In the front window they have a sign that reads "girls just want to have fundamental human rights". While I was dining with my son on their patio today (on a particularly warm June afternoon) a slightly disheveled man sat down across the patio from us that seemed like he would not be able to afford lunch. I was very curious to see how the staff would respond seeing that sign in their window. True to humanitarian form, the server told the man he could sit there and brought him out some water as well. Being in the industry, I know it's normally very often that we ask those down on their luck that cannot afford a meal to kindly leave the premises. The server's small and simple actions actions today proved that this business has a heart, and truly cares about its fellow man. Oh and the food was pretty darn delicious too. Kudos mfk! read more

Absolutely incredible food and lovely little space. We had many dishes and were sitting at the bar and our bartender Jason was full of amazing recommendations. I had the evenings special (a whole sea bass). Perfectly flavored and cooked. Other highlights were the croquettes, civeche, and anchovies and literally every cocktail on the menu. Cannot wait to return. read more

Spectacular fine dining in East Lakeview. I love this place. The device is friendly, the food interesting and fantastic--with a heavy emphasis on seafood. The ambiance is casual. Nothing to dislike here! This is my go-to place for high quality food and casual attentive service. read more

Over rated...A James Beard mention? Food was Ok.. Eating my meal's salad leaves had unexpected grittiness... Menu didn't match that on their website.. And in our experience, neighborly etiquette was lacking e. g. Tight space to move around so if dining neighbors don't care to be courteous to adjust their seating to allow others to pass by, in and out of their own seat/table, then it becomes an awkward dining experience. Staff are courteous but strangely don't make much effort to help all diners to accommodate each other in the tight space so all can have a comfortable dining experience...Disappointing experience read more

Truly unique place: -service is fast -food is fresh and creative -location is awesome What are you waiting for? read more

Started to get the munchies walking home after crashing on a buddy's couch after tailgating and i was craving some wings. Popped into a place that looked classy. They didn't have anything I wanted or recognized so ordered some random shit. The cubs were playing but there was no TV. Left full bellied but I wanted to faint when I got the bill. A lot to pay if you're just looking or a snack. Solid food, no TVs, good chef, NOT CHEAP!!!!! read more

Definitely pricey and a splurge, but could be a good intimate, date setting. I only got a shrimp salad for $16, which was pretty good but too acidic for my taste (some might like the acidity though!). I took a bite of my friend's scallops/cheese dish and 100% wished I had gotten that instead. In short: a hit or miss menu depending on your specific taste preferences. read more

Only one small miss for charming little MFK. My wife and ate at MFK on a Sunday night. Sat at the bar. The place is small, well designed, warm and inviting. Bartenders were attentive and on top of their game. My wife loved her Soothsayer vodka cocktail. Food - we had the sausage stuffed squid, endive poached egg salad, octopus, ceviche and croquettes. The croquettes are a must have. Gooey, cheesy fried nuggets on a bed of tangy pepper sauce. Amazing!!! Octopus is another must have. Fork tender chunks of octopus, potato and pickled onions sit atop a bed of a tangy lemon vinaigrette. I'd go back just to have it again. The only miss for me was the ceviche. The fish pieces were too big and the flavor was just average. Take a pass. Overall, great little foodie spot. I would highly recommend and I can't wait to return. read more

This place is amazing. Always delicious with awesome seafood variety and amazing cocktails. We wish they'd bring back more "from the soil" vegetable options! Basque cake is a fun take on dessert read more

Not only was the food amazing but the staff and cozy atmosphere made it the best meal I've had in a very long time. They went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable when we realized we had a food allergy in the group that would be difficult to work around. What restaurant offers a menu from next door so you can safely eat? Amazingly badass people. Thanks for showing us such a good time MFK. We'll be back. Also thanks for having a "girls just want to have fun-damental rights" poster in the window read more

Went her for my birthday a few years ago and enjoyed it, the service was great and good was excellent!

mfk fills a void in the lakeview dining scene by bringing breezy, beachy, bright seafood to the neighborhood, and they did it right! we stopped for lunch on their 1st day and was so impressed by how they turned a small basement ex-sushi joint into a very inviting, cheery and airy space. it felt like stepping into a cafe in a small sunshine drenched coastal beach town. the food was very solid. of course, a huge portion of the menu is dedicated to seafood: prawns, clams, scallops, octopus, sea fishes, anchovies, sardines, etc. the flavors of each seafood dish was so bright and flavorful. my favorite item were the fried prawn heads ($8), and it now also tops my list of favorite items of any menu in chicago. the frying preparation and the taste are phenomenal, and the aioli dipping sauce went so well with it. being that they open until midnight on the weekdays (and 1 am on the weekends), give me a couple orders of the prawn heads and some beer and i'm set. also really enjoyed the cobia collar seafood stew and the boquerones (sardine-y) crostini. the drink and wine menu look very promising as well, and it doesn't hurt that 1/3 of the available seating is at the bar. this is a place to which i will be back over and over! read more

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My boyfriend surprised me with a visit to this new restaurant when he'd heard it specialized in seafood dishes with a Spanish twist. I'm a born and raised South Floridian and he knows how much I miss good, fresh seafood since moving to the midwest. MFK delivered in the sense that the shrimp, octopus and scallops we had all tasted fresh and were prepared well enough. On the other hand, I can't in good conscience give MFK a four or five star review because I take issue with their pricing and portions. We do the fine dining thing pretty frequently and aren't strangers to small plates, pricey cocktails and $25+ plates. This is different. My boyfriend and I ordered three "little bites", two larger dishes "a la plancha" and a cocktail each and spent over $100 and left starving. Starving and dissatisfied. We went home to chips and salsa and felt the sting of being ripped off. That never happens at Ruxbin, BoHo or Yusho, and it was enough to make me never want to return again. Lastly, it was loud. I mean, mind-bogglingly, brain-scramblingly loud. The guest next to us was literally screaming at the top of her lungs and I fantasized about stuffing a seersucker napkins down her throat. Despite being very well-decorated, the ceilings are low and the space is tiny so it only makes the noise issue worse. Something should be done about that right away. read more

My husband and I made a last minute reservation here last night. They only had counter seating reservations available and we still took it since we knew the place is sooo tiny. We arrived 2 mins early for our reservation and were told there'd be a little bit of wait. The host offered us 2 glasses of wine as we waited for a few short mins before sitting down. He was great and we certainly did not mind the wait. We ended up ordering Cevice, 2 dishes with Mussels, and Hanger Steak, and it was seriously one of the best meals we've ever had. If you're looking for amazing seafood, you should try this place! (Order the Cevice, you won't regret it.) read more

Really great service and food. We just happened to walk by and stop in a few days after it opened. We tried the croquettes which had a good crunchy outer texture and creamy sauce to go with. Two of the owners stopped by our table to say hello and thanked us for coming in. All around good experience. read more

I lived three years in Barcelona and this little tiny restaurant reminded me of a place I used to go there. It is cozy and it is cool!! I tried 4 littles plates: - Tortilla espanola (very different from a standard tortilla): realy really good! - Octopus with potatoes and lemon alioli: soft and flavorful; - ceviche: ok go to Tanta if you want a good one; - croquetes: Oh My!! So so good! Also, I tried capirinha! really really tasty and quite strong... they didnt say on the cachaza :-) Overall, a very nice place although I think it is a little overpriced and the portions are very small... read more

One of my most favorite restaurants in Chicago. The space is fun and festive and tiny. Feels like you're in Greece or Portugal. It's tiny but intimate. The food is superb, especially the seafood. It's fresh and the menus's full of great shareable dishes. Nice Spanish wines and fantastic cocktails. Fun to sit up at the bar or come with a group of friends. read more

It was hopping at 8 PM on Sunday night! Not necessarily the best place to go if you're looking for a super quiet, low-key night. But the food was incredible, the noise was energetic, not deafening, and the overall feel was very intimate, with just a 3-sided bar and maybe 12-15 people's worth of tables. I'd drink the red-eye mustard with a straw if they let me. read more

The waiter with the pink hair is super snobby and contrary to what the site says that reservations are not required.... they are. We were promised free shots for the inconvenience.... Still waiting for them shots. SMH The food is good though. read more

We ate at the chef's corner at the bar on a Saturday night... great service all around, and everyone in the kitchen was friendly as we stared and watched their preparations. My husband and I each had 2 cocktails. They were well balanced and creative. We started with the ceviche, which was small but delicious and a great way to open up our palettes. We then had the prawn heads---- we had never had anything like it before, so it was a novelty, but they were good and the sauce was delicious. I needed the bread service for the sauce! We had the beets with goat cheese next, which was underwhelming and standard... it wasn't bad, just didn't knock us out. This was followed by their specialty, which was the scallops. They were big, buttery, and out of control delicious, and priced well. A highlight for sure. We finished with the braised beef. It was super oniony but tender and delicious. Definitely heavy. We also had the basque cake which was great, but could have used some cream or ice cream. The bill was $160 ($180 with tax) so it was not cheap, but it was so good and service was on point, so we did not mind at all. I'm giving 4 stars and not 5 because the restaurant was SO HOT. When I went to the bathroom, it was 20 degrees hotter in there. We were sitting right by the kitchen, but our server told us there is poor ventilation and it's also uncomfortable in the summer. I would definitely recommend the restaurant, but advise people to layer in a way that makes taking off layers doable! We will return. read more

Well, after months of hearing nothing but good things about mfk, I finally got a chance to try it, and I'm happy to say that it did live up to the hype. The dishes are simple but fresh and very well done. The flavor and textures are great! I really liked the tortilla with the brandade on top of it. The squid ink tostadas were excellent, as was the Basque cake. The service was friendly and the vibe was very relaxed since we went at lunch on a Saturday--no wait. Woo hoo! I will definitely be back! read more

Hidden gem of Lincoln park. It's tiny, but the atmosphere is great and the food is even better. All the servers/bartenders were super helpful, patient, and friendly as we perused the menu. Best for a twosome/date based on the intimacy of the interior in my opinion... ask for the corner of the bar- it's the best seat in the house. read more

I love mfk. Everything on the menu is damn tasty. The ceviche is a standout dish. I liked it better than Cats.

This place is tiny! But adorable and delicious. I went here a few weeks ago but am still dreaming about their ceviche. I didn't even know I liked ceviche. I think I'd order it just for myself next time! I like to try new things and I love fish and seafood so I enjoyed everything, even the one non-seafood dish. The staff was so apologetic that they were 5 minutes late to seat us, which was incredibly kind. The portions are pretty small but sooo good. read more

Not a very good experience. Very good food, but waiters very snob. I didn't feel confortable. Apparently, they didn't make reservations, but when we arrived, they said to us that they could not give us a free table. The treatment was strange and cold, like they didn't want us there. I will never come back again. They promised a shot that never came. But the worse was the look of that waiter. :( read more

Finally had a chance to try mfk on a Friday evening after passing by it almost every day due to living in the neighborhood. Was glad to sit outside, as I will say it does get quite noisy inside when the (small) restaurant space is at full capacity. Was really impressed with the menu and quality of food. Here's what we had: The ceviche (really great!); the octopus salad (have had a lot of octopus and found this dish to be above average); hanger steak; bread service. Wanted to leave room for dessert but was too full. Also, I would come back for the 'Walking Spanglish #2' cocktail alone. A neighborhood must-try; but be ready for some noise if you dine inside during peak hours. read more

I loose this place! The food is amazing! That ceviche with the ink tortillas, I need 10lbs of it! Yum-oh!!!! The stew!!!!! The octopus!!!!!!! The freaking basque cake!!!!!!! AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! Everything is awesome. And the server, he is soooo amazing! Love this place. Love it. Love it!!!! read more

Staffs are friendly. The space is tight and cramped. Food could be excellent if it went a lot easier on the salt. Had to sip water after every bite i take. Kitchen is on the slower side. Each plate was served one at a time and had to wait 15-20 in between. read more

Honestly the best seafood I've ever had. Really great service. Amazing cocktails and wine recommendations. If you plan on going here, take a few hours out of your night and just relax. read more

Tiny space, huge flavor. I loved everything about mfk - from the cozy environment, to the interesting menu (a tight selection of mostly seafood-based Spanish plates), and the personable staff. Sit at the bar so you can watch the action in the kitchen and then order the ceviche on squid ink tostada with guacamole ($14) and the cantabrian salt-cured anchovies with butter and lemon zest ($12) - you won't be disappointed! read more

I absolutely loved this restaurant. The food is delicious. The presentation of the dishes is beautiful...and the food tastes amazing. Also the staff...very friendly and their description of the dishes is exactly how you will be tasting it in your mouth. The restaurant is very cozy and everybody around us is always happy and in a good mood because the food makes your tummy feel in heaven!! read more

This place should have been so much better. The drinks are super overpriced, for one. You get a small ass glass. Secondly, the food, while it was delicious, is in super tiny portions. For the price you are paying for these dishes, something more than 5-6 bites would be nice. Also, the staff seemed a little arrogant. Whack. read more

Cute decor and the food and drinks are fantastic! Best mussels I have found in Chicago. So savory! The jalapeño infused cocktail is highly recommended as well! read more

I came a few months ago and the food and service were great. It's quaint and the waitress was very helpful in describing the dishes. However, I would recommend changing the menu so that the ingredients of the dishes are more clear. They don't list out the seafood ingredients used in all of the dishes yet it's a seafood restaurant....I didn't mind as much since I asked the waitress to walk me through the menu. However, the table next me was definitely surprised by the amount of seafood in their dishes. read more

If you give this place anything less than 4 stars you're probably having a bad day and/or don't understand the concept. Potentially, it's the first time you've ever visited a restaurant that isn't a chain. The staff is lovely. The food is exceptional. I dream of the green papaya salad. Anchovy butter? YES!! A must visit in Chicago! read more

We went here between lunch and dinner and the restaurant was empty for a change. Food was excellent - we had the ceviche, snails, shrimp salad, squid, and beef short ribs. All were excellent except I would say the snails were a bit salty. Possibly if we paired it with a sangria, the sweetness would have complimented the saltiness of the snails. Service was friendly and prompt. Would definitely come back again. oh and the ceviche was amazing. I would say the ceviche on squid ink tostada and the shrimp salad were the best! read more

Reena, the bartender, super sweet and makes you awesome cocktails. It's so like izakaya yet so classy feeling

The food is absolutely exquisite. Rich, exotic flavors. Piquant, but not pretentious. The atmosphere feels like a secretive speakeasy (and you've got the password) but the staff is still warm and welcoming. Our waiter with the pink hair was a trip--sassy, brassy and eager to please. Will be telling all my friends! read more

No wide screens. No fan gear. mfk is a real restaurant! On Diversey - not known for its food - of all places. It is more than welcome. I had a torte with codfish brandade (Sp?). Delicious. And a giant scallop. It's friendly and everyone I talk to raves about it. Good barkeeps also. read more

Absolutely wonderful! We took a chance on this new restaurant and they hit home runs on every course - and we had 4 to sample each section of the menu. Don't miss the cevice or the tuna "butter". Go early it's small and fills up. read more