Always a great time at Shaws. The service is impeccable: our server chatted with us all night, the bussers were quick to clean off the table in between courses, & our waters were never near empty. Last time I was here I definitely overlooked the sushi, but this time we tried the spiny tuna and the spicy crab crispy rice and both were *dare I say* as good as nobu's. Will definitely be getting that next time I come back. All the mains were perfectly portioned, I didn't leave feeling gross & over stuffed, but if you're a really big eater or come super hungry I'd suggest getting a few more apps or sides to share! read more

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Came here on a Friday at noon with a party of 8. The restaurant was already packed and busy but they managed to get us sat in less than 2 mins which was amazing. Definitely has its own atmosphere different from any spot feels very old Chicago. Our server was attentive and took our orders immediately. They have a variety of seafood (and non seafood options). My group ordered the Oyster sampler platter although, I did not have any the presentation was elegant and they loved the oyster choices. They also ordered oyster shooter drinks they mentioned it had a variety of taste between the claims, tomato juice and vodka. Luis our server was great with switching out orders when my friend saw the "Lent Special" as well. Our food came out fairly fast especially the appetizers but we did have a huge group and a ton of entrees. The clam chowder was really good had to order a second. The crab cake was bomb and so was the lobster roll. Would definitely come back just for those two items. read more

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I don't know if there is a better seafood house in North America today. I love to sit at the bar and take in the festive scene with Sinatra's version of "Cheek to Cheek." The staff at the bar is superb you will have a great time. I had a quickj trip this Saturday and loved the seafood gumbo, sourdough bread, oyster sampler, and the Maryland crab cake--not a backfin cake but excellent none the less. Shaw's and Gibson's sit atop the upscale Chicago restaurants in my opinion--Chicago my kind of town! read more

We came in later in the evening and got a seat in the bar area! Food and ambience were on par as always! Our server Kevin however made the evening, engaging, kind and very attentive! We'll be back soon. read more

Amazing Clubroom Combo! Outstanding service, drinks constantly topped off. Laid back, classy environment! read more

Shaw's Crab House - Clubroom Club Room Combination - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yippee! I was so excited to go to Shaws for dinner with friends. Because of my food allergies, I always check out the online menu. It looked appealing... but some not so. I had a bowl (not cup, there's a large portion difference between the 2) of clam chowder. It had black pepper on top, which if I had known, I would said no to the extra. Not my thing. The soup was good and generous amount. It was, like restaurant food goes, very salty to my palate. I would not get again be ause if that saltiness. I then opted for fish and chips. Literally have not had fish & chips in an easy 10 + years. It got rave reviews and I understand why. Big portion and really really good. I'd order this again. Had to wrap it up, as it was too big. 2 of my friends got the raw oysters but I was afraid of eating them. I love them, but in case I got sick, not saying they did not look great, but I had something too important the next day to risk it. 2 of my friends got them and LOVED them. Said very fresh, lacked that overly fishy taste. Service was great and on-point. They do offer valet parking. I'm not crazy about there location. Beware!! I walked alone around 6:30 pm (it was dark out) on Wabash to the Hubbard street stairs and literally, some hooded guy "ran" across the street to stand by the Hubbard stairs. I doubled back to the apartment building next to it to wait for more foot traffic. It's dark down by where Shaws is too. They should be lobbying for more lights in that area, if they arent already. Sketchy area. Outside a pleasant experience for LEYE. Not sure if I'd go back unless it was light out or in a group. read more

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During our visit for restaurant week, the specials lacked uniqueness. The Cesar salad and shrimp cocktail were standout choices. I ordered the salmon, which, though okay, had a smaller portion for the price and lacked crispy skin. My boyfriend enjoyed the 1/2lb crab and 1/2lb shrimp with sausage in a bag, but I found the bagged presentation unappealing, especially with the peculiar garlic butter flavor. Consider trying their Cajun butter instead. The restaurant offers visually appealing live-shucked oysters, they looked super fresh and tasty. This is probably what most people should come for. I would come for the three course meal. This place is best for just appetizers and get dinner elsewhere. Be aware of the automatic 18% gratuity fee, slightly inconvenient, although I might have tipped similarly. Service was a bit slow, perhaps because the server knew the tip was guaranteed. For dessert, skip the cheesecake and go for the tiramisu - a superior choice! The cheesecake is regular frozen strawberry cheesecake. The tiramisu is pretty great. The key lime pie was unavailable, so that might be the best dessert here - I wouldn't know. The pomegranate martini caught my eye, but I wasn't interested in drinking alcohol today. read more

Get your big shoulder suits on and bust out a pre/post meal cigar. This is old school Chicago cool in full effect. Great service, every time, and fantastic seafood. One of the best --if not the best-- places for oysters in the city. Entrees are fancy but accessible and sides are bomb (shout out to truffle mashed potatoes). Also, save your pennies for this night out because you're going to splurge! read more

My recent visit to Shaws for a Father's Day dinner offered a mix of pleasant dining and notable drawbacks. The experience began with a challenging entry: six steep stairs leading into the restaurant, presenting a significant obstacle for elderly and overweight patrons. Observing several guests struggle, it became clear that the restaurant lacks proper handicap access, which is a considerable oversight. Upon entering, the ambiance is divided into two distinct sections. To the left is the bar and formal dining area, exuding an elegant and refined atmosphere. To the right, the oyster bar provides a more casual and relaxed vibe. We opted for the formal dining side, anticipating a special evening. Despite many available booths, we were initially seated in the center of the room. After requesting a corner booth, it took about five minutes for the staff to accommodate us, even though the restaurant was not particularly crowded. This delay felt unnecessary and somewhat set the tone for the service we would receive throughout the evening. Our server began with a lengthy 5-10 minute introduction about the menu, which added little value since all the information was readily available on the menu itself. His frequent absences of 10-15 minutes made it challenging to get timely assistance, and I found myself pulling him over multiple times for various requests. On a positive note, he was very attentive regarding my dairy allergy and took extra care to ensure my dietary needs were met. However, he neglected to proactively check the ingredients of dishes ordered for the table, requiring me to ask about them when they arrived. The busser, tasked with refilling water and clearing plates, performed admirably despite a language barrier that made communication slightly difficult. His attentiveness contrasted sharply with the server's sporadic presence. An unusual policy restricted iced tea refills to the server, leading to long gaps between refills due to his frequent absences. The food itself was largely impressive. For appetizers, we ordered the cocktail shrimp, lump crab, soft shell crab, and calamari, all of which were delicious and well-prepared. Our entrees included the surf and turf and Alaskan halibut, accompanied by sides of Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and mashed potatoes. I expressed my reservations about ordering the halibut, known for its tendency to be dry and tough. The server confidently assured me it would be moist and tender, so I decided to trust his recommendation despite my initial hesitation. Unfortunately, my concerns were justified: the halibut was indeed dry and chewy. The server apologized, but by then the damage was done, and my disappointment lingered. Despite these setbacks, the overall dining experience here had its merits. The ambiance was enjoyable, the food--aside from the halibut--was excellent, and the busser's diligence was commendable. However, the inconsistent service and accessibility issues are significant areas for improvement. In conclusion, Shaw's has much to offer, and with a few adjustments, it could provide a more seamless and inclusive dining experience. The quality of the food and the pleasant atmosphere make it worth a visit, but I hope for more attentive service and better accommodation for all guests in future visits. read more

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Quality of food wasn't good and price was high. Service was good! But didn't justify the cost by any stretch. Ambiance was too crowded, and tables were very close together. Was expecting more of a formal dining experience, and instead felt like a waste of an outing. read more

This place was recommended to us. It is a very charming, bustling seafood place. The servers are well-versed in what they are serving, and proud. Seating was comfortable. The atmosphere is amazing, and the decor is very Chicago. There were six of us, and everybody loved their meal. Caution, it's a little higher priced than I expected. But all of the seafood was obviously fresh, the vegetables were done just right, the pastry on the wellingtons was flaky and delicious, and the drinks were made just right as well. read more

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First time here was very pleasant. We came for cocktails but also enjoyed a few bites. Service and ambiance were solid. No complaints. read more

Shaw's Crab House - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I enjoyed dinner at Shaw's during a business trip in Chicago. I had a phenomenal experience! We were a group of 9 and the service was great. I loved how expansive their menu was and the decor/ambiance. We got a few of the oyster samplers, so I tried many of the oysters they had an I enjoyed every single one, especially if you like things a bit more salty like I do. I also tried the mussels (delicious), shrimp tempura sushi, and a lobster sushi I believe (although I don't see it on the menu). I loved the taste and the variety, everyone in the group was able to get something they loved. This place is on the more expensive side, but worth the try! read more

Still a great Chicago institution. I have dined at Shaw's several times and never leave unhappy. Whether going for a big night out or a quick snack the large menu has something for everyone. Last night my wife and I sat a a table in the bar and enjoyed some great drinks along with outstanding shrimp cocktail, lobster tacos and yellowtail tuna with apple vinaigrette - YUM! Our server was on the ball, never pushy but always made sure we had what we needed. Fresh seafood and great drinks always works. We have also dined here with our young children and they love it too. A casual, lowkey place with very very good seafood. read more

Chicago Favorite!! And even more so today as they were able to seat our party of 5 without a reservation. 3-course lunch was enjoyed by our whole party. Lobster bisque was so flavorful on this cold afternoon. California roll and crispy tuna rice were so fresh and balanced. Filets were perfectly cooked with great flavor, fried shrimp were huge with a crispy textured non greasy breading, We also added a crab cake entree as we never leave Shaw's without eating one. Wonderful start to 2026! read more

Absolutely FANTASTIC. From the greeting at the door (and acknowledgement of notes on our reservation; one in our party has Celiacs and one was celebrating a birthday), to spectacular service (by our waiter Cory), to the fantastic food. We will definitely be coming back on every trip into Chicago. Our overall experience cements this as a must stop every time in town. read more

Everything about Shaw's is consistently amazing. Have dined her many times and do not understand the poor reviews. The service, food, and drinks are always impeccable and the ambiance is great. I prefer the oyster bar side, as it's very lively. Now that I don't live in Chicago anymore, we make it a point to dine here every time we visit. You will not be disappointed! read more

The tuna tartare and the seafood gumbo are great appetizers. For the main dish, the seafood pasta is delicious. I love this place. It is so classy. read more

Shaw's Crab House - Tuna Tartare, Seafood Gumbo are great appetizers. And the Seafood Fettuccine is delicious. I love this place. It's so classy. - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We visited Shaw's on a mini-honeymoon. If you love oysters, you must go. This is a beautiful spot where the oysters take center stage. The ambiance is upscale, but our service was lacking (we think our waitress was just having an off night). Here's how I played it... Appetizer: One dozen oysters on the half shell (6 different types from west coast to east coast). Complimentary pretzel bread also served. Salad: House Entree: Shaw's Seafood Platter (garlic shrimp, scallops, crab cake and jasmine rice) plus a side of fried shrimp and fries- we're definitely indulging on our honeymoon! Dessert: chocolate layer cake Cocktail: Agave by the Sea As mentioned, the service was not commiserate with a fine dining experience. Our waitress did not help us with staging, so we waited a bit between courses. Also, we asked for cocktail sauce without horse radish atop and she gave us argumentative attitude. Did we mention we're celebrating? :) We had to ask for refills on iced tea. Her service wasn't enough to ruin our time at Shaw's, but it kept it from being a 5-star experience. read more

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First off, I honestly didn't go in here thinking it was going to be a 5-star restaurant but boy was I pleasantly surprised! The individuals who work here (the ones we interacted with at least) were all super friendly and honestly, very knowledgeable. I felt like our waiter knew the menu like the back of his hand (shout out to Christop). He answered all of our questions promptly, gave good recommendations and also really took my food allergy in to account. He also checked back with us multiple times. The food was AMAZING. Everything was really fresh and cooked perfectly. I had the Mahi Mahi dish and then we all split oysters, crème brûlée for dessert and also tried the calamari & tuna tar tar (not pictured). I didn't like the tuna tar tar on top of the guacamole because I felt like the guacamole overpowered the actual tuna. The calamari was really good and the pieces were pretty big, which I prefer VS the small ones. The oysters were perfectly balanced with the saltiness and a squeeze of that lemon. Now, the Mahi Mahi... where do I begin?! It was probably the best Mahi Mahi I've ever had and I've had this fish at multiple different restaurants. It came with brussel sprouts and this chipotle flavored sauce and it was such a great combination! I ate the entire thing. The atmosphere is very calming. It's more of a mature crowd and we actually enjoyed that because it was really relaxing and we felt like we didn't have to yell across the table to talk. The inside has an older, rustic style to it and just makes you feel like you're truly at home and comfortable. My friends and I will absolutely be back! read more

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Solid seafood restaurant in the heart of the city. The interior is cute and charming and the service is nice, quick and friendly. I tried the half dozen oysters, shrimp cocktail, and the Maryland crab cake with a side of brocollini. Everything was delicious. read more

Absolutely terrible. Drinks took 30 minutes. Appetizers almost an hour. At one point I had to go looking for condiments. When the waiter came back he SLAMMED it on the table. Our waitress finally came back with 2nd order of drinks, now we are at just almost two hours, and she said "I heard you were angry"... Seriously, we waited 30 minutes for our drinks and then had to go looking for condiments, i am not angry, i was absolutely surprised at the lack luster service and rudeness. We paid over 500.00, NEVER again. . LEAVE THE SERVICE INDUSTRY IF YOU CANNOT DO YOUR JOB. Shame on Shaws for hiring read more

Was excited to try this restaurant had good reviews. I ordered the surf and turf with the steak cooked medium and it came like shoe leather. Sent it back and never received it again. Ordered a drink and never got it. The bloody Mary at the bar was good. There's too many other great places in Chicago to try. Would recommend Hugo frogs, sienna, the Luxe bar. read more

A great spot especially because of the ambiance. It feels like you're back in time and the food selection is great. We had oysters and lobster bisque, salmon poke bowl and tacos and fresh cod with mashed potatoes. Everyone loved their meal and drinks. The poke bowl rice was a little off but considering it's not their specialty, no biggie. Cant wait to try their crab and other items! read more

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My expectations were high and I was let down low. My family and I went for Thanksgiving dinner. The positive attributes of this establishment is the service and ambience. However the food is lackluster and bland for the expensive price tag. We had the lobster tacos for an appetizer which was very fresh and delicious. I also ordered a bowl of gumbo which was delicious and was actually the best thing I had eaten all night! For my main course I had the lobster Wellington which looks very fancy but tastes like something that was bought from the freezer aisle at Aldi. I was so disappointed in the food and even more upset when I saw the hefty bill. I wish I would have stayed at home instead. This place is very overpriced and over hyped but if you have no taste buds maybe you would enjoy this establishment. read more

Shaw's Crab House - Seafood Gumbo - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Solid 4-star experience. Shaw's is a tale of two dining experiences....on one side is the more formal, on the other is the Oyster Bar. We sat at a high-top in the Ouster Bar and it was great. Attentive staff, great food and high energy. It's not a place necessarily for those on a budget but I bet if you study the menu you could put together a less expensive meal than we had. The gilled calamari is worth the trip alone. Cooked perfectly and huge portion (better to share). Crab-cakes, too, were exceptional as were our mains (Haddock and Tuna). Given the crowd, I would suggest reservations. read more

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Food is delicious. Bring those coins and eat good. Good atmosphere and servers. I'll be back!

How can you not like Shaws? Used to live across the street so used to go quite often! The food is INCREDIBLE, drinks are amazing and the service is always spot on! read more

Had a great meal at Shaw's. Great old school seafood with perfect service and food. I had the caesar salad with anchovies. And 4 oyster Rockefeller. Fresh oysters and delicious food. My friend got the seafood salad. A delicious salad with light dressing and full of, shrimp, oysters, crab sooooo good. Loved the old school atmosphere of the busy white tabled cloth restaurant. read more

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We visited this place for our last night in Chicago. It was very beautiful place. Service was great. Plating presentation for the entrees were pretty lackluster. For the amount paid the portions could be bigger or at least better presented. Looking back at the photos and it's a bit underwhelming. Clam chowder 5/5 Super good. Reviews said that the clam chowder was really tasty and I would have to agree. We licked the bowl clean. Lobster bisque 4/5 Lobster bisque had a lot of chunks of lobster bisque. We fairly enjoyed this. Truffle mash potatoes 4/5 Was a good side. It was very smooth and had a strong truffle taste. On the lighter side, could have been a bit saltier Steak and shrimp and scallop with rice 3/5 Food all cooked to perfection. The plate overall was bland and not too memorable. Oysters 5/5 Good variety of East vs west coast oysters. Kids fish and chips 2/5 Fish batter was super bland and overall flavorless. Fries were plentiful. read more

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Had a delicious meal with my daughter to celebrate her anniversary with her wife. My swordfish was so moist and tender, and her filet came out perfectly. Corey, our server, was kind, attentive, and professional, and he gave me a great wine recommendation. The dining area is a little big and crowded for my taste, but I guess you gotta make room for all the people that want in. read more

We stopped by on a snowy afternoon. & grabs some seats at the bar. There were seven of us & the bartender had no problems keeping up with our drinks & food orders. We started out with oysters of course. So many selections to choose from! They were fresh & shucked right in front of us. Delicious! Onto the rest of the menu.....so much to chose from! Sandwiches, seafood, & great steaks too! Personally, I got the large lump crab cake appetizer. It really was amazing! Another favorite was the crab cake BLT sandwich. In addition, one of the people in our party ordered the twin filets which she thoroughly enjoyed. I wondered if this place was worth all the hype & it really was, even though we were only in the bar. Definitely want to go back again! read more

Shaw's Crab House - Inside the bar - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We miss their Sunday brunch, but decided to come for restaurant week. The menu was classic and we were very excited about a seafood forward night. We were seated quickly and service was very strong. Water filled constantly and wine came out quickly. We weren't offered the restaurant week menu until we asked for it. Our food started out really flavorful and small, but reasonable portions. Exactly what we would want for restaurant week. The restaurant continued to fill up and then our service and food pacing slowed way down. I could tell our waitress was over extended and felt bad, but entrées and dessert (which required no prep really) took over 30 minutes between them and we waited quite a long time for the entrées. We had already been there for over an hour and the desserts were the only miss flavor wise; I was also sad not to be offered coffee. When we finally flagged someone to pay the bill, it was a bit convoluted, but we finally sorted it out. Restaurant week is hard and we enjoyed most of our food so will be back. Give yourself time though! read more

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We had an amazing dinner at Shaws. We ordered Caesar salad (super fresh), crab legs (to die for), the rolls (amazing), fried calamari, friess the list goes on! Pedro was so accommodating and a phenomenal server to us- our friends were super late and we ended up being at the restaurant for a total of 3.5 hours (they joined us almost 2 hours in)- we of course were eating and ordering drinks along the way but he was just amazing! I can't wait to come back for more crab legs next time! Thanks Shaw's! read more

Good food, drinks and service. The atmosphere is old school. Could see a lot of deals having been made here back in the day.

On a business trip in Chicago, and I decided to treat myself to a nice seafood dinner. Shaw's is a Chicago institution. I started with a half dozen oyster sampler, and a martini. I then began asking for recommendations: the bartender was filled with them, and had tremendous knowledge of the menu. First recommendation was the steamed mussels in a garlic cream sauce. Incredible. Flavorful, plentiful, and the broth was rich and seasoned well. Second recommendation was the jumbo lump crab cake. Again, spot on. Meaty, incredible fresh flavor that wasn't overwhelmed with breadcrumb or aioli. Accompanying sauce was delicious as well. The old world atmosphere of Shaw's added to the experience as well. This was easily the best dinner I've had in 10 years. Looking forward to visit again. read more

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This place reminded me Of Old Ebbits in DC, had reservations for 8:30 on a Saturday night and it was pretty busy. The food was a bit slow to come though. But the service was great. We had the oysters which were fresh, I had the Ahi tuna, which was cook medium rare, the dressing was delicious, a bit sour but just right. Had the cocktails which were very well made.I'd say a bit pricey for the quality. But you pay the price for eating in a bit of an upscale old downtown establishment. read more

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I ordered takeout so can't give a full review, but the experience was good nonetheless. the oysters rockefeller was tasty, albeit a tad overpriced - you only get 4 oysters for $20. the hostess was very prompt and friendly. the ambiance is nice, however, it may be a little outdated/old-fashioned. i would return to try more items and give a more comprehensive review. read more

Our favorite sea food restaurant in downtown Chicago. Bone in Ribeye was juicy and seasoned to perfection. Twin lobster tail was fresh and went well with the melted butter. King Crab Legs was a hit at the table(had to steal one for the pic). Also recommend trying out the a la carte sides of spinach, mashed potatoes or wild mushrooms. Thank you read more

Shaw's Crab House - Bone-In Ribeye - 16oz* and Broiled Twin South African Lobster Tails - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was not my first time dining at Shaw's, but the first time I ever would rate it a 3 There was nothing wrong with the service, cleanliness or staff but rather the quality of food.. Took my husband for his birthday so we didn't hold back on appetizers (spicy shrimp maki and 1/2 dozen oysters) which were great, but the quality of the dinner entrees was not there. I ordered the Shaw's salad which I've had a few times before and felt the quality of lettuce declined and not as much seafood as in the past. My husband got The Signature Entree which came with Alaskan crab legs and he upgraded the 2 filets for a 16oz ribeye ($132). He was pretty let down with the quality of steak meat, he felt it was low. He said it was more of skirt steak quality. Then the crab legs were fine but the overall value was not there. We shared the lobster Mac but you could tell it had been sitting in the window and was more runny than cheesy. There were nice enough to bring out free chocolate cake for dessert which we ate up! Sadly I don't plan on going back not bringing clients here for a meal anymore. P.s. they no longer do brunch read more

Shaw's Crab House - The Signature with Bone-In Ribeye - 16oz, Lobster Mac & Cheese and Shaw 's Signature Chopped Seafood Salad. - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois