Calumet Fisheries

To continue our theme of south side of Chicago food, we ate lunch at Calumet Fisheries. It is located at 3259 E 95th Street in Chicago, about 1 mile away from Lake Michigan.  Natalie had been here once before about 1 1/2 years ago.  But we had heard about this place from the Anthony Bourdain Travel Channel show "No Reservations" and from the fact that they won a 2010 James Beard award for America's Classic food.  Now you might expect a certain atmosphere from an award winning restaurant but this place breaks all the rules.  It is located in a shack on the side of the road right where 95th street meets the Calumet River bridge. There is only street parking and there is no place to eat inside the establishment, so everyone eats in their car. However we did discover a park located about 1 mile away right on Lake Michigan that would be a good picnic stop.

If you don't like seafood don't go here, but if you do like seafood it is a must!  You can get the seafood prepared 2 ways - smoked or fried.  The smokehouse is located right behind the building so it is very aromatic. The fried items can come as a meal with french fries and coleslaw.  We decided to get fried shrimp, smoked shrimp and smoked salmon with pepper and garlic.  The fried shrimp were high quality shrimp and were fried to order.  They came with a choice of hot or mild sauce - we chose mild just to be safe.  The smoked shrimp were enormous is size and before eating the shell had to be removed.  This whole process kind of freaked Nick out, but he found it to be more than worth the effort as the taste.  It was shockingly delicious and well deserving of the James Beard Award.  Later at home we ate the smoked salmon flaked over a salad as the owner recommended us to do.  The suggestion was great and it was an excellent salad.  Too bad we don't live closer or else we would be getting salmon all the time. Of the three items we tasted it is hard to say what is our favorite.

Another fun fact - a scene from the Blues Brothers original movie was filmed right at their location.  To quote their website "For three days in the summer of 1979, Calumet Fisheries hosted the movie crew from The Blues Brothers. Remember Jake and Ellwood jumping a bridge in the Bluesmobile? That was the 95th Street bridge, where Calumet Fisheries is located."

Final thoughts about Calumet Fisheries:
Food - superb, deserving of their James Beard Award
Service - kind of weird because it was counter service, but the employees/owner are talkative and will give you lots of good advice. Note: this is a cash only establishment, so bring lots of it because seafood can get pricey.
Atmosphere - very unique, not a traditional location but fun to experience