Casual yet warm, The Happy Hooker (Twitter: @HappyHookerTDOT, Facebook: The Happy Hooker) is a very inviting space. I'm particularly fond of the barn wood paneling on the walls and the mismatched vintage metal stools. The "outhouse" a.k.a. washrooms also contributes to the very "outdoorsy" feel to the restaurant.
And look what we have here!
A game of Pacman anyone? It really doesn't get more vintage than this :D
I ate my way through The Happy Hooker's entire menu last week. Actually, I lied. I had 82% of it (I could not fit in the fish n' chips and kale salad).
SHRIMP CORN DOG ($6)
Ground tiger prawns, various spices, cornmeal batter served with lemon aioli, dill mustard, and cocktail sauce.
BUTTERMILK OYSTER SLIDER ($4) (ocean wise)
Lemon aioli, baby arugula, west coast oysters, Tabasco, cheddar cheese, pickled onion.
BLUE MARLIN BURGER ($9)
Organic spring mix, two marlin patties, pineapple habanero salsa, guacamole, coleslaw.
SURF N' TURF ($11)
Jalapeno pesto, organic spring mix, AAA rib eye, four tiger prawns, lemon aioli
PACIFIC COD SANDWICH ($9) (ocean wise)
Lemon aioli, organic spring mix, tomato, basil, capers, red onion
SHRIMP TACO ($3.50)
Adobo chipotle sauce, lime crema, pickled green cabbage, pico di gallo
ORGANIC TOFU TACO ($3)
Sriracha, crema, pickled green cabbage, queso fresco, pico di gallo
GROUPER TACO ($3.50)
Cheddar cheese, lime crema, pineapple habanero salsa, pickled red cabbage, onion, cilantro
CALI BAJA TACO ($3.50) (ocean wise)
Cheddar cheese, shredded romaine lettuce, diced tomato, fried pollock, lime crema, guacamole.
With various Ocean Wise approved sustainable options on the menu, coupled with reasonable, affordable prices, this cleverly named seafood shop is doing it right. Standouts for me that night at The Happy Hooker were the oyster slider, surf n' turf, pacific cod sandwich, and the grouper and cali baja tacos. The juicy, plump oysters encased in a thin, buttermilk batter were decently fried. Served hot and barely containable in a soft bun, this oyster slider was incredibly tasty. The tender slices of rib eye and whole shrimps in the surf n' turf surely offers the best of both worlds! However, for me, it was the combination of the slightly spicy jalapeno pesto and lemon aioli that made this a "good" sandwich to a "great" sandwich. The lemon aioli makes another appearance in the pacific cod sandwich, this time with fresh spring mix, tomato, basil, capers, and red onions. With toppings like these, it was like having a nice, crisp salad inside a baguette alongside a lovely and generous piece of tender pacific cod. Delicious! The grouper, lightly fried and dressed with pineapple habanero salsa, and the pollock, with lime crema and a dollop of guac, were both very good and flavourful tacos.
Don't worry guys, The Happy Hooker will have a liquor license very soon. It plans to serve Ontario craft beer, as well as a selection of bourbons and whiskeys.
