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The Happy Lobster

4.3 (395 reviews)
ModerateSeafood, Food Trucks
Closed • 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

The Happy Lobster Photos

THE HAPPY LOBSTER ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - The Happy Lobster

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Angry Lobster sandwich and fries
Lisa P.

Was craving a lobster roll really bad. But opted for an old favorite; premium sweet and tender warm lobster on a buttered and toasted brioche bun, sprinkled with old bay, melted butter and a spicy mayo. A side of seasoned fries was a nice accompaniment. Boy did I enjoy myself when I made it home. One squeeze of the lemon and in my belly it went. This is inside the food hall on State Street.

Mark T.

So, I try a fry and exclaim: "oh dang! (At this point, you know, I don't curse in my reviews. So, Wordle rules: the D & A are green, the N is yellow, and the G is gray.) The fries were piping hot fresh out of the fryer, and amazingly seasoned. I am not sure what they use, I think it might be old Bay? In any case it's not just salt, and the slightly acidic and savory notes work wonders. Though, you're not here to read about french fries. You probably wanna hear about the lobster roll, or should I say the "lobstah" roll. You can take the man out of Boston, but you can't take the Boston out of the man! I appreciate that it is impossible in Chicago to buy a lobster roll when the thing was just caught in the ocean an hour or two ago. For that, you have to go to a restaurant in New England. that said, the lobster roll at The Happy Lobster was still at least twice as good as one that cost twice as much in a supposedly swanky and/or bougie Boston restaurant. The lobster was high quality - it didn't have a chewy consistency and seemed fresh (perhaps not fresh off the boat, but the point stands). On both my visits, I ordered the Honey G. The combination of butter, mayo, seasoning, and especially the pepper relish was perfection. No ingredients were stepping on one another, and the lobster was still able to shine. Savory, a little sweet, a hint of heat, perfect! The service here is kind, and very fast especially in light of how fresh everything was.

Taylor T.

What a large and in charge lobster roll! I was immediately impressed upon arrival because, my bun was stuffed with reddish pink lobster meat. Not what I was expecting from a restaurant in a food hall concept. For reference though I did order the bigger sized portion. The Happy Lobster serves one thing in a few different sizes with a few slight variations and that would be Lobster Rolls. The brioche bun isn't what I have come to expect from a New England lobster roll but, the butteriness does play well with the sweetness from the lobster. However, it gets insanely messy. This time around, I had to try the special because why not? I always love to see what the chefs at small restaurants come up with for their off the menu creations and this was something of the "hot honey" variety (which seems to be a culinary trend that just won't die) so, I knew it was what I was going to order. The slight spice from the hot honey with the succulent sweetness of the lobster was incredible. It was also pretty massive for the price, a hearty lunch for the more adventurous. If you like lobster (and butter) you'll leave happy as a...lobster, no clams here! So why 4 out of 5 and not a perfect score? Well, the lobster was a tad chewy and tough and the price was still a little high for a food court setting (but knowing what rent must be for one of these booths in Chicago I can forgive a little) also, the bun wasn't the best choice in my opinion because it made the overall eating experience quite messy.

Lobster Grilled Cheese - slap yo Momma good! OMG!
Darlene N.

This place is inside a spacious food mall. I wasn't sure what I wanted when I went inside the mall. I walked around to see what all restaurants were there and came upon this place and as much as I love lobster, I knew I wanted to try them. The wait was about 7-8 minutes, which I didn't mind as I was with a buddy to eat lunch there at the mall. I ordered the lobster grilled cheese and fries. When I opened the wrapper, the angels were already humming. Looked delicious. I took one bite and was in instant HEAVEN. Flavorful and so good! Fries were seasoned well and yummy. The price is worth it as it is lobster. This was definitely a gourmet sandwich. I can't wait to come back. Staff was friendly. Thank you The Happy Lobster, you've got a new and soon returning customer outta me. Great food!

Happy Lobster Box
Mikaella M.

I've been wanting to try one of these and finally, they had a stop close by my work. I preordered the Happy Lobster box for pick up. Took them less than five minutes to prepare. It came with the lobster sandwich, red cabbage coleslaw and a bag of chips for $31+ with tax and everything. Anyway, you do get a lot of lobster meat but the brioche bun wasn't really a good vehicle to hold everything together; it tasted good but it was soft and floppy, so the lobster meat was falling all over in every bite. The malt vinegar coleslaw was simple but it was crunchy and helped cut through the buttery taste of the sandwich nicely. Bag of chips was your regular sea salt flavor and it was an ok addition. Did I think this whole thing was worth more than $30? I'm not so sure. Don't get me wrong, who doesn't like lobster but kinda steep and it didn't really wow me. It's one of those you gotta try it once experience.

Angry lobster sandwhich
Eman S.

This was the best lobster sandwich/roll experience of my life. $24 feels steep at first but then it's a quarter pound of lobster meat. My mouth is watering talking about it. The lobster is cooked perfectly. Delicate, soft, light and buttery. The angry lobster is spicy with spicy sauce and pickled condiments in it. I worried that it would take away from the taste of the sandwich, but I was proven wrong. The bun was also fantastic and was a beautiful vehicle that carried the lobster nicely into my mouth. This is one of the best things I've eaten in Chicago.

Trad Maine Whoopie Pie and great potato chips
Adriana F.

Great tasty simple lobster roll and one of the best coleslaws I ever had - delicious and satisfying. My husband had the Happy Lobster and I had the Angry Lobster, a little spicy, yet subtle to not take away from the taste and texture of the generous serving of lobster Both were served on a toasted brioche bun, a side of the best coleslaw I have had in a long time, and potato chips. Sealed the deal with a sweet whoopie pie. Service was friendly and speedy. So far our favorite Lobster Truck (and we tried several) in Chicagoland.

Fawn J.

The Happy Lobster was the best thing I ate during my trip to Chicago! The Happy Lobster is a great option if you are craving delicious fresh Maine lobster with a food truck and a few indoor locations in Chicago! I stopped at the Washington indoor food hall. They have a simple limited menu but they stick to what they make best which is a few varieties of lobster rolls in small junior size or regular and a few other seafood options depending on location like shrimp. If you are new to lobster rolls, try their traditional Happy Lobster roll with Maine lobster, butter, a little bit of Mayo on fresh toasted brioche bun that come together with incredible flavors like a beautiful symphany. It also comes with a delicious side of chips and malt vinegar slaw! Since I love spicy food, I tried their Angry Lobster with Maine lobster, butter, hot giardiniera peppers, and spicy mayo on a fresh toasted brioche burger bun. It was sooooo good! I was cherishing every savory, heavenly, delicious bite doing a a little happy dance in my chair! I was pleasantly surprised how well the flavors came together despite the spice! I tasted the fresh, cold, buttery tender Maine lobster. I loved the spicy heat from the hot giardiniera peppers plus the spicy mayo, and the crisp toasted buttery fresh brioche bun added nice texture! It is worth the price! My mouth is watering still thinking about the Happy Lobster! Definitely check out the Happy Lobster if you want to try a fresh Maine Lobster roll!

Lobster Roll
Foodie X.

I usually like my lobster rolls hot but the warmness of the Roll balanced out the cold Lobster. The flavors were definitely there especially after adding the sauce to it. A definite go to spot.

Happy Lobster
Vivienne C.

Why is Happy Lobster the best thing I ate in Chicago? I literally ate at this place 3 times within 2 weeks. Lobster rolls are such an East Coast thing but I genuinely feel like this is the best lobster roll I have ever had in the US. The first bite is just perfection! I will say that especially during weekday lunch hour, the waits are sometimes upwards of 20 minutes which is inconvenient if you only have a 1 hour lunch. Ordering the Happy Lobster, their classic lobster roll, is the way to go. The bread is so crisp but soft in the inside. They stuff the entire sandwich with the best, most tender and flavorful lobster you will have in your life. Every bite is just perfection. This is what happiness tastes like. And the mayonnaise goes so well with the lobster as it combines all the potential dry-ness of the sandwich. The fries are really good as well as they have the residue lobster flavor from sitting in the box with the delicious sandwich. I really can't get over how good it is. Happy Lobster really needs to become a national chain. I'm literally their biggest fan and I'm not sure who wouldn't be. Yes it is expensive, but it is worth every dollar. Why get cheap but bad tasting food when you can get expensive and good food? Also, the waiters are super nice people which is a big plus.

Regular Happy Lobster sandwich
Jose C.

I've been wanting to they The Happy Lobster for a while now. I'm glad I was finally able to pay them a visit. We arrived right when they opened on a Saturday. The place was still somewhat empty. The only off putting part of this who experience, was the strong smell from the Indian place nearby. My wife ordered their Junior Happy Lobster and I of course ordered their Regular Happy Lobster sandwich. The lobster was served cold, with Mayo, butter and their house seasoning in between a brioche bun. They definitely don't skimp on the lobster meat here, and overall a very delicious sandwich. It was also served with seasoned fries that made the entire meal very filling and worth the price. I can definitely see myself returning here.

The happy lobster looks VERY sad

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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the fresh lobster sandwiches, well-seasoned fries and sides, and friendly service. The menu is also creative.

Read the full review summary in the app

6 months ago

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2 months ago

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18 days ago

Lobster roll was to perfection service great went to truck but ambiance ok found truck located in Orland best thing for my birthday today

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11 months ago

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4 months ago

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Alex R.

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Really disappointed with the quantity of lobster; seems to be way less from earlier. Taste was on point though

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3 years ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

Food was average and very expensive do not go there, they overcharged us $220 for dinner ,not worth

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

Maybe have a little bit more lobster on the sandwich. It was a little weak, but it was really good.

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1 year ago

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4 years ago

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Ask the Community - The Happy Lobster

We will visiting Chicago next Friday July 18. Where can we find you for lunch or dinner?

The following link will take you to their calendar which they keep updated with locations: https://www.happylobstertruck.com/chicago-calendar/

Do you or will you ever come to the south suburbs or Northwest Indiana? Maybe Pierogi Fest in Whiting in 2018?

Hey Andrew - we are always willing to travel! I don't see anything on our schedule for the South Suburbs, but if you know of anything you can let the event know to reach out to info@happylobstertruck.com.

Do they give you enough lobster? I went to DaLobster & left hungry after $37?

Hi Jeanette - thank you for your question! Our regular size roll has 4oz of premium Maine lobster on it and is $17. While you won't find a lobster roll with more lobster for a similar price, we do understand that $17 can be pricey, so we have built… 

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Shaw's Crab House - Oysters, East coast

Shaw's Crab House

4.2(2.8k reviews)
0.5 mi•Near North Side
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My husband and I returned back to Shaw's Crab House a year later, and it was still just as fabulous…read moreas it was before. We were lucky enough to get the same amazing waiter. He'd been there 32 years. Hope to get him next time we're back. Honestly, it's the freshest seafood around. They know how to shuck oysters and prepare them perfectly anytime of the year. The oysters were absolutely amazing. And then the crab legs....oh my goodness..delish. Everything was just so delicious. And I have to give a shout out to their sweet, creamy butter. Lastly, we love sitting in the thick of it where you get to see them preparing the oysters and all the seafood. Love this place. Thank you Shaws!

Incredibly delicious. Everything was as fresh as can be. Definitely come if you like crab!!…read more We were a little mislead by some of the pictures online / on the website of the Norwegian crab (not by any fault of their own, just a poor assumption from our side). When we received it we were a little disappointed by the size. But the pieces were still so juicy and delicious! Just want to give a heads up also that their menu is on rotation, what you see online may not be what you get! Love me some sushi, so I was excited to try the California roll, although it was hard to justify it being $18!!! The crab was very minimal, as you can tell by the pictures... it was missing the classic California roll taste given barely any meat. The Mac and cheese side was good. Nothing too special. plus. But standard is the best word I can think of. Shareable portion, which is a plus. Service was excellent. The server was friendly and personable. Ambiance is great, it's an elevated crab house aesthetic. There is a dress code to enter. Overall, I can't say we had the experience of the price we paid. They gave us free the dessert sampler for our anniversary, yay!!!

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Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Ahi Tuna Tartare*

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

4.4(3.3k reviews)
0.6 mi•Near North Side
•$$$$

Went yesterday to celebrate my 40th birthday. The service was impeccable. From the high-five I…read moregot at the Host stand to the well-wishes on my way out the staff made the experience very enjoyable and memorable. Our server, Jacob, was helpful and his recommendation of the Lyonnaise Potatoes did not disappoint. We had the small whale, an aged ribeye sandwich, and I got the filet mignon with bone marrow butter. The chilled seafood was delicious, especially with the house mustard sauce. My partner said the steak sandwich was the best they ever had. The filet was easily the best steak I've ever had though the dry-aged ribeye at Abrasado in Mendoza, Argentina is a close second. The grand martini was a perfect pairing for the chilled seafood. They threw in a complimentary brownie with ice cream for a bday dessert which was appreciated on multiple levels. We're not affluent and a meal like this was definitely a splurge but I have zero complaints and would 100% come back for a comparable special occasion. Everything was perfect and I'll remember this meal forever. Thanks, Joe's!

There are few places that live up to their reputation like Joe's did…read more It resonated the class & energy that you would expect, and was reflected from the start, with every maître d', waiter, busser & even coat check person you encountered within this classic restaurant. The menu had the classic stone crab & shrimp, and of course the stellar steaks, buttressed by seasonal cocktails, entrees & sides that blew my mind. In a world of pretentious hoity toity high scale restaurants that serve morsels like fine art think pieces, Joe's is grounded in the reality of a person's hunger, serving you dozens of ounces of the most perfectly-charred meats and massive shrimps that you've even seen so carefully and thoughtfully cooked & presented. This was especially monumental with the scallops entrée, which were the most impressively executed cooking of one of the most challenging shellfish to cook. The biggest surprise, however, were the pies. After being humbled with the dinner & sides portions, simply reading the diverse array of slices of confectionery heaven made me think--well, there's always room for pie! And as if reading our minds, we had a seasonal pumpkin mousse slice that was equal parts irresistible, yet somehow light enough & so amazingly balanced in its textures and flavors to not make me feel overfull nor overwhelmed. So thank you, staff & management, for surpassing my expectations & your reputation. You've lasted this long by maintaining a level of excellence in every facet of what truly is the crown jewel of Chicago dining. I look forward to enjoying it all again, with any trip back here!

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4.3(655 reviews)
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So happy that I finally tried Bar Mar. I came on a weekday for dinner and the place was busy…read more Definitely mostly people coming together after work! The food was incredible and the service was attentive and considerate. They definitely take pride in serving fresh and delicious food and making the guests feel comfortable. The vibe was very energetic and bustling! People were having a nice time but it was a bit loud so keep that in mind. The menu is definitely seafood-forward, but the short rib entree was recommended so I went with that and it was delicious! The meat was so tender. I also tried the sea bass and it was very yummy.

Bottom Line Up Front: Good food, below average service, nice atmosphere/ambiance…read more After a lot of research, I decided on Bar Mar specifically to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday. I shared that in the reservation as well. We ordered oysters and a couple Hamachi cones to start. For our mains, we had a tuna tartare roll and scallops. Everything was very good in both presentation and taste. What you'd expect at a high end establishment. Service though was another story. Instead of feeling like a special occasion, it felt like we were on an assembly line, going through the motions. I discreetly mentioned my girlfriend's birthday to our server and astonishingly he immediately wishes her happy birthday and asks if she's turning 21 as a joke. That was the extent of the birthday celebration at Bar Mar...nice. The goal was to make my girl feel special on her birthday and the restaurant did nothing to promote that. Compare that to my review of Cindy's Rooftop the next day and you'll see a huge difference in care and hospitality.

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The Dearborn

4.4(2.8k reviews)
0.1 mi•The Loop
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I've decided that this will officially be a staple lunch spot for me!…read more I was on a break from class when I stumbled across this little gem. Think of the quintessential restaurant scene in a movie where a business executive grabs a quick power lunch, surrounded by other professionals, before heading back to the office for that BIG meeting. It was exactly that! Meanwhile, I walked in wearing my school clothes, just looking for a good lunch. The atmosphere was great, the Wi-Fi was a plus, the food was delicious, and the cocktail menu was intriguing! I ordered the Dearborn Burger based on my waiter's recommendation, and it did not disappoint! It was cooked exactly to my liking and was SO juicy. The fries were perfectly crisp, just how I like them. And the MAN-LET'S-GO! cocktail? Exactly what I needed! It satisfied my mango craving and gave me that little boost I needed to get through the rest of my day. Between the atmosphere, the food, and the service, I can already tell this is going to become one of my regular spots. I will definitely be back frequently!

The service was wonderful. Our waiter was such a treat. The truffle fries are some of the best in…read morethe city. The ceviche was wonderful - very limey. The other food we ordered did not impress me. We ordered the hot honey pepperoni, the fried chicken starter, the burrata. Those were not my favorites - not bad just not special or stand out. The vibes are elevated corporate.

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Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House

4.1(1.3k reviews)
1.3 mi•Near North Side
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Wow! The first time…read morewe came to the Chicago location of Hugo's Frog Bar, we had the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake and it was amazing - best I'd ever had. That was 12 years ago. Since then, I've had crab cakes all over the U.S. and Hugo's remained my gold standard. Tonight, 12 years later, we returned to Hugo's on Rush Street downtown Chicago. We had a 6 pm reservation on a Monday night. We were given the option to eat in the special Elevator Car, so we chose it. It was a bit tight getting into the bench seating but once in, we were quite comfortable and it was really quaint. I'm glad we chose it. Our server tonight was Stephanie O and she was amazing. So knowledgeable, so pleasant and very accommodating. We told Stephanie we planned to take it a bit slow, starting with cocktails. She took our cocktail orders and we took our time enjoying them, admiring our special Elevator Car and pondering dinner options. Of course, a Crab Cake was definitely happening! Stephanie checked in with us from time to time and when we were ready, we asked her to drop a Crab Cake order. Oh my - it was amazing, just like the last time! Just enough breadcrumbs in it to hold it together. Baked, then seared on both sides on the flat top and served with their house made remoulade. For us, this menu item and a service as great as it was from Stephanie and the rest of the team was enough of a reason to come to Hugo's. After we'd finished sharing the Crab Cake, Stephanie stopped by with the fresh fish options platter to explain each one to us, how it would be prepared and what it would be like. We nearly went for the Snapper but dropped back to our original thought of trying their Shrimp De Jonghe along with a dinner salad. So glad we did as the Shrimp De Jonghe was really tasty and just enough food. The salad and shrimp meal were both kitchen-split for us. Nice touch - thanks team! I have to add that we've had Shrimp De Jonghe somewhere else and we recall it as not being as good as Hugo's. I like how their breadcrumb on the shrimp here was less a breading and more of a dusting. I'd like to mention the rest of the staff we saw in action. The hostesses were quite pleasant, found our reservation and seated us with pleasure. The table team from the water guy, to him and others clearing completed items was excellent. The chef or one of the cooks brought out our split Shrimp De Jonghe. That was a nice touch. And of course our server Stephanie - amazing. Great meal tonight at Hugo's and over the top service from everyone. We will be back - maybe even this week.

I really enjoyed my meal. I ordered the white fish with mashed potatoes, and everything was…read moreincredibly delicious and perfectly prepared. I really loved it and will definitely be coming back! The only thing that was a little disappointing was that there were quite a few flies flying around inside, and they would occasionally try to land on the food, which was not very pleasant.

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Maple & Ash - Blueberry dessert

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4.2(2.6k reviews)
1.3 mi•Near North Side
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We went again last night - the 5 star review remains in place - still amazing, and still really…read moreexpensive. We love it - had one of their fired seafood towers last night and it was incredible (and the touch of adding the pasta at the end was a step above). Their did kill the free house made chips and caviar - but I think they needed to because of the influencers that come there just to have one drink and take pictures of themselves.

I expected a professional, high-quality dining experience, but unfortunately, this was extremely…read moredisappointing. After receiving the wrong order and waiting an excessive amount of time for our food, we ordered the seafood baller which we were told would accommodate six people. That was absolutely not true. The platter came with maybe three shrimp, barely any scallops, and mussels that were mostly empty shells with no meat inside. It was essentially a large platter of shells and nowhere near enough food for six people. When we asked to speak with the manager, he came to the table while I was in the restroom. Although six other people were sitting there and available to explain the problem, he chose to leave and never returned. Without speaking to us or offering to replace the meal, he took it upon himself to remove the seafood baller from our bill. We weren't looking for free food we wanted the meal we had ordered so we could eat. After sitting there for hours, we still left hungry and somehow had a nearly $700 bill for a couple of sides, two steaks, and drinks. Our server was amazing and did the best he could, but the management and overall level of professionalism were unacceptable. When a guest's order is wrong, management should communicate with the table and make an effort to resolve the problem not simply remove the food without discussing it. We absolutely will not be returning. The experience was nowhere near worth the money.

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4.0(726 reviews)
0.4 mi•Near North Side
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I started with the Verdant Vices, which uses an Aguasol Reposado for the base. An aged reposado…read morebrings that nice, subtle oakiness and warmth, which probably balanced out the sweetness of the guava and the sharp kick from the jalapeño perfectly--definitely a much richer flavor profile for a cocktail like that than if they had just used a blanco. The crab cake was phenomenal, definitely better than what I had expected since this isn't exactly Baltimore. The glaze on top is absolutely perfect, and it is so thick and packed with fresh blue crab and minimal binder, finished with a bright lime-soy glaze. Excellent service too.

I'm gonna start my review with what I did not look about my time here …read more The greeters at the front HORRIBLE . They are rude , the don't welcome you with a hello just a look up and down as if to ask WHAT DO YOU WANT . I even gave a compliment to kinda break the ice on the awkwardness, no response lol this normally would be all it took for me to turn around and not spend my money It was pretty hard getting seating anywhere thjs day so we decided to still grab a seat and maybe grab a cocktail depending on how our waiter treated us , and honestly thankful for her being so nice and accommodating and gracious we decided to stay and have lunch . Lunch was phenomenal ! I had the king crab roll Tempura black bass Branzino and the whipped mash potatoes Every single item 10/10 .

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4.3(231 reviews)
0.8 mi•Near North Side, River East

In Chicago for a few days and relying on Yelp to take us to new places…read more Nora was 2 blocks from our hotel. This place is all about service. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted and escorted quickly to our table outside. Mirco was our server and we asked him for recommendations. He was so spot on it was amazing! We started with 1/2 dozed oysters and Tuna tartare. The tartare melted in your mouth and had a mild flavor. You could taste everything from the capers to the lemon in each bite. I'm not a huge oyster fan but my fiancé seemed to love them. Mirco recommended the Sardinian style ravioli filled with melt in your mouth short rib smothered in a rich mushroom and truffle sauce. Heaven!! She ordered the beet salad with salmon and gigantic grilled shrimp added. She just raved about it all. I appreciated great food but great service is what makes it a memorable experience. This checked all the boxes. 5 stars!

the appetizers were better than the mains -- we tried the fried calamari, wagyu carpaccio, and…read moreburrata, which were all delicious. in terms of the mains, the steak and lamb shank were way better than the pasta dishes. the steak and lamb were pretty tender and flavorful! unfortunately, the short rib ravioli's pâté filling was grainy and felt dry. the oxtail rigatoni was pretty bland and not enough oxtail

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Nora Restaurant
Nora Restaurant - Filet Mignon gorgonzola sauce

Filet Mignon gorgonzola sauce

Nora Restaurant - Seafood skewer

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Seafood skewer

The Happy Lobster - seafood - Updated October 2026

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