Shaw's Crab House   

One of Chicago's premier seafood restaurants is actually two venues, the Oyster Bar, an oyster bar (no kidding) featuring regional oysters on the half shell, clams, lobster and crab dishes, and the main dining room, which serves more than 40 fresh seafood entrees as well as chicken, beef and pasta dishes. The restaurant also features a full selection of crabs, including Alaskan king crab, Florida stone crabs, soft-shell crabs and Maryland crab cakes. Blues, jazz and zydeco bands play in the Blue Crab Lounge Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Shaw's is also famous for its many annual events, notably 'Royster with the Oyster,' a fall outdoor festival culminating a week dedicated to the oyster. Another location is in Schaumburg at 1900 E. Higgins Rd.