Lunchtime at GT Fish and Oyster

UPDATE: I came back for the Chicago Restaurant Week special at GT Fish and Oyster solely for the lobster roll and it was worth it. Check it out —-> https://www.tastemade.com/v/zEhBW87vRMO7QvdSpPqhTg

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Open for about four months, GT Fish and Oyster took over the space that used to house Tizi Melloul and changed it into a  bright and open restaurant. Sunshine was streaming through the windows and the vibe was relaxed. The music lent to the ambiance, Neil Young‘s Harvest Moon, Mumford & Sons and Ray LaMontagne. From what I have heard, this is opposite of the feel at nighttime, crowded, loud and more like a scene.

Here’s the lunch breakdown:

Tuna Poke: mango, cucumber, black sesame. Fresh and good flavors. The mango keeps this dish from tasting like the standard poke.

Oysters served with Ponzu Mignonette and GT Cocktail Sauce: 3 Pebble Beach (West, Washington) and 3 Kusshi (West, British Columbia). I’m not an oyster expert but I did like the Pebble Beach oyster, tasted like the sea. I did not try the Kusshi but my friend really liked both and he knows his oysters.

Fish Taco: Rockfish, chipotle aioli, chicharron, garlic, pea shoots. Perfect size and great flavor combination. Pea shoots added a nice dimension and balanced the aioli.

Tuna BLT: seared tuna, bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, aioli. Served with Fried Pickles. This was my favorite dish of the meal. The tuna was seared perfectly, sourdough bread was fresh, avocado/bacon/aoili and tomato together, delicious.

The best fried pickles I’ve had north of the Mason Dixon Line and no dipping sauce needed.

I would recommend GT Fish and Oyster for a nice lunch with a friend/date or a business lunch. It also sounds like it could be fun for a night out if you are up for it. High quality ingredients and excellent service, however, this is also reflected in the price.

GT Fish and Oyster is on 531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654.