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    Shaw's Crab House

    4.2 (2.8k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

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    SHAW'S CRAB HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Shaw's Crab House

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    Chilean Sea Bass
    Mike G.

    I've been here three times with groups; tonight, I came by myself and sat at the bar. I started with the tuna tartare, which I've had before, and then had the scallops, which I haven't. Both were fantastic. Service at the bar was about as prompt as bar service can be, knowing the bartender also takes your food order. I'll definitely come back. It's not cheap, but then again, quality seafood rarely is.

    Main Dining Room
    Melissa S.

    The seafood at Shaw's was spectacular! We were able to make an advance reservation for a large group. They had a decent wine selection, an oyster bar, and a tank of live lobsters. I tried the salmon sashimi, calamari, and had the seared scallops that were fresh. I could not decide on a dessert, so I went with the Shaw's Dessert Sampler that included four mini desserts and shared it with a friend. Everyone else in my party of eight enjoyed their entrees, drinks, and desserts. I would definitely go back to Shaw's again! They also hold Happy Hour in the oyster bar from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

    Lobster Bisque
    Annie Z.

    We went here for a quick dinner and sat in the more casual room where the oyster bar is. We had calamari that was delicious and ordered the seafood gumbo and lobster bisque soups. The seafood gumbo was delicious though the rice was a bit chewy/overcooked. The lobster bisque was interesting - theirs is very heavy on a brown butter flavor which I like but have never tasted in lobster bisque before. Not sure if I loved that combo but something to be aware of.

    Happy hour menu.
    Kathy H.

    My Husband and I had a great lunch yesterday at Shaws crab house in the oyster bar. Our server, Luis it was very pleasant and helpful. When we started to order oysters, he let us know that happy hour would be starting soon so they would be half price. The bloody Mary's were very tasty and the lunch special with three courses is a great deal. Old school, New England ambience makes you feel like you're on the East Coast.

    Manhattan
    Lorri P.

    New to town and it's just me and my Husband so I want to check out Shaw's. I know it's a Chicago legend spot. Made our dinner reservation for Thanksgiving dinner. My mother in law said to just valet and take cash. I always try to tip in cash. Valet was amazing, nice crew and they were friendly and efficient. It's old school vibes indeed and we loved that! We felt like we were in a movie lol Our waiter, Antonio was awesome! Top notch service!!! We got a Caesar Salad, lobster Mac and cheese, swordfish and surf and turf. Everything was TOP NOTCH DELICIOUS! WOW! We enjoyed every morsel of it. The meats tasted healthy and fresh! Melt in your mouth lobster and swordfish. Seasoned to perfection. Steak was incredible. Excellent sear! We got key lime pie to go because we were stuffed! A couple of hours we ate it and it was delicious!

    Lump Crab Cake
    Maxine L.

    Was craving some seafood, and was able to snag some reservations at the oyster bar at Shaw's. My friend and I arrived a little early, but were seated pretty quickly anyway. The vibe in the oyster bar is casual, diner-y and pretty loud. But overall good vibes. I ordered the lobster bisque and the lump crab cake. The lobster bisque was creamy and deliciously savory. It went exceptionally well with the table sourdough as well. I practically wiped the bowl clean with that bread wow. Only complaint there is that it was quite pricey, and there wasn't any actual lobster. At least that I could see. The lump crab cake was ginormous. A lot bigger than I expected. Definitely worth the money here given how much crab meat I got. It did start to get heavy towards the end, so it would've been nice for some more acidity either in the sauce or the crab cake itself. Overall, pretty good food. The soup and the sheer amount of crab in the crab cake was definitely the star for me.

    Halibut
    Amy D.

    We had reservations at 8pm on a Thursday night for a party of four. We were seated right away The tables were very close together and the ambiance was buzzing. It looks like a vintage steak house and the servers all wear fancy vests. We like that! However, the table was so cramped with dishes, drinks, and food that it made it hard to relax and enjoy the meal like we should have. Our server, Franky, took excellent care of us. He was professional and friendly. When we returned the Halibut dish for being way overcooked, he brought us a new one that was perfectly cooked and stayed at the table to make sure it was to our liking. After explaining that "we never send back food, but we had to for the price ($50)", he said we should always say something to the kitchen. They would rather remake the dish then the customer be disappointed. Other than that little hiccup, the food and drinks were excellent. My dirty martini with mignonette tincture was SO good. We had the Tuna Tartare, Yellowtail Yuzu sushi roll, and Lump Crab Cake for appetizers - YUM! The steak on the Clubroom Combo was cooked perfectly, as were the shrimp and scallops. And I thought the Sea Bass was the best dish of the night. Our generous side of sauteed spinach was garlicky goodness and fed all four of us. And because the Halibut didn't come out correctly, Franky brought us a complimentary dessert sampler. It was also delicious. Next time we are in Chicago, Shaw's will be on the dining list for sure. I wish we had a place like this is Cincinnati.

    Destiny F.

    Fresh seafood & great clam chowder, but the haddock fell a little flat I stopped into Shaw's Crab House for lunch, and while it did smell a little extra fishy inside (hey, it's a seafood spot after all ), the food definitely made up for it! I started with the mini lobster rolls and wow, they were so fresh and buttery, I could've eaten a dozen! For my next course, I had the clam chowder, and honestly, it was one of the best I've ever had. Creamy, flavorful, and comforting, even without the oyster crackers they forgot to bring. It was so good I actually ordered one to go (call it my "big back" moment, haha). For my main, I tried the breaded haddock. It was decent but could've used a little more flavor, the spinach on the side wasn't really my thing either. I even asked for some sauce to give it a boost, but it was still just okay. Overall, Shaw's has great potential and I'd definitely give it another shot, maybe try something different next time. The service was solid, and those lobster rolls + chowder alone are worth coming back for!

    My favorite oysters
    Katrina M.

    We came in and sat at the bar on a Saturday night around 6pm. There were plenty of open seats at that time but things seemed to fill up quickly after that at the bar and in general throughout the restaurant. We ordered the oyster shooters, because why not?! They were good but I wasn't impressed. Next we ordered our cocktails I chose Embers of Autumn which was very good!! The mezcal definitely gave it a smoky taste which I thought brought out the rest of the flavors too!! My boyfriend had a Negroni. We then decided to go with the oyster sampler - a dozen oysters, 2 of each variety ( Island Creek, Hammersley Inlet, Love Shuck, Flapjack Point, Black Magic, and Big Cove ) My boyfriend thought they were all fantastic, I had favorites..and those were Island Creek, Love Shuck, Black Magic and Big Cove. I think my number 1 favorite was the Love Shuck oysters. Unfortunately, I was so excited to eat the oyster sampler that I never got a picture of it with the oysters organized clockwise starting with the Island Creek at 1 O'Clock and following the order that they are listed on in the menu. The bar staff were super friendly as well as everyone else we encountered during our visit.

    Lobster roll
    Paula C.

    Visited on a Saturday afternoon. It's a staple for us--we never miss a chance to eat here when visiting the city. We sat in the Oyster Bar side and started with fresh oysters and a round of drinks. Our waiter, Valdemar, was phenomenal as always; it's incredible that he's been a fixture here for 30 years! For the main course, we ordered the lobster roll, clam chowder, lobster bisque, and the Dungeness crab. Everything was top-tier.

    Bubbles
    Christopher F.

    An absolutely incredible night dining in this one of a kind establishment. Our server was kind, engaging and helped us make the best selections. We started off with the shrimp cocktail. Perfectly prepared. We then shared a couple of roles that our server helped us pick out and a chopped salad that the kitchen split for us. We also shared the combo, shrimp, scallop, and fillet. It was absolutely perfect in preparation and size. Everything was tremendous. The dining room is layered in decades of Chicago dining history. We simply can't wait to return. Thank you for a very memorable night.

    Bay scallops
    John G.

    It's our favorite seafood restaurant because of the fantastic service and great food. Of the 4 of us, 3 of us ordered the Walleye. Perfectly done with a horseradish crust. To start we ordered perfectly shucked oysters and the lobster crispy rice. I always have to have a cup of the chowder. For sides it was the lobster Mac and cheese and the coleslaw. Franky was a great server!

    Jessica P.

    We came here with a group of people from the ace convention hardware show. Someone had picked out this restaurant and it did not disappoint. Pedro was our server and he was super attentive and gave opinions on what foods were good to get. He was professional and personable. I started off with a glass of Moscato wine. We ordered appetizers, lobster, tacos, and calamari. I also got a cup of the lobster bisque that was very delicious. I decided to get the crabcakes and a side of au gratin potatoes. I ended the meal with an espresso martini and crème brûlée. It was a great ending to an amazing meal. It definitely gives off like a 1940s five. It's kind of dark and elegant. When I come back to Chicago, I will definitely be putting this on my list.

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    Shaw's Crab House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Shaw's Crab House

    Do they have brunch?

    No, this restaurant doesn't offer brunch

    What's the dress code? Visiting Chicago for the weekend and need to know what to pack. Dress shorts ok?

    Yes! Dress shorts are fine, It's an oldschool restaurant but nicer dress is appreciated.

    Do sides come with entrees?

    Some do. Most of the steaks do not come with sides.

    Is there outdoor seating?

    No, there is not.

    Any vegan/vegetarian options?

    Yes they have the salads and I do like their creamed spinach which is not vegan but it is vegetarian. Delicious in my opinion

    I see the brunch is 4 course so no more buffet but is it still all you can eat? How does it work?

    I called them and they said no more buffet it's now $55 p/p for 4 course each person gets everything on each of the course!

    Are the "All You Can Eat" crablegs a special occasion offering or how often is it hosted?

    lokay qwl lm

    Are jeans acceptable here?

    Absolutely.

    Which days do they have live jazz?

    Tuesday, Thursday and Sundays I think but check with Oyster Bar to confirm

    What's on the kid's menu? Also price range?

    The main thing I remember is that they have great mac and cheese for kids and it wasn't expensive. But our grandkids love all kinds of seafood.... even raw oysters. So I don't recall what else they ate. The important thing is that the restaurant is… Read more

    I've heard there is a dress code to get into the dining room. What is the appropriate attire to enter the dining room?

    I have always gone during lunch or brunch. We have both dressed up and dressed casual. I don't think there is a particular dress code during the day (never went at night) But I would say you're good with slacks or no-hole jeans and a blouse/polo. Or… Read more

    For the buffet, are the king crab legs cracked for you or you have to do it yourself?

    Pankun, The Alaskan King Crab Legs are served in shell on the buffet, we find it helps to hold in… Read more

    What is the parking situation?

    They have valet parking, otherwise there is street parking, there is no parking lot.

    Hii what all you serve in buffet?

    The weekend brunch has something for everyone: - king crab legs - roast beef… Read more

    Are lobsters included in the buffet menu?

    Hi Kamil, Thanks for your interest! The answer you got so far was correct, we do include Lobster… Read more

    View All 19 Questions

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    Recently stopped by Rossi's Liquors and this place is the definition of a dive bar, in the most…read moreauthentic way possible. After a quick ID check at the door, the bouncer let us know it's cash only (thankfully we came prepared). From the moment we walked in, dim lighting, loud music, and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds gave the vibe of a full-on frat party, but not in a bad way. It's chaotic, energetic, and unapologetically no-frills. There's even a self-serve cooler with drink prices clearly listed underneath. I grabbed a Sapporo Premium, brought it to the counter, and our friendly bartender broke our change and offered a chilled glass to pour it into. Simple and efficient. That said, it was loud, so loud that even whispering-distance conversations were a struggle. The space is small, seating is limited, and since we couldn't snag a spot, we ended up leaving shortly after finishing our drinks. This feels like a better weekday hang than a packed weekend night. Still, if you're looking for a classic, gritty, no-frills dive experience, Rossi's delivers exactly that.

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    Gus' Sip & Dip - The Original Wagyu Beef Dip

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    4.5(162 reviews)
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    Awesome drinks and great vibe. Very busy but in the good way. Food was classic and fun.read more

    Sometimes you just have to show up and say yes…read more A college friend was in town, and whenever he visits Chicago, he's always looking for great bars, unique drinks, and interesting places to explore. He's deeply involved in the beverage scene, and with a partner who is starting a mezcal company, they're always on the hunt for standout cocktail programs. This time, we ended up at Gus' Sip & Dip, located at 51 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60654. While we were there, a friend mentioned that Gus' Sip & Dip has been recognized among the top food and drink destinations in the country, and after my visit, I can absolutely see why. The atmosphere is fantastic, think modern speakeasy with a touch of 1940s charm. The space features rich green tones, cozy booths, and an intimate layout that works especially well for small groups. Larger parties can take advantage of some of the bigger tables throughout the space. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful. Just be aware that this place is popular, so depending on when you visit, there may be a wait. As for the food and drinks, everything we tried was excellent. I didn't manage to get photos of everything, but a few highlights included the burger, the Italian beef dip, and the chicken pot pie. Every dish was flavorful and well executed. The cocktails were equally impressive, every drink I sampled was thoughtfully crafted and delicious. I would absolutely come back. The only thing worth noting is that it's a bit on the pricey side, but if you're looking for great food, exceptional drinks, and a memorable atmosphere, it's money well spent. If you have the budget and good company, Gus' Sip & Dip is a true gem in downtown Chicago. 5 out of 5 stars.

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    Ila's - Happy Hour bites at the bar

    Ila's

    4.9(60 reviews)
    0.1 miNear North Side

    Our family ate dinner here in April and were very impressed with the quality of the food and the…read moreservice. We had the empanadas to start and then the short ribs, a burger, halibut, and lamb birria pierogies. Everything was delicious, beautifully spiced and elegantly presented. Honestly, the ambiance was a bit loud for us, but our server was extremely helpful and moved us away from a table with one incredibly boisterous fellow. They did so discreetly and quickly and our experience was much improved as a result. The restaurant itself is lovely, with beautiful decor and lighting.

    Very cute interior, great service, lively atmosphere, definitely hit the mark on elevated casual…read more We were able to get dinner reservations on the day of. For parking you definitely should use Spothero or ParkWhiz, as it's in a very busy/lively part of River North. We loved meeting the owner who was chatting with and checking on guests in the dining room. The menu was really creative and sounded amazing, totally up my alley, so was super excited to try Ila's out for the first time. Unfortunately, and it pains me to say this, but the food itself was a miss for me, and the prices felt steep for the portions. We ordered the empanada duo, grilled scallops, birria lamb pierogis, and sweet corn agnolotti, then the Japanese cheesecake and drip coffee. The positives were that everything tasted fresh, and the flavors of the dishes were good ~ especially the empanadas, scallops, and agnolotti. The main issue was the texture of some of the foods. Other than the empanada (which had a great texture and flavor), the agnolotti and pierogi dough were not right ~ thick, rubbery, and dry, which was exacerbated by not having enough consommé for the pierogis. And the coffee - it honestly tasted like Folgers (though I'll give them the benefit of the doubt) - which took me aback as it was a $7 drip coffee. I'm not discounting Ila's and I truly wish them success. But I think there's some work to be done in terms of execution.

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    Really nice places for a group outing. The room was perfect size to move around, drink and dance…read more It was 12 of us in the room. I like that we had our own personal bartender. Drinks were very reasonable price. Tequila and cranberry was 8, 12 for a double. The jacuzzi was perfect temperature. Everything seemed sanitary and clean. I really like that they provide FREE lockers to hold our things in. They also provided a speaker so we could play our own music. Free towels but I'd bring your own sandals. I don't think they serve food. It was in the basement of a hotel but I'd definitely recommend to go.

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    Shaw's Crab House - seafood - Updated June 2026

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