The Best Shrimp Dishes in Chicago Steakhouses

Be it shrimp cocktail or shrimp de Jonghe, shrimp is an integral ingredient in Chicago steakhouses. Considering these meaty Meccas are renowned for their seafood preparations, it’s really no surprise to find that some of the best shrimp preparations can be found right alongside the filets and T-bones. When that shellfish craving sinks in, here’s where to go:

 

Tavern on Rush
Tavern on Rush

Tavern on Rush: Shrimp is a star player at this Gold Coast fan-favorite, featured heavily among appetizers like shrimp cocktail, a seafood tower loaded up with jumbo shrimp and blackened Cajun shrimp, which packs a pleasant, spicy punch that’s sure to whet your appetite for a beefy entree. For something lighter, the Bellevue salad features rock shrimp, sweet onions, feta, heart of palm, tomato, avocado and balsamic vinaigrette. 

STK: Seafood in general plays a pivotal role on the dinner menu at this sleek stunner. Along with sea scallops, tuna tartare, crab cakes and grilled octopus, be sure and start your meal here with the crispy, lightly fried rock shrimp with potent chili remoulade. If that wasn’t enough, seafood platters are a good show-stopper, loaded up with oysters, shrimp, Alaskan king crab, ceviche, mussels and clams. Additionally, any cut of steak can be topped with shrimp for a little surf & turf action. 

III Forks Prime Steakhouse: In addition to a particularly wonderful shrimp cocktail, served with a horseradish-packed bowl of sweet and spicy cocktail sauce, diners here can opt for shrimp for their entree in the form of pasta. Sort of like a classier twist on shrimp scampi, the dish features a bountiful medley of white wine-garlic-herb butter, spinach and bacon lardons. 

Mirabella Italian Cuisine: Shrimp scampi, shrimp de Jonghe and fried shrimp are all present and accounted for as solid, enduringly popular appetizers, but the real ingenuity here happens on the pasta section. Here’s where you’ll savor black tagliolini with shrimp and scallops in a brandy reduction with a touch of cream. And a shrimp risotto in shellfish broth with corn and peas. 

Gene and Georgetti: You can’t talk shrimp in Chicago without talking about shrimp de Jonghe, a classic dish invented here by the Belgian de Jonghe brothers at the turn of the 20th century. And when it comes to this Windy City original, it doesn’t get much better than the classic version served at Gene & Georgetti. The oldest steakhouse in town has the tried-and-true formula down pat, featuring casserole-like portions of the garlicky, breadcrumb-topped delicacy.  

EJ's Place: At this Skokie staple, shrimp gets just as much play as the steak. In addition to classics like shrimp de Jonghe, shrimp cocktail and French fried shrimp, you'll find more unique interpretations like grilled shrimp a la Leslie and the pleasantly puckery shrimp limone a la Barbara J. 

The Grill on the Alley: For the ultimate surf & turf, head to this Magnificent Mile bastion and adorn your rib-eyes or filets with some jump shrimp. Or if you'd rather keep the shrimp as the star of the dish, get the shrimp pomodoro, a lustrous bowlful of four jump shrimp, plump and smoky from the grill, served over angel hair pasta. 

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