Toast It IZ
River North, Chicago
Restaurant in Chicago, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$20–30per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
Toast It IZ is a practical River North choice when convenience matters more than ceremony. Use it for a quick solo meal, casual lunch, or easy stop near Hubbard Street; for a date, client dinner, or celebration that needs more atmosphere, compare it with stronger occasion venues nearby.
About Toast It IZ
Toast It IZ in Chicago is a casual spot with broad daily hours. It opens at 8 AM every day, closes at 7 PM Sunday through Thursday, and stays open until 9 PM on Friday and Saturday.
That makes the safest recommendation a practical one. Use Toast It IZ when the schedule and casual setting fit your plans, rather than treating it as a fully defined special-occasion destination. If you need a venue with a more clearly defined dining format, compare it with other options before building the whole outing around it.
Use it for convenience, not a long-form occasion meal
The strongest case is timing flexibility. With daily 8 AM opening and evening hours throughout the week, Toast It IZ can fit a range of simple Chicago plans. Friday and Saturday are the latest nights, with closing listed at 9 PM; the rest of the week closes at 7 PM.
First-timers should keep the plan straightforward. Dress casually, check the day's hours, and keep expectations aligned with a direct stop rather than a highly choreographed meal.
Where it fits in a Chicago plan
For broader browsing, Our full Chicago restaurants guide is the better next step if the meal needs a more specific cuisine, mood, or occasion fit. If the rest of the day includes drinks, lodging, or activities, separate the decision across Chicago bars, Chicago hotels, and Chicago experiences, which is helpful when Toast It IZ is only one stop in the plan.
Planning details
- Location
- 22 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- toastitiz.com
- Phone
- +17088664211
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Toast It IZ presents itself as a deliberately accessible River North spot that favors practicality over ceremony. Situated on a ground-floor storefront on East Hubbard, it leans into a fast-casual logic: clear ordering, efficient flow and a room designed to handle steady foot traffic from nearby hotels and offices. The description positions the restaurant within the working grid between the Magnificent Mile and the Chicago River, where the site functions as part of the urban throughway. Expect a straightforward, unpretentious energy that prioritizes welcoming, high-volume service rather than ornamental dining theater.
Best For
This is a go-to for people seeking a straightforward, flavorful brunch or breakfast near Michigan Avenue. The menu highlights (French Toast Flights, Avocado Toast and Chicken and Waffles) make the place well suited to weekend brunches, casual family mornings and quick meals for hotel guests or office workers. Its River North address and ground-floor accessibility mean it works equally well for visitors grabbing a meal before exploring the city and locals looking for an easy, satisfying bite without the fuss of a formal reservation-based restaurant.
Ordering Tips
The operation emphasizes an efficient, legible ordering flow typical of fast-casual formats, so anticipate a counter-forward experience rather than full-table formal service. Given the signature offerings, plan to try one of the French Toast Flights for a shared tasting approach or stick with a single classic, Avocado Toast or Chicken and Waffles, if you want a straightforward meal. Because the venue sits on a busy stretch that draws consistent foot traffic, expect a brisk pace and a focus on quick turnaround and accessibility.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm, inviting atmosphere with cozy vibes and lively energy from DJ music on select occasions.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
- Kitchen
- Modern
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Dietary
- Vegan options
Signature Dishes
- French Toast Flights
- Avocado Toast
- Chicken and Waffles
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 22 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if this does not fit
If the meal needs more occasion value, cross-shop Shaw's Crab House for a more traditional restaurant night or Andy's Jazz Club when atmosphere is part of the plan.
For a simpler nearby alternative with a clearer cuisine lane, consider Star of Siam. For a broader, group-friendly River North fallback, Doc B's Restaurant (River North) is the safer comparison.
Restaurant context
How Toast It IZ compares in River North
Toast It IZ is the easiest, lowest-commitment choice in this set. Choose it when timing flexibility and a casual stop matter more than a drawn-out meal. Shaw's Crab House is the better fit when the night needs a more traditional restaurant feel, especially for seafood-focused groups or business dinners.
Andy's Jazz Club is stronger when atmosphere is the point; it gives the evening a built-in reason beyond the meal. Star of Siam is the better cross-shop when the group wants a clearer cuisine call, while Doc B's Restaurant (River North) is the safer pick for a more conventional sit-down meal nearby.
CBR belongs in the comparison set for readers staying close to the neighborhood, but the sharper decision is this: Toast It IZ works for convenience; Shaw's Crab House, Andy's Jazz Club, Star of Siam, or Doc B's make more sense when the meal itself has to carry the plan.
Explore Chicago
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Toast It IZ guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Toast It IZ
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Toast It IZ | Chicago | No published awards |
| Shaw's Crab House | Chicago | No published awards |
| CBR | Chicago | No published awards |
| Andy's Jazz Club | Chicago | No published awards |
| Star of Siam | Chicago | No published awards |
| Doc B's Restaurant (River North) | Chicago | No published awards |
How Toast It IZ Chicago compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives to Toast It IZ in Chicago?
Shaw's Crab House, Doc B's Restaurant (River North), CBR, Andy's Jazz Club, and Star of Siam are other venues to consider, depending on the kind of outing you want. Toast It IZ is the one to frame around casual dress and daily hours.
Is Toast It IZ good for solo dining?
It can work for a solo stop if the casual setting and hours fit your schedule. Keep the plan simple.
What should a first-timer know about Toast It IZ?
Plan it as a casual Chicago stop with broad daily hours. Toast It IZ is open 8 AM–7 PM Sunday through Thursday and 8 AM–9 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Is lunch or dinner better at Toast It IZ?
It is open from 8 AM daily, closes at 7 PM Sunday through Thursday, and closes at 9 PM on Friday and Saturday.
What should I wear to Toast It IZ?
Dress casually. Casual dress is the dress code for Toast It IZ.
Is Toast It IZ good for a special occasion?
The details are limited to casual dress and hours, so it is safer to treat Toast It IZ as a straightforward stop rather than a special-occasion venue. For a more defined plan, compare it with options such as Shaw's Crab House or Doc B's Restaurant (River North).
