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OCEAN CITY ­ Hooked has
opened its doors in Ocean City,
bringing its tradition of fresh, hon-
est and local food to Maryland, but
adding a twist to the new location
with a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted
cocktail list.
Owners Steve Hagen and Kev-
in Frey started Indian River Sea-
food Company in 2010 and open-
ed their first restaurant, Off the
Hook, in Bethany Beach that year.
One year later, the company
opened its second restaurant,
Just Hooked, in Fenwick Island,
and as the company took on a
second location and catering they
found the need to add a commis-
sary/seafood market. Off the Hook
Market opened last July besides
the restaurant in Bethany.
Following a trend moving south,
the company has now opened a
third restaurant in Ocean City on
80th Street and Coastal Highway
adjacent to South Moon Under.
Hagen explained the opportuni-
ty to open another restaurant
came around Thanksgiving of last
year, and negotiations took place
until the deal was signed in early
February, and renovations imme-
diately began
The space has become lighter
and open with a white and pale
blue paint pallet, accenting the
dark wood beams and floor. The
restaurant took on a coastal de-
sign theme presenting the work of
local artists on the walls. The
kitchen and bathrooms were
transformed with new fixtures and
appliances.
Hooked seats about 220 guests
with downstairs, upstairs and out-
door seating offered. There are
three bars with one on each floor
and outside. There is also an a-
bundance of parking in the rear of
the building as the restaurant has
at least 50-plus parking spaces
between the front and back of the
building.
Hooked will continue the com-
pany's tradition with the farm to
plate mentality for lunch and din-
ner, sourcing local artisans, farm-
ers and watermen.
"It is a new menu," Hagen said.
"I feel like it is one of the best
menus we have put out in our
company, and we have started a
new cocktail and wine program
here that we are really excited
about."
Hooked has released its signa-
ture cocktail list, or as Hagen puts
it "farm fresh cocktails."
"We have done a great job on
the food. Our plates are very clean
and the things we are bringing to
the table are very fresh. Its funda-
mental-based cooking in a very fun
tasteful way," he said. "I think the
thing we were lacking was more
creativity on the cocktail end and
more variety on the wine end."
There is not a single specialty
cocktail on the menu that is not
processed and commissary on the
premises. Besides squeezing their
own lemons and oranges for their
freshly made Hooked Lemonade
and Orange Crush, the restaurant
has taken it to the next level by
pickling and infusing cocktail
ingredients. For example, fresh
strawberries, blueberries, cherries
and heirloom tomatoes are pickled
and to be served in the one-of-
kind concoctions like the
Blueberry Pie, Uptown Pig and
Smokey Mater.
A cocktail Hagen was sure to
point out was the Return to Youth,
a grown-up chocolate banana
milkshake with 360 Double Choc-
olate Vodka, banana liquor, ba-
nana chocolate milk, with a ba-
nana dust rim served up.
"It is amazing ... it is just ridicu-
lous," he said. "You can see it. The
proof is in the pudding when you
come in here. Every bar has our
infusions up on the rack ... we are
taking a lot of pride in it."
SEE PAGE 38
Excitement Surrounds Hooked's Opening In OC
Behind the downstairs bar at the new Hooked Restaurant in Ocean City
are, from left, General Manager Ed Quick, co-owner Steve Hagen, chef de cui-
sine Danny Jacinto and General Manager Joe Ralph. In front of the bar are
executive chef Matt Cornelius and beverage coordinator Guy Bashore.
Photo by Joanne Shriner
Page 36
May 24, 2013
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
By JOANNE SHRINER
STAFF WRITER
Dear Anonymous Member
Of Our Community,
We write this note of appreciation today with
our eyes weary and our hearts heavy over the
loss of our father, Harry Reinhart, Sr.
Although we do not know who you are, we
thank you for your heartfelt generosity and
thoughtfulness and please know your act of
kindess in honor of our father has touched
our family deeply and forever.
No words can tell you how appreciative
we are for your kindness. It has brought a
much-needed ray of light to our family at
this tremendously difficult time for all of us.
May God Bless You And Your Kind Heart
S
Siinncceerreellyy,,
T
HE
R
EINHART
F
AMILY
410-629-0550
Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
104 North Main Street, Berlin, MD
You'll love our food so Like Us on Facebook
Come taste what Berlin is talking about www.facebook.com/SiculiBerlin
NOW SERVING
SUNDAY BRUNCH
Sunday, June 2 - September From 9-3 p.m.
featuring our popular Sunday Dinner entree
served family style as well as other
delicious classic brunch items.
LUNCH 11-3 P.M.
~ MON.-SAT.
DINNER 5-10 P.M.
~ MON.-SAT.
BRUNCH
~ SUNDAY 9 A.M-3 P.M.
Open Seven Days
Starting In June
Reservations are accepted for parties of 8 or more.