Shaw's Crab House
Crab house · 21 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611, United States · United States
★ 4.6 on Google · 5,761 reviews · View on Google Maps
Manipulation score
CleanCompleted Aug 5, 2026 · 62 reviews flagged
How this score works
The score estimates how strongly this place's review record matches known manipulation patterns, from 0 (no signs) to 100. Verdicts: Clean below 40, Suspicious from 40, Likely Manipulated from 70; Review Drive when the flags are mostly staff asking customers for named reviews. It rises with the share of reviews flagged and how suspicious each one is.
- Burst
- — an abnormal spike of five-star reviews in a single day compared to the place's usual pace.
- Low activity account
- — the reviewer has almost no other reviews, photos, or Local Guide history; throwaway accounts look like this.
- Duplicate text
- — the wording is nearly identical to another review of the same place.
Verdicts are statistical estimates based on public review patterns, not accusations. Full methodology, signal definitions and known limits →
Case conclusion
What the numbers say
1,000 reviews examined
- Google rating
- 4.6★
- Not-flagged average
- 4.7★
- Flagged
- 6%
- Coverage
- 17%
All reviews shown by Google
938 examined reviews
62 of 1,000
1,000 of 5,761 Google reviews
“Not flagged” means no configured Revdict signal matched; it does not prove a review is genuine. Data fetched Aug 5, 2026.
Review brief
What reviews not flagged by Revdict say
Shaw's Crab House is a long-standing Chicago institution known for its classic old-school atmosphere, fresh seafood, and raw bar. While many reviewers praise the high quality of the crab, oysters, and attentive service, others note that the venue can be loud, crowded, and quite expensive.
+ Repeated strengths
Fresh and Delicious Seafood
Reviewers frequently highlight the freshness and high quality of items such as oysters, crab legs, and seafood salads.
2 supporting reviews
5★ · 2024-06-30
Best crabs! Sea bass melts in your mouth :)
5★ · 2025-11-24
We got a giant seafood tower, lobster bisque, lobster roll, sushi, and Presseco. The seafood tower is always amazing with lobster, stone crab claws, oysters on the half shell, tuna tar tar, sushi, and big shrimp. We all love the flavorful l...
Attentive and Professional Service
Many guests report receiving polished, friendly, and knowledgeable assistance from the waitstaff and bartenders.
1 supporting review
5★ · 2025-07-08
Dianna is the absolute best server! Amazing food, drinks, and service!
Classic Atmosphere
The vintage, old-school decor and lively oyster bar create a distinctive and memorable dining environment.
3 supporting reviews
5★ · 2024-07-16
Dinner was delicious! Dark wood atmosphere brings in some old Chicago charm. Service was excellent and timely. Would definitely visit again!
5★ · 2025-07-03
We’re huge fans of “The Bear”, and recently read an article online about several cast members of the show raving about Shaw’s, so we had to check this place out. We’re SO glad that we did! Kirk was our server. He was very professional, and...
5★ · 2026-04-16
Came here the other night for food and drinks. Great spot, highly reccomend!
− Repeated complaints
High Prices
Several reviewers feel that certain menu items, particularly market-price crab and wine, are overpriced relative to the portion sizes.
1 supporting review
1★ · 2025-08-13
Beware of "Market Price" for their Norwegian Crab. Make sure you ask the price because they are trained to sell it, but not offer any price warning. Although market price varies, it is usually about twice the most expensive menu item, but...
Noise and Crowded Seating
Guests note that the dining spaces can be very loud and tables are often placed closely together.
1 supporting review
5★ · 2025-10-27
We had reservations at 8pm on a Thursday night for a party of four. We were seated right away. The tables were very close together and the ambiance was buzzing. It looks like a vintage steak house, and the servers all wear fancy vests. We l...
Inconsistent Service Pacing
A few visitors mention feeling rushed by staff or experiencing slow service during busy periods.
2 supporting reviews
3★ · 2024-08-23
We came here on my first visit to Chicago 11 years ago and loved it so much that I wanted to return. Let me say the food is fabulous and delicious. Couldn't fault it. The oysters were yum. However, the attentive service left a lot to be de...
3★ · 2026-07-08
We celebrated my aunt’s bday there and spent close to $1500 and it was one of the worst dining experiences we’ve had. The wait staff was nice at first but then we didn’t see our waiter for at least 10 minutes. Our steaks were extremely ove...
Good for
- Oyster and raw bar enthusiasts
- Special occasion dining and celebrations
- Classic Chicago seafood experiences
Avoid if
- You are looking for a quiet, intimate meal
- You are on a strict budget
- You prefer modern, minimalist restaurant decor
Review anatomy
Reviews per month
| Month | Reviews | Flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Jun ’24 | 10 | 1 |
| Jul ’24 | 35 | 1 |
| Aug ’24 | 39 | 0 |
| Sep ’24 | 38 | 3 |
| Oct ’24 | 35 | 3 |
| Nov ’24 | 39 | 2 |
| Dec ’24 | 38 | 4 |
| Jan ’25 | 34 | 0 |
| Feb ’25 | 26 | 1 |
| Mar ’25 | 37 | 2 |
| Apr ’25 | 42 | 2 |
| May ’25 | 39 | 1 |
| Jun ’25 | 46 | 3 |
| Jul ’25 | 40 | 2 |
| Aug ’25 | 46 | 1 |
| Sep ’25 | 49 | 1 |
| Oct ’25 | 38 | 0 |
| Nov ’25 | 28 | 2 |
| Dec ’25 | 38 | 1 |
| Jan ’26 | 12 | 1 |
| Feb ’26 | 22 | 0 |
| Mar ’26 | 40 | 7 |
| Apr ’26 | 45 | 5 |
| May ’26 | 55 | 8 |
| Jun ’26 | 47 | 3 |
| Jul ’26 | 68 | 7 |
| Aug ’26 | 14 | 1 |
Rating distribution
Evidence
- low activity account 59 reviews flagged weight 0.8
- generic account 3 reviews flagged weight 1
Flagged reviews
Showing the 10 most suspicious of 62 flagged reviews.
A. C.B.
132 reviews · Local Guide
★★★★★
2024-06-25
Pablo Fr
534 reviews · Local Guide
★★★★★
2026-07-07
We really enjoyed our dinner at Shaw’s Crab House. The seafood was fresh, the food was excellent, and the service was friendly and efficient. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, making it a great place to spend the evening. We would definitely come back on our next visit to Chicago.
John Weatherbolt
91 reviews · Local Guide
★★★★★
2026-07-28
The menu offers classic flavors done right, with quality ingredients and thoughtful preparation. The seafood platter was fresh, satisfying, and full of great flavor, while the gumbo had a rich, comforting taste that stood out. The attentive service added to the experience, creating a relaxed and enj...
Manuel Vega
1 review
★★★★★
2024-09-02
Mary Furman
1 review
★★★★★
2024-09-26
Reminds me of Tadich Grill—the food & service top-notch, the decor early 1920s. Happened into this place after a day of walking the streets of Chicago. My hair was windblown, my dress was less than dinner chic but places like this don’t care they give you great service no matter what. I was seated a...
Heidi Westfall
2 reviews
★★★★★
2024-10-22
Sameen Q
2 reviews
★★★★★
2024-10-25
Jens Torkel
1 review
★★★★★
2024-11-04
Honestly for me best place in Chicago I love shaws bar, fresh oystar stone crabs great sushi, just my favorate place to be
Jermaine Chaney
1 review
★★★★★
2024-11-12
Mehtar Jahin Tatha
1 review
★★★★★
2024-12-06
Report generated Aug 5, 2026. Reviews change — you can request a fresh investigation.
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