Captain Hook's in Gulfport serves diverse menu with a pirate theme
Do you like seafood restaurants? Do you like pirate-themed restaurants? Do you like Asian cuisine? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then Captain Hook's Seafood & More is a must-try.
Located on Pass Road, not far from downtown Gulfport, this Vietnamese-owned restaurant has been attracting Coast locals for a few months now. True to its name, Captain Hook's offers a variety of seafood -- and more.
Both the restaurant and parking lot are on the small side, but cozy. The inside is clean and modern, with pure white walls, adorned with nautical-themed decor and two flat-screen TVs. There are two-seater and four-seater tables, as well as booths.
When you walk in, two things are sure to catch your eye, other than the menu. First, you will see beer-can trophies on proud display, won by the owners at a Crawfish Festival cookoff. Next, on the counter are containers of seafood, such as shrimp, purchased by the pound at reasonable prices.
The menu is diverse and the staff is eager to provide great service.
If you're a seafood lover and also want big portions, then you should try the popular seafood platter. Each platter comes with the chosen entree, such as fried shrimp ($12.29), fish ($12.49), soft-shell crab ($14.99) or a combination (fish and oyster, $13.99). The platters come with French fries, hushpuppies and coleslaw. Also offered are po-boys; $6.95 for an 8-inch oyster; $6.75 for a 12-9 inch hamburger and more. Aside from seafood, there are chicken wings available ($10.99 for a 20 piece), and Vietnamese specialties ($5.99 chicken lo mein; $5.99 shrimp fried rice.) For the health conscious, they offer salads ($4.75 garden; $6.69 grilled chicken). If you're an adventurous eater, you may want to try the boiled turkey neck ($2.09) or pig's feet ($1.59).
The gumbo is a must-try and is served to you in a good-sized Styrofoam cup with a package of saltine crackers. This dish is made with fresh white rice, moist chicken, flavorful sausage, boiled shrimp and okra all served in a pleasantly seasoned, thickened stock. You'll be craving more from the first bite.
As far as the seafood platters go, I highly recommend the fried shrimp platter. The shrimp has a crunchy exterior and a fresh-tasting interior. It is seasoned, but not overly so. The shrimp are delicious with the provided cocktail sauce. The sides are just as good as the entree, with soft, flaky French fries, moist-on-the-inside hushpuppies, and light-and-fresh-tasting coleslaw.
This story was originally published November 28, 2015 at 11:41 AM with the headline "Captain Hook's in Gulfport serves diverse menu with a pirate theme ."