrusted espresso. I ended my dinner with my favorite Fiddlehead's draft honey porter for $6. My total bill was $111 with half price discount of $36.50 so my final bill was $77. On my second return I enjoyed my ahi tuna rice bowl with broccoli, ginger fried house rice, sprouts and ginger vinaigrette for $36 or half price for $18. My total bill was $72 excluding gratuity. On my third return I again enjoyed the espresso encrusted 4 ounce demi filet mignon, which I had ordered medium rare, but was over cooked to medium. I did not complain about returning my filet for a replacement, however I did show it to bartender Dennis. Next time I will order my filet rare. On my fourth return I enjoyed my usual cosmos and my ahi tuna rice bowl which was always properly cooked ahi style. Bartender Dennis always remembers I prefer a little extra spice, without me even asking for my Sriracha. Dennis recommended both of the above entrees. See my most recent pic of the new menu. Chef Cowan waved to me at the bar. Bartender Dennis served us very well supported by our usual excellent recommendations and conversations. Chandra and Cameron also said hello. The staff here are very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. On Black Friday I purchased another $1k in gift cards for the off season from Off The Hook and Hooked in OC. Needless to say we will continue to return here for happy hour to spend our $1k.

OFF THE HOOK IN BETHANY!!!!! I'm reviewing this on behalf of my lovely daughter and my family vacationing in the area. In short, she simply loves the spot and "ordered the kung poa calamari, tuna tataki , her meemaw got a shrimp spaghetti in a vodka sauce and her mom got some salad. All was at minimum a 7.5/10. Drinks were also amazing. Service was good and quick and good atmosphere". Pretty sure my grandson got the scraps and crumbs. GO GET HOOKED!

One of several hook restaurants . We started with a beet and arugula salad. Fresh ingredients with a nice vinaigrette got us off to a good start. Complementary bread slices and seasoned olive oil accompanied the salad spoke to the generosity of the restaurant. Speaking about largess, the restaurant started its buy one entree, get a lesser priced one free on Tuesday through Thursday. This deal is off season only. October through May. I had the halibut. It was cooked perfectly leaving it moist and tender. It was a humus for texture, wild mushrooms and onions that popped. My wife had scallops over polenta and corn chutney. The latter was great, and the halibut was excellent (i am allergic ) according to my wife. Both of our entrees had generous port Alas, too full for dessert, but it should be obvious. This is a can't miss restaurant.

We went for our first time on a "50% off entrees" Tuesday evening recently. We had a short wait, unfortunately they weren't serving outside due to lack of servers. Everyone there is very friendly and helpful. The food was delicious - I got the maple salmon, my husband got the shrimp and grits. Both dishes were delicious and beautifully presented. The only negative was that due to the place being fully booked, it was extremely loud in there, with each table talking louder over the next to be heard. There was music in the background that just added to the noise and couldn't be clearly heard. Would definitely go back again.

Stopped for lunch today while passing through the area. Service was outstanding, we had the lunch pick 2. I had Shrimp Po-boy and soup of day. My wife had chicken salad wrap and wedge salad. All food was very tasty. Restaurant was very clean! We will be back again

I picked up to go here, just got a couple of small things. Spinach salad, and wings.. let me tell you as a previous server for 20 years, I've handled a lot of salads and wings over the years and these were top-notch. The pictures will show that these were to go items that could be plated right up at the restaurant and served just as they looked. You know when you see a commercial burger that looks perfect but it never looks like that when you get it, not the case here. The spinach salad had great fresh, quality ingredients, excellent size and a great price. The wings were very good, great quality, nice size, amazing taste. I will return! Thank you!

This restaurant is anything but: ( add name of restaurant here) The food was an over compensation of style, taste, and execution. Let's start with my drink. I order a raspberry mint julep. First off...no. A mint julep just needs to be only..... My first dish ordered was there "staple" shrimp n grits w pulled pork. Again...no. At this point that's called a variation of shrimp gumbo. Ain't no shrimp n grits has any beef in it whatsoever. Also, the ration to shrimp n grits was 70/ 30. Last bit on this dish: All art, no flavor. Dish #1 sent back Dish # 2 ordered: jerk checkin wings w an added side of "sweet potatoe pie". Wings? Yes those were good. The "pie"? A) not a pie B) not sweet. Nor a potato. This one tasted sour. The claims were of notes w nosh, nutmeg, and Cinnamon. Ummm, when 3 people taste it and don't taste said notes....that ain't it. Side dish #1 sent back. Service: I do appreciate the patience with me since I had made several sent backs. So I thank you said staff for working with me Ambiance: listen..i get that here in DE it's the season of Flys...but to have them indoors and constantly flying around my legs....not only is it annoying.... At least we had a citronella candle brought out to our table to sit on top (if you the reader is curious...it didn't help)

We have dined at Off the Hook several times and have rarely been disappointed. We have been particularly impressed with the off-season dinner specials that they run. The staff is wonderful as well.

They aren't lying. Food is definitely off the hook. Crab cake sandwich was absolutely delicious as was the buttermilk chicken and chips. Corn and jalapeno crab bisque was great too.

The food at Off The Hook is very good. The hummus appetizer was really tasty, it had olive oil, an olive caponata. and tomato tabbouleh like sides that really hyped the flavor up. The And Chips is Buttermilk Fried Cod with fries that never disappoints with good portion sizes, tasty cocktail and tartar sauce, and side of Cole Slaw which had red onions in it, not my favorite. It also had fries with pesto that was excellent. The Crispy Flounder sandwich with tomato, and lettuce was great,as it had just the right amount of crunch. It also had the delicious pesto fries. The lemonade with blueberries,and Vodka was topped with mint and dried citrus was delicious. I recommend this restaurant and will be back.

Not quite sure why this is rated so high. My companions fish (fish and chips) was dry. My soup needed more flavor and another companion's seafood spaghetti the noodles were overcooked as was the seafood. Take a pass on this pass place.

I met a friend in Bethany for lunch today. Off season, there are fewer places open. Neither one of us had dined at Off the Hook before, but it was a home run--I'm so glad we found it! We shared the calamari appetizer. It was really tasty and just the right amount of crunchy. I ordered the fish sandwich. It came on a really nice brioche bun. The fish was hot & the coating was very tasty. They serve pesto fries, which I was not sure about, but they were wonderful! The place has a nice bar and the decorations are very stylish. There are several seating areas--hightops, regular tables, and a booth or two. Something for everyone. The service was friendly.

I wish I had pictures to add but by the time I realized I should have taken them only crumbs were left. Eggs Benedict, burger, Cesar salad, boom boom chicken were all spectacular and I would highly recommend. They were also quick which I always appreciate. There drinks are strong and a good option for happy hour. Overall beautiful, clean and would recommend if you are needing a new spot added to your Delaware beach restaurant roster.

We had some of the best food we've had in our life there very well prepared excellent flavors you can really taste the care they put into each item. Our waiter was exceptional very considerate did not feel like a high pressure sales pitch genuinely interested in one enjoying the meal and no pressure. Highly recommend this place to visit. It's a smaller restaurant but it's a perfectly sized place. They're considerate take care of you quick to give you your food if you want to get in and get out very lovely environment very relaxing can have a great time there.

Great meal. We had the fish dip, lobster linguine m, and crab cakes. Everything was great as was the service.

We have been here a few times and their food and service are generally good but tonight was a clunker. We were seated at a high top table, and the appetizer dishes weren't cleared off before our entrees were served, When we told the server to clear the table first, he said "I only have one hand" and rolled his eyes! Our main server was pleasant and friendly as always. The cocktails were refreshing. The crab bisque was excellent while the chicken pinchos were average but with a good salad bed. The lobster linguine had a lot of meat but the pasta was dry. The scallops were good with tasty grits. The crab cakes and couscous were average. The cioppino was overcooked and dry. Hopefully they will do better if we go back.

TikTok recommended this spot and we are glad we took the recommendation!!! Loved the ambiance!! Food was delicious!! Our server, Cameron, provided great customer service and answered all the questions we asked.

Wonderful dinner with family! We came here for dinner and found it was quick and delicious. We were seated quickly and our dinner came out fasts great service and would return

Have been here many times on each trip to Bethany area. Off the hook always a good option. Latest trip was maybe not quite as smooth, menu seems to have narrowed and have less choices. We sat in the the dining room and one of my boys wanted something off the other menu which they made difficult. Then I ordered the grilled wahoo, they brought me the tiniest bit of fish I kind of laughed. I'm not someone who needs a huge portion to be happy but it was about the size of 2 thumbs. I saw someone else nearby had one twice the size. I didn't really want to make a fuss as was there with my mum for a nice meal, made a quick remark to the waitress and she was very snarky. Anyhow it's a good spot, maybe they are just undergoing some changes.

Yum. Ended up going here around 3 o'clock for their happy hour. The bartender was amazing!!! Delicious grapefruit crush, OTH cosmos, oysters, calamari. Even though it isn't a shopping center once you go inside, the vibe is great definitely worth going!

It's full of octopuses inside. Atmosphere was cute. Didn't hear the music, but not too loud with everyone talking. Happy hour was great until six at the high tops. Drinks were good. The espresso martini didn't have real espresso only cold brew in it, but it was still good. my sister asked for no bacon in her linguine with clams and she got bacon in it, but we were able to send it back for another one. Everything tasted amazing! Will be going back!

Was our favorite, now moving on - the need for waitress to point out (bringing menu and order print out) that the garden salad is served with spring salad and not Romain is what is stated in menu and having an attitude for wanting it remade for romaine was very upsetting.. .. and then having to wait 15 minutes for new salad unacceptable! Plus the steak was extremely over seasoned and salty .. wasn't about to mention that to server .. and went to the bar for ketchup as the one server provided was empty. We have dined numerous times and family celebrations ... time to move on !

This is an amazing restaurant in walking distance from our home. the ambiance is pleasing, and the food never disappoints.

Off the hook has a really cool vibe and an amazing selection to choose from we started with the hummus, the Greek salad and the fish salad. I don't know the seasoning on the pita bread, but it was a little strong. Everything else was flavorful and exceptionally prepared I ordered the muscles Diablo and I must say, it was pretty spicy but good. Crab court chowder was excellent. My family also ordered the fish and chips and said it was a nice hardy piece of fish. We had excellent service. I definitely would go back and recommend you try this place. We were too full for dessert.

Food service menu atmosphere... all 2 thumbs up! Eat here more than any other restaurant at the beach.

Parking was almost non existent Food was good but I went specifically for fish and chips. Not even close to my expectations Salad was great and plenty

The boom boom shrimp was killer. ...literally my friend had it and when it was cut it exploded. It was very fast service, and had a very scary vibe to it

Lobster tacos were mostly rubber part and mayo. Didn't realize there's a $5.18 charge for credit card. Didn't bring out a water for my son. My friend said her steak was the best steak she's ever eaten. I thought the fish dip was inedible.

Very nice place, good food, good service. If your looking for a place to go and just have a quick bite this is the place.

Party of four on Friday night for the equinox dinner really enjoyed all the food & drinks the cooking presentation was great and so was the service

One of the best restaurants in Bethany hands down. The food & service are reliably great. The menu is always fresh & daily specials off season are amazing. Weds was 1/2 off entree night - not to be missed!! My shrimp & grits was wonderful- grits were creamy & the shrimp was delightful. Lots of flavor! My husband got the pork chop w sweet potato whip & it was a little disappointing in that it was more of tenderloin than a chop & they were little light on the whip. However it was beautifully cooked & delicious which is all that matters

Very happy with our experience. We had the mixed green salad with the most flavorful vinaigrette I've ever had, the buttermilk cod and scallops. The restaurant was busy but not loud even on a holiday weekend. Highly recommend

What a great Cinco de Mayo experience last night. Great food, great margaritas, and a really great waitress. We got there and thought it would be a 45 minute wait. Lucky us they managed to seat us in less than 10 minutes. Thank you OFF THE HOOK.

Our server David was excellent. We enjoyed the 1/2 off bottle of wine on a Friday night and the food was very tasty. We really enjoyed the use of spices in all the dishes.

My family had a great dinner here! We tried a few of their drinks and they were very tasty! The food was amazing and delicious and the waitress was very attentive. It doesn't have an ocean view but the food is so good I didn't care. I ordered the steak and a month later I vividly remember how good it was. We will definitely head back next year when we are in the area.

This place is always worth the wait! Everything on the Off The Hook menu is delicious, it's hard to choose- so I usually get more than I could ever eat (there are a lot of to-go bags!) Our waitress, Aidee was wonderful! She was very knowledgeable of the menu and the specials and made sure we were enjoying ourselves !

This was a takeout order during recent weekend in Bethany Beach with my boyfriend, and overall a great pick! We enjoyed the fish tacos, crab mac and cheese, and the boom boom shrimp - all of which were delicious. Takeout packaging here is really great which I always appreciate, especially in restaurants that are more known for their dine in service like this one. They have a top notch happy hour menu as well, and I look forward to dining in on future trips. Prices are overall reasonable and you can typically expect a wait on busy summer weekends.

tasty but prices way up! used to be affordable option in Bethany beach. Still good but 45 dollar entrees!

Food is great, service exceptionally well provided, Ambiance is cool.. Pick two: chicken ( Korean firebird) sandwich and chicken couscous soup is over the top excellent Chandra serves up a delicious strawberry cheesecake too.

I want to like this place. The service is pleasant. The food is delicious. The reason why I'm not giving them full marks is because they don't mark their menu for food allergies. In my case, I'm allergic to gluten. I was told that I had to ask. Really? I had to wait to ask the waitstaff, they then conferred with the chef, then they got back with me. A large part of eating out is the experience. This routine dampens my enjoyment. It's frustrating and makes a five-star experience a four-star experience. The fire roasted octopus was seasoned and cooked perfectly. The shishito peppers were fabulous (yuzu mayo...so good). The crispy cauliflower was almost as tasty. The beet and arugula salad was not too shabby either. When you eat at Off the Hook (which you should)---please remind them to mark their menu for allergies and not to treat many of their customers (including me) like second-class diners. If the dish is naturally gluten-free, mark it, it's not that difficult.

Cute place for our first night in Bethany Beach. Did my research and this place was highly rated (thank you yelpers!!) the menu is quite interesting and we tried multiple things off the menu. The food and the service were both very good (things came out fast and was delish). Will visit again

Their winter time specials are crazy good, staff is always freindly, and a couple TV's to watch the golf match.

loved the place! great crab cakes, amazing service. beautiful dining room! highly recommend for date night and plan on returning soon!

My husband and I stopped here on our way to OC. It had been many years since we'd been there and it was so nice inside. We were seated right away and drink orders were taken. I got a berry mojito that was delicious! Husband got a delicious cocktail as well. I ordered a crab cake sandwich- it was good- not outstanding but it was fresh and had a lot of crab . He had fish tacos that he really enjoyed. The pesto fries were better than I expected. We heard there was only one person in the kitchen, but there was no real delay . The menu is a bit limited but I would definitely recommend it.

We went to Off the Hook for the first time last night and the experience was great! The restaurant wasn't crowded when we arrived and we decided to sit at the bar to get drinks and appetizers. The bartender, Kelly, was extremely friendly and personable. For drinks, we ordered an orange crush and a Nanticoke nectar. For appetizers, we had the pesto fries and boom boom shrimp. Both appetizers came out very quick and were large portions. The boom boom shrimp had a very tasty sauce and it wasn't spicy. The pesto fries were very good, however pretty messy because they had a lot of oil on them. The inside of the restaurant was an under the sea theme and they had octopuses painted on the walls. The decor was very beachy as well. We will definitely be back soon!

To clarify: Food deserves 4 stars, all else is 2-3: inattentive and careless service attitude (we were not offered bread and we later noticed other tables were given bread), tired decor (old carpet needs a face lift). We wouldn't be as critical had the pricing been more reasonable and straight forward: We didn't appreciate the "convenience fee" of 3.5% for the convenience of using a credit card: is anybody paying cash at such an expensive restaurant? In our opinion the food, good as it is, does not justify the very high price.

It is about principles, service, and integrity. That is the reason for lower stars. Off The Hook website states they have 1/2 priced entrees from Tuesday to Thursdays. However, once we were seated, we found out that on Christmas week this was not honored. They said there was a said beside the door. First of all, it is not about the money, it is about principal and service. Our waitress was a lovely young lady. She actually brought over the manager per the request of myself and my husband. He apologized and added by saying it is hard to change the website, I find that hard to believe, he then offered a round of drinks, we do not drink, he said dessert would be on him​. When the bill came only one dessert was paid for. If a restaurant advertises specials, they should be honored to show that they have integrity and care about a customer, whether local or not. It is only about principle. We also listened to another table talk about the same situation. Having knowledge of the food industry, this was not handled in the most professional way that an upscale restaurant should do. It is the whole package for long term continued success. Hopefully, they will step it up going forward. Unfortunately we will not be going back. Fortunately, the area does have many other great restaurants. With that said; Very nice atmosphere. The food was delicious, great portions and even the desserts were great. Still took care of our waitress since this was not her error. Sorry guys you had your chance, twice this evening.

Love this restaurant! We eat here once or twice every time we come to Bethany. Never disappoints. Ingredients are fresh and yummy. Would eat here every night of our visit if I could. Dishes are creative. Nice ambience as well. Wait staff is always friendly.