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Interior - Dancing Marlin, Frankfort, IL

Dancing Marlin

4.6 (3402)
$30 and under
American
20590 S LaGrange Rd, Frankfort, IL 60423

Make a booking

A photo of Dancing Marlin restaurant

Dancing Marlin

4.6
$30 and under
American
Frankfort

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 7 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
At The Dancing Marlin, we’re all about great food and fun vibes. Our menu features crave-worthy plates perfect for satisfying your palate. We offer a variety of sharable and entrée-style dishes. Our chefs highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients prepared with creativity and care.

Enjoy 16 wines and 8 craft cocktails on tap, a full bar and the suburbs’ most creative Sunday Brunch. Whether you’re gathered around our 16-seat communal table, dining with friends, or hosting an event in one of our three private rooms (accommodating up to 120 guests), you’ll feel right at home.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Seafood, Contemporary American
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–10:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Chef JR and Chef Matt
  • Catering
    Hosting your special event at home, or at another venue? Have Dancing Marlin do your catering so you can enjoy the day too.
  • Private party facilities
    Celebrate the big moments in life at Dancing Marlin. Located in Frankfort, Illinois, Dancing Marlin Restaurant has all of the essentials to host your next event. Our two-level restaurant provides the perfect setting for private dining and family or corporate group events.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Area
    Frankfort
  • Cross Street
    206th & Lagrange Rd (next to Culvers, Lumes & Buffalo WW)
  • Parking Details
    Plenty of free parking is available at the restaurant.
  • Entertainment
    Once a month we host a Dueling Piano party
  • Additional
    Dog Friendly, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Dancing Marlin.

4.6

4.6
(3402)
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • South Suburbs

    Best Service

  • South Suburbs

    Great for brunch

  • South Suburbs

    Healthy

  • South Suburbs

    Neighbourhood gem

  • South Suburbs

    Great for outdoor dining

  • South Suburbs

    Good for special occasions

  • South Suburbs

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Dancing Marlin captivates with its "excellent service" and "delicious food," offering a fun, nautical-themed atmosphere. Notable dishes include the "braised beef with Yukon gold mashed potato," "crab & avocado tower," and "gluten-free calamari." While some note portions and pricing, the "friendly staff" and "vibrant atmosphere" keep guests returning.
3,402 Reviews
  1. Jim

    Chicago / Illinois9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Stopped in early on Friday and everything was wonderful. They have a happy hour that ends at 6pm there are very good items on there early menu. Service was excellent.

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  2. Eric

    Chicago / Illinois18 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed our dinner. Our server was very attentive. Thank you for a nice evening!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Christine

    Chicago / Illinois14 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 11 October 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were a party of 5. The portions were mediocre for the price of the food. Very pricey for everything. 3 of our dishes were unsatisfactory and the others were tasty. I am just comparing the value with portion size. Server was great, Elsa. Very plesant. Atmosphere was nice. Most likely will not be returning.

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  4. Luis Gold

    Chicago / Illinois148 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 10 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was excellent, we had our favorites and consistently delicious as always. Service was great , at the end service was a little spotty but not terrible . New menu was a nice surprise. Hopefully, they will still change the menu seasonally as they always have.

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  5. Latania Gold

    Chicago / Illinois126 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on 9 October 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Dined for late lunch and happy hour. Weather was perfect so dined outside. Service is very good. Checked in regularly. Kale salad with salmon, southwest salad with shrimp and beet salad all very good. Cocktails always great. For happy hour 2 of the tap wines were out but the substitute was very good. Sweet potato wedges are very good as well. Happy hour menu has enough variety to make a meal. Pleasant time at the restaurant. Great time with friends.

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  6. Melvin Gold

    Chicago / Illinois28 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 5 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a great dining experience. Anthony, our server, was gracious enough to ask the chef for their infamous fried kale that’s no longer on the menu. My friend and I enjoyed the delicious crab & avocado tower dip. I had the pan seared scallops but didn’t want risotto—chef substituted tricolor quinoa seasoned quite well and my friend had the grilled shrimp w/ brussel sprouts and sweet potato. Excellent!

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  7. Beth Gold

    Chicago / Illinois13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 2 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love this place. We shared small plates. The food was delicious!

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  8. James

    Chicago / Illinois14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 23 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was our first time visiting The Dancing Marlin and our experience was excellent. Our server Naomi was friendly, knowledgable and extremely helpful by explaining the menu and best ways to order. The food was of high quality, served fresh and hot and the subtle flavors were interesting and very tasty. We each ordered a different entree and shared it. I had the braised beef with Yukon gold mashed potato and English peas. My wife had the shrimp with sweet potato wedges and Brussel sprouts. The portions were large but not oversized except for the shrimp which were huge, tender and cooked perfectly. The beef was really tender and cooked perfectly as well. I booked the Dancing Marlin because I was looking for something near the Credit Union One Amphitheater for a concert we were attending later that night. I also wanted someplace that had a fun atmosphere which The Dancing Marlin did. They vibe is relaxing and the look of the restaurant has a nautical theme but done in a subtle way that also feels like a cool local place with real hardwood floors, subway tile and painted wood paneling as well. We will definitely be back and recommend this place to anyone looking for quality food, friendly people with a fun vibe. We recommended this place already that night to a couple of friends.

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  9. Amy Gold

    Chicago / Illinois36 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 19 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We have been to Dancing Marlin many times. It is one of our favorite restaurants. The service is always top notch, and the food is fantastic. I appreciate all the gluten free options. Dancing Marlin has GF items I cannot find anywhere else. The oysters are always fresh and high quality. We will continue to visit this restaurant.

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  10. Susan Gold

    Chicago / Illinois51 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 14 September 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My husband took me to the DAncing Marlin for my birthday and it was amazing. our servers name was Elsa and she was so attentive. The food was absolutely amazing and the service was amazing. I just loved it and I can’t wait to go back again. The manager was also absolutely amazing. I just can’t say enough about the place.

    Is this helpful?

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Seafood, Contemporary American
  • Hours of Operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–10:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Sun 3:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Chef JR and Chef Matt
  • Catering
    Hosting your special event at home, or at another venue? Have Dancing Marlin do your catering so you can enjoy the day too.
  • Private party facilities
    Celebrate the big moments in life at Dancing Marlin. Located in Frankfort, Illinois, Dancing Marlin Restaurant has all of the essentials to host your next event. Our two-level restaurant provides the perfect setting for private dining and family or corporate group events.
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Area
    Frankfort
  • Cross Street
    206th & Lagrange Rd (next to Culvers, Lumes & Buffalo WW)
  • Parking Details
    Plenty of free parking is available at the restaurant.
  • Entertainment
    Once a month we host a Dueling Piano party
  • Additional
    Dog Friendly, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining

FAQs

Portions are designed for sharing, the Dancing Marlin menu emphasizes sharable and entrée-style dishes, and guests frequently describe the plates as made to share.

Yes, Dancing Marlin is a popular date-night pick, with inviting lighting, thoughtful wine and cocktail flights, and many guests celebrating anniversaries and special evenings there.

Sunday is the go-to for their creative Sunday Brunch, guests praise the Sunday Munch Brunch and the dedicated brunch menu; for a quieter evening, Monday nights have been noted as less crowded.

Yes, guests mention a changing menu throughout the year, and reviewers appreciate trying new items when they visit.

Yes, Dancing Marlin offers a dedicated Gluten Free Dinner Menu, and guests note staff accommodate allergies and dietary needs.

The General Tso's Cauliflower is a recurring favorite, it appears on multiple menus and guests repeatedly call it a go‑to dish.

Smart casual, aim for polished but relaxed attire; many guests treat Dancing Marlin as a spot for date nights, anniversaries, and special evenings out.

Dancing Marlin fills up during peak service times, guests report long waits and large lines for evening service and during happy hour, while Monday nights and some early-lunch visits (around 1pm) have felt much quieter.

Yes, Dancing Marlin offers outdoor seating; guests frequently mention enjoying the patio and dining al fresco on pleasant days.

Dancing Marlin feels warm and modern with fun, energetic vibes, a communal 16‑seat table, private rooms, and a lively dining room make it a popular spot, though several guests note the noise level can be high.

Yes, guests note a weekday happy hour, and the restaurant runs distinct experiences like the table-only All You Can Munch Brunch plus other specials and carry-out deals.

Sundays are a standout, Dancing Marlin’s creative Sunday brunch is a guest favourite, with the ‘Sunday Munch Brunch’ repeatedly called out as especially good.

Yes, families are welcome: Dancing Marlin has a Kids Menu and brunch ‘Kiddos’ offerings, and reviewers regularly describe family celebrations and children dining there.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. South Suburbs
  5. Frankfort

Make a booking

A photo of Dancing Marlin restaurant

Dancing Marlin

4.6
$30 and under
American
Frankfort

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 7 times today
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