Foodie Fridays: River Roast - Hearty Goodness At Its Best

When two iconic chefs (Tony Mantuano and John Hogan) get together, magic can happen. When these two chefs came together, the outcome was River Roast.  River Roast sits alongside the Chicago River at 315 N. LaSalle Street quietly tucked at the end of the street, yet here is where the silence ends.

When C-Style visited recently, we were impressed by the open layout of the place.  The downstairs portion is small but with the upper and lower levels as well as the patio that sits alongside the river (a summertime delight for sure) the space is just right.

We were promptly seated and our server was very knowledgeable about the concept of the restaurant, as well as the menu offerings.

I was expecting a more expansive menu.  However, considering the concept of offering roasted foods with complementary side dishes, I wasn't disappointed in the dishes that we eventually chose.

I started with a cocktail named "I Was Told There Would Be Dancing," made with Cruzan Blackstrap, lime and pineapple.  Here, I was not impressed. The cocktail was underwhelming to me. Yet, the restaurant does offer an extensive menu of both draft and bottle beers along with a nice wine list.

We moved on to the appetizers from the Bites and Board list on the Brunch menu.  We shared the shrimp and crab toast which was absolutely amazing!

By the time we finished the appetizer, the blues band had started to play.  Each Saturday and Sunday during brunch features a different group bringing diners some good ol' down home blues.  While the band can be a little loud (it is live music after all), it lends a festive atmosphere to the dining experience.

For the main course, we chose the roasted chicken with two side dishes. The whole roasted chicken (which can serve 2-3 people) was served with its own River Roast crispy potatoes. The side dishes we chose were (Chef) Hogan's Peas (with pearl onions, bacon and bibb) and the Roasted Brussel Sprouts (with honey and Fresno Chile).

The roasted chicken was carved table-side and the flavorful aroma wafting from it was immediate. While the chicken was very well seasoned, flavorful and tender, the real star of the show were the crispy potatoes!  The crispy potatoes are jam-packed with seasoning and could have easily been a meal in itself.  The only drawback here is that if you are allergic to spices, you won't be able to enjoy this dish.

The accompanying brussel sprouts and Hogan's Peas were also delicious on its own.  If you don't like veggies, you should give them another chance at River Roast.

All-in-all, if you want hearty helpings and good comfort food with a side of healthy (stand-out vegetable dishes) River Roast is worth a visit.

Enjoy the Brews and Blues Brunch each Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or join them weekdays for lunch or dinner (open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday night).

For more information on River Roast visit online at www.riverroastchicago.com.