Taste 222
Ambrosia Brooks · 101 Google reviewsTaste 222 — top-tier food in River North. The decor hasn't changed, and it doesn't need to. If you drink, start at the bar. "The fish was tender, flaky, with a crispy coating, and not overly seasoned" — Regina Dillard [$$, patio]
What 383 diners keep saying
What 383 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“My husband and I had such a memorable experience at Taste 222. From the moment we walked in, the hospitality was exceptional. Alex took incredible care of us throughout the entire meal. His recommendations were spot on from the cocktails to dessert, and you can tell he gives that same level of service to every guest. The food and drinks were just as impressive. The cornbread with goat cheese, jalapeño, and maple honey butter is a must order. I loved it so much I ordered it twice. Erika behind the bar crafted some of the best cocktails we have had and was just as lovely to interact with. A special thank you to Dillon as well for his hospitality and for sharing the story behind the restaurant. He was personable, passionate, you can tell he was proud to be a part of the Taste 222 team. It made the experience feel even more meaningful. We will absolutely be back!”
“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 and you have to pay the Park Chicago app.”
“I’ve thought about the excellent meal I enjoyed at Taste 222 last week about a hundred times since. Stopped in on my way to the train after a day at the office ended early. I had the beet salad and truffle fries. Alex was great helping me decide and provided top-class service. The food was phenomenal and perfectly paired with the foggy geezer pale ale. Loved the ambience and vibe. Can’t wait to try more of the menu!”
“I picked this restaurant for my mom to celebrate her birthday. And we really enjoyed this place the food was so delicious and the service was great thanks to John, he did a great job.”
“I saw Taste 222 and was curious to try it out. I really liked my beet salad and espresso cocktail drinks. The cornbread is also delicious. Good variety of food and drinks. Joe our server was super nice too and the food and drinks here are reasonably priced. I’d recommend!”
“Did an entire reel about this place because I haven’t been to a restaurant that was legit a 10/10 in a really long time. Even the music and music volume was a hit! I loved the food and drinks. I just honestly have no complaints!”
“Great food and drinks as well as service would recommend.”
“Dobre jedzenie w rozsądnej cenie. Bardzo miła obsługa, zostaliśmy obsłużeni, choć do zamknięcie lokalu już było blisko”
“Dropped in on a random Thursday afternoon and the atmosphere and service was 10/10…My server Joe was very helpful with recommending different food options since it was my first time visiting…I will definitely be back soon to try some more items on the menu….”
“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.”
“Took my best friend here for happy hour and the atmosphere was amazing. The staff immediately greeted us and was prompt to seat us. We sat at the bar and the bartender (I forgot his name but he has a Jameson tattoo on his arm) was great! He recommended some drinks, entertaining, and overall was delightful to be around. The entire staff seemed to be helping each other. Usually when you ask a worker walking past for something it’s always “let me get your server.” Here everyone helped each other and it didn’t seem like it was an inconvenience for them. The drinks were spot on. My friend got some type of barbecue drink and that probably was the best drink I’ve ever had. We also got an expresso martini and I think the drink was called the hit. Idk but the drinks definitely got us right. The food, well we didn’t really order a lot but the food we did get I didn’t care for. The empanadas crust was very flaky, buttery, and soft but the filling was not good. My friend ordered the deviled eggs and she enjoyed them as well as the mussels. Overall it was a great experience and I will be coming back to try some more food.”
“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.”
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