Everything was delicious and fresh! The wait staff were kind and professional! It was my first time and I plan on returning when I come back to Chicago! My lamb chops were PERFECT! read more

I had a lovely dinner at River Roast during my Chicago trip! I ordered an espresso martini, which was pretty good and strong! The steak frites was a solid choice for dinner. I really liked the chimichurri sauce. Some of the fries did get soggy since they were placed underneath the steak. The main reason we decided to eat here was the beautiful view of the river. We dined pretty comfortably outdoors and the service was good. read more

River Roast - Steak Frites - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I went to River Roast for lunch and ordered the famous half chicken. First of all, the ambiance was absolutely stunning ,beautiful space, great atmosphere, and definitely a 10/10 in that department! I was really excited to try the famous chicken, and while it wasn't bad, it just wasn't quite what I was hoping for. I'm someone who loves big, bold flavors, and the chicken was pretty simple and not particularly flavorful. I was expecting some kind of gravy, sauce, or something to really elevate it, especially since it's one of their signature dishes. That said, the chicken was good for what it was, and the potatoes were actually my favorite part! They were fried rather than the typical diced potatoes you usually get, which made them crispy and a little more interesting. Overall, I'd definitely come back for the atmosphere and would be interested in trying some of their other dishes -- the chicken just wasn't quite my jam. read more

River Roast - Half Roast Chicken (Half) - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great location along the river with delicious food and great service. They do offer lattes, but no flavors or special orders. Bathrooms were large and clean. They also had private party rooms. read more

We had a great experience here! We stopped in after an architecture tour to grab a light lunch, and our waiter was attentive and gave great recommendations. We started with drinks and then ordered our meals. Our meals came out quickly and were well portioned. Half of our group got breakfast and the other half lunch. The chicken sandwich was delicious was breakfast potatoes, the apple salad with grilled shrimp was fresh and light with the perfect dressing. Overall, glad we stopped in here! There was also inside and outside seating read more

River Roast - Breakfast - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My pick for dinner last night. With Mike, Katie and Fintan in town, I found a downtown place called River Roast not far from their hotel. Nice riverfront setting, although a bit chilly, so we dined inside. Everyone was charmed by Fintan's big smiles and excellent behavior. Donna got the mussels from the app list and there was plenty of them. She was happy with them, but declared them a notch below the ones she had at Mariscos San Pedro. I ordered steak frites medium rare. They were still mooing, but very tasty. Tender and lean, seasoned just right. No need for additional salt or pepper. Fries were not fresh cut, but pretty good soaked in the beef juices. Fintan seemed to enjoy the one I gave him. All in all, a very nice evening with delightful company. Afterwards, I realized I hadn't asked our guests how the fried chicken sandwich and the BLTA were. Oops. read more

River Roast - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went on an architecture tour on the river with a friend and spotted this restaurant, so I knew I had to try it! We were lucky and got a spot outside right by the river. Lots of boat traffic so if that bothers you I wouldn't recommended going outside. Was super fun people watching on the river; lots of party boats and people just having a great time. We needed ended up getting tuna sashimi, sea bass, and a steak with a side of mac n cheese. Everything was cooked perfectly and the Mac n cheese was excellent. Had just the right amount of bread crumbs to give it that crunch factor and wasn't overly cheesy.. just the right amount. We of course saved room for dessert and got a slice of chocolate cake. But boy I'll tell you the slice was ENORMOUS so be prepared. Definitely meant to be shared with the table. Service was also excellent. Will be back soon read more

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Beautiful views of the river! This is such a great date night spot, or fun girls night out. We had reservations, but decided to sit at the bar. Our service was outstanding! They had a fun Valentine's Day themed menu going on (all pink everything), which made the evening feel even sweeter. Oh and, the pull apart bread they serve to the table is phenomenal. What I tried: - strawberry margarita-esque cocktail with a pop rocks rim, so tasty and fun! - ribeye vday special with crispy potatoes and arugula 8/10 - mac and cheese 8/10 - fried chicken bites 9/10 Can't wait to come back during patio season! read more

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Fantastic place for drinks and good eats right on the river! The service was a little hectic that day, our bill got lost, but found and we were left waiting a little longer than we'd like for more drinks but overall the waiter was very pleasant. The outdoor area is great for viewing all the boats passing by and the beauty of the Chicago river. I'd be careful going at noon as they do have umbrellas but the sun is directly overhead and a little warm. Would absolutely make this a regular spot. read more

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(Kari's Rating 7.75/10) Came here on a Friday for a quick happy hour bite and was happily surprised with how everything was. They had a nine dollar sangria, which was really delicious, it didn't really taste like there was a lot of alcohol, but was refreshing and sweet. The burger was relatively average (a good sharing size) it came with this pimento cheese sauce -which I thought really put it over the top. Unfortunately, the chips that it came with didn't really taste like potato, but just pain oily. The pretzel wasn't that bad, but it also came with a side of the pimento cheese and I thought it was pretty heavy and repetitive because it was on two items. Overall, I think this is a great place and I can definitely see it being crowded over the summer when the patio is open, but I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to come here. read more

River Roast - Happy Hour Burger - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've lived in Chicago for over a decade and somehow have never made it to River Roast! Decided to grab brunch outside on the river. Even though it was rainy, the patio is covered and there are large umbrellas shading you from sun or rain as well. Such a nice touch! Food was great, we also had pomegrante mimosas which I thought was different but delicious. To eat, we split the chicken and waffles and the french toast. The chicken and waffles could have been a larger portion, but it was delicious! Overall would love to come back here for dinner to see the river lit up! read more

We had a nice casual dinner here while enjoying a wonderful view! Our server, Tasha, was attentive, personable, and answered all our questions about the menu. The chicken sandwich was tasty but I forgot to take a picture! read more

River Roast - View from the patio - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a really nice place right along the river. It has a nice patio to watch the traffic go by on the river. The inside was a nice upscale restaurant. We wanted to order the roasted chicken that they are known for, but we were told it would take 25 mins to cook and with 2 young children, we unfortunately couldn't wait for that. Instead, we ordered the smoked salmon appetizer to share (we weren't that hungry). The salmon was tasty and came with well-seasoned flatbread. It was one of those dishes that left a fantastic after-taste in your mouth. We got the kids Mac and cheese for them, and it was really good...very cheesy. read more

I was excited to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and see the river dyeing at River Roast, but the event didn't quite live up to the hype. The biggest surprise was that it actually wasn't crowded, which normally wouldn't be a bad thing, but it made the atmosphere feel a little flat. With a DJ and all the decorations, I expected a much more energetic vibe, but it just wasn't as fun or lively as anticipated. Food options were also extremely limited. The brunch stations were basically egg sandwiches and monkey bread, with no meat-free option available, which felt like a big miss for a ticketed event. The upstairs area got pretty hot, there was very little seating, and construction nearby blocked much of the river view. Since the river dyeing is the main reason people book these events, the obstructed view was disappointing. Unlimited green drinks were a nice touch, but overall the event felt underwhelming for the price. With better food variety, seating, and a clearer view of the river, this could be a much stronger St. Patrick's Day experience. read more

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Cute little spot on the river! Great, healthy food options! Someone at my table had an allergy and the restaurant took it VERY seriously which was much appreciated! Bathrooms were clean. It was a lovely meal. Servers were alright. Could have been a little more attentive but they were fine. read more

Overall: A great option on the river with plenty of seating, hopefully making it easier to get in than some other nearby spots. The good: As others have mentioend, the rolls are incredible and worth all the hype. Burrata was another good pick, as were the golden gobbets. Great vibes, especially if you're lucky enough to get on the water (we weren't but still enjoyed the inside). The not-so-good: The pork belly bites were a bit of a let down and not substantial in size. Overall the meal was a little more pricey than I would've expected Food/drink: 8/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 8/10 read more

Just ordered the steak frites, half chicken and tuna crudo. It was one of the worst meals. The chicken was dry, the steak frites was overcooked and tuna crudo was tasteless. Maybe deserves the one star for the view but the food is horrendous. I wouldn't pay $10 for this crap let alone the outrageous prices they charge for this garbage read more

River Roast - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were meeting some friends at a bar to watch a game. My husband found River Roast and said we should eat there before waking to the bar. We got lucky and went on the last day of Restaurant Week in Chicago. We got to try the RW menu. It was amazing! They offer three courses for 60$ on RW, full portions too. My husband had the apple salad with blue cheese, I had the burrata for the first course. For the second course my husband tried the brazed beef and I tried the rainbow trout. Delicious. For dessert I tried the salted caramel cheesecake. Yummy! My husband had the chocolate cake. Absolutely amazing, all of it. They have a complimentary coat check. The server was so friendly, good vibes. The restaurant looks like an English pub, lots of wooden tables. Very nice space. You might get lucky and get a table with a window to the Chicago River. Gorgeous. read more

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I've been here for 2 events. Last year it was a reception during the big ASCO movie, this year my organization hosted a small luncheon. For the event , the space was a little tight (not the RR's fault) , but since it has a lovely deck at the river , it was nice to be outside and enjoy a lovely Chicago late spring night. For the lunch , we had the best care with the event managers. The servers took such good care of everybody. The food was amazing! They make a fantastic charcuterie board. The desserts are out of this world. If you want to plan a small size luncheon or have a nice lunch or dinner here , between the food , the staff , and the views , you won't regret it. read more

The food was decent overall, but nothing mind-blowing. We got the steak frites, branzino, and roast chicken. The branzino was good but it doesn't come with a side so just know that going in. The steak needed more seasoning and the chimichurri didn't add much. Fries were just fries. The roast chicken was okay but we would have preferred a Costco rotisserie chicken. Vibes and ambiance was good. Service was good too! read more

River Roast - The steak frites - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Still one of my absolute favorites on the city! You can't beat the view of the river, great service and for the price... excellent value considering it's in the heart of the city! I feel in love with their chicken a decade ago and it's still my favorite thing on the menu! read more

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Came here on a Friday night and there was no wait time for seating at the bar. Service was excellent at the bar. Our bartender constantly checked in on us and was attentive. Ordered the whole roast chicken and ahi tuna. The tuna was fresh, bright with citrus notes, and delicious. The whole roast chicken was the standout of the meal, but unfortunately took 45 minutes to cook. We were not warned ahead of this ahead of time and thought that the restaurant had forgotten our order. The chicken itself was exceptionally juicy and can easily feed two people! I recommend ordering this but beware of the long wait time. read more

This is the establishment that I chose for my husband's birthday dinner after reading all about it on Yelp. I saw the delicious menu offerings, ambiance, and river views, and wanted to witness for self. It was a party of 6 of us, we made a reservation and showed up on time. Upon entry, we were greeted briefly by the hostess upstairs. Once you walk in, you actually go downstairs to an open, pretty dining area to your left and water views to your right. It was very, very, very nice and scenic in there. We were greeted by our table person, Juan. He seemed very busy as everyone else di. They weren't crowded. He tried his best overall. The only main concern that I have with this place, they have a door that they keep open all day and night, and it doesn't close until the restaurant closes. It was very chilly in there, VERY chilly, we're in Chicago, and on the water! Please close the door! Juan said he would check with the manager, and we never got an update. Someone from my party asked a hostess, and she said they couldn't close the door. Nevertheless, everyone loved their food ordered. We had the following. RR Pull Apart Rolls Lemon Drop Peach Martini Golden Gobbets Roast Chicken B.L.A.T. A la Carte Salmon Grilled Asparagus Oysters on the Half Shell Ahi Tuna Tartare Chocolate Cake We genuinely enjoyed our food. It came out well plated, hot, well prepared, flavorful, and plentiful. I would highly recommend this place, just bring a coat, not a jacket, a coat! A fireplace would have done us well! I want to put that in a suggestion box! A fireplace. Huge thanks to Juan for making Hubby's birthday special by bringing out dessert, Hubby enjoyed it, and we helped him !! Lol read more

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I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the food. Steak fritte was tender. I will say that if there was a sauce on the steak it was very very light. I swapped the fries for their RR potatoes--they were excellent. This was a birthday celebration and they brought out a piece of chocolate cake for the table which was moist and tasty. Only issue was our ever vanishing server. He didn't seem to be paying any attention to us or what we ordered as he screwed up a drink, an appetizer and completely forgot one of our main courses, forcing the manager to come out and apologize. read more

Unfortunately, we had a disappointing experience. I made a reservation to celebrate my husband's birthday, and the service fell short of expectations. We weren't offered dessert, and even simple requests took far too long to be addressed. I work in the restaurant industry myself, so I understand how demanding this job can be. That's why I don't take writing a review like this lightly, but hospitality is about making guests feel taken care of, and that was missing from our experience. The food was alright, but overall, I would not recommend it. read more

Grabbed a weekend dinner here for our last evening in Chicago for its great location. We arrived right on time and were seated right away. The person helping us through our meal was friendly and helpful - overall good service. We got half a roasted chicken and roast beef (smaller size option) with a side of broccoli. Though the food itself was fine. Chicken tasted a touch dry and asked for medium on the beef though it definitely seemed medium rare. Casual fun vibes throughout which we enjoyed. Overall if you're looking for a place to eat by the river, it's worth a try here. read more

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We went here for a dinner and hoped to be seated near the window. Didn't happen and the table offered was in the middle of the room, so we stayed at a smaller table at the bar. Great zero proof menu drinks. Burger was overcooked but ok. Sourdough cut up the roof of my sisters mouth. Tasty app with burrata, but entrees were disappointing. Fries were meh. read more

River Roast - The Burger - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The service was impeccable. The food was good, but again, the service levels was fantastic! read more

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We had a dinner reservation at River Roast on the Chicago Riverwalk. We were running late, but they were accommodating to us having to push back our reservation. It was raining so we weren't able to eat outside. That was a bummer as we were looking forward to the scenic river city views, but you can't control the weather. River Roast has an open kitchen concept. It's fun to be able to watch the kitchen staff do their thing while enjoying your meal. We started with the Burrata, it came with a great spinach walnut pesto. We also ordered the Caesar Salad. They serve hand carved table side Roast Chicken. We saw them serve the Roast Chicken a few times, fun! We decided to order the Whole Branzino, which is a Mediterranean Sea Bass that's served with a Salsa Verde Tomato Herb topping. It was flaky and flavorful. We really enjoyed the herb topping with the fish. We also ordered a side of mushrooms. They were delicious, cooked in white wine with herbs. My son had the Mac & Cheese with a smoked pimento cheese sauce. It was so good! The service was good, the food was good, the atmosphere was good. River Roast is an upscale tavern that's on trend. It stopped raining toward the end of our dinner so we went outside on the patio before we left, beautiful river city views at night! Highly recommend. read more

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I worst experience ever at our brunch place- AB wrote this review and I posted too We came into town with our family this weekend and were looking forward to enjoying a nice Saturday brunch together. Unfortunately, the experience was extremely disappointing from start to finish. We waited inside for 30 minutes without being served, then moved outside to our table, where we waited another 20 minutes before anyone acknowledged us. Once we finally got a server's attention, it took an additional 20 minutes to receive our drinks, which were incorrect. When we ordered another round after our glasses had been empty for several minutes, our server rolled her eyes, making us feel like we were an inconvenience for simply wanting to order more drinks. The experience only got worse when our food finally arrived, brought out by another staff member. Several items were incorrect, and when we politely asked about the mistake, the staff member threw the plate down and said, "Not my problem, that's your server's problem, not mine." He then shoved the ticket in my aunts face and said, "Look, that's not what the ticket says." The lack of service, professionalism, and basic courtesy from the staff was unbelievable. Mistakes can happen at any restaurant, but the way we were treated was completely unacceptable. We came in hoping to enjoy a nice brunch and spend quality time with our family, but instead, we left feeling frustrated and disappointed. Unfortunately, this experience was a huge letdown, and based on the service and attitudes we encountered, I would not recommend this establishment. Management needs to seriously address both the quality of service and the way customers are treated. read more

Such a great place right on the river at the LaSalle St bridge. Food here is great for sharing. Highlights include the smoked salmon dip appetizer and the roast chicken entree. The chicken is served on a bed of yummy potatoes. We also tried the Branzino (fish) and it was very good. Service is top notch, be sure to save some room for dessert! The carrot cake is incredible- so many layers! read more

River Roast - Carrot cake - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Perfect for the summer! Once I find the images I will upload but you all everything is a 20 out of 10! I the charcuterie comes with honey comb! It's so good! Service was amazing and ambiance is very on the board walk feeling. Style and attire I recommend casual boat chic. Blues, pinks, black doesn't hurt, and oranges for sure! read more

The old fashioned was delicious, probably the best the guys have ever had. The bourbon had a great taste, but no bite, and the perfect amount of citrus. The girls wanted to order the berry smash plus alcohol, but they did not have that drink anymore. They did a modification to do the berry smash without berries, sub the house hibiscus juice. It was a little herby but very good! read more

River Roast - Old Fashioned and Hibiscus Mixed Drink - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's hard to get on the patio for River Roast but I was smart to make a reservation a week in advance before my trip. They always have availability inside but I wanted to sit outside. My reservation was for Saturday at 12:30pm and but upon arrival, I was told I would still need to wait for a table outside. Despite the heat, I chose to wait for a table and sat at the bar in the meantime. The bartender made me an old fashion mocktail and in less than 7 minutes, my table was ready. The restaurant is right on the water so the view is amazing. They have large umbrellas outside to shield you from the heat but, they could use some mist fans to make it more enjoyable. The brunch menu is somewhat limited so I opted for the branzino (half), which came with nothing so I had to get a side of fries. The food came out quick but they were late on my fries. Food wasn't impressive and although my waitress was nice, she wasn't attentive enough. The best part of brunch was the view. The CHI has much better brunch options than RR. read more

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I've eaten here at least 6 times and usually everything is great. This past time I didn't love it. Got the chopped salad for my main course this time, light dressing. First of all it's NOT a chopped salad. A chopped salad is chopped-everything is uniformly cut. Either chop it or just call it a salad. Second issue is I think it sat in the kitchen too long as it was warm-ish with soggy leaves, not cold and crisp. And third, it was dressed with oil only. Not mixed with red wine vinegar (I don't think the dressing was mixed at all) before being put on the salad. When I asked for more dressing with the hope of getting the vinegar part, I was brought a ramekin full of oil-again, no vinegar. Also felt the margarita with shelf liquor was overpriced at $19. Which unfortunately was not listed on the menu. Will I be back? Yes! Will I ever order the chopped salad again? No! read more

River Roast - Chopped salad - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service was not great but I think they were understaffed that summer Saturday we went. The saving grace were the buns with butter the manager brought over. We were starving! Reservations are a must and they have private events downstairs. read more

River Roast - Cute Lil $5.00 diet coke. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was my second time at River Roast, but first time getting brunch and the food was very disappointing. Everything we ordered came out over done. The RR Skillet I ordered said it had sweet potatoes on the menu, but only about 5 small cubed sweet potatoes were in my dish. Instead it was mostly filled with large chunks of (burnt) regular potatoes. I also ordered over medium fried eggs that were served very overdone. Only giving 2 stars because the location is nice, but I likely won't be returning. read more

River roast is perfectly situated on the river to give you not only a fabulous view, but a fun environment for food and drinks with friends. My family and I went here to celebrate my dad before we were going to go kayaking! It was fun to see people on the river and think about how we would be doing that shortly. The service was quick, attentive and recommended delicious options. We ordered a few things to share: chilaquiles (absolutely incredible), the special omelette. The omelette itself was just good, but the potatoes that came on the side were worthy of all the hype. They were perfectly crisped and seasoned. Finally, we split the hash. The meat in the hash was so flavorful, but this dish was not my favorite. It was pretty hard to rival the chilaquiles, if I'm being honest. Definitely will be back to try another meal and enjoy a delicious drink near the river. read more

Brunch here is amazing! Food is so tasty and the setting is gorgeous. Looks like there are some options for private dining as well. Came with a group of 4 others and my infant daughter. Our server was great! Extremely friendly and accommodating. Some of us ordered and split the Charcuterie Board, Golden Gobbets, Steak & Eggs, and French Toast Bake. It's hard for me to pick a favorite - you can't go wrong with any of it. read more

I walked into River Roast on a Friday night for dinner with a friend. Getting a table was not that difficult and as soon as we checked in, we were seated to our table. My friend and I ordered a glass of Prosecco each. We ordered the artichoke dip to share, my friend also ordered Golden goblet which is basically chicken wings. The artichoke dip was pretty good and filling, it was served with sourdough slices. I tried an Arugula salad for main course and that was quite filling, loved the butternut squash pieces in it. We wanted to try their Espresso martini however the server mentioned that they usually have a premade batch and the current one wasn't good as a lot of tables returned it back! The ambiance is pretty chilled out, love that they cover beautiful river view! I'll be back to try more things on the menu! read more

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