If you don't already, you should eat more seafood (unless you're allergic, poor thing). Why? Nutritious and tasty, when properly prepared, fish can provide numerous health benefits, especially for good-for-your-heart ones. Fish, for the most part, are low in cholesterol, saturated fats and sodium, pack a powerful punch of potassium, vitamins and other minerals, and teem with more protein and less calories than a similar-size portion of meat. Better still, it's an easy match with wine (and not just white; go for that pinot noir/salmon combo), beer and a variety of mixed drinks.
Raring to start experimenting with recipes for baked tilapa or paella? Before you head off to the supermarket to buy frozen, individually packaged swordfish, browse our list of Chicago-area fish markets, places that specialize in straight-from-the-water fish and leave the shelves of Jiff and Campbell's to the Jewels of the world.
Don't let the fish market intimidate you; there is nothing tastier than a fresh piece of fish. Grill or broil your favorites, but feel free to experiment with a few varieties you haven't tried before. In most cases, the pros behind the counter will only be too willing to make suggestions (and give you tips on the best way to cook skate wing, to boot). Besides, you can don your best European daydream, picturing yourself in a quaint town east of the Atlantic, stopping at the market to buy a bit of fish and carrying it home to cook up and serve with fresh greens. It's time to get hooked on fish markets:
MC Fishmarket
File under: Super-affordable basics
Old school in every sense of the word (grimy decor means cheaper prices for the consumer), MC's is the place to go for low-cost fresh fish. If you're looking for wild turbot, crevette gris or Costa Rican redfish, then you need not visit MC. If, however, your tastes are slightly less exotic, you'll find no shortage of the basics: salmon, perch, catfish or shrimp, to name a few. Service is speedy. Sometimes too speedy: Expect great fish but not much in the way of eye contact and "hellos," which are traded for a squashed together "What can I do you for?" The lack of pleasantries certainly doesn't take away from MC's most important selling feature: affordability. Everything you need for a Friday night fish fry or a Sunday afternoon pot of gumbo can be found here, at prices lower than any others in the city.
Dirk's Fish and Gourmet Shop
File under: Best for sushi lovers
Dirk's feel runs in tandem with the Lincoln Park neighborhood it calls home: kind of pricey but oh-so worth it. Step into Dirk's, and chances are you'll wonder if you're in a fish market at all. Fresh salsa, guacamole and salads line the shelves; advertisements for cooking classes abound; servers in crisp aprons wearing giant, helpful smiles greet you. You'll wonder when Whole Foods moved to Clybourn Avenue, but once you get a glimpse of the selections, you'll realize Whole Foods has nothing on Dirk's.
Here, you can try Chilean Sea Bass, softshell crab, halibut and more, including unfamiliar varieties like geoduk, John Dory and Bronzini. There's plenty of fish available on hand, including a sushi-grade tuna, hamachi, snapper and more for roll-your-own-maki fiends (you can also stock up on sushi rice, rolling mats and wasabi); more exotic varieties can require a one-day to one-week advance notice. Additionally, Dirk's offers a variety of cooked food like tuna burgers, key lime pie and smoked whitefish salad, and can pull together a tray for your next house party. Do your shopping between noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday to take advantage of the shop's seafood prep demos and sampling. Like Lincoln Park, Dirk's has it all.
Market Fisheries Inc.
File under: Weekly specials
This place is usually always crowded and for good reason: You can't beat the prices or the selections. The decor and the presentation trawl the line of bare bones, but what the store is lacking in atmosphere it more than makes up for with its products. Live crabs, turtle meat and crawfish meat, oh my! Fresh or frozen, whatever you need is here. Servers sport the typical butcher garb (hairnet, white jacket) and bark out numbers as they try to keep the crowd under control. When your number is up, you get to select the fish you want and have it cut (filleted, steaked, you name it) just the way you like it. It's hard not to get carried away here and order more than you originally planned (after all, you can always freeze it) because there is so much to choose from. The spree won't kill your budget though: Weekly specials and low, low prices ensure you can eat like a king on a pauper's salary.
DiCola's Seafood
File under: Southwest Side institution
A Southwest Side institution, DiCola's has a reputation for having a vast selection of seafood to choose from, though I don't exactly get it. Each visit, I'm disappointed at the lack of variety in the fresh fish department. The basics are there (salmon, shrimp, crab legs, etc.), and what's there is fresh, of the best quality and cost-effective. But if you're looking for something exotic and out of the ordinary, you need to go elsewhere.
That said, I love sampling from DiCola's cooked menu. Let's face it; there are days when you don't want to slave over the grill. When these moments hit, DiCola's is there to make sure you eat and eat well. Cooked dinners include old favorites like fried oysters and catfish, but also frog legs. If you're planning dinner for one or a party, stock up on reasonably priced side items and salads. If you do want to cook your catch yourself, DiCola's also sells just the right spices to take your fish from ordinary to unbelievable.
L. Isaacson & Stein Fish Co.
File under: Where the chefs shop
If you've every been at one of the city's top restaurants, enjoying blackened mahi mahi or a grilled tilapia, chances are they bought it from Isaacson's. Lucky you, Isaacson's sells to the general public, in addition to chef-run kitchens. This wholesale supplier carries a large selection of fresh seafood and fish. Though not as cheap as some neighborhood markets, prices are reasonable. Isaacon's draw is the variety: plenty of sushi grade fish and not of the norm selections. Want yellowtail? How about blue crab? Got it. The hours aren't exactly convenient for nine to fivers (its core market is the restaurant crowd, after all), especially as it gave up its Saturday hours, but it's worth ducking out of the office early for this one. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to battle the crowds.
Rubino's Seafood Inc.
File under: Expert advice
If you're going to Rubino's, be prepared to stay awhile...it has a lot to choose from. Like Isaacson's, Rubino's services the restaurant industry. And, like Isaacson's, Rubino's carries a massive selection of seafood. If it's lived in the water, Rubino's sells it. The extremely knowledgeable staff is more than willing to share its wisdom in regards to cooking methods, sauces, seasonings, recommendations and more. Warning: If you ask a question, be prepared to listen to a lengthy answer. These guys are fish-geeks, if there is such a thing, and can expound for several long minutes at a time. Once you've managed to come down from the daze a visit to Rubino's will put you in, you'll walk away smarter (and not just because fish is considered a brain food) and eager to get home and start cooking.
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