Bob Chinn's Crab House

(847) 520-3633

393 S Milwaukee Ave
Wheeling, IL 60090 42.1311 -87.9009

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BOBCHINNS.COM

Years in business

Established in 1983

Hours:

Mon-Thu 8 am-10:30 pm,

Fri 8 am-11:30 pm,

Sat 8 am-11:30 pm, Sun 8 am- 10 pm

Last updated 1.24.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Brunch

Cuisine:

Seafood

Smoking Permitted:

In the bar

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Bob Chinn's Crab House

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Fasten your seat belt for one of the most stimulating dining experiences in Chicago. No two nights are the same inside this 650-seat Wheeling establishment, which is consistently one of the highest-grossing restaurants in the country. Employing 350 people, from oyster shuckers to highly trained waitstaff, this is a well-oiled operation. The come-as-you-are clientele illustrates a comfortable, albeit hectic environment. – – The Food – A mind-boggling daily menu of fresh flown-in seafood features rarities like flaky Hawaiian onaga and melt-in-your-mouth…

Editor's Tips

Know Before You Go:
Chinn's doesn't take reservations on Saturdays; call ahead to put your name on the "preferred seating" list, which will cut your wait in half.
What to Drink:
Signature mai tais are popular and potent, and Chinn's serves 850 of them daily. And you can take the cup home.
Save Money:
Monday to Thursday, 3:30pm-6pm and 9pm-close, order a drink in the bar and grab a burger, wings, fish kebabs, a half-dozen oysters or clams, and more for just $1.95.
ambiance
75.0% positive
  1. “Taste is divine, and the atmosphere is very friendly.”
  2. “also think the place is not too cozy.”
  3. “Sure, the ambiance leaves a lot to be desired, but the wait staff is always great.”
  4. “The food and atmosphere was great.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Only drawback are the lines during the weekends and the summer, but then passing the wait with the Mai Tais in the bar is always a good option.”
  2. “The drinks are out of this world and the food is fresh.”
food quality
93.59000205993652% positive
  1. “love the food at Bob Chin's.”
  2. “probably won't go back because you have a city full of restaurants and i'm sure that there's a great seafood restaurant somewhere.”
  3. “Great king crab legs!”
  4. “great seafood restaurant, just a little drive from chicago”
  5. “The best seafood AND steak I have ever had!”
  6. “No doubt, it is the best, freshest seafood in Chicago.”
  7. “The fresh fish in cooked about 95% of the way before you even order it.”
  8. “Everything is so fresh and the salids are fresh too.”
  9. “The seafood is fresh, but for the price I prefer Pappadeaux or a place where the chef has more flair with his recipes.”
  10. “Great customer service & the best sea food by far that I have ever had.”
  11. “If you love seafood you'll love Bob Chinn's.”
  12. “rarely found a good seafood place around but this one is awesome.”
  13. “great seafood!”
  14. “The food is fresh and there is alot to choose from.”
  15. “The food and atmosphere was great.”
  16. “Top notch fresh sea food & more”
  17. “The drinks are out of this world and the food is fresh.”
  18. “Expensive but very good seafood”
  19. “This place has a really delicious seafood with quite a bit to choose from.”
  20. “My favorite dish is the blue crab claws warm in garlic butte.”
  21. “What a great seafood place.”
  22. “Their dinner prices are a little high but lunch really nice portions and reasonably priced,fast service not really personal,wholesome food.”
  23. “=) The food is the best around - I know it's a crab place, but let loose a little bit and try the steak - it's WELL worth the try.”
  24. “Great food”
  25. “Great seafood!”
  26. “If you love crab legs this is the place to go.”
  27. “However, the food is kinda pricey.”
  28. “love the steak medallions!”
  29. “This is the best seafood place ever!”
  30. “go there for the wonderful food not for fine china and crystal.”
  31. “Great food, good service”
  32. “Bob Chinn is a very good seafood restaurant for the family.”
  33. “The food at Bob Chin's is a no-frills seafood joint with delicious fish flown in fresh everyday.”
  34. “Here the service was average, the dining room so crowded that my neighbor's elbows were practically on our table, the food disappointing and the "tableware" made me think we were at a high-school cafeteria.”
  35. “The crabs were fresh and huge.”
  36. “The steaks are terrific too.”
  37. “Being a former Chinn's employee, I must say that just about EVERYTHING is precooked, from the fresh fish to the crabs.”
  38. “Amazingly fresh food that hits your senses.”
  39. “This is the best place for fresh seafood & steaks.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is the best place for fresh seafood & steaks.”
  2. “This is the best seafood place ever!”
  3. “great seafood restaurant, just a little drive from chicago”
  4. “=) The food is the best around - I know it's a crab place, but let loose a little bit and try the steak - it's WELL worth the try.”
  5. “rarely found a good seafood place around but this one is awesome.”
  6. “probably won't go back because you have a city full of restaurants and i'm sure that there's a great seafood restaurant somewhere.”
  7. “What a great seafood place.”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “probably won't go back because you have a city full of restaurants and i'm sure that there's a great seafood restaurant somewhere.”
service
75.0% positive
  1. “Taste is divine, and the atmosphere is very friendly.”
  2. “Great food, good service”
  3. “Great service”
  4. “Sure, the ambiance leaves a lot to be desired, but the wait staff is always great.”
  5. “The service was wonderful.”
  6. “the service was good (she poured the mai tais for us everytime we were low).”
  7. “Their dinner prices are a little high but lunch really nice portions and reasonably priced,fast service not really personal,wholesome food.”
  8. “Great customer service & the best sea food by far that I have ever had.”
  9. “Bob Chinn himself hate Americans and fat people, even though he was born right in Minnesota, not China.”
  10. “Here the service was average, the dining room so crowded that my neighbor's elbows were practically on our table, the food disappointing and the "tableware" made me think we were at a high-school cafeteria.”
  11. “They have a wonderful staff.”
  12. “High prices; service is awful”
value
62.5% positive
  1. “The crabs were fresh and huge.”
  2. “Their dinner prices are a little high but lunch really nice portions and reasonably priced,fast service not really personal,wholesome food.”
  3. “High prices; service is awful”
  4. “However, the food is kinda pricey.”
  5. “=) The food is the best around - I know it's a crab place, but let loose a little bit and try the steak - it's WELL worth the try.”
  6. “It's a huge restaurant and we've never wai.”
  7. “First off, let me say that Chinn's suffers from one major fault - their prices are very expensive.”
  8. “The seafood is fresh, but for the price I prefer Pappadeaux or a place where the chef has more flair with his recipes.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

11/09/10

Definitely an Experience

by krissyg703 at Citysearch

The Mai Tai's were good. And the salad bar. As far as the rest of it...well let's just say they are riding on a reputation.

The first entree I ordered was so salty and tough I had to send it back. I decided to try the chicken noodle soup, thought it was safe. Had to send that back too - way too salty and the noodles were the texture of thin rubber hoses. I gave up after that. My husband was very satisfied with his meal though.

I will say, our server worked her tail off and took both of my entrees back with a smile. They all looked like they were running their tails off. You will definitely get good service.

1 Star Rating: Poor

10/03/10

Quite the expirience

by suredeal at Citysearch

Decided to try this place since I had heard about it, and happened to be in the suburbs, Probably the worst meal I had in ages. I had the surf and turf, my steamed crab legs were served without proper utensils, cold and soggy... yes soggy... later when I had to remind the waiter to bring utensils and the other half of my surf and turf. The meat was over cooked and salty. Instead of the side of veggies I ordered I was given fried rice, I prefer China Hut's fried rice. My partner's food was just as nasty and he also was served the fried rice instead of the white rice he ordered. The food was awful and the service matched plus the neighborhood sucks.

1 Star Rating: Poor

10/16/08

Not as fresh as you think

by Twinturbine93 at Citysearch

Being a former Chinn's employee, I must say that just about EVERYTHING is precooked, from the fresh fish to the crabs. Don't think that you are the first one to taste your food either, because the line cooks all have their fingers in your dish tasting it. The fresh fish in cooked about 95% of the way before you even order it. Bob Chinn himself hate Americans and fat people, even though he was born right in Minnesota, not China.

1 Star Rating: Poor

08/02/08

I tripped on the carpet in the waiting line, fell down, knee bleeding. Alarmed hostess gets Bob Chinn who proceeds to insult me, says maybe my husband tripped me. He was rude, offensive. Stay away.

by carolruth at Citysearch

I tripped on carpet in waiting line, fell on all 4rs, knee bleeding thru slacks. Alarmed hostess gets Bob Chinn who proceeds to insult me, says maybe my husband tripped me. Says "we call ambulances all the time." He doesn't deserve your business.

  • Cons: The rudest most insulting restauranteuer I've ever seen!
3 Star Rating: Average

01/11/08

Luv those crabs

by moko13 at Citysearch

What a great seafood place. I rarely found a good seafood place around but this one is awesome. The crabs were fresh and huge. They cook it in several different ways hot and cold. However, the food is kinda pricey. I also think the place is not too cozy. Too crowded and loud. The service was wonderful. The server guided us through all the menu and gave the right suggestions.

  • Pros: food, service
  • Cons: price too expensive

The Details on Bob Chinn's Crab House

Place Categories:

  • great seafood
  • fresh sea food
  • good service
  • best seafood place
  • great seafood restaurant
  • terrific steaks
  • huge crabs
  • great atmosphere
  • always great wait staff
  • disappointing food
  • good salid
  • love bob chinn
  • good pricings
  • very good mai tai
  • warm blue crab claws
  • divine taste
  • good cooking
  • great pl
  • favorite dish
  • best seafood resturant
  • amazing biscuits
  • best appetizer
  • fresh fish
  • good option
  • love steak medallions
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