In an alley filled with seafood restaurants, get ready to get your hands dirty and feast with a happy tummy!

We went on a spontaneous foodventure over the weekend and our gang decided to go to Deira, a district full of retail shops and a plethora of restaurants- perfect place for the "where to eat?" dilemma.

We went to Off the Hook restaurant, our go-to seafood restaurant in the area. We were welcomed by the friendly staff and the satisfying aroma of fresh buttered shrimp. It was 5:30 pm when we have arrived and we were lucky enough to get a table because the restaurant was already filled with seafood lovers.

Ambience- 4/5

The place is not spacious enough to welcome more guests despite having a second floor. Talking about the interiors, I like the combination of faux brick walls and plants and the hanging yellow light bulbs- setting the stage for a casual and fun dining experience.

Food- 4/5

The restaurant offers set meals and per kilo order. We ordered the Trio Set which is good for 3-4 pax, based on their menu. Personally, I think the Trio set can feed more than 3-4 person since we were 8 and the set was already enough for us. The set includes crabs, shrimps, mussels, crab balls (Believe me when I say, you will order more of these!), corn (can be on cob or you can request if you want it grated), unlimited rice and drinks (either citrus soda or red iced tea). For the sauces, we ordered the OTH special which was their specialty sauce and garlic butter. Then you can choose the level of spiciness. 

Before digging in, we wore our plastic aprons and gloves. Then, we laid the rice and put the seafood and sauce on top and saved some for dipping- typical Filipino boodle fight. We ordered extra crab balls and a half kilo of squid. The spicy house sauce has a tangy, sweet, and hot flavour that compliments the natural saltiness of the shellfishes. The squid, on the other hand, tasted bland as if the sauce and the spices were not absorbed. 

Price- 5/5

The reason I gave the restaurant a perfect score is that you basically get what you paid for, which is very appropriate for what we were served. The food was nice as well as their service. The staffs were very accommodating and friendly. Our orders didn't take long to arrive and were delivered to our table clean, fresh, and delish. 

Final thoughts

The restaurant offers a variety of tasty seafood that makes their customers, including us, keep on coming back. I just hope that they can stretch their space to welcome more people. Also, in order to be eco-friendly, I suggest ditching the plastic aprons and gloves and provide biodegradable products instead. In addition, upon leaving the place, I can still taste the seafood and the strong smell clung to our clothes and hair. Lastly, after binging, expect that you will fall into food coma. We literally felt sleepy and super full after dinner.

Don't miss trying out this restaurant and include this in your list of must-tries! For more food and travel adventures, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on the blog. 'Till next time :)