Best Outdoor Dining Oasis Seafood Restaurants in River North
3 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
RPM Seafood
Multi-level riverfront seafood house where towers, whole fish, and skyline views all land at once.
Essential Picks
#1
RPM Seafood
9.1
RPM Seafood is a riverfront showpiece from Lettuce Entertain You, built around seafood towers, charcoal-grilled whole fish, and polished service overlooking the Chicago River. It runs like a special-occasion machine, with a lively, dressed-up crowd, sharp wine program, and one of River North’s most dramatic patios.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grand Seafood Tower, Charcoal-grilled black bass, Wild Alaska halibut with brown butter
What makes it special: Multi-level riverfront seafood house where towers, whole fish, and skyline views all land at once.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Brown Bag Seafood Co. is a counter-service spot where grilled, blackened, or crispy fish get dropped into boxes, salads, and sandwiches at lunch-friendly prices. Office workers and nearby residents use it as a reliable way to eat seafood on a weeknight without committing to a sit-down, white-tablecloth experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Grilled salmon powerbox, Crispy fish tacos, Hot lobster roll
What makes it special: Fast-casual seafood bowls and boxes where you pick your fish, style, and base.
7.7
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Group Dining Gatherings
Happy Hour Hotspots
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Legal Sea Foods’ first Midwest location brings a Boston-born seafood institution to Marina City, with New England clam chowder, lobster rolls, and a broad raw bar served over two levels facing the river. It functions as an upscale-casual catchall for business lunches, pre-theater dinners, and tourists wanting classic East Coast seafood in River North.
Must-Try Dishes:
New England clam chowder, Legal Lobster Roll, Fisherman’s Platter
What makes it special: Bi-level New England seafood house with chowder, lobster rolls, and full raw bar overlooking the Chicago River.