We stopped into the Dancing Marlin last night for dinner with a few friends and it was exceptionally tasty as usual! This is our new favorite place in the burbs as it has all of the quality and class of the high-end places downtown Chicago but is closer to home. I can honestly say that you won't find many other restaurants around serving up food to this level; you can really tell they care about the quality of the ingredients and thought that they put into each and every dish. We try to go here at least once every two weeks as they are always offering some type of special, whether its one of the many flavorful & unique seafood entrees or one of the delectable desserts, there is always something new and exciting to try. By now we have probably had almost everything on the stinkin' menu, and seriously people, its all delicious!! The "tapas" style sharing concept is a lot of fun with a nice group of friends or family or even just for two, we always leave well-satisfied. This means that you are not just walking in and ordering an appetizer, main entree, and dessert--it is way more fun than that! I would suggest for a couple to order at least 4-6 dishes before getting dessert. For a group of 4 people, I would suggest at least 6-8 dishes before dessert. You can figure it out from there if you are in a larger group, it really depends on how hungry you come. We always love to start out with an order of the Fried Kale, fries, or both if we are really hungry! Then we move on to the tacos/sliders/flatbreads--in these three sections you really cannot go wrong, we have tried them all and they each have their own distinct and unique flavors, but if I had to pick my top two favorites from each category, I would choose the chickpea and smoked trout tacos, the Fried Green Tomato and Sloppy Joseph sliders, and the Mushroom and Sausage flatbreads. (At least 2-3 of these are usually prerequisites each time we go here.) From there we move on to the Play Nice Share section and our absolute favorites are the Ahi Bruschetta, Scallops, Gnudi, Pork Tenderloin, and new addition of the Braised baby octopus. Lastly for dessert, once again you cannot go wrong here--all AMAZING! I would suggest that you try them all at some point (don't worry, once you go here you will be coming back and get to try another one next time). The dessert of the day has never disappointed either--always yummy! The wines and cocktails on tap are very fresh and always a good compliment to the meal. I personally love the "Scofflaw" which has whisky, vermouth, lime, and house-made pomegranate syrup. We also enjoy the Chardonnay and the Sangria. The atmosphere and decor really hit the mark in matching the high-end classy feel while it still being able to be comfortable, casual, and fun. We love to sit at the "community table" next to the kitchen because it is great for a big group. Or if its just the two of you, you can meet new people while sharing the table. Its also really cool to be able to see right into the kitchen and watch all of the action. We also just found out that they have an entire lower level that hosts banquets or meetings--I am totally going to recommend it to my cousin for her wedding rehearsal dinner. Well, what more can I say!? If you have not been out to the DM yet, get there!!! I highly recommend it, you will not be disappointed! read more

This is a fine dining experience, sharing is the key here...portions are small, artfully created and nicely presented. Menu advises gluten free, vegan etc. which is helpful...I have caeliac disease so gluten free is what I need. My wife loved anything with fish and she really enjoyed dining here, we're repeat customers. The cocktails are awesome, we both had the margarita, which is quite nice, somewhat different tastes than you might get elsewhere (they use blood orange in this concoction). Wait staff very pleasant, helpful and the owner circulates checking tables for opinion, as well as clearing dishes , etc. It has generous seating areas which we observed filling up quickly. We've been there on early Friday evenings. Don't miss this restaurant!! read more

Service was slow maybe we pick a wrong night the food was cold . Not much more to say won't be back

After eating here my wife and I were surprised at the 4-star average. The presentations looked more appetizing than the actual taste. Of the six plates we had five were just OK: Calamari tacos - corn tortillas were a perfect fit and these were our favorite. Shrimp banh mi - the bread overpowered the one shrimp in the slider and it didn't resemble authentic Vietnamese flavor. There was something too sweet on the slider which tasted a bit funny. Spring salad - could have used a bit more dressing, but not bad. Short rib pierogis - dough was too thick and it was smothered in too thick gravy. Scallops - bland and slightly undercooked. They needed about 20-30 more seconds and the pickled corn did not taste well. Ahi bruschetta - good flavor but could have been great if there were less greens and a thicker piece of ahi. The tomato was twice as thick as the fish. Overall the layout of the place was a little funky but the concept of the menu was great, which is why we chose this place. One thing that disappointed my wife is they didn't have the option to make non-alcoholic cocktails. Their cocktails are premixed. So it does make us wonder how good can a premixed cocktail be. The choices were, soda, lemonade, cranberry juice or water. But it just left us feeling a bit underwhelmed, even for a suburb place. read more

Great food and amazing service! Rick did a wonderful job with our drinks and food recommendations! Love the portions and that you can try many things! Again, outstanding service from Rick!!! read more

One of my wife's and my favorite restaurants. The seared scallops are some of the best I've ever had. If I had to choose between these and the scallops I had in Vegas at Gordon Ramsey's Pub, I pick the Dancing Marlin every time. Our server, Lexi, was kind and attentive. Always a great experience. read more

My husband and I eat here frequently. The staff is friendly and the food is creative. I do wish there were a few "healthier" items on the menu but the portions are the right size. read more

We've been meaning to go to this place for over a year and finally did it. What a nice surprise! The food is excellent and we can't wait to go back. The crab stuffed peppers are simply perfect. We also had fig in the pig which was delicious. Service was good, chef came out to say hello which was nice. The atmosphere is lively. We had a wonderful time and will definitely be back. read more

I was in the Dancing Marlin last Sunday, June 7 '15, for the first time and for brunch. Atmosphere pleasant as were the staff. Loved the cloth napkins. I was thinking they would have a buffet set-up, but I was mistaken - a limited brunch menu. I ordered the "shareables'" chorizo and avocado tacos. But the two small tacos, I thought, inappropriately reflected the price, and by no means filled a lunchtime appetite. We ordered the biscuits additionally to fill our empty bellies, they were good but pitiful, three very small biscuits were presented. I will try them again for dinner, but won't be back for brunch. read more

I love this restaurant because they have a dedicated gluten free fryer to complement their gluten free menu. It is rare to find a restaurant that cares as much about my health as I do. Not only are the waiters well trained, the chef was available to answer any questions I had. I felt very comfortable there and I'm happy to say it was a great dining experience. read more

I come here often with my girlfriends & we always enjoy it. The food is wonderful & staff is friendly. I like how they finally dimmed the lights more. It was too bright. Just add a little music for ambiance. Other than that, really enjoyable here. You won't be disappointed. read more

The best dinner i've had in a long time! Great food and great service! The only unfortunate thing is that it's hard to get a reservation last minute. read more

I was interested in trying this restaurant out since I LOVE tapas and seafood and being from the area was hoping to find a decent restaurant close to home. I have to say I left very disappointed by the limited overpriced selections and will not be going back. Compared to other tapas restaurants we have been to this one is limited on the selection and I feel they provide smaller portions than normally seen in other "small dish" establishments. While the taste of the food was good, it was not anything to write home about. Drinks are also on the pricey side. Wife and I each had a glass of Sangria and we shared 3 "dishes" and the price was over $60! We had planned at having drinks after dinner, but at that price we decided to go to another great restaurant in downtown Frankfort that is much more reasonably priced. One thing to keep in mind, don't be fooled by the $$ rating given for price. Remember that the dishes are all small sized (3-4 pieces of whatever you order, excluding the flatbreads). In reality the price is more $$$. read more

Just read abunch of the reviews and wonder if itbwas "justme", but inspite of the food being good and inventive the service and concept was very confusing. It started with the "koolaid" drink selection which the waitress could name but not explain. Our party of 4 ordered one of each but couldn't tell one from the other. We were advised to order everything at once which is crazy in a tapas style venue. As I said, e verything, other than the drinks, was great but we just needed a better informed tour guide to get us thru. Will give it another try. read more

Fantastic! Great service. Gina is helpful. Everything on the summer menu was scrumptious. Trout tacos to start. Cabbage paired well. Octopus ala plancha was tender and smokey. We were given an order of fries because of an accidental kitchen mixup (they had an extra order and didn't want to throw it away). A wonderful gesture. Heirloom and burrata was blast of summer. To my surprise the turtle cheesecake bites were possibly the best of the night. I'm not a dessert guy. Most definitely coming back. So many wonderful options. A must! read more

We had New Year's Eve dinner and it was delicious! We wanted seafood and the choices are pretty limited in the area beside a chain, so this fit the bill. The Alaskan crab legs were so easy to get the meat out of and were fantastic. We enjoyed the Ahi Tuna and the sea scallops, melted like butter in my mouth. Tried the b & b salad -another delicious choice, with roasted cauliflower, bacon, and goats cheese. Cocktails and wine-2 thumbs up. The service was friendly and Karen, our server gave good recommendations. A little pricey but worth it. read more

I would like to preface this review with the fact that I have never written a review for anything. I often don't feel the compulsion to put my opinion on the internet but Dancing Marlin is the exception. This restaurant is absolutely amazing! From the ambiance to the service to the food. Oh the delicious, out of this world food. The location is convenient to get to from the I-80 corridor. Nestled amongst many familiar corporate food chains and retailers, the Dancing Marlin has taken over what appears to be a now defunct fast food chain but don't let that discourage you from dining. The walls are adorned with many interesting paintings and tchotchkes. The main piece is a twenty foot marlin hanging on the wall. The cleanliness is outstanding and put me to ease as I have been to many unkempt restaurants. Overall I would give the atmosphere a 4 out of 5. Then there is the service. The absolutely attentive and outstanding service. We were greeted by the host, Joe, as soon as we walked in. It was 7pm and I told him we had a reservation for 7:15pm. My friend and I were promptly seated anyway. We were then greeted by our waiter, Jay. I started by telling him that I wanted one of everything on the menu due to my research of the restaurant on yelp. He laughed and said we could definitely do that. Jay then began by telling us about the daily specials and asked if we wanted any drinks. We ordered our first round but more on that later. He quickly returned with beverages in hand. We then began our order. Jay told us exactly what he recommended and why. His knowledge of the menu and culinary arts was astounding! He was easily provided one of the best dining experiences that I have ever had. Overall I would give the service and Jay a 5 out of 5. Then there is the food...the mind-blowing food! The menu has quite a bit of seafood but also offers quite a selection of turf based food for those who get squeamish with the thought of seafood. The American tapas style made it all too easy to try so many different dishes. I, personally, love to try as many things on a menu as possible and the small plate concept is perfect for sharing. We started with the deep fried kale and the gnudi. Both great dishes but the gnudi stood out. They are delicate ravioli balls with ricotta in the middle. Amazing! A must try for cheese fans. Then we ordered the bone marrow and yellowtail sashimi. The bone marrow is terrific the way it's served. They bring it out on a cutting paddle with crostini, sea salt, and a small dish of slow roasted pork. This pork is a punch in the face of sweet and smoky flavors. Jay highly recommended this and he was not wrong. The sashimi was delicate and light with a outstanding pistachio gravel. We then order the crab stuff peppers, also recommend, and the pig and the fig. These were phenomenal! The peppers were the perfect amount of spice, crab and delicious. The pig and the fig had to have been created for the lovers of the pig. It is Italian sausage wrapped in bacon. Delicious, delicious bacon. Because the portions are small yet filling it allowed for my friend and I to share everything, including dessert. She ordered the peanut butter semifreddo and I had the milk and cookies. Both of these are an amazingly creative take on classic desserts. Then there are the drinks. I started with a cucumber cocktail and my friend had a rum and rye old fashioned. Both great drinks and mighty powerful too. We both then ordered a marlin dance which is three smaller versions of there signature cocktails. The menu is right, they are small but they are mighty. The bill at the end of it all felt as if i had recieved one of the best deals of my life. Overall I would give the food and drinks a 5 out of 5. The Dancing Marlin is an absolute gem of a dining experience. Whether you on a date or having a business meeting. They accommodate parties of all sizes. I can't recommend the Dancing Marlin enough. It takes courage and a creative mind to bring such a daring and bold establishment to Frankfort, Illinois. Usually you would only see this class of restaurant in downtown or north side. I for one will be back as many times as my schedule permits and I can wait for the brunch! read more

Delicious food and a wide variety to choose from made this a great dining experience. The server was knowledgeable and attentive. I would definitely go back again. read more

This was our first time trying this restaurant and we've lived here for quite a few years. The experience was fantastic! The atmosphere is lovely - not too casual/not too fancy - very comfortable. Our server Danielle was so genial, helpful and positive! I have a number of dietary restrictions and she gave me lots of good tips about menu items. She even knew the difference between tamari and soy sauce (Which means a lot to a gluten free person!) They change the menu seasonally which is exciting! The bone marrow was delicious and a very generous serving! Other tapas restaurants we've been to includes small cross sections of bone - this was one large bone cut open horizontally - so lots to enjoy. The food came out fresh, hot and in a very timely manner. We will definitely be back! Anyone with food allergies to gluten, dairy etc should feel very safe eating here. read more

Great service and food. Tapas is not typically my thing as I never really know how much to order and always over-do it. This was not an exception, as the table was full of things. From amazing marrow to interesting fried kale and sliders that lacked meat but were good nonetheless (fried green tomato sliders), this place did it right. I went there on a whim with my girlfriend and we both absolutely loved it. Our waitress was a younger girl that made the experience all that much better. Definitely try it out if you are in the area, and be prepared to eat a lot because everything tastes as good as it sounds. read more

I like this spot.... small plates and expensive but the food an ambience is good. Menu always change but always find something to order.

If you're looking for seafood, this is the place! You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The scallops are some of the best I've ever had and the General Tso's cauliflower is like nothing you've ever had before. If you're thirsty, get the blueberry gin martini, you will not be disappointed! read more

Awesome. Awesome. AWESOME experience. All around, Dancing Marlin was a big hit. Huge menu with something everyone can enjoy. Food is pricey but worth every penny. It's fresh and delicious. Great service. Great atmosphere. Can't wait for our next visit back. read more

Phenomenal! Wonderful menu and great drinks! We had a group of six and had an amazing experience! Tried a wide variety of foods and a number of drinks! Everyone in our party left happy and satisfied! What a great night out! If you live in the South suburbs, you should definitely check out The Dancing Marlin! read more

I had another wonderful experience at dancing marlin. Desiree was my server. She was great. Her recommendations were spot on. The crab stuffed peppers were amazing. The Korean bbq shrimp was also amazing. For dessert I had the turtle bites. It was the perfect blend of cheesecake and turtle caramel filling. The wines on tap were to die for. They have a great selection of wines. This place just keeps getting better...... read more

Love their Sunday Brunch, so good , friendly staff, good service and a great atmosphere, will definitely be coming back!

One of our favorite places to eat! It is small plates style so you can order multiple dishes and share with your friends. The cocktail flights are also a great way to try 3 different cocktails. Food and drinks are really good. It can get pricey. read more

We had an amazing meal! My husband and I love small plates and this restaurant specializes in it. Great selection - loved the crab stuffed peppers, smoked trout tacos and the chicken flatbread. Our waitress, Danielle, was outstanding! She was so cheerful, attentive, and helpful. The atmosphere is really clean and modern. Definitely go again if we're ever in Frankfort again! read more

You would not necessarily know from looking at the outside but this is nicer than you may think. Great place to go for small plates to share. The menu is unique with things like fried kale and a fair number of others. They have a small wine bar but do serve a few bottled beers as well. Been here a few times now and anything we tried was really good. Great place for a nice dinner or even a private party as they have a nice room downstairs. If you like more upscale places that do not serve sandwiches and pub food you will like it here. read more

Great find! love all the drink selections from wine on tap to flights of mixed drinks. The tapas style dining is great for a group or a couple. Prices are pretty reasonable considering what you get and the sustainable seafood selections show they care. We went on Valentine's Day this year and it was packed and loud. That was the only minus for me but I do understand it was probably one of the most busy days of the year,so all considered it was a great night. read more

Went to Dancing Marlin for a 50th birthday party, the drinks were yummy and the food was interesting and delicious! Our server was outstanding and helped make the night fun! Excited to go back when the weather warms up to enjoy their gorgeous patio! Highly recommend! read more

Great variety, all the food is delicious and done extremely well. Drinks are great and also a large variety. Wait staff and bartenders have great personalities and are easy learn from about the food and drinks. read more

I think they have hit their stride here! The service seems even better and everyone more at ease. Hoping the next visit boosts this to 5 stars... read more

Had bone marrow, cheese plate , cheesey Mac and strip steak. All was excellent. A little pricey but can't find this anywhere outside of chicago read more

All I can see is that this place was awesome! We went there for brunch this morning to celebrate our mom's birthday. Mom is no longer with us, but we still celebrate her life every year. So I wanted to find a nice place for the family to go for good food and mimosas. The reviews were great and i must say that the reviews were right on. The thick cut bacon was EVERYTHING! It was so good that we got 2 extra orders to bring home. The salmon egg dish was amazing. I almost forgot.....the Monkey bread was great too. All of us ate Everything on our plates. The service was top notch. We have already decided that this will be our new go to brunch spot! read more

On our very first visit here, in late 2016, my younger brother went 0 for 4 in trying to select beers from their menu ("sorry, we're out of THAT one, too!") Not exactly an auspicious debut, but the next visit, and the one after that, showed improvement. Now for the horror show. I made an online reservation TWO WEEKS ahead of time (for Sunday, 12/10, Confirmation # 2109839624, if anyone cares.) I asked could they please provide a particular table in the main dining room for our party of 4, as my 88-year-old father, who walks with a cane, liked that table best, and found it to be the most easily accessible. Oh, and we ALSO provided a "Plan B" table, in the event the first was unavailable. You're 'way ahead of me at this point, aren't you? When we arrived - 10 minutes early - both tables were occupied, and while the hostess cheerfully insisted one or the other would be opening up "in a few minutes," BOTH remained occupied for AT LEAST another 15-20 minutes. I would've walked out, but my father, who is impossibly agreeable and always optimistic, wanted to stay. So they put us in "The Cove," which is windowless, and not part of the main dining room, and the equivalent of getting the table next to the door that leads to the kitchen or the restrooms. I doubt we'll be back. Then again, I doubt the owners, Messrs. Kara and Niemic (not certain of the spellings) will miss our business very much. This, Dancing Marlin, is another reason why you didn't exactly get rave reviews recently on PBS' "Check, Please!" read more

We hosted a baby shower here and can't say enough how great it was, the food and drinks were excellent and the staff from the servers to manager was excellent. Love this place will go back for sure! read more

We had such high hopes for this game lace for our date night. We should have known when a strange stench swept through the patio the experience wouldn't be as we hoped. We asked about the smell and was told it was a nearby factory by our waitress. We order drinks a beer and a pineapple strawberry mojito. The mojito was very much my speed, weak and tasted like juice. For 8.50 there sure was a lot of ice. Next we order the pea guacamole, pork belly, chicken skewers, & spicy garlic shrimp. Everything came out very fast! The peaguac was bland, needed more like juice or something. The pork belly tasted different than other pork belly I've had, this was more like a Porkchop with a very thin layer of crispy fat. The more crispy parts tasted the best, the slaw was simple julienne carrots. The chicken tasted good and the sauce was really good but one skewer was slightly under done and another had a portion that was completely raw. I told the waitress and she seemed shocked and took it away... she then comes back and gives us the opinion of the chef and said it was fine it was a blood vein... Hi I'm 36 and have grilled plenty of boneless skinless chicken thighs, I know the difference! The chicken portion was straight up raw in 2 separate spots. Frankly I found it insulting!! Then she goes on to say we could have another skewer if we wanted... uh ok sure. We then order one last dish the meatballs. After we questioned the chicken the replacement and the meatballs took forever to come out. When the lone skewer made its way out they didn't even give the sauce with it so my husband asked for it and by the time she brought it out the chicken was cold. The shrimp was ok, way too oily, not enough flavor. The meatballs were my favorite so flavorful. When the bill came it was for everything we ordered so we gave our card to pay the bill. The bill by the way didn't even come in a bill folder not a big deal but we were outside and there was some wind. When she brought back the paid check it was obvious they then took off several items. Which we NEVER asked for. The gesture would have went A LOT farther had she apologized for the chicken and brought out a replacement and said it would be taken off the bill. read more

Overall we had a great experience here. On a Saturday evening our party of 8 was able to get in with minimal waiting. All the food was great! My only complaint was that we had a 3 year old with us and they brought his food out after several of the other dishes had been brought out. It was hard to keep him entertained/not hungry while the adults had their food. Otherwise, I had a great time here! read more

I thought long and hard about giving this restaurant five stars. I mean really, does any place really deserve that? But on the night my friend and I happened upon this place, the food, the service, the atmosphere and the experience certainly says YES! We actually were referred here by a person we did not know, so who knows what you are going to get? From the moment we walked in, it was fantastic. Nothing too fancy for decor, but relaxed, inviting and fun. Hard to believe the place used to be a fast food joint. We had no reservation but arrived around 6:30pm on a Saturday and got right in. It wasn't long before the place filled up. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and very accommodating. South suburban hospitality at it's best. The "schtick" this restaurant will become known for is it's pioneering technology on "green" wines and cocktails. The food too of course, because it's creative and delicious. But like any good foodie I crave the unusual and new. I found it fascinating to learn they have wine and cocktails "on tap." They order their wines directly from the wineries in stainless steel casks and they are connected directly to a tap. Hence no air gets to the wine to degrade the flavor and no waste. No bottles to throw away. Totally green. They also mix their own cocktails in the same casks and you have consistent flavor through out the night. No over pours or inexperienced bartenders to botch your cocktail. And trust me, the cocktails have no shortage of alcohol and are delicious. You can even order a cocktail flight and sample 3 at a time for only $8.50. Which we did several times! The food was excellent. Every dish we sampled. One of the managing partners even stopped at our table to chat with us and make a recommendation of the baby octopus. We took it and were not disappointed. We raved about it when he came back by to solicit our opinion and then invited us to a tour of the restaurant. He was like a proud new father. We saw everything! The beautiful private dining area downstairs with a second kitchen. The fact that they have NO freezer because all their fish is flown in FRESH. In fact, there was very little in their cooler because they buy their vegetables from local growers. He even showed us their entire wine/cocktail tap operation. Now who does that?! I can't even tell you how special it made us feel. It was the prefect topper to a wonderful night of good food. We even decided to order desert which we NEVER do and their brioche donuts are THE BOMB! We ended up being there for over 3 hours and I can hardly wait to go back again. Put this place at the TOP of your dining list. Bon Appetito! read more