#InauguralReview #OfftheHookatInletHarbor Since 2017 by #MikeSchaler #InletHarborRoad #PonceInlet #VolusiaCounty #Florida
Dining perfection is one pound of Alaskan Snow Crab Legs at Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor, in the world according to Peachy Deegan!
If you get on the early morning flight out of JFK to DAB, this could be your lunch or dinner!
You have not lived until you have had Corvina here:
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and we are absolutely thrilled to now know Mike Schaler, sole owner of the quintessential seafood mecca Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor and his daughter Courtney, General Manager! Unlike Manhattan, one must drive to get many restaurants in Florida and most definitely, you will drive to discover this excellence de poisson venue. As Vanilla Ice says, drive down A1A, Beachfront Avenue in Ponce Inlet, Volusia County and go inland to discover this waterfront gem on the Inlet waterway (see the conclusion of the post for the storied history of the venue and if you want to join the party on X follow him here; he and Peachy follow each other.)
Your initial reaction will be one of serene relaxation that you could never find in New York.
The hospitality is tops and everyone we have ever encountered at this hotspot has impeccable manners, and every element we saw was spotlessly clean.
We began with the Crab Cobb Salad, above which puts all other Cobb Salads to shame with its fabulous crabby addition! You can taste the succulent crab emanating freshness in every bite. Perfectly chopped romaine and iceberg lettuce along with chopped bacon, hard-boiled egg, tomato and avocado arrive in style with the crab. Normally, bleu cheese crumbles are part of this but if you have read us before, you know who does not care for bleu cheese and instead they substituted parmesan for Peachy.
A House Specialty, Seafood Cavatappi is a complete triumph and we firmly believe it is one of the very best menu items: a mixture of fresh clams, mussels, shrimp and scallops are sauteed in a fragrant light cream sauce with diced tomatoes and scallions, yielding a superior standout flavor that is both rich and elevated. Cavatappi pasta serves as the brilliant base. This dish in particular is loved by locals we knew for years before we did this review and its stellar reputation is true: it is an absolute must on your visit to Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor.
If you are new to Whom You Know, you should know we never edit pictures.
You excel like Mike Schaler, or we do not publish.
The truth is all photography here is representative of what you will actually experience at Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor.
Seafood Cavatappi Glamour Shots
Under Burgers and Sandwiches you will discover Florida-fresh Fish Reuben and Fish Sandwich. As you know, Peachy is Irish and has extensively chronicled Corned Beef Reubens so this is a natural progression. Battered-to-order topped with melted swiss, coleslaw and thousand-island dressing, this Grouper perched majestically on toasted white bread.
We cannot say enough about the CORVINA which we LOVE LOVE LOVED.
Even better was the fish sandwich made with Corvina, which boasted gorgeous depth of flavor. Corvina, a member of the Sea Bass family, is a deep sea fish sourced from the Fort Lauderdale area and we chose to have it blackened and we suggest you do the same. You may also order it fried or grilled. Normally these come with fries, onion rings or coleslaw but we substituted green salads, Caesar Salad and House Salad, respectively and they were exactly what we were looking for. Ms. I Hardly Like Anyone's Salad Dressing absolutely adored the Champagne Vinaigrette crafted at Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor.
Here's what Grok says about Corvina:
Corvina most commonly refers to a popular saltwater fish (from the drum/croaker family, Sciaenidae), prized in Latin American and coastal cuisines for its mild, sweet flavor and firm, flaky texture.
Key facts about Corvina fish
Appearance & taste: Pinkish raw flesh that turns white when cooked. It’s often compared to sea bass or snapper—lean, meaty, low in mercury, and versatile. It holds up well to grilling, pan-frying, baking, or ceviche.
Species: There are hundreds in the family, but the most common commercial ones in the U.S. come from the Pacific (Central/South America, Mexico, or Gulf waters). One specific type is Cilus gilberti (corvina drum).
Why it’s loved: Heart-healthy (high in protein and omega-3s), sustainable in many fisheries, and a staple in Peruvian/Brazilian/Colombian dishes like ceviche or fried fillets.
Many places do great Chicken Quesadillas, and that is an option here, however Shrimp Quesadillas captured our attention here with colby jack and all the usual suspects: jalapenos, tomato and green onion with their homemade salsa and warm flour tortilla. Off the Hook has a menu that incorporates sensational hits that will please even the pickiest of eaters so if you are the person that will pick Chicken in this Quesadilla, know there are lots of great choices for you too on the menu.
Obviously, you should concentrate on the Seafood Dinners section of the menu. Everyone knows that Florida is the peninsula state and Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor gets fish deliveries five days a week fresh from several vendors including Bar Harbor of Orlando and Oyster Co-op, a local vendor. Parmesean-encrusted Grouper in an eight-ounce portion was the Fresh Fish of the Day when we visited and it was a home run, especially with the two sides of fried brussel sprouts and baby red potatoes, sauteed in clarified butter.
Pan-Seared Sea Scallops from Cape Cod, Massachusetts we also heard calling our name and the winners from New Bedford said, "Enchante, Peachy!" as six perfect medallions waltzed in the elegant beurre blanc sauce. Onion rings and creamed spinach were solid sides.
Blackened Yellowfin Tuna Gnocci was the most inventive menu item we discovered in our inaugural professional visit. Seared raw yellowfin tuna arrives in premium style seared raw, intelligently and creatively contrasted with the accompanying asiago-filled potato gnocci sauteed in a delicious parmesan cream sauce.
The service is fantastic and Kadence the waitress impressed us in particular.
Of course, everything is made to order here.
The only thing casual might be your outfit because this is a highly professional spot in each and every way. Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor takes excellence seriously.
Among the best dinners you can have anywhere is the pound of Alaskan Snow Crab served with of course a cracker and the right seafood fork. Every bite of the tender snow crab that you crack open is divine ecstasy and indulging in this superior seafood makes life worth living. The melted butter was the perfect consistency and temperature.
In the course of doing this for seventeen years in Manhattan, we have never come close to finding Alaskan Snow Crab as superlative as this one at Off the Hook at Inlet Harbor.
Their website tells us:
How We Became Off The Hook
“We would take the boat over to the Bahamas quite often for some serious fishing. I’d come back and try to figure out what to do with all the Tuna, Grouper and Snapper that we brought home. I never like to freeze the stuff! We’d have these giant parties. I had so much fish to share! We’d invite everyone we knew and tell them to bring as many people as they knew!
Seeing how people would react to the real deal, fish that was swimming pretty recently! It just was sort of the light bulb moment! I knew I wanted to share my passion for fishing with likeminded people as well as folks that just love seafood. I used to always say that everyone ought to be friends with a fisherman.” Off the Hook is really just an extension of that.
In 2010, that vision became a reality. “I remember the crazy looks I would get from some of our guests! It took a while for them to figure out what we were all about. I’d pull up to the front of the restaurant with the boat on a trailer and start offloading the catch. We’d have to bring it through the front of the store, right through the dining room! It was funny to see their reaction. After a while, it sort of became an event. Everyone would come out there and take pictures of the fish. We’d let them hold them. I really think they enjoyed the experience.
Most of the fishing pictures you see around the restaurants have the smiling faces of a lot of people that originally just came in here to get a good meal! It’s really nice to be able to share that part of it with the clientele. Things like that really create some memories for them, especially those not fortunate enough to live here year-round.
We hope you enjoy your Off the Hook experience. Let’s go fishing!
~Mike Schaler
Grok (the artificial intelligence of X by Elon Musk) tells us about the history of the location; we GROKED IT:
Inlet Harbor Road (often referred to simply as Inlet Road) in Ponce Inlet, Florida, is a short waterfront road leading to the Inlet Harbor Marina area near the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and the Intracoastal Waterway/Halifax River. It has long been tied to the town’s fishing and boating heritage, which dates back to fish camps in the late 1800s/early 1900s. However, the restaurants specifically located on Inlet Harbor Road itself are relatively modern and centered around the marina. There appear to have been only two primary ones over the decades, with limited turnover compared to other Ponce Inlet spots.
This is the main and most historic restaurant site on the road, directly at the Inlet Harbor Marina (a full-service marina with slips, fuel, and charters).
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