It might be the last days of summer, with evenings growing longer and seasonal menus switching focus to cockle-warming autumnal fare, but Chicago has a year-round crush on crustaceans. Here are four of our favourite seafood restaurants for when you’re feeling fishy…
Discerning folk flit in schools to Nico Osteria, lured in by shuck-fresh oysters, a refined crudo bar and house-made pastas (special mention goes to the star-turn lobster spaghetti). Don’t leave before indulging in one Nico’s gelati (banana stracciatella or Sicilian pistachio, perhaps), or ticking off pre- or post-prandials in adjoining Salone Nico, a svelte spot for tipples.
Sibling to Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House delivers on its promise – ’seafood at its best’ – thanks to its delicious daily catch of oysters, crudos, frog legs, lobster and fish. Got a soft spot for Alaskan king crab? Good news: it’s flown in daily. Other oceanic highlights here include wasabi-crusted tuna, crabmeat avocado and the crabby spin on mac ‘n’ cheese; don’t miss the mighty, crab-stuffed lobster. Carnivores can chomp on steak and chops, if they so wish.
Wiggle your way towards River North for GT Fish & Oyster, which serves up award-winning bivalves at shuckingly good prices. Dishes feature playful flavour combinations – lump crab comes with watermelon and green-tomato gazpacho; shrimp bruschetta gets extra zing courtesy of grapefruit and cilantro – and there’s a formidable seafood tower, whose components include a pound of lobster, king crab, snow crab claws, ceviche, oysters, clams, mussels and more.
Last but definitely not least, RL Grill is the restaurant debut from our favourite Ralph (Lauren, dahling), styled with the same classic pizzazz as the designer’s clothing: the fit-out is classic Americana with lashings of herringbone parquetry, mahogany and leather. Stick with the fishy theme and opt for lobster bisque, crab cake Benedict or oysters served with mignonette granité and Bombay gin cocktail sauce. If it’s good enough for Mr L…
This article was originally written by LUXE for PenCities.
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