Love this place. Came upon it during a weekend getaway and have returned several times since. The $99 Surf and Turf deal for 2 is the best!!! 2 salads, an appetizer, selection of surf and turf for each diner and 2 desserts. The portions of these selections are remarkable. It is not downsized by any stretch of the imagination. The food is delicious and has never disappointed. The steaks are cooked perfectly and full of flavor. The crab cakes are to die for. They also serve a crab brie appetizer which is absolutely delicious. The service is always professional and courteous. Either, this place is a hidden gem or we manage to always come during slow times but the intimacy of the ambience coupled with the lack of congestion makes for a wonderful dining experience.
(5)
Beth P.
Holy Mackerel! for the win! We had a less than savory experience at a restaurant around the way from here for Father's Day, where we needed to find a new brunch reservation as quickly as possible. Holy Mackerel! popped up on Yelp and we decided to give it a try. We were greeted by their friendly staff and were seated right away. The dining room was comfortable and classy. There were other families around us but the acoustics in the place must be just right because it was easy to hear everyone at our table without too many distractions. My dad loved the Chicago Deep Dish omelet - it literally looks like an egg deep dish pizza with italian sausage, mozzarella, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and peppers. He also had a tasty bloody mary with some great garnishes. Other menu items we enjoyed were the sunrise skillet, eggs benedict, and the egg white omelet. All were delicious! Thanks for saving my dad's Father's Day brunch Holy Mackerel! My husband and I are definitely looking forward to trying this place for dinner in the near future.
(4)
Keisha F.
I stayed at The Westin attached to the restaurant, I came down to eat here on 5 different occasions throughout the week. Both breakfast and dinner were amazing! The seafood is so fresh and delicious. My bartender's service was also excellent. Two thumbs up!
(5)
George R.
This is a weird restaurant setup, with two restaurants 'sharing' a single kitchen in the same physical space. Ask to sit at Holy Mackerel --or-- Harry Cary and you'll be seated at the same table, given a menu for each and asked to choose. It's like they couldn't make up their minds what they're good at, so they picked both. Our dinners were decent, though a bit overpriced for the quality. My colleague had the tilapia which was reasonably good, though dusted in a coating that could more accurately be referred to as 'buried' in it. My risotto was decent, but the big chunks of lobster they put in it had seen better days. Many better days. It had a fishy smell. It was probably ok to eat, but I didn't want to take the chance and it certainly didn't taste all that good. I notified the waitress who seemed concerned, but didn't call over the hostess or manager or adjust the bill or offer any sort of recompense. In hindsight we should have gone to Capital Grille which is (1) nearby, (2) priced similarly and (3) consistently good.
(2)
Angela D.
Went for breakfast but they stopped serving at 11am, this always infuriates me. You can't crack a freaking egg after 11am really? Luckily, the burger I got for lunch was so good I quickly forgot about the missed opportunity for a delicious brunch :) Service was very attentive, friendly and honest. He suggested which burger options (because there were a LOT of them) were the most flavorful, healthiest, and what was worth the extra costs. It was like a gourmet build-your-own burger bar. I had bacon, blue cheese, and BBQ on angus. WOW! Definitely going back to try brunch, and hoping this time I make it before the cutoff :)
(4)
Jaci W.
Other than the name 'himself' this IS the only attraction to the menu portion of the 'bar'! Half off burgers during blackhawk games...well thats the rule evidently...unless Lauren and her Mgr (she uses for excuse)think you're not paying attention..Pay attention to that one!!! Fullishly they offer cloth knapkins, prpbably because the cost if paper would ruin them. Tbe lack of quality in beef is readily visible just by use of the knapkin alone..the grease is so visible in the knapkin its unbelievable they continue their use. Ive been in the restaurant business for over 35 years, and have run some of the highest volumn places for more than 20. The smoked applewood bacon might as well have been from a fire than completed with a dash of sweet (it wasnt apple). And than we come to the Half off all burgers during Black Hawk games...if you dont know this...you wont know it!!! It doesnt take the Mgr to put the "specials"in right my dear...shame on you...and your lack of sincerity and eye contact spoke volumns of whom you are kiddo. The straw...Latino emoloyees (no problem, unless)...one I believe managerial..straightening tables as the customers left..but laughing and saying ??? while looking at these customers leaving...makes one whom doesnt speak the language feel a bit uneasy and is very unprofessional! So final..nice bar ....thats all!
(1)
Ka M.
I came here for an interview. The front desk girl @ holy m is rude and is sitting here playing on her phone. She directed me to where the interview was and didnt even check to see if the interview before me was done. I walked right into an on going interview. Wow that doesn't make me look stupid. Thanks.
(1)
Chris M.
A sure fire classy restaurant with good service, food, menu, appetizers, dessert, & location. A solid 4 stars. Oh you can order food from Harry Carry's which is connected next door! "Hey, Everybody"
(4)
Brian M.
I would literally kill for the Chicken Chop Salad here. It's the greatest salad ever. The rest of this place is just okay. I guess I would say it's a well run, slightly upscale place with very good wait staff and good food. It tends to be lame on the atmosphere side in my opinion. Lack luster form that stand point.
(4)
Jo R.
Holy Mackerel! shares a kitchen and menu with Harry Caray's. The atmosphere is much more elegant at Holy Mackerel! I especially love the soothing water wall. The food is high quality and presented quite nicely. However, the wait staff here is nowhere near as professional or prompt as the Harry Caray's staff. In one visit, we were seated in a far away corner and forgotten about for a considerable amount of time. Perhaps it was just bad luck. Overall, I do recommend Holy Mackerel! for its food, cocktails, and atmosphere.
(3)
Kamilah S.
I came here for my birthday with my mother. The food is great and you can order off Harry Caray's menu or Holy Mackerel, SWEET!!! We had the clamari as an appetizer, it was not fried, but in a spicy tomato broth, YUM. I had the seafood stew and my mom had the seafood risotto. Both were very TASTY. I am not a real big fan of risotto, but this one wasn't bad. Adam our waiter, gave me complimentary key lime pie, tasty as well. Adam was great, positive attitude, happy, he looks like he loves what he does. I will be back!!!!!!
(5)
Robyn C.
Came here with my Fiance for his birthday. The ambiance is very nice, not too ritzy, not too casual. Service was attentive, although we did eat early and the restaurant was pretty empty. My fiance ordered the Chilean sea bass, which he said was fantastic. I ordered the 1 1/2 pound king crab legs. they were fresh and tasted like heaven. since it's a spin off of harry carrys, we were able to order from their dessert menu. We got the vanilla creme brulee. I like the top to be really hard and crunchy, and it wasn't, but the custard was fantastic, very smooth and thick. I would come here again for special occasions :)
(3)
Katy H.
Holy Mackerel is right! I didn't eat the food here but I went to the bar which is attached to the dining room. Right as you first enter the hotel you can peer into the bar/restaurant area (off to the right) before walking ahead to check in to the hotel. When I first arrived I thought "ooh.. I'll be getting a gin n' tonic there later!" I sat at the bar and was helped immediately. The bartender had 3 or 4 other people to take care of at this 10-stool bar. He was extremely polite and helpful right off the bat. He made friends with the patrons and engaged in small talk with everyone. Eventually because we were all talking with him, we all started to talk to each other! It was quite funny. It also worked to my benefit because I was in town for a convention being hosted at that same hotel in the morning. As it turns out, most of the people with me at the bar were colleagues of mine. It was great to schmooze with them before the event in the morning. To keep people drinking and to keep people entertained, the bartender had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Like a friggin' magician! He showed all of us tricks with dollar bills, tricks with matches, tricks with toothpicks. It was definitely one of the most entertaining bar experiences I've ever had. I planned on having ONE drink and sit there for about 40 mins. Instead I didn't make it to my room until 1am because I had such a good time I didn't want to go to bed!
(5)
Booda B.
Anything they offer here with rock shrimp is delicious - I love the spicy rock shrimp popcorn with Thai coconut sauce. The chipotle glazed pork chops are really good, but, even so, I'd suggest sticking to the seafood (like the simple but well-prepared rainbow trout). It's their specialty, and they do a fine job with it. The service was a bit rocky when they first opened in August 2007, but it's much improved. The cocktail menu is creative, and the decor is brighter and calmer than you'd expect for a hotel. Sit in the map room if you can - cool old Chicago maps and lakefront pictures on the walls.
(4)
Katrina H.
Thank goodness for their new Pre Menu!! We were staying at this Weston and wanted to get away from folks. The ambiance is really nice...service is ok.. the food was decent. For $20 per person we had a 3 course meal including Sole/ mashed potatoes, veggies and even keylime pie. Not bad for a place like this. I hope to try their Menu items soon although it's not a place that I would frequent just because I'm in the area. There are to many other places nearby that I'd love to try.
(4)
Afreen B.
The first time we went to this restaurant we went on valentines day! We absolutely loved the ambiance and the setting. We ordered crab cake, fish and chips, the burger, and mac n cheese. Everything wad delicious I am a huge fan of their crab cakes! We went again last week and sat outside. Absolutely loved everything! This time we ordered the filet mignon sliders and chicken alfredo and it was delish! Highly reccomend :) Service is great and locations is awesome.
(5)
Chris P.
Was there MON-WED. Food was good. Had mussels which was massive, also tried oysters and clam chowder. Only ate at the bar which is really the best thing about the place. The bartender, Walter, was a blast. Great conversation and quick with a drink. Ask him to show you some of the bar tricks, you will not be disappointed!
(4)
Michele S.
Took both dads here for Christmas Eve dinner. We always do seafood for Christmas Eve, so we decided to give Holy Mackerel a try. We all started with a bowl of clam chowder. This had to be the worst clam chowder I ever ate. It was full of grit like I was eating it on the beach. Did they not rinse the clams?? For dinner, I had grouper with collard greens. The fish was good, but the collard greens were also full of grit! Did they not wash the collard greens?! My husband had the Walleye, and the piece of fish on the plate was large enough to feed the entire table...which was odd because my grouper was a normal one person size. It's not like all of their portions were so big. The fish was the only thing he liked on his plate. It was served with rice pilaf that was pretty bland. Both dads had fish and chips and thought it was ok. The only thing that was really good was the dessert. I had the chocolate cake. It was airy and chocolaty. Not heavy like many chocolate cakes. Lastly, our service was horrendous. Although our waitress seemed like a nice lady, she was never around. My husband asked for mashed potatoes on the side...she never brought those. My father-in-law asked for extra tartar sauce. He had to ask 3 different people before it finally came to the table. She never asked if we wanted more drinks, or how the meal was. Nothing. Keep in mind, the restaurant was dead. We came in early before the dinner rush. Also, their website said they had a special "Christmas Eve dinner menu" in addition to the regular menu. They did not, at least they didn't give it to us. The manager came by to ask how our dinner was. I wanted to tell him "not good", but figured it was Christmas Eve and to just leave it alone. We love seafood, but this is not the place for us. Nobody in our party enjoyed their meal. Even though we can walk here from our home, we won't be back.
(2)
Tom R.
Booooo. The food was ok. I was treated like poorly. U deserve a 1. Seriously If it wasn't in the hotel I always stay at in Lombard, I probably would never be back.
(1)
Grant P.
We came here on a Thursday night without a reservation to celebrate my wife's birthday with my parents. They accommodated us and had plenty of room. The dining room was very nicely decorated. Our server, Susan, was a delight and catered to our every need with warmth and friendliness. The food was delicious. I had the clam chowder soup and lamb chops. Surprisingly, they were served with both potatoes and a side of pasta. Craziness. But crazy good. This review is short and sweet, but the experience was wonderful and we'll absolutely return again and again.
(5)
S Y.
My bill was nearly $50.00 without liquor. Which is fine if you get what you pay for. I intended to order an appetizer. But, I planned on having the miso kasu halibut for dinner. I couldn't find an appetizer that would compliment the main course. But, rather take my pallet in two divergent paths. The appetizers all looked heavy and unappealing. Chef - with such diverse Asian offerings on the menu, why not try a seaweed salad? Or, a bit of tuna tartar on a bed of greens? Then came the miso kasu. The waitress tried her best to explain the dish that I grew up with. But, trust me, I've had this dish prepared by some of the best chefs in Japan, so I know what to anticipate. It just wasn't that good. The teriyaki sauce was overly sweet and drew away from the fish. Also, by saturating the rice with the teriyaki sauce, the rice was soggy and heavy not light and sticky. It might only be me, as people around me loved their food... and raved about it. I guess I just ordered the wrong thing or had different expectations.
(2)
Justin M.
200th review!!!! I am so special. Holy Mackerel! specializes in seafood dishes, which I did not have time to partake in. I did have the calamari for an appetizer, and also ordered a Denver omelet the next morning for breakfast. The food was very good, and the service was excellent. Because I was hung over, the waitress was very understanding when I needed my water refilled 8 times in the span of 30 minutes. The decor of the restaurant is pretty cool, sort of an old-school feeling with a touch of modern pimpness. When I come back to the Westin, I definitely want to have dinner here. From what other people in the bridal party told me, their fish is excellent.
(4)
Reed N.
Seafood in Chicago? Sure!!! A seafood cobb salad for dinner for me after a heavy lunch. It was delicious... my colleagues made fun of me for so thoroughly cleaning the plate. The antipasto of olives, cheeses, etc we passed around before dineer was absolutely superb. The wine list was also top notch... price ranges to satisfy all budgets... and a good regional/varietal range.
(4)
Abbys A.
Holy Mackerel and Harry Caray's are combined restaurant located at the Westin Lombard Hotel (first floor). Holy Mac is more upscale, may be a bit rigid for some, while the Harry Caray's is more of a relaxed setting. - Ambiance and service = 4 stars. Because of the upscale setting, I thought they would not be so happy to accommodate us because 1.) we did not have a reservation and 2.) I have a toddler with me. But I was pleasantly surprise. Our server was friendly and toddler friendly. I find it really heart warming when servers take time to talk to my 20 month old son or at least attempt to. Often times, servers ignore children in restaurants. Not here, our server really made my lil man special. - Food = 5 stars. I enjoyed the Bonesless Chicken Vesuvio. The presentation was simple but elegant. The chicken, peas and potatoes was cooked perfectly; juicy and full of flavor. I love the caper sauce. My son had french fries (of course). He loved their apple potato butternut squash bisque and crackers. I must say, it was really delicious. Creamy and very tasty. I ordered another cup for him - to go. Portions was just right. - Price = 4 stars. It's a bit on the expensive side but well worth it. If I had more time in the area, I would definitely be back to try more on their menu.
(4)
Tina H.
Holy Cow! I have eaten at the Harry Carey chain in Chicago and it was good bar food so I was not expecting the outstanding food we enjoyed at Holy Mackerel. Service was professional and impeccable at both restaraunts. My sister had the raspberry martini and my boyfriend enjoyed the mojitos - perfected concocted by Walter on Holy Mackerel's side. We started with clam chowder and the shrimp cocktail. The shrimp was meaty and perfect :) The clam chowder has a beautiful undertone of bacon. We had the scallops, pecan encrusted tilapia and crab and goganzola stuffed flounder. All the dished were cooked to perfection. You can also order any of the fresh seafood with just butter and lemon for those who aren't into "fooffie" food :) I will return and cannot wait to enjoy more of the wonderful items on the menu!
(5)
Victor M.
A "could be better" experience for breakfast. I thought I would write in this since although I have been going here for the last 2 weeks (daily) and generally had good food and service, I had a not such a good experience this morning for break fast. Note the night crew and especially those at the bar are REALLY GOOD. Its only this morning's experience that has prompted me to write. I went down for breakfast (staying at the Westin). All was good; got taken to my seat, presented a menu as usual. Ordered from the menu a scrambled egg sandwich on dark rye, a fresh squeezed orange juice ( as written in menu) and a plain yoghurt. What I got in return was the following. Omelette (not scrambled) Sandwich; Orange juice from a bottle; Vanilla flavoured yoghurt. I then spoke to the waitress and her boss and here is the flow of conversation. Scrambled egg sandwich: Me: I'm sorry I ordered a scrambled egg sandwich. This is an omelette. Waitress: Sorry this is how its served. Me: Ok but what is a scrambled egg then? Waitress: A scrambled egg. Me: Does this look like a scrambled egg? Waitress: No.... Fresh Orange juice: Waitress' boss clearly thinking I'm an annoying customer: It IS fresh squeezed. Me: no its not it tastes like its from the bottle. Waitress boss comes back with bottle: yes you see it says fresh squeezed on the bottle.(!!!) Pause I'm a little surprised.. Me: Ok but when you write fresh squeezed on the menu one expects that you have freshly squeezed the oranges. Waitress' boss: No, it IS fresh squeezed. They ( the maker/factory) squeeze it. Me: yes but when you write fresh squeeze I would expect something freshly done. Waitress' boss: I don't think any restaurant does that....(!) Vanilla yoghurt by this time I am fed up and waited until the end: Me: sorry the yoghurt is not plain Waitress as she is taking the bowl away: this is a bad restaurant for you then.... Since this is writing a review, I thought that the best way to show the review is through the conversation. I have tried to be as accurate as possible. In the end I ate the omelette sandwich since it is such a waste to throw food away. The waitress at the end did ask if I wanted to pay the full price, and they did take off the orange juice, yoghurt and latte ( I got this for free). I don't also think it was the waitress' fault although she could have not really argued with me and the comment at the end was not one that encourages me to return. I am sure it reflects the discussions they were having behind the doors about me.
(2)
Jeanie O.
This review is for both the Harry Caray and Holy Mackerel! The seafood is great; the restaurant atmosphere is nice, and gotta love how the waitstaff explains cut of the meat or steak, before they take your order. Was here with a group of about 20 or so people. We ordered off the menu, and the staff was efficient. The dessert were just as divine.
(4)
Lara T.
You can never go wrong with a Harry Caray's restaurant. The place is situated in a hotel, so you may have to make a reservation to avoid waiting due to convention/meeting traffic. We had three different fabulous, flaky grilled fish dishes, seasoned well and the portions were more than adequate. If you do not wish for seafood, you can order off of the Harry Caray's restaurant menu. With that many options, you cannot go wrong. And ps. The service is spot-on.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Good atmosphere, good food and convenient in the Chicago suburbs! We had a large group dinner of over 20 people and the service was efficient and accurate, so we were very impressed!
(4)
Suz C.
Adjacent to and sister of the more casual Harry Caray steakhouse restaurant next door and on the first floor of the Westin Hotel, Holy Mackerel serves up decent seafood fare. The restaurant is not very big, but the decor is elegant - dark wood, dim lighting, interesting murals of Oak Street beach on the walls. More upscale and quieter than Harry Caray, Holy Mackerel is a nice place to go for quiet, non-raucous gatherings. I wore jeans to this place but I felt a tad bit underdressed. They do accommodate larger groups, but I would say not larger than 6-8, because it is a small place. The great thing about the restaurant is that you can order steaks from HC, and after you're done at HM, you can go next door to HC and watch some football/basketball on the TV screens. Service was good - very attlentive and polite. Food was pretty good. I started with the clam chowder, which my fiance pronounced as one of the best he had ever tasted (I disagreed). I ordered the ahi tuna, and I thought the sauce was too salty, so I felt mehhhhh about my dish. My fiance, on the other hand, ordered the chilean sea bass and it was divine. I was surprised that the seafood menu wasn't very expansive (McCormick & Schmick seems to have a larger offering), but overall I thought the food was good in spite of my poorly chosen entree. Entrees prices range from $18 - 67, and you can preview their items at their website, holymackerelseafood.com . We finished with banana cream pie, and it was magnifique! Loved it. You can park right outside the restaurant, but keep in mind that it is a hotel so you may end up parking around reserved sections and valet sections. And for convenience, after you're done at Holy Mackerel, you have the option of shopping at Target next door or going to Yorktown Center mall. Talk about convenience. Even though I gave this one 3 stars, I do think it is a decent seafood place. I just wasn't blown away enough to give it 4 or 5, and I can think of other seafood places I'd recommend first. Tip: On weekends, there are lots of weddings, so I'd avoid going into the Westin Hotel lobby area unless you are there to people-watch and gape.
(3)
Andy S.
The food was good, the atmosphere a whatever, the service outstanding. We went for our anniversary dinner. Luckily I had read on-line that the ambiance wasn't anything special so I was prepared. Should've share that fact with the Mrs...People cutting through to the bar, some wench with her babies looking for cream/sugar for her Starbuck's coffee?! and it's pretty small too. Now onto the food. They ran out of lobster (wha?) so I had the tail. it was very good. My wife had the salmon which was prepared nicely. The corn on the cob was inedible. No self-respecting cook should have sent it out. Both kinds of taters were good too. Key lime pie for dessert was top shelf. Service was very attentive.
(3)
Joe R.
I went to Holy Mackerel for my birthday and took full advantage of the Surf & Turf for Two special that was running. It is an outstanding value and you will definitely not leave the place hungry. The ambiance at Holy Mackerel is a 180 from Harry Caray's (although they share a communal kitchen where you can order off each menu) and is more of a nautical, almost tropical feel. The staff was very accommodating for some tweaks I wanted from the menu and made the overall dining experience very enjoyable. Holy Mackerel is a great addition to the Harry Caray's dining group.
(4)
Jordyn V.
This is one of my favorite fish houses. They serve Harry Caray,s there too. But I say get the fish! I've dined there only twice. I got sole and it was absolutely amazing. It was served on a bed of mashes potatoes with asparagus...divine. For a side I split the rock shrimp potatoes and they were awesome! There is very nice decor, it has a modern vibe.
(5)
Rick D.
My wife and I had dinner at Holy Mackerel this past Saturday night before seeing a movie at the Yorktown Theater. I had the Seafood Risotto and she had the Macadamia Nut Encrusted Tilapia. The seafood was a nice mixture of shrimp, large pieces of lobster, clams, crab and mussels. The risotto was so filling and tasty - I couldn't finish the whole thing. The tilapia was just as good and the service was excellent. Topped it off with a few beers and some wine for my wife, an excellent movie (True Grit), and this was a fantastic evening.
(5)
April W.
the food was great, and im not a fish fan, but the atmosphere on a friday was dead dead dead. the bartender was a riot and we too enjoyed his tricks!
(4)
nan B.
Great place to relax. Beautiful murals and good selection of background music. I felt as though I were transported back in time to the 1940's. The Oyster Sampler was very interesting; lots of different flavors. The Paella was very good. Dessert was very, very good. I am not a big dessert person but the chocolate rum bread pudding was really great! The chocolate flavor was very intense and heavenly.
(4)
Joan K.
Visited on a Saturday evening and found the restarant empty. Bass dish was good. Lobster Risotto was kinda flavorless. Clam chowdar was the best dish of the nite. Desserts (we like our desserts!!) were stale. Pinapple upsidedown cake was mushy and old tasting as well as was the chocolate cake. I have never had chocolate buttercream that when it was not ice cold, was hard like this was. Over all, not worth the hype of the Harry Carey name. They said it was a new concept? Not sure what the new concept in seafood dining was.
(3)
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Address :70 Yorktown Ctr,in Westin Hotel
Lombard, IL, 60148
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy, Upscale Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Alzetta H.
Love this place. Came upon it during a weekend getaway and have returned several times since. The $99 Surf and Turf deal for 2 is the best!!! 2 salads, an appetizer, selection of surf and turf for each diner and 2 desserts. The portions of these selections are remarkable. It is not downsized by any stretch of the imagination. The food is delicious and has never disappointed. The steaks are cooked perfectly and full of flavor. The crab cakes are to die for. They also serve a crab brie appetizer which is absolutely delicious. The service is always professional and courteous. Either, this place is a hidden gem or we manage to always come during slow times but the intimacy of the ambience coupled with the lack of congestion makes for a wonderful dining experience.
(5)Beth P.
Holy Mackerel! for the win! We had a less than savory experience at a restaurant around the way from here for Father's Day, where we needed to find a new brunch reservation as quickly as possible. Holy Mackerel! popped up on Yelp and we decided to give it a try. We were greeted by their friendly staff and were seated right away. The dining room was comfortable and classy. There were other families around us but the acoustics in the place must be just right because it was easy to hear everyone at our table without too many distractions. My dad loved the Chicago Deep Dish omelet - it literally looks like an egg deep dish pizza with italian sausage, mozzarella, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and peppers. He also had a tasty bloody mary with some great garnishes. Other menu items we enjoyed were the sunrise skillet, eggs benedict, and the egg white omelet. All were delicious! Thanks for saving my dad's Father's Day brunch Holy Mackerel! My husband and I are definitely looking forward to trying this place for dinner in the near future.
(4)Keisha F.
I stayed at The Westin attached to the restaurant, I came down to eat here on 5 different occasions throughout the week. Both breakfast and dinner were amazing! The seafood is so fresh and delicious. My bartender's service was also excellent. Two thumbs up!
(5)George R.
This is a weird restaurant setup, with two restaurants 'sharing' a single kitchen in the same physical space. Ask to sit at Holy Mackerel --or-- Harry Cary and you'll be seated at the same table, given a menu for each and asked to choose. It's like they couldn't make up their minds what they're good at, so they picked both. Our dinners were decent, though a bit overpriced for the quality. My colleague had the tilapia which was reasonably good, though dusted in a coating that could more accurately be referred to as 'buried' in it. My risotto was decent, but the big chunks of lobster they put in it had seen better days. Many better days. It had a fishy smell. It was probably ok to eat, but I didn't want to take the chance and it certainly didn't taste all that good. I notified the waitress who seemed concerned, but didn't call over the hostess or manager or adjust the bill or offer any sort of recompense. In hindsight we should have gone to Capital Grille which is (1) nearby, (2) priced similarly and (3) consistently good.
(2)Angela D.
Went for breakfast but they stopped serving at 11am, this always infuriates me. You can't crack a freaking egg after 11am really? Luckily, the burger I got for lunch was so good I quickly forgot about the missed opportunity for a delicious brunch :) Service was very attentive, friendly and honest. He suggested which burger options (because there were a LOT of them) were the most flavorful, healthiest, and what was worth the extra costs. It was like a gourmet build-your-own burger bar. I had bacon, blue cheese, and BBQ on angus. WOW! Definitely going back to try brunch, and hoping this time I make it before the cutoff :)
(4)Jaci W.
Other than the name 'himself' this IS the only attraction to the menu portion of the 'bar'! Half off burgers during blackhawk games...well thats the rule evidently...unless Lauren and her Mgr (she uses for excuse)think you're not paying attention..Pay attention to that one!!! Fullishly they offer cloth knapkins, prpbably because the cost if paper would ruin them. Tbe lack of quality in beef is readily visible just by use of the knapkin alone..the grease is so visible in the knapkin its unbelievable they continue their use. Ive been in the restaurant business for over 35 years, and have run some of the highest volumn places for more than 20. The smoked applewood bacon might as well have been from a fire than completed with a dash of sweet (it wasnt apple). And than we come to the Half off all burgers during Black Hawk games...if you dont know this...you wont know it!!! It doesnt take the Mgr to put the "specials"in right my dear...shame on you...and your lack of sincerity and eye contact spoke volumns of whom you are kiddo. The straw...Latino emoloyees (no problem, unless)...one I believe managerial..straightening tables as the customers left..but laughing and saying ??? while looking at these customers leaving...makes one whom doesnt speak the language feel a bit uneasy and is very unprofessional! So final..nice bar ....thats all!
(1)Ka M.
I came here for an interview. The front desk girl @ holy m is rude and is sitting here playing on her phone. She directed me to where the interview was and didnt even check to see if the interview before me was done. I walked right into an on going interview. Wow that doesn't make me look stupid. Thanks.
(1)Chris M.
A sure fire classy restaurant with good service, food, menu, appetizers, dessert, & location. A solid 4 stars. Oh you can order food from Harry Carry's which is connected next door! "Hey, Everybody"
(4)Brian M.
I would literally kill for the Chicken Chop Salad here. It's the greatest salad ever. The rest of this place is just okay. I guess I would say it's a well run, slightly upscale place with very good wait staff and good food. It tends to be lame on the atmosphere side in my opinion. Lack luster form that stand point.
(4)Jo R.
Holy Mackerel! shares a kitchen and menu with Harry Caray's. The atmosphere is much more elegant at Holy Mackerel! I especially love the soothing water wall. The food is high quality and presented quite nicely. However, the wait staff here is nowhere near as professional or prompt as the Harry Caray's staff. In one visit, we were seated in a far away corner and forgotten about for a considerable amount of time. Perhaps it was just bad luck. Overall, I do recommend Holy Mackerel! for its food, cocktails, and atmosphere.
(3)Kamilah S.
I came here for my birthday with my mother. The food is great and you can order off Harry Caray's menu or Holy Mackerel, SWEET!!! We had the clamari as an appetizer, it was not fried, but in a spicy tomato broth, YUM. I had the seafood stew and my mom had the seafood risotto. Both were very TASTY. I am not a real big fan of risotto, but this one wasn't bad. Adam our waiter, gave me complimentary key lime pie, tasty as well. Adam was great, positive attitude, happy, he looks like he loves what he does. I will be back!!!!!!
(5)Robyn C.
Came here with my Fiance for his birthday. The ambiance is very nice, not too ritzy, not too casual. Service was attentive, although we did eat early and the restaurant was pretty empty. My fiance ordered the Chilean sea bass, which he said was fantastic. I ordered the 1 1/2 pound king crab legs. they were fresh and tasted like heaven. since it's a spin off of harry carrys, we were able to order from their dessert menu. We got the vanilla creme brulee. I like the top to be really hard and crunchy, and it wasn't, but the custard was fantastic, very smooth and thick. I would come here again for special occasions :)
(3)Katy H.
Holy Mackerel is right! I didn't eat the food here but I went to the bar which is attached to the dining room. Right as you first enter the hotel you can peer into the bar/restaurant area (off to the right) before walking ahead to check in to the hotel. When I first arrived I thought "ooh.. I'll be getting a gin n' tonic there later!" I sat at the bar and was helped immediately. The bartender had 3 or 4 other people to take care of at this 10-stool bar. He was extremely polite and helpful right off the bat. He made friends with the patrons and engaged in small talk with everyone. Eventually because we were all talking with him, we all started to talk to each other! It was quite funny. It also worked to my benefit because I was in town for a convention being hosted at that same hotel in the morning. As it turns out, most of the people with me at the bar were colleagues of mine. It was great to schmooze with them before the event in the morning. To keep people drinking and to keep people entertained, the bartender had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Like a friggin' magician! He showed all of us tricks with dollar bills, tricks with matches, tricks with toothpicks. It was definitely one of the most entertaining bar experiences I've ever had. I planned on having ONE drink and sit there for about 40 mins. Instead I didn't make it to my room until 1am because I had such a good time I didn't want to go to bed!
(5)Booda B.
Anything they offer here with rock shrimp is delicious - I love the spicy rock shrimp popcorn with Thai coconut sauce. The chipotle glazed pork chops are really good, but, even so, I'd suggest sticking to the seafood (like the simple but well-prepared rainbow trout). It's their specialty, and they do a fine job with it. The service was a bit rocky when they first opened in August 2007, but it's much improved. The cocktail menu is creative, and the decor is brighter and calmer than you'd expect for a hotel. Sit in the map room if you can - cool old Chicago maps and lakefront pictures on the walls.
(4)Katrina H.
Thank goodness for their new Pre Menu!! We were staying at this Weston and wanted to get away from folks. The ambiance is really nice...service is ok.. the food was decent. For $20 per person we had a 3 course meal including Sole/ mashed potatoes, veggies and even keylime pie. Not bad for a place like this. I hope to try their Menu items soon although it's not a place that I would frequent just because I'm in the area. There are to many other places nearby that I'd love to try.
(4)Afreen B.
The first time we went to this restaurant we went on valentines day! We absolutely loved the ambiance and the setting. We ordered crab cake, fish and chips, the burger, and mac n cheese. Everything wad delicious I am a huge fan of their crab cakes! We went again last week and sat outside. Absolutely loved everything! This time we ordered the filet mignon sliders and chicken alfredo and it was delish! Highly reccomend :) Service is great and locations is awesome.
(5)Chris P.
Was there MON-WED. Food was good. Had mussels which was massive, also tried oysters and clam chowder. Only ate at the bar which is really the best thing about the place. The bartender, Walter, was a blast. Great conversation and quick with a drink. Ask him to show you some of the bar tricks, you will not be disappointed!
(4)Michele S.
Took both dads here for Christmas Eve dinner. We always do seafood for Christmas Eve, so we decided to give Holy Mackerel a try. We all started with a bowl of clam chowder. This had to be the worst clam chowder I ever ate. It was full of grit like I was eating it on the beach. Did they not rinse the clams?? For dinner, I had grouper with collard greens. The fish was good, but the collard greens were also full of grit! Did they not wash the collard greens?! My husband had the Walleye, and the piece of fish on the plate was large enough to feed the entire table...which was odd because my grouper was a normal one person size. It's not like all of their portions were so big. The fish was the only thing he liked on his plate. It was served with rice pilaf that was pretty bland. Both dads had fish and chips and thought it was ok. The only thing that was really good was the dessert. I had the chocolate cake. It was airy and chocolaty. Not heavy like many chocolate cakes. Lastly, our service was horrendous. Although our waitress seemed like a nice lady, she was never around. My husband asked for mashed potatoes on the side...she never brought those. My father-in-law asked for extra tartar sauce. He had to ask 3 different people before it finally came to the table. She never asked if we wanted more drinks, or how the meal was. Nothing. Keep in mind, the restaurant was dead. We came in early before the dinner rush. Also, their website said they had a special "Christmas Eve dinner menu" in addition to the regular menu. They did not, at least they didn't give it to us. The manager came by to ask how our dinner was. I wanted to tell him "not good", but figured it was Christmas Eve and to just leave it alone. We love seafood, but this is not the place for us. Nobody in our party enjoyed their meal. Even though we can walk here from our home, we won't be back.
(2)Tom R.
Booooo. The food was ok. I was treated like poorly. U deserve a 1. Seriously If it wasn't in the hotel I always stay at in Lombard, I probably would never be back.
(1)Grant P.
We came here on a Thursday night without a reservation to celebrate my wife's birthday with my parents. They accommodated us and had plenty of room. The dining room was very nicely decorated. Our server, Susan, was a delight and catered to our every need with warmth and friendliness. The food was delicious. I had the clam chowder soup and lamb chops. Surprisingly, they were served with both potatoes and a side of pasta. Craziness. But crazy good. This review is short and sweet, but the experience was wonderful and we'll absolutely return again and again.
(5)S Y.
My bill was nearly $50.00 without liquor. Which is fine if you get what you pay for. I intended to order an appetizer. But, I planned on having the miso kasu halibut for dinner. I couldn't find an appetizer that would compliment the main course. But, rather take my pallet in two divergent paths. The appetizers all looked heavy and unappealing. Chef - with such diverse Asian offerings on the menu, why not try a seaweed salad? Or, a bit of tuna tartar on a bed of greens? Then came the miso kasu. The waitress tried her best to explain the dish that I grew up with. But, trust me, I've had this dish prepared by some of the best chefs in Japan, so I know what to anticipate. It just wasn't that good. The teriyaki sauce was overly sweet and drew away from the fish. Also, by saturating the rice with the teriyaki sauce, the rice was soggy and heavy not light and sticky. It might only be me, as people around me loved their food... and raved about it. I guess I just ordered the wrong thing or had different expectations.
(2)Justin M.
200th review!!!! I am so special. Holy Mackerel! specializes in seafood dishes, which I did not have time to partake in. I did have the calamari for an appetizer, and also ordered a Denver omelet the next morning for breakfast. The food was very good, and the service was excellent. Because I was hung over, the waitress was very understanding when I needed my water refilled 8 times in the span of 30 minutes. The decor of the restaurant is pretty cool, sort of an old-school feeling with a touch of modern pimpness. When I come back to the Westin, I definitely want to have dinner here. From what other people in the bridal party told me, their fish is excellent.
(4)Reed N.
Seafood in Chicago? Sure!!! A seafood cobb salad for dinner for me after a heavy lunch. It was delicious... my colleagues made fun of me for so thoroughly cleaning the plate. The antipasto of olives, cheeses, etc we passed around before dineer was absolutely superb. The wine list was also top notch... price ranges to satisfy all budgets... and a good regional/varietal range.
(4)Abbys A.
Holy Mackerel and Harry Caray's are combined restaurant located at the Westin Lombard Hotel (first floor). Holy Mac is more upscale, may be a bit rigid for some, while the Harry Caray's is more of a relaxed setting. - Ambiance and service = 4 stars. Because of the upscale setting, I thought they would not be so happy to accommodate us because 1.) we did not have a reservation and 2.) I have a toddler with me. But I was pleasantly surprise. Our server was friendly and toddler friendly. I find it really heart warming when servers take time to talk to my 20 month old son or at least attempt to. Often times, servers ignore children in restaurants. Not here, our server really made my lil man special. - Food = 5 stars. I enjoyed the Bonesless Chicken Vesuvio. The presentation was simple but elegant. The chicken, peas and potatoes was cooked perfectly; juicy and full of flavor. I love the caper sauce. My son had french fries (of course). He loved their apple potato butternut squash bisque and crackers. I must say, it was really delicious. Creamy and very tasty. I ordered another cup for him - to go. Portions was just right. - Price = 4 stars. It's a bit on the expensive side but well worth it. If I had more time in the area, I would definitely be back to try more on their menu.
(4)Tina H.
Holy Cow! I have eaten at the Harry Carey chain in Chicago and it was good bar food so I was not expecting the outstanding food we enjoyed at Holy Mackerel. Service was professional and impeccable at both restaraunts. My sister had the raspberry martini and my boyfriend enjoyed the mojitos - perfected concocted by Walter on Holy Mackerel's side. We started with clam chowder and the shrimp cocktail. The shrimp was meaty and perfect :) The clam chowder has a beautiful undertone of bacon. We had the scallops, pecan encrusted tilapia and crab and goganzola stuffed flounder. All the dished were cooked to perfection. You can also order any of the fresh seafood with just butter and lemon for those who aren't into "fooffie" food :) I will return and cannot wait to enjoy more of the wonderful items on the menu!
(5)Victor M.
A "could be better" experience for breakfast. I thought I would write in this since although I have been going here for the last 2 weeks (daily) and generally had good food and service, I had a not such a good experience this morning for break fast. Note the night crew and especially those at the bar are REALLY GOOD. Its only this morning's experience that has prompted me to write. I went down for breakfast (staying at the Westin). All was good; got taken to my seat, presented a menu as usual. Ordered from the menu a scrambled egg sandwich on dark rye, a fresh squeezed orange juice ( as written in menu) and a plain yoghurt. What I got in return was the following. Omelette (not scrambled) Sandwich; Orange juice from a bottle; Vanilla flavoured yoghurt. I then spoke to the waitress and her boss and here is the flow of conversation. Scrambled egg sandwich: Me: I'm sorry I ordered a scrambled egg sandwich. This is an omelette. Waitress: Sorry this is how its served. Me: Ok but what is a scrambled egg then? Waitress: A scrambled egg. Me: Does this look like a scrambled egg? Waitress: No.... Fresh Orange juice: Waitress' boss clearly thinking I'm an annoying customer: It IS fresh squeezed. Me: no its not it tastes like its from the bottle. Waitress boss comes back with bottle: yes you see it says fresh squeezed on the bottle.(!!!) Pause I'm a little surprised.. Me: Ok but when you write fresh squeezed on the menu one expects that you have freshly squeezed the oranges. Waitress' boss: No, it IS fresh squeezed. They ( the maker/factory) squeeze it. Me: yes but when you write fresh squeeze I would expect something freshly done. Waitress' boss: I don't think any restaurant does that....(!) Vanilla yoghurt by this time I am fed up and waited until the end: Me: sorry the yoghurt is not plain Waitress as she is taking the bowl away: this is a bad restaurant for you then.... Since this is writing a review, I thought that the best way to show the review is through the conversation. I have tried to be as accurate as possible. In the end I ate the omelette sandwich since it is such a waste to throw food away. The waitress at the end did ask if I wanted to pay the full price, and they did take off the orange juice, yoghurt and latte ( I got this for free). I don't also think it was the waitress' fault although she could have not really argued with me and the comment at the end was not one that encourages me to return. I am sure it reflects the discussions they were having behind the doors about me.
(2)Jeanie O.
This review is for both the Harry Caray and Holy Mackerel! The seafood is great; the restaurant atmosphere is nice, and gotta love how the waitstaff explains cut of the meat or steak, before they take your order. Was here with a group of about 20 or so people. We ordered off the menu, and the staff was efficient. The dessert were just as divine.
(4)Lara T.
You can never go wrong with a Harry Caray's restaurant. The place is situated in a hotel, so you may have to make a reservation to avoid waiting due to convention/meeting traffic. We had three different fabulous, flaky grilled fish dishes, seasoned well and the portions were more than adequate. If you do not wish for seafood, you can order off of the Harry Caray's restaurant menu. With that many options, you cannot go wrong. And ps. The service is spot-on.
(4)Jennifer S.
Good atmosphere, good food and convenient in the Chicago suburbs! We had a large group dinner of over 20 people and the service was efficient and accurate, so we were very impressed!
(4)Suz C.
Adjacent to and sister of the more casual Harry Caray steakhouse restaurant next door and on the first floor of the Westin Hotel, Holy Mackerel serves up decent seafood fare. The restaurant is not very big, but the decor is elegant - dark wood, dim lighting, interesting murals of Oak Street beach on the walls. More upscale and quieter than Harry Caray, Holy Mackerel is a nice place to go for quiet, non-raucous gatherings. I wore jeans to this place but I felt a tad bit underdressed. They do accommodate larger groups, but I would say not larger than 6-8, because it is a small place. The great thing about the restaurant is that you can order steaks from HC, and after you're done at HM, you can go next door to HC and watch some football/basketball on the TV screens. Service was good - very attlentive and polite. Food was pretty good. I started with the clam chowder, which my fiance pronounced as one of the best he had ever tasted (I disagreed). I ordered the ahi tuna, and I thought the sauce was too salty, so I felt mehhhhh about my dish. My fiance, on the other hand, ordered the chilean sea bass and it was divine. I was surprised that the seafood menu wasn't very expansive (McCormick & Schmick seems to have a larger offering), but overall I thought the food was good in spite of my poorly chosen entree. Entrees prices range from $18 - 67, and you can preview their items at their website, holymackerelseafood.com . We finished with banana cream pie, and it was magnifique! Loved it. You can park right outside the restaurant, but keep in mind that it is a hotel so you may end up parking around reserved sections and valet sections. And for convenience, after you're done at Holy Mackerel, you have the option of shopping at Target next door or going to Yorktown Center mall. Talk about convenience. Even though I gave this one 3 stars, I do think it is a decent seafood place. I just wasn't blown away enough to give it 4 or 5, and I can think of other seafood places I'd recommend first. Tip: On weekends, there are lots of weddings, so I'd avoid going into the Westin Hotel lobby area unless you are there to people-watch and gape.
(3)Andy S.
The food was good, the atmosphere a whatever, the service outstanding. We went for our anniversary dinner. Luckily I had read on-line that the ambiance wasn't anything special so I was prepared. Should've share that fact with the Mrs...People cutting through to the bar, some wench with her babies looking for cream/sugar for her Starbuck's coffee?! and it's pretty small too. Now onto the food. They ran out of lobster (wha?) so I had the tail. it was very good. My wife had the salmon which was prepared nicely. The corn on the cob was inedible. No self-respecting cook should have sent it out. Both kinds of taters were good too. Key lime pie for dessert was top shelf. Service was very attentive.
(3)Joe R.
I went to Holy Mackerel for my birthday and took full advantage of the Surf & Turf for Two special that was running. It is an outstanding value and you will definitely not leave the place hungry. The ambiance at Holy Mackerel is a 180 from Harry Caray's (although they share a communal kitchen where you can order off each menu) and is more of a nautical, almost tropical feel. The staff was very accommodating for some tweaks I wanted from the menu and made the overall dining experience very enjoyable. Holy Mackerel is a great addition to the Harry Caray's dining group.
(4)Jordyn V.
This is one of my favorite fish houses. They serve Harry Caray,s there too. But I say get the fish! I've dined there only twice. I got sole and it was absolutely amazing. It was served on a bed of mashes potatoes with asparagus...divine. For a side I split the rock shrimp potatoes and they were awesome! There is very nice decor, it has a modern vibe.
(5)Rick D.
My wife and I had dinner at Holy Mackerel this past Saturday night before seeing a movie at the Yorktown Theater. I had the Seafood Risotto and she had the Macadamia Nut Encrusted Tilapia. The seafood was a nice mixture of shrimp, large pieces of lobster, clams, crab and mussels. The risotto was so filling and tasty - I couldn't finish the whole thing. The tilapia was just as good and the service was excellent. Topped it off with a few beers and some wine for my wife, an excellent movie (True Grit), and this was a fantastic evening.
(5)April W.
the food was great, and im not a fish fan, but the atmosphere on a friday was dead dead dead. the bartender was a riot and we too enjoyed his tricks!
(4)nan B.
Great place to relax. Beautiful murals and good selection of background music. I felt as though I were transported back in time to the 1940's. The Oyster Sampler was very interesting; lots of different flavors. The Paella was very good. Dessert was very, very good. I am not a big dessert person but the chocolate rum bread pudding was really great! The chocolate flavor was very intense and heavenly.
(4)Joan K.
Visited on a Saturday evening and found the restarant empty. Bass dish was good. Lobster Risotto was kinda flavorless. Clam chowdar was the best dish of the nite. Desserts (we like our desserts!!) were stale. Pinapple upsidedown cake was mushy and old tasting as well as was the chocolate cake. I have never had chocolate buttercream that when it was not ice cold, was hard like this was. Over all, not worth the hype of the Harry Carey name. They said it was a new concept? Not sure what the new concept in seafood dining was.
(3)