It's not really a seafood restaurant but the scallops at Quartino's on Ontario are amoung the best I've ever had.  Of course I've always shared them with a local Chicago fave so I suppose that might enhance the flavor a little.  It is a cool place though with a fun crowd and interesting menu.

Devon Seafood at Chicago and Wabash.  Food is awesome and portions are good sized.

Although, Riva does have very nice views.

Are you looking for white table cloth, fancy waiters, or something a little more down home? Big N Little serves some great seafood sandwiches, for example, just a sandwich stand but a damned good one. Also some wonderful fried fish and shrimp joints, PM me if you want more ideas.

On the fancy end, L2O is supposed to be the best, certainly the most expensive, but recent reports suggest it may have gone downhill a little.

Riva is a tourist joint, Catch 35 is okay but tries to be more than it is. Shaw's is pretty good. Nick's is just expense account territory (I suppose that is also what Catch 35 is). Simple, plain paper table top, but perfect fish try Bob Chinn's in Wheeling or the related Pier 34 in Lisle, but both are probably way farther than you want to hike.

Or there is Katsu for near perfect sushi.

Just a few ideas. Have fun.

Zig

Now the city sushi restaurants have wonderful seafood, but you said seafood exclusively.  I would say Catch 35.  In the burbs though there is Chinn's, Pier 34 and Braxton's, which are pretty much the places I go for seafood in the Chicagoland area.

Seafood in Chicago, come on girl, forget it. This is the Midwest, Oceans are a few thousand miles away...

Sure, we try hard, we fly the stuff in, we charge arm and a leg for it, but we still suck at it.

Beef is what's for dinner. Soft, juice, tender... That's what we're good at. But I guess you probably know that already  lol.

PS - if sushi would do it for you, try the NoMi @ the Park Hyatt or the Japonais

Have been there, the food is really good, and the price isnt bad either, and the atmophere it really nice, low lighing and romantic, if thats what you are looking for, but over all the food is really good and nice portions for the price. You will have to let us know where you went and how you like it.

Half Shell.....without a dount, hands down, a classic in Chicago, but FYI it's kind of a dive place - but super tasty!