Food Quality and Taste: 3 The food was good. I tried the Mac and Cheese, Cornbread, Blackened Salmon BLT, and Peanut Butter Mousse Pie. The Mac & Cheese was reasonably cheesy, the jalapeno wasn't overpowering in the cornbread, the BLT was seasoned fine, and the salmon was cooked about medium well. The Peanut Butter Mousse was quite sweet, as a heads up! Of these, my favorite was the cornbread. Not your grandma's soul food, but definitely a nice restaurant to try! Service: 3 The service was fine. A little rushed at times, and the service was pretty casual. Courteous, but expect a casual experience. For example, the server brought me boxes so that I could pack my food to go, brought over the POS terminal for me to pay, and left. I didn't see the server after that. Atmosphere: 4 The atmosphere was nice! The decor is very nice and inviting. I love the color scheme, and the music was nice while I had lunch. There's also a separate space for a bar, so while I didn't sit at the bar, it was a very nice setup. Value: 3 The value was fine. The pricing was "''a little"' expensive for the taste of the food and the casual vibe of the service experienced. Opportunities for learning: 3 While there were instances of fusion on the menu (Korean Chicken Sandwich), this was a typical American-style soul food restaurant. read more

After not being able to get lunch at another restaurant we happily settled upon Taste 22. It came recommended by our family friend and it was black owned so that really struck our interest. When you walk in the Ambiance is very modern with a rustic antique feel. The staff greeted us quickly and was able to see us. I like the fact that they have different seating areas. This was for lunch so we were able to find good seats. I ordered the impossible chorizo empanadas which were excellent. However I would say stick with the sauce and not their guacamole as it's missing a bit of flavor. For my entree I ordered the salmon sandwich with a side of Brussel sprouts. The Brussels sprouts were cooked nicely with a tang. I like the salmon but just wish I had more sauce. Overall this place is a must try. read more

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First time here for a private event and the space was great. Bartenders and other staff were helpful and nice. There was a buffet style food option with multiple options. The food was ok but that wasn't why I was there. They offered chicken wings, fries, lobster rolls. The wings were good I definitely will try this place again outside of a private event. read more

The restaurant interior was really nice! We came on the weekend for brunch, and it was pretty empty, but I can see this place crowding up for a Happy Hour/Dinner crowd. I got the fried Chicken sandwich, and it was perfectly crispy and juicy. It was a good amount of food and the service was fast and friendly. read more

Taste 222 - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is super classy, charming, beautiful, super clean and I am very, very specific about cleanliness and their bathroom was sparkling, including the walls. I love the furniture and I love the building itself with its old world charm. I love that the kitchen is behind a frosted glass panel of windows. I love it that they have a private room as well as two dining areas and a bar. We enjoyed the mac & cheese and wish there was more cheese in it, but we love the pasta itself. We also had the shrimp with grits and it was very good and everybody has their own taste, but we wished there were more grits to offset a lot of of the spices. But the best part of this dinner was that peanut butter mousse cake, and as you can see in the picture, the moose is all the way down to the floor of the plate so you're not dealing with thick cake to fill up the dessert, but most of it is the mousse of the peanut butter and it's light and fluffy and the little toffee bits in the chocolate and caramel and powdered sugar on the plate really added flavor to the whole dish. That was amazing. Award winning! There is no parking as this area definitely doesn't have parking, but there is parking on the street if you're lucky. The parking lot that they have is for staff and maybe others. read more

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The best time of day is happy hour and Taste 222 is offering a great happy hour option in the west loop. Mon - Fri, from 4pm-6pm, you can enjoy happy hour food and drink deals and their patio is open as well! What I tried: Vegetarian Empanadas Hand cut truffle fries Deviled eggs Firecracker shrimp Korean bbq wings Honorable mention to the Kurveball BBQ Lemonade. This drink was made with Kurveball BBQ flavored whiskey! It's definitely one of the more unique drinks I've had flavor wise; you gotta try it! They also have a DOPE EVENT SPACE that you can use; it's SO NICE and SPACIOUS! It's available for rental and they're taking holiday bookings for the space currently! Add this spot to your happy hour stops in Chicago and tell em that Bri from Planes and Plates sent you! Enjoy! read more

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I have been to this place for numerous events as well as lunch and dinner and it never disappoints! Service is usually on point as well as the food! They have a very nice happy hour as Korean wings, sliders as well as truffle fries are some of the goodies on the menu. Drinks are always on point as well especially their old fashioned and manhattans. As I mentioned I have been here for several events and speaking engagements so they can accommodate certain things depending on what you're trying to do. Dope space! read more

Taste 222 - Korean wings - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stopped here before a dinner reservation with a friend to grab a cocktail. I was tempted to try something off their happy hour menu but I didn't want to spoil my dinner. I really like the vibe of this place and that fact that it's sort of tucked away. We both got the cosmo and it was delicious. Will definitely be back for a happy hour. read more

The deviled eggs and empanadas were delectable and delicious. Service was very friendly and the atmosphere was cozy. Would visit again. read more

Taste 222 - Deviled Eggs, Empanadas and Cornbread - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Burger pretty meh but good value. $16 for a burger plus fries is solid. I need to return to try happy hour... read more

Taste 222 - Taste 222 Burger - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this place! Not only is it conveniently located right off of my greenline stop, but they have an amazing happy hour and the actual restaurant is also a great place to stop in and get some work done during the day. read more

Taste 222 - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place was absolutely yummy! The staff is amazing and the ambiance is lovely! I literally can't wait to go back with my entire staff for our Christmas party! read more

Taste 222 - We had the mussels, chicken wings, shrimp, artichoke dip and a few drinks! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sometimes it's hard to find value at upscale and nice restaurants in Chicago. Either the food is good, but too expensive or the portions are just too small. Taste 222 draws that fine line between price and value. It's located on the Eastern edge of the West Loop, so you would expect prices that are too high for what you are getting, but this is not the case. First, the food is amazing. Of all the dishes I tried when I visited with my wife, father and mother my favorites were the steak fites, cornbread and the peanut butter mousse pie. The cornbread was just enough to get the meal started and had a hint of an unexpected spicy kick. The steak of the steak frites was perfectly cooked the frites were amazing, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Then, the peanut butter mousse pie was insanely good. I love the combo of peanut butter and chocolate, so this was the perfect dessert for me. This dessert is a must order. The mousse was so creamy and flavorful. If you love peanut butter and chocolate this is the one for you. Second, the value is amazing. Most, if not all of the main dishes and handhelds were $20 or less. While the portions are smaller than other restaurants, each dish would be enough to fill me up. Third, the service was great. Our server was friendly and our food came out fast and hot. In sum, this spot needs to be on your list. read more

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Great opportunity to visit during Chicago Black Restaurant Week and try their top favorites. Started off with their soup of the day (clam chowder on Monday) and kale salad. The chowder was perfect for the cold weather. We had the Shrimp & Grits as well as the Southern Fried Catfish which were both exceptional entrees and huge portions. I had my leftover Shrimp & Grits the following morning for breakfast and was not disappointed. I was skeptical of reheating grits the next day but the consistency did not slip. For dessert, we tried the peanut butter pie which stands up to its name as well as the sweet key lime pie. Ambiance is extremely dainty and cute. The service staff made us feel welcomed and told us about their upcoming happy hour in the next few weeks. Can't wait to return! read more

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Came here for a work lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The interior is decorated very nicely and the AC felt great on such a hot day. I opted for the Kale Salad with plant protein since there weren't many vegetarian options. Although the salad didn't look like anything special, it was surprisingly delicious. We had great service throughout although the music was on rather loudly so we had trouble hearing each other talk at some points. read more

I ate here yesterday with a friend for Chicago Restaurant Week. Our table ordered the Cobb salad for the first course, the chicken and the salmon for second courses, and key lime pie for the third. The food was exceptional except for the key lime pie which was good. I'm kind of a key lime pie snob and I'm not throwing shade by calling this one good but it didn't rise to the level of the rest of the food nor other key lime pies available locally. To be clear, it was good though. The service was impeccable from checking in at the host stand to the service throughout our meal. I wish I could recall our server's name but I can't. We were seated close to the open kitchen and it was clear that the Chef was on top of everything happening there, as was his staff. Also appreciate that he was willing to make a first course substitution to accommodate a restriction that my friend had. She was willing to forgo that course completely but the server and kitchen went above and beyond to ensure she enjoyed the full experience. This restaurant is in my 'hood and I'll be back. Highly recommend. read more

I haven't been here in two years. Stopped by on a train trip from Washington State to New York. I thought, I could get fast food, I could get something basic. No. I went for the soul. I headed straight to Taste 222. I walked in, my backpack on, probably looking like a dingy little white kid that got lost in a target. I took some pictures, walked around looking at the amazing scenery. I was in Chigago! I went up to the bar and sat there with a big grin. The staff greeted me with absolute glee. From Washington, they said! Wow! What made you come out here? Your partner? Wow! That's amazing. I told them to give me their choice, something with meat! Anything with steak. The man said "I gochu" and told me he's get me a prime rib salad. He asked.if there was anything I wanted special with it, and I stopped him, and said "make it the way you'd make it." He was so excited. I chatted with them while I waited for my prime rib salad. I was starving, almost 4 days on a train would do that to a person. They hooked me up with the finest steak I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. I couldn't dine in because it was still COVID time, but it was a well-needed interaction for all of us I'm sure. I wonder if they still remember me at all! (C'mon guys, little queer kid, sweaty, backpack, hard to forget!) I went out on the sidewalk and SCARFFED that. read more

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Black owned and operated Love it I actually was invited out to attend a sponsored bourbon event vent and what I liked that they did there was they infused watermelon within the drinks to make them a little bit more tolerable cause bourbon is definitely strong but with the watermelon they were so tasty we also were able to order burgers fries and chicken wing Buffalo chicken wing appetizers everything was good the crowd was a older crowd no issues or problems I would definitely try this place again read more

Taste 222 - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great spot on the north end of the loop. I work nearby and this spot is a staple and go to for lunches and after work get togethers. I love their Kale salad, it's delicious and so large and filling. Their shrimp n grits is also delish. Price point is reasonable. No entree is over $30. They also have a great happy hour from like 4-6pm that includes wings, mussels, fries, chicken sliders, devil eggs and I have not had a bad entree. Drinks are on point as well. During happy hour they have a $7 you call it and $6 red and white wines that I love, especially their Sauvignon Blanc. Service is always great, especially the tall young man with the dreads. Ambiance is so sexy classy. The spot is not big but big enough. Nice and intimate. They play great music. The vibe is just all around great. They host a lot of political and business functions in their back room. I believe the owner is the former AA CEO of McDonald's if I'm not mistaken and he has cool innovative and futuristic server robot machines that bring you your food. I've never seen this in action in a restaurant before, only on tv, but they have it here. Come check them out for yourself. You will not be disappointed. read more

Taste 222 - Classic Kale Salad - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Super convenient spot near downtown with a good variety of menu options! They also have a good selection of cocktails and mocktails. Friendly staff and a cozy environment read more

I had the family meal with pork chop, mashed potato, kale salad, roasted veggies, and chocolate caramel cake. The quality of the food was absolutely amazing and the value was also very good. I pretty much liked everything (except for the gravy. I am not sure how to describe the taste of it but it tasted earthy/ mushroomy; But that could just be my taste). The roasted veggies were a bit soggy but were quite tender and soft. The pork chop was crispy and perfectly cooked and mashed potato was buttery and creamy. The kale salad was fresh too. I loved the dressing. I really recommend the family meal at Taste 222. I can't wait to try the other dishes!! read more

Taste 222 - Pork chop family meal - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of the BEST Black-Owned spots in Chicago!!! The food and service were top notch. The ambiance is relaxing yet classy.

I came for Chicago restaurant week lunch and everything was tasty. I had a kale salad and the dressing was so good and sweet. For the main course i had the fried catfish and fries... fries were a bit over cooked but the fish was fried perfectly. The star of the afternoon was the desert. A peanut butter mousse pie, it had the oreo cookie crust and toffee crumbles on top. Soooooo yummy. read more

Taste 222 - Name of restaurant - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Rosey-Rose Latte (on Ice!!) SERIOUSLY?!?? Who knew; A. Rose +Cinnamon + Latte + Ice would put such and ear to ear grin on my face??? B. What a BadA$$ Space!! If you don't feel as strongly as i do about the deliciousness in their high quality caffeinated options - you will LOVE the space. (And they rent for events!) C.ya (PS- The Barista was not only knowledgeable, but as cool as the Iced Rose-Latte!) Enjoy!!worth "finding ". read more

Taste 222 - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Favorite restaurant in. ALL of Chicago!! The atmosphere is wonderful, the staff are great and the food is excellent!! read more

Taste 222 - Best seat in the house -but food is awesome no matter where you sit! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Unique ambiance! Big event space in the back with a bar/seating at the front of the restaurant. Great space for casual post work drinks/bites. The servers were very attentive. read more

I really like the atmosphere and the decor of this restaurant. It's very cozy and just fun to look at all the stylish decor. It's full of gold accents and rugs. Our server was very friendly as well. The French toast was one of the brunch items recommended. I thought it was way too heavy, two bites in and it was an instant stomach ache for me. I thought they stuck it in a deep fryer. I really think it's because they coat it in granola, it just weighs it down. I did like the fruit on it and the whipped topping. I'd come back just not for brunch. read more

Taste 222 - French toast - too heavy - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of my new favorite happy hour spots. The BBQ wings and the sweet potato fries were incredible. Definitely add this to your happy hour list! read more

What an amazing surprise this find was, I can't say enough. The service is 5 stars from the minute you walk in until you leave. A friend and I came in without reservations and they had a small wait for us then seated us as quickly as possible. And, may i as that people with reservations were coming in at a consistent pace as well. The server recommended the special which was a beautiful short rib over polenta and helped us pair a bottle of wine. I am not sure I've every had a meal so decadent in flavor. The creaminess of the polenta with the short rib that seemed to melt into the fork and the richness of the sauce, beyond!! I couldn't imagine another bite but my friend ordered key lime pie and it was the same (I had to have a note since there were two forks!!) I'm going to have a hard time wanting to go elsewhere in Chicago and that says a lot for a city filled with yumminess! read more

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Been here a couple of times for HH and once for an event thrown by the restaurant. Every visit has been excellent. I've sampled a variety of their HH food and drinks. Some of my favorites are the cocktail flight ($15) that they offer during HH (4-6pm), and their gin a tonic. Strong, floral and refreshing. Just the way I like it. Their wings are massive and the salami flatbread is absolutely delicious. HH food is around $8/$9 per dish and they are generous with their portions! I love this place for HH and already have another one planned here for next month. I'll be sure to try their actual entrees on my next visit. I made a reservation for a company HH for a group of 20 around the holidays. It was somewhat last minute given the size and time of the year, but they graciously situated us in a private area in the lobby. Service was spot on even with our group size. Everyone had nothing but good things to say about the whole experience. I love the decor and ambiance here. It's cozy, sophisticated, and not overly packed or loud. The perfect place to hangout after work. read more

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Had such a great time at Taste 222! The food and service was amazing! The decor was great too

Everything I ate at Taste 222 was delicious, the fire cracker shrimp and the Mac & cheese were my favorite for the starters. I also had the Ten To One Daiquiri which was delicious, a great balance of alcohol and fruity flavor. I also had the cat fish which was perfectly seasoned. I had amazing service, my waitress was amazing and I love the relaxing atmosphere it was the perfect way to unwind and mentally prepare myself read more

Stumbled upon taste 222 while searching for a happy hour spot in the area and we're glad that we popped in. Our waiter, Javier, was wonderful - he was very professional and easy to talk to. My friend and I both had the draft cocktail flight for $15. Out of the 4 we tried, I really enjoyed the cold shoulder (gin + wild Himalayan lavender tea) and a bit steep (vodka + blood orange green tea). The other two were a Japanese whiskey and Hennessy based drink. Their other happy hour specials are $5 draft beers, $8 selected wines, $8 flatbreads, and $9 wings. We got a charcuterie board to share - had your basic cured meats & cheeses, wasn't anything too special couldn't spot the "seasonal" accompaniments as mentioned. Also had a glass of their daily rotation of red, which was a blend from Lebanon. Overall, had a delightful experience here! Based on the other reviews, would love to come back and check out their food. Happy hour runs from 4-6 p.m.! read more

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I didn't even know this place existed until a friend mentioned it to me. A group of three of us stopped by for brunch one Sunday. The restaurant is pretty easy to find and is close to many forms of public transportation. Upon walking in, I instantly noticed the chic decor touches. To drink, I ordered coffee, but Taste 222 has a wide selection of cocktails available as well. The brunch menu has a lot of savory items. I ordered the frittata and had some veggies mixed in. The frittata was slightly more done then I would have liked, but good otherwise. The price seemed fair for the restaurant atmosphere, size of meal, and quality. I would be open to trying more of their food options in the future. read more

Taste 222 - Frittata with breakfast potatoes and toast - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

best place to go for happy hour with your coworkers/friends. My fav was firecracker shrimp and red velvet cake

The ambiance is top-notch. The upscale soul food was delectable, and I was there for a business meeting so we ate all the appetizers... I imagine the entrees are even more impressive. Great service. I am looking forward to being back and hopefully hosting a business event there. read more

Awesome venue with fast friendly and very accommodating service. Came in for restaurant week, first time I've ever heard of this place. Food was flavorful with a nice clean presentation. Our server Chris was a breath of fresh air, informative and very kind. It took a while to find parking, non-the-less, it all worked out. I hope to return in the very near future. read more

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Had it not been for the fact that I dined at Gibson's Italia I would've never heard of Taste222 which is literally across the street. To my knowledge it's not on the food blogs nor mentioned in any dining publication. Nonetheless this was one of the simplest yet best breakfast sandwiches I've had in the city & not to mention it's extremely affordable. Anyone familiar with dining in river north knows that outside of fast food you better be willing to shell out a pretty penny for this area. This "chicken biscuit" sandwich was a mere $8 but it had a ton of flavor in the chicken breast & came with roasted breakfast post. I can wait to return to try out their take on shrimp & grits. The staff are extremely sweet people & the decor is an amalgam of old school diner meets speakeasy with a touch of library. I returned to try out the shrimp & grits as well as a cocktail & I was impressed to say the least. The cocktail was tasty but it was an iceberg in that 90% of its mass was beneath the surface. At first taste it resembled a gourmet tea but afterwards I could definitely feel the effects of the alcohol. I should e known because the tea maker is a provider to my favorite bar. The shrimp & grits were extremely flavorful, filling are just maybe my favorite in the city now. Kudos to this hidden gem... read more

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Went here for dinner in the summertime. Taste 222 is an elegantly intimate place to stop in for a drink, appetizer or meal with friends or business associates. It's also a nice place to stop in after work and have a drink with colleagues or an intimate dinner with your loved one. Taste 222 consists of a Large room with a high ceiling, there are 4 tables with seating for four people. There are 8 single seats in front of the kitchen, as well as seating at the long bar. For people looking for just a drink or an appetizer there is also couch seating in the corner. We started off with a charcuterie which is smoked salmon, prosciutto, finocchiona, and a chef's selection of cheeses . It was a great start to a wonderful dinner. We tried the seared lamb chops, which were very tasteful, and I wanted more. The Creole shrimp is more of a meal with seared Cajun shrimp, jalapeno goat cheese cornbread and a delicious Opelousas sauce. By far the best dish I had was the dessert, the three layers chocolate caramel cake from Brown Sugar Bakery was huge, delicious, and enough for 4 people to share. Although the decor is upscale the waitress was very casually dressed, which I did not understand, maybe because it was a weeknight With a menu that characterizes their dinners as small plates, just be aware that they are just that, small plates. Portions are small but be adventurous and order several to share. read more

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We had lunch here last week and it was great! I ordered the lemon garlic chicken salad and was very pleased with the serving size. All of the food was so fresh and it came out from the kitchen quickly, we hardly had any wait time between ordering and when our food arrived. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that they have a three course lunch special that's super affordable. The restaurant is beautiful on the inside and they have an outdoor patio for summer. It's the perfect spot for lunch during the work week. We'll definitely be back. read more