Starfish

I really enjoyed my lunch here. The sushi was above average and since it was lunchtime… we got the lunch price… wish was awesome! It was something like 40 bucks for two… that NEVER happens at sushi joints. The place is a bid dark… it was a sunny afternoon and I felt like I stepped into a cave for lunch. I read some of the other reviews and it seems as if some people really had a bad experience here… sux-4-u…until I have a similar experience I’ll keep coming back.

We had a nice time here this past weekend. The atmosphere is pretty good– we like that we can actually hear each other without having to yell over loud music. We decided to stick with the rolls and they were quite tasty. The presentation was creative. The service was also really pretty good– not hovering but not MIA either. Overall we enjoyed having dinner here and would go back.

Starfish was fairly decent sushi. The wait staff wasn’t particularly attentive, and they did employ underage Mexican boys as sushi chefs (i’m kidding. somewhat). It was interesting, but really nothing spectacular. Try the red dragon — soft shell crab rolled up with spicy tuna on the outside. It was just okay. Mirai is where I’d recommend if you actually want quality sushi/​sashimi.
The chandelier they had there, made of perhaps 20 regular light bulbs clustered together like salmon roe was the best thing in the place.

I ate here on a Friday and the place was pretty empty. It kinda scared me at first but the food reassured me that this place still rocks. The rolls were ok, but if you have a craving for fresh and tasty sashimi, then this is the place to go.

Sorry. I have to apologize for the things I’m about to say.
I went to Starfish because it’s always looked appealing from the outside. I live 2 blocks away and tonight didn’t have any better idea, so figured– sure, give it a shot! Whoops. ick. ugh.
So — starts: we’d like a bottle of sake. They’re having a ‘special’ tomorrow, so many sakes are unavailable tonight. Choice available– three of 12 or so.
My friend wants udon. Great– they have a nebayaki udon on the menu. I like the bento box — a great value ($ 21 for 9 pieces sashimi, 4 nigiri, mixed tempura and salad). So — we order. 10 Minutes later our waitress returns apologetically– the udon isn’t available. They don’t have the broth for it.
So, we get miso soup, it arrives smelling like fish, tasting like beef. Weird recipe. Whatever.
My friend decides on a new meal — Shrimp skewers, Toro nigiri from the menu. No Toro tonight. Ok, Bluefin. No Bluefin. Give us another minute, please.
Ok, Tuna please. Regular Tuna? yes.
An order of shrimp skewers and one Tuna nigiri.
Bento box arrives. Ooh– nice selection! I pick up what I think is 1 piece of Tuna. It’s two — literally ripped in half– I thought someone already had a bite! Yellowtail — one piece split, torn. Salmon nigiri– discolored, almost brown. The shrimp? Half there — like, well someone took a bite. The Hirame looks like it was sliced with a spoon. Tai is two cubes. Tempura was dripping grease. The zucchini looked like LATKES! Thick and heavy batter, waay too much. Salmon sashimi, my favorite, was not cut through and has a ‘tail’ from being torn.
I asked for the manager. 10 minutes later, the second waiter who had been buzzing around comes over, yes? The fish seems to have cut with a very dull knife, some is discolored, and I’m not interested in eating more than I have (I left ²⁄₃ of my dish — minus some tempura, 4 pieces of fish, and salad). Ok, I’m sooo sorry, let me see what I can do. 15 minutes passes. A long time to sit without eating.
I ask to leave, he says 1 moment, I’ll bring the check.
Check arrives– full price for inedible fish.
PLEASE do yourself a favor, go across the street to Izumi.

As part of our Friday night date night with Mike dining series, we needed another restaurant to go to that we have never been to. For this selection we though outside of the box and asked a stranger named Jennifer who we met on the Metra train. Jennifer suggested Star Fish, which is about two blocks from our houses. Star Fish it was! Adding even more excitement to the evening was the addition of my friend’s Adam and Julien.
The menu was solid. I would say that their rolls were a bit heavy on the spicy mayo & avocado combinations, but luckily I love spicy mayo and avocado. The entire table had miso soup, edamame, and green tea to start as we made our sushi selections. Mike and I shared the White Sox, Rainbow, Totoro Kani, and the Yellowtail & Scallion rolls. All the rolls were good, but the Totoro Kani was one of the more tasty rolls I have had. The roll was stuffed with blue crab, avocado, cucumber, and then topped with spicy tuna. Mike and I also shared a selection of nigiri which included some yummy Super White Tuna. Audrey went with the White Dragon and the Salmon Obsession, which were both well received. Adam went with the Red Dragon, a boring Philadelphia Roll, and some nigiri, which were all hits. Finally, Julien had a tuna dish which I’m not clear if it was an appetizer, an entrée, or a dessert. I thought it was an appetizer because the portion was so small. I thought it was a dessert because it came out well after everybody else had already finished their plates. However, Julien ensured me that the dish was indeed an entrée and that he enjoyed it. Hmmmm… Extra points for the vertical plating of our sushi! Star Fish created ramps by laying a bamboo mat on top of random sea shells and then placing the sushi on the bamboo ramp. It added a nice vertical element to our plates that you don’t see too often at most sushi joints.
The interior was a miss for me. Do all sushi places need to look and feel the same? The answer is no, but apparently would be suhipreneurs haven’t figured this out yet. The service was great, with the exception of Julien’s mystery dish. All and all a good sushi experience and I will be going back.
5 Miso Soups
1 Edamame
3 Green Teas
8 Rolls
10 Pieces
1 Tuna Entrée/​Dessert/​App
— — — — — — — — — — — — —
$ 175

Starfish was a really phenomenal place to go for sushi a couple of years back. I have been holding off on my review because I wanted to make sure I had a clear impression of how to best represent my experiences. When I first went to Starfish I had some of the BEST sushi I had ever tasted. The seafood was extremely fresh, the ingredients were expertly put together and the result was pure heaven. In my more recent visits I am still very happy with the sushi… but for some reason it is no longer at the level where it used to be in my mind. I think the sushi chefs may have changed or they have lost a little of the zest they had when they first opened. Overall, I still think this is a great place to get sushi, but they are charging you as if it were still amazing… which is why I knocked off one star.

For almost a year my girlfriend and I have been going to Starfish as it is right down the road from us in the West Loop. One late lunch we got turned away at Sushiwabi and found Starfish a couple of doors down and have been loving it ever since.
We’re not sushi purists but certainly are sticklers for fish quality and have tested that taste all up and down the west coast as well as the best sushi restaurants in NY. The fish quality here is impeccable. In particular the Super White Tuna. Any dish with this will be a winner. Again… you gotta like «the fish»!
Vibe is chill, music is cool but sometimes on the loud side. Service is always sweet and hostpitable so they’d probably turn the music down if you asked.
Only potential downside is that upon one visit the hamahci, or salmon, or whatever, will be AWESOME, and the next will only be slightly above average. I hear they get there fish flown in from Tokyo several days a week so this may just be about the delivery schedule.
I’d give it 5 stars but don’t want the place to become overrun.
Specific recs: Tuna Tataki, Rainbow Roll, anything with Super White Tuna

I’ve gone to Starfish a few times and each time I’ve had excellent service. Some of the rolls were about average, but the freshness of the sashimi made up for it. The hamachi was REALLY good the last time I went, but I think the quality of the fish just really depends on what’s flown in that day (of course).
For some reason, I rate sushi restaurants in Chicago based on the quality of their spicy tuna roll and that particular maki roll is well done at Starfish.

We’ve had good luck here in the past but it’s really kinda gone down hill. The sushi and sashimi were good but the rolls were average. The place was empty on a Saturday night, which doesn’t bode well for it’s future. Too bad. We had high hopes for this place once upon a time.

I should probably preface this review with the fact that I’m not a sushi connoisseur, and I’ve only had sushi twice before my past trip to Starfish. My group stopped by Starfish on a Saturday night and were able to get seated right away. There were a number of empty tables that stayed empty throughout the night. Our waitress took awhile to greet our table, but I’ve had worse service (See Hop Haus). I was happy with the maki that we got. Nothing made me decide that I had to go back, but they definitely made me decide that I should start eating sushi more often. My non-​raw fish eating friend thoroughly enjoyed the Crunchy Muffy maki (mozzarella over shrimp) and I was a big fan of the Kamikaze (spicy tuna over spicy tuna).
I would have given Starfish four stars, but the service could have been better and at one point in the night two people came in trying to sell candy and went around to all the tables without anyone asking them to leave. Not exactly what I’m looking for when I’m spending $ 30+ on dinner.

I think this place is underrated. and it’s nice… we never have to wait!
the California sunset is one of my boyfriend’s favorites. I like many of the ‘Dragon’ rolls.
all around, good, unique rolls. And very fresh fish!
I plan on going within the next week… and I can’t wait! =)

I liked the sushi at Starfish, especially the Philly roll. Also try the Asparagus beef. This place has a New York vibe to it and I love the location (Randolph St.).

I had the food shortly before it closed, 9:30. Some sushi and rolls. The food was horrible. Nothing was fresh. Even the cooked eel was repulsive. I am not returning to this place for a while. The staff was cordial.

I came here to celebrate my cousin’s birthday last Saturday.
The color and décor of the place was very pleasing to the eye. The restaurant was conveniently right off the highway and I was able to snatch a free parking spot right away.
I’ll have to agree that the service was pretty slow.
The sake cups were odd (shaped like a square, rather than rounded like a normal cup) and a very inconvenient to drink out of.
The food was tasty, but the portions were very small. I felt like I paid more for the artistic creation that was presented on my plate.
I started off with the calamari and it was lacking flavor. It seemed like every bite tasted like the oil it was cooked in. Then I had a roll of the soft shell crab. That tasted pretty good, and the sliced apples on the side was a good compliment.
Two other guests I was with had the chicken teriyaki and both were served very dry meat.
I definitely wouldn’t say that this is the best place to go for sushi. I’ve been to sushi bars with faster service and tastier dishes.

My first time at Starfish was pretty good. I enjoyed the small, imtimate décor– great date spot. I had the house salad, which was great, and California and Yellowtail Scallion rolls. They were yummy and fresh tasting. For an 8:30 saturday night reservation, the place seemed almost empty with just a few small groups scattered, but quickly filled up by 9 pm. (My only complaint– the edamame was the worst I’ve ever had! Not cooked enough and way too hard– ew!)
UPDATE: Came here on a rainy Tuesday early evening dinner. Place was empty. Love the seaweed salad combo they serve. The yellowtail scallion rolls are my favorite… so maybe not the most exciting choice, but I like. My friend got the bento box– the salmon sashimi melts in your mouth!

I wrote a raving review for Stafish a few weeks ago, but after dining there last night I’ve decided this is just a mediocre sushi restaurant. This place was absolutely empty on a Saturday night, which is very rare for a restaurant on this street. The service was pretty bad and the waitress only had a few people to wait on. I do like how you can get the sushi with black rice, but overall the sushi was just OK. The black dragon roll was pretty good, but the hamehachi and the smoky bear roll were so-​so. The beef/​asparagus roll was really good a few weeks ago, but again last night it wasn’t anything special. My boyfriend thinks this restaurant will be gone within the next 6 months… we shall see.

I had my first ever sushi experience here! The wait staff was very helpful in helping a beginner pick out my first ever sushi roll (is that what you even call it!?). Anyway, we were here at 6:00 on a Friday, and service was outstanding! The sushi was really good too! I’m in love with it! I ordered chicken teriaki as a back up in case if the sushi didn’t go over well with me, and I can say that I wasn’t that impressed with the teriaki. It wasn’t burnt, but it was definitely chared in more places than one. I gave it four stars because it was a little pricey (10 bucks for a martini, and 7 bucks for a chocolate molten cake that was the size of a half of hostess cupcake!). It’s worth a check out if you order sushi only.

Ugh. I felt terribly embarrassed for having raved about this place just a couple of days ago and then returning back and having one of my bottom sushi experiences.
This place is going downhill and fast. The maki were made by underage child labour who did not know how to roll them; additionally, only 5 pieces? Are there gnomes eating the rest of them behind the bar? The cooked fish (the eel, namely) tasted like this canned eel my mother buys for me because she thinks I will starve since my kitchen is barren. Waitstaff is slow. Green tea was missing the tea.
Well, you get the idea. Stick to Mirai. That place seems to be getting better with every visit.

Another trendy sushi restaurant on Randolph street? No way! Pretentious décor, loud music, crowds, good sushi, but not worth the money.