Taste222Chicago
Chicago, US · 1 known investors
Taste 222 is a restaurant and event venue in Chicago's West Loop serving eclectic international dishes and classic American fare, offering lunch and happy hour on weekdays. Its event space is available for private bookings seven days a week.
Also known as Taste 222 · Taste222Chicago
Investors · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Taste 222 is a restaurant and event venue at 222 N Canal Street in Chicago's West Loop. Its menu combines eclectic dishes drawing on flavors from around the world with classic American and contemporary Southern fare, including shrimp and grits with Gulf shrimp, cremini mushrooms and applewood smoked bacon over stone-ground white corn grits; cornmeal-crusted fried catfish with chow chow slaw and Creole tartar; a burger built on Slagel Farms beef; skillet cornbread with maple honey butter; truffle fries; and a multi-cheese mac and cheese. The bar program offers craft cocktails and a curated wine list that includes a focus on Black-owned spirits and wines, and desserts such as a Somrus mocha icebox cake and key lime pie.
The venue serves lunch and happy hour Monday through Friday in an upscale but casual setting, described as "casual elegant," with multiple dining areas including a bar, patio, library and a "Chef's Window." Alongside regular restaurant service, the space is bookable seven days a week for corporate gatherings, social events and private parties. The restaurant has no on-site parking, but paid garages including Echelon at K Station and Metra Market are nearby.
Taste 222 is the showcase venue of Cleveland Avenue, a venture capital firm led by former McDonald's CEO Don Thompson that backs food and beverage concepts; the restaurant functions as a testing ground for those concepts. Kitchen leadership is held by Judson Todd Allen, a Chicago native and Food Network alumnus.
Founding story
Taste 222 was created as the visionary showcase of Cleveland Avenue, a venture capital firm led by former McDonald's CEO Don Thompson that nurtures food and beverage concepts, and opened on May 2 in Chicago's West Loop.
Business model
Taste 222 generates revenue from on-premise dining — weekday lunch and happy hour service plus dinner — and from renting its event space for corporate gatherings, social events and private parties seven days a week. Pricing is described as mid-range to slightly upscale, and reservations are recommended for dinner and larger groups.
Restaurant food and beverage sales during weekday lunch, happy hour and dinner service, supplemented by fees from private and corporate bookings of its event space.
Traction
The restaurant operates weekday lunch and happy hour service plus dinner and bookable events seven days a week from a single West Loop location, and is listed as a seed-stage food and beverage company with one disclosed investor, Cleveland Avenue. Guest favorites frequently highlighted include its shrimp and grits, fried catfish, signature burger, cornbread, truffle fries and mac and cheese.
Latest developments
The company's site posted an early closing on August 6 with last seating at 1:00pm, and promotes new menu items spanning international flavors and classic American dishes.
▸Full profile — market position, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Taste 222 is a single-location, mid-range to slightly upscale American restaurant and event venue in Chicago's West Loop, classified in the food and beverage sector at seed stage with a restaurant business model. Companies listed as similar include Sunda New Asian, True Food Kitchen, Lunching and Popchew.
The restaurant is positioned as both a dining destination and a proving ground for food and beverage concepts backed by its investor, combining a chef-driven menu of American and contemporary Southern dishes with an adaptable event layout. Distinguishing elements cited include a wine and spirits list emphasizing Black-owned producers, a home-like interior with several distinct dining areas, and a family-friendly early-evening service within an otherwise upscale setting.
Go-to-market
The restaurant markets itself through its own website, which handles online reservations and event inquiries, and through third-party local dining and attraction coverage. It draws on the profile of its backer, Cleveland Avenue, and of executive chef Judson Todd Allen.
Diners in and around Chicago's West Loop, including business lunch patrons, evening diners and families during early evening hours, plus organizers of corporate gatherings, social events and private parties seeking event space.
Geography
Single location at 222 N Canal Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606, in the West Loop neighborhood.
History
The restaurant opened on May 2 at 222 N Canal Street in the West Loop as a venture of Cleveland Avenue, with Chicago native and Food Network alumnus Judson Todd Allen running the kitchen. It continues to operate a dining room and event space, publishing operational notices such as an early close on August 6 with a final seating at 1:00pm.
Compiled by commissioned research from 6 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 1
launches, deals, and filingsThe restaurant opened on May 2 at 222 N Canal St, positioned as a showcase venue for Cleveland Avenue's food and beverage concepts, with Judson Todd Allen leading the kitchen.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 6
primary sources listed
- Taste222Chicagotaste222chicago.com · web
6 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Taste222Chicago do?
- Taste 222 is a West Loop Chicago restaurant and event venue backed by venture firm Cleveland Avenue.
- Who are Taste222Chicago's investors?
- Taste222Chicago's investors include Cleveland Avenue.
- Where is Taste222Chicago headquartered?
- Taste222Chicago is headquartered in Chicago, US.