So nice to finally have a new and unique restaurant in town!! We give an A++ to the fries, whitefish escabeche, burger sliders, mushroom flatbread, chilled pasta salad, and coffee and donuts. C to the Columbus prosciutto....not because it wasn't tasty, just difficult to eat. There is no children's menu, but they were able to accommodate our 7-year old by making her a cheese-only flatbread, which she loved. Also, to those of you with nut allergies, be warned that many of the items are fried/cooked in peanut oil. We will be back soon to try more of the selections, but will leave the kid with a babysitter :) p.s. the sangria is delicious!! read more

As much as this pains me to say, it's fantastic I hate to share with others we want this place all to ourselves.

Love their food and the idea of small portion. Definitely will be back to try other dishes. A little pricey but worth it. Cozy and nicely decor read more

Get the beef or pork sliders!!! And try the drink named "Ton likes cucumbers". Both of those items were worth the trip! I'll be attempting to make them at home they were so good! Looking forward to stopping by next time I'm in town!!!! Thanks! read more

Wow!! This was our first delightfully delicious visit to Dancing Marlin, and definitely not our last. The food was fresh, tasty, spicy, and savory. The service, spectacular waitress, was spot on. We reserved an "early" 5:00 Saturday night seating. The place was almost full when we arrived hungry, and standing room only when we left thoroughly satisfied. Highly recommended! read more

For a place in Frankfort, this place is legit. The food is always great and they are more than willing to work with you if you have food allergies or restrictions. The only thing is that the portion sizes are very small. I had an appetizer and entree and I still felt hungry. The food is good but the restaurant is overall expensive. I had the peach bruschetta which was good, Korean BBQ shrimp which was ok and the seared ahi tuna which was mediocre. I felt the food was missing flavor in general. I would come back to this place because there aren't many options in Frankfort. People seem to really love this place and it's always packed for dinner. We sat outside this time and it was nice environment with great lighting. I would go here for a girls night out. My service is great too, my server was very helpful. I recommend this place if you haven't been. I just wouldn't go out of my way to come here. read more

Dancing Marlin - Korean BBQ shrimp - New American Near Me - Frankfort, Illinois

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I was really excited to hear of a tapas style restaurant in Frankfort, but when the food came I was hugely disappointed. While the food was cooked well the flavors were non existent, service was poor, and the food needs to step it up if this place is going to survive. read more

Outstanding food and service. Loved everything we ate and had to drink (Malbec wine). The fried green tomato sliders are the best! A must visit - even if you live north of I-80! read more

What a great place! Went here for my birthday dinner and could not have been more pleased. The food was excellent and great for sharing, the drinks were creative and tasty, and the vibe is really cool (kind of eclectic), and the patio is GORGEOUS. I highly recommend the oysters, the plantain tacos, the pig and the fig, and the shrimp and grits. DELISH! Will definitely be back :) read more

There's no other restaurant like it in the south suburbs. Definitely worth the trip! Each course is shared and plates are around $5 - $9(?) each. The menu is creative and unique as are the cocktails. If you sit at the communal kitchen table you can watch the chefs in the kitchen. I've gone twice - once with a group and once with my husband only. I have to say I liked the date setting better than the group dinner because with a larger group it's hard to judge how much food is enough/not enough. A couple sharing the courses seemed perfect. Or maybe I just need to get the hang of it and go again with a group - which I may do again soon. read more

Meh, just ok. Ordered x2 chicken tacos (the only flavorful thing on the taco was the jalapeño). Mac and cheese was mundane and lacked flavor. Seared ahi tuna was decent. Milk and cookies was the highlight of the dinner. Probably won't go back or recommend it. read more

Based on word of mouth, I had really been wanting to try this place. My husband took me for my birthday, but when we walked in at 8:55, we were told that the kitchen would be closing in 5 minutes, but we could have a drink at the bar and they could see if they had anything they could do in terms of food. Not the dining experience were were coming for. Extremely disappointing seeing as we checked the website and Facebook page and both said open until 10. Basically they were slow due to the weather and didn't want to stay until their posted hours. Not a good first impression and probably won't be back. read more

I brought my mother and sister today for a late lunch and the food was fabulous! We tried 4 different things and all were so creative. The Crab Rangoon and the Fig and a Pig were our favorites. The fried kale tasted like French fries. Donuts and coffee for dessert was perfect! Our server Desiree was friendly and professional which made our meal very enjoyable. I have a big family and can't wait to share this restaurant with them. read more

Good food, and good drinks. A bit over-priced for the flavor and quality of the ingredients, but generally-speaking quite good. Ambiance is terrific, I'll give them that. But it almost tastes as though they decided to take a sw burb approach to some of their recipes. Great concepts but missing that extra something that would otherwise make the dish amazing. read more

Although I am a regular at the Dancing Marlin, there can always be opportunities for things not to be as expected. Once again, it was a great evening with some really good food. The mushroom flatbread is always excellent. The smoked vegetables were an outstanding addition to the menu - the flavors are intense, with the vinegary aspic a surprise against the sweetness of the dressing. The fig and the pig was, on this night, prepared better than usual. The bisteca was a perfect medium rare. The peanut butter semifreddo was replaced with a chocolate option that was tough to eat as the chocolate was very thick and tough to crack open. Service is always good with the perfect amount of attentiveness. Thanks all! read more

First time here, and so far, I'm not impressed. If I didn't have to wait for a tow truck, I would have left. Music is too loud and just awful. It took a server 7 minutes to approach our table. I asked for a menu, and she flipped the placemat, and said, THIS IS OUR MENU HERE. Gee, thanks. I really didn't see anything that jumped out at me, so I decided to try the salmon tacos. They were very tasty... Carmelized onions, miso mayo.. carrots and I think radishes. read more

Very nice place. Everyone was very welcoming and accommodating as soon as we walked in. Restaurant was clean and very nicely decorated. We sat outside which I would like to go back when it is dark out to experience it that way as well. Server was extremely helpful and the very nice. Food was excellent. The flavors that they put together are amazing. Kudos to the chef on taste, presentation, and even for being able to make an entrée keto for one person at our table. Some of the prices were a bit high for the portion size, so that may be something they should consider fixing but other than that....try this one! You will like it! read more

This place is beautiful and the food is flavorful and fresh. They definitely use quality ingredients and it shows. Our server, Jay, did an amazing job. He was knowledgeable and had great attitude and was quite funny too. He deserves A+, if we are ever in the area again we will be stopping by for sure. read more

After an initial rough start in service for our large group, things went very smoothly. The food was delicious. My cocktail - the gin & juice - was clean and bright tasting. A bunch of us (around a dozen people) ordered tapas style but I ordered a few items on my own that I shared. My friends and I were a little disappointed that they were out of their specials that night - soft-shell crab sliders and grilled ono - but I understand that's what happens when you try to order fresh stuff. And everybody loves it. Ahi bruschetta - probably my favorite item I ordered. The ahi was fresh as were the other ingredients. Everything went well together. Gnudi - a very unique dish that features pasta "balls" stuffed with ricotta, plated with some pesto and veggies. Awesome stuff. Fred chicken tacos - I wasn't as blown away by these as I should have been, but my friend's smoked trout tacos were out of sight. read more

We go here a lot for date nights and have been many times with large groups. Went for Mother's Day brunch today. I have to say it was not their best work. Was disappointed to get there and find that the normal brunch menu was not an option. The menu was an established course type menu. We looked several times online to see if there would be a special menu and neither of us could find it. We stayed. The first course was sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and French toast. Biscuits were cold and dry, gravy was so overpowered by sage it was inedible. 2nd course was eggs, pork hash and potatoes. Pork hash was good. Eggs and potatoes again and sage on them...not a favorite of the kids. We picked around it. Last course was a salad, fried chicken, Mac and cheese and salmon with risotto. Chicken is normally fantastic, it was ok, dark meat which is fine but it's usually white meat. Mac and cheese was ice cold, risotto was undercooked and cold. We have always had phenomenal meals here so we'll def go back. Just wished we could've ordered off of the menu and had the normal great quality food. Desserts were decent. Had we known ahead of time that menu we likely would not have gone with our kids. Way too many things they wouldn't eat. read more

Carly was wonderful! It is the first time we've ever been to the Dancing Marlin and we would definitely return based on our experience. she did a great job of describing the different items on the menu as well as having a good understanding of the wines and drinks available. She was very pleasant and made our decisions easy. The food was excellent and the overall dining experience was great. read more

Everything was great and met or exceeded expectations except the seafood egg roll, I don't mean to be negative but it seems like they take all the seafood scraps pulverize and wrapped it in a wonton and fry. I thought it would be at least identifiable pieces of seafood. Doesn't taste bad but for what you pay and what you get, not that great. Everything else is pretty right on, keep in mind the menu changes seasonally. I would love to try their brunch, hope to update this review after that. read more

Absolutely fantastic! I could have eaten 3 plates! The place is nice... the food is super tasty and the price is extremely reasonable. Great for a date night! Must do! read more

Pros: We opted to sit outside, they have such a great ambiance it's super cute the 2 stars are given for al fresco seating and the customer service we were well attended too. Cons: Food!!! we ordered 4 dishes they all fell FLAT..This was very disappointing because the menu looked SO tasty I wasn't sure what to order. We decided to get the fried chix, Bacon Wrapped sausage, crab stuffed peppers and brisket tacos. The meats were so FATTY we couldn't eat it my husband just ate the taco shell after being frustrated that all the meat fell out the shell because the taco was so wet. The fried chicken was soaked in grease yes I know it's fried but it shouldnt b soggy coming straight out the kitchen .The crab stuffed peppers was the best dish but it was just OK nothing special def not worth the $15 price tag. The Bacon wrapped sausage was recommend as the most popular dish on the menu EPIC FAIL the Bacon AKA fat casing they threw on the sausage was not edible I had to remove it from the sausage and I couldn't eat the dish..BAD!! The highlight was the cocktail flight by far the best thing I consumed while dining there. I completed a survey after the $60 check to voice my opinion on the meal. Unfortunately I was still hungry I left the leftovers on the table I typically do not like to waste food but it wasn't worth taking the food home with me..however I left the waiter a nice tip wasn't her fault she did a great job. read more

Dancing Marlin is probably one of my favorite local spots. The food is always good, and they have such fun drinks! I love the atmosphere, and the outdoor space is great when the weather is nice. Whether you're looking for a fun spot with your girlfriends or a place to take the hubs, I would definitely recommend this! read more

Totally fun Girls Night Out. We have been twice now, both times a blast. Love that they have flights of wine and interesting, yummy, food selections! Go with a group and order up a storm. read more

I can't believe just how good everything was. Usually you only get food this good in the Chicago loop. Its small plates so go with a few friends. read more

While I love the tapas concept, the food was really underwhelming. For example, here are a few misses: - The scallops dish, tasty but very salty - The Ahi Tuna Bruschetta, the tuna was fresh but I would have loved a little more of the vinagrette, get rid of the multi-grain bread-- less is more on this one. - The belly buns, too much buns not enough belly, put the pork belly on flatbread and it would be fantastic--this was a total miss. - The napa salad, the pine nut cracker was disgusting, and the goat cheese overpowered the entire salad/snack as I would call it. Not a full salad portion. The only thing that I did like was the mushroom flat bread, which they ran out of when we tried to order another one (go figure) and the PB&J dessert which was pretty good. Ambiance: The music was a little bit loud, not good if you're trying to have a intimate conversation with a date. Nice open space with a nice bar area. Overall, it was an ok experience, I would come back and sit at the bar for drinks only. read more

I thought the food was at best, average. Ingredients were missing from the dishes and it tasted rather bland. A great concept, but a disappointment. I expected much more for the price. read more

Food is very good or at least everything me and my wife have ordered. Nice staff, Pretty Expensive though.

Went here for the first time on a Saturday night with a few girlfriends. The place was busy and buzzing with energy. Our server was great, the food was fantastic. We never felt rushed. It was such a pleasant evening. Can't wait to come back with my husband and other friends! read more

Great little place in Frankfort. Love the interior of this restaurant. The quality and diversity of their changing menu is great. The cocktails are unique and expertly crafted. The specials features are always worth trying. Great bread puddings. Highly recommended. read more

Food was good, but very expensive! Expensive for such small servings. My wife and I were shocked when they brought out our food. It's one of those places you go to once or twice a year. Kitchen is clean, but not THAT clean. For a restaurant I'd say 3 or 3.5 stars. read more

We absolutely LOVE this place. The oysters are always delicious. It does get crowded on weekends, so make reservations.

Great food and amazing service! Rick did a wonderful job with our drinks and food recommendations! Love the portions and that you can try many things! Again, outstanding service from Rick!!! read more

One of my wife's and my favorite restaurants. The seared scallops are some of the best I've ever had. If I had to choose between these and the scallops I had in Vegas at Gordon Ramsey's Pub, I pick the Dancing Marlin every time. Our server, Lexi, was kind and attentive. Always a great experience. read more

My husband and I eat here frequently. The staff is friendly and the food is creative. I do wish there were a few "healthier" items on the menu but the portions are the right size. read more

It doesn't happen often but I can say this place left me speechless and wanting more. I don't have the words to describe the true deliciousness but I sure will try. This place hits on a lot of my favorite things, farm to table, fresh local ingredients, delicious food with depth of flavor and totally unique unexpected combinations. I would come back a million times. I want to try everything on the menu. While dining here we were greeted by both owners and the chef checking in to see how everything was. It's obvious they really care about the quality of the food and the satisfaction of their customers. This is not your average restaurant in the burbs. If you're contemplating trying it please do yourself the favor. read more

I come here often with my girlfriends & we always enjoy it. The food is wonderful & staff is friendly. I like how they finally dimmed the lights more. It was too bright. Just add a little music for ambiance. Other than that, really enjoyable here. You won't be disappointed. read more

My wife and I went here tonight and it was a great experience. The food was awesome and their wine selection is very good too. I have a few food allergies and the restaurant was very accommodating. The owner even came over to talk to us about the food we were ordering to make sure it was truly gluten free and he was kind enough to consult the chef too. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone, even those with celiacs or gluten allergies. We will be returning for sure. read more