We visited during Restaurant Week, so it may be a better experience during regular service times. Food: The ingredients seemed fresh and good quality, and the base flavors were promising. However, every dish was far too salty for all of us, especially the skate wing which we were here for, and we couldn't finish most of the food -- which felt like a real shame given the quality of the ingredients. Our fav is the mini Spanish tortilla, might come back just for that. Service: We arrived within the 10-minute grace period despite heavy snow, and finish the first two courses super quick, but still waited a long time for the main course. By the time it arrived, we had only about 15 minutes left for both the main dish and dessert. Which is another reason we can hardly enjoy and finish the meal. The server tried to hurry us along in a polite way, but also overlooked us at least three times when we asked for water -- even when we called out as he walked by and wasn't rushing. Ambiance: The space is very small and cozy -- one table for four, four tables for two, plus a few bar seats -- but this made the overall dining experience feel rushed and quite loud, which made it harder to relax and enjoy the meal. read more

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We've been to MFK numerous times, I was sure I had reviewed it before. Our daughter lives in the neighborhood & brought us the first few times. We've even gone here twice in a week, we love it THAT much. Small, intimate, cozy, welcoming. Great service, great food, great cocktails & wine list. We shared marinated olives & almonds. Couldn't decide between Boquerones & Anchovies, so the server suggested two of each rather than 4 of one that comes in an order--excellent solution! Shared the Croquetas which were delicious! Crispy on the outside, moist & delicious on the inside. One of the specials that day was Dover Sole with lemon & capers, very generous 10 or 12 oz serving, 4 fillets, which was delicious--crispy on the edges. And Wednesday is half off a bottle of wine night! read more

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Another lovely meal at MFK. We especially liked the boquerones, the tortilla, fideos and the skirt steak. The daiquiris were lovely, the white wine suggested by our waiter was excellent, as was his service. Pleasant surroundings, tasty Spanish food and very good service. Recommended !!! read more

Cute little place under street level. Some people were turned away because the place was booked--not sure if this is always the case since it is small or due to Restaurant Week. The service was perfect--friendly and timely for additional requests and refills. We partook of the 4 course Restaurant Week menu which had lots of gluten-free options. I would probably rate the food 4 stars because some dishes were great; others were basic. The drinks were tasty. We had several glasses of sangria which we liked and I had a mocktail that did not taste like soda (yay!) but was rather a small amount (lots of ice). The apps included a really good hamachi crudo. My table partner went on and on about the manchego crostini. Since the servings were smaller, we added an anchovy appetizer. It was lots of butter with an anchovy--not the really good ones I was hoping for but still delicious. We enjoyed both the croquettes and tortilla. The mains were the weakest dishes. The sole was very simple and not dry, sometimes a challenge with such thin fillets. The mushroom polenta was good but needed more polenta to give it some heft. The desserts were awesome. I want more basque cake! (The waiter said that is always on the menu so I hope to go back.) The panna cotta was very creamy, no gelatin texture at all. Overall a great evening. I would go again. read more

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Restaurant Week They have a great menu with great choices. Hamachi crudo with avocado was great. Manchego with Quince jam was nice. Spanish tortilla had baked salted cod was great, not to salty. Skate wing came with 3 different kinds of pappas. It was good as well. The Basque cake was good and moist. read more

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This is a quaint, tiny little restaurant in east lakeview. It was quite hot in the restaurant the night we dined so be warned if that is something that will bother you . The service was very good. The menu is a modern take on Spanish tapas . It's a shareable menu with 3 different categories of different sized plates-about 15-20 options to choose from. Menu changes as our friends who had dined before recommended items that were no longer available for us to order . Nice extensive drink menu - I was happy with my sangria. The small plates we tried were quite good however the prices were astronomical ( especially for some of the dishes that were literally a bite in the first category of shared plates ). therefore, I'm sorry to say we will not be returning . If you are super wealthy or your company is comping the meal and you enjoy Spanish food , this might be a good choice for you. read more

Mfk - Seared tuna . Pretty Good but preferred the smaller dishes - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The ambiance of this place is so intimate and romantic! Really reminiscent of old Spanish tapas restaurants. The food was incredible; really really good! The servers add a great cohesiveness to the entire experience and atmosphere. read more

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I loved the space and how intimate it feels. We had early reservations and we were seated at the bar. Impeccable service and music taste. But man, oh man...the food was just okay. I know, I know. Believe me. I wish I was here to tell you how I fell in love with every dish. Food overall was hit or miss. The only item that stood out and I didn't capture were the fideos. That was tasty. But again, lovely atmosphere and service. read more

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mfk specializes in seafood-focused tapas that highlights spain's catalan and basque coastal regions. I like that the menu is concise (more approachable) and they seem to focus on using high quality ingredients and letting those ingredients be the star. They also offer different deals on different days of the week! What we got: - Potato + smoked piquillo croquettes: 8/10 - Cantabrian anchovies: 9.5/10; butter, lemon zest, baguette. So so savory it's borderline intense but it was right up my alley - Suzuki crudo: 10/10; guacamole, squid ink tostada, radish, honey-citrus sambal. - Spanish tortilla: 10/10; baked salt cod brandade, fennel, pickled shallot, lemon zest. So fluffy and served super warm. - Basque cake: 9/10; butter cake with rum pastry cream baked into the enter and an almond crust. Not too sweet! read more

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Great food in small unique restaurant. We really liked everything we got. The food here is next level amazing. My advice for anyone considering this place is to make a reservation because it is quite popular. Also, go somewhere and have a drink and appetizer before you get here. The portions are quite small so you otherwise leave hungry. We wished we had done this. Yes it is pricey but you know that before you go. The service was good and the place has a good vibe. read more

This place is a tiny basement location with dim lighting, with limited space. We had a reservation for the time we had and I guess we stayed too long? So they did have us leave at some point (although they did feel bad about sort of kicking us out). The food was solid and reasonably priced, and we tried a bunch of different plates. My favorite dish was the Spanish tortilla: it melted in my mouth. But! The drinks were AMAZING. I loved how weird and tasty and cocktails were. The fiesta one?? With corn flavor without being too corn? The mint lemon? These were great, and I loved them, and I ordered definitely several too many cocktails because of it. read more

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The ambience was great. Sangria had too much juice in it, it was so sweet, like dessert wine. The food was overpriced for what it was, very underwhelming. Service was impeccable. However, for me, the food in the restaurant is the most important thing and it was disappointing. read more

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Stopped in for a casual dinner in Lakeview and managed to get outdoor seats without a reservation! The menu was concise and thoughtful - we got the fideos and the conservas. The fideos was definitely the star of the show, the saffron cream paired perfectly with the seafood and smoke pork. The conservas is great for people who enjoy tinned fish, I just wish we had bread to go with the two dishes since the conservas was quite oily and the potato chips were not a great medium for it. The only dessert available was almond cake which we could've done without- pretty dry. Overall nice flavor but pricey for the portion sizes. Food: 4.5/5 Price: 3/5 Ambience: 4/5 Service: 4/5 read more

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I think I may have found one my favorite "underground" (literally) resultants in Chicago. mfk. is a small dining experience that has exceptional cocktails and unique dishes that change frequently, so don't be surprised if the menu online doesn't match to the menu when you go. The bar only hold about 8 people and there are like 5 or so tables spread out. Expect a community experience (the most positive way possible). My girlfriend and I originally went for one drink and one app and walked out with much more food and drinks in our bellies. Addicting stuff! Our bartender Archie (or Archey?) had a STRONG cocktail knowledge and really made us feel at home. No matter what drink you get from him, it will be unique and have some type of flair to it. Highly recommend his recommendations We got two appetizers: the carrots (unsure of the name) and the seasonal crudo. These are smaller dishes but the flavors were CRAZY. Unexpected combinations with delicious outcomes. Make sure you try out this place at least once if you're in the Chicago area. It wont disappoint read more

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We found the offerings at this restaurant very creative and superbly delicious. The dishes we ordered included Suzuki Crudo, Charred Melon Salad, Panko Crusted Eggplant, Seared Scallops, Fideos (Shimp, Smoked Pork, and Mussels), and Ham & Clams. All of us had a memorable dining experience. read more

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A small, intimate restaurant that serves some of the best Spanish cuisine in the city. Their seafood in particular is exceptional. The menu is small but the quality of the food is top notch. read more

Enjoyed a relaxing dinner here and found the food and service both solid. Items are a bit pricey, but for the quality and the fact that tapas in this city tend to be more expensive, I'm not surprised. This is a good option for a nice occasion out. We sat outside, but inside seems cozy and on the smaller side and in a European sort of way (that's a compliment). The highlight for me was the basque cake: perfectly dense, moist, and delicious. I'll go back just for that! The boquerones were good: a nice acidic kick from the anchovies with a little heap of butter on each baguette slice. Potato and smoked piquillo croquettes were tasty, but not a highlight for me--just a little something missing. Ponzu salmon collars had a great savory umami flavor, but all the bones you need to pick out took some of the satisfaction out of this dish for me. It's a great option, but something to consider. The fideos were on the simpler, lighter end. Not a ton of flavor, but not in a bad way if that's what you're looking for. Sometimes you just want a good pasta and seafood without being too rich. I'd skip it next time personally. read more

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A small Spanish-influenced joint. Cool and cosy vibe inside and few patio tables outside (though not the best set up). Got almost everything off the menu since we shared: 1. Suzuki bass crudo: pretty good starter. Fresh. 2. Boquerones: if you like it fishy, this is a starter for you. Good 3. Cantabrian anchovies: ok, this was fantastic - definitely get this one. Butter + lemon zest with the anchovies struck the perfect balance, though albeit salty 4. Blistered shishito: I love shishito peppers and theirs was just alright - not much to write home about 5. Scallop aquachile (not pictured): super fresh and zingy. Loved this! Not much scallops but tons of green papaya and cucumber - perfect starter 6. Potato and smoked piquillo croquetas: skippable imo. Very dense and heavy. I've had much better croquetas elsewhere - this was a disappointment 7. Seared prawns: also skippable - nothing special and very underwhelming 8. Spanish tortilla: MUST GET! probably one of the best tortillas I've had! Almost custardy like an egg soufflé and fluffy (not super heavy with potatoes which was great). Also loved the pops of salted cod 9. Fideos: not your typical version of a fideo since it was in a pot vs a flat paella pan so you don't get much of that burnt soccarat action. That being said, this was good and came with lots of seafood - generous! Somehow moreish with that saffron cream 10. Whole fish: ours came with some soy scallion sauce. Very Asian inspired- though a blah meh one. Underwhelming even if it was cooked really well. Sweetish soy sauce. Doesn't really conjure up Spanish food. Honestly skippable if it's the same sauce 11. Ribs: I had low hopes for this but was surprised- this was good. The ribs were super tender and juicy, practically falling off the bone. The creamed corn was also pure yums, especially with them charred ribs 12. Conservas: almost forgot that we got this. Potato chips served with small portions of cockle and octopus conserva. Skippable. I've had better conserva elsewhere. Side note: they have weird wine glasses ie they serve wine in tiny juice glasses - for such a place with a wine list, whyyyyy? It makes the vibe super cool and open, but it also doesn't make the wine as enjoyable (maybe a personal preference). Ideally also have the flexibility to offer normal wine glasses? Or maybe just stemless ones with a better mouth? Overall, mfk is a cool joint, with Spanish-style dishes with twists of Mexican and Asian food. Some dishes were great, while others fell flat. Good date spot or small group dinner spot. Nothing outstanding and super memorable, but overall okay read more

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Top notch service! Very attentive and perfectly timed. They knew when we had to be on our way and adjusted their service speed accordingly. It's a cozy place with not many seats but it's not cramped at all and feels open and spacious. Food was amazing. Mostly seafood as you'd expect and very very good. read more

Mfk - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Cute Spanish restaurant! Definitely make a reservation before going. They were able to make certain dishes vegetarian for me. The Fideos and Brussels sprouts were great. read more

Mfk - Fideos - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was one of the most memorable meals of 2021, thanks to the incredible service and obviously the amazing food. The lying, cheating narcissist I dined with couldn't even destroy the experience. We sat at the bar which was, imo, ideal for a party of 2 in the space. It also gave us the chance to chat with the team and learn about the dishes as they came out. I ordered the Fideos which is like a paella but with pasta instead of rice. It's one of the most memorable dishes I had all year. Just amazing bright flavors and tasted so fresh. I remember we ordered a first course and didn't realize it was sardines, but the gentleman who took the order gently made sure we knew so that we could change the order. I assume that happens regularly based on his style. The space is very intimate and only has room for a small number of guests which elevates the experience. Honestly everything was top notch except, as I mentioned before, the company. Still a five star experience and I am currently planning my next trip back. read more

The food is outstanding. Last night, I ordred the Harissa Roasted Carrots -- with Labneh, Labouili, Dates, and Almond -- and the dish was simply fabulous. I topped it off with their Coconut Cream Puff. Yummy! Tonight, I ordered their gnocchi with sherry, cream, shiitake mushrooms, chive, and poached egg (seemed like a quail egg to me.) I again topped it off with their Coconut Cream Pastry. I can't say better things about this place. I might make my own Manhattan at home, but since it is right downstairs, this seriously is a culinary paradise -- locally. Highly recommended! read more

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Food was very unique and every bite was special. The restaurant has a cool and intimate feel.

The food is good, but I don't think it's worth the price. The atmosphere is cute and cozy, and they check for vaccination status for dining in - which is much appreciated! Their food is Spanish tapas style and seafood focused, so we got a couple dishes to share. Some of the dishes were good but some weren't really worth it. To start we got the Suzuki crudo, and I would not recommend this simply due to the poor value. This dish is $16 and we only got two bite size pieces (each tostada was a little larger than the size of a quarter), and honestly I had to laugh when I saw this. It was tasty, but again not worth the price. Then we got the ciabatta with butter and olive oil, which was good but nothing too special. We also got the croquettes, which had really good flavor and was a decent value. And to finish, we got the "fideos," which is a light creamy pasta with a mix of seafood and meat. This dish I was actually very impressed with - the pasta and sauce were delicious and the seafood was cooked perfectly. Overall a decent experience, the food is good but I would give this place a higher rating if the prices were more reasonable. Not too impressed with some of the dishes for the price, but definitely loved the "fideos" dish. read more

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Food is outstanding! A twist to some transitional Spaniard dishes. The Spanish Tortilla is a must try: Service was prompt and kind. The atmosphere is quaint and intimate as there are very few tables. This charming.place is a repeat for us. Near plenty of public transportation. read more

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Mfk is one of the best restaurants in Chicago period. The location and environment is awesome - it's a small downstairs space that's very intimate with an awesome bar. The food and cocktails are lights out. Try the sangria, the neon hatch cocktail, the duck rillette, Spanish omelette, Fideos, and ribs. The service is friendly, helpful and prompt. They course out food perfectly instead of it all arriving at once - a rarity! read more

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I am trying to understand how a restaurant could possibly charge $18 for a dish that is the size of a lime slice. (Please see lime slice next to it for reference) This was not the only 'dish' that was the same size. There can be no ingredient that special that would call for this price. In addition the bartender kept touching the ice cubs that were going into the drinks. The drinks were good, the one thing I would recommend. read more

Mfk - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cozy, vibrant spot with excellent service and a unique but approachable menu. We've been here twice in 6 weeks now and that won't be the last! Standouts from our last visits are the Paid Time Off cocktail, anchovies with butter, croquettes, and tempura relleno. Music is also excellent (REM and The Strokes tonight) but not too loud for conversation. read more

Mfk - Tempura chile relleno. - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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In the lower level/English basement of a gray stone building is a bistro that severs regional Spanish cuisine, Basque & Catalonia seafood is the menu's focus. We stared with Duck croquets and boquerones and a bottle Les Athletes du Vin Chinon Cabernet Franc that we enjoyed throughout dinner. My dinning companion and I choose the Yellowtail Snapper, whole fish with black rice as our main. It would have been to much for one to eat. We finished the meal with fruity effervescent cava. I appreciated the causal pastel interior - tho the music selection that evening was not my taste. But the staff service was informative and welcoming. I'm glad for the experience and will be back . read more

This place has a fantastic ambience. It is very intimate in a small dining room room. The food is very good however when we went for a restaurant week the prefix menu was good however there was some dishes that were outside of my liking. It is a very good spot for a date night I would not recommend it for bigger groups since it is such a small dining area read more

Cozy, small, underground spot that serves savory seafood plates, and I really mean savory. So drink some extra water and finish the meal with something sweet! Service at the bar was attentive without being overbearing. We went with some of the bartender's favorites and enjoyed all of them. I will say the anchovy appetizer was by far the saltiest and borderline intense, so I probably wouldn't order that again (although it was still pretty good otherwise). Getting a reservation for a Saturday dinner was easy. Great for dates or very small groups! read more

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I really wanted to like this. We went for my friend's birthday and got a set of outdoor seats. Menu looked delightful, the interior and exterior had a nice charm to it. Service was good. We got a variety of items - pulpoguesa sliders were my favorite. The combination of pork and octopus is surprising, and the two complimented each other in an unexpected way. The remainder of the dishes, however, were not too memorable. The shrimp aguachile could do well with a bit more acidity; the flavor was rather flat. The fideos was a nice pot of noodles, but also tasted a bit boring - it was hard to make out the seafood flavor, which I believe the smoked pork ended up masking. Portion sizes were very small for the price - none of us are big eaters but we left the restaurant feeling as if something was missing. Overall, Mfk retains a few stars for its use of fresh ingredients and some novel combination of flavors, but falls short of expectations. read more

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friendly and quaint neighborhood setting. limited menu.shared and enjoyed the eggplant appetizer and branzino. was still a bit hungry though.the one and a half pound fish is greatly reduced when filleted. perhaps some type of complimentary bread or starch on the table with something to smear or dip would be a nice touch. it seems portions keep reducing and prices keep escalating everywhere. did not care for any of the white wines by the glass.......disappointing. read more

worst experience I've ever had in more than 40 years. service terrible. food ... how would I know their software for making a reservation was so bad that it cancelled my reservation before I could add my payment information ... clearly mfk fisher would repudiate them as capitalist pigs. read more

Service makes the experience and this place gives that to you in a relax upscale setting with prices to match. It starts when they call me 1 hour early for a reservation for 5. On a Saturday night considering how small their space is - that's amazing. Our bartender/ server has full command of the menu and gave us our food in the right sequence as to the intensity of the palate . The 2 standouts are Crispy Prawn Heads and the razor clams special. The only other place I've had those clams was in Madrid Mercato Central. The rest was fine but did not raise to outstanding - they were the escargot and scallops specials and the Suzuki squid ink tostada. Considering the price I thought Fine was not enough. read more

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So many standouts from our meal at Mfk last night. To highlight just a few: - Amazing service! Our group of three was sitting at the bar, but never felt that we were overcrowded or being watched despite the fact that we were dining in close quarters. The server took the time to get to know our wine preferences and give us personalized recommendations. Multiple members of the team took the time to wish us a happy graduation as well, which was so kind of them! - Spanish tortilla was the star dish for me. Having just gotten back from a trip to Spain where I ate MANY, I can confidently say that mfk's twist on a Spanish tortilla has been my favorite. While it's typically a dense dish of eggs and potatoes, mfk's version is very light and almost cloudlike (the texture reminded me of a steamed egg dish). The saltiness of the cod helps balance out any density brought by the potatoes. Overall a perfectly balanced dish, both in terms of flavor and texture. - We also tried the whole fish (branzino with tomatoes and basil on the day we went) and croquettes. Both were delicious! As a squeamish seafood eater, I was happy to find out that the fish had been deboned already (and skillfully so, no stray bones on my dinner plate!). I was also obsessed with the sauce that they serve the croquettes with. Pro tip: they offer different deals for the different days of the week- we got our bottle of wine for half off on Wine Wednesday. read more

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We ordered 3 dishes between the 2 of us and all of the dishes were really good. The seafood was fresh and the sauces were also very unique. read more

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One of the few restaurants in Chicago that truly transports you to a different location. It's a small, intimate setting, great for a date or a group no larger than 4. The food is incredible. Every dish is made with care and plated beautifully. The servers are always friendly and inviting which definitely adds to the experience. I've had the Spanish tortilla (an mfk staple), Fidel's, scallops, croquettes, boquerones, crudo, olives, and basque cake. All have been incredible. My main recommendation is to go on Wednesday to get half off bottles and get it in a porron (it's a fun decanter/pourer). Their wine selection doesn't miss. read more

The best, impeccable, most personable service & all food and drinks were phenomenal. This is one of my new favorite restaurants of all time. The decor/ambiance is also perfection. read more

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The atmosphere was cozy and the service was excellent! We had the bread, mussels, prawn heads, tortilla espanola, and seafood fideos . Each plate was served at a good cadence - the seafood fideos was slightly salty but not too heavy handed. Would definitely recommend coming here for a date night! read more

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