Mentioned by Valentina's Destinations
11 Irresistible Date Night Restaurants in Chicago
"An homage to oysters, pork, and beer, The Publican’s eclectic menu is inspired by simple farmhouse fare in a space evocative of a European beer hall.” While The Publican is chiefly a seafood and pork restaurant offering hand-selected and sustainably raised fish, the rustic West Loop spot also offers a charming brunch with various meat and vegetarian options. More information can be found here."
"Executive Pastry Chef Erika Chan has a thing for ice cream sandwiches. These “Chan-wiches” are works of art, with rotating flavors of ice cream sandwiched between housemade cinnamon, chocolate spice, or chocolate nib cookies. Black walnut, Irish cream, and lemon gingersnap sandwiches have all been hits, but blueberry cheesecake is Chan’s personal favorite."
"Traditional Japanese cuisine meets forward-thinking fare at this six-time Bib Gourmand award-winning restaurant, where two kitchens work together to offer eaters a comprehensive dining experience. For a front-row vantage point of the team’s handiwork, grab a seat at the sushi counter. It’s here where guests can watch as their plates are prepped, from tuna tartare with pickled Asian pear and black tobiko, to the beloved trio maki roll, complete with tuna, salmon, hamachi, cilantro, and chili oil."
"Serving some of the city's best sushi, this warm, cozy room in West Town seems to encourage you to stay for hours, sipping sake and Japanese whisky. Start with appetizers like the chrunchy chicken karaage or the decadent roasted bone marrow served with ribeye tarare before moving on to sashimi, nagiri and maki selections. You'll find everything from bluefin tuna to Alaskan king crab on the menu, along with speciality items that can be accompanited by optional caviar supplements."
"Arami is the rare Japanese restaurant that offers a wide ranging menu, yet somehow, expertly maintains the quality of their food. There are sushi, ramen and even robata (charcoal) grilled items on the menu to choose from. Thanks to having two executive chefs, Arami is able to focus both sushi and hot food from the kitchen."
"South DeeringWhat you’re getting: Smoked or fried shrimpThis family-owned smoke shack fed hungry day laborers of Chicago’s once-thriving steel industry, and a trip down to the historic waterfront today still offers the quintessential seafood eating experience in a paper bag. The little white box at the base of The Blues Brothers bridge churns out fried and oak-smoked shrimp, salmon, trout, catfish, and sable -- all of which you can eat while gazing out at the river barges from the hood of your car."
"Since 1928, Calumet Fisheries has been smoking the tastiest fish on the South Side. Sitting above the banks of the Calumet River, the no frills shack has used the same natural wood-burning practices for over 60 years. There's no seating—except for the car or bicycle you rode up on—for the goods are usually consumed as soon as they're served."
"Chicago’s quintessential cash-only seafood smokehouse, located just north of the Indiana border. Why we love it: Remember the bridge-jumping scene in Blues Brothers?. It happened right next to Calumet Fisheries."
"In honor of Lobster Day (June 15), we couldn’t forget about this favorite of ours. Cooked Main-style on a brioche bun and seasoned with lemon and spices, this lobster roll is not just thrown together—it’s crafted to perfection and absolutely delicious. If you’re feeling adventurous, top your roll with shrimp to get an extra blast of flavor."
"Luke’s Lobster City Hall works directly with fishermen to ensure that the seafood is the freshest possible. The culinary staff is known for cooking each menu item to perfection with simple recipes. The restaurant is a seafood counter that specializes in Maine-style lobster rolls with toasted buns, along with clam chowder."
"Chicagoans don’t have to travel to the coasts to get luscious lobster rolls. This Northeast chain brings the Atlantic to town with lobster, crab, and shrimp sandwiches alongside chowders and bisques. View this post on Instagram"
"LakeviewWhat you’re getting: Fish tacosThis seafood joint has weekly dine-in specials like $2 Tuesday (think fried pollock tacos with cabbage, pico de gallo salsa, and spicy mayo, paired with lobster bisque and Miller Lites/Bud Lights for just $2 apiece) and an all-you-can-eat fish fry on Fridays for $10.95. The seafood and buns are flown in from Boston daily, plus you can grab fresh seafood from the market for later."
"A post shared by Oyster Bah (@oysterbah) on Jan 24, 2019 at 10:46am PST. With a name that’s a pun on the word “bar” pronounced in the broadest of Chicago accents, Oyster Bah is a hugely popular joint for people who want to enjoy seafood in an unpretentious setting, and with daily Happy Hours, there is plenty of chance to make the most of the impressively competitive prices. The menu includes oysters - obviously - but there are also intriguing options such as garlic shrimp, seafood roll and a warming clam chowder that’s perfect for those winter days."
"There are only a couple ways around cooking our own fish issues: move to a picturesque fishing village on the Mediterranean or head to Oyster Bah where you can get classic seafood dishes and fish from around the planet presented to you. The Original Seafood Roll does a New England lobster roll one better with Maine lobster, King crab, shrimp, celery and mayo tucked into a buttery bun. There's fish 'n' chips, Seattle style barbecue salmon, "wicked fresh" calamari and lots of modern seafood items such as poke and sesame tuna tacos."
"The food is great, but the atmosphere is really chill and casual. Definitely not a stuffy seafood restaurant at all. For instance, start by splitting some oysters and garlic shrimp!"
"West Rogers ParkWhat you’re getting: Dungeness crabs (and crawfish, shrimp, and mussels) by the pound with Cajun seasoningSome friendly advice about this little, Cajun-style seafood joint in Rogers Park: even if you’re wearing the lobster bib, things will get sublimely messy. The BYOB restaurant serves up some of the freshest seafood in the city (think giant, spice-encrusted crabs and plump shrimp immersed in garlic butter) ordered by the pound. Everything will arrive at your paper-covered table tossed together in a big plastic bag with your choice of heat level and spice -- lemon pepper, garlic butter, Cajun, or all three mixed together “maniac!"
"The Angry Crab is reputed for its wide assortment of seafood menu items which offer your choice of Cajun style cooking or you can choose to go easy on the spices. They serve their seafood selections by the pound and also provide a variety of fish baskets, sliders, and specialty sauces to complement your meal."
"A bib is suggested when dining at this little seafood restaurant. Cajun seasoning adds a unique element to the fresh seafood on offer, with four levels of spice to choose from depending on how daring you are. Here, there are no reservations, but the dungeness crab and lobster tail makes it worth the wait."
"A Chinatown fixture for over twenty years, Triple Crown is cherished for its commitment to day-long dim sum. That means you can satisfy your cravings for shrimp dumplings, fried sesame balls, and puffy egg custard tarts right at 9:00 am or at 2:00 am, before the restaurant finally closes."
"Lisa Lubin is an established travel/food writer and photographer, video consultant, three-time Emmy®-award winning TV producer, and travel industry expert. After more than a decade in broadcast television she took a sabbatical and traveled around the world for three years. She has been blogging atLLworldtour.comsince 2006."
"The timeless Chicago hotel has all the fame and historic charm to make your green-eyed followers even more envious of your travels."
"The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art is a modern art museum in Chicago's Ukrainian village. The UIMA, founded in 1971, hosts exhibits, book readings, film screenings, recitals, and theater. The UIMA has been a fixture in its neighborhood for more than 40 years and is one of 25 members of the Chicago Cultural Alliance."
"If the birthday star wants to share the stage with an over-the-top cake, Urban Icing is the place to go. Whether you prefer some traditional sweet confections or a 3D-shaped cake, this spot has got you covered. In addition to being a boutique bakery, Urban Icing is an event space where you can let them take care of all the details of your child’s party."
"(Primary Neighborhoods: Various events and locations, city and suburbs). Pancakes may not be the first thing that flips in our minds when we think about food truck fare, but if cupcakes sell like hotcakes, why not sell some hot cakes too. That’s the thinking behind this gourmet pancake truck."
"Break the cake mold and dream beyond the traditional sheet cake with one-dimension designs. Having served as Executive Pastry Chef at downtown hotels and winning or placing in several design competitions, Chef Peter Rios’ Alliance Bakery is ready to show you that if you can think it, he can bake it. Besides his three-dimensional edible works of art, Chef shows off skills he picked up training in Paris with his European-inspired pastries and desserts."
"From whimsical custom cakes (Narwhal cake, anyone? How about a 3-D Ninja Turtle?) and fruit tarts to macarons and kouign amann, the creativity at this lauded sweets emporium knows no bounds. Be sure to pair your sugar high with a caffeine jolt, courtesy of the bakery's full espresso bar. Sign up here for our daily Chicago email and be the first to get all the food/drink/fun in town."
"Their stunning desserts are each crafted by hand using traditional techniques. You’ll find macarons, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and fine pastries that are (almost) too pretty to eat."