Legal Sea Foods Chicago Arrives Inside the Marina City Towers | Eater Chicago
"Opened July 30 inside Marina City with sweeping Chicago River views, this two-level riverfront restaurant is the chain’s first location outside the East Coast and leans into both its New England roots and local Chicago flavor. Executive Chef Ozzy Amelotti leads a menu that features signature items such as clam chowder, crab cake and a half‑pound lobster roll alongside classics like fish and chips made with a gluten‑free proprietary breading and a regular selection of fresh oysters; nigiri and maki are newer additions. Chef-created Chicago-specific dishes include grilled or blackened Lake Superior white fish and a scallops de Jonghe riff on the city’s classic; beverage highlights include a locally brewed New England–style IPA made with Spiteful Brewing and a rum- and vodka-boosted red-and-white wine sangria, with a flexible wine-by-the-glass program. The 10,000-square-foot space seats about 240 with a large bar, private event rooms, an outdoor terrace and an intimate upstairs Oyster Bar for about 30; designers embraced Marina City’s distinctive curves with wave-shaped banquette seating. The concept traces back to a 1950 Cambridge fish market and is known for its historic fish chowder, which has been served at every Presidential inauguration since 1981; the current operator is part of the PPX Hospitality Brands family, which has existing Chicago ties through Smith & Wollensky. Open for lunch and dinner daily (11 a.m.–11 p.m. Mon–Sat; 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun)." - Lisa Shames
