How is this not 5 star. Some of the best food I've ever had, that was different.... not unusual but different. from the normal you have had. Fried Chicken should be standard right? Have you had chicken melt in your mouth like it was steak ? Try it you will not be disappointed. I was with a larger group and tried everything on the menu and it was all awesome. read more

Great place to indulge in hearty foods. Right of the Chicago river, the views are spatular. The service was superb. The food was delicious, not enough choices to choose from. The portions are baby sized, seems like a typical Chicago theme. I ordered the roast beef and it was delicious. I asked for medium cooked and the waiter told me it would be mostly pink and contain some red, however, it was a bit over cooked, therefore, I would recommend ordering one level undercooked, according to your preference. read more

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

Great atmosphere and location, but forgettable food. We had the pork roast and chicken, chicken was really good, but pork was a pile of fat and dried gristle. Pork meatball appetizer with "gnocchi" was borderline inedible...gnocchi was actually a slab of polenta that probably had 2 cups of salt in it. The whole meal was over seasoned with ridiculous amount of salt. And the $8 beers are served in small glasses. Won't be going back here again. read more

This was a disappointment. Everything was fine, but nothing was memorable. Our party shared the fish and the roast meat. The fish presentation was outstanding (ironically, despite the name of the restaurant the recommended preparation is fried) was a tiny bit overdone. My friends that have eaten there recommended the chicken and have commented how good it was but at $42 (for two, it did look gigantic) I won't be running back. I will probably give it another try because I had gone within the first two days of opening and may have still been working out the kinks. They do shave nice outdoor tables and the wait staff was very eager to please. Still, with the lineage of the owners and chef's my visit was not impressive. read more

My friend and I stopped in River Roast on Saturday evening and I have to say the service and food were amazing! The bartenders were attentive and friendly. Luke, the manager working that evening was very accommodating. When I return in the Spring, I will be sure to sit outside! read more

We were very much looking forward to this dinner, and arrived early to have an appetizer and drink at the bar. However, from the very start we were not made to feel welcome. Staff was cold, and eventually down right rude and condescending. We paid almost $100 for 4 cocktails and a mediocre appetizer, and ended up leaving before we ate. Our waitress decided were not going to get a second drink until our food came (we were not being loud or unruly, just jovial) but instead of politely telling us, she just ignored us. When we finally flagged her down she hissed that the more we waved the longer we would wait. We paid for what we'd eaten/drank and left. She sent the bartender after us, but after agreeing we were square he let us go. We left there and ended up at Chicago Chop House were we had an outstanding dinner and were treated with warmth and respect from all of the staff! read more

Amazing dining experience for large group. Our office dined here this past Friday, and it could not have capped the week or started the weekend off any better! We had special accomodations in a private room, with a wonderful view of the river walk. The ambiance, wine selections, and delicious roasts were all delectable, and the service was premier to match! Bravo, well done, and gratitude to all points of service. We will be back! read more

Walked in on a limb and very happy we did so. Our server was amazing on the patio (shoutout to Gonzalo). He recommended some awesome dishes for us first timers and was super attentive. Cocktails were fresh and delicious and the pork roast to share was more than enough. Get the carrots and dirt as a side. SO GOOD. Can't wait to come back and enjoy some nice weather this summer! read more

We went for Thanksgiving and it wasn't bad, overall, but the turkey was terrible. The only turkey available was white and very, very dry. When we asked if they had dark meat, or anything more moist, they said it would be another 25 minutes. We kept checking back for the next 30 minutes but moist turkey never arrived, so we moved on to dessert and left. We were really disappointed to not have decent turkey on Thanksgiving, especially when paying $60 a person. And surprising for a place specializing in roasts. Otherwise, the service, drinks, and some side dishes were good. read more

Due to an impending move, we felt compelled to go out for Thanksgiving dinner, and we couldn't have been happier than our decision to head to River Roast. For the holiday, they did a buffet that was a fantastic spread--everything from salads and breads to desserts of pecan pie and apple crisp with sides and meats in between. The sides included a nice variety of things that were familiar staples on my family's Thanksgiving table as well as some unfamiliar dishes that we usually don't have on Turkey Day. The meats were incredible--pulled pork was our favorite, but the steak and turkey were also very good. A nice finishing touch was that at the end of the meal, the server gave us a little bag of caramel popcorn and a voucher for a free brunch on a return visit. We'd really like to go back to try their regular menu! read more

Wife and I ordered the Big Fish and Boatload of Veggies. Tasted OK but not nearly enough food for two people. My worst complaint was about the mixed drinks. Wife ordered Suddenly Lemons and I ordered Morpheus is Fighting Neo (which is basically an Old Fashioned). Both drinks were extremely light on alcohol, mine was basically sugar water, which I couldn't even finish drinking. We switched to beer and found that they served that in small cups... It does have a very nice view and the server was pleasant, but for what you get vs. what you paid, it seems like a tourist trap and you will leave feeling ripped off. read more

An awesome spot to eat on the river. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so that we can sit outside again! The roast chicken is one of the best I have ever had- definitely recommend it. If you like cheese curds, those are a must have. read more

It was delicious, the meals are mostly made for two people so it's really not too expensive, about 20-30 a person. The pork was amazing and the crap toast appetizer was delicious! read more

Totally agree that the roast chickens feed way more than two. Our group of 7 came in and ordered a roast chicken, a roast fish, 6 sides, 4 starters, and 2 salads and got a look from the wait staff as if we had severely under ordered. read more

We went out to dinner two weekends ago and encountered a wait, but that's expected in downtown on a weekend. The drinks we had while we waited were delicious and the staff was gracious. Our waitress (Joanie? Jordan?)was friendly and have many good suggestions. She told me they we're involved with Tony Montuano and I felt that hospitality leak through. I will absolutely come back here next time I'm in the area and I will definitely bring friends read more

Solid meal. Nice settling along the Chicago River. Good staff. Prices are a bit high, but seems typical for a big city downtown. Five stars seems to represent anything in top third these days and this place certainly exceeds that. Not a lot of choices, but enough for most anyone. Good vegetarian choices too. Would recommend for the setting and the food holds its own. read more

I can't say enough good things about River Roast. My friends and I had a fantastic dining experience here. The ambiance of the place is great: casual but still very modern. I would love to come back again when it's warmer to enjoy the lovely outdoor patio on the river. Our server was very knowledgeable and friendly. My friends weren't super impressed with the cocktails (one of them literally had an ice cube in it that was four inches squared, leaving room for only about two sips of drink...no thanks). The wine list was good, however, and we had a LOT of the house pinot noir, which was divine. The food was outstanding. We sampled a plethora of dishes. Highlights include the roast chicken, which is incredible: so tender you barely even need to chew it. I'm not usually big on beets, but the beet side dish was great, as were the brussel sprouts, leeks wrapped in prosciutto, mushrooms, and every single thing we consumed. For dessert we shared an apple fritter of sorts that wasn't super impressive, but the lemon dessert was heavenly. I was also impressed by how affordable this place was. Split six ways, we each ended up paying $66, including tip. I expected it to be twice as much based on the amount of food and drink we had. Overall, it was a great experience and I definitely recommend this place. read more

Went for brunch and was let down by the open face sandwich. The giant slab of bacon was not crispy or warm. Seems like it would have been better to order a roast and split it with the table. Took about an hour to get our food which is very long for just brunch. Music and view were great though and so was the cold brew coffee. read more

I came here for lunch with two friends visiting from out of town. Unfortunately it was pouring and we couldn't enjoy the wonderful river views available on the outdoor patio. Nonetheless, we sat inside and had a delicious meal. Our waiter described the soup special, almond gazpacho, in such a way that we all ended up ordering it. I am SO not a gazpacho person but because it was not tomato-based, I wanted to try it. It was OUTSTANDING. Refreshing, creamy, flavorful and totally unique. I also had the special sandwich, a roast beef and provolone concoction that was also exploding with flavor. Food was delicious, our server delightful, and the location is great. I will absolutely be back. read more

I love this place. From the bartenders to the severs everything is top notch. I recommend making a reservation in advanced. Outdoor seating is first come... So plan for it. You can't beat summer time Chi on the river. Make it a date night and get your buns out here to river roast. My recommendation: zucchini flowers to start, wine, chicken gobbets, roasted fish, mushrooms. Total win for all. read more

Attended a work dinner here on Tuesday this week. We had a group of 20 or so and a reservation for 7:00. We ordered a number of appetizers to start, vegetarian and meaty entrees, a few sides, and desserts. The food was delicious and generously portioned. I particularly enjoyed the roast (beef) and balsamic carrots with goat cheese. The Mexican corn was also scrumptious and easy to share. The service was a bit slow, but overall I'd recommend River Roast for a party large or small. read more

Good portions and meals cooked like you were at Grandmas. Pork was smoky and tender as was chicken. Great cocktails and cool venue on the river. read more

Horrendous service. Food was okay. Our waiter didn't check our table once. He just threw food on our table. I'm pretty sure he forgot one of the sides we ordered. All foods came out at once except the one side dish. When I asked him, he didn't even apologize for the wait. It came out when we were almost done with our meal. Again, he just threw it on our table. No words. Nobody checked in on us except the person who filled our water cups. When we were finished, I got attention of a different waiter who was near by. He goes "are you done yet?" So rude. You can definitely get better food with much better service else where. Left very upset. read more

Sometimes when you choose a restaurant on the river you decide ahead of time you may be foregoing a really good food experience because "it's for the tourists" but not at River Roast! Here you get ambiance, service, and a view. Everything is family style so bring people you can do that with. Drinks are crazy expensive but strong so it's worth it. Also don't go with just 2 of you! 3 is better, 4 best. Our party order a fried chicken roast, shishito peppers, house pickles, creamed spinach, elotes, and a cauliflower. We enjoyed everything! The fried chicken was good, better with the sauce they serve with it. I would say the white meat portion was a bit dry for my taste. Want to go back to try the roasted chicken. The potatoes the chicken was served on top of were crispy and perfect. The sides needed salt. I hate asking for salt at a restaurant that doesn't already have it on the table, but we did because the spinach and cauliflower were under seasoned. The shishitos were my favorite. They're my favorite everywhere I go, but the harissa rubbed version here is very special. read more

River Roast is worth dining at. We came in late Monday evening, only finding a few tables dining. We would have sat on the patio right on the river but it was a bit breezy and overcast so we stayed inside. The menu is gastropub-esk with bites and small plates but instead of entrees you can buy roasts for two, thus the name. We shared a few small plates and then ordered the chicken for two. Im not one to typically order chicken, especially when it is almost 40 dollars but it was delicious. Smoked, moist, and flavorful. They carve it at the table which makes for another plus! The only downside was that we asked about the charcuterie sampling they offer on Monday nights if you order a roast, which our server confirmed. We had to remind her when she offered dessert, and she brought it to us. read more

went there with my family yesterday and was told that they don't have room for 11 people... granting that their dinner doesn't start until 5, we were gonna wait... how can they possible say that they're fully booked at 4pm, but when we stopped by around 7 the place looks empty. So my sister decided to go in & see if there's a table for 11? the receptionist said " they have plenty of room." That totally irks me so I went in & asked for a card to contact their manager. The receptionist started making excuses about how they can not accommodate us earlier... "there were smaller size party than what they're expecting, the bigger party was seated on separate table, etc..." I told her they could have done the same thing for us. No wonder some people feels like they are sometimes treated unfairly by their skin color, because of people like these!!! I guess we are not white enough to eat at this "fancy" place!!! read more

Seemed like a great Saturday afternoon stop for lunch and Bellini's on the water. We sat outside to enjoy the sunny, mild afternoon. Unfortunately, the choice was either glaring sun and not so loud or shaded patio and a way too loud, although excellent blues band. We chose the shade, and they seemed to dial back the sound just a bit after many complaints from tables around us. The menu, while interesting is very limited, not at all kid friendly. Our under 8 crew chose the rabbit and waffles and to our surprise gobbled it up! We had the beef which was delicious, but ridiculously priced for what was served including no sides. The service was average at best. With the price point of this lunch, I would have expected friendlier servers then the apathetic millennial that waited on us. It seemed we were doing him a favor by choosing to dine there this day. read more

I had been wanting to try this place for awhile since it is right by my work but man was I disappointed...We sampled a lot of different things from the menu including the fried chicken, meatballs and charcuterie board, but nothing was appetizing. Our waiter was also dismissive and not helpful which added to an already poor experience. He could tell we did not like the food but instead of asking, he would only ask if we wanted another cocktail. The only saving grace for the meal was the dessert. We got which the carrot cake which was delicious. However, even with the cake, I can say that I will never go back to this restaurant and would urge people to go elsewhere... read more

As a regular visitor to the windy city....I have eaten at a variety of different establishments. River Roast has definitely been the highlight of many dining experiences in the city! We had a large group of people with us and ordered a variety of items from the menu to share with the table. Everything was served beautifully and cooked to proper temperature. The chef himself actually came out and greet us. I even asked him to make me a spicy relish for our beef dish. In just a few minutes he whipped up a fantastic array of veggies and herbs to put on our food. Cannot wait to go back again! read more

Warning Not the place for corporate dinners. No concept of how to feed groups. Food good, desert is sad, space not condusive to privacy or movement. read more

Best location for a meal, an app, dinner or an event. Food is out of this world and the live music is choice. Go when the weather is nice and enjoy the patio, otherwise it's still a cozy spot. read more

We were at River Roast with a party of 8 and I think we had absolutely everything on the menu shared amongst the table. After a meal of fantastic appetizers we had the Big Fish, Roast Beef, Whole Chicken and Rack of Pork. I highly recommend the Roast Beef as it was unbelievable...honestly some of the best I've ever eaten. Atmosphere is really comfortable and you are right at home dressed up or more on the casual side. Excellent job by everybody at the restaurant. Well done! read more

Wow.. incredible atmosphere. My wife and I found this gem while walking the city river walk. Dinner was amazing. We are outside during the evening & wonderful experience. Only dig I can think of was there wine selection was very pricey. Great beer selection which was reasonable. read more

Had lunch on a recent Friday. Nice atmosphere, especially the outside seating, but frankly expected better quality food for a restaurant that is associated with Tony Mantuano. We are regulars at Cafe Spiaggia and Bar Toma. First off, our waiter couldn't remember the specials for the day and was uninformed about the wines "by the glass". Good thing we didn't ask for any bottle recommendations! He also wanted us to order our apps and entrees all at once. We don't like doing this because entrees tend to come out too quickly. Even after waiting a few minutes to order our entrees after we ordered our apps, guess what? The entrees still came out too soon and we had just received our apps. Nothing more annoying than a waiter who is untrained both in service and menu. The Wagyu sashimi app was chewy, shouldn't that quality of beef melt in your mouth? The roast chicken for two was dried out and should be fork tender for $39. The Caesar salad was just ok. Didn't expect this poor quality of food and service at a Tony Mantuano restaurant. Very disappointed. read more

Great service! Started with a smile from Grace all the way through to the Chef/Owner, Mr Hogan. The chicken is screamingly moist, rabbit is fantastic and the Hogan Peas.....well, every dam thing we had. Just go. Don't think twice. read more

Had impromptu girls dinner here and we really enjoyed ourselves; our table was great, server (wish I could remember his name) was wonderful and we enjoyed all of our food and wine. I won't bore you with details but we shared the oysters, pan-seared fish, parsnip gratin (not the right name), and brussels sprouts. It was the perfect amount of food for 2 girls. read more

Well you need to come with a big appetite ...Best roasted chicken ! Loved the way they bring it and how they serve it. Very knowledgeable waiter made it a great experience. Potatoes are full of flavor, could not try anything else as this was really a lot of food, I got to bring some home too:) Also loved the view. read more

Great food. The vibe is pretty cool. Dark wood, Edison bulbs, industrial turn of the century feel. Fun place for a date or just dinner with friends, exceptional service all around. read more

Have a delicious dinner and a cocktail, then book your wedding! Our daughters wedding was last weekend, and they "killed it"! Delicious food, gracious staff, beautiful setting, and they even held off the rain! (some powerful people you have there Darcy!) We couldn't be more pleased with the event! A shout out to Darcy Gerber! One of the nicest people I have met, organized, thorough...just overall, great to work with. Thanks River Roast! We will be back! read more

We stopped in for brunch while we were visiting Chicago and asked to be seated on the patio. The hostess was going to seat us, but another host refused to seat us because there were only tables for 6 left outside. They talked about what to do right in front of us and then told us we would have to wait 35 minutes to sit. Not only was it extremely unprofessional that I had to listen to them discuss what to do about seating us, but they had empty tables and just refused to sit us in case a bigger party came. While I can't speak for the food, the service clearly needs some work. read more