Calumet Fisheries, on the banks of the Calumet River on East 95th Street “at the bridge”, is a small fish shack serving smoked and fried seafood. Some great views of old steel mills/industrial settings along the river. The bridge next to Calumet Fisheries is the one the Blues Brothers jump over as it is going up.

The top picks are the smoked items. Smoked Shrimp are quite the taste treat, large shrimp with the shell still on, wonderfully pink after smoking, just peel and eat. 3 to 4” hunks of fish (salmon, trout and others) still have the loop of twine in them from where it was hung in the smoker. Again, smoked items are very good.

Fried items sucked! I was really disappointed. The oysters I ordered were already pre breaded taken from a freezer. The shrimp (only one size, no jumbos) were mealy and severely overcooked. Joe’s Goose Island is still tops for fresh fried items IMO.

Take out only.

Calumet Fisheries
3259 E 95th St
773-933-9855

wife and I just finished a lb of the smoked shrimp w/o blinking. ADDICTIVE!!!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Sweet Willie:
wife and I just finished a lb of the smoked shrimp w/o blinking. ADDICTIVE!!!</font>

You must be LYING! There is absolutely no way you can hold off that shrimp until today

No possible way.

http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by indo79 (edited Jan 12, 2004).]

Sounds delicious. I love smoked fish. But I might be a little wary. Is there any chance the fish is from the Calumet River? I assume not. The "Cal" has always struck me as very polluted, given the number of factories that abut it. I have no idea if it actually is polluted, but in my mind, it is. Notwithstanding that, I may have to give this place a shot. I love driving around this part of town and seeing all of the industria.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by indo79:
You must be LYING! There is absolutely no way you can hold off that shrimp until today

No possible way.

http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/smile.gif</font>

I did, honest. If you remember, you were the only one to try one while there, I did not so I did not realize how good they were! http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ChicagoBound:
Sounds delicious. I love smoked fish. But I might be a little wary. Is there any chance the fish is from the Calumet River? I assume not.</font>

you assume correctly, funny you mention that though because the thought did cross my mind.

I assume that the Cal is loaded with PCB's like Waukegan Harbor due to all the industry.

picked up a few pounds of the smoked shrimp today as I was in the area.

Made the mistake of sharing some with co-workers, now they are all gone :(

Good thing I left 1 lb in my car for when I get home so the Mrs and I can share.

Smoked shrimp, still great. ^ ^

I also tried the clam strips, I'm a big clam strip fan from when my grandpa used to take me to Hojo's. The strips were good and not overcooked like the fried items on my last visit. But these still were not as good as the fresh made/breaded clam strips I had at Shaws the other day.

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I always wondered about this place as I used to drive by it almost every day. I guess I'll stop there next time I'm in the area now that I've read a review about the place.

Love this place!

I grew up on the East Side (106th & Avenue B) although now I live in Munster, IN

If you need any other food suggestions let me know :)

The smoked shrimp at Calumet Fisheries were voted one of the 100 Best Things We Ate (& Drank) This Year by Time Out Chicago magazine(Dec 28th issue).

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The smoked shrimp at Calumet Fisheries were voted one of the 100 Best Things We Ate (& Drank) This Year by Time Out Chicago magazine(Dec 28th issue).

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Sweet Willie, you are making my mouth water. I may have to stop in next week, and get some. (I'm on the East Side every Tu and Thurs). I miss the old days when KingFish was across the street and Heinie's was a 3rd choice, not far away.

Anyway, in case you want to mix some food on your next trip, cross the bridge and drive another minute to Ewing Ave, and stop in at Mexican Inn. Not as great as years ago, but pretty good authentic food. Dinner #1 was always my favorite.

p.s. If the bridge is up, just jump over it as Jake and Elwood did! :D

Alternatives:

More Upscale: Phil Smidt's in Hammond http://www.froglegs.com/

Closer to the Loop, or open at 3am: Lawrence's Fisheries at 2120 S. Canal, near Cermak (a few blocks west of Chinatown, just past the viaduct) http://www.lawrencesfisheries.com

Lawrence's Fisheries is terrible. :td:

Southside Shrimphouse on 31st and Shields is much better. ^

Alternatives:

Closer to the Loop, or open at 3am: Lawrence's Fisheries at 2120 S. Canal, near Cermak (a few blocks west of Chinatown, just past the viaduct) http://www.lawrencesfisheries.com

I personally am not a fan of Lawrence's Fisheries, I wish I was as it is much closer to me.

I used to REALLY like Goose Island's fried shrimp but I feel their quality has slipped a bit: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308467

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More Upscale: Phil Smidt's in Hammond http://www.froglegs.com/
Not anymore. Schmidt's closed in October 2006. Good froglegs. RIP.

Best, Dave

Good froglegs. RIP.

...and slaw. :D