Where to Eat in Toronto: The Happy Hooker
Picture: Shrimp Po’ Boy and Whisky Sour
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of fish? If your answer is Red Lobster, time to come out from under your rock and see fish in a whole new light. The Happy Hooker is elevating your fish experience, one taco at a time.
Picture: Chef Attilio Pugliese
Located in the what is quickly becoming one of Toronto’s best dining destinations, Dundas West, this Toronto hot spot is revolutionizing fish fare with a focus on Ocean Wise certified (read sustainable) fish whenever possible. Chef Attilio Pugliese is proud to offer an aquatic menu of delicacies, a feat he’s happily celebrating with the one year anniversary of the restaurant this week. He attributes his success to having amazing colleagues and neighbours in the Dundas West community. Though a modest amount of time with doors open, this is far from Attilio’s first venture in to the Toronto food scene. With experience at Toronto favourites Karima and Queen Margarita Pizza, as well as his own restaurant, Tavolino, he has taken his vast experience and love of sandwiches into creating a unique and memorable dining experience.
Greeted by nautical art and caged lights, this cozy spot encourages family style dining and casual order-at-the-counter service with friendly, tattooed staff. The menu is broken up into simple selections: sandwiches, tacos, sides, and drinks. The establishment is newly licensed and more than excited to pair cocktails and beer with their catch of the day.
Picture: Shrimp and Grouper Tacos
Picture: Double Filet of Fish and Coleslaw
We sampled what came recommended to us from the Chef himself: platters of fish and chips, the shrimp po’ boy, the grouper and shrimp fish tacos, and their rebuttal to the “filet o’ fish” (a double filet of fish with in house sauce) filled the table. Crispy, light, and without the expected amounts of grease associated with frying foods, taste buds were tantalized as we went tackled each tray. Bright, fresh veggies complimented the tacos and sandwiches, as well as soft bakery bread and tacos to house the treasures from under the sea. With nothing surpassing ten dollars on the entire menu, there’s room for baja style fries, an exciting answer to the current poutine craze, or kale salad for those looking to lessen any guilt. Even with the feast on our table, you know we didn’t need to make room for a well made Whiskey Sour.
Picture: Fish N’ Chips
With considerable sized portions, we insisted on a doggy bag for all of our leftovers. Chef Attilio pulled out a personalized brown paper bag and regaled us with a story of his first pig slaughter at the tender age of three. We think it’s fair to say this self-trained chef has cooking in his DNA. We think it’s time you added The Happy Hooker to your tackle box and reeled in some incredible catches with a couple of chums. If you visit them for their anniversary specials this week, we promise to lay off the puns. Check out their Facebook page for daily specials running through to Friday, including buck a shuck oysters and two dollar menu items.
But you know we’re not going to leave you hungry! Enter our contest below for a chance to win a $40 gift certificate to be spent on food and booze at this DuWest catch!