Finally made it to the famous Bob Chinn's! Overall, it will be a great dining experience with family and/or friends. The atmosphere is joyous and the service outstanding. Definitely see why it was such a big deal back in the day. The food was above average just good enough to be memorable. The standouts for me was the clam chowder, stone crab claws, and sea bass. The salmon was dismissible and perhaps the only thing I would not recommend as it came way overcooked. I would return for another chance at trying other items on the menu. Bob Chinn's did not disappoint! read more

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Rockefeller oysters , lobster rolls , king crab rolls , unlimited garlic rolls , and their famous Hawaiian luau cake ! This dinner kept getting better and better! Bob Chins Crab House has jet fresh seafood delivered daily! You can taste quality here! Seafood=perfection! We celebrated our 6 year anniversary here and we wouldn't wanted to go anywhere else! The indoor environment makes you feel like you're underwater ‍‍ The service is always impeccable and the ambiance is amazing! read more

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This restaurant is very organized in the way they seat you. Every person that worked there was full of smiles and very friendly. We arrived early for our reservation and was seated right away. Our server was very attentive , friendly and service was impeccable. We ordered the calamari and oysters Rockefeller as an appetizer. Good portions and tasty. For the main course we ordered the Baird snow crab, lobster roll and shell in shrimp spicy. All excellent portions and fresh. The shrimp was a bit over cooked but it didn't ruin the meal. The crab was cooked nicely and fresh, easy to crack and pull large chucks right out. Delicious meal overall. read more

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I remember coming to this restaurant was such a treat growing up. We'd have to wait in line just to put our name down for a table and watched the swimming lobsters while we waited. Definitely a fun atmosphere with fresh seafood and vibrant, coastal colors everywhere - perfect for a family outing. Our service was so friendly too, though my only complaint was that we weren't allowed to eat our birthday cake we brought for the occasion. The complementary garlic rolls can be a hit or miss, but you can keep asking for more and you're bound to get a good soft, warm batch! I definitely recommend ordering some of the fresh catches of the day and adding the super expensive $16 salad bar if you can. Though because it's super freshly prepared, I'm assuming, the food took a very long time to come out. My chargrilled Florida snapper, however, was delicious. Though we weren't able to have the cake we brought, the server brought us a little piece of their Hawaiian cake dessert to celebrate my moms birthday, and this was tasty, soft, and not too sweet! read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Chargrilled Florida snapper - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

Not like it used to be. 15 of us and a hefty bill as you can imagine. Rolls hard and almost as if they were heated in a microwave Steak was overcooked Fish undercooked Crab legs - zero flavor unless you drop them in the butter Dessert - all were good Sad to see quality drop too such a low level. read more

Great service, atmosphere and food 5 stars A must go to in the neighborhood for a pleasant evening. read more

Been coming here for some years now and what can I say about Bob chinns that people don't already know. It's one of my favorite seafood spots with a huge menu, I'm sure you'll find something you'll like. The seafood is always so fresh and even the steaks are good for a seafood spot. But my to Go to is the fresh oysters and crab vermicelli dish, I would give up my first born for this plate! plenty of seating here but be aware the wait times can be long at times. The Hawaiian theme is also a plus, such a great establishment read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Crab Crabmeat Vermicelli - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

The good is the South African lobster tales are to die for!. Unfortunately this establishment is slowly going downhill over the years. The well known Chins.Mai Tai's taste more like fruit juice with no hint of rum whatsoever. The sell it bar surprisingly is still very well maintained and delicious, although at $16 even with an entrée it's a little much! As far as ambience, it is the same as it's been 30 years ago. The one time waiting area and bar ,is now an unsightly storage area that is visible to all when exiting. I am very disappointed that this is happening to a once cherished restaurant for many! I read more

Clearly this restaurant is riding on an old reputation. They rush you through your meal with overcooked and salty food. The lobster roll had overcooked lobster drowned in mayo and something tangy and off putting. The stuffed shrimp was also overcooked to hell. 3 people at our table said it was inedible. I remember liking it when I was young but our large party was unimpressed with literally everything. read more

Fresh seafood, great service and the best garlicky rolls and coleslaw keep me coming back to this seafood staple located in Wheeling, Il. The decor and vibe is similar to an upscale chain seafood restaurant, but the food is definitely high quality and fresh. Make a reservation or cue as soon as they open for lunch to avoid long wait times. This restaurant is great for large gatherings due to the size of the restaurant and variety of menu options. If you're into Mai Tais, Bob Chinns is known for their signature mix, available for take home purchases. Would recommend for a casual lunch with family or friends. Some items are a little pricey, but well worth it. Several fresh items are flown in daily. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Asian Basa - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

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Huge restaurant! Plenty of seating but it fills up quickly. The Mai Tai is their signature drink in a souvenir cup but honestly, it wasn't that good. Big menu but a little pricey for what it is read more

Finished off the year with a New Years Eve dinner here. We originally had dinner reservations at a place close by but wanted something more family friendly so we joined the waitlist via Yelp and decided to take our chances. We had a 35 minute drive to the restaurant and figure we would be in the area by the time they would alert us. Within 5 minutes I received a text message- but you're only given 15 minutes to check in and we were about 25 minutes out. The message says if you need more time to call the restaurant so I did and I was basically told they couldn't extend the 15 minute check in time and I would have to join the list again, which I did. By the time we arrived there, we still hadn't been called but it was only about a 20 minute wait- not bad for NYE. For being NYE- the tables weren't packed and it seemed like that was done on purpose- which I appreciate. Our server was awesome- I really wished I remembered his name. He was very attentive and offered some good suggestions. The bread was delish- my boys asked for seconds and thirds. We couldn't get enough of the minced garlic and butter- it was amazing. My boys also enjoyed their kids pizza and their filet medallions. One of my kids was stuffed but was so determined to finish it since it was so good. I got the carb cakes with Alfredo sauce- the crab cakes were good- not the best I've had but definitely food. Alfredo is Alfredo- I ended up taking home leftovers and Alfredo is just always dry when you reheat it no matter where you get it. Lastly the husband had the surf n turf- NY strip steak and Maine lobster- he ate and he conquered his meal, and enjoyed every ounce of it. read more

My family and I ate here all the time. Food quality is slipping big time. This place used to be a powerhouse...not any longer

We have been going to Bob Chinn's Crab House for many years, and had hosted several birthday parties there. I have noticed that now their lunch/dinner menu has reduced from 2 pages to 1. There is still a big variety of items to choose from, though. I have a loyalty card that I used to cut our waiting time to half when the waiting lines were long, and it really worked. However, in the recent years, there is no need for that as either the lines were not long, or there's no lines at all. The loyalty card also has the benefit of earning points for ordering food, and could be converted to money value when you reach certain level, and it "never" expires. However, when I checked my loyalty card online before I wrote this review, they no longer explain how it works, such as how many loyalty points I could earn per certain amount of dollars spent. It used to be getting 10% money value of your food purchase, then they reduced that to 7% in recent years. When you order expensive items such as King Crab Legs, you can collect a lot of points quite quickly! Good thing that the balance that I have accumulated is still there, and it should never expire! With the loyalty program, you also get an emailed certificate/coupon for your birthday discount, it's 25% up to $25 on dine-in food purchase, which can be used once during your birthday week (around 10 days). Another thing that I have noticed is, they no longer list the price for the King Crab Legs on their online menu. The price of King Crab Legs has been constantly going up over the years, now it has reached a point that they feel listing the ridiculously high price would probably turn people off! You can still find out the daily price from the online order page, though. Their Alaskan King Crab Legs are the most fresh, succulent, and meaty crab legs that I could find around Chicagoland, and the quality has been consistent. It's the only food that I crave from this restaurant! All they need to do is to steam the crab legs and put a little tub of drawn butter on the side, the rich and sweet flavor of the crab legs suffice to do the trick, and it's one of the best foods in the world! I also love their Bob's Slice of Paradise pie; the smooth purple yam filling and the macadamia nut crust are so delicious! It's topped with a coconut milk pudding & fresh whipped cream -- a perfect dessert to wrap up any meal! And I have not seen this pie anywhere exact from Bob Chinn! My daughter is not a crab eater and likes fish instead, and she always orders the Whole Sea Bass (Mediterranean). I found their fish a tad over-cooked, otherwise, quite fresh and not bad. I guess, the restaurant is named a crab house for a reason, if you stick with their crabs, you would not be disappointed, if you don't mind the high price! Their servers are mostly friendly. However, I always saw new faces. They used to be trained to try to get patrons finish their meals in the shortest time, and have as many turnovers as possible. They would offer to use the little yellow tool to open the crab legs for you. However, opening the crab legs and then eat the meat that you get out is part of the fun! Otherwise, I might as well order crab meats instead. Now, this is getting better and has not been an issue. I feel we can take our time to enjoy our food more, just like in any restaurants. In general, even though I don't find the food there too memorable, I will still go there for the enticing King Crab Legs and Bob's Slice of Paradise pie! read more

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We love going to Bob Chinn's it is a family go to for Our fix of seafood and steak. We are Sad that their prime rib dinners are not always part of their menu. If you get a chance you need to order it. Our favorites are their eggrolls and crab vermicelli King crab is a must and don't forget to order their Luau cake. read more

I grew up going to this place...and on a recent visit going home wanted a refresh. The ambiance hasn't changed a bit since I was a kid (good or bad?). I love the sinks placed around the dining rooms to clean your fishy hands. But this place is definitely dated...especially for the prices on the menu. Still have amazing mai tais and hope that never changes. :) The food however, overpriced. I understand that crab prices are at a high because of the season being shorter due to warm waters. But I got the king crab fingers from the lunch menu for $54, expecting to be at least somewhat impressed. I received 7 fingers that were soggy and small, while I watched the 18oz king crab legs go by me practically falling off the plate. The $16 salad bar? Nope. Not anymore Bob Chinn's. I'll pay $16 if you put some fish on there...but it is the most basic of salad bars...and not worth the price. I'd say the highlight of the meal was the sushi roll. It was a good size and delicious. Kudos to our server, Tina. She's been there for quite some time and is knowledgeable, humorous and great at her job. When we made a comment about the price of the crab fingers, she did take the time to explain the different types of crab, how the prices are due to the season and what to order next time. She handled it well...and I'm guessing that's not the first time she's received a comment like that. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

Returned to chins had oysters in half shell were tasty but not very plump one plump blue point. Ordered clam chowder very thick packed with potato and very bland. Garlic bread was good added a slight pinch of salt. Key lime was good a little tarter then I remember but was good. I like that they offer half slices. Brilliant idea . I came back because my friend never came . What she had was a lobster sandwich that looked great. And she had some chocolate dessert that looked great and was kinda like eating fudge. And I do enjoy a little bit of fudge . read more

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Always fresh and never disappointing. I will be sure to take photos during my next visit. Love this place!!

Always love everything I get from Bob Chinns. Go to is always the grouper chargrilled. Food and service is always great read more

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Food, Customer Service, Drinks, Bathrooms..lol All Great!! We will definitely take the drive from Chicago to dine here, again. We're going to order that large crab! Lol It was busy, so next time we'll ask for seats not so close to the entry of the dining room. Lots of folks walking right past us while we ate. Not a biggie, but my hubby' was a lil bothered by that. :-) read more

Always top notch quality here. I only visit every few years as it's extremely far from my home, but never disappointed when I visit. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - 8lb king grab. - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

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Worst service Never sit at the bar! Rude! The bartenders are nasty. Treated regular customers so nasty. read more

Food was delicious! I think I expected more from the decor especially knowing how expensive it was. Service was amazing and very knowledgeable. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

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Wow. Bob Chinn's has less than 4 stars. They used to be 4.8. I can see why. We ate there a few months ago. A friend took us out to dinner. We had the porterhouse. It was lackluster at best. Having dined there when Bob was still alive and before his kids took over, the experience would have been the opposite. However, we ate there today - against my better judgment - because my lovely wife wanted the scallops...which are delicious. However, it began and ended right there. The clam chowder was flavorless. The drinks kept getting empty. My steak was brought out the wrong temperature...twice. No manager came over to the table. The shrimp were overcooked and unpeeled. They sent our server - who clearly had absolutely no training - over to apologize for what appears to be an incompetent kitchen. We spend way too much money eating out as it is. However, we will not make the mistake of eating at Bob Chinn's again. His kids have really ruined the experience which made them the highest grossing restaurant on the planet earth at one point. Not too long ago, you would be proud to bring absolutely anyone there for a great experience. Years ago we brought a celebrity from Las Vegas. Clearly, she is used to eating world class cuisine. And, like us, she became a raving fan. No more. Clearly, management no longer cares to put out a quality product; and, the staff has no concept of how to provide service. And, look at what the manager - the one who never came to the table - actually wrote. He is basically calling us liars and suggesting we didn't even go there. Well, I wasn't going to throw the kid under the bus - even though you put him on the floor with clearly no experience - but his name was Christian. Why do I know he was only there 2 weeks? Because he told us unsolicited. Only someone who had received horrible training would not know that is something you keep to yourself. But, thanks again for proving my point by suggesting that we are liars and making things up. I'll be posting about our experience on other forums now, too. Either way, I really couldn't care less about what you or your team think. You made it clear that being hospitable to your guests is something that you neither want or care to display. God bless you, Dan. Maybe you should stop by and talk to the guests when there are chronic problems instead of calling people who post legitimate reviews liars. read more

ALWAYS CONSISTENT! We live close by and primarily do carryout but we also enjoy hosting family dinners here. The food quality is excellent and portions are generous enough for me to save half of my portion for a second meal. Most times we order our fish chargrilled - Grouper, Salmon, Swordfish and Halibut are our favorites. The red-skinned potatoes and green beans are our go-to sides. I also really like the Oysters Rockefeller and Edamame. Desserts are very good and they offer half portions. We have also ordered party trays of Shrimp and Cocktail Sauce for large at-home parties. Our guests are always impressed!!! I'm including photos from takeout dinners. We have lived in Wheeling for 40 years are are happy to have this great resource nearby. read more

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Great service, food and mai tais. Love the garlic bread and snow crab! Great staple in the Wheeling area. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Alaskan Bairdi Snow Crab - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

Made a reservation to celebrate my dads birthday with the whole family on Sunday evening. We ended up showing up about 20 minutes early and got seated right away. Our waitress, Luanne, was the BEST waitress anyone could have ever asked for! Before we even made it to our table, she introduced herself and said she would be over in a minute to take our drink orders. She explained all the specials they had available to us and answered any questions we had. The food came pretty quickly after our orders have been taken. The food was hot, fresh and delicious! Luanne was checking up on us regularly throughout our meal and was happy to teach my brother on the proper way to get the meat out of his crab legs. We mentioned that it was my fathers birthday and she brought over a strawberry cheesecake with a little candle and sang "Happy Birthday" with us! Luanne made this a 10/10 experience for us! Thank you read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - 8 oz. USDA Prime NY Strip Steak and a 1 1/4 lb. Maine Lobster - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

Great food, great service , feels like a seaside restaurant inside. Call ahead for reservations on Saturdays

The good: - menu had good variety of seafood staples - service was attentive - portions were reasonable size - taste and finish were ok The not so good: - cafeteria vibe with white tablecloth prices - best way to explain is...picture a typical over priced tourist trap restaurant in say Myrtle Beach...and place it in the suburbs of Chicago. read more

First, we came as a group of 18. More children than adults. We had 2 servers Mario and Tyler. Things started off great, as our meal went on Mario's demeanor changed. He wasn't friendly, helpful or attentive after taking our order. After giving us our checks he checked to see his tip and was extremely irritable afterwards. This prompted my 16% tip, usually I tip well for good service. If you don't like your job, you really should leave. Tyler on the other hand was great, attentive, checked on the entire table often and very kind. I hate to give establishments less than 4 stars especially if the food and place itself are great. They should really reevaluate the servers especially in an establishment that charges what they do for the meals. If Mario is your server, I would recommend asking for someone else. read more

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Seems to have gotten better with time. Friendly, experienced, and knowledgeable waitstaff assist diners asking what is fresh. The garlic rolls served prior to entrees are a tasty touch. Our group didn't sit in the bar that has a great vibe. read more

Service was great. Crab cake nuggets weren't so great but all the other food was very good. The Crab Vermicelli was awesome. The blue crab claws were delish. Coconut shrimp, that was some fresh shrimp. King crab was meaty and sweet. The downfall was the Mai Tai.... it tasted dingy, premade and mostly OJ. However, next time, I won't drink that. Problem solved. read more

Great service and seafood! From the outside, this place looks like you'd dress more than casual but it was a really great atmosphere. We felt comfortable and welcomed. I am a Maryland native, so seafood has been a big part of my life and remains a big part of my diet. A lot of places say they're seafood restaurants and don't hit the mark. Bob Chinn's hit the nail on the head for me! I have not yet had the crab cakes (that will be the real test). However, the Stuffed Basa was incredible (Asia fish similar to catfish and stuffed with jumbo lump crabmeat). I was not a fan of the biscuits and the sides were mediocre; they could've been seasoned better but I understand why they aren't seasoned: not everyone has the same taste and others prefer to season their own food. The server did ask if we wanted salt and pepper. The famous Mai Tais live up to the hype. The best part of the meal was the dessert: key lime pie- it was exquisite! Overall, our first experience was delicious! I'd recommend it and go back again and again. Bon' Appetite! read more

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Omg! I am not a seafood eater but this place is delicious. They have some excellent land lubber dishes. They brought back the salad bar after not having it for years due to Covid. Their garlic rolls are to die for. If you want to keep the vampires away have just one of these. The rolls are made there daily all day long. They are soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. They put them in a basket and ladle garlic butter (oil) on them. The side of red potatoes with the bob chin seasoning on them is good. You have to ask for the seasoning. We have taken people there for work lunches numerous times and everyone loves it. Highly recommend. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Garlic rolls. - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

Food is always excellent and service is good. The ambience is fine, but this is not a spot for an intimate dining experience.

Amazing food, fun ambience, Keith was super helpful with navigating the menu, always a fun experience. read more

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What a pleasant experience. My wife and I were driving back from a nearby event trying to figure out dinner. As we approached Chin's my wife pulled up the menu and we were stunned. For years now I have avoided it thinking prices were outrageous. Shockingly, they are more affordable than most places we visit. Now the food. Absolutely delicious! We ordered a bass stuffed with crab meat and another bassa which I had never heard of. Both came with two sides. Everything was great and our waiter had a super personality. The atmosphere is a lot of fun too. If you haven't been here ever or in a long time, check it out. read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

I'm going to say upfront that this is totally subjective. Everything was fine but as eating out has become more expensive, I fine myself becoming more thoughtful about my dining experiences. My expectations have risen. For a certain price point, I have a certain level of expectation of the food and service. Bob Chinn's didn't meet that threshold. The rolls were delicious but swimming in butter/oil/garlic. It was a little much. We ordered the special which was 3-3oz lobster tails and I thought they were a smidge over cooked. The fries were delicious. Server was friendly & attentive. read more

I had not been here in forever. Like15 years!! Not one thing has changed. Still have the cattle lines to stand in while you wait. So annoying. But they do take reservations now! Beverages: had to have a mai tai. But I felt it was way to sweet. Maybe my age is showing? Garlic rolls were good not great. I felt they were a bit hard. Hardly any garlic oil. My husband loved them ‍ Calamari was great no complaints. Clam chowder was served lukewarm. Not a great flavor either. Would not get again. Scallops were great. Well seasoned and cooked perfectly. 9 out of 10. Stuffed with crabmeat Basa was great. Nicely seasoned, would get again. Rated 8 out of 10 We would go back. Fun atmosphere and decent food!!! read more

Bob Chinn's Crab House - Scallops with Cole Slaw - Seafood Near Me - Wheeling, Illinois

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We visited from California and this place was recommended by some friends. We had a variety of different items. The Garlic rolls were out of this world. The king crab legs were great. Service was awesome and has a nice ambiance to it. Would definitely recommend! read more

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