Shaw's or Joe's Stone Crab?
 

Sweet Willie what is the difference between the two establishments and which one would you recomend?

to be fair, I have not actually been to the Joe's in Chicago.

Shaw's provides fresh seafood served at good prices IMO, there are some ok items but then some real winners at Shaws.

Feedback from dining buddies is that with the $ you save from not going to Joe's, you can buy a ticket and eat at the original in Miami http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdi...orum/smile.gif They liked Joe's but felt is was way overpriced for what it is.

Vote goes to Shaw's.

Looks like Shaw's is it then. What entrees do you consider real winners?

artic char, gumbo, PACIFIC salmon (forget Atlantic), oysters, stone crabs, things that are simple grilled preparations are usually very good.

sushi is good, not the best in town but better than I would have thought (my wife almost always gets at least some when we go.)

fyi, Shaw's may still be selling gift certs, if so and you buy $100, you get $25 additional free.

Sweet Willie Thanks for the recomendations. Since your from the Chicago area maybe you know the name of a hot dog place down the street from ORD that has been there for decades and is supposed to have the best Chicago style dogs in the region.

If you are in the ORD area, you may want to consider trying Bob Chin's for seafood instead of Joe's or Shaws

perhaps you mean

Gene & Jude's
2724 N. River Road
River Grove IL
(708) 452-7634

but this is not "down the street" imo, they are 3 miles from ORD.

Sweet willie, I believe that's the place. Thanks again

Superdawg is the best in my opinion. I've been to jean and Judes many times and it really doesn't compare to Superdawg. Superdawg is on Devon and Milwaukee about a ten minute drive down the Kennedy to Nagle and north to Devon and Milwaukee.

Where does Portillo's rate in the hot dog place ranking?

I would agree, but was only providing information asked for. Superdawg has their own formula for their hot dogs. Good STUFF!
Plus the kitsch level at Superdawg is through the roof (and on top of it ;-) ).

Car hop service is rare to find.

It is a good dog if one does not know of the better local places to go to. Certainly not a bad choice. If it is prime lunch hour their drive throughs MOVE! very fast.

My favorite item at Portillos would be the Maxwell St polish, char grilled with sauteed onions and mustard on it. good crinkle cut fries too.

Crain's reviewed both places the OP asked about

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
60 E. Grand Ave.
(312) 379-5637
Valet parking, $10
Price range at lunch, $3.50-$24.95

This Miami transplant is no hothouse flower: It took root in Chicago five years ago and is still setting out fabulous food, served by tuxedoed waiters whose knowledge, grace and charm should serve as an example to the profession. Stone crabs are one of life's great pleasures: Order some, if they're available ($14.95 for four). Messy? You bet, but there's a metal bowl for cracked shells and moist warm towels for your hands.

Jumbo lump crab cake ($11.95) is another must, with crab so fresh and white it seems creamy. It's the best crab cake in town, and we couldn't stop eating it.

Halibut is at its peak midsummer, so we leapt at the specials, including a Parmesan-crusted fillet ($19.95): flaky, moist, flavorful and with a cheese crunch it's a terrific combination. Sautéed garlic shrimp ($15.95) is another pleasure, but only for garlic lovers — Joe's doesn't skimp. Cole slaw ($3.95) is long shreds, with pickle, in a tangy vinegar dressing. Grilled tomatoes ($4.50) are that plus pesto and cheese: too rich for lunch on a hot day, but tasty.

Desserts are a high point, and we appreciated the choice of half slices ($2.95). Key lime pie is Joe's specialty, and it's very good, especially its graham cracker crust. The cherry crumble was fantastic: warm, topped with vanilla ice cream and cherry sauce poured at the table.

Our sole complaint? Music — Sinatra tunes, mostly — is too loud in the dining room. We had a comfortable, spacious booth and couldn't hear other diners. But we had trouble hearing the waiter, and each other.

Shaw's Crab House
21 E. Hubbard St.
(312) 527-2722
Valet parking, $10
Price range at lunch, $3.95-$26.95

Neither of us had been to Shaw's main dining room in years (its adjoining Oyster Bar is a great spot for a casual meal); it still serves wonderful food in a lush, old-fashioned setting. Even its bar is a head-turner, with overhead fans and louvered windows.

Service is top-notch. The menu is lengthy, and we had trouble deciding; our waiter steered us to entrees that were delicious, and just right for a steamy day.

A great start is the tartare tasting ($13.95): salmon, tuna and yellowtail sushi on a glass platter, flavorful and fresh. A simply prepared halibut fillet ($16.95) is sautéed to a pretty gold, bathed in a pale pink lobster broth and sided with chopped stewed tomatoes. It was our favorite dish, and perfectly proportioned for a lunchtime entree. Chopped seafood salad ($15.95) looks like jewels from the sea: King crab, shrimp, scallops, on top of glistening greens and hearts of palm. It's nicely dressed, refreshing and large enough to share. Crab cake ($12.95) was surprisingly ho-hum.

At lunch only, desserts are $1. The price — and size, a few bites each — make it fun to try a variety. We went for Key lime pie, fruit cobbler and chocolate blackout cake. None disappointed, but we especially liked the cobbler's delicate crust.

The dining room was nearly full, but we couldn't overhear other diners. Tables are a good size and well-placed. It was so peaceful, we lingered after dessert was cleared.

what then was the crap seafood place on n. wells right around chicago ave that closed?

Here's a random observation - despite all of its foibles (and I believe they're many) Smith & Wollensky has an unbelievably good seafood platter. I went there a couple months ago and just ate that.