Cold Storage

Complimentary chips — Awesome.
Shrimp cocktail — Average.
Smoked whitefish dip — The dip was pretty good, but the crackers kinda sucked.
Octopus — Delicious and would recommend adding some of the habanero hot sauce to it.
Halibut collar — Star of the show. If you see this on special, you should absolutely order it.

really interesting place. It’s basically a bar inside swift and sons. Service was fantastic and the drinks were great. I got a fish and chips as well as a bucket of yumminess. crab legs, shrimp, lobster, scallops, everything was fresh and delicious. It wasn’t very crowded which was nice and they have some TVs. I am a fan of great food and a casual atmosphere… this did just that.

Definite fan of Cold Storage, actually liked it better than Swift & Sons — but so very different.
The food was good, not the best, but the group I was with enjoyed the oysters (I’m not a fan) and I enjoyed the crab roll. I think what got me was our server wasn’t super friendly. It seemed like he was having a bad day which everyone is entitled too, but hence no 5 stars.
Love the inside of Cold Storage, very intimate and fun vibe. I believe they have happy hour oyster deals for $ 1.
My husband read online their shakes were the best, and we all got them. My cookie dough was the best thing I had! I’d go back from the desserts alone.

As far as Chicago seafood goes, this is the one of the best values in town. In Fulton Market, Cold Storage is attached to one of the hottest steakhouses in town. Awesome and fresh seafood, great music, topped off with a delicious ice cream sundae! Ask for Jenna as your server — one of the best waitresses we’ve had in Chicago in months!

I found this place to be unexpectedly amazing! We sat at the bar for drinks and dessert and the service was amazing! The drinks were great and the peppermint «minty» dessert was phenomenal! I like how it was casual and laid back:) great addition to the neighborhood!

Everything here was so fresh and delicious! Their sous chef Tiger is phenomenal! I also love crab, lobster and shrimp but my favorite dish had to be the scallop and coconut ceviche!

I was slightly underwhelmed with this one. My boyfriend and I decided to try something different for our Sunday evening date night and were lured into Cold Storage from their website and reviews. We’re fans of ordering a bunch of dishes and sharing so we can taste everything. We ordered the Shrimp cocktail and calamari to start and then bad the muscles and shrimp sandwich for our main courses. By far the best thing we ordered was the calamari. Really unique taste with just a bit of a spice– yum! Everything else was just okay. The shrimp cocktail came with 5 pieces on a bed of ice which was fine. The muscles were served with all kinds of flavors and spices mixed into the broth which threw my boyfriend off. I am already a picky muscle eater and after three, I decided they were a little too fishy for me. I might give it another try but it was just okay for us.
As far as the restaurant itself– cool concept. We sat at a high top and had good service and great wine!

Service was bad and the food was just ok. I had the large tower. Enough food for one person but expensive for what was on the tower. The dessert was good. I had the rhubarb pie.

We went to this seafood and raw bar with high expectations and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Most of the tables are bar tables or seats at the counter, but we were the lucky few that got one of the cozier booths. The three of us shared the mussels to start — great mussels, not a huge portion. It turned into a bit of a hunger games situation.
I ordered the branzino, which I inhaled in delight (caution: not a fillet, be prepared for a fish head staring back at you), and my friend got the crispy clam roll, which she enjoyed, although it was a bit of a bread overload.
As for oysters, I personally don’t eat them — I feel similarly to Joey in Friends when he slips on an oyster and thinks it’s a «giant booger» — but my friend and oyster lover claimed the east coast oysters were the best she has had in the city! It’s very cute and trendy inside, and our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly. However, expect to spend a small fortune if you’re hungry (and I suggest going hungry, very hungry).

Came here with a friend for lunch and was not disappointed. We were looking for a new place to eat and the food was very well executed. We had the turnips, the octopus and nduja, the smelt and steak and frites. The smelt was so delicious we had to order a second helping. The steak was cooked perfectly and the fries were well seasoned. The octopus pairs well with the smokiness of the nduja. Didn’t have the chance to try out their oysters but had a pretty good selection. Will definitely come here again.

We recently dined at Cold Storage and thought is was a great, casual option for seafood in the city. The atmosphere is relaxed and industrial yet really small so reservations are recommended. We tried the medium seafood tower for 1 which fed us all very nicely, and also ordered a few sides. Our server was super attentive and sweet. We will most definitely be back!

I’ve only been here once so I will definitely update but there were some real hits that I feel I should point out. First of all, I didn’t ask about the name so maybe there is a meaning behind it that I just don’t get but I find it very strange. It sounds like a storage facility for ice cream or something. Inside the décor is eclectic and cool. They write the day’s oysters on the mirrors, which seems like a good idea, but from reflections and such, you can’t really read what they say. So they may want to rethink that. The guy behind the bar was named Kevin and was extremely friendly. My only issue with service was they seemed a bit rushed and there was no one waiting for the seats. I had a little bit of wine in my glass still and it was taken as well as our plates, which was fine but again, no one was waiting. They could have just left everything there until we left. But other than that, the experience was very good.
Scallop and coconut ceviche was the favorite dish from all three of us. It is not a regular acidic ceviche that you are used to but it is oh so yummy! It is creamy but still light. The tartar was extremely tasty as well although I must say I didn’t get any of the oyster in there. I’m sure they’re cut very tiny but I just would have like a bit more of that, but again, very good. The oysters themselves were super good. I get oysters pretty much anywhere they are on a menu and these were very fresh and well cleaned. The octopus was solid although my least favorite dish. The classical pairing of octopus with chorizo is here but the texture of the sausage is a bit too runny for me. Overall I think I will work this into my regular rotation!

The space is pleasant and casual but not well-​thought-​out. The daily catch is listed on one mirror and the available oysters are listed on a different mirror. We could see neither from our table.
The food was disappointing. The oysters were not fresh. The scallops, prawns, and mussels were over seasoned; the seafood should be the focus of the dish. Instead, the seafood served a seasoning delivery function. The meal reminded me of the discussion in Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential where restaurants use old/​poor quality seafood in stews, etc. It seems like that’s what Cold Storage was attempting, especially given the quality of the oysters. We did enjoy the clams.
The dessert was enjoyable, but it is difficult to louse up a chocolate and peanut butter mix.
You can do a lot better if you’re looking for quality seafood in Chicago.

I know Cold Storage is known more as a seafood restaurant, but we came here for an Industry special — order any alcoholic beverage and get a free cheeseburger. Whaaaaa? Um. OK. We just had dinner at Swift and Sons, but Second Dinner it is! Cold Storage is actually inside or connected to Swift and Sons, and they share an entrance. You can be like us and have two dinners or you’ll have to pick one. I just love that they are steps away from each other hehe.
So as you can tell, this review is for their Bacon Double Cheeseburger with caramelized onions, mayo and sriracha pickles. I’m told that the chef wanted to rival the Au Cheval burger… and I have to say it’s up there on my list of favorite burgers of all time. The meat was so juicy and flavorful, with ooey googey melty cheese. It’s served with a side of coleslaw, which adds a little bit of crunch and freshness, since the burger itself is so savory. The Sriracha pickles also added a nice crunch to the entire burger. I didn’t forget about the bacon, which was not quite as thick cut as the one at Au Cheval, but still substantial and perfectly paired with this cheeseburger. The meat patties are NOT wimpy by any means, but not so thick that it’s overpowering the meat to bread to veggie ratio. Overall, a great gourmet cheeseburger that I will be going back for.
I loved that we were given complimentary potato chips that were great to munch on as we waited for our burgers. There are also four different bottles of hot sauce that they make in house, all with varying levels of heat as shown by the number of X’s on it. X is least spicy, while XXXX is the most spicy. Enjoy at your own risk!
I’ll be coming back for the burger AND the seafood that seems to be getting such great reviews. Until then, stay hungry my friends!

Cold Storage is a casual seafood «restaurant within a restaurant» at Swift & Sons. My friends and I made a Saturday evening reservation on OpenTable. We entered Swift & Sons, and were immediately greeted by the hosts and directed to the left, which had the entrance for Cold Storage.
Cold Storage consists of a bar area, standing tables with high stools set for 4 patrons, and window bar seating that reminds me of Italian cafes. There are chalkboards listing the fresh fish and oyster options. If you’re in the area Monday-​Friday, CS hosts a happy hour with $ 1 oysters and $ 3 beers from 3 – 6 p.m.
Our server described the menu options, and then we received a complimentary basket of house-​made salt and vinegar chips. Each table has a set of four bottles of hot sauce, labeled X-​XXXX.
We ordered the crab salad, mussels, crispy clams, octopus, turnips with soft boiled egg and trout roe, and a side of fries. The presentation was noteworthy: the mussels came with thick slabs of buttered bread, the trout roe glistened orange on a bed of soft boiled egg waiting to be cut and spilt over the turnips, and the crispy clams creeped out of the baguette «shell» in which they were enclosed.
Overall, the seafood was fresh, but the bread was over-​toasted (difficult to break off and dip into the mussels broth); the octopus was chewy, and complemented the andouille sausage well; and the coleslaw that accompanied the sandwiches was perfectly dressed and the cabbage still crunchy. I liked how the crab salad wasn’t runny, but tasted of crab and paired well with avocado.
I’ll be back for oysters and for the crab salad!

Planned on going to Swift & Sons turned left at reception and ended up at the bar in Cold Storage. I LOVE seafood & was so excited at all the options available. My husband saw they had steak frites, so he was cool w/​eating in the bar. Staff was phenomenal and able to chat up the fish options for me. I started with a seafood tower for one — which was amazing that they had. I’ve never seen that before — 2 huge shrimp, 3 oysters & a tin of mussels. So delicious (I am still thinking of how fresh it was and this is 4 days later).
We ordered as entrees the steak frites & monkfish. Steak frites was ok, we may have expected better because they are a part of Swift & Sons. The monkfish was good — but seemed salty. I think it may have been that the seafood tower was so fresh — that my palate did not expect it.
Atmosphere was great. Good music and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Definitely on the list of places to go back to this summer!

Cold Storage is a cool, speakeasy-​ish space located inside Swift & Sons steak house. I liked the vibe here — it feels like a mashup of a New Orleans meets East Coast oyster bar. Exposed brick, shellfish on display, high-​top tables, good service. The cocktails are creative and the seafood is really fresh. They had six oyster varieties the day I visited. The ones we chose, Kushi’s — were literally the best oysters I have ever eaten (and I’ve eaten them all over!)
The octopus was a large portion and cooked perfectly. Just be aware of the prices, which are in line with the quality of the food but would not be considered «casual». We had dozen oysters, octopus, fries, and 6 drinks total: bill came to $ 200). Bartenders were spot on and very professional. I recommend if you’re in the mood for a spendy oyster bar.

loved swift and sons. Also checked out cold storage
Amazing seafood as well!
Had the seafood tower. The oysters and scallop ceviche were the best.
Also tried herring and octopus. Delicious. never had uni before, which was a total treat.
Their blood orange meringue pie was to die for. I couldn’t believe how amazing it was
Great service as well, fun ambiance
Boka never fails to disappoint!

Cold Storage takes their seafood seriously. They start you off with homemade salt and vinegar chips. They are very addicting. There are four different hot sauces at the table, marked with increasing X’s to show level of spice. None of them are crazy spicy so try them all! My fave was marked «XXX» which was the lemony one.
We ordered the following:
— Salmon skin chicharron
— Fried smelt
— Octopus
— Selection of oysters
— Shrimp banh mi
— Whole grilled dorade
All the seafood was really good quality and cooked really nicely. Flavors tend to run Mediterranean. The fried smelt was really nicely prepared — fried but not oily, smelt still really tender. The octopus was tender and served over a pâté or rillete of some sort made of salami and pork belly — I wasn’t much of a fan of the combination of the paste with the octopus. The whole fish (dorade) was deboned but served with the head, staring at us with its sharp underbite. Don’t forget to eat the fish cheeks! It’s the best part!
Their desserts (pie of the day, ice creams, shakes and malts) are all made in house, including all the ice cream. We got one of the sundaes, I think it was called a Scrumptious Split or something along those lines, like a turtle banana split, but one of the scoops was coffee ice cream (super yummy) and it was super scrumptious!
Will definitely be back!

Literally felt quite blown away with the seafood here. Maybe it was because it was a Thursday night and I was already sipping on my old fashioned and ready to have a good time. But really, I loved x3 all the items I tried. I was already planning on returning when I was still working my way through the second dish of the night.
Cold Storage has its own separate section from Swift & Sons but both share the main entrance. We wanted to sit at the bar and there were some open seats but a little too tight for two people to squeeze in. So we ended up at a table instead. All tables are high top which I actually really like. The whole vibe fits in with the industrial chic of Fulton Market. This is just personal preference: I much prefer the vibe and menu at Cold Storage than GT Fish & Oyster, both owned by The Boka Group.
There’s beef and oyster tartare at Cold Storage! I’m not aware of any other restaurant in the city that adds oysters into their beef tartare, Winner. The combination of mini oysters and beef tartare, oh my goodness. We also tried the anchovies marinated in roasted peppers and olive oil. They came served in a tin. So rustic and so fun. The anchovies were so easy to enjoy, without any of the overly pickled taste which I tend to experience elsewhere. Another favorite was the turnip with a 6-​minute egg and caviar.
Whole fish. Yes. Cold Storage has it. We wanted to try the porgy but since they were out of it, we went with the branzino instead which is one of our favorite kinds of fish anyway. Our server was very helpful in explaining the cooking methods that the kitchen can offer e.g. grilled, a la plancha, steamed. The flavors of our grilled whole branzino were so clean and simple, yet flavorful.
We probably had too much clams and mussels than we should have had in one night but I’m not feeling that guilty either because they were wonderful. We ordered the clams but they made the 1-​lb mussels dish for us by mistake. They let us keep the mussels and made us a whole new clams dish. Oh my goodness. The mussels were fat and juicy. Our server commented that he was glad he made the order mistake! As for the clams, I really enjoyed the chorizo broth that came with it.
Side note: I really liked how they use enamel plates and bowls at Cold Storage. Fits exactly with the industrial rustic vibe of the restaurant located on Fulton Market. So well thought out. Only thing is, why is there a TV screen in Cold Storage? I wished restaurants that are not meant to be sports bar would do away with the TVs.