Starfish
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 997-2433
Fax: (312) 226-7869
- Price:
- $
- Cross Street:
- Halsted Street
- Directions:
- Bus: 8 to Randolph Street
- Specialties:
- Japanese Food, Sushi
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11:00am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm, Fri 11:00am-2:30pm, 5pm-11pm, Sat 5pm-11pm, Sun 5pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Starfish – by J.P. Anderson
The Scene
Dark velvet banquettes, red and lime-green walls and bamboo accents give this lofty space an urban-organic feel. A stylish lounge and bar area is separated by a wall from the well-spaced tables and sushi bar in the main dining room. Lounge-type club music sets a cool mood; service is smart and efficient.
The Food
Chef Andy Park has created a daring sushi menu, and his plates taste almost as good as they look. Starters like spicy tuna and salmon tartare and asparagus beef roll in teriyaki sauce are just about perfect. Maki choices are plentiful: Try the Kamakazi (spicy tuna roll topped with tuna nigiri) or the Black Dragon (eel over spicy scallop). If nigiri's your thing, you'll love Starfish's huge portions; favorites among the couple dozen options include fatty tuna, mackerel and tiger shrimp.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
The ExtrasFor a healthy alternative to white rice, Starfish offers (by request) maki wrapped in black rice, which has less carbohydrates and more nutritional value.
User Reviews for Starfish
05/13/2008 Posted by lisagreen
I've been to Starfish 3 times. All three visits were great. I've discovered that it's normal for them to be "out" of something I wanted, like sake. But the meal always makes up for it. Last visit I ordered the tekka-don. I was living dangeriously, as I normally look for tekka maki. The menu said this was 10 pcs of tuna on rice, but it came 1/2 and 1/2 tuna & red snapper. I'm glad I was feeling adventuous. The plate was gorgeous, tuna and red snapper with caviar added. Yum. This was the first time I've tried the red snapper. My tuna intake has been seriously curtailed after this experience. I ordered an ice cream dessert. I have no idea what it was called, but it was cappucino ice cream inside some sort of squishy dough. I know, it sounds kind of gross and the texture was a little weird, but it was so delicious!
Pros: The BEST sushi.
Cons: Service can be slow, but they are very polite.
02/14/2008 Posted by llorch
I went to Starfish bc it's always looked appealing from the outside. I live 2 blocks away and didn't have any better idea, so figured- sure, give it a shot! Whoops. ick. ugh. So - starts: we'd like a bottle of sake. They're having a 'special' tomorrow, so many sakes are unavailable tonight. Choice available- 3 of 12 or so. My friend wants udon. Great- they have nebayaki udon. I like the bento box -great value ($21 for 9 pieces sashimi, 4 nigiri, mixed tempura & salad). So - we order. 10 Min later our waitress returns apologetically- udon isn't available. They don't have the broth for it. So, we get miso, it arrives smelling like fish, tasting like beef. My friend decides on a new meal - Shrimp skewers, Toro nigiri from the menu. No Toro tonight. Ok, Bluefin. No Bluefin. Give us another min. Tuna. Regular Tuna? yes. An order of shrimp skewers and 1 Tuna nigiri. Bento box arrives. Ooh- nice selection! I pick up what I think is 1 piece of Tuna. It's 2 literally ripped in half- I thought someone already had a bite! Yellowtail - 1 piece split, torn. Salmon nigiri- discolored, almost brown. The shrimp? Half there - like someone took a bite. The Hirame looks like it was sliced with a spoon. Tai is two cubes. Tempura was dripping grease. The zucchini looked like LATKES! Thick and heavy batter, way too much. Salmon sashimi, my fav, was not cut through and has a 'tail' from being torn. Asked for the manager. 10 min later, the 2nd waiter who had been buzzing around comes over, yes? The fish seems to have cut with a very dull knife, some is discolored, I'm not interested in eating more than I have (I left 2/3 of my dish - minus some tempura, 4 pieces of fish, and salad). Ok, I'm so sorry, let me see what I can do. 15 min. A long time to sit without eating. I ask to leave, he says 1 moment, I'll bring the check. Check arrives- full price for inedible fish. PLEASE do yourself a favor, go across the street to Izumi.
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