Cy’s King Crab Oyster Bar & Grill

Stopped in with a Groupon on a Friday night. No problem finding a table. Took notice to the aged and damaged upholstery… in dire need of interior repair. Service throughout was hospitable but flustered and inconsistent. Appetizers of Blue Points and Garlic broth Oysters were good; unsullied and very little grit. King and snow crab legs quenched our thirst (and stomachs) for fresh seafood. After a couple drinks, two apps, and two entrees, the bill landed around $ 150. IMO, pricey considering it’s not Gibson’s or Joe’s Snow Crab. The business simply wasn’t operating on all cylinders; things seemed to be missing. In totale, I’d have to say I’ll be checking in at other seafood destinations before I stop back, but Cy’s isn’t completely crossed off of my return visit list.

I’m disabled and the owner of this establishment helped me Crack open my crab legs, pushed me in my wheelchair to my car, and loaded my trunk with my chair. Now if that isn’t Outstanding customer service I don’t know what is. The food was fresh and flavorful. I ordered the king crab legs with lobster tail and it was simply divine. My waiter was a little lazy so, that’s when the owner stepped in and made my dinning experience wonderful. I’ve returned several times and I will continue to dine here.

While searching Groupon, we came across a $ 49 for $ 80 deal. The Unilocal rating was 2 ½ stars so that made us a little nervous, but we decided to check it out anyway.
I bought the Groupon & called for a reservation all in the same day (same hour actually) & when I called the person that answered the phone told me reservations were not needed & we would be fine to come right in. Okay, great. Now I was scared.
Walking in, you’re greeted by the lobsters in a tank, telling you to seat yourself. Hahaha. I’m kidding but the lobsters are definitely right there as soon as you walk in.
We sat in the rather large booth that has not been reupholstered in quite some time & had a little stickiness to it. Yep, freaked out by this point (especially when it comes to seafood). Ahh well, what could we do? We were all in at this point.
We started with the blue point oysters & mussels for an appetizer. The blue points were delicious. No grit, shucked well & nice and cold. (Phew, I am starting to ease up a bit!) The mussels were good as well, weird sauce but good, also cleaned well.
For my entrée, I chose the combo with king crab, lobster tail & fried shrimp. A while after we ordered, our server cam out to tell me they were out of lobster tail & asked if I wanted to substitute it for something else. When I asked her what I could sub it with, she had to find the owner to give me the answer. He came over to the table & offered me a crab cake for the tail. Really?! Nah thanks, I will take extra king crab.
The food was good, all the seafood was fresh (besides the fried shrimp) & the garlic mashed potatoes were delish!
Give this place a good cleaning, a décor update & faster service and I would be back… until then I will give it a pass. Even with the Groupon, we ended up spending an extra $ 100.00 — that is an upscale restaurant price…and this place is definitely not upscale.

I went here and ordered 12 Oysters for $ 19.99. They were juicy and amazing. Especially for the price. The drinks were not watered down. The waitstaff and owner was very courteous and even gave me tips and pointers about seafood (oysters primarily). It was pretty dead here but that’s how I like it (mind you it’s 10pm on a Wednesday). I just left Tavern on Rush and it was packed and I paid around $ 3 per oyster.
Overall, I really enjoyed this spot and it definitely fulfilled my oyster craving.

Great food! I used a Groupon and saved $ 40. The Dungeness crab was out of season, but what I ate really good.

A friend wanted to go to this seafood restaurant and invited me. On entry, there isn’t the look and feel of a seafood restaurant. It comes across more like a lounge in one area, big box American (think Grand Lux Café or Cheesecake Factory) in the other end.
The food was not bad. You get Chicago portions, as they call it, where everything is so plentiful that you’re waddling through the exit when you’re done. The bar service seemed a bit scrambled, but it may have been from me not speaking with my American accent.
I will have to go a few more times at various times through the week to sample a few other offerings before I can switch to «fan» mode.

I understand where a lot of the recent Unilocalers’ complaints are coming from. Yes, the space is a bit cavernous and oversized. Yes, the lobster tank shouldn’t be the first thing you see. And yes, their veggie sides seem to come from a frozen package. But that’s not why you come here.
I have been here several times since I live in the neighborhood and I have to say that the King Crab is some of the best I’ve had. Bonus points if you go on a Monday when it’s only 24.95. I usually sit at the bar because the bar specials are criminally good. I would venture to say that Cy’s has the best oyster prices in the city when you sit at the bar and these aren’t some old, reject oysters. They’re fresh (really fresh), plump and briny like a good Atlantic oyster should be. The steamed mussel appetizer is also very good. It’s a simple recipe and Cy’s executes it. Also, their beer prices aren’t half bad.
No, Cy’s can’t hang with other upscale seafood joints in the city. But if you’re looking for fresh, quality shellfish without all the pretentious attitudes then Cy’s is your place. Just don’t order the veggie sides.

I have NEVER ate at a restaurant and NOT tipped the server… until tonight. This was one of the worse dining experiences I’ve ever had.
1^st of all, I made reservations for 8:45 pm, I arrived on time but was ushered to the bar by someone I believe to be the manager where my husband and I sat for 25 mins… which I didn’t understand considering the restaurant that the restaurant was virtually empty, which was wierd for a Saturday night. The manager? Handed us menus as if he expected us to continue to have our meal at the bar. The bartender was nice but the rest of the staff was wierd and confused. As stated in all of the other reviews. 2^nd indicator… a guy not sure of his role, poured us water, spilled it on the table and floor and walked away without cleaning is spill, a few minutes later some came and wiped the floor with the cheap napkins that they also gave to us when we had to ask for napkins.
It’s funny that I did not read the reviews before coming but when I tasted the calamari and the crab cakes, I was certain that they had come out of the freezer, the worse I’ve ever had, my garlic mash, boxed, the king and snow crabs, rubbery and salty as shit. My butter was congealed after a few mins and I asked the waitress if I could have fresh butter, after 15 mins of me watching her run back and forward to another table and the back, the dismayed look on my face caused the manager? to retrieve butter for me. The busboy? Came over to clear our table and took my husbands plate… which he was still attempting to eat from.
To top it off it took a really long time for the girl to bring our check to the point that I had to ask what was going on twice. the manager? Asked me who my waitress was??? ummm you have been pacing the floor since I got here, you should know better than me since I rarely saw her! This place needs a visit from the show «Bar Rescue». Total waste of $ 70 bucks
$ 50 for and $ 80 meal and the total was $ 100 for a disgusting martini and boxed/​frozen food. What a waste of great retail space.

I came to Cy’s for a birthday party. The restaurant is large and loaded with ambiance. Not perfect. I have read reviews of others and agree that the lobster tank in the front should be removed.
Being a part of a large party, I was able to sample a bunch of different appetizers. They were no more special than what you can get at your grocer’s freezer.
Service was horrendous. It took 45 minutes to get a glass of wine. When the food arrived, well, I’ve done better in my own kitchen!
I started out giving 2 stars. But as I read my own review I decided to give just one star.
The Owner seems to be nice, but clueless on how to continue what was once maybe a thriving business.
Shame! Shame! Shame!

I’m not sure about the past Unilocal reviews, but I’m happy it didn’t hinder me from stopping in.
I had been to the Lincoln Park location about 2 years ago and really enjoyed it then. When I saw a groupon for the new location, I bought it right away.
My boyfriend and I went last night and started off with the hot combo appetizer and 6 oysters. The oysters were delicious, but for $ 13, I probably would skip the hot combo next time. It was good, but comparable to an Applebee’s type appetizer.
For dinner, I had the crab stuffed shrimp with broccoli, which was seriously delicious. Their crab cake is really tasty, especially atop butterfly shrimp. Seasoned great.
My boyfriend had the spicy shrimp arrabiata, and I can say it’s honestly the best meal I’ve tried in a long time. Perfect amount of spice and a large portion.
Our service was also very good and the owner stopped by to make sure we were satisfied. We ate on the patio which is really cute and the interior was nice as well. It’s not a fancy seafood restaurant, but feels cozy and had good food. We will definitely be back soon!

It’s unfortunate that so many reviews are so bad for this place, it’s not your upscale glam kind of seafood place by any means — it’s a no nonsense, give me a giant plate of crab and BYOB til I fall over type of venue. The service is always friendly and attentive, and the owner seems to genuinely care about his clients. The patio is really great in the summer and very cozy, great for large groups that just want to chow down. If you’re here ordering steak and chicken, go down the street to Delux and get it there.
That being said, yes, there could definitely be some improvements. First, block off that side room when it’s not in use, the vibe is empty and creepy. Second, clean up the random stuff lying around — I remember in my walk from the front to the patio I noticed a mini vac, some empty vases, and chairs just shoved into an alcove? Huh. Third, that lobster tank is sad as hell that does not want to make me eat your lobster. Add some plants, candles or flowers… something to warm it up a bit.
I live in the hood and hate to see places not do well, and I feel like with a touch of class… and less use of frozen appetizers this place could have a chance. Jon Taffer where are YOU?!

Waiter Mike saved the day. I informed him of the previous time of the portion size being undesirable and he made this birthday event excellent ensuring good service and good food!

We went to Cy’s to celebrate the birthday of two friends. The food was horrible. We had the Sea Bass, Red Snapper and King Crab legs.
The Sea Bass and Red Snapper tasted like it had been frozen. The texture was mushy and somewhat fishy. My friend enjoyed the King Crab legs
Immensely. We ordered key lime pie, which also seemed to have been frozen and did not have great flavor. so, unless you are spending $ 50
For the King Crab legs I would give this place a pass. The service was uneven but one of our waiters was charming. There is free off street
Parking.

We’ve been there twice, once right after it opened and then again just the other week. The first time was pretty bad, but we chalked it up to it being opening week.
When we went back again, it was slightly better but the best I can say is that it’s not terrible, but definitely not good. We had the Atlantic King Crab and Dungeness Crab legs. They were rubbery to the point that we could literally bend the leg in half and the shell never cracked.
This is super disappointing since the space itself is pretty nice and the outside space is gorgeous. We can only hope that the next restaurant in this space will be better.

My friend and I came to Cy’s for a late dinner, as we were in the neighborhood. The menu features items such as hot appetizers, oysters, shrimps, soups, salads, sandwiches, crab combos, etc. I really liked the look of the restaurant itself, as it looked very unique and fun; they had a special menu in which some of their ‘famous/​popular’ dishes were a good few dollars off. We started off with the Buffalo Chicken Wings for an appetizer — the wings themselves were on the smaller end and came with a side of ranch and celery sticks set on top of lettuce. The wings themselves were okay, although it could have been fried a little longer. I ordered the Stuffed Shrimp with Crab Meat — this came with 6 shrimp, sliced in the middle, and had crab meat set on top. I chose a side of a baked potato with sour cream, butter, chives, and cheese; the potato was a bit small, and two of the 3 toppings on the potato were missing T_​_​_​T The crab meat on the shrimp was a little less fresh and underseasoned, but the cocktail sauce that came with helped the overall taste of the dish. My friend had the Chicken Kabob, marinated in olive oil, which came with a side of basmati rice. She stated that there should have been sauce or something, as the chicken itself was very underseasoned and bland (I think it was literally chicken bread with brushed olive oil). Our sever was a forgetful one, and I had to kindly remind her of my missing potato toppings as well as the Coke I ordered, but she was apologetic: P I’m glad I was able to check out Cy’s, but not sure if I’d be back. Just a note: there are ample street parking up along Ashland.
+special menus occasionally
+forgetful service
+parking on Ashland

Let me tell you all something… Come hungry because when you order the king crab legs it’s worth it… Every time I put a crab leg down it seemed like they were adding more on my plate (I swear tho). Large portions. The bill ended up being $ 110 after gratuity. 2 adults 1 child. My fiancé enjoyed her lobster tail/​stuffed crab meat. The alcohol beverages were reasonably priced also. The serve went through the the menu and gave us intricate details. Also the Groupon helped with the bill!

Maybe we got lucky and came on a really good day? Our experience was very different than the recent reviews and I’m glad we didn’t take them into consideration to them before deciding to eat here. (Mostly because people tend to bitch about silly things here on Unilocal) who orders seafood for delivery anyway? Um. Ew. Complaining because the place is too big? THAT deserves 2 stars? C’mon people! People also complained about the music and I do believe the owners saw the comments as the music was soft and low. Definitely not radio.
So this place was reallllllllly close to 5 stars but decided to give them the bump because I feel like the food and ambiance deserves it. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful. Vaulted ceilings complimented with a huge chandelier. Big horseshoe shaped plush boots and a patio I can’t wait to sit on. (It is already open but we opted to eat inside)
Myself and two little ones all had the shrimp alfredo and it was tremendous. No complaints about the grilled prawns from the husband either. The ONLY thing I will say is that the hot combo was small for being $ 12 but it was very good. Skip the iced tea and go to a lemonade. Ohhhh and the Blue Point Oysters, FANTASTIC!!!
Free parking out front which is unheard of and a definite plus.
Will definitely be back.

Holy bad delivery food. Rather than editorializing let me speak directly about the food. The very soggy fried (and clearly frozen) shrimp on the Po’boy were all laid out on the stale bread loaf. That was it. No sauce, no mix of veggies, literally nothing but soggy tiny shrimp on bread.
The clam chowder was equally atrocious. It was pure cream with a few potatoes thrown in for good measure.
My 7.95 key like cheesecake was smaller than a sliver. I’ll post a pic, as it was less an «ordering“and more a «robbery.»
I’d state this was one of my worst food delivery experience in a long time.

The best thing about this place was the hot garlic pita bread served when you sit down.
Everything else was mediocre except for the waitresses.
The décor which is still left over from the previous restaurant does not fit the ambiance that they’re trying to go for. There were odd kid’s stickers on the mirrors which seemed to be leftover from a kid’s party, which is hard to imagine someone would host a kid’s party here.
The food: the clam chowder was lukewarm.
The white fish which was supposed to be broiled looked microwaved from the grocery store and was lukewarm.
The shrimp scampi was served in a nice garlicky sauce but the shrimp quality seemed to be from a frozen freezer.
I live down the street from here and really wanted to like it but it was not a great experience.

Sorry Cy’s, but I have to agree with most of the other reviews that you are just not good.
First, the ambiance… it’s a cool space, but HUGE. Way too big for this type of restaurant. The music was terrible (B96 I think?) and made the whole experience feel more like I was in a bad nightclub just before it opened for the night than in a seafood restaurant.
Second, the service… the service was good, but was too much and too stuffy for the type of food they serve.
Third, the food… bad. The sides were definitely Green Giant bags from the freezer, and the seafood itself was pretty flavorless. The highlight of the night food-​wise was the little pita breads they bring you when you first sit down!
And last, the price… absolutely outrageous for the quality of food. We came here with a Groupon or similar deal, and if we hadn’t I probably would have protested paying the amount we did. It was almost $ 100 (before tip) for two people, and we each had 1 drink and 1 entrée (I think my boyfriend’s was combo platter, but still!).
In short, they have some serious work to do if they want to stick around. I do not see Cy’s lasting much longer.

So Cy’s moved to this location last year and they are still trying to make a mark about a quarter mile from Isaacson and Stein on Fulton Market. I love the location. You can drop your car off for a full detail just east of here if their free parking spots are taken and walk away knowing body, soul and vehicle are reset to «cleansed» status.
Seriously, this place has the sickest oyster special in the city (WHENEVER) and exhibit a humbleness that I find really endearing. Apparently the owner is from an Iranian fishing family and has made a home in good olé Merica for the last 40 years.
Whatever the background and reasons behind their present state, I sit here basking in the afterglow of some time very well spent on a Saturday afternoon!
Thanks Jill, Guillermo and crew.