Best Trendy Seafood Restaurants in Loop
6 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Ocean Prime
Modern surf-and-turf polish with a consistent steakhouse backbone.
Notable Picks
#1
Ocean Prime
8.6
A high-volume, reservation-driven surf-and-turf room where the steakhouse side is most reliable when you keep the order classic: broiled steaks, one rich side, and a clean starter. It reads more modern-lounge than old-school clubby, making it a strong downtown choice for polished nights out and client dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Filet mignon, Chilean sea bass, Black truffle mac & cheese
What Makes it Special: Modern surf-and-turf polish with a consistent steakhouse backbone.
#2
Bar Mar
8.4
Vibes:
Trendy Table Hotspots
Happy Hour Hotspots
Girls Night Out Approved
Business Lunch Power Players
Bar Mar is José Andrés’ seafood-centric restaurant on the ground floor of the Bank of America Tower, built around oysters, ceviches, and luxed-up classics like lobster rolls. Office crowds and destination diners use it for lively dinners, cocktails, and pre-theater seafood in a bright, nautical room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lobster Roll, Hamachi Cones, Sea Scallops
What Makes it Special: High-energy José Andrés seafood bar with modern takes on classics.
8.3
A bib-on, hands-first Cajun boil spot built for customizable seafood bags and group-friendly pacing. The best orders lean into snow crab and shrimp with a sauce-and-heat combo you’ll actually taste, plus cornbread and sides that help soak up the run-off.
Must-Try Dishes:
Combo #4 Crab Cluster, Combo #5 Pay Day, Deep Fried Oreos (4pc)
What Makes it Special: Customizable Cajun boil bags with sauces and heat levels dialed to your table.
A Michigan Avenue French brasserie with a raw-bar and classic brasserie core that works best when you order in clean lanes: oysters and starters first, then one bistro main to anchor the table. It’s strongest as a downtown occasion spot with a polished room and a menu built for familiar French comfort rather than deep-cut regional cooking.
Must-Try Dishes:
French onion soup, Steak tartare, Chef’s choice oysters
What Makes it Special: A brasserie-with-raw-bar format built for oysters-to-bistro-main pacing.
8.1
A polished Loop brasserie that earns its seafood credentials through a dedicated raw bar—oysters, tartare, and coastal French mains like bouillabaisse. It shines when you order in a tight sequence: raw bar first, then one seafood main, so the table doesn’t sprawl across too many lanes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oysters, Bouillabaisse, Salmon tartare
What Makes it Special: A Loop raw bar wrapped in a stylish brasserie setting.
Worthy Picks
#6
City Social
7.5
Vibes:
Happy Hour Hotspots
Business Lunch Power Players
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
A big, workday-friendly Loop bar where seafood shows up in sandwich form—lobster roll, shrimp po’ boy, crab cake—built for lunch runs and post-work drinks. Come for the convenience and the large-room energy, and treat the seafood as a practical order rather than a deep-dive destination.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lobster roll, Shrimp po' boy, Crab cake sandwich
What Makes it Special: A roomy Loop bar that sneaks in seafood sandwiches alongside cocktails.