The vibes were great and felt like a true old-school steakhouse. Lots of families, business…read moredinners, and longtime regulars. Not a trendy spot, but that's part of the charm. The wood shelving, classic decor, and lively atmosphere made it feel timeless. The service was easily one of the best parts of the experience. Since it was our first visit, David walked us through the restaurant's history, constantly refilled waters, and somehow managed to clear plates within seconds of us finishing. They also made us an anniversary card, gave us complimentary sparkling water, and surprised us with a slice of key lime pie. The hospitality was incredible and made us feel genuinely celebrated. The stone crab was super fresh and the mustard sauce was the perfect pairing. The crab bisque was rich and creamy. The filet was cooked perfectly with a great sear, while the stuffed lobster tail was warm, flavorful, and topped with a parmesan crust. The lobster roll was solid with a perfectly toasted brioche bun. The sweet corn was sweet, buttery, and smoky. For dessert, the blueberry pie was so comforting. The filling had a chewy texture, wasn't overly sweet, and the crust was perfectly crisp. The key lime pie was a nice surprise from the restaurant and had a great graham cracker crust. Overall, every dish was delicious and executed well but nothing really wowed me flavor wise. If you love classic steakhouse food and seafood, this is the spot. The service alone makes it a fantastic spot for celebrations. Thank you David & Joe's Seafood for the incredible night.

Some maître d's are good at hospitality. Jeff W. is operating on another level. Remembering a…read moresurname is one thing; recognizing you early, out of context, before you even formally check in, and greeting you with confidence -- that's a genuine talent. People like him have almost a "super‑recognizer" ability: they store faces, mannerisms, and micro‑details the way others remember song lyrics. It's rare, and when you encounter it, it feels almost uncanny in the best way. And the fact that he consistently recognizes you over the years tells you it's not luck. It's intentional, it's skill, and it's part of why the place feels special before you even sit down. Pair that with a meal that exceeded expectations -- that's the kind of night that reminds you why you've been a loyal patron for so long. Great food is memorable, but great hospitality is what makes a restaurant feel like a second home.

Great food, a clean and welcoming atmosphere, and beautiful decor. The service was absolutely…read moreamazing from start to finish, and the staff made us feel very well taken care of. This is a wonderful spot for a date night or a special evening out. I would definitely recommend it and look forward to coming back.

Our second time eating at a Jose Andres restaurant in Chicago and again it was disappointing. Last…read moretime we ate at Jaleo and found it underwhelming but put it down to the fact that we had just returned from an amazing culinary trip to San Sebastian. We really admire Jose's philanthropic work and want to love his restaurants but truth be told, if you forget about the glitzy decor, the food is just average. We tried several appetizers; the Hamachi Cone, Caviar Cone, Asian Taco, Neptune's Pillows, Shrimp Cocktail and Iberico Jamon. We also shared a bottle of Cava. Everything was fine but to be frank the Shrimp Cocktail was the best thing we ate, simple and perfectly fresh. The service was pushy, when a server wants to take you order less than 3 minutes after sitting down, it feels like you're on a conveyor belt. We felt the prices were way out of line, with tip I spent almost $500 for a bottle of cava and appetizers for two people, for that, the food should have been more memorable. We spent the same amount for two off us to have the 12 course tasting menu at Atsumeru a couple of weeks ago and Bar Mar's food isn't in the same league. We will continue to financially support Jose's World Kitchen but not his restaurants.

Cindy's is so so good!!! I will be recommending to all of my friends who visit Chicago! the view…read morewas amazing and our bartender, Fatima, was EVEN BETTER!!!! Such a fun time!

Late night dinner and sips after the ghost gangster tour around Chicago! We picked Cindy's…read morerooftop at the Chicago Athletic Association on the 13th floor for stunning skyline views which was the perfect spot to just unwind from the busy day. Though we couldn't see much of Lake Michigan, we knew it was just right there. We enjoyed the fresh Caesar salad, creamy Rigatoni alla Vodka, and warm bread with herbed butter. , and an espresso martini and a glass of prosecco. For dessert, we ordered the baked Alaska (So good), and coffees which ended the night with perfection. Service: Cheers to Anthony for the wonderful service and great menu suggestions!

I hate that I loved this place so much! I live in Michigan and was determined to get a reservation…read more So when I finally got it I was elated. First the service, now the host stand can be a little flat but I think they get so busy and it's so in demand they have to be stern but all the staff was amazing. I never needed a thing. They were so nice and checked on us constantly. The food... omg the fooddddd! Healthy portions! You could definitely share if you wanted to be more waist or budget friendly lol. My favorite had to be the shrimp and the steak. The steak was cooked perfectly and the au poivre was a great accompaniment. Dessert was also amazing. Healthy portions for sure shareable. I would definitely make that drove from Michigan to come back! Perfect start to my 30th birthday!!

Heard so much about Bavette's, I'm so glad I got to try it! Such a good place for a date,…read moreanniversary, or even a work dinner! Fair warning, it is super dark and I couldn't see some of the food lol. We ordered the Brussel sprouts, Truffle Mac n cheese, Dry-aged bone in ribeye Double wagyu cheeseburger, Pomme frites, Crab stuffed avocado, Button mushroom, and strawberry meringue. Everything was phenomenal! Bavette's does their steak right with the intersection of perfectly charred along and juiciness. It was well seasoned and all the flavors are truly phenomenal. Be prepared to be very full because a lot of the food I felt was greasy. However, the crab stuffed avacado was a nice refreshing touch!

Date place this is not but they have do have good food with honest pricing. Stand outs are the…read morefries (skinny/crispy), mussels(good appetizer portion) with a heavy buttery/wine sauce. Dip that toasted bread in the sauce and your day is complete. The shrimp corn chowder is good. It has a distinctly different taste than clam chowder. I do prefer the traditional New England version. The soft shell grab is excellent. It's perfectly seasoned but for $45 I'm complaining. The smelt was ok. If it wasn't for the $45 crabs granted they told me the market price but I thought I heard $25. I would give this place 5 stars. My bad. It's just they were 4 tiny crabs. For $45!

Unfortunately was not impressed with Half Shell. Worst mahi mahi I've ever had. Flavorless and way…read moreover cooked. Weird sides with it. Oysters weren't terrific either, but good happy hour deal ($1 M-F 4-6). Cash only. Service was bad. Food took a long time, we had to ask twice for our wine, and had to flag someone over to get water and the bill. Only redeeming quality was the patio.

I had my birthday dinner at this place and it was great all around. The food was outstanding- get…read morethe lobster! Highly recommended!

I had the pleasure to dine at Penumbra on a Thursday evening. We were celebrating a graduation and…read morethe staff were very welcoming when we arrived. I was visiting from out of town and was not familiar with the parking around the area. I asked one of the staff members and immediately they reassured me that the side street would raking was totally fine to park just so long as it wasn't the front of the building where you have to pay. The food started with a complementary potato soup which was flavorful and lovely. We got a round of drinks and one of our party didn't care for her drink and it was replaced no question. We had the flat iron steak, the chicken, and the salmon and each entree was wonderful. The proteins were all very tender and juicy. I was also very pleased with the salad that came first which was lightly dressed and very seasonal. We finished our dining experience with a slice of cheesecake. It was a nice cap to the end of a wonderful meal. I would recommend this restaurant for any occasion - I would love to come back and try some of the other items on their menu.

As someone who has been to the original Wabash location and the Chinatown location, I must say that…read morethis one is -- MY FAVORITE LOCATION OF THEM ALL! I love the NOLAadjacent theme of the restaurant and the service is always great. I normally do one of the specials with the crab and shrimp, adding extra eggs because I love a good egg with my shrimp lol. I also love that their hottest is really hot! The drinks are amazing too. AND THEY OFFER WEEKDAY SPECIALS ALL THE TIME! I have to get in there and try their smash burger next, even though that's a funny menu option for a seafood spot, I'm sure it doesn't disappoint!

This place has been on my list for way too long. Decided to finally try it on Good Friday!! Was a…read morelittle nervous about parking since its in a busy area but we easily found parking right in front. They don't take reservations so it can get busy quick. You browse the menu at your table first then go up and order at the counter. For 2 people, we shared the Double Double and beignets for dessert! The big back in me didn't think it would be enough food for 2 but I was so wrong. The combo comes with shrimp, 2 snow crab, 2 corns, potatoes, and 4 pieces of their delicious cornbread! The everythang sauce was banginnnn. Warning - your mouth will taste like garlic for 2-3 days after! It was my fiance's first time having seafood boil and he loved it! To end the meal, we couldn't decide on the fried oreos or beignets but ended up getting the beignets. So good!

Supporting this local Chicago AAPI women owned restaurant! Love the seafood boil here! When you…read moreorder veggies they do not skimp with the boil. This is unique because I've actually have not ever had broccoli or green beans with my seafood boil and I would definitely have it again in a heartbeat. I'm in love with the garlic noodles and fries besides the main seafoods. They have so many different deals and promotions, high quality, friendly service! The spot is pretty roomy and can accommodate a variety of different size groups. I also enjoy they provide gloves, a bib, and a sink outside of the bathroom to wash your hands. Hooray for my crazy messiness! Cant wait to go back! Parking can be a challenge but is available in an around the neighborhood.

I made it a tradition to get seafood boil with my husband every year for Lent on a Friday. This…read moreyear, we stopped at the Crab Pad in Logan Square. I was sold after finding out its a Viet cajun seafood boil spot - plus it has really good reviews. I recommend making a reservation cause they can get busy. I like how they write your name on the reserved table - a nice touch. Also parking in the area is scarce so plan accordingly. They have a decent happy hour menu so we were able to take advantage of that! We shared the Lover's Cove for 2, then shared corn bread, garlic noodles, and the spicy cajun fries. The seafood combo only came with 1 lobster tail which is a bummer. We got the crab pad style (cajun) sauce. The sauce was fire. Compared to other seafood boils, this one wasn't as super garlicky. To end the meal, we built our own popsicles with unlimited toppings! Great way to end the meal. Flavors they had were matcha, ube, cookies n cream, birthday cake, blue raspberry, etc.