McCormick & Schmick's Seafood - Chicago

(312) 397-9500

41 E Chestnut St
Chicago, IL 60611 41.89833 -87.626831

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Neighborhoods: Near North Side, Central

MCCORMICKANDSCHMICKS.COM

Price:

$$$

Last updated 11.30.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Diners Club, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Special Occasion Dining, Business Dining, Group Dining, Happy Hour, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Seafood

Other Locations:

What People Are Saying About McCormick & Schmick's Seafood - Chicago

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Upscale and sophisticated, this chain features art deco-inspired trappings such as dark wood, shiny brass and beveled glass. Servers clad in black and white weave through cocktailing couples and businessmen at the bar. The classic American, seasonally inspired seafood menu changes daily; specialties include starters of Dungeness crab cakes and oysters on the half shell, plus entrees like cedar plank-roasted salmon, sauteed lobster with scallops and rock shrimp, and seared yellowfin tuna with wasabi, soy and ginger.

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
All restaurant locations offer McCormick & Schmick's seafood cookbooks for sale, as well as gift certificates in denominations of $50 and $100.
Save Money:
During the mid-afternoon and late evening, nosh on burgers and appetizers like steamed mussels, chicken satay and calamari for dirt cheap in the bar area. Hours vary from location to location.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. Nice atmosphere but was not really blown away.
  2. have been to the one in Phonex and was very pleased with that restaurant; good food, good service and good ambiance.
  3. This chain serves great seafood at every location.
  4. The service and atmosphere was good, though we had to wait a long time to get the check.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. The desserts, a brownie sundae and upside-down apple pie were both good.
  2. The waitress was nice and offered us a different appetizer, so we selected the crab cake.
drinks
90.0% positive
  1. We had appetizers and oysters in the bar, and everything was good.
  2. Service in the bar was pretty good, and it was clean and not overly smokey like some bars get.
  3. the waitress was nice but kind of aloof and we had to flag her down for the check (about 10 minutes after we finished our drinks, you'd think she'd be all over us getting another round?)
  4. Nice dinner at the bar
  5. Server wasn't the best and they did not have the wine we wanted in-stock but overall the food made it a great night.
food quality
92.5% positive
  1. With the good bread they brought, it made a good light lunch.
  2. really good seafood, just kinda expensive
  3. fresh seafood and attentive service
  4. The food was great.
  5. best seafood chain
  6. have been there previously and the food and service is always impeccable.
  7. Coconut shrimp was a great appetizer.
  8. For the entree, I ordered sauteed salmon, which was very good.
  9. Server wasn't the best and they did not have the wine we wanted in-stock but overall the food made it a great night.
  10. Overall, the food quality was a little disappointing.
  11. Good seafood just a little pricey
  12. My seafood newburg was excellent and my wife's shrimp scampi was done perfectly.
  13. do recommend their creme brulee.
  14. have been to the one in Phonex and was very pleased with that restaurant; good food, good service and good ambiance.
  15. I'd go back because the food is good, but it's a bit on the pricey side for me.
  16. The waitress was nice and offered us a different appetizer, so we selected the crab cake.
  17. This chain serves great seafood at every location.
  18. The seafood was fresh and well worth the price.
  19. Unfortunately it came with a big load of pasta that was really really greasy.
  20. Food is a tad pricey, but the seafood is fresh.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. I'd go back because the food is good, but it's a bit on the pricey side for me.
service
95.0% positive
  1. Our waiter was great he seems a little bit rush but prompt.
  2. Our waiter couldn't have been more attentive.
  3. have been there previously and the food and service is always impeccable.
  4. have been to the one in Phonex and was very pleased with that restaurant; good food, good service and good ambiance.
  5. fresh seafood and attentive service
  6. The waitress was nice and offered us a different appetizer, so we selected the crab cake.
  7. our server was knowledgeable and polite and had worked at several other locations around the country.
  8. The bartender was great -- turned on baseball on one TV and hockey on another, as we asked.
  9. The service and atmosphere was good, though we had to wait a long time to get the check.
  10. the waitress was nice but kind of aloof and we had to flag her down for the check (about 10 minutes after we finished our drinks, you'd think she'd be all over us getting another round?)
value
75.0% positive
  1. would not recommend this place to a friend, since it wasn't really worth the price and time we spent.
  2. Good seafood just a little pricey
  3. I'd go back because the food is good, but it's a bit on the pricey side for me.
  4. The seafood was fresh and well worth the price.
  5. really good seafood, just kinda expensive
  6. Food is a tad pricey, but the seafood is fresh.
wait time
75.0% positive
  1. The service and atmosphere was good, though we had to wait a long time to get the check.
  2. the waitress was nice but kind of aloof and we had to flag her down for the check (about 10 minutes after we finished our drinks, you'd think she'd be all over us getting another round?)
3 Star Rating: Average

10/30/08

average dining experience prompt service

by pink75 at Citysearch

Average dining experience. Food was okay but service is prompt and attentive. Our waiter was great he seems a little bit rush but prompt. I thought my food was kind of bland. The portions are just right not too small or too much. I do recommend their creme brulee. Nice atmosphere but was not really blown away.

  • Pros: prompt service
  • Cons: none i can think of
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/02/08

Good seafood just a little pricey

by fl_doc at Citysearch

The service was okay. Our waiter seemed like he was too busy with a larger group and was not very interested in serving our table of 2. The food was great. The seafood was fresh and well worth the price. But the highlight of the meal was definitely dessert. We had cheesecake that was to die for.

  • Pros: Fresh seafood and cheesecake
  • Cons: service
4 Star Rating: Recommended

12/26/07

really good seafood, just kinda expensive

by lparker52 at Citysearch

I had their clams and shrimp cocktail. My sister had a white fish (I forgot which one). Both cooked very well. very fresh. Clams were GREAT. However, for $9 you only get four pieces of Shrimp. They are very long and fresh, but for $9 you don't get a lot. I'd go back because the food is good, but it's a bit on the pricey side for me.

3 Star Rating: Average

05/12/07

Not all it's cracked up to be!

by payam_s at Citysearch

We went there on a Friday evening. We ordered crab dip appetizer, and found it over-bearingly salty. The waitress was nice and offered us a different appetizer, so we selected the crab cake. It was still a little salty, but better.

For the entree, I ordered sauteed salmon, which was very good. Unfortunately it came with a big load of pasta that was really really greasy. My girlfriend ordered the seafood newberger, which is supposed to be one of their classic dishes. It was Ok, but not worth twenty bucks. The desserts, a brownie sundae and upside-down apple pie were both good.

Overall, the food quality was a little disappointing. The service and atmosphere was good, though we had to wait a long time to get the check. I would not recommend this place to a friend, since it wasn't really worth the price and time we spent.

  • Pros: atmosphere, dessert
  • Cons: salty appetizer, creamy food
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/23/07

fresh seafood and attentive service

by EmilyDwarf at Citysearch

came here for a business dinner and started out with drinks in the bar. the waitress was nice but kind of aloof and we had to flag her down for the check (about 10 minutes after we finished our drinks, you'd think she'd be all over us getting another round?). experience was much better in the restaurant. our server was knowledgeable and polite and had worked at several other locations around the country. delcious and reasonably priced seafood with TONS of selections. the fish is flown in fresh daily and they change their menu at least once a day to reflect what they have fresh on hand. it's a little pricey for me to come back often (entrees $20-$40), but I would definitely consider it for a very special occassion.

  • Pros: service, food quality and options
  • Cons: our waitress in the bar

The Details on McCormick & Schmick's Seafood - Chicago

Place Categories:

  • fresh seafood
  • good service
  • good food
  • nice waitress
  • polite server
  • more attentive waiter
  • nice atmosphere
  • good bread
  • good light lunch
  • good desserts
  • impeccable oysters
  • best seafood chain
  • excellent seafood newburg
  • very good sauteed salmon
  • good upsidedown apple pie
  • good ambiance
  • great bartender
  • great appetizer
  • recommend creme brulee
  • disappointing food quality
  • not recommend place
  • nice dinner
  • good brownie sundae
  • good everything
  • great clams

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