Nick’s Fishmarket Grill & Bar
222 Merchandise Mart Plz,Ste 135, Chicago, IL, 60654
Nick’s Fishmarket Grill & Bar Menu
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Address :
222 Merchandise Mart Plz,Ste 135
Chicago, IL, 60654 - Phone (312) 621-0200
- Website https://www.nicks-fishmarket.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kelly W.
I came here during restaurant week a few weeks ago and had a great experience. It was pretty empty on a weeknight. The ambiance is cool casual. There is a bar right when you walk in. I ordered the lobster bisque, lobster tail risotto and the key lime tart. Everything was absolutely delicious! The lobster bisque was creamy and filling without being overly fishy. The risotto was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. The full lobster tail was seasoned to perfection and was also cooked perfectly. The key lime tart was the perfect sweet to end it. The menu said the dessert was a mini dessert but after that meal I couldn't even finish it all! They put warm bread on the table as well. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Aleen L.
Aside from the great seafood, this place has the best lobster bisque around! Also, a little secret - ask for the bread - it's warm and delicious and totally worth the carbs!
(5)Derek S.
We ate here a few weeks ago after reading a few positive reviews online. People had mentioned the menu changing. Should have paid attention to this. The menu that is online is completely different than what is actually there. The food wasn't bad at all, but it was definitely not what we were expecting. I had the Seabass, which was rather good. It was nothing to write home about. My girlfriend had the sea food risotto, which she said was OK. The menu was not too diverse, and if you have shellfish allergy, like myself, you can go ahead and cross out 3/4 of the menu. Hopefully they update their menu online so you can know what you are getting into.
(2)Carol K.
I used to love the old Nicks Fishmarket so imagine my surprise when I find out that they have opened a more casual version in the Merchandisie Mart. Made me smile in anticipation. We went on a Saturday night, early as we had theater tickets for after. Given it was in the Mart, I really wasn't surprised that we were the only table in the place up until about 7:30. Great if you want to dine in solitude, bad if you want a little ambiance or energy. In fact- it was so quiet in the place, that everything my friend and I said was echoing through the space. The ambiance is sparce- wood tables with the bar area bathed in bolbalt blue. There are booths along the wall (ask for one or you might feel you are in the middle of the room!) Our server, Adam, was great. Quick with suggestions and knowledageable about the menu. We started with the fresh oysters which were quite good and the cocnut shrimp which were HUGE (and what could ever be wrong with fried food?) Our entrees were quite good too. I went with the Sea Bass and my friend ordered the shrimp scampi which they let him also add a couple of scallops to as well. His was the winner of the night as while my fish was good, the mashed potatoes that came with it were actually cold which was odd given we were the only people in the place! Entrees range between $15 and $35 so there are plenty of choices no matter what your price range. If you drive- there are spots right out front on the driveway where you can park for free after 6! Or there is a parking garage at the corner of Wells which will run you about $18. All in all, while the food was pretty good, the ambiance just didn't work for me. I want a lively place with an energy that is additive to your night. Afterall- dinner out is supposed to be a special time and this just didn't feel special. But if you are in the Mart and looking for a solid meal, this is probably one of your best choices!
(3)Ralph R.
Terrible!!!!! Went there last minute because it was one of the few places I could get a reservation and now I know why. Ordered a steak and crab cake and the steak was very undercooked, rare at best. The crab cake tasted like it came out of the freezer isle at Jewel. The salad was good (not difficult to mess up), and the service was decent. I would not recommend this restaurant nor would I return.
(1)Anthony M.
BLOODY BRUNCH I was lucky enough to be invited to attend an event here for the launch of the new Absolut Vodka Chicago bottle. It was a fun event. The staff of Nick's was extremely friendly, as they walked around with passed snacks. My personal favorite was the Oyster Shooters in tall shot glasses. Nothing goes better with Bloody's, then some fresh Oysters. The space was very comfortable to hang out in. There was even room for a 3 piece jazz ensemble. It made for a nice relaxing event as we all sipped on Absolut Bloody Mary's. There was also an incredible Bloody Mary Bar complete with sweet bacon, fresh beef jerky, shrimp, cheese, peppers, olives, asparagus, summer sausage, pepperoni, etc. You name it and they probably had it. I also met a person who had never had a Bloody Mary in there life and I helped load it up with stuff. That was kind of fun as I packed it full of salty yummy snacks. Nothing brings strangers together more then this. It is like the new salad bar for weekends. The space was also very comfortable. There were plenty of high boys to stand at and enjoy your food/drink or you could relax in one of the many booths. The room never felt cramped at all. Drinks were limited to a choice of two different Bloody's. The bartenders were also from other bars and each was sharing there signature drink with the attendees. So my review is more of using Nick's as a venue for your next event. The space was comfortable and the staff was very friendly. I kept trying to talk my waitress into trying a Glazed and Infused Donut but she said she was not allowed. That is a good team member that can resist that kind of sweet temptation. I kept telling her that she needed to do the research, so she knew what she was serving her guests. I felt like George from Seinfeld but I never got her to take a bite. It was a great time but how can anyone have a bad time with great food, live music and a friendly staff. I can hardly wait to come back again.
(5)Abbie F.
Went for Restaurant week with three of my friends. Service was solid-our waiter was nice and timing between meals was good. Food-I had the bisque, risotto and chocolate molten cake. Bisque was creamy and delicious but the salad was AMAZING so that was the better option. Risotto had good flavor but the lobster on top was pitiful. Tough and looked ugly. Molten cake-don't get it!! Super dry and not warm. The key lime pie was DELICIOUS and the cheesecake was good too.
(3)Coast To Coast D.
Really great place in the busy city I would recommend this spot any time I will defiantly come back
(4)Jessica P.
I went here yesterday. We order off the prefix menu for Chicago Restaurant Week. Everything we got was delicious. The lobster bisque was amazing and the chocolate molten cake was too. I do recommend!
(5)Jean L.
I met someone for lunch here today. I got there a few minutes early, and asked the greeter whether the person I was meeting had arrived yet. Since she hadn't the greeter volunteered letting me wait at the bar. The bartender was instantly receptive. I didn't have a drink, as I was going to meet my friend minutes later; nevertheless, she was extremely friendly as I was waiting. As for the service at the actual table, it was a little more scattered than I would have otherwise preferred. According to my dining partner, Nick's normally isn't as busy as it was today for a weekday lunch. However, it was restaurant week, so the restaurant was pretty much completely booked.. I had a salmon with asian bbq sauce, jasmine rice, and side of vegetables. I think it was about 20$. The salmon was wonderful, the jasmine rice was mediocre, and the vegetables were great.
(4)Kamilah S.
THIS IS MY 145th YELP REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY --------------RESTARAUNT WEEK 2014---------------FREE PARKING after 4:30pm My bff and I came here to jump start our fat, foodie week. We had amazing food and service from our waitress Faith. We had the lobster bisque and the chocolate molten lava cake. My entrée was the tilapia with crab and bleu cheese and my bff had the shrimp with the vodka sauce, but she did not have very much vodka sauce. Overall, our meals were delicious. I had my go to drink, a lemon drop martini and she had a pomegranate martini, nice and strong, like we like em!! Great start to a week of food that we look forward to every year. Thank you
(5)Steven N.
How did we like it? My wife asked "can we come back here again tomorrow night?" lol. We came here last Friday and tried their 2014 restaurant week menu. For just $33 per person, you get to choose a starter, main course and dessert. We both got the lobster bisque and it tasted like heaven. It's not overly creamly, salty or rich and the toasted mini croissant to go on top of the bisque is a great combo. There's also shrimp and crab meat sprinkled in there as well. Overall, it was flavorful and satisfying. For the main courses, I got the lobster tail risotto and my wife ordered the seafood platter (samples of mahi mahi, salmon and talipia). I can't stress enough how perfectly cooked and seasoned the seafood were. It really shows that the chef totally understands how to work with seafood. The nice meal was made even nicer with great service provided by our server Alex (female) and the awesome desserts. Definitely try to molten chocolate cake. This is a place we would definitely visit again, especially since they have free parking after 6pm...that's just too easy for us to become frequent visitors.
(4)Bob F.
Interesting location inside the North entrance of the Merchandise Mart. Went at 8:00 on a Friday night. Turned out that was the last seating and there were not a lot of people there. I wondered if we were making a mistake - but I was glad we stayed. I got there before the rest of my party and was well greeted and well treated by the bartender and several members of the staff. There were 3 of us and, among other things, we tried the lobster bisque, oysters, Ahi, Monchong and BBQ Salmon. All were excellent, as was the service. My only complaint was that they were a bit stingy with the bisque. Otherwise, a very good experience.
(4)Jim K.
My lovely wife and I stopped here for a late lunch after spending the morning touring the design studios at the Merch. We had 10:00pm dinner reservations after a show at 7:30pm, so we figured a substantial lunch was in order to hold us over. At 3:00pm on a Thursday, the place was all but empty. But having celebrated our anniversary a "tad" too much the prior evening, we decided to go the water and Pepsi route for drinks and leave the higher octane stuff for later. I've been to the Nick's in Rosemont, but tucked into the North side of the Merch, this location is a little bit more like a sports bar, at least that's my opinion. We started with the Flaming Spinach and Artichoke dip, which was expertly ignited by our server, Vince. It was yummy, and a good way to start. Be wary though, because the first bite of the tasty dip is like molten lava. My wife chose the Fish Tacos and couldn't have loved them more. The battered cod was cooked perfectly, and the avocado crema was a great accompaniment. The coleslaw was probably some of the best we've ever had in a restaurant, cool and creamy with just the right amount of tang to compliment the fish. I opted for the Blackened Tilapia sandwich. The blackening spices were just right, producing a very nice amount of heat while not overpowering the fish. Served simply on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato, and a dab of remoulade (I would have been happy with some on the side as well for dipping the thin crispy fries), it was pretty darn good. As other reviewers have said, this really isn't a date spot but you gotta make your own romance, right? We left happy and filled just enough to carry us through to our late night dinner reservations.
(4)Nauzad T.
I walked into this restaurant while I was staying at the nearby Holiday Inn. And it was a pleasant surprise. The lobster bisque was yummy and the mahi-mahi was was well presented with a tangy sauce, spinach and creamed potatoes.
(4)Alex G.
This place was really irritating. We went for my cousins birthday on a Saturday night and being that we are Italian we tend to travel is larger groups and are obviously very loud. So I made the reso for 12 people and when the gentleman called to confirm I had a few questions- before I could thank him for helping he hung up on me- so rude. When we arrived later that evening I made sure to mention we were going to be a louder group, our waiter jokingly commented that we should warn the other patrons as he would not be bothered by the noise. Needless to say as more of us showed up he WAS bother by our noise level. Our reso was at 7:45 and around 8:15 a few stragglers had yet to arrive however, then and only then were we told the kitchen closes at 9. Why that wasn't mentioned when we made the reso I am not sure. Throughout the meal our table wasn't cleared ever or at all and our waters was never refilled. I have failed to mention that our family owns two restaurants so, we know good service and this was awful and not a fun place at all- if you are a bore you'd love it. By the end of the meal we just wanted to get out of there. Sorry for the bad review but we were extremely unhappy.
(2)Rachael M.
My husband (Adam) and I had a late lunch (around 2 p.m. on a Friday) at Nick's. It was nearly empty, but for having only 1 server working at that time, we had wonderful customer service. I ordered the crab cake sandwich, and Adam had the Tuscan sliders. For dessert, we had mini portions of caramel creme brulee and key lime pie. Adam and I like to make jokes about "magic TV food" when we watch shows like Top Chef or Iron Chef America. The presentation of our dishes actually made us feel like we were eating magic TV food... and what's better is that the food was actually as delicious as it looked! We got out of there for less than $50 (tip included) and had a meal that was beyond our expectations. I look forward to going there again someday.
(5)Alie H.
A fish out of water..... We walked in and felt like we were in a hotel lobby bar with too much neon and mod colors. SUPER bright and TVs all over the place. Certainly not the "Chicago" experience we were looking for and this restaurant long had a reputation for. Fish quality was good. Presentation: they were trying to be hip and it did not work for me. All the reviews raved about the lobster bisque which was fine. Not great. WAY over priced and not really much of an experience. I was disappointed. Cocktails were meh, my husband ordered a bourbon on the rocks it came in a giant glass with a full scoop of ice in it. If you like the taste of bourbon ask for ice on the side. I had a martini dry but the vermouth was overwhelming. Service was OK. The entire experience left a lot to be desired. Might be a good place for a meeting.
(2)Brynn M.
The food at Nick's was great and the restaurant is very nice. Excellent seafood selection and our waiter was fantastic and attentive. The only downside was that the restaurant was pretty empty on a Saturday night during dinner, so it was a bit of an odd vibe. The Merchandise Mart is so quiet on the weekend too, so it didn't have the Chicago "buzz" that you would expect at a nice dinner. Oh, and one last thing... we brought my 4-year-old nephew with us and they actually made him homemade chicken nuggets - they were delicious!
(4)Anne S.
I thought this was a great place for a business lunch. The mixed grill was delicious, but my dining companion's parmeson encrusted grouper with mashed potatoes made me jealous. Both had a good amount of veggies which impressed me. I tried both the molten chocolate cake and the keylime pie and I would go back just for dessert any day. (The dessert was giant, so I didn't have room to eat nearly enough of it after lunch).
(4)Ryne D.
Restaurant week review! Had to change our reservations the day before but they had no problem, and the reason became obvious when we walked in...there was no one there! Granted, it was a Monday, but still not a good look. So for our dinner I got - Lobster bisque - Quite good. A little heavy on the sherry, but I actually liked that. Lobster and shrimp risotto - Came with a big ol' lobster tail and lots of shrimp. However, the risotto itself was really heavy on the cheese and th seafood didn't get much of a chance to shine. White chocolate cheesecake - Tasted...off. I couldn't taste white chocolate or even regular chocolate - just a heavy citric taste. Maybe they keep their cheesecake too close to their key lime pie? Oh, and one awkward moment - we ordered a bottle of wine, and my glass ended up with more sediment than any of us had ever seen. It looked like someone had dropped wafers in my wine glass. So the waiter comes by, says he'll get me a new glass...then carefully pours the wine out of my glass into a new one. Ok, I know it's picky since the sediment is natural and I can't really dock them for it, but there had to have been a better solution...no? To my friends who had to back out of the reservation...you didn't miss much.
(2)Ross R.
The food is good. The service a little over the top. Was there on a Friday night and practically had the place to ourselves. Clearly they make their nut on the expense account lunch crowd. A couple of people in our party remembered how Nick's used to be. This modern version is fine and there's nothing to complain about, unless you're feeling nostalgic.
(4)Lisa R.
Went here on Saturday for Restaurant Week. I didn't really care for the restaurant in a hotel feel of the place, but the food and service was great. I ordered off the special menu : lobster bisque - good ; blue crab & brie crusted tilapia - delicious (tasted good even the next day when I reheated the leftovers) ; chocolate molten cake - yum (small but just enough for me). My friend had nicks nevada salad, bourbon shrimp and grits and the cheesecake. Enjoyed the meal. I tried the shrimp and it was good.
(4)Amy L.
I brought my big boss here when he was traveling with me because he's a vegetarian, but still eats fish. Everything was awesome! They were supe accommodating to make the dishes exactly how we wanted. I got the fish tacos and they were happy to pan sear instead of fry the cod. Nom nom. My boss's boss got the grouper, but changed the sauce and the sides. He even customized his Caesar salad. The only problem was there was NO ONE in the restaurant besides us. They said it was because of the bad weather, but it just felt awkward. I'm sure ill be back!
(4)B B.
Went here for my bday dinner. Space/decor was fine and hostess was very friendly/accommodating but the food was sub-par to say the least. We headed to the bar for a drink and the free finger foods. We ordered the shrimp cocktail and mini crab cakes. Honestly, both tasted like the got them from a supermarket. Easily worst crab cakes I've ever tasted. Then came dinner. First, we sat down and they handed us the "weekend menu" which had less than half the food choices at double the price. Luckily, the standard menu was still available. Moving forward, I ordered the lobster bisque (my favorite soup) to start and it came out essentially cold. Also there was no lobster to speak of. I had one little tiny shard of shrimp in the entire cup of soup. Flavor was ok, but that's about all I can say positive about it. The house salad I ordered was probably the best part of the meal, but could have used more dressing for sure. My girlfriend ordered the Parmesan crusted tilapia and wasn't pleased either. They put so much Parmesan on the fish it was like they were hiding something. I ordered the filet medallions which were also hiding under 3 different cheeses which I scraped off so I could taste the steak beneath. We both got the mashed potatoes which I can assure you were instant potatoes of some sort. They were awful. Also the asparagus that came with my filet were barely cooked. The broccoli medley that came with the fish also looked/tastes like something you would buy in the freezer isle at Jewel. Service wasn't great either and ordering $8 dollar beers got old pretty quick since the food was poor. In summation I would not recommend this place to anybody. Hard to see it staying in business long. Maybe our experience was an isolated incident, but I doubt it. Too many good places to eat in Chicago to waste your time here. Cheers
(2)Justin P.
I'd definitely go back to Nick's. The service wasn't bad, but it also didn't have me jump for joy; it was ok. That's really the only area where I'd give less than 4 stars. What sold me on this place was the food (I had a buffalo chicken sandwich which was solid) and the ambiance. I bet this place is a good place to dine/hang out at the bar after work. Please note: I only tried the buffalo chicken and fries; so I'll have to update my review once I've sampled their other dishes. The price tag for my sandwich is about what you'd expect for lunch downtown; $16 (which includes a beverage and taxes.)
(4)Leslie G.
I went to the old Nick's a couple of times before it moved to this location and liked it, so I was curious to see what this Nick's was like. I stopped in for dinner one night when I was in the area. I was surprised by the fact that there were only 2 other people in the entire place. The old locale was pretty packed after work, but I guess the new spot really just caters to people who work in the Mart. I wasn't looking for anything fancy, so I just ordered the fish tacos. There are only 2 tacos, but they're pretty big. It also comes with a side of fries or cole slaw. I opted for the slaw, and there was quite a bit of it. The fish in the tacos is fried cod, I believe. They were good; I've had better fish tacos elsewhere. The server was very attentive (probably because no one else was there), so no complaints on that front. My guess is that this place does a lot of lunch business. They close at 8 pm, so it's probably good for a post-work drink or quick dinner, but that's about it. I doubt I would go out of my way to go there again, but if I'm in the area, I might stop by.
(3)Tom B.
We enjoyed a lunch here after a Chicago Architectural Foundation tour of the Merchandise Mart. The food and service were both very good. We tried the vodka pasta, lobster bisque, and the crab cake appetizer--a single very large crab cake that was as good as any we've had. The prices did seem just a little high for lunch.
(4)Danica S.
I was a little disappointed with the place. Also the food here is greasy and they are a little heavy with the salt. I lobster bisque is a hit or miss. The crab cakes are good. The steak is ok. I will say that the service is really good. Very friendly staff.
(3)Charles A.
We enjoyed an excellent dinner. The service was superb. Atmosphere stylish modern with the bar area lit from below in blue light. ...A cold winter Chicago night (7°) we had the chicken and rice soup to warm up. My wife had the seafood salad and was very happy. I had chicken piccata - generously served with angel hair pasta, Goose Island beers ... price was right and we will return
(4)Morris O.
Went there for dinner on a Wednesday night. There were a few people in the bar but the only table occupied in the dining room was the one at which we were sitting. No other diners came in after us (we got there a little after six and were there until 8ish). I'm from Chicago and had a hard time finding the entrance--after driving around the Merchandise Mart I finally called to find out exactly where there parking area was (at least parking was free). Previous experience at Nick's (both at its old location and at the location near O'Hare) was 5 star but not here. Servious was only fair and the menu was not the same (many favorites missing). While the main course was great, ordered shrimp cocktail for a starter. The shrimp were not as large and plump as in the past and did not seem quite as fresh as remembered in the past.
(2)Rachel W.
My BF and I came here last Wednesday night for our date night after work and were surprisingly pleased. We arrived at 7pm and the place closed at 8pm (I think it's more of a lunch place) so there weren't too many people there. Either way, there was an abundance of food on the menu that we really wanted to try and we had a hard time making a decision. We ended up sharing the lobster bisque, lobster buffalo flatbread, and the shrimp and lobster risotto. It was all so delicious. The lobster bisque was a little heavy, but still yummy, the flatbread was really good, and the risotto was also good, but a little cheesy. The service was also excellent. I don't remember the prices, but for the amount of seafood we had, the check wasn't that bad. We'll definitely be coming back to try some more of the items on the menu.
(4)Justin B.
staff was busy on a busy night, but this is not their first rodeo, therefore things should not have fallen apart so easily. Food was decent enough, not the level of food i anticipated, decent none the less. i will check it off my list. no real anticipation to return any time soon. Drinks were good tho.
(3)Michael K.
The food was pretty good. Chilean sea bass is definitely a winner here. I would give the food 4 stars. This place gets 0 stars for ambiance. I've been to Nick's when it was under Chase tower and I set reservations at this location based on my experience from there. The lighting in the dining area is SO bright here. I brought my girlfriend here for valentine's day and I would compare the ambiance to McDonalds or Wendy's. It was quite ridiculous. I will never come here for a date again
(2)Wei H.
I sometimes work at the Mart so I finally went there for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant has a very trendy blue color themed decor. Very spacious seating and quiet environment that's perfect for a business lunch. Appetizers: - Lobster bisque: it was perfect. Perfect portion, not too big to skip entree and not too small to leave you yearning for more. Actually I lied. I kept yearning for more but the rational part of me told me to stop. - Black and blue Ahi Tuna: the fish was very fresh but the spices were too strong for my palate that's used to sashimi. - Flaming spinach and artichoke: loved the dip. Although you would think the flame would add some kick to it. Nope. Still very good. - Blackened tilapia sandwich: fish was awesome. Not much else to it. Fries were not good. Soft and over fried. Sad. My guests seemed to have enjoyed their food. The salads look good too especially when there are giant grilled shrimps. They seem to have daily specials that look delicious too. Next time you are tired from walking around the Mart gazing at the beautiful furniture, try Nick's out. It's better than you average downtown lunch spots with slightly higher prices but it's worth at least one visit IMHO.
(3)Zakia C.
This was restaurant number two during my restaurant week take over. Unfortunately, this restaurant delivered less than a stellar performance. When I go out for restaurant week, I expect to have a fantastic experience. It should include some of the restaurant's best courses, great service and excellent dessert. Nick's only "brought it "in two of the three expectations. The service was pretty good but the food was less than spectacular. It was, dare I say, Blah. The only part of the meal that I was satisfied with was the chocolate Molten Cake. However, I feel that the restaurant's miniature creation of this dessert was a bit insulting. All and All, Nick's Fishmarket didn't deliver at all. I give it 2 NOMS.
(2)Jaime G.
Finally a decent little place in the mart. Headed here for lunch and had a great time. Service was excellent and the lobster risotto was esp good. Their seafood mixed grill looked fantastic too. Can't wait to go back.
(4)Kayu T.
Came here for Valentines day. The place was not romantic but its was clean and nice. 1- Salad - Very Nice. fresh shrimps and great house dressing. 2- Lobster Bisque - Decent. Like most place.. it was a lil heavy on sodium but it had the most lobster and crab bits. 3- Black and Blue seared tuna - Decent. Fresh fish. I thought it was cut a lil too thin and the spice out the outside over powered the fish a little too much. 4- Mojito - God Awful. It was 50% lime juice, 1% mint leaves and 40% Club Soda. Sigh. it was horrible so i had to return it and come to find out... the girl bartender was new and it was her first day at that shift. Apparently ran out of mint so there was no taste to it. Thank god the waitress was smart and offered me a drink. I had a Lemon Martini and that was fine. 5- Orange glazed salmon with whipped potato- very good. fish was perfectly cooked. 6- Ahi Tuna with shitake and rice - very good. Good amount. Again, fresh fish and perfectly done.
(3)Melanie S.
For many years, Nick's Fishmarket (back then it was in Chase Plaza) was just about the only fine-dining restaurant in the Loop. In the 70s, It was the epicenter of the "three martini lunch" for businessmen who still wore suits every day to work. Sadly, those days are long gone. People don't really drink martinis at lunch and men hardly ever wear suits anymore. And Nick's Fishmarket closed its doors last year. It was the last of a dying breed. My coworkers and I used to go to their former location for special-occasion lunches every now and then and were more than a little bummed when it closed. Where else was I ever going to find abalone on a menu? There's already so few decent places one can eat at in the Loop. Slim pickin's gettin' slimmer all the time. My boss read in Crain's that Nick's reopened in the Merchandise Mart and chose it for our holiday lunch. We were pretty excited to go back to a familiar spot. The restaurant is quite striking but is a little out of place among all the fast-food chain restaurants that occupy the Mart. It's on the first level and I wonder if it will see enough traffic. The four of us sat down and waited for the delicious garlic rolls that are typically brought to your table within minutes of sitting down. They didn't come, and then I noticed that the menu now lists them as a "side" and charges for them. No longer are they gratis. That didn't sit too well with us, but my boss insisted we order them anyway; after all, lunch was on her. There's a few things on the menu that I always liked: carne asada cobb salad, tuscan sliders, and any fish that's parmesan crusted. I went with the parmesan crusted tilapia which came with two sides. Remembering how much I loved their skinny hand-cut fries, I chose those and steamed broccoli. The fish was terrific but I was dismayed that the fries were no longer skinny. I know it's a minor thing but I just have a preference for skinny fries as their texture holds up better. Others ordered similar dishes; some had lobster bisque or the soup of the day, which was chicken noodle (which seems way too pedestrian for a place that's trying to be high brow). We all enjoyed our food but everyone agreed that it just wasn't the same. Maybe we liked it more before because our choices are so limited, but for the price, we all concurred that there are other places that do it better.
(3)Lindsey A.
For a Merch Mart business-oriented spot, this place beat my expectations. Came here on a Friday night after GT Fish & Oyster's 2+-hour-long wait was too much to stomach. (MEHHHHHH) Lovely service, decent albeit limited wine selection and palate-pleasing seafood. We started with a half dozen oysters. Super fresh sea delicacies even though one of mine had sand bits. My girlfriend got the shrimp and lobster risotto which came with a huge lobster tail on top. The risotto was rich and rib-sticking. I got the mahi mahi with a lemon butter caper sauce - it melted in my mouth. I've been craving some solid mahi and this did my craving justice and then some. We got a bottle of Gruner Veltliner to wash it all down and rolled out of the restaurant fat and happy. Definitely will go back either for lunch or dinner - with clients or friends.
(4)Michelle M.
I was here for restaurant week and enjoyed my experience but wasn't wowed by it. Perhaps the decor of the place threw me off...I felt like I was sitting in an airport chain restaurant. That being said, the bar area itself is nice enough, it's just the dining area that is abysmal looking. For a restaurant located in the Merchandise Mart, the Mecca of Interior Designers, I expected more. Now on to the food: I had the lobster bisque (amazing!), the Lobster and Shrimp Risotto had an entire lobster tail (impressive!) and lots of shrimp. The risotto was a little rich, in that there was a bit too much asiago cheese, but still tasty. I had the Key Lime Tart for desert and while it was a small portion, I was fine with that as I was already stuffed. It was good, but not mind blowing. Our server was pleasant enough and food was brought out in a timely manner. Essentially my meal was good, but given how many amazing foodie places there are in Chicago, I was a little underwhelmed. I'm glad I gave it a shot though!
(3)Mike L.
Haven't eaten Nick's Fishmarket food since I worked downtown over 25 years ago when it was at the lower level of what was known as the "First National Bank Plaza" on Monroe between Clark and Dearborn and it was excellent. Today they catered the BOMA event on the 7th floor at the Merchandise Mart and it was once agian, EXCELLENT! I had samplings of the following and EVERYTHING was cooked perfectly and had excellent flavor! Fresh sauted Spinach with just the right amount of oil and garlic, Some sort of beef in a rich brown gravy Tender thin white fish Asparagus (AWESOME!) Chicken kabob with green pepper and onion MMMMMMMM!!! Bravo Nick and staff!!
(4)Erik W.
This was a direction I hadn't gone before, across the river (I wander away from my building, picking a direction and finding good places to eat). Justine was my cute bartender/waitress. We chatted for a bit between her running around from the bar to her tables, but still attentive. Apparently they were short staffed that afternoon, but she liked it. Had the diablo shrimp something or other and a beer called Matilda. Both were excellent. The sauce, shrimp, and presentation were awesome and very upscale. The noodles, however, were way over cooked, and had a gummy texture. If they could al dente those noodles, that dish would be perfect. It was a little pricey, but the place was inside the merchandise mart, and looked rather upscale. The bar was more of a martini bar than a beer bar, so you're paying for a little more upscale atmosphere. I think my meal with beer was around $20, but for the taste, was well worth it. I'll probably be heading back there this week, most likely on Friday.
(4)David D.
The food was good, service was excellent, but ambiance was disappointing. I had not been to Nick's since it moved to this location at the Merchandise Mart. We were very surprised to see only a handful of tables seated at 8pm on a Friday evening. The place was empty. We both had specials. I had the swordfish and her the sea scallops. The swordfish was excellent, I ordered it blackened. The sea scallops were above average, and they served 4 large scallops! The service was great. Our waitress was one of the best and knew the menu and all options in-and-out. About "options"....they are very flexible with any order, and the waitress had no problem recommending alternative preparations for any dish. All in all, we had a great meal for a very reasonable price. If you're looking for a "happening" place, this isn't it. However, if you're okay with a quiet evening, good food and good service give it a shot!
(3)Carmen B.
I stopped in for a drink after visiting the home design retailers in the Mart. I don't visit the Mart frequently, and it was good to find a spot to relax. The bartenders were funny and I enjoyed a glass of sparkling. Good spot to reflect on all of the design ideas that one finds in the building with your favorite beverage.
(3)melinda b.
Decided to make this a restaurant week stop. The set up & ambiance is strange, it reminds me of a small airport eatery. I ordered the lobster bisque app and the shrimp & lobster risotto. Both were good. I'm not sure if I would come back and pay full price for either though. Parking was right in front & free! Gold star for that!!!
(3)Nicole L.
Went here for Restaurant Week...I got the steak and was pleased with it...My man got the salmon and it was deeeeeeelish...I saw the bowls that the lobster bisque was served in and they were so tiny so opted to get the salad instead...The white chocolate cheesecake tasted pretty good...The key lime pie was very limey...All in all, just okay in my book...
(3)John M.
This is a very good restaurant and I highly recommend it. Tonight I had a taste for fish and they do have great fish, but they surprised me on their appetizers (outstanding!) and their salads. I started with the Nick salad and it was surprisingly delicious. It was chopped finely and served in a very innovative way. I enjoyed my main course of salmon which was prepared perfectly. My dining companion had the shrimp scampi which was to die for. Based on my initial experience here, I will return and I strongly recommend you try Nick's. It is inside the Merchandise Mart and handy to catch the train when you want to go home. Enjoy!
(4)Tio S.
Oh, Nick's. I've tried twice now at your new location, and it's just not the same. The only thing that is familiar is the food, which is still of great quality. But your service has gone WAY down hill. Some of the bummers from my last lunch visit at Nick's: - No cheesy poofs until 4pm. The cheese puffs and sliders were the reason we came here for lunch! After some begging, we were able to get a few. - It appears as though the wait staff is in need of some help. They need either (a) more bodies to help wait tables, (b) training for their existing staff or (c) all of the above. - A three-person lunch with two appetizers and two entrees should not take one hour and forty minutes. I don't think I'll be coming back any time soon, unless someone is having an event here and I have to go back. I'll use my reallynicerestaurant points at The Clubhouse out in Oakbrook next time the wife makes me go shopping with her. Sorry Nick's -- it just ain't the same. :(
(2)ryan d.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO TAKE A DATE... I booked this reservation in hopes of having a nice romantic dinner with my fiancé since I have heard so much about this place. When we walked through the doors we were severely disappointed. It was way too bright, there was a 60th birthday party going on in the back, there were TV's on, and there was no music. The food was great, but the atmosphere was horrible. The only time I would ever come back is to have a quick drink after work at the bar, if an only if I was close by. The food is good, but not worth tolerating the atmosphere.
(2)KChicagoan S.
This is the prefect place for a business lunch - comfortable seating, good service and decent variety on the menu. Ask about the daily specials because they usually have some nice dishes. I tried a mahi-mahi with a chimmichrui sauce and really enjoyed it. Portions are fair and they are willing to make substitutions so that's a plus. A solid 3-star experience.
(3)Quincee H.
The process for making reservations here was: open table, restaurant week, seafood, menu looks okay and they have space for 7 on a Saturday night. The reservation was made at 4:00 pm. The first three in the group arrived an half hour early and waited at the bar, John the bartender was great with recommendations and extremely accommodating. I would have liked the ability to transfer drinks to the dinner bill but that's nit-picky. After the next two arrived we were seated at our table, which I might add was ready for us when we arrived. Our waiter was absolutely perfect, attentive without being overly so. I have a pet peeve of intrusive waiters who constantly interrupt the evening. Anyway, the food. Delicious. The lobster bisque was wonderful, some of us considered licking the bowl, yes just that good. Everyone ordered from the restaurant week menu and all of the entrees received rave reviews. The lobster and shrimp risotto was perfection, as was the tilapia and salmon. The filet medallions were perfectly cooked and just as good as the rest. The staff and service was great. The space is bright and open. The food was outstanding and we all left full. What more do you need?
(4)Tom B.
We enjoyed a lunch here after a Chicago Architectural Foundation tour of the Merchandise Mart. The food and service were both very good. We tried the vodka pasta, lobster bisque, and the crab cake appetizer--a single very large crab cake that was as good as any we've had. The prices did seem just a little high for lunch.
(4)Steve M.
Great place. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The lobster risotto and fish tacos are excellent. Also, many awesome craft beers on tap. The service is fast and friendly. Even though Nick's is in a new location, it is still popular and crowded especially during lunch.
(5)Tim k.
Great food, great service. always have very fresh fish, and some heathy options. Bar tenders know how to pour a drink as well.
(5)Cathy M.
The chowders ... both lobster and corn were delicious!
(4)Heidi R.
I went to Nick's Fishmarket for the first time for lunch with my new boss. She had been there before and said the food was good. We both ordered the seafood salad for lunch. The portion was pretty large and didn't skimp on any ingredients. There was tons of fish in this salad - big pieces of crab and tons of shrimp. The salad was perfectly made and so filling! Nick's has a great location in the Merchandise Mart which is right next to where I work. I'd love to go back to Nick's for lunch or even dinner sometime.
(3)Connie F.
We really enjoyed Nick's Bar & Grill for a casual night out. There were lots of food options. We had the fish special and were very pleased with our dinner. The atmosphere is nice, our waiter was top-notch, and we were able to have a quiet dinner without undue interruptions. We will definitely go to Nick's again!
(5)Tita P.
4 1/2 stars! Came here for restaurant week. Nick's is located inside of Merchandise Mart and when I walked in I felt like I was on a cruise ship. All I needed was Issac behind the bar to prepare my drink. It is very well lit so if you are looking for a romantic environment this may not be the place for you. The server, Andrea, was AWESOME. She was very knowledgeable on all things Nick's and not just the items available for restaurant week. She was very attentive and made us feel as if we were her only customers. The lobster bisque is to die for!! I could have just had that for dinner. The salmon was yummy and the key lime pie was the perfect way to end the meal. I suspect my friends and I will try to find a reason very soon to return. Hopefully Andrea will be there.
(4)Dan R.
This is one of my favorite lunch spots. The spicy Ahi seared tuna is delicious. The Seafood Cobb might be my favorite salad ever--- fresh, light, perfect lunch portion. The location is tough, but I hope Nick's sticks around. Speedy service worth a lunch trip.
(4)Amy Marie C.
Great black and blue tuna and nicks salad. Perfect happy hour after a day of shopping downtown.
(4)Danica S.
I was a little disappointed with the place. Also the food here is greasy and they are a little heavy with the salt. I lobster bisque is a hit or miss. The crab cakes are good. The steak is ok. I will say that the service is really good. Very friendly staff.
(3)Charles A.
We enjoyed an excellent dinner. The service was superb. Atmosphere stylish modern with the bar area lit from below in blue light. ...A cold winter Chicago night (7°) we had the chicken and rice soup to warm up. My wife had the seafood salad and was very happy. I had chicken piccata - generously served with angel hair pasta, Goose Island beers ... price was right and we will return
(4)Tina W.
Everyone in our office was so excited to see Nick's Fishmarket open in the old DUMPhey's spot. The food is delicious and the staff is very friendly. What's not delicious or friendly is the hair that's been in my food on two of my three visits there. My friend and I went there last week and split a Carne Asada salad. The salad was huge and topped with lots of stuff, so I don't know how I spotted the big blondish hair sticking out of the edge. When I showed the waiter, he said, "Oh gross!" as he hauled it away. He tossed us some divine frites as a consolation prize while we waited for a fresh salad. He ended up comping our meal, which was nice. My coworker and I went back today and enjoyed a great meal...until the bus boy delivered my Chocolate Molten Cake complete with a black hair garnish on top. Ewww. The staff wasn't *as* apologetic today. They kind of smirked and shrugged as they tried to figure out who the blondish hair from last week could have belonged to. I *want* to say that I won't go back, but those frites are like crack. And it's in the building, so here's hoping that the hair will just burn off during the deep fry process.
(1)Mochi L.
This is a good place for a meal, service was good, meal was good. Didn't seem very busy when we got there around 6:30. Our wait staff looked really young but they were very professional and attentive. My group split 3 appetizers amongst the 6 of us - calamari, ahi tuna, and bbq flatbread. It was the perfect amount. For the entree I had the special for the evening which was an herb encrusted mahi over mashed potatoes. Like I mentioned before - it was good, nothing over the top and a good portion. There was something about the atmosphere that didn't impress me. It felt open and airy... for a seafood restaurant the decor needed to fit - where I was sitting I kept seeing a picture of a kiwi fruit... that does not make me feel like I'm in a seafood restaurant at all. I was expecting smoothies or something from the bar.
(3)#NAME?
Came here for lunch b/c it had been over a week since I had a vegtable, maybe longer- I liked Nick's when it was in the old Chase bldg, loved the Lobster Bisque, so I was happy to see it was open last week in the Mart- ENVIRONMENT: I like the modern feel of the place, it suits the ages that dine there-It's still the same style as Blue Print that once resided there, so nothing really has changed much- FOOD: I ordered the Mahi Mahi Blackened style that has a Cajun Cream sauce-A decent amt of fish for lunch, I asked for seasonal veggies and rice pilaf-I waited about 5-8 minutes for my food-It came out hot and perfect, the fish was white inside and no fishy taste at all- My total was 18.00 plus tax, only had water since they didn't serve Coke products- The only negative comment I can make is that the waiters look like they are zombies working there-Like they hate their job, not a single one looked happy to be there-Bussers did but not the waiters, but honestly that's trying to find something wrong with the place- I will go back to see if the bisque is still the same, I had it highly rated so it better not have changed at all!
(4)Kelly K.
Food- 4 stars Service/Ambiance- 2.5 stars I had gone to the old location in Bank One/Chase plaza for years as a kid since my dad's office was conveniently located in the building on the plaza, but I decided to try it now that it's opened in the Mart. The house salad was par for the course, but the lobster shrimp risotto was quite tasty and hearty on a blustery winter's day. The restaurant was odd as it tries to be fine dining but the dining room we ate in had 2 large screen tvs playing CNN and ESPN. The service was also a bit lacking. Maybe they don't bring out the A-team staff for lunch. Overall it was good and I'll be back if I'm in the mood for seafood.
(3)Morris O.
Went there for dinner on a Wednesday night. There were a few people in the bar but the only table occupied in the dining room was the one at which we were sitting. No other diners came in after us (we got there a little after six and were there until 8ish). I'm from Chicago and had a hard time finding the entrance--after driving around the Merchandise Mart I finally called to find out exactly where there parking area was (at least parking was free). Previous experience at Nick's (both at its old location and at the location near O'Hare) was 5 star but not here. Servious was only fair and the menu was not the same (many favorites missing). While the main course was great, ordered shrimp cocktail for a starter. The shrimp were not as large and plump as in the past and did not seem quite as fresh as remembered in the past.
(2)Rachel W.
My BF and I came here last Wednesday night for our date night after work and were surprisingly pleased. We arrived at 7pm and the place closed at 8pm (I think it's more of a lunch place) so there weren't too many people there. Either way, there was an abundance of food on the menu that we really wanted to try and we had a hard time making a decision. We ended up sharing the lobster bisque, lobster buffalo flatbread, and the shrimp and lobster risotto. It was all so delicious. The lobster bisque was a little heavy, but still yummy, the flatbread was really good, and the risotto was also good, but a little cheesy. The service was also excellent. I don't remember the prices, but for the amount of seafood we had, the check wasn't that bad. We'll definitely be coming back to try some more of the items on the menu.
(4)Mocha Chocha L.
I hate having to wait when you have a reservation, are on time, and the restaurant was not even busy....so that was a bad start. The bar tender openly admitted he was in a bad mood and was very sarcastic and somewhat insulting to my friend. Then when seated, the menu was not as it was online (it was NYE) but after asking, we could order off the regular menu. The sea bass at $37 was sub-par at best. I had them bring out a different sauce just to give it some flavor. The lobster bisque was about the same, no yummy chunks of meat at all. The waiter was confused and not very knowledgeable about anything. Over all way over rated, over priced and probably would not go again.
(2)Dennis K.
Went there for lunch yesterday and a far cry from the classiness of the old downtown Nick's Fishmarket. It felt like I was a high school cafeteria hard chairs and not even a table cloth on the table. My client and I started with appetizers of crab cake, shrimp cocktail and seared tuna. The crab cake and sear tuna were good but the shrimp cocktail had no taste. The main courses was a whole new adventure. I ordered the blackened tuna which was way way over spiced and impossible to eat. My client ordered the Chilean Sea bass which he said was very bland. The kicker was that half way through the meal the waitress comes by with rolls and says to him oh yeah I forgot to give these to you and places them on the table and walks away. As my client is finishing his meal the waitress comes over and grabs his bowl and takes it away... the problem was he was still eating. Desert again was a hit or miss. My client has the apple tart which he said was good I ordered the berries. They looked like they were old and sitting out for a long time. I will give the manager credit he came over at the end of the meal and said he took them off the bill because they looked bad. Nice touch. Overall, for $150 dollar lunch (which included two drinks) go somewhere else.
(1)Chris G.
Not milk shaking, but Nick's Black and Blue Ahi Tuna is what brought me to their yard. For $18 share plate, this is a reasonable amount of high quality, buttery Ahi Tuna and it's great to taste that freshness come through. It's typical that I'd accept and use a pair of chopsticks put before me during a meal, but my great fear here is that I'd motor though these slices of savory goodness in a matter of minutes, so knife and fork is recommended. The coating isn't overbearing and lacks the almost full peppercorns that seem to drag down the Niçoise at nearby Centro. And that's too bad because Centro does a decent job with their other dishes but they need to STEAL a page from Nick's, regarding this kind of dish. If the super fluffy wasabi ball is made out of the traditional horse radish, I had a harder time being convinced that at least some portion of it was not made out of true wasabi root. It's either the most delish horseradish or blended I've tasted. Having to erase a horrible Niçoise lunch experience from the day before, I decided to go with my gut instinct the next day and visit my original choice, nearby Nick's. Always go with your gut!
(4)Christina L.
Absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!! I am a hard person to please, yet the service was to die for, food delicious, management accommodating with no prompting! EXCELLENT experience!I will return. Location is bit obscure. Get dropped on corner of Kinzie and Wells and walk up ramp. Entrance is on ramp not directly on Kinzie. Yet, sooooo worth it! Had the Classic Mix Grill and friend had Lobster Risotto. We Split and were in heaven! The drinks....alll amazing! PLEASE try the Nevada Salad as a starter,,,,AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Kelly W.
I came here during restaurant week a few weeks ago and had a great experience. It was pretty empty on a weeknight. The ambiance is cool casual. There is a bar right when you walk in. I ordered the lobster bisque, lobster tail risotto and the key lime tart. Everything was absolutely delicious! The lobster bisque was creamy and filling without being overly fishy. The risotto was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. The full lobster tail was seasoned to perfection and was also cooked perfectly. The key lime tart was the perfect sweet to end it. The menu said the dessert was a mini dessert but after that meal I couldn't even finish it all! They put warm bread on the table as well. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Aleen L.
Aside from the great seafood, this place has the best lobster bisque around! Also, a little secret - ask for the bread - it's warm and delicious and totally worth the carbs!
(5)Heidi R.
I went to Nick's Fishmarket for the first time for lunch with my new boss. She had been there before and said the food was good. We both ordered the seafood salad for lunch. The portion was pretty large and didn't skimp on any ingredients. There was tons of fish in this salad - big pieces of crab and tons of shrimp. The salad was perfectly made and so filling! Nick's has a great location in the Merchandise Mart which is right next to where I work. I'd love to go back to Nick's for lunch or even dinner sometime.
(3)Carol K.
I used to love the old Nicks Fishmarket so imagine my surprise when I find out that they have opened a more casual version in the Merchandisie Mart. Made me smile in anticipation. We went on a Saturday night, early as we had theater tickets for after. Given it was in the Mart, I really wasn't surprised that we were the only table in the place up until about 7:30. Great if you want to dine in solitude, bad if you want a little ambiance or energy. In fact- it was so quiet in the place, that everything my friend and I said was echoing through the space. The ambiance is sparce- wood tables with the bar area bathed in bolbalt blue. There are booths along the wall (ask for one or you might feel you are in the middle of the room!) Our server, Adam, was great. Quick with suggestions and knowledageable about the menu. We started with the fresh oysters which were quite good and the cocnut shrimp which were HUGE (and what could ever be wrong with fried food?) Our entrees were quite good too. I went with the Sea Bass and my friend ordered the shrimp scampi which they let him also add a couple of scallops to as well. His was the winner of the night as while my fish was good, the mashed potatoes that came with it were actually cold which was odd given we were the only people in the place! Entrees range between $15 and $35 so there are plenty of choices no matter what your price range. If you drive- there are spots right out front on the driveway where you can park for free after 6! Or there is a parking garage at the corner of Wells which will run you about $18. All in all, while the food was pretty good, the ambiance just didn't work for me. I want a lively place with an energy that is additive to your night. Afterall- dinner out is supposed to be a special time and this just didn't feel special. But if you are in the Mart and looking for a solid meal, this is probably one of your best choices!
(3)Ross R.
The food is good. The service a little over the top. Was there on a Friday night and practically had the place to ourselves. Clearly they make their nut on the expense account lunch crowd. A couple of people in our party remembered how Nick's used to be. This modern version is fine and there's nothing to complain about, unless you're feeling nostalgic.
(4)Lisa R.
Went here on Saturday for Restaurant Week. I didn't really care for the restaurant in a hotel feel of the place, but the food and service was great. I ordered off the special menu : lobster bisque - good ; blue crab & brie crusted tilapia - delicious (tasted good even the next day when I reheated the leftovers) ; chocolate molten cake - yum (small but just enough for me). My friend had nicks nevada salad, bourbon shrimp and grits and the cheesecake. Enjoyed the meal. I tried the shrimp and it was good.
(4)Amy L.
I brought my big boss here when he was traveling with me because he's a vegetarian, but still eats fish. Everything was awesome! They were supe accommodating to make the dishes exactly how we wanted. I got the fish tacos and they were happy to pan sear instead of fry the cod. Nom nom. My boss's boss got the grouper, but changed the sauce and the sides. He even customized his Caesar salad. The only problem was there was NO ONE in the restaurant besides us. They said it was because of the bad weather, but it just felt awkward. I'm sure ill be back!
(4)Anthony M.
BLOODY BRUNCH I was lucky enough to be invited to attend an event here for the launch of the new Absolut Vodka Chicago bottle. It was a fun event. The staff of Nick's was extremely friendly, as they walked around with passed snacks. My personal favorite was the Oyster Shooters in tall shot glasses. Nothing goes better with Bloody's, then some fresh Oysters. The space was very comfortable to hang out in. There was even room for a 3 piece jazz ensemble. It made for a nice relaxing event as we all sipped on Absolut Bloody Mary's. There was also an incredible Bloody Mary Bar complete with sweet bacon, fresh beef jerky, shrimp, cheese, peppers, olives, asparagus, summer sausage, pepperoni, etc. You name it and they probably had it. I also met a person who had never had a Bloody Mary in there life and I helped load it up with stuff. That was kind of fun as I packed it full of salty yummy snacks. Nothing brings strangers together more then this. It is like the new salad bar for weekends. The space was also very comfortable. There were plenty of high boys to stand at and enjoy your food/drink or you could relax in one of the many booths. The room never felt cramped at all. Drinks were limited to a choice of two different Bloody's. The bartenders were also from other bars and each was sharing there signature drink with the attendees. So my review is more of using Nick's as a venue for your next event. The space was comfortable and the staff was very friendly. I kept trying to talk my waitress into trying a Glazed and Infused Donut but she said she was not allowed. That is a good team member that can resist that kind of sweet temptation. I kept telling her that she needed to do the research, so she knew what she was serving her guests. I felt like George from Seinfeld but I never got her to take a bite. It was a great time but how can anyone have a bad time with great food, live music and a friendly staff. I can hardly wait to come back again.
(5)Abbie F.
Went for Restaurant week with three of my friends. Service was solid-our waiter was nice and timing between meals was good. Food-I had the bisque, risotto and chocolate molten cake. Bisque was creamy and delicious but the salad was AMAZING so that was the better option. Risotto had good flavor but the lobster on top was pitiful. Tough and looked ugly. Molten cake-don't get it!! Super dry and not warm. The key lime pie was DELICIOUS and the cheesecake was good too.
(3)Coast To Coast D.
Really great place in the busy city I would recommend this spot any time I will defiantly come back
(4)Kamilah S.
THIS IS MY 145th YELP REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY --------------RESTARAUNT WEEK 2014---------------FREE PARKING after 4:30pm My bff and I came here to jump start our fat, foodie week. We had amazing food and service from our waitress Faith. We had the lobster bisque and the chocolate molten lava cake. My entrée was the tilapia with crab and bleu cheese and my bff had the shrimp with the vodka sauce, but she did not have very much vodka sauce. Overall, our meals were delicious. I had my go to drink, a lemon drop martini and she had a pomegranate martini, nice and strong, like we like em!! Great start to a week of food that we look forward to every year. Thank you
(5)B B.
Went here for my bday dinner. Space/decor was fine and hostess was very friendly/accommodating but the food was sub-par to say the least. We headed to the bar for a drink and the free finger foods. We ordered the shrimp cocktail and mini crab cakes. Honestly, both tasted like the got them from a supermarket. Easily worst crab cakes I've ever tasted. Then came dinner. First, we sat down and they handed us the "weekend menu" which had less than half the food choices at double the price. Luckily, the standard menu was still available. Moving forward, I ordered the lobster bisque (my favorite soup) to start and it came out essentially cold. Also there was no lobster to speak of. I had one little tiny shard of shrimp in the entire cup of soup. Flavor was ok, but that's about all I can say positive about it. The house salad I ordered was probably the best part of the meal, but could have used more dressing for sure. My girlfriend ordered the Parmesan crusted tilapia and wasn't pleased either. They put so much Parmesan on the fish it was like they were hiding something. I ordered the filet medallions which were also hiding under 3 different cheeses which I scraped off so I could taste the steak beneath. We both got the mashed potatoes which I can assure you were instant potatoes of some sort. They were awful. Also the asparagus that came with my filet were barely cooked. The broccoli medley that came with the fish also looked/tastes like something you would buy in the freezer isle at Jewel. Service wasn't great either and ordering $8 dollar beers got old pretty quick since the food was poor. In summation I would not recommend this place to anybody. Hard to see it staying in business long. Maybe our experience was an isolated incident, but I doubt it. Too many good places to eat in Chicago to waste your time here. Cheers
(2)Justin P.
I'd definitely go back to Nick's. The service wasn't bad, but it also didn't have me jump for joy; it was ok. That's really the only area where I'd give less than 4 stars. What sold me on this place was the food (I had a buffalo chicken sandwich which was solid) and the ambiance. I bet this place is a good place to dine/hang out at the bar after work. Please note: I only tried the buffalo chicken and fries; so I'll have to update my review once I've sampled their other dishes. The price tag for my sandwich is about what you'd expect for lunch downtown; $16 (which includes a beverage and taxes.)
(4)Leslie G.
I went to the old Nick's a couple of times before it moved to this location and liked it, so I was curious to see what this Nick's was like. I stopped in for dinner one night when I was in the area. I was surprised by the fact that there were only 2 other people in the entire place. The old locale was pretty packed after work, but I guess the new spot really just caters to people who work in the Mart. I wasn't looking for anything fancy, so I just ordered the fish tacos. There are only 2 tacos, but they're pretty big. It also comes with a side of fries or cole slaw. I opted for the slaw, and there was quite a bit of it. The fish in the tacos is fried cod, I believe. They were good; I've had better fish tacos elsewhere. The server was very attentive (probably because no one else was there), so no complaints on that front. My guess is that this place does a lot of lunch business. They close at 8 pm, so it's probably good for a post-work drink or quick dinner, but that's about it. I doubt I would go out of my way to go there again, but if I'm in the area, I might stop by.
(3)Alex G.
This place was really irritating. We went for my cousins birthday on a Saturday night and being that we are Italian we tend to travel is larger groups and are obviously very loud. So I made the reso for 12 people and when the gentleman called to confirm I had a few questions- before I could thank him for helping he hung up on me- so rude. When we arrived later that evening I made sure to mention we were going to be a louder group, our waiter jokingly commented that we should warn the other patrons as he would not be bothered by the noise. Needless to say as more of us showed up he WAS bother by our noise level. Our reso was at 7:45 and around 8:15 a few stragglers had yet to arrive however, then and only then were we told the kitchen closes at 9. Why that wasn't mentioned when we made the reso I am not sure. Throughout the meal our table wasn't cleared ever or at all and our waters was never refilled. I have failed to mention that our family owns two restaurants so, we know good service and this was awful and not a fun place at all- if you are a bore you'd love it. By the end of the meal we just wanted to get out of there. Sorry for the bad review but we were extremely unhappy.
(2)Rachael M.
My husband (Adam) and I had a late lunch (around 2 p.m. on a Friday) at Nick's. It was nearly empty, but for having only 1 server working at that time, we had wonderful customer service. I ordered the crab cake sandwich, and Adam had the Tuscan sliders. For dessert, we had mini portions of caramel creme brulee and key lime pie. Adam and I like to make jokes about "magic TV food" when we watch shows like Top Chef or Iron Chef America. The presentation of our dishes actually made us feel like we were eating magic TV food... and what's better is that the food was actually as delicious as it looked! We got out of there for less than $50 (tip included) and had a meal that was beyond our expectations. I look forward to going there again someday.
(5)Alie H.
A fish out of water..... We walked in and felt like we were in a hotel lobby bar with too much neon and mod colors. SUPER bright and TVs all over the place. Certainly not the "Chicago" experience we were looking for and this restaurant long had a reputation for. Fish quality was good. Presentation: they were trying to be hip and it did not work for me. All the reviews raved about the lobster bisque which was fine. Not great. WAY over priced and not really much of an experience. I was disappointed. Cocktails were meh, my husband ordered a bourbon on the rocks it came in a giant glass with a full scoop of ice in it. If you like the taste of bourbon ask for ice on the side. I had a martini dry but the vermouth was overwhelming. Service was OK. The entire experience left a lot to be desired. Might be a good place for a meeting.
(2)Brynn M.
The food at Nick's was great and the restaurant is very nice. Excellent seafood selection and our waiter was fantastic and attentive. The only downside was that the restaurant was pretty empty on a Saturday night during dinner, so it was a bit of an odd vibe. The Merchandise Mart is so quiet on the weekend too, so it didn't have the Chicago "buzz" that you would expect at a nice dinner. Oh, and one last thing... we brought my 4-year-old nephew with us and they actually made him homemade chicken nuggets - they were delicious!
(4)Jim K.
My lovely wife and I stopped here for a late lunch after spending the morning touring the design studios at the Merch. We had 10:00pm dinner reservations after a show at 7:30pm, so we figured a substantial lunch was in order to hold us over. At 3:00pm on a Thursday, the place was all but empty. But having celebrated our anniversary a "tad" too much the prior evening, we decided to go the water and Pepsi route for drinks and leave the higher octane stuff for later. I've been to the Nick's in Rosemont, but tucked into the North side of the Merch, this location is a little bit more like a sports bar, at least that's my opinion. We started with the Flaming Spinach and Artichoke dip, which was expertly ignited by our server, Vince. It was yummy, and a good way to start. Be wary though, because the first bite of the tasty dip is like molten lava. My wife chose the Fish Tacos and couldn't have loved them more. The battered cod was cooked perfectly, and the avocado crema was a great accompaniment. The coleslaw was probably some of the best we've ever had in a restaurant, cool and creamy with just the right amount of tang to compliment the fish. I opted for the Blackened Tilapia sandwich. The blackening spices were just right, producing a very nice amount of heat while not overpowering the fish. Served simply on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato, and a dab of remoulade (I would have been happy with some on the side as well for dipping the thin crispy fries), it was pretty darn good. As other reviewers have said, this really isn't a date spot but you gotta make your own romance, right? We left happy and filled just enough to carry us through to our late night dinner reservations.
(4)Nauzad T.
I walked into this restaurant while I was staying at the nearby Holiday Inn. And it was a pleasant surprise. The lobster bisque was yummy and the mahi-mahi was was well presented with a tangy sauce, spinach and creamed potatoes.
(4)Jaime G.
Finally a decent little place in the mart. Headed here for lunch and had a great time. Service was excellent and the lobster risotto was esp good. Their seafood mixed grill looked fantastic too. Can't wait to go back.
(4)Justin B.
staff was busy on a busy night, but this is not their first rodeo, therefore things should not have fallen apart so easily. Food was decent enough, not the level of food i anticipated, decent none the less. i will check it off my list. no real anticipation to return any time soon. Drinks were good tho.
(3)Michael K.
The food was pretty good. Chilean sea bass is definitely a winner here. I would give the food 4 stars. This place gets 0 stars for ambiance. I've been to Nick's when it was under Chase tower and I set reservations at this location based on my experience from there. The lighting in the dining area is SO bright here. I brought my girlfriend here for valentine's day and I would compare the ambiance to McDonalds or Wendy's. It was quite ridiculous. I will never come here for a date again
(2)Wei H.
I sometimes work at the Mart so I finally went there for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant has a very trendy blue color themed decor. Very spacious seating and quiet environment that's perfect for a business lunch. Appetizers: - Lobster bisque: it was perfect. Perfect portion, not too big to skip entree and not too small to leave you yearning for more. Actually I lied. I kept yearning for more but the rational part of me told me to stop. - Black and blue Ahi Tuna: the fish was very fresh but the spices were too strong for my palate that's used to sashimi. - Flaming spinach and artichoke: loved the dip. Although you would think the flame would add some kick to it. Nope. Still very good. - Blackened tilapia sandwich: fish was awesome. Not much else to it. Fries were not good. Soft and over fried. Sad. My guests seemed to have enjoyed their food. The salads look good too especially when there are giant grilled shrimps. They seem to have daily specials that look delicious too. Next time you are tired from walking around the Mart gazing at the beautiful furniture, try Nick's out. It's better than you average downtown lunch spots with slightly higher prices but it's worth at least one visit IMHO.
(3)Zakia C.
This was restaurant number two during my restaurant week take over. Unfortunately, this restaurant delivered less than a stellar performance. When I go out for restaurant week, I expect to have a fantastic experience. It should include some of the restaurant's best courses, great service and excellent dessert. Nick's only "brought it "in two of the three expectations. The service was pretty good but the food was less than spectacular. It was, dare I say, Blah. The only part of the meal that I was satisfied with was the chocolate Molten Cake. However, I feel that the restaurant's miniature creation of this dessert was a bit insulting. All and All, Nick's Fishmarket didn't deliver at all. I give it 2 NOMS.
(2)Anne S.
I thought this was a great place for a business lunch. The mixed grill was delicious, but my dining companion's parmeson encrusted grouper with mashed potatoes made me jealous. Both had a good amount of veggies which impressed me. I tried both the molten chocolate cake and the keylime pie and I would go back just for dessert any day. (The dessert was giant, so I didn't have room to eat nearly enough of it after lunch).
(4)Kayu T.
Came here for Valentines day. The place was not romantic but its was clean and nice. 1- Salad - Very Nice. fresh shrimps and great house dressing. 2- Lobster Bisque - Decent. Like most place.. it was a lil heavy on sodium but it had the most lobster and crab bits. 3- Black and Blue seared tuna - Decent. Fresh fish. I thought it was cut a lil too thin and the spice out the outside over powered the fish a little too much. 4- Mojito - God Awful. It was 50% lime juice, 1% mint leaves and 40% Club Soda. Sigh. it was horrible so i had to return it and come to find out... the girl bartender was new and it was her first day at that shift. Apparently ran out of mint so there was no taste to it. Thank god the waitress was smart and offered me a drink. I had a Lemon Martini and that was fine. 5- Orange glazed salmon with whipped potato- very good. fish was perfectly cooked. 6- Ahi Tuna with shitake and rice - very good. Good amount. Again, fresh fish and perfectly done.
(3)Melanie S.
For many years, Nick's Fishmarket (back then it was in Chase Plaza) was just about the only fine-dining restaurant in the Loop. In the 70s, It was the epicenter of the "three martini lunch" for businessmen who still wore suits every day to work. Sadly, those days are long gone. People don't really drink martinis at lunch and men hardly ever wear suits anymore. And Nick's Fishmarket closed its doors last year. It was the last of a dying breed. My coworkers and I used to go to their former location for special-occasion lunches every now and then and were more than a little bummed when it closed. Where else was I ever going to find abalone on a menu? There's already so few decent places one can eat at in the Loop. Slim pickin's gettin' slimmer all the time. My boss read in Crain's that Nick's reopened in the Merchandise Mart and chose it for our holiday lunch. We were pretty excited to go back to a familiar spot. The restaurant is quite striking but is a little out of place among all the fast-food chain restaurants that occupy the Mart. It's on the first level and I wonder if it will see enough traffic. The four of us sat down and waited for the delicious garlic rolls that are typically brought to your table within minutes of sitting down. They didn't come, and then I noticed that the menu now lists them as a "side" and charges for them. No longer are they gratis. That didn't sit too well with us, but my boss insisted we order them anyway; after all, lunch was on her. There's a few things on the menu that I always liked: carne asada cobb salad, tuscan sliders, and any fish that's parmesan crusted. I went with the parmesan crusted tilapia which came with two sides. Remembering how much I loved their skinny hand-cut fries, I chose those and steamed broccoli. The fish was terrific but I was dismayed that the fries were no longer skinny. I know it's a minor thing but I just have a preference for skinny fries as their texture holds up better. Others ordered similar dishes; some had lobster bisque or the soup of the day, which was chicken noodle (which seems way too pedestrian for a place that's trying to be high brow). We all enjoyed our food but everyone agreed that it just wasn't the same. Maybe we liked it more before because our choices are so limited, but for the price, we all concurred that there are other places that do it better.
(3)Ryne D.
Restaurant week review! Had to change our reservations the day before but they had no problem, and the reason became obvious when we walked in...there was no one there! Granted, it was a Monday, but still not a good look. So for our dinner I got - Lobster bisque - Quite good. A little heavy on the sherry, but I actually liked that. Lobster and shrimp risotto - Came with a big ol' lobster tail and lots of shrimp. However, the risotto itself was really heavy on the cheese and th seafood didn't get much of a chance to shine. White chocolate cheesecake - Tasted...off. I couldn't taste white chocolate or even regular chocolate - just a heavy citric taste. Maybe they keep their cheesecake too close to their key lime pie? Oh, and one awkward moment - we ordered a bottle of wine, and my glass ended up with more sediment than any of us had ever seen. It looked like someone had dropped wafers in my wine glass. So the waiter comes by, says he'll get me a new glass...then carefully pours the wine out of my glass into a new one. Ok, I know it's picky since the sediment is natural and I can't really dock them for it, but there had to have been a better solution...no? To my friends who had to back out of the reservation...you didn't miss much.
(2)Steven N.
How did we like it? My wife asked "can we come back here again tomorrow night?" lol. We came here last Friday and tried their 2014 restaurant week menu. For just $33 per person, you get to choose a starter, main course and dessert. We both got the lobster bisque and it tasted like heaven. It's not overly creamly, salty or rich and the toasted mini croissant to go on top of the bisque is a great combo. There's also shrimp and crab meat sprinkled in there as well. Overall, it was flavorful and satisfying. For the main courses, I got the lobster tail risotto and my wife ordered the seafood platter (samples of mahi mahi, salmon and talipia). I can't stress enough how perfectly cooked and seasoned the seafood were. It really shows that the chef totally understands how to work with seafood. The nice meal was made even nicer with great service provided by our server Alex (female) and the awesome desserts. Definitely try to molten chocolate cake. This is a place we would definitely visit again, especially since they have free parking after 6pm...that's just too easy for us to become frequent visitors.
(4)Ralph R.
Terrible!!!!! Went there last minute because it was one of the few places I could get a reservation and now I know why. Ordered a steak and crab cake and the steak was very undercooked, rare at best. The crab cake tasted like it came out of the freezer isle at Jewel. The salad was good (not difficult to mess up), and the service was decent. I would not recommend this restaurant nor would I return.
(1)Jessica P.
I went here yesterday. We order off the prefix menu for Chicago Restaurant Week. Everything we got was delicious. The lobster bisque was amazing and the chocolate molten cake was too. I do recommend!
(5)Jean L.
I met someone for lunch here today. I got there a few minutes early, and asked the greeter whether the person I was meeting had arrived yet. Since she hadn't the greeter volunteered letting me wait at the bar. The bartender was instantly receptive. I didn't have a drink, as I was going to meet my friend minutes later; nevertheless, she was extremely friendly as I was waiting. As for the service at the actual table, it was a little more scattered than I would have otherwise preferred. According to my dining partner, Nick's normally isn't as busy as it was today for a weekday lunch. However, it was restaurant week, so the restaurant was pretty much completely booked.. I had a salmon with asian bbq sauce, jasmine rice, and side of vegetables. I think it was about 20$. The salmon was wonderful, the jasmine rice was mediocre, and the vegetables were great.
(4)Bob F.
Interesting location inside the North entrance of the Merchandise Mart. Went at 8:00 on a Friday night. Turned out that was the last seating and there were not a lot of people there. I wondered if we were making a mistake - but I was glad we stayed. I got there before the rest of my party and was well greeted and well treated by the bartender and several members of the staff. There were 3 of us and, among other things, we tried the lobster bisque, oysters, Ahi, Monchong and BBQ Salmon. All were excellent, as was the service. My only complaint was that they were a bit stingy with the bisque. Otherwise, a very good experience.
(4)Lindsey A.
For a Merch Mart business-oriented spot, this place beat my expectations. Came here on a Friday night after GT Fish & Oyster's 2+-hour-long wait was too much to stomach. (MEHHHHHH) Lovely service, decent albeit limited wine selection and palate-pleasing seafood. We started with a half dozen oysters. Super fresh sea delicacies even though one of mine had sand bits. My girlfriend got the shrimp and lobster risotto which came with a huge lobster tail on top. The risotto was rich and rib-sticking. I got the mahi mahi with a lemon butter caper sauce - it melted in my mouth. I've been craving some solid mahi and this did my craving justice and then some. We got a bottle of Gruner Veltliner to wash it all down and rolled out of the restaurant fat and happy. Definitely will go back either for lunch or dinner - with clients or friends.
(4)Michelle M.
I was here for restaurant week and enjoyed my experience but wasn't wowed by it. Perhaps the decor of the place threw me off...I felt like I was sitting in an airport chain restaurant. That being said, the bar area itself is nice enough, it's just the dining area that is abysmal looking. For a restaurant located in the Merchandise Mart, the Mecca of Interior Designers, I expected more. Now on to the food: I had the lobster bisque (amazing!), the Lobster and Shrimp Risotto had an entire lobster tail (impressive!) and lots of shrimp. The risotto was a little rich, in that there was a bit too much asiago cheese, but still tasty. I had the Key Lime Tart for desert and while it was a small portion, I was fine with that as I was already stuffed. It was good, but not mind blowing. Our server was pleasant enough and food was brought out in a timely manner. Essentially my meal was good, but given how many amazing foodie places there are in Chicago, I was a little underwhelmed. I'm glad I gave it a shot though!
(3)Mike L.
Haven't eaten Nick's Fishmarket food since I worked downtown over 25 years ago when it was at the lower level of what was known as the "First National Bank Plaza" on Monroe between Clark and Dearborn and it was excellent. Today they catered the BOMA event on the 7th floor at the Merchandise Mart and it was once agian, EXCELLENT! I had samplings of the following and EVERYTHING was cooked perfectly and had excellent flavor! Fresh sauted Spinach with just the right amount of oil and garlic, Some sort of beef in a rich brown gravy Tender thin white fish Asparagus (AWESOME!) Chicken kabob with green pepper and onion MMMMMMMM!!! Bravo Nick and staff!!
(4)Nicole L.
Went here for Restaurant Week...I got the steak and was pleased with it...My man got the salmon and it was deeeeeeelish...I saw the bowls that the lobster bisque was served in and they were so tiny so opted to get the salad instead...The white chocolate cheesecake tasted pretty good...The key lime pie was very limey...All in all, just okay in my book...
(3)Erik W.
This was a direction I hadn't gone before, across the river (I wander away from my building, picking a direction and finding good places to eat). Justine was my cute bartender/waitress. We chatted for a bit between her running around from the bar to her tables, but still attentive. Apparently they were short staffed that afternoon, but she liked it. Had the diablo shrimp something or other and a beer called Matilda. Both were excellent. The sauce, shrimp, and presentation were awesome and very upscale. The noodles, however, were way over cooked, and had a gummy texture. If they could al dente those noodles, that dish would be perfect. It was a little pricey, but the place was inside the merchandise mart, and looked rather upscale. The bar was more of a martini bar than a beer bar, so you're paying for a little more upscale atmosphere. I think my meal with beer was around $20, but for the taste, was well worth it. I'll probably be heading back there this week, most likely on Friday.
(4)Derek S.
We ate here a few weeks ago after reading a few positive reviews online. People had mentioned the menu changing. Should have paid attention to this. The menu that is online is completely different than what is actually there. The food wasn't bad at all, but it was definitely not what we were expecting. I had the Seabass, which was rather good. It was nothing to write home about. My girlfriend had the sea food risotto, which she said was OK. The menu was not too diverse, and if you have shellfish allergy, like myself, you can go ahead and cross out 3/4 of the menu. Hopefully they update their menu online so you can know what you are getting into.
(2)David D.
The food was good, service was excellent, but ambiance was disappointing. I had not been to Nick's since it moved to this location at the Merchandise Mart. We were very surprised to see only a handful of tables seated at 8pm on a Friday evening. The place was empty. We both had specials. I had the swordfish and her the sea scallops. The swordfish was excellent, I ordered it blackened. The sea scallops were above average, and they served 4 large scallops! The service was great. Our waitress was one of the best and knew the menu and all options in-and-out. About "options"....they are very flexible with any order, and the waitress had no problem recommending alternative preparations for any dish. All in all, we had a great meal for a very reasonable price. If you're looking for a "happening" place, this isn't it. However, if you're okay with a quiet evening, good food and good service give it a shot!
(3)Carmen B.
I stopped in for a drink after visiting the home design retailers in the Mart. I don't visit the Mart frequently, and it was good to find a spot to relax. The bartenders were funny and I enjoyed a glass of sparkling. Good spot to reflect on all of the design ideas that one finds in the building with your favorite beverage.
(3)melinda b.
Decided to make this a restaurant week stop. The set up & ambiance is strange, it reminds me of a small airport eatery. I ordered the lobster bisque app and the shrimp & lobster risotto. Both were good. I'm not sure if I would come back and pay full price for either though. Parking was right in front & free! Gold star for that!!!
(3)Tio S.
Oh, Nick's. I've tried twice now at your new location, and it's just not the same. The only thing that is familiar is the food, which is still of great quality. But your service has gone WAY down hill. Some of the bummers from my last lunch visit at Nick's: - No cheesy poofs until 4pm. The cheese puffs and sliders were the reason we came here for lunch! After some begging, we were able to get a few. - It appears as though the wait staff is in need of some help. They need either (a) more bodies to help wait tables, (b) training for their existing staff or (c) all of the above. - A three-person lunch with two appetizers and two entrees should not take one hour and forty minutes. I don't think I'll be coming back any time soon, unless someone is having an event here and I have to go back. I'll use my reallynicerestaurant points at The Clubhouse out in Oakbrook next time the wife makes me go shopping with her. Sorry Nick's -- it just ain't the same. :(
(2)Tita P.
4 1/2 stars! Came here for restaurant week. Nick's is located inside of Merchandise Mart and when I walked in I felt like I was on a cruise ship. All I needed was Issac behind the bar to prepare my drink. It is very well lit so if you are looking for a romantic environment this may not be the place for you. The server, Andrea, was AWESOME. She was very knowledgeable on all things Nick's and not just the items available for restaurant week. She was very attentive and made us feel as if we were her only customers. The lobster bisque is to die for!! I could have just had that for dinner. The salmon was yummy and the key lime pie was the perfect way to end the meal. I suspect my friends and I will try to find a reason very soon to return. Hopefully Andrea will be there.
(4)Dan R.
This is one of my favorite lunch spots. The spicy Ahi seared tuna is delicious. The Seafood Cobb might be my favorite salad ever--- fresh, light, perfect lunch portion. The location is tough, but I hope Nick's sticks around. Speedy service worth a lunch trip.
(4)Amy Marie C.
Great black and blue tuna and nicks salad. Perfect happy hour after a day of shopping downtown.
(4)Tina W.
Everyone in our office was so excited to see Nick's Fishmarket open in the old DUMPhey's spot. The food is delicious and the staff is very friendly. What's not delicious or friendly is the hair that's been in my food on two of my three visits there. My friend and I went there last week and split a Carne Asada salad. The salad was huge and topped with lots of stuff, so I don't know how I spotted the big blondish hair sticking out of the edge. When I showed the waiter, he said, "Oh gross!" as he hauled it away. He tossed us some divine frites as a consolation prize while we waited for a fresh salad. He ended up comping our meal, which was nice. My coworker and I went back today and enjoyed a great meal...until the bus boy delivered my Chocolate Molten Cake complete with a black hair garnish on top. Ewww. The staff wasn't *as* apologetic today. They kind of smirked and shrugged as they tried to figure out who the blondish hair from last week could have belonged to. I *want* to say that I won't go back, but those frites are like crack. And it's in the building, so here's hoping that the hair will just burn off during the deep fry process.
(1)Mochi L.
This is a good place for a meal, service was good, meal was good. Didn't seem very busy when we got there around 6:30. Our wait staff looked really young but they were very professional and attentive. My group split 3 appetizers amongst the 6 of us - calamari, ahi tuna, and bbq flatbread. It was the perfect amount. For the entree I had the special for the evening which was an herb encrusted mahi over mashed potatoes. Like I mentioned before - it was good, nothing over the top and a good portion. There was something about the atmosphere that didn't impress me. It felt open and airy... for a seafood restaurant the decor needed to fit - where I was sitting I kept seeing a picture of a kiwi fruit... that does not make me feel like I'm in a seafood restaurant at all. I was expecting smoothies or something from the bar.
(3)#NAME?
Came here for lunch b/c it had been over a week since I had a vegtable, maybe longer- I liked Nick's when it was in the old Chase bldg, loved the Lobster Bisque, so I was happy to see it was open last week in the Mart- ENVIRONMENT: I like the modern feel of the place, it suits the ages that dine there-It's still the same style as Blue Print that once resided there, so nothing really has changed much- FOOD: I ordered the Mahi Mahi Blackened style that has a Cajun Cream sauce-A decent amt of fish for lunch, I asked for seasonal veggies and rice pilaf-I waited about 5-8 minutes for my food-It came out hot and perfect, the fish was white inside and no fishy taste at all- My total was 18.00 plus tax, only had water since they didn't serve Coke products- The only negative comment I can make is that the waiters look like they are zombies working there-Like they hate their job, not a single one looked happy to be there-Bussers did but not the waiters, but honestly that's trying to find something wrong with the place- I will go back to see if the bisque is still the same, I had it highly rated so it better not have changed at all!
(4)Kelly K.
Food- 4 stars Service/Ambiance- 2.5 stars I had gone to the old location in Bank One/Chase plaza for years as a kid since my dad's office was conveniently located in the building on the plaza, but I decided to try it now that it's opened in the Mart. The house salad was par for the course, but the lobster shrimp risotto was quite tasty and hearty on a blustery winter's day. The restaurant was odd as it tries to be fine dining but the dining room we ate in had 2 large screen tvs playing CNN and ESPN. The service was also a bit lacking. Maybe they don't bring out the A-team staff for lunch. Overall it was good and I'll be back if I'm in the mood for seafood.
(3)Steve M.
Great place. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The lobster risotto and fish tacos are excellent. Also, many awesome craft beers on tap. The service is fast and friendly. Even though Nick's is in a new location, it is still popular and crowded especially during lunch.
(5)Tim k.
Great food, great service. always have very fresh fish, and some heathy options. Bar tenders know how to pour a drink as well.
(5)Cathy M.
The chowders ... both lobster and corn were delicious!
(4)Quincee H.
The process for making reservations here was: open table, restaurant week, seafood, menu looks okay and they have space for 7 on a Saturday night. The reservation was made at 4:00 pm. The first three in the group arrived an half hour early and waited at the bar, John the bartender was great with recommendations and extremely accommodating. I would have liked the ability to transfer drinks to the dinner bill but that's nit-picky. After the next two arrived we were seated at our table, which I might add was ready for us when we arrived. Our waiter was absolutely perfect, attentive without being overly so. I have a pet peeve of intrusive waiters who constantly interrupt the evening. Anyway, the food. Delicious. The lobster bisque was wonderful, some of us considered licking the bowl, yes just that good. Everyone ordered from the restaurant week menu and all of the entrees received rave reviews. The lobster and shrimp risotto was perfection, as was the tilapia and salmon. The filet medallions were perfectly cooked and just as good as the rest. The staff and service was great. The space is bright and open. The food was outstanding and we all left full. What more do you need?
(4)ryan d.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO TAKE A DATE... I booked this reservation in hopes of having a nice romantic dinner with my fiancé since I have heard so much about this place. When we walked through the doors we were severely disappointed. It was way too bright, there was a 60th birthday party going on in the back, there were TV's on, and there was no music. The food was great, but the atmosphere was horrible. The only time I would ever come back is to have a quick drink after work at the bar, if an only if I was close by. The food is good, but not worth tolerating the atmosphere.
(2)KChicagoan S.
This is the prefect place for a business lunch - comfortable seating, good service and decent variety on the menu. Ask about the daily specials because they usually have some nice dishes. I tried a mahi-mahi with a chimmichrui sauce and really enjoyed it. Portions are fair and they are willing to make substitutions so that's a plus. A solid 3-star experience.
(3)Mocha Chocha L.
I hate having to wait when you have a reservation, are on time, and the restaurant was not even busy....so that was a bad start. The bar tender openly admitted he was in a bad mood and was very sarcastic and somewhat insulting to my friend. Then when seated, the menu was not as it was online (it was NYE) but after asking, we could order off the regular menu. The sea bass at $37 was sub-par at best. I had them bring out a different sauce just to give it some flavor. The lobster bisque was about the same, no yummy chunks of meat at all. The waiter was confused and not very knowledgeable about anything. Over all way over rated, over priced and probably would not go again.
(2)Kurt H.
I grew up in Chicago and took clients to the original NFM. Discovered the one in the Mart after it opened. Great food and service as usual. Shout out to Jaime for consistent service.
(5)Jake B.
We went here for happy hour, so this review will be short. Happy hour specials are on food items. Illinois state law prohibits the discounting of liquor and beer. Weird. We had a half dozen oysters. Blue points. And a beer and a champagne. Mostly the food was ok. Though it wasn't amazingly fresh. Atmosphere is nice. Service was great at the bar.
(3)Connie F.
We really enjoyed Nick's Bar & Grill for a casual night out. There were lots of food options. We had the fish special and were very pleased with our dinner. The atmosphere is nice, our waiter was top-notch, and we were able to have a quiet dinner without undue interruptions. We will definitely go to Nick's again!
(5)John M.
This is a very good restaurant and I highly recommend it. Tonight I had a taste for fish and they do have great fish, but they surprised me on their appetizers (outstanding!) and their salads. I started with the Nick salad and it was surprisingly delicious. It was chopped finely and served in a very innovative way. I enjoyed my main course of salmon which was prepared perfectly. My dining companion had the shrimp scampi which was to die for. Based on my initial experience here, I will return and I strongly recommend you try Nick's. It is inside the Merchandise Mart and handy to catch the train when you want to go home. Enjoy!
(4)Dennis K.
Went there for lunch yesterday and a far cry from the classiness of the old downtown Nick's Fishmarket. It felt like I was a high school cafeteria hard chairs and not even a table cloth on the table. My client and I started with appetizers of crab cake, shrimp cocktail and seared tuna. The crab cake and sear tuna were good but the shrimp cocktail had no taste. The main courses was a whole new adventure. I ordered the blackened tuna which was way way over spiced and impossible to eat. My client ordered the Chilean Sea bass which he said was very bland. The kicker was that half way through the meal the waitress comes by with rolls and says to him oh yeah I forgot to give these to you and places them on the table and walks away. As my client is finishing his meal the waitress comes over and grabs his bowl and takes it away... the problem was he was still eating. Desert again was a hit or miss. My client has the apple tart which he said was good I ordered the berries. They looked like they were old and sitting out for a long time. I will give the manager credit he came over at the end of the meal and said he took them off the bill because they looked bad. Nice touch. Overall, for $150 dollar lunch (which included two drinks) go somewhere else.
(1)Kayu T.
Came here for Valentines day. The place was not romantic but its was clean and nice. 1- Salad - Very Nice. fresh shrimps and great house dressing. 2- Lobster Bisque - Decent. Like most place.. it was a lil heavy on sodium but it had the most lobster and crab bits. 3- Black and Blue seared tuna - Decent. Fresh fish. I thought it was cut a lil too thin and the spice out the outside over powered the fish a little too much. 4- Mojito - God Awful. It was 50% lime juice, 1% mint leaves and 40% Club Soda. Sigh. it was horrible so i had to return it and come to find out... the girl bartender was new and it was her first day at that shift. Apparently ran out of mint so there was no taste to it. Thank god the waitress was smart and offered me a drink. I had a Lemon Martini and that was fine. 5- Orange glazed salmon with whipped potato- very good. fish was perfectly cooked. 6- Ahi Tuna with shitake and rice - very good. Good amount. Again, fresh fish and perfectly done.
(3)Ryne D.
Restaurant week review! Had to change our reservations the day before but they had no problem, and the reason became obvious when we walked in...there was no one there! Granted, it was a Monday, but still not a good look. So for our dinner I got - Lobster bisque - Quite good. A little heavy on the sherry, but I actually liked that. Lobster and shrimp risotto - Came with a big ol' lobster tail and lots of shrimp. However, the risotto itself was really heavy on the cheese and th seafood didn't get much of a chance to shine. White chocolate cheesecake - Tasted...off. I couldn't taste white chocolate or even regular chocolate - just a heavy citric taste. Maybe they keep their cheesecake too close to their key lime pie? Oh, and one awkward moment - we ordered a bottle of wine, and my glass ended up with more sediment than any of us had ever seen. It looked like someone had dropped wafers in my wine glass. So the waiter comes by, says he'll get me a new glass...then carefully pours the wine out of my glass into a new one. Ok, I know it's picky since the sediment is natural and I can't really dock them for it, but there had to have been a better solution...no? To my friends who had to back out of the reservation...you didn't miss much.
(2)Lindsey A.
For a Merch Mart business-oriented spot, this place beat my expectations. Came here on a Friday night after GT Fish & Oyster's 2+-hour-long wait was too much to stomach. (MEHHHHHH) Lovely service, decent albeit limited wine selection and palate-pleasing seafood. We started with a half dozen oysters. Super fresh sea delicacies even though one of mine had sand bits. My girlfriend got the shrimp and lobster risotto which came with a huge lobster tail on top. The risotto was rich and rib-sticking. I got the mahi mahi with a lemon butter caper sauce - it melted in my mouth. I've been craving some solid mahi and this did my craving justice and then some. We got a bottle of Gruner Veltliner to wash it all down and rolled out of the restaurant fat and happy. Definitely will go back either for lunch or dinner - with clients or friends.
(4)Melanie S.
For many years, Nick's Fishmarket (back then it was in Chase Plaza) was just about the only fine-dining restaurant in the Loop. In the 70s, It was the epicenter of the "three martini lunch" for businessmen who still wore suits every day to work. Sadly, those days are long gone. People don't really drink martinis at lunch and men hardly ever wear suits anymore. And Nick's Fishmarket closed its doors last year. It was the last of a dying breed. My coworkers and I used to go to their former location for special-occasion lunches every now and then and were more than a little bummed when it closed. Where else was I ever going to find abalone on a menu? There's already so few decent places one can eat at in the Loop. Slim pickin's gettin' slimmer all the time. My boss read in Crain's that Nick's reopened in the Merchandise Mart and chose it for our holiday lunch. We were pretty excited to go back to a familiar spot. The restaurant is quite striking but is a little out of place among all the fast-food chain restaurants that occupy the Mart. It's on the first level and I wonder if it will see enough traffic. The four of us sat down and waited for the delicious garlic rolls that are typically brought to your table within minutes of sitting down. They didn't come, and then I noticed that the menu now lists them as a "side" and charges for them. No longer are they gratis. That didn't sit too well with us, but my boss insisted we order them anyway; after all, lunch was on her. There's a few things on the menu that I always liked: carne asada cobb salad, tuscan sliders, and any fish that's parmesan crusted. I went with the parmesan crusted tilapia which came with two sides. Remembering how much I loved their skinny hand-cut fries, I chose those and steamed broccoli. The fish was terrific but I was dismayed that the fries were no longer skinny. I know it's a minor thing but I just have a preference for skinny fries as their texture holds up better. Others ordered similar dishes; some had lobster bisque or the soup of the day, which was chicken noodle (which seems way too pedestrian for a place that's trying to be high brow). We all enjoyed our food but everyone agreed that it just wasn't the same. Maybe we liked it more before because our choices are so limited, but for the price, we all concurred that there are other places that do it better.
(3)Michelle M.
I was here for restaurant week and enjoyed my experience but wasn't wowed by it. Perhaps the decor of the place threw me off...I felt like I was sitting in an airport chain restaurant. That being said, the bar area itself is nice enough, it's just the dining area that is abysmal looking. For a restaurant located in the Merchandise Mart, the Mecca of Interior Designers, I expected more. Now on to the food: I had the lobster bisque (amazing!), the Lobster and Shrimp Risotto had an entire lobster tail (impressive!) and lots of shrimp. The risotto was a little rich, in that there was a bit too much asiago cheese, but still tasty. I had the Key Lime Tart for desert and while it was a small portion, I was fine with that as I was already stuffed. It was good, but not mind blowing. Our server was pleasant enough and food was brought out in a timely manner. Essentially my meal was good, but given how many amazing foodie places there are in Chicago, I was a little underwhelmed. I'm glad I gave it a shot though!
(3)Mike L.
Haven't eaten Nick's Fishmarket food since I worked downtown over 25 years ago when it was at the lower level of what was known as the "First National Bank Plaza" on Monroe between Clark and Dearborn and it was excellent. Today they catered the BOMA event on the 7th floor at the Merchandise Mart and it was once agian, EXCELLENT! I had samplings of the following and EVERYTHING was cooked perfectly and had excellent flavor! Fresh sauted Spinach with just the right amount of oil and garlic, Some sort of beef in a rich brown gravy Tender thin white fish Asparagus (AWESOME!) Chicken kabob with green pepper and onion MMMMMMMM!!! Bravo Nick and staff!!
(4)Nicole L.
Went here for Restaurant Week...I got the steak and was pleased with it...My man got the salmon and it was deeeeeeelish...I saw the bowls that the lobster bisque was served in and they were so tiny so opted to get the salad instead...The white chocolate cheesecake tasted pretty good...The key lime pie was very limey...All in all, just okay in my book...
(3)Erik W.
This was a direction I hadn't gone before, across the river (I wander away from my building, picking a direction and finding good places to eat). Justine was my cute bartender/waitress. We chatted for a bit between her running around from the bar to her tables, but still attentive. Apparently they were short staffed that afternoon, but she liked it. Had the diablo shrimp something or other and a beer called Matilda. Both were excellent. The sauce, shrimp, and presentation were awesome and very upscale. The noodles, however, were way over cooked, and had a gummy texture. If they could al dente those noodles, that dish would be perfect. It was a little pricey, but the place was inside the merchandise mart, and looked rather upscale. The bar was more of a martini bar than a beer bar, so you're paying for a little more upscale atmosphere. I think my meal with beer was around $20, but for the taste, was well worth it. I'll probably be heading back there this week, most likely on Friday.
(4)#NAME?
Came here for lunch b/c it had been over a week since I had a vegtable, maybe longer- I liked Nick's when it was in the old Chase bldg, loved the Lobster Bisque, so I was happy to see it was open last week in the Mart- ENVIRONMENT: I like the modern feel of the place, it suits the ages that dine there-It's still the same style as Blue Print that once resided there, so nothing really has changed much- FOOD: I ordered the Mahi Mahi Blackened style that has a Cajun Cream sauce-A decent amt of fish for lunch, I asked for seasonal veggies and rice pilaf-I waited about 5-8 minutes for my food-It came out hot and perfect, the fish was white inside and no fishy taste at all- My total was 18.00 plus tax, only had water since they didn't serve Coke products- The only negative comment I can make is that the waiters look like they are zombies working there-Like they hate their job, not a single one looked happy to be there-Bussers did but not the waiters, but honestly that's trying to find something wrong with the place- I will go back to see if the bisque is still the same, I had it highly rated so it better not have changed at all!
(4)Kelly K.
Food- 4 stars Service/Ambiance- 2.5 stars I had gone to the old location in Bank One/Chase plaza for years as a kid since my dad's office was conveniently located in the building on the plaza, but I decided to try it now that it's opened in the Mart. The house salad was par for the course, but the lobster shrimp risotto was quite tasty and hearty on a blustery winter's day. The restaurant was odd as it tries to be fine dining but the dining room we ate in had 2 large screen tvs playing CNN and ESPN. The service was also a bit lacking. Maybe they don't bring out the A-team staff for lunch. Overall it was good and I'll be back if I'm in the mood for seafood.
(3)Steve M.
Great place. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The lobster risotto and fish tacos are excellent. Also, many awesome craft beers on tap. The service is fast and friendly. Even though Nick's is in a new location, it is still popular and crowded especially during lunch.
(5)Tim k.
Great food, great service. always have very fresh fish, and some heathy options. Bar tenders know how to pour a drink as well.
(5)Cathy M.
The chowders ... both lobster and corn were delicious!
(4)Derek S.
We ate here a few weeks ago after reading a few positive reviews online. People had mentioned the menu changing. Should have paid attention to this. The menu that is online is completely different than what is actually there. The food wasn't bad at all, but it was definitely not what we were expecting. I had the Seabass, which was rather good. It was nothing to write home about. My girlfriend had the sea food risotto, which she said was OK. The menu was not too diverse, and if you have shellfish allergy, like myself, you can go ahead and cross out 3/4 of the menu. Hopefully they update their menu online so you can know what you are getting into.
(2)David D.
The food was good, service was excellent, but ambiance was disappointing. I had not been to Nick's since it moved to this location at the Merchandise Mart. We were very surprised to see only a handful of tables seated at 8pm on a Friday evening. The place was empty. We both had specials. I had the swordfish and her the sea scallops. The swordfish was excellent, I ordered it blackened. The sea scallops were above average, and they served 4 large scallops! The service was great. Our waitress was one of the best and knew the menu and all options in-and-out. About "options"....they are very flexible with any order, and the waitress had no problem recommending alternative preparations for any dish. All in all, we had a great meal for a very reasonable price. If you're looking for a "happening" place, this isn't it. However, if you're okay with a quiet evening, good food and good service give it a shot!
(3)Carmen B.
I stopped in for a drink after visiting the home design retailers in the Mart. I don't visit the Mart frequently, and it was good to find a spot to relax. The bartenders were funny and I enjoyed a glass of sparkling. Good spot to reflect on all of the design ideas that one finds in the building with your favorite beverage.
(3)melinda b.
Decided to make this a restaurant week stop. The set up & ambiance is strange, it reminds me of a small airport eatery. I ordered the lobster bisque app and the shrimp & lobster risotto. Both were good. I'm not sure if I would come back and pay full price for either though. Parking was right in front & free! Gold star for that!!!
(3)Tio S.
Oh, Nick's. I've tried twice now at your new location, and it's just not the same. The only thing that is familiar is the food, which is still of great quality. But your service has gone WAY down hill. Some of the bummers from my last lunch visit at Nick's: - No cheesy poofs until 4pm. The cheese puffs and sliders were the reason we came here for lunch! After some begging, we were able to get a few. - It appears as though the wait staff is in need of some help. They need either (a) more bodies to help wait tables, (b) training for their existing staff or (c) all of the above. - A three-person lunch with two appetizers and two entrees should not take one hour and forty minutes. I don't think I'll be coming back any time soon, unless someone is having an event here and I have to go back. I'll use my reallynicerestaurant points at The Clubhouse out in Oakbrook next time the wife makes me go shopping with her. Sorry Nick's -- it just ain't the same. :(
(2)Tita P.
4 1/2 stars! Came here for restaurant week. Nick's is located inside of Merchandise Mart and when I walked in I felt like I was on a cruise ship. All I needed was Issac behind the bar to prepare my drink. It is very well lit so if you are looking for a romantic environment this may not be the place for you. The server, Andrea, was AWESOME. She was very knowledgeable on all things Nick's and not just the items available for restaurant week. She was very attentive and made us feel as if we were her only customers. The lobster bisque is to die for!! I could have just had that for dinner. The salmon was yummy and the key lime pie was the perfect way to end the meal. I suspect my friends and I will try to find a reason very soon to return. Hopefully Andrea will be there.
(4)Dan R.
This is one of my favorite lunch spots. The spicy Ahi seared tuna is delicious. The Seafood Cobb might be my favorite salad ever--- fresh, light, perfect lunch portion. The location is tough, but I hope Nick's sticks around. Speedy service worth a lunch trip.
(4)Amy Marie C.
Great black and blue tuna and nicks salad. Perfect happy hour after a day of shopping downtown.
(4)Quincee H.
The process for making reservations here was: open table, restaurant week, seafood, menu looks okay and they have space for 7 on a Saturday night. The reservation was made at 4:00 pm. The first three in the group arrived an half hour early and waited at the bar, John the bartender was great with recommendations and extremely accommodating. I would have liked the ability to transfer drinks to the dinner bill but that's nit-picky. After the next two arrived we were seated at our table, which I might add was ready for us when we arrived. Our waiter was absolutely perfect, attentive without being overly so. I have a pet peeve of intrusive waiters who constantly interrupt the evening. Anyway, the food. Delicious. The lobster bisque was wonderful, some of us considered licking the bowl, yes just that good. Everyone ordered from the restaurant week menu and all of the entrees received rave reviews. The lobster and shrimp risotto was perfection, as was the tilapia and salmon. The filet medallions were perfectly cooked and just as good as the rest. The staff and service was great. The space is bright and open. The food was outstanding and we all left full. What more do you need?
(4)Tina W.
Everyone in our office was so excited to see Nick's Fishmarket open in the old DUMPhey's spot. The food is delicious and the staff is very friendly. What's not delicious or friendly is the hair that's been in my food on two of my three visits there. My friend and I went there last week and split a Carne Asada salad. The salad was huge and topped with lots of stuff, so I don't know how I spotted the big blondish hair sticking out of the edge. When I showed the waiter, he said, "Oh gross!" as he hauled it away. He tossed us some divine frites as a consolation prize while we waited for a fresh salad. He ended up comping our meal, which was nice. My coworker and I went back today and enjoyed a great meal...until the bus boy delivered my Chocolate Molten Cake complete with a black hair garnish on top. Ewww. The staff wasn't *as* apologetic today. They kind of smirked and shrugged as they tried to figure out who the blondish hair from last week could have belonged to. I *want* to say that I won't go back, but those frites are like crack. And it's in the building, so here's hoping that the hair will just burn off during the deep fry process.
(1)Mochi L.
This is a good place for a meal, service was good, meal was good. Didn't seem very busy when we got there around 6:30. Our wait staff looked really young but they were very professional and attentive. My group split 3 appetizers amongst the 6 of us - calamari, ahi tuna, and bbq flatbread. It was the perfect amount. For the entree I had the special for the evening which was an herb encrusted mahi over mashed potatoes. Like I mentioned before - it was good, nothing over the top and a good portion. There was something about the atmosphere that didn't impress me. It felt open and airy... for a seafood restaurant the decor needed to fit - where I was sitting I kept seeing a picture of a kiwi fruit... that does not make me feel like I'm in a seafood restaurant at all. I was expecting smoothies or something from the bar.
(3)KChicagoan S.
This is the prefect place for a business lunch - comfortable seating, good service and decent variety on the menu. Ask about the daily specials because they usually have some nice dishes. I tried a mahi-mahi with a chimmichrui sauce and really enjoyed it. Portions are fair and they are willing to make substitutions so that's a plus. A solid 3-star experience.
(3)Tom B.
We enjoyed a lunch here after a Chicago Architectural Foundation tour of the Merchandise Mart. The food and service were both very good. We tried the vodka pasta, lobster bisque, and the crab cake appetizer--a single very large crab cake that was as good as any we've had. The prices did seem just a little high for lunch.
(4)Danica S.
I was a little disappointed with the place. Also the food here is greasy and they are a little heavy with the salt. I lobster bisque is a hit or miss. The crab cakes are good. The steak is ok. I will say that the service is really good. Very friendly staff.
(3)Charles A.
We enjoyed an excellent dinner. The service was superb. Atmosphere stylish modern with the bar area lit from below in blue light. ...A cold winter Chicago night (7°) we had the chicken and rice soup to warm up. My wife had the seafood salad and was very happy. I had chicken piccata - generously served with angel hair pasta, Goose Island beers ... price was right and we will return
(4)ryan d.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO TAKE A DATE... I booked this reservation in hopes of having a nice romantic dinner with my fiancé since I have heard so much about this place. When we walked through the doors we were severely disappointed. It was way too bright, there was a 60th birthday party going on in the back, there were TV's on, and there was no music. The food was great, but the atmosphere was horrible. The only time I would ever come back is to have a quick drink after work at the bar, if an only if I was close by. The food is good, but not worth tolerating the atmosphere.
(2)Morris O.
Went there for dinner on a Wednesday night. There were a few people in the bar but the only table occupied in the dining room was the one at which we were sitting. No other diners came in after us (we got there a little after six and were there until 8ish). I'm from Chicago and had a hard time finding the entrance--after driving around the Merchandise Mart I finally called to find out exactly where there parking area was (at least parking was free). Previous experience at Nick's (both at its old location and at the location near O'Hare) was 5 star but not here. Servious was only fair and the menu was not the same (many favorites missing). While the main course was great, ordered shrimp cocktail for a starter. The shrimp were not as large and plump as in the past and did not seem quite as fresh as remembered in the past.
(2)Rachel W.
My BF and I came here last Wednesday night for our date night after work and were surprisingly pleased. We arrived at 7pm and the place closed at 8pm (I think it's more of a lunch place) so there weren't too many people there. Either way, there was an abundance of food on the menu that we really wanted to try and we had a hard time making a decision. We ended up sharing the lobster bisque, lobster buffalo flatbread, and the shrimp and lobster risotto. It was all so delicious. The lobster bisque was a little heavy, but still yummy, the flatbread was really good, and the risotto was also good, but a little cheesy. The service was also excellent. I don't remember the prices, but for the amount of seafood we had, the check wasn't that bad. We'll definitely be coming back to try some more of the items on the menu.
(4)Mocha Chocha L.
I hate having to wait when you have a reservation, are on time, and the restaurant was not even busy....so that was a bad start. The bar tender openly admitted he was in a bad mood and was very sarcastic and somewhat insulting to my friend. Then when seated, the menu was not as it was online (it was NYE) but after asking, we could order off the regular menu. The sea bass at $37 was sub-par at best. I had them bring out a different sauce just to give it some flavor. The lobster bisque was about the same, no yummy chunks of meat at all. The waiter was confused and not very knowledgeable about anything. Over all way over rated, over priced and probably would not go again.
(2)Dennis K.
Went there for lunch yesterday and a far cry from the classiness of the old downtown Nick's Fishmarket. It felt like I was a high school cafeteria hard chairs and not even a table cloth on the table. My client and I started with appetizers of crab cake, shrimp cocktail and seared tuna. The crab cake and sear tuna were good but the shrimp cocktail had no taste. The main courses was a whole new adventure. I ordered the blackened tuna which was way way over spiced and impossible to eat. My client ordered the Chilean Sea bass which he said was very bland. The kicker was that half way through the meal the waitress comes by with rolls and says to him oh yeah I forgot to give these to you and places them on the table and walks away. As my client is finishing his meal the waitress comes over and grabs his bowl and takes it away... the problem was he was still eating. Desert again was a hit or miss. My client has the apple tart which he said was good I ordered the berries. They looked like they were old and sitting out for a long time. I will give the manager credit he came over at the end of the meal and said he took them off the bill because they looked bad. Nice touch. Overall, for $150 dollar lunch (which included two drinks) go somewhere else.
(1)Kurt H.
I grew up in Chicago and took clients to the original NFM. Discovered the one in the Mart after it opened. Great food and service as usual. Shout out to Jaime for consistent service.
(5)Jake B.
We went here for happy hour, so this review will be short. Happy hour specials are on food items. Illinois state law prohibits the discounting of liquor and beer. Weird. We had a half dozen oysters. Blue points. And a beer and a champagne. Mostly the food was ok. Though it wasn't amazingly fresh. Atmosphere is nice. Service was great at the bar.
(3)Wei H.
I sometimes work at the Mart so I finally went there for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant has a very trendy blue color themed decor. Very spacious seating and quiet environment that's perfect for a business lunch. Appetizers: - Lobster bisque: it was perfect. Perfect portion, not too big to skip entree and not too small to leave you yearning for more. Actually I lied. I kept yearning for more but the rational part of me told me to stop. - Black and blue Ahi Tuna: the fish was very fresh but the spices were too strong for my palate that's used to sashimi. - Flaming spinach and artichoke: loved the dip. Although you would think the flame would add some kick to it. Nope. Still very good. - Blackened tilapia sandwich: fish was awesome. Not much else to it. Fries were not good. Soft and over fried. Sad. My guests seemed to have enjoyed their food. The salads look good too especially when there are giant grilled shrimps. They seem to have daily specials that look delicious too. Next time you are tired from walking around the Mart gazing at the beautiful furniture, try Nick's out. It's better than you average downtown lunch spots with slightly higher prices but it's worth at least one visit IMHO.
(3)Lisa R.
Went here on Saturday for Restaurant Week. I didn't really care for the restaurant in a hotel feel of the place, but the food and service was great. I ordered off the special menu : lobster bisque - good ; blue crab & brie crusted tilapia - delicious (tasted good even the next day when I reheated the leftovers) ; chocolate molten cake - yum (small but just enough for me). My friend had nicks nevada salad, bourbon shrimp and grits and the cheesecake. Enjoyed the meal. I tried the shrimp and it was good.
(4)Amy L.
I brought my big boss here when he was traveling with me because he's a vegetarian, but still eats fish. Everything was awesome! They were supe accommodating to make the dishes exactly how we wanted. I got the fish tacos and they were happy to pan sear instead of fry the cod. Nom nom. My boss's boss got the grouper, but changed the sauce and the sides. He even customized his Caesar salad. The only problem was there was NO ONE in the restaurant besides us. They said it was because of the bad weather, but it just felt awkward. I'm sure ill be back!
(4)John M.
This is a very good restaurant and I highly recommend it. Tonight I had a taste for fish and they do have great fish, but they surprised me on their appetizers (outstanding!) and their salads. I started with the Nick salad and it was surprisingly delicious. It was chopped finely and served in a very innovative way. I enjoyed my main course of salmon which was prepared perfectly. My dining companion had the shrimp scampi which was to die for. Based on my initial experience here, I will return and I strongly recommend you try Nick's. It is inside the Merchandise Mart and handy to catch the train when you want to go home. Enjoy!
(4)Chris G.
Not milk shaking, but Nick's Black and Blue Ahi Tuna is what brought me to their yard. For $18 share plate, this is a reasonable amount of high quality, buttery Ahi Tuna and it's great to taste that freshness come through. It's typical that I'd accept and use a pair of chopsticks put before me during a meal, but my great fear here is that I'd motor though these slices of savory goodness in a matter of minutes, so knife and fork is recommended. The coating isn't overbearing and lacks the almost full peppercorns that seem to drag down the Niçoise at nearby Centro. And that's too bad because Centro does a decent job with their other dishes but they need to STEAL a page from Nick's, regarding this kind of dish. If the super fluffy wasabi ball is made out of the traditional horse radish, I had a harder time being convinced that at least some portion of it was not made out of true wasabi root. It's either the most delish horseradish or blended I've tasted. Having to erase a horrible Niçoise lunch experience from the day before, I decided to go with my gut instinct the next day and visit my original choice, nearby Nick's. Always go with your gut!
(4)Christina L.
Absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!! I am a hard person to please, yet the service was to die for, food delicious, management accommodating with no prompting! EXCELLENT experience!I will return. Location is bit obscure. Get dropped on corner of Kinzie and Wells and walk up ramp. Entrance is on ramp not directly on Kinzie. Yet, sooooo worth it! Had the Classic Mix Grill and friend had Lobster Risotto. We Split and were in heaven! The drinks....alll amazing! PLEASE try the Nevada Salad as a starter,,,,AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Kelly W.
I came here during restaurant week a few weeks ago and had a great experience. It was pretty empty on a weeknight. The ambiance is cool casual. There is a bar right when you walk in. I ordered the lobster bisque, lobster tail risotto and the key lime tart. Everything was absolutely delicious! The lobster bisque was creamy and filling without being overly fishy. The risotto was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. The full lobster tail was seasoned to perfection and was also cooked perfectly. The key lime tart was the perfect sweet to end it. The menu said the dessert was a mini dessert but after that meal I couldn't even finish it all! They put warm bread on the table as well. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Aleen L.
Aside from the great seafood, this place has the best lobster bisque around! Also, a little secret - ask for the bread - it's warm and delicious and totally worth the carbs!
(5)Carol K.
I used to love the old Nicks Fishmarket so imagine my surprise when I find out that they have opened a more casual version in the Merchandisie Mart. Made me smile in anticipation. We went on a Saturday night, early as we had theater tickets for after. Given it was in the Mart, I really wasn't surprised that we were the only table in the place up until about 7:30. Great if you want to dine in solitude, bad if you want a little ambiance or energy. In fact- it was so quiet in the place, that everything my friend and I said was echoing through the space. The ambiance is sparce- wood tables with the bar area bathed in bolbalt blue. There are booths along the wall (ask for one or you might feel you are in the middle of the room!) Our server, Adam, was great. Quick with suggestions and knowledageable about the menu. We started with the fresh oysters which were quite good and the cocnut shrimp which were HUGE (and what could ever be wrong with fried food?) Our entrees were quite good too. I went with the Sea Bass and my friend ordered the shrimp scampi which they let him also add a couple of scallops to as well. His was the winner of the night as while my fish was good, the mashed potatoes that came with it were actually cold which was odd given we were the only people in the place! Entrees range between $15 and $35 so there are plenty of choices no matter what your price range. If you drive- there are spots right out front on the driveway where you can park for free after 6! Or there is a parking garage at the corner of Wells which will run you about $18. All in all, while the food was pretty good, the ambiance just didn't work for me. I want a lively place with an energy that is additive to your night. Afterall- dinner out is supposed to be a special time and this just didn't feel special. But if you are in the Mart and looking for a solid meal, this is probably one of your best choices!
(3)Ross R.
The food is good. The service a little over the top. Was there on a Friday night and practically had the place to ourselves. Clearly they make their nut on the expense account lunch crowd. A couple of people in our party remembered how Nick's used to be. This modern version is fine and there's nothing to complain about, unless you're feeling nostalgic.
(4)Heidi R.
I went to Nick's Fishmarket for the first time for lunch with my new boss. She had been there before and said the food was good. We both ordered the seafood salad for lunch. The portion was pretty large and didn't skimp on any ingredients. There was tons of fish in this salad - big pieces of crab and tons of shrimp. The salad was perfectly made and so filling! Nick's has a great location in the Merchandise Mart which is right next to where I work. I'd love to go back to Nick's for lunch or even dinner sometime.
(3)Connie F.
We really enjoyed Nick's Bar & Grill for a casual night out. There were lots of food options. We had the fish special and were very pleased with our dinner. The atmosphere is nice, our waiter was top-notch, and we were able to have a quiet dinner without undue interruptions. We will definitely go to Nick's again!
(5)Anthony M.
BLOODY BRUNCH I was lucky enough to be invited to attend an event here for the launch of the new Absolut Vodka Chicago bottle. It was a fun event. The staff of Nick's was extremely friendly, as they walked around with passed snacks. My personal favorite was the Oyster Shooters in tall shot glasses. Nothing goes better with Bloody's, then some fresh Oysters. The space was very comfortable to hang out in. There was even room for a 3 piece jazz ensemble. It made for a nice relaxing event as we all sipped on Absolut Bloody Mary's. There was also an incredible Bloody Mary Bar complete with sweet bacon, fresh beef jerky, shrimp, cheese, peppers, olives, asparagus, summer sausage, pepperoni, etc. You name it and they probably had it. I also met a person who had never had a Bloody Mary in there life and I helped load it up with stuff. That was kind of fun as I packed it full of salty yummy snacks. Nothing brings strangers together more then this. It is like the new salad bar for weekends. The space was also very comfortable. There were plenty of high boys to stand at and enjoy your food/drink or you could relax in one of the many booths. The room never felt cramped at all. Drinks were limited to a choice of two different Bloody's. The bartenders were also from other bars and each was sharing there signature drink with the attendees. So my review is more of using Nick's as a venue for your next event. The space was comfortable and the staff was very friendly. I kept trying to talk my waitress into trying a Glazed and Infused Donut but she said she was not allowed. That is a good team member that can resist that kind of sweet temptation. I kept telling her that she needed to do the research, so she knew what she was serving her guests. I felt like George from Seinfeld but I never got her to take a bite. It was a great time but how can anyone have a bad time with great food, live music and a friendly staff. I can hardly wait to come back again.
(5)Abbie F.
Went for Restaurant week with three of my friends. Service was solid-our waiter was nice and timing between meals was good. Food-I had the bisque, risotto and chocolate molten cake. Bisque was creamy and delicious but the salad was AMAZING so that was the better option. Risotto had good flavor but the lobster on top was pitiful. Tough and looked ugly. Molten cake-don't get it!! Super dry and not warm. The key lime pie was DELICIOUS and the cheesecake was good too.
(3)Coast To Coast D.
Really great place in the busy city I would recommend this spot any time I will defiantly come back
(4)Kamilah S.
THIS IS MY 145th YELP REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY --------------RESTARAUNT WEEK 2014---------------FREE PARKING after 4:30pm My bff and I came here to jump start our fat, foodie week. We had amazing food and service from our waitress Faith. We had the lobster bisque and the chocolate molten lava cake. My entrée was the tilapia with crab and bleu cheese and my bff had the shrimp with the vodka sauce, but she did not have very much vodka sauce. Overall, our meals were delicious. I had my go to drink, a lemon drop martini and she had a pomegranate martini, nice and strong, like we like em!! Great start to a week of food that we look forward to every year. Thank you
(5)Steven N.
How did we like it? My wife asked "can we come back here again tomorrow night?" lol. We came here last Friday and tried their 2014 restaurant week menu. For just $33 per person, you get to choose a starter, main course and dessert. We both got the lobster bisque and it tasted like heaven. It's not overly creamly, salty or rich and the toasted mini croissant to go on top of the bisque is a great combo. There's also shrimp and crab meat sprinkled in there as well. Overall, it was flavorful and satisfying. For the main courses, I got the lobster tail risotto and my wife ordered the seafood platter (samples of mahi mahi, salmon and talipia). I can't stress enough how perfectly cooked and seasoned the seafood were. It really shows that the chef totally understands how to work with seafood. The nice meal was made even nicer with great service provided by our server Alex (female) and the awesome desserts. Definitely try to molten chocolate cake. This is a place we would definitely visit again, especially since they have free parking after 6pm...that's just too easy for us to become frequent visitors.
(4)Ralph R.
Terrible!!!!! Went there last minute because it was one of the few places I could get a reservation and now I know why. Ordered a steak and crab cake and the steak was very undercooked, rare at best. The crab cake tasted like it came out of the freezer isle at Jewel. The salad was good (not difficult to mess up), and the service was decent. I would not recommend this restaurant nor would I return.
(1)Jessica P.
I went here yesterday. We order off the prefix menu for Chicago Restaurant Week. Everything we got was delicious. The lobster bisque was amazing and the chocolate molten cake was too. I do recommend!
(5)Jean L.
I met someone for lunch here today. I got there a few minutes early, and asked the greeter whether the person I was meeting had arrived yet. Since she hadn't the greeter volunteered letting me wait at the bar. The bartender was instantly receptive. I didn't have a drink, as I was going to meet my friend minutes later; nevertheless, she was extremely friendly as I was waiting. As for the service at the actual table, it was a little more scattered than I would have otherwise preferred. According to my dining partner, Nick's normally isn't as busy as it was today for a weekday lunch. However, it was restaurant week, so the restaurant was pretty much completely booked.. I had a salmon with asian bbq sauce, jasmine rice, and side of vegetables. I think it was about 20$. The salmon was wonderful, the jasmine rice was mediocre, and the vegetables were great.
(4)Bob F.
Interesting location inside the North entrance of the Merchandise Mart. Went at 8:00 on a Friday night. Turned out that was the last seating and there were not a lot of people there. I wondered if we were making a mistake - but I was glad we stayed. I got there before the rest of my party and was well greeted and well treated by the bartender and several members of the staff. There were 3 of us and, among other things, we tried the lobster bisque, oysters, Ahi, Monchong and BBQ Salmon. All were excellent, as was the service. My only complaint was that they were a bit stingy with the bisque. Otherwise, a very good experience.
(4)B B.
Went here for my bday dinner. Space/decor was fine and hostess was very friendly/accommodating but the food was sub-par to say the least. We headed to the bar for a drink and the free finger foods. We ordered the shrimp cocktail and mini crab cakes. Honestly, both tasted like the got them from a supermarket. Easily worst crab cakes I've ever tasted. Then came dinner. First, we sat down and they handed us the "weekend menu" which had less than half the food choices at double the price. Luckily, the standard menu was still available. Moving forward, I ordered the lobster bisque (my favorite soup) to start and it came out essentially cold. Also there was no lobster to speak of. I had one little tiny shard of shrimp in the entire cup of soup. Flavor was ok, but that's about all I can say positive about it. The house salad I ordered was probably the best part of the meal, but could have used more dressing for sure. My girlfriend ordered the Parmesan crusted tilapia and wasn't pleased either. They put so much Parmesan on the fish it was like they were hiding something. I ordered the filet medallions which were also hiding under 3 different cheeses which I scraped off so I could taste the steak beneath. We both got the mashed potatoes which I can assure you were instant potatoes of some sort. They were awful. Also the asparagus that came with my filet were barely cooked. The broccoli medley that came with the fish also looked/tastes like something you would buy in the freezer isle at Jewel. Service wasn't great either and ordering $8 dollar beers got old pretty quick since the food was poor. In summation I would not recommend this place to anybody. Hard to see it staying in business long. Maybe our experience was an isolated incident, but I doubt it. Too many good places to eat in Chicago to waste your time here. Cheers
(2)Justin P.
I'd definitely go back to Nick's. The service wasn't bad, but it also didn't have me jump for joy; it was ok. That's really the only area where I'd give less than 4 stars. What sold me on this place was the food (I had a buffalo chicken sandwich which was solid) and the ambiance. I bet this place is a good place to dine/hang out at the bar after work. Please note: I only tried the buffalo chicken and fries; so I'll have to update my review once I've sampled their other dishes. The price tag for my sandwich is about what you'd expect for lunch downtown; $16 (which includes a beverage and taxes.)
(4)Leslie G.
I went to the old Nick's a couple of times before it moved to this location and liked it, so I was curious to see what this Nick's was like. I stopped in for dinner one night when I was in the area. I was surprised by the fact that there were only 2 other people in the entire place. The old locale was pretty packed after work, but I guess the new spot really just caters to people who work in the Mart. I wasn't looking for anything fancy, so I just ordered the fish tacos. There are only 2 tacos, but they're pretty big. It also comes with a side of fries or cole slaw. I opted for the slaw, and there was quite a bit of it. The fish in the tacos is fried cod, I believe. They were good; I've had better fish tacos elsewhere. The server was very attentive (probably because no one else was there), so no complaints on that front. My guess is that this place does a lot of lunch business. They close at 8 pm, so it's probably good for a post-work drink or quick dinner, but that's about it. I doubt I would go out of my way to go there again, but if I'm in the area, I might stop by.
(3)Alex G.
This place was really irritating. We went for my cousins birthday on a Saturday night and being that we are Italian we tend to travel is larger groups and are obviously very loud. So I made the reso for 12 people and when the gentleman called to confirm I had a few questions- before I could thank him for helping he hung up on me- so rude. When we arrived later that evening I made sure to mention we were going to be a louder group, our waiter jokingly commented that we should warn the other patrons as he would not be bothered by the noise. Needless to say as more of us showed up he WAS bother by our noise level. Our reso was at 7:45 and around 8:15 a few stragglers had yet to arrive however, then and only then were we told the kitchen closes at 9. Why that wasn't mentioned when we made the reso I am not sure. Throughout the meal our table wasn't cleared ever or at all and our waters was never refilled. I have failed to mention that our family owns two restaurants so, we know good service and this was awful and not a fun place at all- if you are a bore you'd love it. By the end of the meal we just wanted to get out of there. Sorry for the bad review but we were extremely unhappy.
(2)Rachael M.
My husband (Adam) and I had a late lunch (around 2 p.m. on a Friday) at Nick's. It was nearly empty, but for having only 1 server working at that time, we had wonderful customer service. I ordered the crab cake sandwich, and Adam had the Tuscan sliders. For dessert, we had mini portions of caramel creme brulee and key lime pie. Adam and I like to make jokes about "magic TV food" when we watch shows like Top Chef or Iron Chef America. The presentation of our dishes actually made us feel like we were eating magic TV food... and what's better is that the food was actually as delicious as it looked! We got out of there for less than $50 (tip included) and had a meal that was beyond our expectations. I look forward to going there again someday.
(5)Alie H.
A fish out of water..... We walked in and felt like we were in a hotel lobby bar with too much neon and mod colors. SUPER bright and TVs all over the place. Certainly not the "Chicago" experience we were looking for and this restaurant long had a reputation for. Fish quality was good. Presentation: they were trying to be hip and it did not work for me. All the reviews raved about the lobster bisque which was fine. Not great. WAY over priced and not really much of an experience. I was disappointed. Cocktails were meh, my husband ordered a bourbon on the rocks it came in a giant glass with a full scoop of ice in it. If you like the taste of bourbon ask for ice on the side. I had a martini dry but the vermouth was overwhelming. Service was OK. The entire experience left a lot to be desired. Might be a good place for a meeting.
(2)Brynn M.
The food at Nick's was great and the restaurant is very nice. Excellent seafood selection and our waiter was fantastic and attentive. The only downside was that the restaurant was pretty empty on a Saturday night during dinner, so it was a bit of an odd vibe. The Merchandise Mart is so quiet on the weekend too, so it didn't have the Chicago "buzz" that you would expect at a nice dinner. Oh, and one last thing... we brought my 4-year-old nephew with us and they actually made him homemade chicken nuggets - they were delicious!
(4)Jim K.
My lovely wife and I stopped here for a late lunch after spending the morning touring the design studios at the Merch. We had 10:00pm dinner reservations after a show at 7:30pm, so we figured a substantial lunch was in order to hold us over. At 3:00pm on a Thursday, the place was all but empty. But having celebrated our anniversary a "tad" too much the prior evening, we decided to go the water and Pepsi route for drinks and leave the higher octane stuff for later. I've been to the Nick's in Rosemont, but tucked into the North side of the Merch, this location is a little bit more like a sports bar, at least that's my opinion. We started with the Flaming Spinach and Artichoke dip, which was expertly ignited by our server, Vince. It was yummy, and a good way to start. Be wary though, because the first bite of the tasty dip is like molten lava. My wife chose the Fish Tacos and couldn't have loved them more. The battered cod was cooked perfectly, and the avocado crema was a great accompaniment. The coleslaw was probably some of the best we've ever had in a restaurant, cool and creamy with just the right amount of tang to compliment the fish. I opted for the Blackened Tilapia sandwich. The blackening spices were just right, producing a very nice amount of heat while not overpowering the fish. Served simply on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato, and a dab of remoulade (I would have been happy with some on the side as well for dipping the thin crispy fries), it was pretty darn good. As other reviewers have said, this really isn't a date spot but you gotta make your own romance, right? We left happy and filled just enough to carry us through to our late night dinner reservations.
(4)Nauzad T.
I walked into this restaurant while I was staying at the nearby Holiday Inn. And it was a pleasant surprise. The lobster bisque was yummy and the mahi-mahi was was well presented with a tangy sauce, spinach and creamed potatoes.
(4)Jaime G.
Finally a decent little place in the mart. Headed here for lunch and had a great time. Service was excellent and the lobster risotto was esp good. Their seafood mixed grill looked fantastic too. Can't wait to go back.
(4)Justin B.
staff was busy on a busy night, but this is not their first rodeo, therefore things should not have fallen apart so easily. Food was decent enough, not the level of food i anticipated, decent none the less. i will check it off my list. no real anticipation to return any time soon. Drinks were good tho.
(3)Michael K.
The food was pretty good. Chilean sea bass is definitely a winner here. I would give the food 4 stars. This place gets 0 stars for ambiance. I've been to Nick's when it was under Chase tower and I set reservations at this location based on my experience from there. The lighting in the dining area is SO bright here. I brought my girlfriend here for valentine's day and I would compare the ambiance to McDonalds or Wendy's. It was quite ridiculous. I will never come here for a date again
(2)Zakia C.
This was restaurant number two during my restaurant week take over. Unfortunately, this restaurant delivered less than a stellar performance. When I go out for restaurant week, I expect to have a fantastic experience. It should include some of the restaurant's best courses, great service and excellent dessert. Nick's only "brought it "in two of the three expectations. The service was pretty good but the food was less than spectacular. It was, dare I say, Blah. The only part of the meal that I was satisfied with was the chocolate Molten Cake. However, I feel that the restaurant's miniature creation of this dessert was a bit insulting. All and All, Nick's Fishmarket didn't deliver at all. I give it 2 NOMS.
(2)Anne S.
I thought this was a great place for a business lunch. The mixed grill was delicious, but my dining companion's parmeson encrusted grouper with mashed potatoes made me jealous. Both had a good amount of veggies which impressed me. I tried both the molten chocolate cake and the keylime pie and I would go back just for dessert any day. (The dessert was giant, so I didn't have room to eat nearly enough of it after lunch).
(4)Kurt H.
I grew up in Chicago and took clients to the original NFM. Discovered the one in the Mart after it opened. Great food and service as usual. Shout out to Jaime for consistent service.
(5)Jake B.
We went here for happy hour, so this review will be short. Happy hour specials are on food items. Illinois state law prohibits the discounting of liquor and beer. Weird. We had a half dozen oysters. Blue points. And a beer and a champagne. Mostly the food was ok. Though it wasn't amazingly fresh. Atmosphere is nice. Service was great at the bar.
(3)Chris G.
Not milk shaking, but Nick's Black and Blue Ahi Tuna is what brought me to their yard. For $18 share plate, this is a reasonable amount of high quality, buttery Ahi Tuna and it's great to taste that freshness come through. It's typical that I'd accept and use a pair of chopsticks put before me during a meal, but my great fear here is that I'd motor though these slices of savory goodness in a matter of minutes, so knife and fork is recommended. The coating isn't overbearing and lacks the almost full peppercorns that seem to drag down the Niçoise at nearby Centro. And that's too bad because Centro does a decent job with their other dishes but they need to STEAL a page from Nick's, regarding this kind of dish. If the super fluffy wasabi ball is made out of the traditional horse radish, I had a harder time being convinced that at least some portion of it was not made out of true wasabi root. It's either the most delish horseradish or blended I've tasted. Having to erase a horrible Niçoise lunch experience from the day before, I decided to go with my gut instinct the next day and visit my original choice, nearby Nick's. Always go with your gut!
(4)Christina L.
Absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!! I am a hard person to please, yet the service was to die for, food delicious, management accommodating with no prompting! EXCELLENT experience!I will return. Location is bit obscure. Get dropped on corner of Kinzie and Wells and walk up ramp. Entrance is on ramp not directly on Kinzie. Yet, sooooo worth it! Had the Classic Mix Grill and friend had Lobster Risotto. We Split and were in heaven! The drinks....alll amazing! PLEASE try the Nevada Salad as a starter,,,,AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(5)