Birthday - seafood suggestions please?

I did a search using *seafood* and I got lost in the list of posts, so please forgive me for asking directly here.

My BF's birthday is next week and is a seafood lover. We're looking for a reasonably priced dining option (no more than $60 total) for the both of us. We're not big drinkers - just appreciate good food and either a romantic or lively, fun atmoshpere. The restaurant can either be on the northside of town - andersonville, ravenswood, rogers park, evanston or even downtown. We would like to dine either for lunch or dinner.

Any suggestions for this 'burb gal?

Davis St Fishmarket is a casual place with a wide variety of fresh fish options, some with a Cajun twist, others done simply to show off the flavor of the fish itself. It should easily be within your price range, but beware of long waits on weekends - it's a popular place.

Davis Street Fishmarket
501 Davis St., Evanston

If you want to push the budget a bit, Oceanique is elegant, excellent French-inspired seafood, and I believe there's a three-course chef's tasting menu for $30 or $35 per person (drinks extra).

Oceanique
505 Main St., Evanston

Another possibility might be Las Islas Marias on N. Clark St. in Rogers Park:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3216

Las Islas Marias
6635 N. Clark St.
773/973-4752

don't know that davis street is exactly a celebration type place. food is horrible and the decor is less than attractive. oceanique is a much better option.

Kimmie wrote:don't know that davis street is exactly a celebration type place. food is horrible and the decor is less than attractive.

I respectfully agree that it's not a typical celebration place, and respectfully disagree about the food and decor (can you cite specifics?) for a casual dining seafood restaurant well within the stated spending limits. YMMV.

Davis Street is what it is -- a good casual dining restaurant with tasty, fresh fish -- clearly not horrible. I wouldn't choose it for my own seafood celebration, but I'm a coastal New Englander and I generally don't go for fish in Chicagoland. I lived next to it for two years and went twice: once when a friend paid and once when some campus recruiter paid. Otherwise I limit my fishy celebrations to jaunts back east.

I think Dorado does great work with the fruit of the sea and it is well within your price-range.

Interesting - DORADO is in BF's neighborhood and I pass by it without much thought.

Care to share your experiences at DORADO? Any food recommendations?

I'm liking the Las Islas Maria option....I think it was those pics in the post all about it!

foodie1 wrote:Interesting - DORADO is in BF's neighborhood and I pass by it without much thought.

Care to share your experiences at DORADO? Any food recommendations?

I'm liking the Las Islas Maria option....I think it was those pics in the post all about it!

Here's a thread on Dorado. I highly second the recommendation.

FYI, Dorado's menu is on restaurant.com if you want to peruse in advance.

You all are AWESOME. I think I'll leave it to Bf to decide between Dorado's and LIM. Amazing pics in both threads. Wow - you've made this burb gal excited to eat!