Highwood, a far northern Chicago suburb, has been known traditionally for its Italian restaurants but the foodscape there is becoming much more diverse these days. Lucky Fish Deli is just one example, a fun seafood shack that can make you feel like you’re in some sleepy East coast fishing town. Indeed, the decor was inspired by a trip the owner took to Maine, according to one story I’ve read.
The seafood was excellent. I went with a half-dozen oysters, which came out clean, fresh and cold as they should be served. I think the waiter said they were bluepoints. I was a little surprised there weren’t several varieties to choose from, but was very happy with what was available.
I ordered the grilled octopus for my main course, looking for a menu offering that would have a minimum of salt and fat added. Octopus is tricky to cook and can very easily become too tough to eat. That was not the case here, it was grilled to perfection, the natural flavor of the octopus coming through without any artery-clogging sauces to muck it up. I did get some sort of sauce on the side, not sure what it was and didn’t need it to enjoy this dish.
The atmosphere is very casual and the staff was very helpful and friendly. And the menu had several other offerings I hope to try on future visits.
Davis Street Fish Market in Evanston was my suburban seafood favorite for many years and I’ve been a little lost for seafood since it closed, but now I have a new favorite a bit farther Chicago’s North Shore.
The No Salt, No Fat, No Sugar Journal 
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