Mystic, Connecticut, is something straight out of a Hallmark movie, with its charming shops, strong sense of community, seasonal tourists, and picturesque waterfront views. And like every Hallmark movie, there's always that hardworking family-owned restaurant that everybody knows and loves. In the real world, that place exists, and it's called Off the Hook.

When walking downtown, it's one of the first things you'll see. Perched on the corner, a nautical navy sign hangs overhead, and the smell of fresh fried fish drifts through the air. The small-town details, coastal aesthetic, and family ties all come together at Off the Hook.

Alison Cole is the proud owner of Off the Hook. She is the great-granddaughter of one of Stonington's first commercial fishermen, so you could say owning a seafood business was always in her future. She grew up in Mystic, raised by a Portuguese family whose life centered on fishing. Her father co-owned J&R Scallops, which later became a wholesale seafood company supplying local restaurants and markets.