Location Review887 Dundas Street W
Toronto, Ontario
(416)603-4665
Website
If you did an internet search for "The Happy Hooker", you might get some pretty risqué search returns. Don't worry, today's restaurant review is more than suitable for work. Some time ago in February, I was invited to a media tasting at The Happy Hooker (@happyhookertdot). Captained by Attilio Pugliese (@attilio25), this affordable seafood haven opened just under a year ago, celebrating its one-year anniversary this Wednesday March 5. In celebration, the establishment has been offering many promotions this week, including FREE fish and chips on anniversary day. Definitely check out their Twitter and Facebook pages for more details!
Okay, now back to the food.
The Happy Hooker
Dark and Stormy Cocktail -black rum, lime, and ginger beer
Kale Salad - organic kale, baby argula, watermelon radishes, cucumber, pickled cabbage, house made red wine vinaigrette
The meal started off with a Kale Salad. With all this recent hype of super foods and what not, this nutrient packed leafy green was a much welcomed change to my normally unhealthy diet. I actually love kale, but more cooked than not. Surprisingly I didn't mind the raw kale in this salad, and I loved the watermelon radishes!
Shrimp po'boy - cornmeal breaded shrimp, lemon aioli, baby arugula, sliced tomato, pickled habaneros, kosher pickles, butter toasted Portugese bun
The Shrimp Po'boy was one of the highlights of the night. Lightly battered shrimp, and a nice chewy bun. There is a prominent kick to the sauce from the habeneros, but it was a flavourful spice than a painful one. We had lots of these sandwiches left at the end of the night, and they tasted just as good the next day!
Baja fries - crispy russet potatoes, cheddar cheese, adobo chiptole sauce, lime crema, onion, cilantro, housemade guacamole
A mountain of fries greets us next, which have a generous sprinkling of salsa and spice. The potatoes are fried to a perfect state of crispy and hot, making these so addictive! My dining companions, Jess (@wherejessate), Grace (@foodinthecityTO), and I, pretty much demolished this with no effort.
Next came a trio of tacos: the Cali Baja Taco, Shrimp Taco, and Grouper Taco. All are dressed very similarly, differing only from the main protein. In general I found them rather bland. However, they do have housemade chipotle and hot sauces to kick them up a notch if needed. My favourite was the Grouper Taco. The deep fryer must work some sort of magic, because everything always comes out so delicious!
Cali baja taco - breaded and fried Alaskan pollock, melted cheddar, shredded romaine lettuce, diced tomato, lime crema, house made guacamole
Shrimp taco - grilled shrimp seasoned with cumin salt, adobo chipotle sauce, lime crema, green cabbage, habanero pico di gallo
Grouper taco - beer battered grouper, melted cheddar cheese, pinapple habanero salsa, lime crema, pickled red cabbage, onion, cilantro
Lobster roll - east coast lobster, mayo, celery, celery salt, butter toasted top slice bun
Saving the best for last is an understatement when it came to The Happy Hooker Lobster roll. A fluffy, buttery, brioche bun, jam packed with a generous heaping of chunky lobster. Dare I say it is the best lobster roll in Toronto? A must try!
The Happy Hooker is open Monday to Saturday from 12pm-10pm, and Sunday from 12pm-9pm. Be sure to check out their Twitter and Facebook pages for anniversary specials this week, as well as other regular promotions like buck-a-shuck oyster happy hours!
