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Katelyn Sent on 01/10/2025

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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!

Jennifer Sent on 06/05/2022

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Excellent Food, Excellent Staff, Perfect Day

We had both our ceremony and reception at River Roast on April 30, 2022. It was a perfect day, thanks to Alyssa and the staff. From welcoming our guests with a glass of champagne, to the flawless ceremony room setup and reception room flip, to the amazing cocktail hour and delicious dinner, to the dancing and the late-night snack.

The location is gorgeous, even in a complete downpour. All our guests had a great time, and even a month later, they're still raving about the quality of the food. How do they cook each steak so perfectly? We would (and have) recommend River Roast to couples looking for a great reception location or anyone looking to host a party.

Caitlin Sent on 03/28/2022

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River Roast is a Dream Venue

River Roast was an absolute dream venue for so many reasons!

The staff: Sales director Alyssa Rossetti was such a huge help (helping us select the right package, personalizing the menu, letting us do a mix of different late night food options, working with us on our weird floorplan, adding last-minute decor options - the list goes on and on). Over the course of our 18 month engagement Alyssa was always available to answer questions and let us check out the space multiple times with different excited family members. She even checked in mid-reception to make sure everything was OK and top off our glasses of wine! On top of that, the day-of staff were great - quick at the bar, quick to serve food, and attentive to all the little details.

The space: The view is what really sells this venue. The reflection of the city lights off the river is super romantic, especially with tealight candles along the windows/on the tables and string lights over the dance floor (both coordinated by the venue). The exposed brick gives the whole space an industrial feel. Absolutely gorgeous.

The food: Unreal. Multiple guests have told us this was the best wedding food they've ever had. This place is known for its meats and the steak was definitely above and beyond, but I got the vegan meal and still thought it was delish. I couldn't have asked for a better wedding venue. We trusted all their recommendations and expertise and our day was absolutely flawless. 1000000/10.

Linda Sent on 03/14/2022

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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 Sent on 01/19/2022

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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)

Shannon Sent on 10/10/2021

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Options for micro wedding

We hosted a small family dinner to celebrate our wedding. The event managers were awesome at communicating and helping us set everything up (Thanks Erika and Alyssa). We were able to have a ceremony outdoors on the riverfront veranda which was a beautiful backdrop. Then, we had dinner in the Commerce Room. We were able to select our family style menu in advance. Thank you to our server Julio for being very flexible with all the demands from our family! He was attentive at keeping our drinks filled. The food was amazing. We had the roast fish and pork- both were delicious! They were also accommodating for a family with a dietary concern. We were very happy with everything- they helped to make the experience special.

Tina Sent on 11/14/2020

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5 Star Service - Couldn't Have Asked for More!

We booked River Roast for our COVID-forced last minute rescheduled wedding. I could not have asked for a better experience! Alyssa handled EVERYTHING! From sourcing new vendors (florals, cake, music) to rolling out the red carpet for our tasting (still drooling over the food) to fully executing our vision, she was so incredible to work with. From the views (stunning), to the service (top notch), to the food (*to DIE for), our guests raved about their experience! Everyone was so impressed with how we were able to pull off such an incredible last minute re-scheduled event, but it would not have been possible without Alyssa. I would recommend RR ten times over - 5 stars all around here!!

Steve Sent on 09/03/2020

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Exceptional Experience

Alyssa and the staff bent over to make our reception and dinner very special amid Covid 19 restrictions. Everything could not have gone better, food was exceptional and service was top notch!! Could not be more appreciative of everything they did for us as a couple and our group the night of the event.

Kevin Sent on 08/31/2020

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One of a Kind Experience

River Roast and their entire team made our dreams come true - even during a pandemic. Alyssa R. was a pleasure to work with and made everything so easy for us to plan. River Roast was incredibly flexible and accommodating while we changed dates and plans during such a challenging time, and we could not have been more thrilled with how our wedding turned out. You can't beat River Roast's location, its patio is gorgeous and the inside is stunning, too. All the staff are professional, and the food is top notch - all our guests raved about it. Don't pass up the chance to host your wedding at River Roast!

Katrina Sent on 09/05/2019

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Amazing service at River Roast!

Alyssa at River Roast is so easy to work with! She brought up things I hadn’t even thought about and things I should be considering. The food is amazing and the service is incredible. Excited for my wedding in 2020.

Jennifer Sent on 09/01/2018

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Words cannot express how happy my husband and I are with how everything turned out at River Roast for our July wedding. The venue speaks for itself being on the river with the skyline all around it, but the experience there is unlike any other. Alyssa is amazing at her job. She is so positive, organized, and made us feel comfortable during the stress of wedding planning. She quickly responded to every email and answered every question in an extremely timely manor. Alyssa truly is the best! On the day of the wedding, the event staff was remarkable. Everyone was so accommodating the entire evening. We also received many compliments from our guests on the food! The southern chicken sliders were the biggest hit! Thank you Alyssa and River Roast for everything- we cannot wait to visit for many years to come!

Donna Sent on 08/27/2018

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Hosted our daughter’s rehearsal dinner at the River Roast and would highly recommend this place to anyone that is looking for a venue that offers great views, wonderful food and amazing service from planning the event through the event itself. Would not change a thing!!

Courtney Sent on 12/23/2017

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I could not be more happy with the entire experience of working with River Roast. From day one they were easy to work with and it was clear they knew what they were doing. I was able to feel like I had nothing to worry about the weekend of my wedding because they had it all under control. The location was amazing, the view was great, and the food was even better. My wedding was way beyond expectations. Everyone had a blast, we got great comments about the atmosphere, food, and servers from our guests. I loved working with River Roast and am still in love with how our wedding worked out.

Janette Sent on 09/06/2017

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When we first emailed The River Roast, we immediately got an email from Darcey Gerber answering all of our questions. We were late to our appointment but Darcey was still able to accommodate us and showed us the venue. We were stuck between this venue and another venue but we chose The River Roast because of the location, service, and food. Anytime I had any questions or concerns, Darcey or someone from the sales department, answered all of my questions. I had last minute changes that I had to make and they were able to accommodate them. It is a dark as far as lighting goes so we used string lights inside and outside in the veranda. The day of our wedding we were greeted by Darcey and a manager. They reassured me that everything was running as it should. A waitress brought my husband and me 2 champagne filled flutes and another waitress brought us hors d'oeuvres which I thought was a nice gesture. The bartenders made us delicious drinks through out the night. When we were sitting down a waitress took down our order to confirm what we were eating for dinner. Dinner was good. We had the chicken and pork. The children's dinner surprised me because there was more food than I expected. The next day my parents told me they arrived earlier and the staff gave them drinks and were courteous with them. A lot of our guests enjoyed the food and location.

We decided to go back and celebrate our one year anniversary and we were again treated with great customer service, drinks, and food! Thank you staff for everything.

Krissy Sent on 10/02/2016

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River Roast is phenomenal!!!! My husband and I hosted our wedding reception at River Roast last month and it was absolutely perfect. The day was one we will never forget and we thank the River Roast family for everything. The service at River Roast was impeccable. The planning was professional and attentive. Everything was perfect and we highly recommend River Roast for your special occasion too. We cannot thank them enough.

User2786658 Sent on 09/27/2016

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Held our wedding reception at River Roast - could not have been happier, the venue is gorgeous with the city views in the evening.
Food is exceptional and service is top notch.
If you want to impress your guests this is the place!

Stephanie Sent on 08/02/2016

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We LOVED having our wedding here. Our guests loved the food (so did we) and the setting - by going with RR, we were able to throw a party on the Chicago River in the heart of the city! Darcy was the planner we worked with and she was so easy to talk with, she helped us figure out what we wanted and steered us without trying to up-sell us. She was honest and we couldn't have pulled off our day without her. The decoration options were amazing and it's worth the price to have your day here. The ONLY things we would have changed - a little more signage directing guests to the ceremony room (hard to avoid since there are 4 entrances to the place) and having the room where we had the reception be a bit cooler (but, come on it was a July wedding!)

Jennifer Sent on 06/30/2016

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For me, I’m pretty sure I fell in love with River Roast as a venue well before I even saw it in person. We had our tour with Darcey and she was lovely, we booked River Roast for our Sunday brunch wedding. Because we chose Sunday they had a lower F&B minimum allowing us to have our perfect small ~70 people wedding in the larger Murdoch room. I was afraid the room would look sparse when we had a much lower headcount than I had expected, but with the brunch buffet stations, two bartenders, an open photobooth and the dance floor, it was a wonderful use of the space for a daytime wedding (of course you could easily have an elegant, large wedding in the same space as they advertise). We also had our ceremony upstairs in the Monarch room utilizing their drapery option for the backdrop, which was really beautiful, even our wedding planner was surprised at how lovely it looked and dressed up the space. Everything was so organized, Darcey helped us with everything we needed, we had a space to sit and relax before the ceremony, they brought us vases to put our flowers in and plenty of water and coffee to have while we were “hidden” waiting to start. I’m lactose intolerant and they brought me hors d’oeuvres for me without the cheese, and specifically brought food to us from the buffet stations so we were able to eat plenty of food before everything kicked off. Everyone loved the view, the space and the food.

Emma Sent on 06/28/2016

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When we first decided on having our wedding (ceremony and reception) at River Roast, it was still Fulton's on the River - when they told us the restaurant was going to close, undergo construction, and re-open before our wedding, we were very nervous. But, Hilary was very open with details as they became available, and ultimately, the venue was still perfect. Working with Hilary throughout the planning process was a dream - she was so professional, efficient, and friendly, and was able to not only answer all of our questions, but work with us on new ideas we had (We wanted string lights wrapped around the columns--something Fulton's/River Roast had never done and didn't have as a lighting option initially--so Hillary had the lighting vendor come in and test out a few different ways of doing it until they made it perfect, and then ran it by us. I believe they now offer it as a lighting option for all events!). Though we did hire a day-of planner, we were more confident and happy with Hillary and the team at River Roast - they made sure our entire wedding day was executed perfectly, and were all unbelievably helpful and professional throughout it all. Both the ceremony and reception rooms looked absolutely beautiful and exactly how we wanted them, the entire staff was attentive all night, and we couldn't be happier.

As for the food, it was insanely delicious - almost a year later, our guests STILL rave about the steak!

Cassie Sent on 06/01/2016

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Our coordinator, Darcey Gerber was outstanding. Her staff as well. The food was awesome and the use of the patio was a highlight. The completed river walk area makes for an beautiful outdoor area.

Tammy Sent on 11/16/2015

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The team at River Roast was FANTASTIC. They, like the coordinators we used (An Event Less Ordinary), had the perfect balance of being laid back and getting things done! Our contact was extremely helpful in helping us craft a menu for our wedding and we are so grateful that River Roast was so accommodating with our substitutions (tater tots instead of fried potatoes, vinegar based slaw instead of their regular horseradish slaw, having sweet tea and lemonade, etc.). The food was delicious and the planning process was flawless.

Where River Roast truly impressed was on the day of. We did chef stations (buffet) for our reception and the care and attention to detail that River Roast put into the presentation was truly incredible and better than anything we could have ever imagined.

Danielle Sent on 10/20/2015

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My husband and I had our wedding here on 10/9 and everything was perfect. Working with Darcy over these last six months was so much fun. Darcey answered every question I could think of, helped with recommendations for vendors, was very laid back and helped make our wedding effortless. On the day of the wedding, the River Roast event staff set up all of our decorations and then even carefully packed up all our decorations at the end of the night and helped get them to our hotel room. Long story short: Delicious food, amazing river views, great drinks, friendly staff and Darcey is so easy to work with. I would 100% recommend having your wedding at River Roast!

Danielle Sent on 07/10/2015

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The venue is beautiful. Everyone enjoyed the cocktail hour on the veranda over looking the Chicago River. The food is outstanding and the service was perfect. So happy we chose to have our wedding here it was a beautiful evening!

Katie Sent on 11/24/2014

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Working with River Roast (and Darcey) was one of the best decisions that we could have made for our wedding. Seriously. Everything is easy (they provide tables/chairs/linens/etc) and everything is right there. But the best part was having the venue coordinator (again, Darcey) to help us through. She was there for every step of the way and then, even more shocking, she was there the day of setting everything up, coordinating with our band and even fluffing my gown before I walked down the aisle. She was awesome, River Roast was awesome AND EASY and I loved every second of our wedding in this venue.

Terri Sent on 10/20/2014

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Amazing night. Everything was perfect. The restaurant is right on the river creating a beautiful backdrop for a night reception. Darcey Gerber (wedding coordinator at River Roast) was fabulous. She helped coordinate every last detail via e-mail and phone for our "destination" reception (neither of us live in Chicago). The appetizers were delicious. The food and event was reasonably priced. All in all, this restaurant made my reception as seamless as possible. I was able to show up and have a great time. Can't say enough positive things about the River Roast!

Robin Sent on 06/01/2014

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We had my daughters wedding at Fulton's. It was wonderful. Darcey was very nice to work with. On the day of the wedding the staff was great, very professional. The meal service was wonderful and the food was out of this world!! Just great. The setting on the river is so beautiful and the guests just loved the outdoor patio. We couldn't have asked for more

Elyse Sent on 09/21/2013

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My husband and I had our wedding reception at Fulton's, and had an absolutely perfect day! Hilary, our contact at Fulton's, worked to ensure that every detail we requested was perfect. We arrived to Fulton's via Water Taxi, and the staff at Fulton's had champagne waiting for our bridal party. The outdoor space was ideal for our cocktail hour, and having it open all night was a great way for guests to cool off and take a break from dancing to our band.

The entire staff at Fulton's was accommodating and anticipated our needs. They were friendly, helpful, and overall helped to make our day amazing!

User1299512 Sent on 08/23/2013

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fultons on the River is the perfect spot to hold wedding ceremony and reception. They really know how to do special events. The food, service during wedding and overall service was outstanding. The view of the city from the outside patio made our wedding so chicago and chic. I literally can't say enough great things about this venue.

Kerry Sent on 08/30/2012

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My husband and I worked with Julie at Fulton's on the River and had a wonderful experience! She was more than happy to accommodate our every request and she was there the night of our wedding to make sure everything worked out. My guests said the food was absolutely yummy! We also got great picture outside by the river! It was everything we hoped for and more. We would recommend Fulton's to any couple looking for a wedding venue.

Dave Sent on 05/14/2012

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Fulton's turned out to be the perfect choice for our reception. With the weather perfect for the event, the outside veranda along the river turned out to be the most popular place for people to gather during the reception. The views were spectacular, especially at night. Devin who hosted the event for Fulton's was a joy to work with and made what was a stressful event much more easy to arrange and plan. Everyone had nothing but compliments about the food and service. We really lucked out in our choice of Fulton's.

Ben Sent on 01/22/2012

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We were completely thrilled with our event at Fulton's! The food was some of the best wedding food I've ever tasted - many of our guests commented on how large and delicious their meals were - especially the crab cakes! You must have the crab cakes! And the fact that the cater is on-site took a lot of stress of us in planning. Linens, tables, chairs, serve wear, bar stuff, ect was all provided by the vendor under a single per head cost. We could upgrade as we wanted, but the basic stuff was gorgeous (especially the chairs) - so we left well enough alone! The staff was super accommodating and wonderful to work with both before and during the event. Making sure our glasses were always full and we at least got a few bites of each items offered to our guests. The room itself is amazing and you can't beat the veranda that overlooks the Chicago river. I couldn't have picked a more "chicago" location and I would recommend them 100 times over!

Julie Sent on 11/02/2010

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We booked Fulton's when our original venue shut down 8 months before our wedding. From that day forward, Jamie was nothing but helpful, accomodating, and patient! Fulton's is a beautiful venue. We had 96 people with a buffet style dinner and cocktail reception and had our ceremony there as well. The setup of the rooms were so nice and with the skyline in the background we couldn't have asked for a better space. We also had the balcony right off the room so my smokers had a place to go and just to get a breath of fresh air. The FOOD was the best wedding food I've ever ate (and I'm glad it was at my wedding!). There was so much food, it was crazy.
Best of all, the price, is so reasonable for what you get especially in downtown Chicago. My parents from Kentucky paid for our wedding and they thought they received a really good price for everything we got. If you're looking for a wonderful place to have your wedding, go to Fulton's. I couldn't be happier and all of my guests were amazed at how wonderful everything was. Location, food, and ambiance...Fulton's has all of this and I couldn't imagaine having my wedding anywhere else.

Amanda Sent on 09/12/2017

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My husband and I recently held our wedding reception at River Roast. We had the pleasure of working with Hilary, one of their event coordinators. I don't have enough kind words to say about Hilary. She was the 2nd person we met with after we got engaged and began the planning process. Immediately, we felt at ease talking with her. Throughout the entire process, she was gracious and kind, always available for questions.

The venue itself is stunning. We wanted a venue beyond your standard banquet hall, and River Roast delivered just that. The design and style of the restaurant and event rooms is gorgeous, not to mention the views!

One of our top priorities was having delicious food at our wedding, and they did not disappoint! They provide enough options to choose from for each course, without being overwhelming. They were also accommodating to our guests with dietary restrictions.

River Roast is conscious of even the smallest of details. When we arrived, there was a staff member standing outside with a beautiful sign directing guests to our reception. As my husband and I entered, the bartender stepped aside and immediately asked what we would be having to drink. After that, a waitress approached us with a platter of 2 of each of our hors d'eouvres to make sure we got a taste of everything. They also include complimentary menus for all place settings, which is a cute detail.

Overall, River Roast was fantastic to work with, a great value, and had amazing food and drinks. We, along with all of our guests, had a great time.

User1384933 Sent on 10/17/2013

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We had our wedding reception at Fulton's October 13th 2013, I could not have been happier with our day! Darcy from Fulton's was great to work with, I would recommend this venue to anyone!!

Kelsey Sent on 10/03/2021

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Perfect venue

Both my husband and I are not originally from Chicago, so we had a lot of guests coming from out of town. It was important to us to really make sure they felt like they were in Chicago and give them a great experience being here, and River Roast delivered! The venue is so pretty on its own (big windows, exposed brick) that we needed only lights & minimal decor to create the look we wanted. Cocktail hour on the veranda + having private access to it all night was a HUGE perk to this place, and our guests could not have enjoyed it more. The food is incredible, and also got rave reviews from our guests. We worked with Kristin who executed everything exactly how we wanted it and was helpful with our many, many questions between booking the venue and the actual event.

Beth Sent on 06/25/2012

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5 out of 5 rating

We absolutely LOVED our 6/10/12 wedding reception at Fulton's on the River! So many of our guests told us it was the best wedding they had ever been to (even one of the 97 year old gents)! The food was absolutely delicious, service was excellent, and planning was painless.

First of all, the location is outstanding. You can't beat the outdoor veranda overlooking the river. The interior space is lovely – exposed brick walls, unfinished but painted black ceiling, gold sheen finished industrial pillars – with an urban edge.

From the very beginning of inquiring about the venue, Fulton's has been more than willing to be flexible. At first the menu prices online scared us... we could not spend what they had posted since we had a tight budget and didn't have a wedding planner to work out the kinks. I inquired anyway, hoping they could help us out. Right away, they were flexible with the menus to have the prices be within our budget. We found it to be reasonable for a Chicago wedding, while guests did not go hungry or thirsty. No one would have known we didn't pay those exorbitant prices of other places we checked out (including all the historical buildings, hotels, other restaurants, etc). While still higher than a wedding in the 'burbs, it was worth it, and the prices were pretty close. Plus, no space rental fees (most of the places were $6,000+ to rent out the space, then you had to deal with caterers and rental people... no way did I want to deal with that if I didn't have to!)

Being a restaurant, the quality of the food was above and beyond what a hotel or banquet hall could provide. They have so many options and you can tailor everything for you! The cake is even included (with a choice between 2 bakeries)!

Rentals? They have A LOT options for upgrades. However all the chairs, linens, silverware, plates, glassware, etc (and even 3 votive candles per table) were included!

We booked a Sunday because of the lower minimum. Guests didn't seem to mind it was a Sunday, especially since summer in the city is so much fun. We booked about 10 months in advance.

As far as working with the team, Devin Robnick is the head of all the events. Over the course of 10 months they had other event coordinators working with us (3 total). Although I felt a little uncomfortable every time the event changed hands, all our event details were well communicated and they responded fairly quickly (within the week of the email).

The night of our reception went FLAWLESSLY. Julie Croney ended up being our final event coordinator and did an amazing job. We can't thank her and the entire Fulton's team enough for making our wedding reception a night we will cherish forever! They even sent us a personalized gift of Mr and Mrs (with our last name) embroidered aprons... how sweet!

We truly had a unique, amazing, and in-our-budget wedding that everyone is still raving about! We couldn't be happier!

Elizabeth Sent on 08/03/2011

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We had looked at a lot of venues downtown that charged to rent the space, and you still had to pay for catering as well. After looking at those, Fulton's was more reasonably-priced. The service was great all night, the food was great, and we enjoyed working with the staff at Fulton's throughout our planning. They were flexible and easy to get in touch with. Our guests loved the outdoor veranda area next to the river that we had for our cocktail hour and after dinner. We were really happy with Fulton's for our wedding! (If you do book with them, we were told you can get a preferred card for Fulton's, like a points-based rewards system, and that they would apply the food and beverage expense so that we could earn points for that. This could mean lots of free dinners!)

Mary Sent on 11/07/2017

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

This venue is amazing! Matt is incredible. He thought of things we missed and had them in place. Can't say enough great things about our experience.

User2356629 Sent on 10/08/2015

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

My husband & I were married at River Roast this past Labor Day weekend. We had both our ceremony & reception there with about 175 guests. The views of the city and cocktail hour on the veranda are what really sold us on this venue. Throughout the process we worked with Darcey. I could not have asked for a better contact person. Darcey is so friendly, professional, knowledgeable & just an absolute joy to work with. She answered my millions of questions promptly & was always willing to help. She was there the day of my wedding & I knew I was in good hands & she organized everything perfectly. The entire day moved seamlessly. We absolutely loved our venue and could not have been happier with our choice. The ceremony space was transformed beautifully by our florist (see my review for Kloeckner) & the reception space was perfect & did not feel crowded. We have received & continue to receive so many compliments from our guests & they are usually the same: the service was wonderful, the food was the best they have had at a wedding-especially the filet, and the location & views were beautiful. I highly recommend River Roast for en elegant & classy wedding with a wonderful city feel.

Nadine Sent on 07/31/2010

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

Fulton's on the River is an absolutely stunning venue. It is in the heart of downtown, has a fabulous outdoor veranda on the river, has a great loft feeling inside, and has great bathrooms! The service is great and the food is even better. Everyone raved about the food. There is some nickel and dime-ing on things, but I suppose that is to be expected given the location. They came through big time when we wanted to tweak the cake selection. And on the day of the wedding, the air condition at the venue was down for a couple hours, but they came through by providing extra ice water, fans, snow cones, and adding more appetizers to what we ordered. I had never thought about it before, but having a wedding reception at a restaurant is the smartest idea we had. When something happens, they can respond very quickly because they have everything there, unlike a caterer who only has what they brought with them. If we had to do the wedding all over again, we would do it again and again at Fulton's.

User1356090 Sent on 09/01/2013

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

We were absolutely delighted with our wedding at Fulton's. The food was excellent, the setting was lovely, the staff was attentive, and the bar was plentiful and quick. It was also incredibly convenient- the cake is included with the package, as are the linens and the table numbers. They also do a wonderful job coordinating with your vendors. If you don't want to deal with juggling numerous vendors, this is a great set-up. We also found this to be a great value. We probably looked at 20 different venues in downtown Chicago, and we found this to be the best option as far as quality-convenience-price.

Downsides: I do not think this venue is ideal for more than 180-190 people. We had 180 and it was great, but they will tell you that the room can fit up to 230. One of our contacts was less responsive, and not very helpful in addressing my concerns about the space constraints (that person is no longer with them). Everyone else we worked with at Fultons was excellent.

Laura Sent on 07/31/2012

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Fulton's was absolutely terrific! I loved the venue, right on the Chicago river, exposed ceiling, nice chairs. Everyone had a blast and thought the food and cake were delicious. I am still receiving compliments on the food! We had the options for the Filet and Chicken, both were great!

Beth Sent on 08/14/2014

4.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We had our rehearsal dinner at River Roast. The atmosphere was a bit cramped and with other events/wedding going on at the same time in the same building, but overall our experience was very good for our rehearsal dinner. The food was fantastic and our space for ~55 guests was adequate. We worked with Darcey who was super flexible, friendly, and accommodating!

Jordan Sent on 04/25/2019

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Great location

Awesome location and great spot for rehearsal dinner

Amanda Sent on 12/07/2013

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3.5 out of 5 rating

The venue was perfect for our wedding/reception. The staff the evening of the event was great - took care of everything! They coordinated with the celebrant and dj to ensure everything was executed timely and smoothly. Food - amazing! The staff even packed up everything for us at the end of the night! If this rating was based on the event night alone, Fulton's would definitely be deserving of a 5...really a 10 but I guess we are limited to 5 :) Unfortunately, we went through 3 event planners of Fulton's prior to the wedding which led to some confusion and slow response time. However, Darcy came on just in time for our event and was a joy to work with! Thanks for making our special night so wonderful!

Caitlin Sent on 08/19/2016

3.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

River Roast hosted our Rehearsal Dinner for our October wedding. Being a foodie, I was excited to have our rehearsal dinner at a Top Chef restaurant! And let me tell you, they did not disappoint! In fact, they exceeded my high expectations...not just exceeded, they crushed them! The food was amazing. The appetizers were an excellent start and I was impressed from the get-go. We had a sushi table, which was a hit! If my husband hadn't had to talk so much, I swear he would've finished the whole table himself. The sushi was so fresh. And that was just the beginning. We had fish, beef, or vegetarian entree options - as the bride, I probably wasn't doing myself any favors, but I got the beef and damn near licked the plate clean. I was so impressed. Our guests were so impressed.

The only reason why River Roast is coming up short of a straight 5.0 is because during our booking with them, the event planner had turned over. We loved the one that was there in the end, however, a lot was lost in translation in the transition between the two. One example: we were told we would have the cocktail hour on the river walk, but then they switched our room reservation and we no longer had it - this sucked because it was a big selling point as to why I chose River Roast over Boarding House. It put stress on myself & my mother-in-law which could've been avoided, had the planning team done a better job. Also, the red velvet pudding was one of my most favorite desserts I've ever had in my life, and we couldn't have it because it wasn't on the menu at the time. When you're having a large event, I thought they should've been able to make that happen for me. What can ya do! It was amazing rehearsal dinner.

Jennifer Sent on 08/24/2010

3 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
1 out of 5 rating

The location and view are stunning. And the food was perfect from all accounts. Ultimately, our wedding there was lovely.

However, the building Fulton's is located in has very strict codes for everything--and all accounts from our vendors (and friends that had been married in Chicago) involved (decorators/florists, transportation, AV) were affirmative that it was a red-tape nightmare and unexpected and/or as of yet not experienced by them in the wedding industry. So if you are interested in tailoring anything to your desires or needs (or do not want to pay industry prices to go through their preferred vendors)...there's a good chance the answer will be "no"...and a curt one.

Again, this may be wedding industry standard, but up-charges were pretty high on all counts: $2/guaranteed adult* up-charge for a $7 bottle of pinot noir over their standard cab sauv. *everything, including the extra hour for the bar (which we opted out of and took our business to a local bar) is charged to the guaranteed number of adults (even though not all adults drink, not nearly all adults would be there for the extra hour, etc.)

These may all have been issues with the building, our particular staff event planner, but we know that if we had gone with a caterer we met with before Fulton's, and paid a little bit more for the customer service, personal attention and flexibility, it would have been much less stressful and more enjoyable.

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