I travel for work all over the midwest and I always look forward to coming to chicago. Chicago has widely been known as one of the top cities for food and music. We ate at Raw Bar last week and it was a complete fiasco. When we walked into this "non-smoking" restaurant, the entire premises reeked of cigarettes. The front door and window was wide open and everyone smoking outside blew their smoke right into the bar. We asked to be relocated and were told the bar was the only room open - however when I went to the bathroom in the dining room I found several people eating dinner - out of the cigarette smoke. I ordered for an appetizer the soft shell crab. Having gone to school in Maryland, I know soft shell crab! I've probably eaten it 100 times. I can truly say my 101 time was the worst soft shell crab I've ever eaten. Soft shell crab should be fresh, plump, fried til golden, and usually served with a fresh sauce. We received a shriveled up dark brown, dried crab that looked like a skeleton of a crab. My fork broke through the legs and it just crumbled and shattered on my plate. Very disappointing. The waiter said that the dacqeries were some of the best in the city. I ordered a pomegranate and when I took a taste it was like pomegranate pancake syrup with rum. Clearly no fresh fruit was used, just some mix I'm sure. Next came the entre, I had the live maine lobster. I was told that the jamaican version was the way to go....so when in rome.... I was served an overcooked, dried, chewy lobster with paprika served over it. Last time I checked paprika was hungarian. The fries were also cooked to a crisp. To add the cherry on the cake, the manager, or someone who was so drunk I think he said he was the manager or owner, stopped by the table. Asked how the food was and I told him it was dried, burned and really disappointed. He just thanked us for coming in and was found sitting at the bar shortly afterward - apparently more interested in his beverage. Just because Chicago isn't on the coast, I've had amazing seafood in Chicago. Raw Bar is so far from amazing it amazes me places like this are able to exist in this tough economy. If you are not putting out quality food with top service - eventually you will fail. Frankly I've had better food at several sports bars in the neighborhood at half the price. Maybe thats why most of the other bars are jammed after a cubs game, but Raw Bar was quite empty in comparison.

The food was okay, made the mistake of being bullied into the specials. Everytime I picked something from the menu the waiter told me why It wasn't right for me. I finally gave up and had some 25 dollar cajun monstosity that was all cayenne and totally overpowered the fish. Maybe I should of ordered what I wanted instead of being a wuss. Appetizer of a seafood cold plate was good though, plus there's never A problem with AnchorSteam.

Great sushi - first introduction to great sushi by brother-in-law. Fresh ingredients, flavourful and now I won't say no to sushi.

We love this place! We go there a lot, its our "place". From the outside this place looks like your typical bar in Wrigleyville, however inside its completely different! Dining room has a really nice ambiance, very intimate setting. Besides our first visit to this place, all of our servers have been pleasant and attentative. The menu has a wide variety of seafood dishes and a few non-seafood dishes. If I could change anything, it would be to add some more non-seafood dishes for those who don't like seafood (like myself!). Food presentation is that of a 5 star restaurant, very unique! You have to try the fried carrots, most extraordinary tasting and one of a kind! They have entertainment sometimes, belly dancer, piano player and singer... its pretty cool. Large martini selection and they have $5 martini some nights. I like to bring my out of town guests in to eat at Raw Bar... love this place and will always go back!