Fresh Off the Hook

Voted best seafood in Boise 5 years in a row, no surprise . I have had the opportunity to eat at Fresh off the Hook several times and have been pleasantly surprised every time. The atmosphere in the restaurant is friendly and welcoming and the food is always good. The friendly wait staff makes you feel like one of the family just in for a visit and then the food makes you want to come back again and again. The Calamari Strips appetizer is my favorite always tasty and fresh. If you have not tried the Zesty Italian Cod you need to visit the restaurant again and order it. It is flaky and perfectly cooked and the creamy sauce on top is just right. I am feeling hungry just describing it! The shrimp tomato bisque is worth the drive across town. I actually have never had the famous clam chowder because the bisque is so good that I always order it. It is really too bad that there is not another Fresh off the Hook location closer to downtown, I think it would be packed all of the time. I will however continue to drive to the mall area for my fresh seafood fix. I would highly recommend Fresh off the Hook for the best seafood in town! more

I question the freshness.I've eaten here a number of times over the years, not a regular but somewhat semi. Last night I had one of the signature halibut dishes and the halibut was quite dry, not flaky, more stringy like overcooked chicken. When I mentioned to the waitress that I thought the halibut was overcooked she said someone had a similar comment the day before and that when the fish came in the meat seemed different. Now why did they serve that fish and charge $18.00. Makes me wonder if they're serving the same fish tonight. more

This was the second time I have tried Fresh Off the Hook, and the second time I walked away disappointed. I thought they deserved a second chance after my first visit. I realize that everyone can have an off day, but after this visit I have come to the conclusion it is just poor service.\r \r My second visit starts with me paying $18.52 for a plate of Fish & Chips, a bowl of chowder, and an Ice tea and then just gets worse from there. After waiting 15 minutes the waitress brings me my drink. At this point I am still waiting for the clam chowder that was supposed to come before the meal. After another 15 minutes she returns with my chowder and meal and says ""They both came up at the same time"". I have no problem with them coming out at the same time but as I take my first bite of the now ice cold clam chowder I quickly realize that it has been sitting in the back for some time and just got over looked in their lunch rush. \r On a positive note I think the meal would have been good if it had been warm. The portions are just the right size, and the staff is very friendly. \r On the down side I think they lose points for the lack of service and the price point of their meals. This being my second visit with the same out come suggests this is more of a pattern with them.\r Pros: Nice People Cons: Cold expensive food more

Several of my friends have been telling me about this little seafood place in town that serves the freshest seafood. What a find! I had fish tacos and it was the best I have ever had anyplace. My friend had broiled salmon fillet on Caesar salad and she loved it too. It is very hard to cook salmon because you can easily overcook it. It was perfect. We will be back and recommend it to all of our friends who love fresh seafood. \r Pros: Fresh seafood in Boise. Cons: They should open a location closer to my house in Eagle! more

I am from Seattle area and this is the only place in Boise that I can get fresh seafood. I have been visiting this restaurant since 1996 when it was called Reel Foods. I have seen a great improvement in the past few years when it changed name to Fresh Off The Hook as the food quality improved and the restaurant feels more cozy and very clean.\r \r I almost always order Fish and Chips as they use fresh fish and batter and you can taste the difference. Sometimes I am not in the mood for fish and chips and try Hot Seafood Salad, Fish Tacos, Broiled Halibut with Lemon Dill Sauce or Calamari Strips. If you like a casual restaurant that serves gourmet seafood this is the place. The prices are low and service is exceptional. \r Pros: Fresh gourmet seafood Cons: Location, should be in downtown instead of the mall. more

We eat there on Saturdays about once a month, and have never had a complaint. Try the halibut fish and... more

We eat there on Saturdays about once a month, and have never had a complaint. Try the halibut fish and chips! We do love good seafood, and I think... more

When Fresh off the Hook was called Reel Foods a few years ago, it was a great community seafood restaurant. The seafood was quality and the veggie side dishes, or lunch specials were very tasty. The menu was small--which is refreshing, because the few things that were offered were done very well. But then something happend. We use to frequent Reels Foods often. We have eaten at Fresh off the Hook about half a dozen times and wondered what happened to the great community seafood restaurant it was. I have a few suggestions: 1. Bring back the seafood. The fish in the 'fish and chip' entrees actually included fish at Reel Foods. Now we get 3 or 4 mounds of crispy batter encasing super tiny fish nuggets. Don't get me wrong, the batter is good, we would just like to have some fish on the inside of the batter. 2. Bring back the chef. Our grilled fish entrees were super dry and cooked to death and the veggie side dishes are not as tasty. 3. Bring back the yummy specials. I am on the email list and nothing appeals to me. 4. Get rid of the fish tacos or use fresh tortillas. We have left comment cards from each disppointing meal and have not seen results.\r To be fair, I would be remiss if I did not mention the things I like. The calamari strips are good.\r The soups offerings are not bad--we like the tomato bisque. Make sure you go to lunch when they offer the mounds of crab on top of salad greens. The sorbet after the meal is refreshing. The service is always friendly. I have not given up hope--I am willing to give it another try because I am holding fast to what it was in the past. However, I am one disappointing meal away from driving past this place. Pros: Tomato Bisque, sorbet after meals, friendly service Cons: overcooked grilled selections, only traces of fish in thick batter in the fried entrees more

In the past, we have been very happy with the food and the service at Fresh off the Hook, however, the past two visits have been below par. \r \r At first visit, I ordered the ""Blackened Salmon"" and was served another salmon dish. When I finished the meal, without complaining, the waiter asked how was the meal and when I informed him that it wasn't what I ordered and he did offer me the blackened salmon. Too late.\r \r The most recent visit, yesterday, we were served our order, however, the mixed vegetables on the plate were burnt, having been thrown onto a too hot grill rather than into water. Come on you guys, you can do better than this! This is poor treatment to, what has been, a repeat customer. I regret to say that it will be some time before I return. more

I and my wife went to ""Fresh Off The Hook Seafood"" when we could not get into the ""Red Lobster."" It was an excellent find. I hope this get you hooked on the ""Fresh Off The Hook Seafood"" Restaurant. more

Not fancy, but very good. If you like Ivars, you'll like this place. Tiny, located in a strip mall it might not look like much from the outside, but cozy and clean inside. The seafood is fresh. Fish & chips are not at all greasy and the fish is good quality. more

From the outside, it looks like a strip-mall diner. But go inside, you find that it's not. The food is like what you'd find at an expensive seafood restaurant. I usually get lunch - hot seafood salad or red snapper tacos (both great), but once or twice I've gotten the daily dinner special. Once was blackened halibut -fabulous, and once I was coconut shrimp - also delicious. Anyway, I'm always pleasantly surprised by what is served. It's quicker and less expensive than the other quality seafood restaurants in town. Doesn't have the ambiance of those restaurants - it's not a prom date choice - but it doesn't pretend to be. This is a good place to go if you want good value and great food in a pleasant, more casual atmosphere. Pros: great food, good value, friendly atmosphere more

My favorite thing about this restraunt is that their fish and chips aren't just compressed meat that is bought pre-prepped, they're made from actual fish fillets that have been cut up and prepared by the chefs. Mmmmmmmmmm... more