Go, go, go. It's a little further away from the place I was staying at, but it was so fantastic. The place is cute, it has a "fancier" area, but honestly it didn't matter because the food was so good. The portions were large and honestly, easy to share. The fried calamari and shrimp and the shrimp scampi was SO GOOD. The cook was amazing, the shrimp were huge and had so much flavor. Something I was surprised by was the catfish. Holy crap. So much flavor and loved that it came with rice and potatoes. Get it. Just get it. The employees were efficient and helpful. If I'm in Chicago, I'll have to go back. Im dreaming of the fried calamari and shrimp combo and that catfish. read more

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Went for wife's birthday. Sat outside. Food was Ok. Service was poor. Will not be back. read more

Well, this is an update to the review I made 4 years ago. Today was a better experience all around. We arrived around 2pm and it was not crowded at all. They added an enclosed outdoor seating area, Thats lets you enjoy the breeze or sun, but protects you from the rain. It used to be a tent, so this is definitely nicer. My wife and I were seated immediately. The server quickly brought us water and garlic bread. I really like that they give you 5 fairly big pieces of garlic bread for only two people. Nice touch. We were not in a hurry and couldn't decide what we wanted so we started with the calamari salad. $29, but it's huge and chock full of those calamari guys. Lettuce is always crisp and has everything I like in it (olives, eggs, carrots, artichoke, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and romaine lettuce). We were almost full just from the salad alone. I ordered a grouper sandwich (not fried), and my lovely wife ordered the Scottish salmon plate, which comes with potatoes and grilled vegetables. My sandwich came with coleslaw and fresh cut fries. They switched to fresh cut since my last visit, and this was an upgrade. My sandwich was great, and huge too. Could not finish it. Wife's meal was a humongous slab of salmon. The veggies now come on a smaller plate, but that's okay, given the size of the fish. Service was a tad slow, but like I said, we weren't in any hurry. Total tab was $100, with tax and that pesky 3% service fee. I really enjoyed the food and the ambiance. It's not a place I can go every week, but when I can splurge, and have a taste for fresh seafood, this is the best around. read more

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Probably an unpopular opinion but a solid three all around. That could be because we came on a busy night (Valentine's Day) and/or didn't order all the right things. Either way, I'll give them another shot and try again. Upon arriving on a Saturday night, the place is PACKED. We made a reservation and were asked to wait in line. No biggie, got seated somewhat quickly regardless. Before I sound like a snob, I make reservations because my mom is disabled and can't stand. It's not walker or wheelchair friendly so glad we left that all at home. We got seated against the window squished between other tables. In a spot where we quickly went unnoticed, sadly. So far away that we communicated to our waiter via hand signals LOL it was our first time and he didn't take a moment to explain anything about the large menu. I wanted a lemony salmon and ended up with a halibut vesuvio large enough for 3-4 people! My dad somehow ended up with a lemony salmon we could have shared as well. The dishes were tasty and family style. My husband got George's scallops and it was the only decent portion for one lol. My mom got shrimp scampi and it was huge! Never seen plates so large. We also shared the Louisiana Oysters and I would pass on them next time. Maybe to try the Rockefeller. The bill came to $266 for four meals, an app and two beers. No dessert or coffee. I thought looking at the menu four times before arriving would help but nothing prepared me for how busy this place was going to be! read more

Boston Fish Market - Cajun Louisiana Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

what a DECLINE!!! Called to ask if a dish had garlic..."no nope" Can you double check? Oh oops yes. Can it be made without it? I don't know. Add onto that a price increase where a main dish can be $45 for takeout with smaller portions than they had before. Gave them one more chance-I bought some fish to cook at home. GOt to the car--it was GREY and MUSHY Sorry, have to cross off my list--I am SO UPSET read more

We've been coming here for my mom's birthday every year for the past 3 years now because it's one of her favorite place. However this most recent time we went, it was super disappointing. I personally am not as big on seafood as she is. But I'm always so excited for the clam chowder and the fettuccine alfredo. Our clam chowder came out and it was room temp. It also had this strange sour flavor. We get this every time so I know it's not supposed to taste like that. We ordered the Fisherman's Platter because we wanted to try something new (we normally order the ZUPPA DI PESCE). Please tell me why after a small bite of the perch my WHOLE mouth was coated in fish scale? I've informed the server but he told me that's how it's supposed to be. I'm sorry but I've never been to a restaurant that served me fish scale and expect me to eat it. After that, I was disgusted. I was picking scales out of my mouth for the remainder of the night. A positive note: the alfredo was still very good! read more

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I drove a long way to obtain fresh quality seafood from an independent vendor. I was so put off by the extremely unfriendly, nearly mean, service. The cashier was a jerk. I don't think I'll be back bc of that. I'll drive to a further fish market just to be treated w friendliness. Get a grip on the FOH staff. She might need a day off. read more

Ambience is welcoming. They have a huge room, with metal tables and chairs. The server was very nice. The food was very good. We ordered the Cioppino it's a platter filled with mussels, clams, crab legs, and shrimp. It's great! The lobster bisque soup was ok. It was lukewarm and not hot enough. I think if it was nice and hot the soup would have been better. Kind of disappointed, since I was looking forward to a nice hot soup especially in a cold winter night. The lamb was good. We asked for it to be cooked medium, however it was more to the medium well side. The lamb was good, but it would have been better if it was medium. The Branzino was great. Had a nice flavor and it was moist and tasty. read more

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Boston Fish Market in Des Plaines is absolutely worth the trip. The service was great, the menu was beautiful, and everything we tried tasted incredibly fresh. It's also a fantastic spot for groups, with plenty of options that make sharing easy. Overall, a great seafood experience and definitely somewhere I'd return to. read more

Boston Fish Market - Boston Clam Chowder Soup - Seafood Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

The freshest seafood in the area at a great price. Excellent whole red snapper and fish and chips.

3rd time coming here with friends and it never disappoint. The only disappointment I had is the bread. When I came couple years ago, the bread was fluffy and soft but this time, the bread was hard and chewy. The service is quick and the vibe is chill. We came during late lunch and it was pretty empty but we always make reservations before coming here. Ordered the Cajun shrimp and the grilled octopus and it was delicious. You can definitely do family style here. read more

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Consistently great meals, with high quality and portion size continuing to lead the way.

I dropped back in here to pick up a grilled grouper sandwich for the wife. The sandwich with fries is $25.99, so as always, it's pricey here, but the quality is also tip-top excellent. The pretzel bread for the sandwich was also super fresh as was the grouper. There's a 3% credit card fee these days fyi. I guess it's been over 2 years since I last step foot in here because they now have a permanently covered patio and it's a nice, airy, and comfortable setup and they now finally have comfortable seating for their usual big crowds here. It was completed 2 years ago I was told. Still a great business to have in our neighborhood. read more

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Top seafood place in Chicagoland. Thing to know is there entrées are humongous so I would start slow.

Absolutely outstanding!!!! Service was excellent. Food was excellent. I had Cajun catfish with rice, grilled vegetables and potatoes. My husband had fried catfish with fries and coleslaw. We had 2 baskets of delicious bread. We are already planning on going back! We sat outside with a great breeze on the beautiful side patio. Honestly we couldn't get over how fresh and delicious everything was. We were stuffed and still have enough leftovers for 2 meals for tomorrow. read more

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This is the kind of place people say they like because they spend a lot of money there. You have to say you like it after dropping $200, right? Nope. Not I. First let me start off with the positives. The vibe is awesome. Outdoor seating. Super chill. Not exactly scenic, but not on a main road either. You walk in and are greeted by a beautiful and copious amount of seafood. Not exactly Pike Market, but it was a good fish monger kinda place. The service. For it not being all that busy, the waiter sure took his time and forgot things. We had to ask twice for water and twice for the specials menu. After he took my card for payment, he didn't return for a while. Luckily, my company was nice so I didn't mind too much waiting. But there was no real explanation of the menu or the specials or anything. And we let them know it was our first time. Meh. 2 out of 5 The food. Louisiana Oysters. Per the description, I was expecting the charbroiled oysters from ACME in NOLA. Nope. Not even close. Over cooked and rubbery. No breadcrumbs. No garlic. But a nice amount of creole seasoning. 2 out of 5. Some off the menu pasta: my friend said she wanted a butter pasta with oil or something with vegetables and they were able to accommodate. The veggies were fresh. The pasta was great. But to be honest, I've had better at Jewels salad bar. 3 out of 5. Fried cod w/ fries: ok this was the star. The fish that is...not the limp greasy fries. The fish was spectacular. A light and fluffy texture with the perfect amount of crisp. Seasoned well and it was darn fresh. 4 out 5. Jumbo grilled shrimp: I'm sorry. But this was inedible for me. Rubbery. Chewy. No flavor. Too much of a bite to it. I struggled to eat one. 1 out 5. Drinks: yeaaaa. 5 out 5. Will I come back? No. Maybe to try a lobster roll. That's about it. I had a really high hopes for this place. Been wanting to go there for a couple years and finally got around to it. So disappointed. I initially gave this place 2 stars but my friend called me a Karen so I'll begrudgingly bump it up one. Oh yeah... Calamari. Not bad at all. Huge portions. 4 out 5. read more

Absolutely unbelievable probably the best salad I've ever had cozy environment off the beaten path location. Excellent Service loved every minute of it. read more

Boston Fish Market - Fried Alaskan Cod and Calamari salad - Seafood Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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First, the fried catfish and shrimp were delicious. Even the coleslaw was good. I was super disappointed that the fries tasted horrible. They were limp and soggy. I purchased a carryout order. It was only a 15 min drive. I don't know if they need to pack the food differently for the fries. Everything else was great! read more

Boston Fish Market - Fried Jumbo shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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Huge portions, decent value, but under seasoned. I used to love Boston Fish Market, was great for portions and value. But the prices have definitely crept up. Still good value since the portions are huge, but I think the seasoning could use some work. Had the fisherman's platter which was an assortment of fried fish, smelt, perch, walleye and tonnes of fries. But the problem was that the fish was under seasoned (no salt). The lemons helped a little a long with the sauce, but I feel it could have used more seasoning. Frankly not the worst thing (lower sodium), but with fried food, the right salt is essential. Had a good amount leftover and it crisped really nicely in the air fryer. I'll still come back for a special seafood experience but the aura of the Boston Fish is waning for me. read more

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Have been many times with wife and addl family. Best fresh fish in Chicago area. Clean, fast service ,and at a friendly atmosphere.

Well this has to be the best seafood I ever ate in my life I really right thank out Lord and Jesus Christ for Boston Fish market in Chicago the food is literally a 10/10 I'm not really a seafood person BUT this made me love it I REALLY TYJ for this restaurant may god bless all of you The service is amazing the bread and oil. Is a 10 really the food is amazing I highly recommend it I had a very good time at the restaurant I really enjoyed the food I enjoyed the people the experience is a 10 I loveee it I will be back soon read more

Boston Fish Market - AMAZING - Seafood Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Fresh Fish Always! Staff is AMAZING; they go above and beyond. Delicious Food All The way around. Try the Clamari read more

Amazing vibes, view, service, food! It was super pretty and the portions were huge! I loved the patio seating! read more

Boston Fish Market - Bar area - Seafood Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

This is my third time dining here and I will surely be back. This place has the best seafood! This visit we started off with the Oyster Rockefeller, Cesar Salad and Saganaki for appetizers. I really enjoyed the Parmesan Horseradish crusted Salmon. My children had the Fettuccine Alfredo Jumbo Shrimp pasta which they enjoyed. We had a fried shrimp dinner, Fisherman Platter and a few other dishes which everyone loved. The service was great too! Unfortunately the menu had an option to add peppercorn on your steak which my husband ordered for his Ribeye and turns out that was no longer an option which we found out after receiving the food. That was the only downside to the meal. I am glad they added the enclosure that allows for dining in any weather; great investment! read more

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Our favorite restaurant. Outstanding seafood. Especially love the Oyster Rockefeller and crab legs. Generous portions. Outstanding service as well. read more

This place has gone downhill. My friend and I had lunch today and we each found our food pretty bad - whitefish sandwich and fried smelts. Bad tasting; fishy. The smelts were enormous and boney. Worst I've had anywhere. We left most of our meals on the table and departed, resolving not to come back. I've had restaurant meals occasionally that I didn't care for. But can't remember the last time the food was just BAD. Further, the prices have gotten ridiculously high. Who are they kidding ! read more

Must visit if you are craving for great seafood and Mediterranean. Its greek place and has tons of options for seafood. I'd visit here again read more

Boston Fish Market - Seafood Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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Came here on a Wednesday night with family and the restaurant was pretty packed. We ordered a bunch of seafood samplers for the table to try because it was a huge group of us. Both the grilled and fried samplers were amazing! I think we all liked the grilled a bit more cause it was more flavorful. We ordered the zuppa di pesce because my aunt and uncle heard great things about it from their friends whom have been here before. We were stuffed by the end of the night and had some leftovers. I think we ordered too much for a party of 8 because we weren't all big eaters but was super satisficed. You will see a bunch of fish tanks as you walk into this seafood restaurant and the word "fresh seafood" is just screaming at you. The dining area isn't huge but it's good for all types of party sizes. I cannot wait to come back here again because it was definitely worth the price and the server was really helpful/ had a ton of patience knowing that it's our first time dining here. I would definitely recommend coming here in a big group so you can try all the different seafood options here! read more

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Been to both locations. Food is what one would expect. Service at both locations is slow and can be aggravating to be sure. We will not be going back even though we are close to the location on Wheeling. We do not pay an extra service charge to eat. Restaurants need us not the other way around. There are too many other restaurant, seafood and other, that do not charge an additional fee for using a credit card. This restaurant is in our rear view mirror. Other restaurants consider no rxtra fees a cost if doing business. read more

We're a family of big seafood fans and I'm so glad I finally made the trek out to the burbs to try this place out. We got the Cajun oysters, which were so tasty, a fried seafood sampler platter that was bursting with oysters, shrimp, scallops and fries. We also added the Chilean sea bass platter, which was so fresh and deliciously tender. We sat inside near the case of fresh fish for purchase. I was impressed that I detected no fish smell whatsoever--just shows you how fresh everything is. The outdoor seating looked really scenic, but we decided to sit inside for quicker service. Service was fine, nothing extraordinary, but competent for a big busy restaurant. Loved this place and hope to be back soon. It was too hard to decide what to get and their specials sounded amazing. read more

Wow! Way over priced...overcooked lobster roll. Roll was bigger than the lobster meat. Barely got lobster for $32. Mound of fries took out 2/3 of the plate. Not Boston like at all. read more

On 07/01 ....Our waiter went on break after he took our food order. I cannot make this up..We never saw him again...I had to go ask the cocky ignorant girl at the register to get us our three drinks. She said she could not give me any drinks. I need to get them from the waiter..I explained the waiter is missing over 20 minutes now and our food was on the table...She did not care, She ignored me,,, I had to also go back to beg the ignorant girl for the bill...She said I needed to get from the waiter...I do not like to tease people that are mentally handicapped. That is beneath me...But they should not be working in this certain job and capacity...I had to get the bill from another waiter,,who told us our waiter went on break...Break?? He was gone over a half hour...if that waiter did not hear us talking, and volunteer to get our bill. I was leaving. I am not begging for the bill... The place is at least 85 degrees inside,,The did not seem to have air conditioning...This is the only restaurant with no air when it is 97 degrees out side... The worst service on 2026 to date... read more

Boston Fish Market delivers, YET AGAIN! Where do I even begin with my review? I've been coming to Boston Fish Market for YEARS now - and every time I've had a meal here - whether on my own or with my family - it has been absolutely fresh, delicious, and a wonderful foodie experience. It's time I finally write a review on one of my all-time favorite seafood spots in the Chicagoland area. This place is a GEM! I live a-ways-away-nowadays, but anytime I am in town, my dad will suggest swinging by Boston Fish Market and my family's answer is always a RESOUNDING yes. Whether it be their fried fish specials, salads, appetizers, or their dinner platters, anything you order is guaranteed to be good. Ever since the latest remodel, the dining experience has been incredible! I love that the outdoor patio has a retractable roof - so that we can get the outside-dining experience on beautiful-weathered days and to stay cozy on treacherously cold winter days. No matter the weather, the ambiance here is always comfortable! The service is always exceptional as well. Staff members are so polite, attentive, quick, and contribute to an overall wonderful dining experience! The following are the menu items which I've had, all of which I rate a 10/10 on freshness and flavor: Fried Alaskan Cod: This is one of the first menu items I have ever tried and it is CONSISTENTLY delicious. You can't go wrong with a perfectly fried piece of cod, that is flaky, tender, and delicious. Squeeze with a spritz of lemon and a dollop of tartar sauce and you'll be in HEAVEN! Fried Lake Superior Whitefish: I ordered this the last time I went and was supremely satisfied with the texture of the fish and the flavor. This is certainly something I'll be ordering again. Fried Alaskan Cod Fish Sandwich: When I don't feel like having the fried cod stand-alone, the cod fish sandwich is an excellent alternative! There's nothing like a fried fish sandwich with a bed of crispy and yummy fries.. I'm getting hungry just thinking about this. Swordfish Dinner: This was the first meal I had where I experienced swordfish and MY GOODNESS WAS THIS GOOD. Perfectly grilled, so tasty, and addicting. This is a dish I love sharing with another person - as the portions are large. I'm not the biggest fan of the rice and veggies on the side, but I don't mind. The swordfish is the main start anyways! Fried Calamari: Crispy, fresh, and perfectly cooked! Add a fresh spritz of lemon, dip in the sauce, and you've got yourself a wonderful appetizer! I don't order this often, but have enjoyed it the handful of times I had it. Chef Louie's Charbroiled Alaskan Salmon Salad: This is my sister's favorite menu item to order and it is a LOADED salad! So beautifully loaded with all sorts of yummy accoutrements; feta cheese, olives, hardboiled eggs, artichokes, pepperoncini.. what's not to love about a well-dressed salad with a heaping of freshly charbroiled salmon on top? Also, the garlic-parmesan bread that's brought out at the beginning of the meal is always so warm and delightful to munch on. Overall, I highly recommend Boston Fish Market to all folks that are within driving distance or just passing through the area. It is more than likely you'll have an exceptional foodie & dining experience. Cheers and here's to the good life through good eats! read more

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My husband and I made reservations for Saturday night and it didn't matter. The gentleman just asked "how many" and seated us right away. We were greeted by the waiter right away, ordered drinks and appetizers. The drinks were good and the seafood was fresh with good portions. We ordered our main meal, it took a long time for our food to come but it was well worth the wait. Portions again were very generous, seafood was fresh and tasty. Ambience was nice and the restaurant was clean. read more

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Boston Fish Market was my longtime favorite spot for fresh seafood, but lately it's been underwhelming. Here's my honest take after several visits: The Good * Raw Oysters: Still a standout! If you're a fan of oysters, you can count on them to deliver quality and freshness with these. The Not-So-Great * Seafood Combo Disappoints: The seafood combo isn't what it used to be. Quality's been slipping, and the seafood just doesn't feel as fresh anymore. * Self-Service Hassle: When you sit outside (usually my choice to avoid the strong fish smell indoors), be prepared to do a lot of self-serving--getting your own napkins, sauces, and sometimes even your food. It takes away from the experience. * Indoor Experience: If you can handle a strong fish market smell, indoor seating is available but not for everyone. Overall I used to rave about this place for reliably fresh catches and easygoing meals. These days, I'd mostly go for the oysters, but I'm not as excited for the rest of the menu. If freshness matters most to you, know it can be hit or miss now. The ambiance is still casual, but unless things turn around, I might start hunting for a new favorite seafood spot in town. read more

Boston Fish Market - Seafood Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

We started with the saganaki and clam chowder both were delicious. For our main, we shared the cioppino. It was amazing. The service was excellent. It's kind of weird that you're eating on basically patio furniture, but We will definitely come back. read more

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The food seemed over priced. Portions were decent. I found it comparable to Cullver's fish dinner.

Late lunch and no wait. So many choices and all dishes were fresh and delicious. Atrium patio is a great option but we enjoyed the AC. Service was exceptional. Quality comes with a price and it is worth the dining experience. read more

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I took my dad here for his birthday in April and absolutely fell in love. I brought my girlfriends back here for dinner last week and they fell in love with the place too! The ambiance is fantastic, my waiters on both occasions were super knowledgeable and helpful with recommendations. The drinks were well made. read more

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We had dinner reservations at 5:30pm Saturday night. We were seated right away and were served garlic bread and water before even ordering. Even though they were busy, they didn't rush us while half of your table was running behind due to traffic. Amongst 4 of us, we ordered a Quart size Boston clam chowder, fisherman's platter, and fried calamari to share. The food was plentiful and we enjoyed our meal. Their seating is divided into closed patio area and market seating. With the lighting in closed area, it created a good vibe but not too formal. Will be back but must be larger party to try a variety. read more

Boston Fish Market - Fisherman's Platter and Fried Calamari - 1 lb - Seafood Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois