I would like give it a great review as in customer service ( Angie ) who was very helpful, positive and a very excellent attitude !!!!! the food was good & there was excellent food handling . Everyone was respectfull and it was a good and comfortable environment . I highly recommend coming here with your significant other or close family members . read more

We had a great time at Toast It Iz! Our server, Britany, was wonderful and had so many great suggestions. We tried the wings, shrimp and grits, and scrambled eggs, and everything was excellent. The mimosas were right on point, too! Service was fast and friendly, the food was delicious, and the location was great. Britany really helped make our experience even better. We'll definitely be back! Music was perfect! Vibe as great! We didn't have reservations but they were able to get us in quickly. read more

I had already heard mixed reviews, but my sister-in-law chose this spot for her birthday breakfast, and I'm always down to support! The restaurant was packed, but we were seated right away, and we even lucked up on street parking. There's some cute decor, but let's get to what really matters: the food and service. The tables were pretty close together, so it felt a little cramped. And the service definitely needs some reinforcements. My drink took so long to arrive that it showed up practically at the finish line of my meal. Anytime something was forgotten or needed, we were in for another long wait. I ordered the lobster omelette, which was okay, but not exactly "I need to come back for this" good. The pancakes were okay too. Overall, the food served its purpose, but nothing really stood out or had me thinking about it afterward. I'm glad I came out to celebrate my sister-in-law and support the business. The birthday celebration was definitely the highlight! read more

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I made a 12:00pm reservation for six people, which included three friends visiting from out of town. The only option available was "Bar", which I booked because the system allowed a reservation for six. Our last two guests arrived at 12:08pm, and though I understand not seating incomplete parties, there weren't six seats available at the bar. We waited roughly 30 minutes while getting changing explanations about tables being cleared/wiped down before finally being told our reservation was for the bar, but they'd "accommodate" us in the dining room. We were actually about to leave when our table became available. They offered complimentary lemon drop shots for the inconvenience, which was appreciated. Our server was very friendly, but the delays continued. Five specialty cocktails took 20+ minutes. After waiting about 30 minutes for food, we were told it would be another 45 minutes. When we said that was too long, the estimate suddenly became 15 minutes. Most meals then appeared within 5-7 minutes, while my shrimp po'boy didn't arrive until the full 15-minute mark, when everyone else was more than halfway finished and I'd already said to our server that I no longer wanted it. It also contained red peppers that weren't listed on the menu. Those who ate generally enjoyed their food, including the oxtail eggrolls which were the star of the meal. Though one of my friends said the shrimp in their gumbo catfish and grits were overcooked, tough, and chewy. My untouched shrimp po'boy was still on the bill. When I asked to have it removed because it arrived late, I hadn't eaten it, and it didn't match the menu description, I was initially told by the server that was unlikey. The manager ultimately removed it as a "one-time courtesy", while noting they'd prioritized our food over other guests due to our long wait and already given us complimentary shots. That rubbed me the wrong way: We didn't ask for free shots, so why bring that up? Any one of these things would have been understandable. But the reservation confusion, 30-minute seating delay, 20+ minute drink wait, food delays, meals arriving at different times, and resistance to removing an untouched meal added up to a poor experience. Thought the staff was friendly and most of my party enjoyed their food, I wouldn't return. read more

Toast It IZ - Jumbo Shrimp Po Boy (09/2026) - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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So fun! The vibe is nice!! Beautiful decor. Good customer service. Happy servers. Unique menu. Delicious food. I had an amazing time. I can't wait to return. read more

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We actually really enjoyed our time here. I think we came at a good time before it got super crowded, but our wait was a little long for our food. We didn't really mind because we were there for a good time and our waitress was great. The lamb and waffles were really good for the most part, I would say the lamb was just slightly overcooked for my personal taste. The oxtails and grits missed the mark a little because the spice overpowered the whole dish. We love spicy food, but it was overly spicy where you lose the plot a little bit for how the dish should taste. Now the oysters were excellent, so no notes on that. We were in town celebrating our anniversary, so the cupcake was a nice touch from our waitress and very unexpected. We loved our overall experience, so this is in our list for future Chicago trips. read more

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Food was great went there service was wonderful really made my friends birthday I've been there before and food was great read more

Toast It IZ - Didn't her photos of food but everything was wonderful - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I arrived at my hotel before check in and was in need of something to eat, preferably breakfast so I decided to try this restaurant because it was close by and recommended. I loved the décor of the restaurant. The restaurant seems very reservation heavy, therefore, plan ahead. Luckily they were able to accommodate my party of two at a high top table. Our food was delicious and a good portion size. I will definitely return next time in Chicago. read more

Toast It IZ - My delicious breakfast - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Let me start off with the lovely Breana. When I say she was amazing... she was AMMMAAAAZING! From the moment we walked in, she greeted us with such a warm, welcoming personality and made our entire experience feel special. She was attentive, knowledgeable, checked on us often, and made sure everything was perfect. Customer service like hers is hard to find these days, and she truly went above and beyond. Now let's talk about the food... Chef, you absolutely did your thing! Every dish that came to our table was seasoned to perfection, fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. You can tell a lot of love and care goes into every plate. Every single person in our group enjoyed their meal, and there wasn't one complaint at the table. We were already planning what we're going to order on our next visit before we even left! If you're looking for incredible food paired with top-tier customer service, Toast It Iz is definitely the place to be. Thank you, Breana, and the entire kitchen staff, for making our celebration one to remember. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Everything I had at the restaurant is delicious, the portions were huge! My menu was full of things I normally would've chosen so I'm happy I was saved from picking the regular degular chicken and waffles. However, the best part was the staff. Chef Donde was kind enough to come out and speak, Ali was such an attentive sever and Diamond and Carol helped me get great content. The best thing wasn't the aesthetics, it was how you really felt welcomed like family when you eat at Toast It Iz. read more

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The Food here is absolutely phenomenal, the service was top tier and the ambiance was stunning. I do recommend you make reservation especially during the weekend or your wait may be awhile but indeed it's worth waiting for and the bar drinks were incredible. Best Brunch spot downtown Chicago i must say. read more

Toast It IZ - my food - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Getting seated was so much of an ordeal! They gave us a hard time at every turn. We came as a group for a birthday, and it was hustling and bustling inside--A lot of tables and a lot of stressed out servers. Surprisingly enough, the food came out very quick (and was good so I give 2 stars) considering it was 15 of us, but the drinks were another story....wouldn't recommend coming here in a rush. We spent 5 hours here for brunch..won't be back. read more

Toast It IZ - Salmon & Grits and Fried Green Tomatoes (4) - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My man & I were in Chicago visiting & wanted some good brunch & after doing some research on tik tok we decided to stop here. Location was easy to find I believe we had to pay for street parking. We were greatly immediately upon walking in which I loved & the establishment itself was bright and clean. Service was good, we were seated right away. Now for the food, we tried the salmon croquettes, the catfish and grits, and had some mimosas. The croquettes were good, I'd say 7/10. Catfish and grits were amazing the fish was perfectly cooked and grits were seasoned to perfection. My only negative is that I feel the plates & drinks were overpriced, but as a tourist spot downtown, I understand. read more

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10/10 recommend! Went while we were visiting Chicago! Food was great, service was good, great environment with good music. They can be a little pricey and have a gratuity already added to your tab. Would recommend and would return read more

Toast It IZ - Fish and grits - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This restaurant exceeded my expectations 10fold. The food was delicious, the service was perfection! I will come back again whenever I visit Chicago again. They've gained a loyal customer! Oxtails & grits Lambchops & waffles Sunset on Hubbard - espresso martini with tequila reposado read more

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Visited last week for Sunday afternoon brunch... We had a 1:30 reservation and by 2:10 we were still waiting to be seated. After pulling the hostess to the side again, we were finally seated. Then sat another 10 minutes with no greeting, no water--nothing. Before even sitting, we were told the kitchen was already an hour behind. While waiting, I noticed a lot of staff behind the bar. What stood out though... was a staff member back there taking pictures/videos and having drinks while the restaurant was clearly overwhelmed. At that point, we were ready to leave. I wanted to at least share our concerns with management before going, and a young lady (who I assumed was a manager) convinced us to stay, saying they'd push our order through. The owner came by briefly, but we didn't see her again and wait times didn't improve. It still took about 20 more minutes just for a server to come back and take our order. Even though we were told our food would be expedited, it was still a long wait--and we noticed tables seated before us dealing with the same issue. What I found odd was that after we expressed concerns, the manager kept chasing down a server multiple times instead of just taking our order herself. Now I will say this--the food was good. That's honestly the only reason I'm giving 3 stars. But the service and overall experience? Absolutely disappointing. I had never been to the Evergreen location because I'd heard similar things, but decided to give this one a chance. There's definitely potential for this to be a great spot, but operations need serious improvement ASAP. read more

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Stopped by around 10-11 am for brunch on a Friday and the place was just starting to fill up. Loved the atmosphere. Its vibrant and fun, with a touches of elegance. Good Playlist of jams were playing, not too loud, but just at the point where you can hear it. OUR server was really nice. She gave recommendations on what she liked on the menu and she didnt miss. THE FOOD! YES LAWD!! The fried catfish was cooked to perfection ! Crispy, juicy, well seasoned. A bit pricey at $16 for one side peice, but it was good. Also good were the lamb chops that came with the Banana pudding waffle. I don't usually eat lamb chops, but I'd have these again and again! The French toast was just French toast, good but nothing special (IMO). Potatoes and eggs were good. The Mimosa flight was pretty good! Pineapple and blueberry were my faves! All in all, this is a solid spot. I'd definitely come back. Enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Great place for brunch with friends. read more

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I had high hopes for Toast It Iz (River North) because I was considering hosting my birthday brunch here in May for about 15 people because I love the aesthetics. I decided to do a trial visit first and I'm really glad I did. We arrived around 1:15 PM and were told there would be a wait, which was fine. However, we were immediately told that even once seated, food wouldn't come out for at least an hour because the kitchen was extremely behind. Not ideal, but we decided to stay, order drinks, and try an appetizer while we waited. After waiting about 10-15 minutes, we noticed parties who came in after us being seated first. We had to flag someone down to get attention, and they eventually seated us with an apology. From there, the experience continued to go downhill: * We initially ordered jerk oxtail egg rolls only to be told about 10 minutes later they were out. * We switched to chicken tacos (which were good), but they took about 30 minutes. * Shortly after, we were told we couldn't order entrees yet because the kitchen needed to catch up... then 15 minutes later, we could, but it would be another hour wait. At this point, it was raining and we didn't want to leave and start over elsewhere, so we stayed. We ordered a catfish dinner, hot honey wings, and red beans & rice, asking for everything to come out together. Unfortunately, communication seemed completely off: * The wings came out early (not as requested), then were taken back. * The entrees later arrived without the wings. * After speaking with multiple staff members (3-4 different people), we asked for the wings to be removed altogether. * Then, right as we were finishing, they brought the wings anyway and they were cold. We were there from 1:15 PM to 4:30 PM... for just two people, one drink each. As for the food: * The tacos were the highlight, definitely the best thing we had. * The catfish looked under-seasoned and lighter than others we saw. * The mac & cheese and greens were okay. * Everything was edible, but nothing stood out enough to make up for the experience. Overall, I'd give the food a B, but the service and overall experience brought this down significantly. I'm really disappointed because I was excited about celebrating my birthday here but based on this visit, I'll be looking elsewhere. read more

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Stumbled upon this place from Yelp and looking for places to each brunch. We were greeted when we arrived and seated right away. The waitress was very nice and she had a very comforting tone to her voice. I think her name began with a B. They had a local artist draw on a wall which was pretty cool. They played hip hop music that we enjoyed and also had a sign about free shots that other customers were inquiring about. The food wise wasn't up to our par. We got like the left over of the coffee and it was horrible. We were suppose to get a fresh brew of coffee however that never came around and there was nothing special about it to really follow up about. I got the French toast it iz. I was asked if I wanted strawberry and banana and at first I thought we were getting strawberries with it but it was ended up being jam and I knew I should have just opted for bananas only. The jam was too much for me and overpowered my French toast. I was also given potatoes that I felt were overly seasoned and I had to really eat it with my eggs to enjoy. I felt it was on the pricy side a bit for the food. I would say the service was good but the breakfast food wasn't doing it for me. read more

We had brunch for five; with the space, probably wouldn't do bigger groups but it was perfect for us! This isn't a place for fancy lattes or shaken oatmilk whatevers, it's a place for friendly, helpful service and DELICIOUS food! We had gumbo catfish grits, regular catfish grits, salmon hash, pancakes and chicken and waffles, and everyone was very pleased! Notable shout-outs to the gumbo, the texture and fry of the catfish, the potatoes in the salmon hash, the wings and the texture of the waffles... and those pancakes were huge and had the best texture I've had in a pancake in a long time. Everyone agreed that we would be back to try other things on the menu! (A note to people who are sound-sensitive: the Happy Birthday cowbells are tambourines sound very loud in the space!) read more

Toast It IZ - Catfish, gumbo and grits with cheese - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was craving brunch food and came across this spot. It's the typical Chicago brunch restaurant with the good music playing and the faux grass and neon light wall for the IG post. I grabbed a spot at the bar and order the catfish & grits and a beignet flight. The service was good and the food came out pretty fast. I'd overall give the catfish & grits an 8/10. Fish was seasoned well and the sauce was great which complemented the grits well. The beignet flight was 6/10. They weren't the fluffy layered pillow like beignets I really like. I enjoyed my meal and would definitely go back. read more

Toast It IZ - Catfish & Grits - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The crowd was very Roudy and the hostess was very rude not helpful in finding our reservations so we had sit at the bar. We waited 30 until server got our orders. She was sweet no issues with her but the food was very salty I got oysters and oxtails on grits everything was very salty. Best thing was the sweet potato muffins. Also the margaritas flight was good. The bathroom was clean and nice no complaints with that. Just need new hostess and last I checked they don't sit in chairs she truly seemed like she didn't want to be there. read more

Toast It IZ - Sweet potato muffins - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

After an unexpected stay in Chicago and a missed dinner the night before I was looking for a substantial breakfast nearby. I only had to walk a couple blocks to this lovely restaurant. The decor was hip and plenty of seating available. I had a standard bacon and eggs with very tasty seasoned potatoes-food all cooked perfectly. The waitress was polite and unobtrusive and not overly busy. I would recommend this venue for a wonderful breakfast! read more

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We came from out of town and had a reservation for seven. We arrived twenty minutes early with 50% of our party to an empty restaurant and we were told once we were finally greeted that they would not seat us by a rude host. After waiting they finally decided to gahead and seat us. While policies are necessary, we had a reservation, 50% of our party was present with the other three on their way. Not the most welcoming experience and some policies should be revised especially when 50% of the party is present. Darren our waiter was wonderful and very personable. Made great recommendations. The food was delicious. We truly enjoyed the food. The catfish is the star for sure. I did speak with the manager and no accountability was taken, but If the welcoming experience improves we will be back. read more

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Wow! The food, service, atmosphere was INCREDIBLE! It was such a vibe! The playlist was We went early on a Saturday afternoon and I suggest you make a reservation. It was packed and we sat at the bar so we didn't have to wait forever. Our server, Kiara, was great! Beautiful inside and out! She was attentive and helpful with what to order on the menu as we were visiting for my friend's bday. Everyone we encounter was friendly and fun! It was such a great experience that we didn't even expect! I had the lamb and waffles and wow! I like my meats well done and it was perfect. Tender and seasoned well. It comes with eggs and red beans and rice. The waffle is a sweet potato waffle that was to die for! I can't wait to go back and visit again! read more

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Checked out Toast it iz second location and when I say the vibes are there. Great brunch spot. The music wasn't too loud, but definitely a nice time. The food was good, the wings could have used a bit more loving. I loooove my Gumbo Catfish & grits. The drinks were made to perfection (S/O to Diamond, who was our bartender and her service was GREAT). Now let me get into the Honey buttered biscuits, ... check'em out, you won't be disappointed. read more

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Carlos was so attentive to our table. The drinks were delicious and the shareables came quickly

Simply amazing..... came to Chicago on Easter weekend. My hotel was next door to the restaurant. I walked 3 mins and arrived at toast it IZ. The vibe was grown and sexy. Food was phenomenal. The staff was impeccable. 10/10 I will probably revisit before I leave. read more

Toast It IZ - Catfish po boy - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went here for a birthday brunch with a couple friends. It's one of the newer Toast It IZ locations that's getting a lot of buzz so decided to try it. First thing I noticed is it is crowded! It's a pretty big space for River North and they line the place up with tables, chairs, a private section, and a bar. Not a lot of room in between each seating. Second, the music is loud - great rap and r n b vibes but was hard to hear my friends across from me once we were seated. Had reservations for 1:30 pm but we ended up having to wait until around 2 pm to be seated. We took a bit to decide but weren't served our around entrees until 3 pm. Our server though was really friendly and gave us plenty of recs! We got the fried green tomatoes (deliciously seasoned!), my friend got their expresso martini and I got the lower wacker which was pretty good. For the entree, I got the fried chicken and sweet potato waffles (subbed out instead of the banana pudding waffles) with pecans and eggs with a side of turkey bacon. Everything was good and flavored well and great portions. Probably could have left the turkey bacon out though, the chicken, waffles, and eggs was more than enough. My friend got lamb chops and the french toast flight which she really liked - especially the flight. Lastly, they say they have validated parking on the lot on Rush on the website and my friend asked if there was at time limit but our servers didn't mention any. We ended up staying about 4 hours but found out the validation is actually about 3 so it didn't work. Ended up paying $63. I think they should state this on their website or make sure hosts are better informed b/c that was a lot so patrons beware. Overall minus a couple stars for the noise, crowdedness, wait, and valet but I'd come back maybe on a weekday or to sit at the bar or for take out. The menu is great and varied and I love a good Black-owned business! read more

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1st time visiting & from start to finish 10/10. The atmosphere was warm & welcoming .. clean. I was able to sit where ever I desired. Service was very clean & fast. Our server Soraya was the true definition of " a server " The total package. She answered every question with grace and confidence. Might I add she is a bartender & was working two positions that day. Impressive.. Food was out of this world good. I highly recommend this place. read more

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Angie took care of us during happy hour, she was really nice and hospitable and did a great job of explaining the menu to us and letting us know how everything worked! Also it was very clean and cute and the margarita I had was amazing! read more

Toast It IZ - Margarita - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Carlos was welcoming and attentive! We had a great brunch and start to our day at Toast it Iz :) would recommend for a group of people.

First time here. The Toast it iz is decent. We had the margarita flight. All in all 6/10.

Hello came in out of town for a wedding this weekend, this vibe was definitely a plus but the service was HORRIBLE. The server was very dismissive with an attitude. we were told they was going to be an hour wait we ordered appetizers. They never showed up. We ordered four drinks. Only three came after we sat there over an hour and 25 minutes. We decided to leave. They gave us a new server she tried our best, but by that time it was too late. The damage was already done. The menu looked amazing. I wanted my food, but I didn't have the time once again. I'm on vacation. I don't have time to sit and wait on Food. I gave them the benefit of the doubt one hour, but after an hour and 30 something minutes that was too much.. read more

Why is it that every black establishment are overpriced this place? It was nice too small in my opinion but the tower if you pay for a margarita tower, don't put so much syrup where you can't taste the liquor you cannot taste the tequila. We all got sick to our stomach because it was surf and the waiters are not attentive. The one we had she never came back to access. Was there anything we needed but she get a tip I beg to differ I highly do not recommend and I won't be going back oh and by the way, they fried fish so hard you can't taste the fish. read more

Cool light spot . Certainly nice staff .. u would recommend.Food was good . Very easy to find . And great vibes and music .

Great food, fast service, and great music! This establishment is photo op worthy. The food was good also. We had the catfish and grits and the lamb with waffles. Both were a 10/10. Kiara is the best! read more

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Nice casual laid back vibes. All of the food was delicious. The service was great. Very attentive and friendly. Would definitely return on my next Chicago visit. read more

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I booked a table at their new spot, but man, the wait for food and drinks was super long. I ordered chicken and waffles and asked if they were whole wings, and they said yes. But then my food came, and it was tenders! They told me the menu changed, but nobody told me. I sent it back, and then they brought out wings. Oh, and they ran out of lettuce for my friend's salad. The manager was cool about it, but I'm definitely not going back there. My large party wasn't happy about our experience. I didn't capture pictures of everyone's food because it came so late. read more

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Came here for breakfast for dinner a little after 5pm. The hostess who greeted us, seemed to be over it. She dryly asked us if we had reservations, we did not. It also wasn't that crowded, I think there was a table getting ready to leave & a table who was still dining; pretty empty otherwise. The waitress however was the complete opposite & full of energy and had the menu down packed. We already knew what we wanted though; steak and eggs. That's it. The food was delicious, I honestly have no complaints my steak was perfect. My partner liked that they sprinkled green onion on top for a little razzle dazzle. There was a photographer who offered to take our photos for a small fee. We purchased one and he threw in an extra for free.I enjoyed the r&b vibes however I will say the music was too loud; almost club like. I could feel the base in my back. I'm glad I didn't order any alcoholic beverages as that would have eventually made me nauseous. Important to note that gratuity for our party of 2 was already included in our bill. I don't remember seeing that posted anywhere. Anyways, our breakfast for dinner date was cute, maybe a little bit more pricey than we expected; 2 steak and egg breakfast for $100; but we get that we paid for the vibes, decor and location and happy to support. read more

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