Bob Chinn's Crabhouse Rstrnt   

393 S Milwaukee Ave
Wheeling, IL 60090
847-520-3633
www.bobchinns.com

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How did Bob Chinn's Crab House get to the point of serving an average of 4,000 guests on a typical Saturday, 5,000 pounds of fish every week and an entree leaving the kitchen every 9 seconds? Back in 1982, when Chinn opened his Wheeling goldmine, believe it or not, there weren't all that many all-seafood eateries in the meat-loving city or suburbs and the restaurant's reputation as a top-notch spot for crab and all things fishy stuck. The expansive, two-story structure was an old hotel bordello, and today it houses one of the highest grossing restaurants in the country. You must try a signature Mai-tai while you peruse the waybills listing the airport arrival time of fish varieties on the menu of the day -- it's that fresh, and that's why people pour into this place. The wait for a table can be long, but with 700 seats and your food arriving in about 10 minutes, it's not the bother one might expect. Appetizers range from delicacies from the raw bar, crabmeat and shrimp cocktails to Asian options like tonkatsu, edamame and seafood stuffed egg rolls. The most popular item is King Crab legs, by far, but there are around 120 items on the menu plus "Bob's Super Specials" every day making a diner's head swim. Get your crab in an omelet, as a crabcake, soft-shelled, over vermicelli, in Blue crab claws, inside ravioli or au gratined, or alongside a juicy steak. The day's fresh catch can be anything from simply char-grilled Hawaiian Onaga or sauteed sole from Holland. The menu is filled with lobster options, sandwiches, pasta dishes, meat choices like Australian rack of lamb and chops and there's even a child's menu. No wonder everyone wants to be in like Chinn!