Fish Town
Chicago may not have an ocean nearby, but our lakeside city is full of seafood restaurants making a splash around town.
The unstoppable force known as Mercadito Hospitality continues to spread its wings with its latest venture, Mercadito Fish. After ravishing diners with their tacos and cocktails at Mercadito, slinging quality quick service at Mercadito Taqueria, and teasing late-night diners with promise of Mexican hot dogs via Mercadito Counter, their new nautical venture navigates the seas with fish-filled menus all day long. It takes the place of Little Market Brasserie in the Gold Coast, awash with items such as smoked fish dip, Ensenada-style fish tacos, squid a la plancha, clam chowder, shrimp cocktail, grilled wild salmon in tamarind BBQ sauce, tuna tataki sandwiches, and lots more. Considering Mercadito’s track record for sharp, refined flavors and diligent preparations, this bodes well for seafood-lovers in Chicago.
Diners can now get a taste of the ocean in Lakeview, thanks to the arrival of mfk., a cozy and spiffy seafood eatery that derives its name from famed food author MFK Fisher. The lunch and dinner menus get crafty with dishes such as crunchy prawn heads; suzuki ceviche with squid ink tostada; cherrystone clams a la plancha with chervil butter; and salt-cured anchovies with buttered bread. Fisher would be proud.
For those looking to keep things even more casual, turn to one of the slickest neo-shanties in the city. Brown Bag Seafood Co. is a new entrant in the burgeoning Lakeshore East area, brimming with quick service comfort foods of the saline variety. Walking into the polished space, you feel like you’re going for a jaunt along a seaside pier, with decor reminiscent of a captain’s quarters. Grab a paper menu and use a pencil to check off what you’d like to order from the various categories. Diners choose from seafood that is “not crispy” or “crispy,” as a sub, a salad, tacos, a power box, or straight up on a platter. Fish options include teriyaki scallion salmon, Mediterranean tuna salad, shrimp, and crunchy fish bites. There’s also chowder, various cole slaws and tater tots, and vegetable sides.
Rosebud Restaurants recently rounded out their repertoire with Joe Fish, their most nautical venture to date. The glistening River North bastion is the handiwork of chef Joseph Farina, who leads the charge on dishes such as oysters Rockefeller, poached lobster salad, lobster rolls, bouillabaisse, and Nova Scotia swordfish with jalapeño pesto.
Mercadito Fish
10 E. Delaware Place, Chicago
(312) 640-8141
Website
mfk.
432 W. Diversey Parkway, Chicago
(773) 857-2540
Website
Brown Bag Seafood Co.
340 E. Randolph Street, Chicago
(312) 496-3999
Website
Joe Fish
445 N. Dearborn Street, Chicago
(312) 832-7700
Website
