mfk.

The moment we entered mfk we were hit with this amazing smell. definitely got the appetites going! Literally everything we ate was so good and we tried a lot, probably ¹⁄₃ of the one page, printed daily, menu! Best for parties of 2 or 4 or go solo and sit at the tiny bar! You could do 6, but that would probably be the max. It is tiny and smaller parties keep the vibe quaint.
Loved the atmosphere. Service was great. Nice wines. Ceviche may have been the best ever, definitely the best I’ve ever had in Chicago!
Want to go back and sit at the bar sometime for just a small bite and cocktail.

If you really have to drive here street parking is possible, but the hunt is not as enjoyable with the different one way streets and traffic.
A walk here is pleasant.
Even in 30 below weather.
or 110 degree heat.
Because at the end of your trek is a nice oasis filled with a bar stocked with the wines and the boozes.
and behind this is a kitchen.
With the smiles.
and the foods you really want to stick into your mouth hole and go nomnomnomnom.
Good times.
Good peoples.
Go über home.
You been here for HOURS!

Best seafood in Chicago! A quiet and intimate atmosphere great for dates and special occasions. They were thoughtful enough to accommodate my special request for scallops (which were amazing)!

I have this list of restaurants that won 2016 Bib Gourmand awards from Michelin. My girlfriend and I paid this one a visit on a Saturday night. It’s a modernly decorated place, with peaceful and romantic atmosphere. Space was a bit tiny inside and it’s summer time so we moved to outside seating. My advice here is do not pick the two-​people seat in the middle as grass leaves would poke right in your face.
The menu had 4 sheets, food on the first one and alcohol on the rest. It was not a hard decision to make since Papa Midnight serves two people as described on the menu. The drink was served in a Pineapple gold tumbler. The one you could buy at Bed Bath& Beyond. Two pieces of small bread were lit in half lime and floating on top of the ice. With all this fancy stuff, to me, the drink tasted like ordinary vodka mixed with lemonade.
We ordered three courses. The oxtail & potato croquettas was the best. I have never thought oxtail would be cooked so well with fried potatoes. It’s crunchy (croquetta) and chewy (oxtail) at the same time. The other two courses were Cauliflower and Seafood fideous. Mentioned by other reviews, the size of the courses were small. we got three florets. Seafood fideous included two pawns, three mussels and two clams. We were only half full after the dinner and my girlfriend was even researching burger places near by for us to fill up the rest of our belly. Cauliflower was OK. I haven’t had chilled cauliflower before but now I knew I would prefer it roasted. Seafood fideous was supposed to be their must-​try but it was too salty.
Everything came with a huge price tag which they probably did not deserve.

The only thing that stops me from rating this place 5 stars is the cold and impersonal service at the bar. Food is frickin fantastic!!! We LOVED every bite. Yes it is small plates, but every bite was utterly perfectly seasoned and prepared. It is a tiny place that I would certainly make reservations next time I go. And I will be back. With reservations, hopefully with someone who wants to have a good time with us.

Food was okay. Definitely get the txakoli wine. Basque cake was horrible, if you’ve had basque cake before, don’t get this. It was dry, crumbly, impossible to dig the fork into… not at all representative of what real basque cake is (creamy in center, salty and buttery deliciousness). The poached shrimp salad was the big stand out. I’d come back for the wine, but the food and service were only so-​so. Would love another basque restaurant to come to town as I probably won’t be back here.

I absolutely love the boquerones here. I never thought I’d like a sardine dish at a restaurant. I’ve never ordered sardines at a restaurant before, and when Kenny O. told me that a lot of Unilocalers liked their boquerones, I was skeptical. You see, sardines had always been just a thing that I’d eat whenever I wanted a cheap eat. I used to buy canned sardines and cook it with tomatoes and onions. It was never something that I’d order at a restaurant. It was good at on banh mi, but I’d also never order that at a banh mi shop. But OMG, the boquerones at mfk were really delicious. They were the most delicious-​tasting sardines I’ve ever had. I always order this dish whenever I come here.
We’ve tried most of their menu but the boquerones remain my favorite. For instance, we’ve tried the prawn heads, which were great but not my favorite. I think I prefer ordering salt and pepper prawns at Chinese dim sum places. They’re not exactly the same, but they’re also not that different. The pickled green papaya salad was great too, but I definitely prefer ordering a papaya salad at a Vietnamese restaurant. I do love that they incorporated sugar snap peas in this dish though; it added a sweet and interesting crunch to it.
I love that mfk is just a few blocks away from our apartment. I love being able to just walk into a casual yet romantic restaurant a few blocks away to have a delicious meal. It’s an easy date night option.

Very delicious seafood and some traditional French dishes – very well prepared food. They recommend sharing and the plates are on the larger side of tapas portions, so you can try a number of things. It is a small place, so recommend reservations, but they have 10 places at the bar that they reserve for walk ins. Well worth it!

** Part of my ongoing review of 2016 Bib Gourmand Restaurants (
)
MFK is the platonic ideal of a Bib Gourmand stop. The service was excellent without being overly formal, the space was nice without being ostentatious, and the food was excellent without the possibility of having shredded truffles for a $ 20 surcharge.
I came here on a Sunday with my friend, and I was happy to be immediately seated in the underground and limited space. A generous person would call the space cozy, but others would call the small space cramped. They do take reservations, so I think that as long as you have a seat (or only have to spend a little bit of time at the diminutive bar), «cozy» is the right call.
I began my meal with an order of the boquerones ($ 12), anchovies served in almost a bruschetta fashion. I found them to be very good, and they performed their appetizing function perfectly — they were tasty and left me ready for my entrée. My friend ordered a seasonal special, the fried smelt ($ 10). I am a huge fan of smelt, and these were done perfectly. You could still taste how fresh the smelt were, but the batter was crisp and pleasant as well. They were served with a tartar sauce on the side as well as a lemon, and I used a bit of both. If this is on the menu when you visit, I would strongly suggest that you partake.
For my entrée, I ordered the octopis with potato, lemon aioli and shallot ($ 18). It was exactly what I was hoping for — the octopus was tender, the potato provided a toothsome accompaniment, and the aioli was rich without overpowering the remainder of the dish.
Along with the meal I had a pint of the Half Acre Pony ($ 8), for a total of $ 38, comfortably coming within the Bib Gourmand pre-​tax cost of $ 40. They have one dessert on offer, the basque cake, but I saw two tables order it, and as someone who is not particularly interested in desserts I can’t say that I was tempted. This is a restaurant that prides itself on mediterranean seafood, and if you want to explore the menu and challenge your palate, that is where you should spend you time. I was very happy to try this place, and I believe that the bib gourmand prices will allow you to explore this menu well. I am giving mfk 4 stars but as a bib gourmand choice it earns 5 stars.

Freshest, most creative seafood based small plates in the area. A really, really adorable spot for a date night. Don’t go in without a reservation though — the space is tiny!
The menu is always changing but be sure to order the ceviche. Never disappoints.
PS this place is pricey so make sure it’s a 2^nd or 3^rd date you plan here ;-)

I lived three years in Barcelona and this little tiny restaurant reminded me of a place I used to go there. It is cozy and it is cool!
I tried 4 littles plates:
— Tortilla espanola (very different from a standard tortilla): realy really good!
— Octopus with potatoes and lemon alioli: soft and flavorful;
— ceviche: ok go to Tanta if you want a good one;
— croquetes: Oh My! So so good!
Also, I tried capirinha! really really tasty and quite strong… they didnt say on the cachaza :-)
Overall, a very nice place although I think it is a little overpriced and the portions are very small…

Fantastic small plates and excellent service. We loved everything we tried.
It’s a very small room, so I strongly reccomend making a reservation!

Was excited to try this place after several Chicago chefs mentioned it in a 2015 roundup in the Tribune. The food did not disappoint, especially the heavenly scallops and the rich, meaty croquettes. The Spanish tortilla was noticeably tastier and more interesting than others we’ve had. We were there for my birthday, and the service was friendly and attentive – we felt very welcome. The space is small, minimalist and modern but still intimate, although it did feel a little brightly lit.
Overall a terrific experience and we’ll definitely be back.

mfk was just ok. The food was funky/​interesting, but not that tasty and small portions for a big price tag. The most memorable plate was the prawn heads. Interesting and with a tasty sauce, but the combination of crunchy shell and eyeballs still on made eating one like jumping into a Tough Mudder ice bath. We all closed our eyes and bit down with a grimace. Our Facebook photo commemorating the dinner featured my bf trying to feed me a second one while I tore my head away closing my eyes and mouth. Ordering the $ 24 tiny seafood mixed plate — where you find the remainder of the prawn — makes you feel like you’re getting swindled — since it seems like you’re paying double for the same shrimp. The Beef Cheeks were easier to swallow, but nothing to come back for: mediocre flavor and six bites for $ 22.
The drinks were tasty and fairly unique — though they can’t seem to make a specialty drink without bitters. The space is cute, but an open kitchen at a seafood restaurant means you have to schedule a shower after dinner unless you want you want a layer of Eau de Poisson on you all night.
We were not upset that we went, but we won’t be back.

came here on a Tuesday and it was loud and packed. We managed to get a table, since we offered to share if others came in. Its a cute little space, feels very New York. The servers are very good and helpful and they have great drinks. I tried the Flight of the Opera and found it interesting and well mixed. We ordered the fried avocado, the speck fritters and the scallops with grits. Overall, the food was tasty, with an eye for detail and flavors. I didnt like the avocado as much but I did like the speck and the sauce/​dip it comes with and I would always get the scallops here. I will try more seafood if Im back. Prices are a little high but its good quality food. Just dont expect a quiet evening :)

This is more like 3.5.
We came here as a group of 5, and they set us up with a cute little table. The restaurant is very small and kind of cramped, but the ambiance is very cozy and cute. However, this place isn’t ideal for a large group. I had the walking Spanglish cocktail and it was amazing. I ordered another. My husband also had one because he liked mine so much.
We went to San Sebastian, Spain this summer and this place was kind of reminiscent of the pintxos bars there. It’s very nice that we have a place like this in Chicago now.
As a group we shared the croquettes, chicken fried escargot, ceviche, boquarones, octopus, scallops, shrimp and papaya salad, seafood fideou, and the basque cake. The standout was the scallops. The scallops were so delicious and the polenta they were served with were so creamy.
Service was friendly and efficient. This place is a bit of a splurge, but it’s tasty. Portions are rather small for the price too. We left satisfied but not that full at about 70 dollars a person. Not sure if I would return though because for this price, there are other options.
Scallops: very good
Croquettes: very good
Chicken fried escargot: okay
Ceviche: good
boquarones: okay
octopus: good
Shrimp and papaya salad: good
Seafood fideou: okay
Basque cake: very good

Found this place on a «Top 10 best new restaurants in Chicago»
After trying to eat our way through the city, this was a nice change of pace.
Caipirinha’s were on point, a little strong, but who really complains about that haha.
Waiter recommendation was the ceviche on the squid ink tostada and the white anchovy and roasted pepper boquerones. Another Unilocaler mentioned the flavor of the peppers were a little strong compared to the rest of the dish, I’d agree.
We also had the grilled octopus with potato and onions finished on a lemon aioli. This was extremely good.
A definite change of pace for Chicago food, but a great spot for lunch.

«Whoa.
What the hell was that blur that just blew by?»
«Not totally sure, but I think it was dinner at Mfk.»
This tiny basement-​level Spanish-​and-​seafood restaurant is superb on most levels – food, atmosphere, and (for the most part) service were all great.
But it’s even better if you like fast-​forwarding through your meals. If you could get Mfk to slow down its clocks, you might actually have a five-​star dining experience here, because all the food we ordered was excellent. But don’t expect to have the time to savor it. Mfk apparently operates in an alternate universe from most humankind, where a seemingly European-​style meal (i.e., Spanish, multi-​course) that should have been leisurely paced at two or two-​and-​a-​half hours is compressed into barely half that time.
Except for that, and that’s a pretty big «except,» a great restaurant. Wonderful convivial ambience, an engaging and informative server (although he has to bear some of the blame for the wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am pacing), and the definitely the food.
What we shared:
–Ceviche (a buttery whitefish that I regrettably can’t remember) served with a poblano guacamole on little squid ink tostadas – a subtle but delicious start
–Boquerones, or gently-​fishy, vinegary anchovies, served with piquillo peppers, shaved fennel, etc., on grilled baguettes (of the five items we had, this might have been the least successful, as the peppers seemed to come on a little strong versus everything else)
–Perfectly fresh heirloom tomatoes that showcased the simplicity of the product
–Mussels served in spicy & full-​flavored tomato-​based broth with chorizo, one of a handful of the best mussel presentations I’ve had
–Whole loup de mer (sea bass) with mushrooms – absolutely terrific (Fish is almost always better when the head stays on!)
Fantastic food. Too bad we barely had time to contemplate what we’d just eaten before the next dish was upon us.
Decent list of (largely Spanish) wines by the glass (as well as bottles). Our server was very good with descriptions and advice about pairing them up with the food.

Came here about 2 months back and the croquettes are still haunting my dreams (in a good way I guess?)
We started with 2 orders of croquettes for our group of 7. By the end of the night, there was a total of 6 orders made for croquettes: 2 for starters, 2 during the main course, and 2 for dessert. Needless to say, the croquettes were a hit.
Now onto the other dishes.
The ceviche on squid ink tostada was good. A very light and quick dish where the flavors worked well together.
The pork and veal meatballs were okay. There was a lot left to be desired from something I expected to be packed with flavor.
The sea bass was my least favorite dish. Too many stray bones and not much flavor. Would never order again.
The seafood cataplana (that I wish I had ordered instead of the sea bass) was amazing! Not much more to say about it than that.
In conclusion: ⁶⁄₅ stars for croquettes, ⁴⁄₅ stars for everything else = ⁵⁄₅ stars

Wow. This is truly a hidden gem. I came here for dinner and loved it so much I came back for lunch a few days later. This place is tiny so if you can get here for lunch you’ll likely have a more relaxed, less crowded experience. Either way, call and make a reservation. The food here is simply prepared, healthy, and is seafood heavy. I’ll be back– I want to try everything on the menu!
So far I’ve had:
Ceviche: great combination, perfect bite
Pork & Veal Meatballs: Hands down my favorite! A must order
Shrimp & Green Papaya Salad: light, clean, citrusy
«Fideous» Toasted Vermicelli: Meh, skip this, nothing special
Brussel Sprouts: Yum! Super simple
Sea Scallops: Great, prefectly cooked, buttery and great risotto with it
½ lb. shrimp w/​chili oil: ok, skip this, nothing special