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Weddings

Attributes highlighted by couples

Guests comfort
Quality catering
Amenities

About this vendor

Jessica Lardie
Jessica Lardie
Assistant Director of Sales

No business details yet

11 years in business

We speak English

5 team members

River Roast is a waterfront restaurant wedding reception venue located in Chicago, Illinois. Nestled within the downtown area with views overlooking the glistening Chicago river, this lively social house exudes both style and comfort. Specializing in handcrafted tavern-inspired American cuisine, it is the ideal location for you and your guests to sit down for an unforgettable meal.

Facilities and Capacity

Situated within the historic Reid and Murdoch building, this spacious location has six different indoor and outdoor venues for you to choose from. From intimate gatherings with your nearest and dearest to tremendous gatherings of up to 1,200 guests, there’s room for everyone. Depending on your needs, stylistic approach, and time of year, these spaces can also be customized to create separate areas for dining and dancing. For smaller get-togethers, there is also a secluded veranda and dock available for you to host private cocktail receptions or dinners.

Services Offered

Be it formal or casual celebrations, the talented staff at River Roast is committed to helping every couple realize their own unique vision. Dedicated to exceptional service, this team has an impeccable eye for detail when it comes to planning weddings. With a wealth of event planning experience, they will help you craft a complete reception timeline to make sure your special day runs smoothly. From designing the perfect seating plan to providing audio-visual equipment, they strive to make your day as stress-free as possible. Their range of services include:

  • Event planning
  • Wedding decor
  • Setup and cleanup
  • Dance floor setup
  • Valet parking

Cuisine

With a scrumptuous menu created by Executive Chef, Jason Qureshi! River Roast specializes in serving contemporary American dishes with a focus on elegantly delectable presentations. From the four-hour brunch option to the full three-course Royalist menu, there is a range of customizable dining packages to choose from. Popular dishes include slow-roasted pork loin, the signature chicken breast, and Jake Melnick’s famous wings. Whatever your palate, expert culinary staff will work with you one-to-one to construct a full menu that meet your needs. Whether you are looking for the wedding cake of your dreams or an array of late-night snacks, they are here to help. There is also a full bar selection and service staff are on-hand to make sure empty plates are cleared and champagne glasses are kept full. Other cuisine-related options include:

  • Tastings
  • Hors d’oeuvres packages
  • Snack and stationed options
  • Complimentary votive candles and menu cards

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Pricing information

Ceremony
$2,500 starting price
These prices are available for the months of Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Dec.

Availability

No availability details yet

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FAQ

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

No

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$2,500

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Dessert
Server(s)
Wedding Cake

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Open Bar

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

10

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

6

Describe your venue:

Historic Building
Restaurant
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Outside Vendors
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Family Style
French Service
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Liquor License
Open Bar
Outside Alcohol
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Aisle Runners
Audio Equipment
Chairs
Dance Floor
Decor
Drapery
Furniture
Lighting
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Shuttle
Valet
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
December

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
November

Still have questions?

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Wedding couple

Reviews of River Roast

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

River Roast is highly praised by multiple reviewers for its exceptional service, delicious food, and breathtaking views. Kendall K. and Alyssa were highlighted for their helpfulness throughout the planning process and on the wedding day. The venue's stunning setting, including the view of city lights reflected off the river, adds a romantic touch to events. Guests raved about the quality of the food, with many complimenting the perfectly cooked steaks and diverse menu options. River Roast comes highly recommended for couples seeking a magical wedding experience.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

River Roast is highly praised by multiple reviewers for its exceptional service, delicious food, and breathtaking views. Kendall K. and Alyssa were highlighted for their helpfulness throughout the planning process and on the wedding day. The venue's stunning setting, including the view of city lights reflected off the river, adds a romantic touch to events. Guests raved about the quality of the food, with many complimenting the perfectly cooked steaks and diverse menu options. River Roast comes highly recommended for couples seeking a magical wedding experience.

Weddingwire
4.8/5 47 reviews
Google
4.5/5 3370 reviews
K
Katelyn Sent on 01/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding of our dreams

Long overdue review! My husband and I got married here in August and it was everything we dreamed of and more. Kendall K. was our assigned manager and holy moley she is the best! She truly helped us create the wedding of our dreams. Together we curated an amazing unique dinner, dessert, and drink menu for our guests which they LOVED. Throughout 2 years of planning, Kendall was there to answer any question we had and was always offering suggestions to enhance our wedding day! She was there on the day of and helped make sure everything ran smoothly. We couldn’t have done it without her. It was seamless and perfect. She went above and beyond for us. I can’t say enough good things about Kendall! The food was seriously amazing. The best food we’ve ever had at a wedding. We got tons of compliments on the iconic locations, the food, and the drinks! Seriously all top notch. We couldn’t be happier and loved our wedding day at River Roast. HIGHLY recommend!
Linda
Linda Sent on 03/14/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Best Team around and Great Food !

I had my wedding at River Roast on 3/12/22 , the day the river gets dyed green. Working with Kristin and her staff was AMAZING. Kristin was very flexible as we navigated the vax mandate, covid and all the nuances that came with all the changes by the city. She was very responsive and available and when we had to add the ceremony space, she worked to get us the best layout and plan. The food was incredible, and the space is beautiful, the river was green, and it was everything we wanted. If you are looking for a great venue with great food and amazing staff, River Roast is the place. Thank you Kristin !!!
KRISTEN
Kristen Sent on 01/19/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect location for rehearsal dinner

We held our rehearsal dinner and it was wonderful - we sat everyone at the outdoor patio. The food was fantastic and the service wonderful. They followed all the COVID protocols that helped our guests feel safe. The locale right on the river can't be beat. (note: our rehearsal dinner was August 2020)
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

47
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner
illustration message review

Are you interested?

Real Weddings

Kaitlin & Anthony
26 photos · 10/08/2022
Meaghan & John
89 photos · 06/08/2019
Valerie & Kenneth
35 photos · 02/09/2019

Team

Jessica Lardie
Jessica Lardie
Assistant Director of Sales
Jena Horowitz
Jena Horowitz
Senior Sales Manager
Nick Abate
Nick Abate
Sales Manager
Kendall Kielty
Kendall Kielty
Sales Manager
Lauren Stofko
Lauren Stofko
Sales Coordinator

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River Roast frequently asked questions

River Roast includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Set Up
  • Tables
River Roast includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Dessert
  • Server(s)
  • Wedding Cake
The bar service starting price at River Roast includes:
  • House Beer
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Open Bar
The space offered by River Roast for wedding events is known for:
  • Historic Building
  • Restaurant
  • Waterfront
River Roast offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
River Roast offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
River Roast offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
River Roast offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Aisle Runners
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Decor
  • Drapery
  • Furniture
  • Lighting
  • Tables
River Roast is recommended by 96% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in professionalism, 4.8 in average response time, 4.8 in value and 4.7 in flexibility.

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