Boston Fish Market - Des Plaines

Have been here many times, just decided to drop a review now. Great food, amazing portion, and even better service! I always bring guests from out of town here and they never fail to disappoint.

The ingredients of all the dishes are fresh, no bad fishy smell on any seafood! The portions of the dishes are huge! The scallops are huge! The only downside is that the tables are very close together. Most of the time, people share the same table with other people they don’t know. It could be good if you wanna make some new friends!

It was a nice experience to come and have dinner here. The environment invites you to come in group so everyone can share this amazing time together. The seafood is so fresh and well cooked. The pasta with calamari was so tasty and huge. As well the grilled octopus was amazing. The calamari and octopus charbroiled combo was also the best, served with rice, vegetables and potatoes. The crabs also were amazingly good. To crown the dinner we ordered capuchinos and we did not expected to receive such a nice roasted coffee flavor honestly!. The coconut cake and the canoli cake needs to be mandatory tasted if you feel like still having room after this amazing dishes. Everything really recommended!

Went in for late lunch per Mother-law's request, she has not been here for a while now. Open table reservations were unavailable for party of 6, called in but was told over the phone that they can't accept reservation at the moment because they are super busy. We were there about 2:30pm. Outdoor seating was unavailable for our group, seating was available for party of 2-4. But important thing was we were seated as soon as we got there, waited a while to be served. We food was good, I suppose we ordered too much of the Clam Chowder. We ordered 2 qt. I think 1 quart was enough. We order 3 different seafood dinners. Each dish came with wild rice, toasted vegetables, and potatoes. We had Grilled Calamari, the Fisherman's Platter, and the Georgia Banks Scallops, all seafood ordered was delish, cooked just right, the scallops were not flaky, , none of the seafood was salty, tasted just right. The wild rice serving was kind of less than it used to be. Anyway, we tried their cheesecake which was pricey @ $9.99 a piece but was really rich and creamy. Thanks to our nice server Julius. Also to Laura who was all smiles and was very welcoming. Both were friendly and all smiles despite their busyness. Please note that a 3% processing fee is added to all purchases with a credit card (credit cards only NOT CASH payments). They also sell fresh seafoods in case you want to buy some to take home :)

Amazing fresh seafood. Ordered the scallops and wow! Quick and spot on. Will eat here many more times. Second and third visits here are all as good as the first. Huge selection of fresh seafood! The cooks are awesome. They have renovated and outside seating is covered with a roof that can retract. Very nice atmosphere!

Exceeeded all expectations!! A great friend and mentor of mine gave me a gift certificate to try this place since he knows that I loveeee me some seafood!! Customer service was great from start to finish. Felipe (waiter) was very friendly, and attentive. Great customer service is a lost art nowadays... However, they got it RIGHT! 100% customer service with care and a smile. Food was delicious, fresh, and plentiful. Not one complaint and all praise!! I will tell my friends and visit again. 🤩

One of the best seafood distributors and restaurants in the country. Thier King Crab beats Alaskan restaurants (I've tried multiple times in Anchorage). The portions are enormous. Every wonderful dish comes with Greek style rice, veggies and potatoes. Amazing, Amazing place. Even if you dont want seafood, great steak selection. Only 2 photos from our large group because I was too interested in eating! Go you will never be disappointed.

The service was outstanding. I am so sorry I do not remember our server’s name but we were in the outdoor tent at the far end on Friday night. The food was excellent. My salmon was cooked to perfection and was a super generous portion. I have been to the Wheeling location but honestly think I prefer this one!

This establishment is truly the meaning of a Fish Market. The truck coming in out delivering Seafood goodness and customers pulling up jumping out placing orders, picking up orders, it was exciting. The wait staff was so knowledgeable about the seafood and the service was fast. Quality oh my the Fish and chips were the best we've had in a while, it was flaky and light the batter was tasty and crispy, the fries even had their own. My favorite was the Clam chowder, there was so many plump clams, not just minced pieces, hot and creamy. The Shrimp and Oyster Po Boy, was to die for, I didn't die, but I had to go back to my hotel room and sleep it off, it was absolutely delicious!!!! Please if you are a seafood lover you have too go I promise you won't be disappointed.

7/27/24 update: We came here last Saturday night. Their parking lot is too small but plenty of parking by Aldi’s. It was still very packed at 6:30 pm but luckily we got seated right away. They sat us outside which was fine. It did take awhile for the waitress to take our orders because she was the only waitress in our section. After that, the service and food was pretty good. We ordered grilled calamari, poor boy, and fish and chips. They served us complimentary garlic bread. They were very decent. They weren't as hard as a rock. The middle had softness, some garlicky seasoning, and the crust was crispy. The grilled calamari appetizer was enough for two people to share. Very fresh and bursting with flavor. After weeks of trying to find a decent po boy in Illinois, the one at Boston Fish Market has met my expectations. Shuckin’ Shack in Naperville was trash and for some reason Pappadeaux doesn’t have one that I can get anytime. Boston’s poor boy was huge with jumbo pieces of shrimp and fried oysters. It’s a lot bigger when you see it in person. It was delicious and filling. Their version of fish and chips was different from the typical ones you mostly see. Boston’s was not overly fried, flaky fish inside, and moist. None of the food we ordered was bland. Prices can be expensive depending on what you get. No matter what you get, you can count on having massive portions. Btw Aleks is a great server if you get her. ————————————————- Just looking back at my pictures makes me want to come back. I came on a busy weekend but I’ll have to come on a weeknight. They have a small parking lot as well as additional parking nearby. It’s the suburbs so parking won’t be an issue. This is not a cheap place, I’ll put it out there right now. However, the portion size is ginormous. I’ll include some pictures. I got Boston clam chowder and salmon florentine. You got the side dishes that come with the salmon. I really enjoyed the clam chowder, I was pleased to find a good amount of clams in it. Good flavor and thick texture. The salmon was stuffed with feta cheese and spinach. Salmon was nicely cooked and flaky. The fillings increased the flavor to make it not delicious. The side dishes are enough to eat and take home for leftovers. It’ll be difficult to leave here hungry. I’ll have to revisit soon.

Great seafood! Fresh, prepared well. Good service. Generous portions. Spaces have been updated since I was here before covid. It's beautiful Took my husband and friends for our anniversary. The food is still fantastic! Space feels like an outdoor venue! I ordered the steamed lobster ro on a pretzel bun. Delicious. We were presented from the restaurant a lovely sharable chocolate cake!

Price is proportion to the amount of food they serve. Good fresh sea food and service. Ordered seafood gumbo and chowder. It was fantastic. 4/27/24 Updates: Still the best. Service top notch.

If you like fresh seafood, this is among the best places in Chicago, despite being off the beaten path of trendy neighborhoods. They have a wide selection of fish and seafood, prepared in Mediterranean, Cajun or British Pub styles. The grilled octopus is really good, the sea bass is amazing. The portions are huge and staff is speedy. You can eat there or take home, or even buy fresh unprepared fish to cook yourself.

Very welcoming local hang out vibes. Many people were regulars. I came in alone amd made friends with people sitting at the bar. I was introduced to the owner and had a nice conversation. Will be visiting their other location soon.

During one of our weekly day dates, I decided to surprise my wife with her favorite dish, scallops. I whisked her away to Boston Fish Market Inc. in Des Plaines. At first glance, the location is unassuming, tucked away with an Aldi parking lot across the street. My wife initially thought we were headed to an Arby’s nearby, given the modest location. Upon entering, we were immediately greeted by fresh fish display—rows of raw fish ready for purchase, illustrating the market's commitment to freshness. We ventured further inside to discover a spacious dining area reminiscent of an indoor dome, complete with both cozy indoor seating and an inviting patio area where we chose to sit, enjoying the blend of fresh air and a touch of air conditioning. Our culinary journey began with complimentary fresh garlic bread. Perfectly toasted and buttered. I ordered the half-dozen Oysters Rockefeller as an appetizer (a favorite of ours). Served hot with a tasty spinach filling, these oysters were delightful, though I’d rank them a solid 7 out of 10 compared to those at Pennyville Station in Park Ridge. Next, we were pleasantly surprised by the Greek salad—larger than expected with fresh anchovies, adding a unique twist, making it a substantial second course. The highlight of our day was the surf and turf: a 24-ounce strip steak paired with scallops, served alongside a creative tomato Rockefeller, mushrooms, rice, potatos, and green beans. The portion was generous, perfectly suiting my high-protein diet. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium, juicy and flavorful, while my wife thoroughly enjoyed the scallops. Though we were too full for dessert, the thoughtful waiter showed us the innovative dome feature of the dining area, which I captured on video for this page. Despite being a pricier dining option, the quality and portion sizes made it well worth the cost—about $120 for three courses (including Tip). Boston Fish Market not only met but exceeded our expectations with its relaxed yet refined atmosphere. Whether you're in the mood for a fish-centric meal like fish and chips or looking for a place to enjoy fresh scallops and salmon, this restaurant is a must-visit. We’re already planning our return to this Mediterranean type, perfect for a satisfying lunch or dinner.

First time here and the entire staff upon entering are very friendly and inviting 🙂 The atmosphere was open, bright and bustling. The aroma of the cooked seafood is pleasantly wafting in the air as you are in the vicinity and upon entering the restaurant. You see the fresh fish and seafood in glass cases as you walk through to the 2nd and larger section of the restaurant. There were 2 of us and we were not prepared for the "bountiful feast" we were served. As a matter of fact we were digging in before I remembered to take pictures....but I still got a few shots for sights 😉 They start you off with warm toasted garlic bread that was DELICIOUS 😋 What we ordered: **Salad Greek Salad w/ red onion, green, yellow and red pepper, feta cheese,green and Kalmata olives,tomatoes,cucumbers,anchovies,heart of palm, artichokes, carrots atop of romaine lettuce all tossed in Ceasar dressing **Soups Lobster Bisque and Boston Clam Chowder **Entrees 4pc Fried Cod Dinner w/ French fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce Stuffed Flounder w/ Crabmeat and Spinach served w/ seasoned grilled veggie medley with potatoe over rice Beverages/Drinks : Lemonade Strawberry Margarita Dessert: Chocolate cake served with Strawberries Whipped cream Our waitor MARO was AMAZING !!! 😁 He handled us with great care being our first time there, he had great suggestions and made sure we were pleased with our selections.

OMG! if you are a seafood lover them this the RIGHT place for you. The seafood is always fresh and the portions are substantial. The same amount of food would coat two to three times as much in the City. I have been coming here for years and I still can't get enough of this place. This place is a seafood distributor as well as a restaurant so you can buy fresh seafood to take home for preparation as well. The service is great and you can BYOB with a $15 corkage fee. You can't go wrong with ANYTHING on this menu. It is top knotch!

The service was great we ordered and our food was ready very quickly. I can see why this gem 💎 is so popular. The food is freshly made moreover delicious. Lastly you will love the service. There is plenty of seating on either side of the restaurant. This is definitely a place to try 😍🤩

This nothing short of one of the very best seafood places in Chicago. It’s a seafood shop but also a place where you can dine and have the freshest seafood available. Literally, they have everything and an abundant variety of ways they prep items from pasta concoctions, fried, sautéed, baked, grilled, stuffed, chilled etc.., We went back 2 Fridays in a row the food was so good! They do bring garlic bread for starters. Everything is handsomely portioned and arrives at your table hot or chilled If it’s supposed to be. We ordered baked clams, 1/2 pound fried calamari, wild caught Alaskan Salmon and fish & chips the first time. Every item was packed with flavor and tasted like it was just caught. We saw huge beautiful salads fit for a king so we tried the saganaki, grilled gulf shrimp and lobster Louie salad the next time we went. The salad was a masterpiece of fresh crisp salad greens, fresh beets, artichokes, olives and double cream feta cheese, heart of palms and the stars gulf shrimps and lobster tail! It can be a little intimidating as you look at the menu While we were there, they had 3 huge delivery trucks coming and going. I’m sure they deliver seafood to Restaurants all over Chicago-land! Exceptional seafood and something for everyone!

My favorite restaurant period. Amazing fresh sea food, great portion sizes and huge variety. One of the few places to get great tasting, simply prepared fish, as well as more specialized Cajun food! Salads are my in laws favorites as they diverse, greatly dressed and shareable. My kids love the clam chowder and looking at the fresh fish market counter.

My Bestie treated me to a late lunch. She made reservations for the DesPlaines Location on a Saturday so that we would have a guaranteed table. Very attentive and friendly waiters, clean establishment, casual atmosphere, fresh seafood. The dinners are generously served with Mediterranean style roasted vegetables, Greek roasted potatoes, & wild rice (No need to choose, you get some of each side dish!). I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass and my friend ordered the Grilled Octopus/Calamari Combo. We tasted from each other’s selection. It was delicious! She and I would love to go back and try some more menu items soon! Don’t forget to make a reservation, they’re very busy on Saturday’s.

First, the fried catfish and shrimp were delicious. Even the coleslaw was good. I was super disappointed that the fries tasted horrible. They were limp and soggy. I purchased a carryout order. It was only a 15 min drive. I don’t know if they need to pack the food differently for the fries. Everything else was great!

Had the lobster bisque and the Cajun catfish. Never been here before, but wanted to see what the hype was about. Honestly not a bad place to go if you enjoy seafood. My only issue was my food didn't come out hot? What is up with that considering they just made it? Definitely everything is seasoned well and not dry. Just a bit confused.

I love seafood and when I found this 4.6 🌟 restaurant, I made plans to try it. I didn’t make a reservation and regretted it. The table was right at the entrance into the sun room. The tables are pretty close to each other and the personnel/guests were always hustling near us. The food was pricey but the portion justifies the price. It was not to die for - I had much better seafood in Cyprus or even New England - but it was decent. Overall, for $141 (2 entrees and 2 drinks) you would expect a more than casual dining experience but here you get metal outdoor tables with holes and a sense of rush as they try to serve as many people as possible. If that’s your date/anniversary night, then you can get a much better experience for your $150. Also, they charged us 3% processing fee without any heads up.

Nice place, good food. Fried food is a bit too much. A good balance will be salad and dinner or salad and appetizers. All three is way too much food. Will try grilled food on the next visit and keep you posted. Side dishes are definitely to be avoided. Service is a bit strange. Couldn’t substitute fries for rice even though they both suck.

I really loved the ambience! Perfect for date night or to celebrate a special occasion with family. Just on the pricier side but I say it was worth it. My husband had a lobster roll and I ordered a pound of calamari to share. Most of it we brought home because the serving was really big!

All of food very good,There were 3 of us for dinner. The food was delicious and there were a lot of people.

The food at Boston Fish Market was excellent! To my wife's pleasure, the restaurant didn't have a "fishy" odor at all. The location of the restaurant was intelligently located in an industrial area. The specials located on the chalkboard wall were not visible on the printed specials menu at the table. Be sure to read the wall before ordering! There is *extremely* limited parking (about 10 street spaces tops and less than 10 non-handicapped spaces).

Service was great! Food was fresh! Swordfish we ordered lacked some flavor! But I've ordered salmon here, which tastes amazing. So I think the fish you order matters! Everything else was great, the rice and the vegetable, the calamari were all so tasty.

I wish I can say the food was amazing. It was good… but for the prices I expected more. Where are the clams in my clam chowder soup? All I tasted was small fish chunks, serious I don’t think I ate one piece of clam. My grilled calamari was sliced too thin so I couldn’t get a good texture feel of the meat. The seafood special with fish, shrimps and scallops was pretty good. Overall I expected better food based on the many good reviews. We were unlucky as there there few flies buzzing around inside where we seated and one fly decided to drown itself in our water. We told our waiter and he just took it away without any comments nor bring us a new glass. (See our pic)🤣

The food is absolutely amazing, but everything else was ok. My husband and I came here to celebrate our anniversary. They didn’t check for our reservation and sat us by a door in the greenhouse when it was below freezing out. I am a small woman so I was super cold and had to put my big winter jacket back on while eating. Another strange thing is the server originally was very casual and a little rude in the beginning. Maybe it’s because my husband and I look young for our age? He asked us if we were of legal age after we ordered a bottle of wine and gave us a weird look. After we started ordering (and we ordered a lot), his attitude changed towards us. He became more attentive and respectful. The vibes were off, and we couldn’t even finish our wine. However, the food! SO good. Everything was fresh and delicious, and the portions were large. Maybe we came at the wrong time (Saturday night). I would be willing to try it again and see if the service is better. They also need better heating or insulation in the winter.

I usually do carryout and order the steamed lobster roll. It is my favorite and I have ordered it numerous times however I was disappointed today. The lobster had black stuff on the top and I clearly could see the Vein (Digestive Tract) as it was black inside the lobster. I also put 3 for service because the person at register could have been more welcoming/friendly. I have not had this issue before and wanted to bring to the owners attention especiallyaround quality of the lobster. I am a bit hesitant to go back now.

The fried calamari was delicious, but the fish was overcooked and bland. My daughter’s shrimp fettuccine was well seasoned, though the shrimp was again overcooked. For this price point, I expected much better food and service. I also found it interesting that I had to pack my own leftovers. Unfortunately, we won’t be returning.

Was very disappointed with the food. All entrees are Ala carte. Was bought a huge plate of rice and vegetables. No choice of what you would like as a side. For the price you pay I thought it was very Cheap. For starter they have cold hard garlic bread on the table. No warm rolls or warm bread. Ordered oysters rockefeller They were cold and under cooked..had so much cheese you could not taste the oysters. I had soft shell crab which were ok. Nothing to write Home about. My husband ordered Red snapper and the flavor was off. Way to much oregano. For the price we paid lunch we felt ripped off. We looked so forward to having lunch as it was our first time going there. Will not go back!! . not go back.

I live close by and we eat here all the time. The food is amazing. I’m giving three stars only because of the shitty AI-generated art on the walls. Have some self respect and pay a real artist for real work!

The food was really good, but the service was so bad, it dropped my review by 2 stars. The server absolutely had nothing to recommend and could only say everything is good. They couldn't even mention their own favorite, offer suggestions, or tell us about specials. I had to go back to the big board upon entrance and find out myself. After ordering an appetizer, it took 10 minutes (or even more) for the server to return to take our order. We asked for more bread but it came after my soup, and half through dinner l, which was a good 15 minutes. Refills were hard to come by too. It truly was a joke but not one that made us laugh. Getting the check was another long delay because the server was more interested in watching the basketball game. I couldn't even get his attention because he never bothered to look towards us when he happened to come around. Other servers seemed way more attentive to their customers, and I'm not sure if the color of the server's shirt means anything. Hopefully black wasn't someone of a higher position because our black clad server didn't earn that standing with us. There are so many things I want to try, but I am not sure it's worth the wait and frustration.

⸻ I had a very disappointing and uncomfortable experience at this restaurant. After I paid my bill, I left a $20 tip for the waiter. Instead of simply thanking me, the waiter actually questioned me about the tip, which made me feel pressured and embarrassed. Tipping is supposed to be a personal choice based on service, and being confronted about it is completely unprofessional. It ruined the entire experience for me. No customer should feel put on the spot or made to justify how much they tip. Because of this interaction alone, I will not be returning. Management seriously needs to train their staff on professionalism and how to treat guests with respect. This server was an older white man with facial hair and he was tall with a full head of hair, he’s in his late 50’s and had a Greek accent. When it came to getting a refill for my pepsi he wanted to charge me extra and for another cup because I wanted less ice. Gosh, I wish I had a picture of him, this man really embarrassed me in front of my guests from Dubai. I’ve spent thousands of dollars here, this man’s disgusting behavior ended the business between me and this restaurant. The owner knows who I am when I see him.

5 stars for our waiter that gave us excellent service. 5 star for the food,. The problem we had was with owner, zero stars for him, (the older man with a suit). We were a party of 8 (4adults/4kids) and had made reservation approximately 30 days in advance. We had a great service our waiter kept coming suggesting dishes and filling our glasses. We had appetizer, main course and lastly the dessert i was still sipping on my coffee , my kids still finishing dessert, the waiter still hadn't ask if we wanted anything else (o really wanted to finish with a grappa)and we hadn't request the bill yet either. It was at that point the gentleman in a suit came up to our table and with a shy smile said: "if you don't mind we would need the table for other people " Literally kicked us out. So i looked at the waiter very disappointed, because we were not done with our dinner yet, like i said i was going to order some grappa but instead i asked for the bill. I was disgusted at that point. Our 600$ bill was not enough for the greedy owner. On the way out he was standing next to the table and I expressed how disappoined i was and what he did to us was disrespectful . He said he was sorry and tried to shake my hand but i didn't. In his defend he came back saying we didn't have a reservation and we had more then 2 hours of time for our dinner (Keep in mind it was a Saturday evening and they were very busy but still...).WHAT???? I couldn't believe my ears, i didn't know we had to shovel our food in our mouth because we were on a timer I said! I also made him aware that I had made reservation and he should be ashamed that's not how you do business that's not how you treat people.(should have seen his sorry face at this point he knew he funked up, but it was too late) He basically made room for another party by loosing other customers. So be aware apparently you will be on a timer and the pressure is on you, they will watch you. If you are taking a breather in between meals they will assume you are done and try to kick you out. If you are looking to have a good time with friends and want to enjoy your dinner this place it's not it. I wont ever go back i do not recommend. Best luck to the greedy owner.

The atmosphere is overwhelming and chaotic, not suitable for a relaxed dining experience. For this type of restaurant, it’s surprising that they don’t offer bottled drinks. The service was confusing as well — we had to ask around just to find out if anyone was going to serve us. The food does not justify the price: heavy, greasy, and lacking flavor. The portions feel intentionally padded with fries, which tasted like the oil hadn’t been changed in a long time, just to make the plates look bigger. Overall, an overpriced and disappointing experience. Bottled drinks. Haven’t you heard of Coca-Cola in a bottle? A restaurant with a reputation serving drinks from a machine is just not serious

It was an odd experience - my husband and I went there Saturday - looked great and hopping environmentally- the host just tossed the menus on the table which I thought was odd - but he did that to all being seated after so just thought it was a style - ordered the softshell crab dinner that came with Greek potatoes and green beans and wild rice. The potatoes tasted sour - not sure if it was just too much lemon or if they were bad. Greenbeans I did not like at all. The crab was okay but before I even left my stomach was hurting. My husband ordered the fisherman platter and the mahi mahi and halibut were dry - the scallops while they were the biggest I’ve seen - were rubbery. Not impressed at all. The shrimp had good flavor but a bit dry. My husband didn’t care for the green beans either but said the potatoes were good. So I’m not sure what happened with mine but my stomach has been in knots for days now after eating here. For the cost $$$ of everything, I expected better. Was sorely disappointed and will not go back. It did ruin the rest of my weekend as I have not felt well since.