Cy’s Crab House

Working the door? I deny it’s Cy. He’s just not the guy. Why? *sigh*
Perhaps Cy’s is a good place to go for dinner during «dinner hours.»
Unfortunately, it’s wasn’t very good after 10:00, at least when we went.
Does it make sense that you should have to wait for seating /​service /​food /​drink refills when there are only 3 occupied tables in the WHOLE PLACE?
No. No it doesn’t.

I bought a gift certificate for Cy’s through
and was really excited to try it out! I’ve read other reviews before about it being a bit dumpy, but my fiancée and I thought the atmosphere was cute. When we got there, we asked if they could put the Sox game on and they were nice enough to do so, on a few TVs.
However, I was really disappointed in the service. My fiancée got his soup right away, and I got my shrimp cocktail about 15 minutes later, which I thought was odd. Our meals were both OK — nothing to rave about (he had crab stuffed shrimp and I had angel hair with grilled shrimp). But, the service took more than an hour on an empty Saturday evening and we were really frustrated. What capped it off is that our server was hanging out at the bar talking to the bar tender most of the time when we needed bread, refills, etc.
Plus, I think for what you get, Cy’s is very overpriced. We had 2 drinks, 2 appetizers and 2 entrees. Without the gift certificate it was over $ 80! I think if you plan to spend this much, you should go to a steak house and have better seafood with probably better service.

I tried Cy’s Crab House for the first time Friday night, after driving by the crab sign hundreds of times.
Huge bonus for a private parking lot in Lakeview/​Wrigleyville. The night that I was there, parking was fairly abundant on Ashland, but I’d hate to have to look for parking on a Cubs game night.
The décor is what I will describe as «Aging Pirate.» They are obviously going for an ocean theme, but the wood planks everywhere are old in a bad way. It just feels a little stale and in need of an update.
Its been said before but the garlic pita triangles are out of this world. The 6 of us at the table practically inhaled them before we even ordered our dinner.
I ordered the crabcake sandwich with a bowl of lobster bisque. The bisque was deliciously creamy, with a hint of heat. The crabcake sandwich, was ok, but a little bland. The fries that the sandwich came with were also average. Others at the table ordered King Crab legs, which looked awesome.
Prices were a little high, considering the casual atmosphere. My meal with the sandwich and soup (excluding drinks) was about $ 20. The crab legs were $ 32. You would pay the same for seafood at a more upscale restaurant.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad experience. I would come back for the bisque and try a different main dish, or I would come back for a special on crab legs.

I’m not much of a seafood person. But I like catfish and such. My wife really wanted seafood, we have a CPR Member card Cy’s is on there so we went.
Couple bad things. One I ordered a beer and my glass came out dirty. I know mistakes can be made but the place was dead they had time to pay attention to this small detail. 2. I ordered the catfish special, they said they were out offered perch. I said that’s fine, they brought out a mix of catfish and perch.
My wife enjoyed her crab stuffed shrimp so it wasn’t horrible. I won’t really go back. I am sure there are other/​better seafood places.

Oh Cy’s waiter… you are soley responsible for the loss of at least 2 of these stars. Me: «May I have a wine list?»” You: «No, we just have wine». Me: Recognizing labels on wine bottles from afar… «but I see you have certain kinds» You: «yea, chardonnay, merlot, …» Me: OK — I guess I’ll take the mystery white for $ 6.50.
Seriously. no wine list, all entrees come with choice of side; however, menu lists NO sides. The service was so slow I had to flag my favorite Garçon for every single aspect of the meal. Can I have some extra napkins to help with my butter dripping hands? Sure! Here’s ONE. Menu is entirely uninspired and they’ve never heard of a special. My crab legs were great but my dining mates meals were just meh.

It started nice enough… private parking lot, cute and quaint from the outside. Then we entered and I felt like I was in the suburbs, maybe Northbrook. There is something very Northbrook about the interior design. Little ship steering wheels as door handles, flat screen TV’s mounted on the wall. I thought it was kind of cool I all of the sudden felt like I was in Northbrook. I couldn’t even hear or see the cars on Ashland Avenue.
For me the fun ended there. The service was fine, attentive but not annoying. The king crab legs were a huge disappointment. If you are going to charge market price for crab legs in this city, they better be large and juicy, because everyone knows you can get awesome cheap legs at Half Shell. Cy’s legs were decidedly withered. Couple this with the fact that I do not treat myself to such delicacies often, and I feel kinda sad. Although king crab is considered to be a fairly sustainable seafood, and okay to eat in moderation, the quality of these legs made me wonder if the species is in decline as a whole. I guess I will have to return to Half Shell to test my theory, oh well.
The bf enjoyed his blackened catfish and mashed potatoes. He was also glad they were generous with the seasoned pita bread. I may return because I enjoy the atmosphere, but I won’t order crab legs.

After checking over the WBEZ member card restaurant list, we opted to visit Cy’s Crab House for dinner last Friday.
Because I’m a vegetarian, I called ahead to make sure I’d have at least an entrée or two to choose from, and the guy who answered the phone stated that I had «tons of choices.» Apparently, two (pasta primavera for $ 12 or a plate of hummus, rice & tabbouleh for $ 15) options is the same as tons. that or he is one of those confused folks who think vegetarians eat fish.
We arrive, park in their complimentary lot, and are promptly seated. It wasn’t very crowded, and at least three servers are standing around talking. We receive water and menus, decide what we want to drink, what we want for an appetizer and for our entrees, and set our menus at the very edge of the table.
Ten minutes pass.
No one comes to take our order.
Eye contact is made with the server standing about twenty feet away.
Another minute passes.
No one comes to take our order.
Crickets start chirping.
Eye contact is made with another server, followed by me glancing down at the menus stacked at the edge of our table, followed by sustained eye contact with same server.
Two more minutes pass.
We get up and leave.
I don’t think I was missing much by walking out of this place, and I certainly would not come back. not even for my buy one, get one free WBEZ member card meal.

BABY JESUS, this place is horrible!
1. all the draft beer was warm, out of most bottled beer … forced to drink MGD.
2. out of calamari (at a seafood restaurant … at 5pm)
3. still drinking MGD in a bottle, now only WARM!
4. waitress comps appetizer of popcorn shrimp cus she feels bad, but when the side plates arrive, we receive one that looks like it has never been clean. caked on something! gross.
5. my friends an i cautiously order our entrees … oh wait, no OUT OF SALMON!
6. i order lobster surf + turf. big mistake. both steak and lobster terrible over-​cooked. steak looked as if it had been microwaved first to defrost and then thrown on the grill. lobster meat was almost as hard as the shell it came served on.
I WILL NEVER COME ANYWHERE NEAR THIS PLACE AGAIN! I felt soo awful for the server, who was obviously embarrassed by what was going on in the kitchen. Run as fast as you can lady!

Sadly this place has gone down hill. This was not 5 star to begin with but they were consistent. On my last visit we were told that the tv’s were not working because they didn’t pay the bill, the same person that told us that suggested a place down the street that has tv’s. The whole experience was odd, the only other people in the place were there for a private party in back which was clearly under staffed. The afternoon was capped off by a terse conversation between bartender and owner/​manager. Unless they make some changes, we won’t be back.

Hidden little sea food gem on the North Side.
It’s been close to 10 years since I was at Cy’s last & unlike some of the reviews it wasn’t because of a bad experience, I just don’t live close by and there are quite frankly to many places to go to in the city, but I have to say I’m not going to wait that long again to come back.
First, the pita bread was awesome and I had to stop myself from eating to much. I went with my mother, wife & infant son on a Saturday around 6pm and was a little surprised at how many tables were open, but with the economy the way it is…
We got the crab cake, shrimp cocktail & oysters for apps and while it the crab cake & shrimp cocktail didn’t blow my mind, they didn’t disappoint either, however the oysters were some of the best my wife said she ever had.
For the main course I got the «Slab & Crab» which was BBQ ribs with crab (forgive me oh fooide gods for forgetting which type of crab) the ribs were damn good and the crab was cooked perfectly the veggie side dish seemed to be an after thought, but with ribs & crab galore who cares about veggies?
My wife had Alaskan King Crab and wonder out loud if it was in season as it tasted so good. My mother had salmon, didn’t really get to much feed back from her as she was more interested in playing with her grandson.
So while this might not be the most overly thorough review, it was my birthday and Cy’s came through and made it a great dinner.
On a finishing note, the staff seemed overly happy to have our business and passed on some coupons for a return visit, maybe they have been reading some of these reviews or are just being proactive in a bad economy.

Lets give this place another chance!
Cy’s has recently updated its décor and made some menu changes. They are no longer a kitschy crab shack but are striving to be a nicer (not fine but nicer) neighborhood bistro. I ordered the broiled lake fish and wasn’t over the top but my friend ordered his salmon blackened and extra spicy and it came out awesome!
There are a ton of Flat screen TV’s on the walls now and I can see this being a great place to catch a game and a drink this summer.
Over all, the service was great – the waitress was attentive and managed our special requests. The spicy pita bread they give you when you arrive is delicious and the owner was around.

This place has been blacklisted, and never got around to writing this review, because well frankly I didn’t even think they deserved it.
My boyfriend and I found this place on
and we had had the certificate for a long time and finally got the chance to go. We pass by this place all the time and I should have known that the crappy «nautical theme» was a warning sign to stay away.
Before we went to the restaurant, we called to make sure we would get there in time for their kitchen to still be open. Okay, 10PM. Not bad.
We get there, it’s about 9:15, and the manager (who looked like a man who was still trying to relive his high school football years and decided to wear a suit jacket to look «managery») was at the bar and gave us the side eye when we walked in. «Hey, we’re about to close, so yeah…»
I looked at my watch, and said, «I called and you said 10pm.» He blinked, dumbfounded, and offered us to sit down anywhere. We opted to sit at the bar so we didn’t mess up the re set tables… I’ve worked in restaurants before and I know how it is… it’s annoying.
The manager came over and put down the dinky menus in front of us and walked away, clearly annoyed. We asked him if our certificate was only for food or if it was for the whole meal… he didn’t even know the rules of the certificate! He had to read it twice in front of us before he could answer our question. I’m sorry, but if your restaurant is on
, you should know ALL of the ins and outs of the deal. Anyway, we ordered a bottle of wine and the manager came back over to take our order… we barely had even enough time to look it over. He gave us about 5 minutes before he came over again… we were totally being rushed. Horrible.
This basically set the tone of the entire meal. We were rushed, and the food wasn’t even that great. My crabcake sandwich was lukewarm, and the bread wasn’t toasted. My boyfriend just ate his food because we were paying for it and it was in front of him. It wasn’t memorable and it wasn’t great.
We were both deeply unimpressed with this place and to top it off, the «manager» didn’t add up our bill correctly and pretty much got into an argument with us about it. Needless to say he only got $ 1 tip. The bartender, who was amazing, we gave him the rest of the tip. Because he deserved it more than that «manager.»
Blacklist. ‘Nough said.

If I could give this place zero stars I would. This has to be one of the grossest places I have ever eaten, right after a hole in the wall diner in Iowa.
I wasn’t too hungry, so I ordered the gumbo. EW. I was with my boyfriend and his mother, so I tried to be nice… but their food was awful too. I could have gotten better soup from Cambell’s.
Way over priced. No one is ever there… I makes me wonder how they turnover all their seafood while it’s still fresh.
Please. No. I have to drive by it every week and that’s bad enough.

Beginning, middle, and end of my story… I like good seafood. If it’s not good, the place is not good. In my opinion, this place is not so good.
I had a good experience with the bartender, who was awesome, but that’s about it.
The seafood here is not fresh, and the crab smelled so fishy that I couldn’t eat it. The flatbread on the table is pretty good, but I wouldn’t go there for that alone. The service was pretty bad as well. The server did not come back to check on us for a long time. Yuck, not a good experience!

Nobody should eat here. Ever.
If you like mushy crab legs, fried apps and the smell of sewer drain then by all means go to Cy’s.
But, if you like to eat quality seafood that is reasonably priced and prepared with care you might be better off going somewhere else.
Apparently the owners of Cy’s have absolutely no clue on how to run a restaurant because Cy’s clearly is not ran by professionals.
Avoid at all costs.
Save your hard earned money and go somewhere else.

Why didn’t I read my own review? Went here last night with my sister and hubby. We were seated by the cool table as you walk in. Problem is, it’s easy to forget us and the table next to us since we’re in the front of the restaurant and can be easily missed since it’s not part of the main dinning area.
We got there around 8 and left nearly 10pm. We ordered sandwiches, nothing special and it took us 20 minutes to eat. You do the math. I had the blackened catfish sandwich, it was a little too fishy tasting for my liking. Hubby had the grilled chicken sandwich with a couple of fries, I think they were sitting around for a few minutes compared to my sister’s fries. Sis had the shrimp and fries which were breaded and tasty and fries that seemed like they came for a different kitchen — very good and warm. Hubby also got the clam chowder which was a bit runny and not many pieces of clams or potatoes or anything but the milky broth.
It just seemed especially slow evening. Maybe because I was tired and wanted to eat and go. I think our server was being pulled in many directions. They should probably use their manager more. Get his hand dirty even if he is the owner. I’ve been there, done that. It doesn’t hurt to get involved besides asking how everything is before we even get our meal. You wait till everyone has their food and then you ask them how everything is. Thanks. Not sure I’ll visit again unless it’s to sit at the bar… where they have specials with the purchase of two drinks min:
Oysters 60¢
Shrimp 75¢
Wings 35¢
Hamburgers $ 2
15 Spicy Shrimp $ 9.95
Mussels $ 5.95

In my other life (when I was married *eek!*) my habibi and I would go to Cy’s, order a metric ton of take-​out crab. We’d go back to our Casa and set upon it like wolves — not wanting to be seen in the dining room with crab juice and butter running down our chins. Juicy, delicious, meaty crab from Cy’s. We would spend time in the bar kicking back with a couple of Mai Tai’s while waiting for our ill gotten crab booty order, but that’s the only time we spent dining IN here except for a few pleasant birthday celebrations in the outdoor area. The food was always so great. Fresh seafood, YUM, and at a great price. And I seem to remember they used to deliver?
Well, the appetizers are still great, except for the crab. Went there last night, but the crab was just not the same. An anorexic claw, filled with flaccid crustacean arm jiggle. What happened to the delicious turgid crab meat of a few years ago? Did their supplier change? Did the crabs go on diets and lose their muscle tone? At any rate, the crab was sadly lacking. Size matters, people!
The peel and eat shrimp were delish, as were the oysters (I cannot bring myself to call them «bar oysters», it sounds so. .. leftover). The Mediterranean nachos (what?) despite my initial elitist scoff, were good, but maybe «pita pizza», would be more descriptive.
Martinis were good, but a TWIST?! The bartender was charming enough, but please, get some blue cheese olives, and change out of that Cubs shirt into something cute. Really.

You would think a fish and crab joint in the city not sporting a more famous chain name would actually be good, yes i know its at least a thousand miles away from the nearest seaport, but it is only a half hour drive from Ohare airport and a bunch of planes filled with cargo holds designed to import/​export fish all day long.
anyways…
After spending my money here on meals with someone I really loved, it’s just as well she and I split ways, ironically with her ending up a thousand miles away, and leaving me with crappy memories of mediocre meals.
yes I said it. I know I have issues that need some decent therapy or really good scotch to resolve, but that doesn’t change the tasteless fish or skimpy crab legs that were served with a lukewarm smile and funny smelling water.
Save your money and buy a plane ticket to Rhode Island, or Massachusetts and get some really great seafood, leave the ugly memories in my head back here and enjoy life like its supposed to be enjoyed.
;p

My girlfriend and I wanted to go somewhere quirky for Valentines Day. We decided that we couldn’t go wrong with a crab house. The place felt like a seafood place in Ft. Lauderdale. There were ornate decorations on every nook and cranny. We were seated in the back of the restaurant, but I think we were greeted by at least 4 waiters as we walked by.
The menu was large and a bit pricey, but all of the food looked good. Our server came and was one of the most knowledgeable, friendly, and honest servers I’ve ever had. We ordered the calamari which was nothing special and for entrees we had the crab cakes and the crab legs. Both entrees had good flavor, but the preparation could have been better for the price. The sauces came in little plastic containers, reminiscent of sauce from The Fish Keg. We were considering desert and our waiter recommended the chocolate covered strawberry’s. He brought us out a couple on the house for us to sample. They were good, but we were too stuffed to get the full order.
We did ask the waiter about a couple other deserts, but he was brutally honest and said the cheesecake was flavorless and the key lime pie tastes like air. I love places where the servers don’t push things on me. Also the waiter was making fun of the music all night along with us and rightfully so. The music went from banjo country, to talk radio with two men breathing heavily into the mic, to classical. It was bizarre, but added to the experience.
If I were basing this place on the food alone I would give it a 2.5, but everything else was wonderful. I’m sure I’ll be back soon!

This place is more like a bar than a seafood restaurant, but that’s not the qualm I have.
The seafood wasn’t that great. The mussels tasted fishy and gritty. The seafood pasta (Honestly, how can a place like this mess up seafood pasta?) had sauce that ran like water and chewy pieces of indeterminable seafood in it.
In all, I wasn’t that disappointed with the meal. Their bread was good. However, I don’t think it’s worth the price, which isn’t very much of a deal. My waitress was nothing to write home about either. It was sort of a «Here’s your food, now don’t bother me» sort of vibe.