We arrived at Dancing Marlin around 3:15pm on a Friday, just as the early dinner crowd was beginning to arrive and happy hour (3pm-6pm, Monday through Friday) was getting underway. The interior is very inviting, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It's a versatile space that works well for a romantic dinner, a casual date night, or even an evening out with family. We were promptly greeted by the hostess and seated at a table near the front window. Our server, Naomi, welcomed us right away and immediately made us feel comfortable with her friendly and engaging personality. She brought water to the table, took our drink orders, and returned quickly with our beverages before checking if we were ready to order. After answering a few questions, we decided on the fresh oysters, four-cheese flatbread, and pork belly tacos. The oysters were served first, and Naomi took the time to explain their region and variety, which added a nice touch to the experience. They were fresh, clean, and nicely briny. The four-cheese flatbread was rich and flavorful, made with fresh ingredients that really stood out. We also enjoyed the house-cured pork belly tacos--the meat was tender and well-prepared. I requested the toppings on the side, which was accommodated without issue. Overall, we had a wonderful experience. The service, atmosphere, and food all came together nicely, and we'll definitely be returning again soon. read more

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I will start by saying my only con was the portion sizes for the price. I was left wanting more, but the food is delicious and the manger came through for us when we were about to walk out disappointed. We wanted something other than just burgers again, so I proposed seafood. There didn't seem to be a lot of options in this area, but Dancing Marlin seemed to fit the bill and was pretty close. Before going, we looked at the menu, and there really wasn't anything my little one was going to want on the kids menu - there was no seafood for the kids, not even a basic fish and chips. He saw the lobster rolls appetizer though, and that sold him, so we got in the car and headed down. When we went to order, the waiter told us the only thing they were out of was the lobster rolls, but when we asked about the lobster gnocchi that my other son was about to order, they said they could do that, so I asked to speak with the manager. She explained that they only liked to use big whole pieces of lobster for the lobster rolls, and that is what they were out of, but had the smaller pieces they normally used in the gnocchi dish. I asked if she could do the lobster rolls with the smaller pieces, and she confirmed with the chef so we were back in business. The food was all excellent. I had the seared ahi and it was delicious, but was just a small portion for my liking. The scallops my wife had were delicious, but for $38 it was only 4 scallops. Maybe kids who live around here don't want fish when their parents do, but you should at least have a kids portion of fish and chips, or some fried shrimp on the menu for them. I'm not going to order a $27 fish and chips portion for a little kid, but he also didn't come to just eat chicken nuggets or buttered noodles. read more

Great menu with great combination of flavors in every dish. It's become one of our family's favorite spots. Try the fresh fish with the risotto! Service is good and personal, and the atmosphere is casual with a touch of romance. read more

This is a great spot to grab a bite and have a drink. We came during happy hour and took advantage of the $7 specials. Everything was delicious! read more

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This is becoming my favorite restaurant for gluten free food. They have a great variety and the staff are so nice. Definitely a place to go for all occasions! read more

Dancing Marlin - Gluten Free Lobster Bisque & Gluten Free Crab Cake - New American Near Me - Frankfort, Illinois

There are meals you remember fondly. There are meals you forget immediately. And then there are meals like this--where the experience itself feels like it's actively discouraging you from ever eating again. Dancing Marlin, on a quiet evening in Frankfort, was somehow both dead and overwhelmingly loud. The kind of contradiction that should be studied. Outside of us, the dining room was empty--except for two adjacent tables of what can only be described as "Eddie Murphy superfans," locked in a loop of loud, uncontrollable laughter, talking over each other like they were competing in an improv showcase nobody asked for. Any attempt at ambiance died somewhere between their vocal chords and our table. We were seated right next to them. Not near them. Not adjacent. Right next to them. Escape was not an option--only endurance. The staff, to their credit, seemed aware they were in a situation they could neither fix nor survive. Service carried the nervous energy of people trying not to make eye contact with chaos. The kitchen, meanwhile, smelled less like a restaurant and more like a fish market that lost a fight with itself. Then came the salad. A $16 kale salad, described with confidence: Tuscan kale, Marcona almonds, hemp seeds, Grana Padano, Meyer lemon dressing. What arrived looked like it had been dropped on a golf course and mistaken for turf repair. First bite: olive oil. Second bite: olive oil. Third bite confirmed the hypothesis. Any nuance of ingredients was theoretical at best. Texture-wise, it didn't so much eat as submit. Overdressed doesn't quite cover it--it felt like someone tried to solve kale with oil and gave up halfway through thinking. There was a brief moment of clarity: this is not just bad--it's confidently bad. The kind of dish that makes you question both pricing and decision-making in the same breath. Everything else in the room faded into the same background noise: laughter, shouting, and a level of social volume usually reserved for emergencies or bad sitcoms. At $16, it didn't feel like a misstep. It felt like being politely robbed while someone explains Eddie Murphy impressions inches from your ear. By the end, the experience had fully settled into what it was: a loud, smelly, overconfident restaurant with a salad that belongs in a cautionary tale. Would I return? No. Not in this lifetime. Not after the salad from hell. Not after the sensory overload masquerading as dinner. Just a glorified Red Lobster memory with better lighting and worse judgment read more

Love the shareable plate concept. Service is usually great and fast. Lobster rolls are delicious.

Our party of six had a very disappointing experience at The Dancing Marlin. Our server, Elena L., started off pleasant enough, but things quickly deteriorated as the restaurant got busier. When it came time to order dinner, I asked her to skip me and come back after taking everyone else's orders because I was still deciding. She took the rest of the table's orders and never returned. I eventually had to flag her down so I could place my order. As a result, everyone else was well into their meals before my food arrived. There was never any acknowledgment of the mistake or apology for forgetting to come back. The food was equally disappointing. We ordered the Herb Fries appetizer, which were described as hand-cut fries with herbs and garlic aioli. What arrived were plain skinny fries with a bland dipping sauce that bore little resemblance to garlic aioli. I ordered the Grilled Shrimp, described as citrus cumin glazed gulf shrimp with sweet potato wedges and Brussels sprouts in orange miso butter. The shrimp was so heavily charred that all I could taste was charcoal. The glaze appeared to have been burned off completely, leaving the shrimp dry and inedible. My fiancé ordered the Chicken & Tortellini, which is advertised as containing hand-torn basil. The dish arrived without any basil. When he asked about it, Elena first brought out a small cup of dried parsley, then later told us the restaurant didn't have any basil. Our reservation was at 6:00 p.m., making it surprising that they were already out of a key ingredient. More frustrating was the fact that there was never an apology or acknowledgment that the dish was not being served as described on the menu. The chicken in the tortellini was also dark meat, which was not disclosed on the menu. While that may not matter to everyone, it is something diners should know when ordering. The prices were very high relative to the portions everyone at our table received, making the overall value disappointing. The one bright spot was Stephanie, the lead server, who listened to our concerns, apologized, and ultimately comped both meals. We appreciated her professionalism and willingness to help. Unfortunately, the atmosphere wasn't much better. The music was so loud that the six of us could barely have a conversation without raising our voices. Mistakes happen, but good customer service can often make up for them. What stood out most throughout the evening was the lack of communication, accountability, and basic apologies from our server. Between the service issues, menu items that didn't match their descriptions, poor food quality, loud atmosphere, and poor value, this was not the experience we expected and not a place we plan to return to. read more

Me and my family had a great time here! The food was good and came out fast! My lobster gnocchi was perfect and had the perfect texture along with the lobster bisque that was the perfect flavor. The inside of the restaurant was lively and the music was my type. Our waiter was nice and brought things out with pace, not wasting a single minute! The bone marrow my dad got was surprisingly good and it was my first time trying it and I tried it at the perfect place. Definitely coming here again! read more

Dancing Marlin - Lobster Bisque - New American Near Me - Frankfort, Illinois

We sat at the bar and selected a few small plates and cocktails. Our bartender, Shannon, was beyond helpful, guiding our choices by describing the menu offerings in detail. The roasted bone marrow and the crab and avocado tower she suggested were standouts. My mango tango cocktail was the perfect combination of sweet and fire. All in all, a wonderful experience. Definitely will go back. read more

Went in for my 21st birthday and got denied because "using a vertical ID is illegal. There's no way I'm spending my birthday at a DMV. Off the bat, the bartender seemed out of it (she never held eye contact, eyes red and darty, and kept twitching at her raw nose). Clearly she has some outside of work hobbies but can't a girl get just a drink for her first legal birthday?? read more

I love this restaurant. The scallops are extremely well done. The drinks (Mango Tango) are my favorite to get. The service has been exceptional every time we have gone. No complaints at all! The ambiance, dark and quiet, very moody but very nice! Love this place. I do recommend the scallops. read more

This is the 3rd time I have been to the Dancing Marlins. The food was delicious and fresh. The service was outstanding. We were at the bar first and ordered the Mango Tango till our table was ready. When we got to the table our waiter Justin was awesome. He was very attentive and didn't hover which we appreciated. I will most definitely be back as soon as it warms up I wanna sit on the patio! read more

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They have changed their menu. They now have fish which is delicious and not fried. They now have healthy rice. They now have a great salad. They had none of these things before all they had was a lot of pork and a lot of fried fish. It's a complete turnaround. The place is pretty. The help is good our waiter's name last night was and everything was good. Even their coffee was good so this is an easy five star for me. read more

Elevated dining is what Dancing Marlin does best. We've been here a couple times and really enjoyed the crab cakes with chili oil and the crab with avocado tower. The spicy fried chicken was tasty. Grouper tacos were well seasoned and flavorful. But the star of the show this time were the mini lobster rolls which are absolutely delicious. They also have a large drink selection with cocktails and wine on tap. Will definitely be back to try more. read more

Small dish shareable plates great food. Have been several times always busy and very friendly not trying to get you out

We were intrigued by the menu and stopped in a few weekends ago. We had made a reservation for a Saturday night but not really needed. They had a large outdoor that I would have loved to enjoy but since it was a little hot out - nobody was outside. The waiter claims they're more a shared plate type of place, but not sure I would agree with that statement. I sometimes feel places say that in order to get you to order for food. We got the Spicy Shrimp , Crab Cakes and Kung Pao Cauliflower. All good dishes, but my husband loved the shrimp and I loved the crab cakes. Good place - good menu. Being that it's a good distance from us - not sure it would be worth the drive to come again, however. read more

First time here, love the way it looks cozy. The server Zoe did a great job making sure she was there for us and explaining the whole menu and the specials for the day We ordered so many different things, they were all good, see pics read more

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I brought my family to the Dancing Marlin for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner and the sole reason for picking this place was that one of my daughters is on a pretty restrictive diet, and The Dancing Marlin had a flexible menu that featured made from scratch dishes that were also made to order. As such, we were able to modify some dishes to make them allowable for my daughter to eat. The interior space itself is pretty casual, and has a "seafood market" vibe even though the menu features plenty of dishes suited for land-lovers. Our server Stephanie was excellent. One of the better servers I've had recently, and this level of service really goes a long way in elevating the whole dining experience. She was helpful with the menu when it came to my daughter's diet, and if the food itself had been on par with the service, this place would definitely warrant a return visit. Sadly, it just fell short of expectations when it came to the taste and price-point on the food. They advertise that the dishes are designed to be shared, and they are, but unfortunately none of the ones we sampled really blew us away. Not that any of it was bad, it was just pretty average overall. read more

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I planned my birthday lunch here and it was PERFECT for my family. First of all the restaurant is beautiful and in a great location. The menu was wonderful offering great vegetarian and vegan options. The food was delicious for everyone. The food was fresh and our server Stephanie was great! We took beautiful pictures and plan to be back! What a great birthday for me Thanks to Dancing Marlin for accommodating my large family. I cant wait to come back on a beautiful day and dine on the patio! read more

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Been coming here since they open several years ago. Even if you are not a seafood lover, there is something for everyone. Have had larger parties in their downstairs area, birthdays, wonderful brunch, business lunch, and evening dinners. Great tasty food and quality in each time I visited. Friendly staff and service. Be sure to sign up for their frequent diners rewards program and get points for discounts! For private events they have the downstairs area and handy for elevator for those with trouble for stairs. They have a little area by the front where a smaller party could take place. Reasonable rates and great service. read more

Dancing Marlin - Nice Inside seating - New American Near Me - Frankfort, Illinois

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I really love this place! Our host was warm and welcoming. The decor, the plants, the beautiful patio, and fun lights really set an amazing ambience. The food is also delicious! We ordered crabcakes, mac & cheese with bacon, and mini peanut burgers. The drinks were superb! "Love the Lavender"was my favorite. Our server was super fun! Andrew was playful, enthusiastic, and made great menu suggestions. He added so much to our experience. This place is perfect for friends or date night. I can't wait to visit again! read more

Dancing Marlin - New American Near Me - Frankfort, Illinois

Food was very good. Prices were reasonable. Service was a tad slow. But staff was friendly, Is return

Dancing Marlin was a wonderful choice to host a brunch. Had access to a colorful private room which is prefect for small parties. The added tablecloths and flowers really made the room festive. The staff were friendly, accommodating, food was delicious and the Bellini bar was a big hit. Prefect! read more

Good experience overall. Food was delicious and we especially enjoyed the sweet potato fries. If you're in the mood for something new and have room in your budget for a pricer meal, It's definitely worth checking out. read more

One of my favorite places! Food is always fresh and amazing. Jessica was our server, very knowledgeable and helpful. Top notch service!

Tried them for the first time. Ordered takeout. Great service and ambience. The food however.... I ordered shrimp and grits and the charred brussel sprouts. The shrimp was served with cheesy grits and a cream sauce. What I got was a shrimp cream soup. There were about 6 large shrimp. There were 4 or 5 slivers of andouille sausage. But everything was swimming, drowning in a cream sauce. There was so much sauce that the grits had dissolved in it. It was not possible to get just a spoon of grits. You got cream sauce with some bits of cornmeal floating in it, like eating soup with rice. The charred brussel sprouts were long past charred and were flat out burned. They were burned and bitter. They were drowning in an orange miso butter, but the only flavor that came through was salt. So $17 for a plate of burned salty brussel sprouts. Not worth the price. read more

My husband and I had dinner at the bar last night. Shannon was our server/bartender and was amazing. She was attentive, gave us food suggestions and some drinks that would pair well. When I was torn between two tap drinks she did not hesitate to allow a small sample to help me make my decision. As a vegetarian she made sure to ask about any food intolerances or allergies she needed to avoid. She was friendly, had conversations with us like our needs were her first priority. I will be coming back and hope when I do Shannon is working. Best food, ambience, and service I've had in a long time. read more

Went here with my husband and two daughters on a Saturday night. It was crowded, but it's a smaller restaurant. We had reservations. It's a darker ambience, perfect for date nights although there were a few tables with small children like us. Our server was great, she explained the menu and specials. All of our meals were excellent, steak was prepared well, portions were good. Only thing I didn't care for was the Mac & cheese side, taste was great but it was a tad dry for Mac& cheese, definitely needed more of the sauce served with it. We will definitely be back because I saw a few other shareable side options that I want to try! read more

Hands down my favorite restaurant in the area. The space is clean and beautiful, the service is always wonderful, and I love trying their small plates. The menu is designed to be shareable (if you want to, no pressure!) I've tried quite a few things but my favorites are the birria tacos, the lobster rolls, the focaccia and olive plate, and the grilled ribeye. They always have fresh oysters and they rotate so there's always new ones to try. Please keep the kunamotos around, they're soooo good! I usually get a couple shareables but their entrees look really good too. Brunch menu is tasty as well, the chicken n waffles and country fried steak have been my faves. Cocktails and wine on tap, so you can do a cocktail flight which is pretty cool. Nice wine selection. The service is always 5 stars no matter where you're sitting. Service is attentive but not suffocating. The manager Jackie is so sweet and will table touch with the guests which is a nice touch. 10/10 every time. Already planning my next visit. read more

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Not only was this our first time at Dancing Marlin, but it was also our first time eating at an American Tapas (small plates) restaurant. I was a little concerned that we'd still be hungry, but I'm also taking Saxenda, so my appetite may be light either way. I must say, although it was a little pricey, I liked the tapas style dining because it was like eating multiple appetizers and sampling everything. At Dancing Marlin, I enjoyed the dining space and delicious food. We tried bacon wrapped sausage and figs, chicken bites, truffle and parmesan fries, mini lobster rolls (not on the menu, but we saw it advertised on the website - yeah weird?!), and flourless chocolate cake. Needless to say, we were stuffed! They should definitely add the lobster rolls on the menu and all-year round. The flourless chocolate cake was my absolute favorite. I would have given this place 5 stars, but the price was more expensive than expected. read more

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Our group heard about the fried chicken special. For $30.00 bucks we thought that it better be good. The FRIED CHICKEN is awful, flavorless, and greasy. Gas station chicken in Mississippi is way tastier than what we spent $60.00 for 2 dinners. Then the waiter said that they ran out of chicken for my dinner, then said let me check. (This was at 5 PM on Wednesday the special day and they run out, there was 1 other table seated at this time. So what???) He returned and said they found more. Dinner came out and it was one short to his surprise. 15 minutes later the final dinner showed. The sides were bland, the cornbread dry, slaw??, the fried looked good but not so much. We had been there once before and were not impressed but got conned into going back BUT NEVER EVER AGAIN. read more

Andrew was our waiter. NOT only he is a waiter and also a cook at "Dancing Marlin." Ask for him, he's funny, friendly, knowledgeable about the menu. The wines that Dancing Marlin have are "on tap" and the special drinks are made daily. Every three months , they rotate their beer out. This restaurant has dimmed lighting making it a good ambiance for couples or for families. For dinner, I ordered roasted bone marrow. The bone marrow with sea salt, crostini, & onion jam. As for dessert, their salted caramel is the popular gelato flavor. We ordered their raspberry sorbet. read more

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We ordered the salmon, this meal listed squash, potatoes, and kale. However, we were served less than 1/4c of grape-size potatoes split into halves mixed with bits of squash and kale garnish. It looked like a kid's meal for $32 each. When you leave to go eat elsewhere that's not reasonable and devalues customers. Still tipped the nice waitress, would have given more if we weren't hungry. Ask lots of menu details if you go...I didn't and this place was a mistake for us. read more

From walking in the door to finishing the meal and walking out, it was an excellent experience. Food was fantastic. It was our first time, so the sweet waitress explained to us how to order, like tapa's. It was so fun to eat our way through the menu. We were there for 4 hours and never felt rushed to leave. Wine was really good too. I will be back, especially when I have guests in town. read more

Food tastes great and good portion size. Our waiters were very helpful in explaining the menu options and giving recommendations. Service was on point. They had a all male staff. read more

Absolutely delicious food! So fresh and innovative. We were just there for a light lunch but I will definitely return to sample more of their menu. The appetizer special: burrata and stone fruit was scrumption. The burrata was clearly house-made and was served with a variety of stone fruits (peach, plum, nectarine) and toasted bread points. Really, I'm still dreaming about it. We also shared the salmon with teriyaki-glaved vegetables. The salmon was perfectly cooked (an uncommon treat!) and the sauce was delicious. Could have used a bunch more vegetables. Lovely outdoor patio with sun shade, ceiling fans and landscaping. Feels sheltered from the road. One point off only for the server balking at separate checks for two people and letting us know that "it's not our policy to do this, so if you come again, they might oblige." This should be standard practice: it's a courtesy in general AND those of us who travel for work must have a separate, itemized receipt for expense reimbursement (not just a check divided equally). read more

I was looking to try a different restaurant & saw this place featured on Chicago's Best a few tears ago so my family & I decided to give it a try in a warm 80 degree day. Menu is limited, consists of small bites, small portions. The food was presented well,but it was all consistently bland and lacked seasoning. My family & I ordered a variety of dishes but all agreed everything fell short of flavor. The drinks were refreshing for a warm summer day & the outdoor patio was cute & shaded but we were constantly being bitten by mosquitos in the area. Their outdoor area needs to be sprayed near the landscaping. We couldn't sit comfortably because the bugs were either dropping in our drinks or biting us. I would return (only if in the area) for drinks but nothing on the menu was tasty enough to make my taste buds dance. read more

Had heard about this restaurant from a number of people and thought we'd try it out ... especially for the fish on a Friday evening during Lent. Three of us dined in and had a number of items. One in our party had the Lobster Rolls with a side of fries (a 5 star offering for the lobster rolls which were perfectly done and piled into soft rolls); another in our party had the Halibut (a 3 star meal which was a very nice piece of fish but unremarkable otherwise ... and certainly not shareable size as the waitress had told us); and the last in our party had the shrimp cocktail (another 3 star offering, mainly because they were on the small size and plated instead of put in a cocktail glass ... which is more customary for finger food). They advertise that meals are shareable, and this we found was only correct sometimes. The lobster rolls were certainly shareable, but the normal fish portions were not. Nice ambiance in this little restaurant, sort of like a medium sized fisherman's shack. Two rooms ... one side quieter and more romantic, and the other side more noisy and families with kids oriented. They have a nifty way of serving wines in that they are all in much larger containers and are essentially out of a tap. If you want a bottle, they can do that but it really came out of a tap. Nonetheless and regardless of packaging, the wines were very nice. Best part of the meal was the Lobster Bisque Shooters (5 star offering of luscious Maine lobster, cream, and brandy) ... served in what looked like a demitasse cup. Worst part was the price points; we know seafood is expensive but roughly $70 per head before tax with only 5 drinks among 3 people was a bit pricey. Anyway the food was good and we'll be back, but just not right away. read more

Lovely ambiance, I especially appreciate the variety of gluten free dishes (marked on the menu.) The Little Bit of Chicken Fried was delicious and tender - - that Louisiana hot sauce spice/kick clearly makes its distinct presence. Main dish was the St Louis Cut Bbq Ribs - awesome home made bbq sauce was a win, although the apple cole slaw side was a bit of a dud, thankfully I didnt need it. Fries were good. I was with a large group, food came fast after the orders were made. Much appreciated, great service from Andrew. Had read more

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