Went on an architecture tour on the river 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

See all

View 100% Food 70% Service 0% This was my 22nd birthday dinner with my family. We sat down at our reservation time. Not a single person came to our table for 15 minutes until I got up and asked for someone to take our drink order. A very nice gentleman by the name of Victor came over and took our drink order. He was excellent. He told us that our server will be over momentarily, apologized for the wait, and got us our drinks. Then our server came over with our drinks. Didn't say anything other than asking what we would like to order. We ordered and receive our appetizer. 20-30 minutes after we finish our appetizer, he finally comes over to take our order after we ask a bus boy to get him. He take our food order and starts to walk away. We have to stop him in-order for us to get a drink order in as-well. We got our food, but still didn't have our drinks. Again, we had to ask a bus boy to get him. After our drink, he checks on us once, and then never appears until the bill. The bar messed up our drinks both time during the night. We never got our waiters name. But he was serving the outdoor table closest to the door on July 3rd, 2026. On the other hand, Victor was amazing for stepping up and occasionally making sure we were okay -- we tried our hardest not to bother him as he was dealing with his own tables. We also never received any compliments for my birthday. While the other tables got cakes and candles for their celebration, we got horrible service, and poorly made drinks. We will not be returning and hope other people use this message as a warning. Servers -- do better. Management -- do better. read more

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

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

See all

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

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

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

See all

(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

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Service was not good. Server did not ask if we had allergies nor how we wanted our food prepared. We ordered an appetizer, two drinks and two entrees. The wait time for food to come out was long. My food was not prepared the way it was described on menu and I was missing a side order. Waiter did not ask us how we were doing throughout our time there. He did take my order off bill when i complained but I would not go back. Other guests were complaining of food wait time as well. read more

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

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

See all

The manager was so kind and attentive! The food was good, especially the pull apart bread and the pork belly bites. The chocolate cake was also fantastic. Overall, really great experience! read more

Went for brunch and ordered the skillet it came out with a virtually uncooked egg on it so I asked for the eggs to be cooked a little more. 25 minutes later out came a new skillet with the same level of cooked eggs without the peppers, onions, and bacon that were supposed to come with it. Left without eating it, happy I was not charged. read more

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

See all

Five star service! This staff was ON IT! We were not disappointed on any front! We decided to stop by for lunch before our show at the Cadillac Palace Theatre! Perfect distance to the theater and just steps away from the Chicago River Walk! At RR, there was not a moment where a detail was missed! We had full waters at all times, plates cleared immediately, and kind interactions with staff! The food was absolutely incredible! We had the Pork Belly Bites as an appetizer, and my oh my- delicious! Everyone at the table was a fan! Our group had the Fried Chicken Sandwich, RR Burger, Chef's Breakfast, and RR Skillet (see image)! We left full and happy! One friend said "You know it is a good restaurant when you leave patting your belly and ready for a nap!"- Ha! Certainly true here! From the service, to clean bathrooms, to super sweet atmosphere- we loved it! A beautiful spot right on the Chicago River!! Would certainly recommend! Thank you RR! read more

River Roast - RR Skillet (with sausage)! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The place is downstairs from the coffee place which took me a minute it two to figure out. It was in a large open area. A little on the"pleasantly" dark side. The server Mikey was very nice. He was friendly and attentive without being overbearing. I ordered the burger with thick cut bacon and an iced tea. The burger was delicious but don't even think about picking it up and not getting it all over yourself. It was meaty, juicy and seasoned perfectly right down to the pickles. I am going to be next door tomorrow, again and will definitely be back again. read more

Had a girlfriend coming into town from Texas and wanted to go to a nice spot in the town with a nice view. View was beautiful, food horrible! It was three of us, and all three of our food was not good nor seasoned. I've been here a while back and i don't remember the food being so bad. Even the chocolate birthday complementary cake they gave was nasty and tasted out the box. I don't like giving bad reviews but for our bill to be so high and all our entrées be so bad I've made sure I'm leaving a review! Chefs need to do better read more

Definitely not accessible unless you want to weave all around the kitchen and back hallways. BLTA bread was hard as a rock. Bacon was way undercooked. Roasted potatoes were black, hard, tasteless. Chicken was good. Lamb was good. Tip automatically added....not cool. read more

River Roast - Roasted potatoes burnt to a black char - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

The waiter tried, and the burger was okay, but there was no love in this food or in this entire dining atmosphere. We arrived hungry and ready to eat after a 90-minute ride on First Lady Boat Tour & Cruise around Chicago. Several desired menu items were unavailable including favored desserts. Only BBQ chips came with the burger and they were hard and old. We asked for cole slaw. The waiter returned and said the Chef wouldn't give to us, because it didn't go with the burger. We offered to pay. Still no option not cole slaw. They simply would'nt provide it. The nerve! We ordered two $12 baskets of hot fries. That was only a slight compensation. By the time the ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise arrived things were cold. It was a sad & cold dining experience. I would not recommend this spot to anyone. Never another visit! #RiverRoast 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

We had a reservation for 9 people today, it was confirmed the night before by River Roast. We showed up at time, then keep coming up with excuses. Now they split up our table, otherwise we had to wait for an hour. This is ridiculous. Why have reservations? Then come up with an excuse they are overbooked. Don't go with a large group, they will screw you over. read more

The Construction crew enjoying a lunch hosted by the client, River Roast Chicago. The union crew who remodeled the restaurant. A client celebrating the project with the crew is a rare event for construction crews. And this wonderful Thank you note. Thank you to River Roast in Chicago for recognizing the construction crew. Check out riverroastchicago.com the food is amazing according to Nathan. #riverroast read more

River Roast - A very nice Thank You to the crew. Class act. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

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

See all

River Roast was my first restaurant I tried when I got to Chicago and I'm glad my friends chose it! It sits right on the riverfront with amazing views of the city. The food and drinks were amazing. We shared the pull apart bread that tasted great with the garlic butter on top. We also ordered the pork belly. It was seasoned well, but was kind of dry/tough. For my entree, I ordered the Branzino. It was mostly deboned but there were small bones still found when I was eating, but this didn't take away from how tender and flavorful the fish was! It was also topped with chimichurri. Wait staff were very attentive and made sure our dining experience went well. read more

See all

We chose River Roast for brunch in between shopping and wedding dress appointments- I couldn't think of a better place to go! The charcuterie was great, and everyone loved their entrees. I got the chicken and waffles and it was one of the best I've ever had. The cocktails were fantastic- and it was overall a great vibe inside! Would come back for sure! read more

See all

Had dinner here with friends last week. There was a big event happening which impacted staffing, and we were told it might also impact the wait time for food. Based on the servers' encouragement, we put in an order for half a chicken, and then added starters, a seafood r main dish and sides. We weren't even half way through our starters and all of the other food came out. It was very poorly timed, and a s result we missed the chance to enjoy some of the food while it was still hot. The food we did enjoy was good. The carrots and broccoli were my favorite dishes. read more

Quality restaurant located right on the North side of the Riverwalk. You have a prime view of the river if you get a seat right near a window. It has all the usual American fare, burgers, salads, steaks, seafood, along with a full bar. They have nice happy hour deals as well. I got the R&River Roast happy hour special burger, with pub chips. It was pretty good, and a good deal. While not a cheap place, it is way more affordable than a lot of the steakhouses/restaurants that are located on the river, and honestly I could never afford to go to. But thankfully this place won't break the bank, but is still a good value, and has good views of the river. The inside decor was nice, and the service was good, friendly staff all around. I'd recommend for those looking for a spot on the river for food/drinks. read more

River Roast - R&River Roast Burger with pub chips, happy hour special - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

River Roast is one of those fantastic summer spots where you know you'll have a fun time! It's right by the river, and I went for happy hour with a friend of mine. They had select wines and a cocktail of the day. The day we went it was a melon spritz of some kind. Lovely views of the river and La Salle bridge, and service was great too! You've got to go downstairs and outside to sit by the river but they also have indoor seating if you prefer that. read more

See all

Looks are deceiving! High hopes for this one, but was let down at almost every turn. Ordered an old fashioned, and it took quite a long time. Especially for a closed patio, and maybe 70% occupancy. However I will say it was good. Food: We ordered the Burrata, which had hazelnuts. We were intrigued and then quickly disappointed. The burrata was okay by itself, but the hazelnuts added an odd sweetness to the dish, that just didn't work. We both decided to order the Steak Frites, and somehow got two different looking plates. Both cooked medium when asked for mid rare. One was smoothered in chimichurri, one barely had any. I would say the quality of the beef seemed great, but overall the dish was sloppy. Lastly, I would feel bad if I did not mention the overall cleanliness. With an open kitchen concept, you would hope what you can see is clean. It was not. The floor and counter tops matched closely to a waffle house on a friday after midnight. I understand things get busy, but if you can't keep it clean, dont show it off! read more