Port Edward gets another TV appearance

While “Chicago’s Best” bills itself as a television show “on a mission to find Chicago’s best food,” it discovered the tastiest king crab legs in Algonquin.

Port Edward, a 49-year-old seafood restaurant on the banks of the Fox River, will be featured this weekend during a four-minute segment on the show airing at 10 p.m. Sunday on WGN TV.

The show will highlight the best seafood dishes in the Chicago area, and Port Edward was its pick for Alaskan King crab legs.

“It’s always nice to be singled out a little bit,” said owner Ed Wolowiec, 83, who gives thanks to his suppliers and employees, some who’ve been there for more than 20 years. “It’s nice to be recognized, I think, basically for the longevity and of course, the people that made it happen.”

The segment was shot July 11, and Elliott Bambrough, the show’s guest host, spent nearly four hours at the eatery soaking up its history and dining with Wolowiec, said Keri Morgan, the show’s producer.

The eatery’s history, its food, customers and some of the nautical trinkets Wolowiec discovered during his travels and are now on display at the restaurant will also be featured on the show, Morgan said.

Wolowiec bought the eatery in 1964 when it was known as the Anchor Lounge, a restaurant that served pizza, meat and potatoes. He introduced a seafood menu, expanded the original building and introduced outdoor seating by the river.

The show found out about Port Edward on social media channels.

“We’re social media driven so viewers kind of tell us where to go,” Morgan said. “We get all kinds of suggestions for places, so they’ve been on our radar for a while.”

This is not the first time the culinary community has recognized Port Edward.

In 2009, “Check, Please” gave the nautical-themed eatery a five forks rating, the highest the show offers.

In addition to Sunday, the show will air throughout the week on CLTV. Starting Monday, you can also watch it on the “Chicago’s Best” website.