Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.
Every so often a girl just has to have some crab or lobster. One of my favorite places when I get such a notion is Bob Chinn’s Crab House in Wheeling. However, Jim doesn’t like to be shuffled from one line to another, as if he was in Disney World, just to get a table.
A great alternative is to go to Chinn’s 34th Street Fishery in Lisle, which is owned and operated by Bob Chinn’s nephew. It is an average-sized restaurant, and even at busy times you can call in advance and get “priority seating,” which cuts your waiting time in half.
When we sat down, our waiter came over to our table with Chinn’s famous (to die for) warm garlic rolls (did I ever mention I love garlic?) and to take our drink order. He does serve his uncle’s Mai Tai’s there, but we ordered our usual boring iced teas.
For an appetizer, I ordered the crab ‘n’ shrimp egg rolls (2) for $6.95. Jim took a taste, and we both agreed – yes, you heard right, we both agreed – they were crispy, but greasy, and we couldn’t taste any shrimp or crab in them. They tasted like normal egg rolls; how disappointing for me.
Jim ordered six blue point oysters for $10.95, and our eyes popped when we saw how huge they were. Even though Jim tasted my egg roll, I told him to enjoy all the oyster himself, since I wouldn’t touch one of those snotty things if you paid me!
For dinner, I ordered the Louisiana garlic blue crab claws (what a surprise!) for $25.95. They were delicious, and the portion was enormous. I scooped up every morsel of garlic in my bowl; I was in heaven.
Jim had the Alaskan Dungeness crab in garlic for $29.95. It was a “medium” portion and very sweet and tasty. I tried it, and next to my little crab claws, Dungeness Crab is my next favorite shellfish.
Both of our entrees came with coleslaw and a starch. Nancy had the boiled red potatoes, and Jim had the seasoned French fries.
The restaurant was decorated to make you feel as if you were looking into an aquarium, complete with painted portholes on the wall with turtles, fish, and a crab or two swimming by. An interesting feature in the back of the restaurant was a big picture window looking out to landscaping that resembled ocean plants with a huge concrete fish. Sounds tacky, but it worked. Strike up the band, everybody start singing “Under the Sea…”
When I think of Bob Chinn’s, I expect a very long wait with a noisy, busy atmosphere. Not so with this restaurant. Here it is quiet and relaxing, and the food is just as good. We shelled out $83.96 this evening, but like I said, every so often a girl just has to have her crab.
He said/she said:
Jim’s take: The oysters were big, meaty, and delicious. If you have the patience, Dungeness Crab is the sweetest and tastiest crab you will ever eat, but it is a lot of work. I chose to have it in garlic after watching Nancy scoop up the last bits of garlic from the dinner roll basket.
Nancy’s take: I adore crab, all kinds, so I ordered the crab claws hoping to mooch some Dungeness Crab from Jim, and I did! My favorite food is crab, and you know how I love garlic, so tonight I can honestly say I enjoyed my meal completely. I really liked the décor, since it made me feel like I was in a Disney movie expecting Sebastian to saunter past.
Chinn’s 34th Street Fishery
3011 W. Ogden Avenue
(Rte. 34)
Lisle 60532
(630)637-1777
www.chinnsfishery.com
Directions: I-90 East to 53 South to
355 South to US 34 (Ogden Ave.) West
Travel Time: 45 minutes
