Drove past and decided to stop in to help support a local business. Were immediately helped by a young man who was nicely explaining to us what they had in stock while we were looking at the cases. The chef from the back comes and interrupts the young man and tells us they had nothing in stock. I was looking at the cases to bring stuff home to cook, so confused I look back to the young man. The chef then changes his mind and says they have things in stock, but they take 20 min to cook. I respond okay, if I decide to buy a hot meal I understand I will have to leave and come back in 20 min. I continue looking in the case at the numerous options and am interrupted by the chef once again who says he doesn't think he can accommodate me. At this point I'm very confused why he is being so aggressive while I am merely just trying to check out the cold case. He continues to be rude at which point I just leave. We had called from the car to make sure we could order inside and were told yes, but from the harassment from the chef that seemed to be false information. I'm all for supporting small business, but I do not condone being bullied after quietly complying to everything I had been told by staff. Extremely surprised by the negativity of this business. read more

This was my first time visiting the Fish Guy and it will not be my last. As everyone else has said it's immaculately clean inside, selection is great and the staff is super knowledgeable and very friendly. I was there to pick up the makings for bouillabaisse. The staff member was able to make some excellent suggestions for the fish and mussels. The only downer was that I wanted to purchase some fish heads and bones for stock, but they don't typically save those unless requested to, but they said just call the morning of next time and they will happily set some aside for me. In the end it wasn't a big deal because they sell homemade fish stock, which work beautifully in my soup. I am super happy to have this business in our neighborhood! read more

Best fish monger in Chicago. Go... befriend them..... and you'll practically have a sous chef before you leave.

Absolutely terrific fishmonger. For anyone remotely serious about cooking on the North Side, The FishGuy is worth the drive when you're preparing a good seafood dish. I've shopped here off and on for 5+ years and much more regularly for the last couple years. The fish here is the best you can get in this area, including Whole Foods and Asian supermarkets. Absolutely fresh, top quality, impeccably prepped and handled, and sustainably sourced. Even staple seafood items like mussels or frozen shrimp are simply better here than those I've tried elsewhere. Bill (the owner) is committed to responsible seafood sourcing - he vets his suppliers and can tell you how every item is harvested. That *does* mean, however, that he doesn't stock every fish on Earth. If it's not the right season in the right part of the world to source the fish responsibly, he won't bring it in. However, the selection is still plenty wide and the extremely knowledgeable staff will be happy to suggest the best fit for a given dish. Still, calling ahead is always a good idea just to make sure they have what you need. If you're close enough to make the drive easily, absolutely subscribe to their weekly email newsletter to see what's coming in each weekend. It's chock full of information. Beyond seafood, the shop stocks a few other handy items, notably some extremely decent olive oil and coffee for the price as well as farm fresh eggs (usually, not always). Other goodies pop up from time to time. Not surprisingly, there is a price premium to be paid for quality. But it's pretty modest - I visited another high-end fishmonger in a much tonier neighborhood recently and Bill's prices looked like bargains in comparison. And many items (like those shrimp and mussels I keep buying) are barely more than supermarket prices if you have a membership. Do note that their hours are somewhat limited and vary by season. Notably, they're always closed on Sundays. That's the biggest complaint I can find about The FishGuy. Love it. read more

Amazing quality and staff! I am very picky about my fish and I haven't seen a fish market as wonderful as this (even on the coasts). The service is 1st rate and the coffee is excellent. read more

Some of the freshest fish in town! A couple times a month we like to drop by and pick up what ever is on special. This place is fairly priced for the quality of product they sell. If you are looking cheap go elsewhere. read more

RESTAURANT QUALITY akami tuna. Frozen, by the pound...need I say more? Whole foods ain't got nothin' on this place. We're so happy they are open again after the remodel. We missed you so! read more

Stopped here to buy mussels to cook at home -- good price, fresh, tasty!

My wife grew up on the east coast and when she had the lobster roll, she literally cried with joy.

Can't speak to the market, but the restaurant venue was a big disappointment. the prices for lunch dishes were very high ($11-$18) and the portions were not generous at all. the service was great though. read more

Fresh fish! Great selection, friendly staff, knowledgeable. We bought wild caught Cod,the soft shell crabs, the pre made shrimp crab cakes, delish! Also they had some Kobe beef patties. Good find! read more

Glowing review. Tim is passionate about his fish and will give you any advice you need on how to prepare it perfectly. If you are culinarily retarded, he has a small but incredible menu of sandwiches and meals. This is not fast food. It is quality food. Take your time and chat with him when you're there. Perfect for me, but it's too bad for him he's not in another neighborhood...take the time out of your day to patronize this place. You will not be disappointed. read more

This is only for the market section. It was small, expected larger variety of shellfish, a little over priced, but scallops are huge, the size of my fist almost!! Would definitely go back for scallops maybe a lobster tail or two, ON TUESDAYS!!! read more

I was recently co-erced into patronizing this place once again after a traumatic fish experience centered around this very shop which admittedly occurred many years ago. I was dragged kicking and screaming, but I have to report that my experience was very nice, even great. Much seems to have changed. About seven or eight years ago when I first moved to Chicago, I was on my way to a dinner party and my friend asked me to stop and pick up the fish for the dinner. He was behind on the other preparations and guests had started to arrive, so he called ahead and pre-ordered some fresh whole black bass and it was wrapped & ready when I arrived. I paid the nice man and was so excited to be able to finally contribute something to these parties my friend would throw every month rather than just standing sipping wine while everyone else got their hands dirty. You see, I'm a klutz and the worst cook ever, so this was about all I could do and I was over the moon to be able to do anything at all to help. I arrived at the apartment and was greeted with cheers from the 10 or so others who had been awaiting my arrival with the main course. After glowingly handing my parcel to the "chef" for the evening who wisked it into the kitchen, I poured myself that well deserved glass of Pinot. A moment later there was a commotion in the kitchen and when I investigated, my friend, the "chef" was sitting with his head in is hands and the others around him looked accusingly at ME! The kitchen was filled with a musty-ish smell and one of the glaring "others" explained softly that the fish was un-servable and now we would all be eating a dinner comprised entirely of bruscetta, thanks to me. Stunned and with my jaw still hanging, I poked with one finger one of the mushy, pale creatures and I saw my big contribution slip from my grasp and into the garbage. Future invitations to these monthly events never again arrived, and I later found out that the fish had been frozen & thawed and the gills had been removed in an attempt to hide this. Truly scandalous. Naturally I held a grudge. I told everyone this place was horrible and how it had betrayed me and how it should be run out of town. That all occurred in A Time Before Yelp, and now quite ironically, I have endorsed this establishment as "Yay, I'm a Fan." read more

My twin sister took me here for lunch today. She has dined and purchased seafood here many times. We had a lobster roll, mussels, oysters and the NE Clam chowder. The Lobster Roll - Good but not great. The lobster was fresh, sweet and plentiful but seriously lacked seasoning. The Oysters - Probably the highest quality I have had in Chicago. Hugo's Frog Bar and Shaws should bow their head in shame to the quality of the oysters I tasted today. Clam Chowder - Again - excellent quality seafood that was wasted. This was a one note bowl. No seasoning whatsoever - a very "uncomforting" thin bowl of great clams, potato and herbs. This is NOT NE Clam Chowder - It's great quality clams in a milk broth. Mussels - Very fresh (again excellent quality seafood) not hard to mess up. It was fine. The staff is exceptional - outstanding service. The owner did come out to talk with my sister and I and that was interesting.. Constructive Critisism to the Fish Guy - Listen to your customers and don't be a bragasouras... You come off as very crass. No one want's to hear about how many homes you own and your art work. read more

We stop here every week or two for fresh fish. They have an few 'common' fish (like halibut or salmon), and then have 'other' kinds of fish that we've never heard of. They'll suggest a way to cook them (if you ask), and dinner's always a treat. Friendly helpful staff, great fish, & a nice variety. We're very satisfied & think you would be also. read more

when they're not cutting you some crazy deal on trout filets or cooking up something you'll be hoarding in a secret part of the fridge from your spouse, they're dishing with you about recipes. how much can you love a fish guy. read more

I visited today for the first time with my kids and Mom. It's a cute little place, half luncheonette, half fish market. The selection is what I would call "severely edited." The Fish Guy is smart enough to only do what he can do really well. It works, as far as I'm concerned. The clam chowder was good enough to rival the best clam chowder I've ever had, which was at the Black Pearl in Newport, RI. The lobster roll was packed with super fresh lobster meat, tossed with just the right amount of fresh herbs and mayo, loaded onto a toasted New England style hot dog bun. Insane. We ate a white pizza that wasn't anything to special but it didn't matter. By the time they served the pizza I'd already fallen in love with the chowder and lobster roll. We also noshed on some albacore tuna salad from the fish market side of the restaurant, and that was superb as well. They have some nice looking fish dishes that we saw today but didn't try. I'm already thinking about my next trip there. Can't wait! read more

This is a bit out of the way for us but we go almost every week to get fish for sushi. Typically salmon, tuna, and scallops. Very fresh. Obviously no room for error when you're eating raw fish. Most of the staff is friendly and helpful. read more

I live down the street from Dirk's fish market, but I travel all the way to the Fishguy, at least 15 min away. They are much cheaper and have better quality seafood. The fish selection is great, and they also have daily specials such 10 buck Tuesday, which is $10/lb fish. read more

Great place and friendly people. The seafood pizza was amazing and they were so patient with the kids that were there too. The lobster roll that I had was amazing and kind of a cool industrial place for lunch. read more

Beware!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why would you go to a fish market to buy frozen fish? I been asking myself the same question. My first and last visit to this fish market. I called before I drive of the beaten path to verify that this fish market sold only fresh seafood. I was cooking a Christmas eve dinner for my family which on this night cook 7 fishes. So, I needed to purchase fish. I arrived early so I had to wait which was not a problem. When I finally got into to the fish market I was surprised to see there was not alot of fish selections. I asked for 2 lbs. of fresh jumbo lump crab meat, the person that help me went to the freezer and gave me 2 cans of jumbo lump pasteurized crab meat . I said I had called yesterday and the person I talked to said you had fresh crab meat. This was not but he assured me this was fresh and good to make crab cakes. Next, I ask for 3 lbs of shrimp. The only thing they had was frozen cooked shrimp, then I asked for 2 doz. little neck clams . He gave me a bag of clams so huge that I told him that I would like the small ones because I was putting them in pasta sauce. He could not separate the clams. What you see is what you get. I then asked about the lobster and ask for them to steam 5 lobster. Could not steam the lobster. After spending over $100.00 I left this store so upset. I get home and start looking at the clams and just got so upset and then I turned over the can of crab meat and had a stamp that said best used before 12/23/11. This was 12/24/11 ...... All this time and money .... Why didn't I just walk out and not purchase these items .I still do not know,. I decided to throw the stuff and walk to Whole Foods and buy my seafood and change some of the entrees that I originally planned. This has been bothering me so I thought I would advise others before you decide on going to this fish market . Beware..................... read more