This review is for HH which happens Tuesday-Friday from 4-6pm. HH is only at the bar. After a long day at work, we decided to stop in for a drink and a quick bite before heading home. The Dawson is located right off the Grand Blue line station. The reception and bar staff that we interacted with were friendly and attentive. Since I'm GF, we decided to try the asada fries app. Our server confirmed with the kitchen that the fries are cooked in a separate fryer. They were delicious. The melted poblano cheese really made the dish and there were chunks of seasoned chicken as well. Highly recommend. We also tried the mezcalita. We asked the bartender to make it spicy. highly recommend the mezcalita, too! Although we stopped in for a quick HH, we enjoyed the vibe and would come back again soon! read more

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Came here for dinner and sat in the outdoor patio space, which I think is much more preferable to the indoor space during the warmer months. Parking is mainly paid street parking, which can be tricky during busier times. My favorite dishes were the beet salad and the chicken fried lobster. Their Thai green curry is pretty good as well and a tasty vegetarian option. Overall all of the dishes were enjoyable and well made. I do wish the ceviche had a bit more fish to mango ratio. read more

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Valentine's Day at The Dawson: We made reservations a few weeks in advance which is highly recommended for any special event. We arrived a bit early but were seated right away. There is also a coat check at the front which was super convenient. The ambiance was perfect for Valentine's Day. The light was low and the tables were set up with roses. Some of the staff also embraced the red and pink theme in their attire. The menu was a four course fixed-prix menu where you have the option to choose one of three or four dishes for each course. For the starters, our waiter, Taylor, recommended the wagyu meatballs or the lobster dejonghue so my boyfriend and I each got one and shared. Both were good but the meatballs were the highlight. The tomato sauce was so fresh and it was a nice combo of textures between the meatballs, sauce, and ciabatta toast. The lobster was also good but pretty difficult to eat. I felt like I wasted so much food because I struggled to get it out of the shell. For the seconds, we tried the roasted baby beets and the creamy mushroom soup. The soup was super flavorful and came with some puff pastry on the side. The beats were also very fresh and came with a very decent amount of goat cheese. For my main I had the halibut. It was soft but had a crispy crunch outer layer which was satisfying. The champagne tarragon cream was also a nice compliment for the fish, carrots, and potatoes. To finish the meal we shared the chocolate lover's mess and the strawberry cream of the heart which were both very different desserts. The favorite was the chocolate mess. It was super rich and filling. The strawberry heart had cute presentation but wasn't a big hit from either of us. Overall, a great date night! Delicious food, great atmosphere, and professional service. read more

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I have heard great things about this restaurant and perfect timing to go during CRW . Walking in greeted by hosts who were so kind , a friend had set up the dinner so we were placed upstairs which was great by the window more private so that the girls and I can chat so definitely the ambiance is best upstairs with a group . When I saw the menu for dinner for CRW I was ready to order it had everything I wanted and more . Thank you to the host for her great drink recommendation had a perfect spicy margarita on the menu ! Started with the hamachi ceviche and wish I could have seconds super fresh flavorful the chips perf t saltiness love a homemade chip Grilled wagyu had to have it and perfectly medium cooked melted in my mouth and fries were perfect crisp (no picture because I ate first not my camera) Ended with tropical meringue which was perfect palate cleanser that gave me vacation vibes All in all Nicholas or Nick made our experience amazing so attentive and to top off my birthday with a complimentary glass of champagne it was perfect start of birthday week . Thank you The Dawson can't wait to come back read more

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Food was amazing, loved everything they were serving for their menu! Will come back when I come back to Chicago. Our waitress was very welcoming for our big group and we were all very happy! The area was really nice too, inside felt super organized when it comes to the kitchen, dining area and bar area. Would recommend, super delicious! read more

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I recently came here with a larger group and we sat out in the back. It's a very cute space that feels a little bit like an escape from the city. For a drink, I got the Some Like It Hot, which is basically a spicy margarita. It's very pretty and comes with a pepper in the cup. For my main, I went with the vodka rigatoni with added sausage. The sausage was definitely the best part, so I highly recommend that everyone add it. The sauce itself was also very good. My girlfriend got the steak frites. They have a dedicated gluten-free fryer so she was able to eat the French fries. Unfortunately, her steak was very well done and they didn't ask her how she wanted it cooked. As to the service, it left a little to be desired. It was pretty slow and maybe it's because they were super busy inside, but outside was not crowded at all. read more

The Dawson - Vodka Rigatoni - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were just minding our own business heading home when my lovely wife spotted holiday lights twinkling from The Dawson. So on a whim we popped into Mistletoe & Mischief, a special holiday popup run by The Dawson. We only had beers along with Mrs. Claus Cheese Curds (yummy beer battered curds with a cup of somewhat spicy ranch dip) but we were delighted by the festively decorated space. So if you are looking for a bit of Christmas warmth and joy, check out this popup - it's open through December 30 during regular business hours. read more

I really loved this place! Found it on open table and they had a beautiful outdoor patio with a really nice fireplace. The wait staff was really attentive and helpful. My mom and I got a few plates to share and they were good portions and not too much food that you left feeling heavy! Everything was delicious would definitely come again. Special mention for salted Carmel ice cream that comes with the hot chocolate cake, was literally so good! read more

The food is so good. The mocktails are EXTREMELY good,. BOYBLUE one is delicious. Menu adds and removes items periodically keeping every visit interesting. I love this place. The wait staff are stellar. The outdoor patio is fun. Thanks read more

My family and I came here for a birthday celebration. We ordered a few dishes to share, which gave us the ability to try a lot of things. We started out with the chorizo fondue and the chicken fried lobster. We split the scallops, corn ravioli and a side of brussel sprouts. The corn ravioli was delicious and I loved the chicken fried lobster. Since it was a celebration, we also ordered some desserts to try - the ice cream pie was the favorite! This restaurant is beautiful. I know two friends who have had receptions here and its a great venue both for the winter time and summer. I would love to just come to the restaurant, read a book and drink a glass of wine given how beautiful it is! read more

Went for the drag brunch which was a fun atmosphere. Very lively much and the food was absolutely delicious. We were sat upstairs but love the interior design of the is place. I got the open faced lox sandwich, Mac & cheese, and aside of breakfast potatoes, which was just what I needed after a long night out. It was incredibly delicious and the performers were a fun addition to the meal! read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

came here for happy hour and I love the vibes! We were on the back patio. Our waitress was really sweet and everything came back in great time. I had some wine, shishito peppers and oysters. The oysters were amazing and the shishito peppers were just the perfect summer app. I will be back for more happy hours! read more

The Dawson - Medium burger and fries - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We've been to the Dawson many times. It is a reliable place to have a good brunch or dinner. The ambience is sophisticated and upscale without being pretentious or stuffy. The outdoor patio is great in the summer and they have a cozy heated and tented patio in the winter. We've been going here every year around the holidays for 3 years now, so it's becoming a tradition. We took our little one to the Mistletoe and Mischief patio for an early weeknight dinner and she loved seeing all the decorations! The vodka rigatoni with italian sausage was very good. A long time ago, we really liked their mac and cheese, but it wasn't as good this time around. The burger was solid, what you'd expect... we didn't get any special additions. It came with fries. Of note, they only do happy hour if you sit at the bar. read more

Had brunch with the girls here and had a good time! The moment you walk inside, you are greeted with kind staff and their beautiful interior! I also found out that they host wedding receptions too! They have a decent brunch menu with good variety. Brunch is only served on the weekends. To share, we got the biscuits and empanadas all of which were delish. The chilaquiles rojas came in a big portion! Came with 2 eggs and guac on top. Spice flavor was good so I didn't need extra hot sauce. Overall very good American restaurant. Would love to come back and try their dinner menu! read more

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I really wanted to like this place but it just didn't do it for me. Although service was stellar and the atmosphere nice, I found a huge hair in the topping on the sourdough we ordered. It was good. Just didn't enjoy pulling the long hair out of my mouth. The chicken fried lobster was the family favorite. Worth ordering. Loved my salmon. Cooked and seasoned well. The dessert menu was uninspiring. I got the pumpkin cheesecake and it was fine, I just thought the choices were kinda boring. And maybe I just ordered poorly, but I didn't like either of my drinks Parking was abysmal. They say they have valet but nobody was there. This place was a one and done for me. I'm told the outside seating is great. I guess we missed out since it was winter. read more

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Visited the Dawson 3 month ago and thought the food was amazing. I thought I wrote this review but all of my pics were just sitting waiting for me to write it. read more

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The Dawson is a classic, reliable restaurant. Each time I've gone I have been extremely pleased with my food. There is a lovely patio outside that I highly recommend checking out! The patio has a fireplace and heaters so it's enjoyable even as we enter the colder weather. I most recently had the Caesar salad and it was tasty. I only deducted a point since the prices are a bit more expensive than I would expect. Adding salmon costs nearly as much as the salad itself. read more

One of the best ambiance in the city. You get the feel of the old school industrial Chicago era with a touch of elegance. The food is amazing too, Alejandro is such a great person and cook. He was working the grill outside and took the time to explain to me the preparation of meats. Our server Taylor is such a cool guy. Everything made for an exceptional experience. Keep uk the great work guys. read more

The Dawson - Drinks! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came for brunch and there was so much on the menu that was tempting! Portion sizes are LARGE and I ended up taking home leftovers. Service was terrific - shoutout to Andre for being friendly and helpful and attentive without being at all intrusive. The space is nice and very comfortable, but it is loud. There are multiple spaces for groups of different sizes! I'll be back to try other meals! read more

WOW! Stopped by The Dawson for Saturday night dinner for a special occasion and they know how to make a couple feel special. When checking in for our reservation, both hostesses said congrats. They made sure to seat us in an intimate and comfortable section of the restaurant so we could enjoy each other's company. Our server came over to welcome us and brought complimentary glasses of champagne to also say congrats. How nice! We started with a Cosmo and GTO drink. The Cosmo was well balanced and GTO had earthy and floral notes but was also sweet and fruity. We decided to share a bunch of food options to try more. We started with the Wagyu Meatballs and Grilled PQB Sourdough. The Wagyu Meatballs were phenomenal! It came with three dense meatballs paired with creamy polenta and red sauce with a slight heat to it. The Grilled PQB Sourdough felt like a half flatbread, half salad. It was piled hight with shaved brussel sprouts, apple slices, and nuts. It's a bit hard to eat politely but the flavors were fresh. For the main, we shared the Rigatoni with crumbled sausage as well as the Everything Bagel Focaccia. The bread came with light seasoning, was warm, and had lots of butter to share. The Rigatoni was wonderful being creamy, savory, and had a slight heat from the calabrian. We loved our experience and the atmosphere of the restaurant. I would highly recommend trying out the Dawson and I will certainly be back to enjoy their summer patio! read more

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Brunch is so slept on here- particularly in the fall and winter. Yall the patio is closed but the food is divine! It's also so nice to have a good quality, dependable restaurant in the neighborhood that you don't have to hassle over a reservation for. I just love it here plain and simple. Long distance bestie and me always come here when she's in town. This past week we got our usual order of the breakfast empanadas (comes with sausage gravy dipping sauce. Enough said) and the omelette which is fabulous and this time had a delicious charred veggie accoutrement. We got the fruit plate and the bacon to share and they were just the perfect addition to the meal. The fruit plate is well plated with candied ginger and mint on top. Pto tip order a lime wedge with your water and squeeze it over! The bacon is so substantial and extremely smokey and sweet. I crave it! Side note: skip the salad. I always have to get a yummy salad to eat with my meal but for $16 this one is a big disappointment. Try something else! read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Beautiful outdoor space and lots of seating! I got the burger with egg which was delicious and the cookie skillet was divineeee. Super sweet but tasty. The ricotta toast was a stand out for me but other apps were good as well. We got the Brussels sprouts and the cucumber/watermelon salad. The service was also pretty good as well. Nothing crazy but our waitress stopped by often. Would go again and recommend. read more

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Great food, prepared well and visually appealing. Went for Valentine's Day and it was pricey for the portions given. Could have been at least 25% more food and the meal would have been much more fulfilling. read more

The chicken fried lobster!!! That's it, that's the post. Lol seriously you have to get it and the cheese curds are incredible. Not a fan of the cocktails, we tried a few but the food is definitely worth it! We went for dinner a few weeks prior to brunch and the dinner menu is incredible and so underrate. Our server was super sweet and very accommodating to our party. read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We've driven past The Dawson so many times on our way to the West Loop and were always curious to check it out--so we finally did! The ambiance was warm and inviting, making it a great date-night spot. While the menu leans on the pricier side, especially the drinks, the experience was worth it. We started with the Jason Samoa cocktail, but it wasn't quite our taste, so we quickly switched to an Old Fashioned, which was excellent. For food, we ordered the pull-apart brioche, and wow--hands down the best bread we've ever had. It was so good that we immediately ordered another plate. We also tried the duck wings, which were solid as well. Service was friendly and attentive, rounding out an overall great experience. Definitely a spot worth visiting, especially for that brioche read more

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The Dawson's patio was so pretty!!!! My boyfriend and I went on a Friday for a date night. We were skeptical about the DJ they have on Falridays, but it ended up being really fun! It wasn't obnoxious like some are, we were still able to talk normally and didn't have to shout over the music. Service was great too! We started with drinks - an old fashion & the some like it hot. Both very delicious. The focaccia was next & we almost ate the whole loaf before our meals came out because it was so good. We got a burger & salad as our entrees & they were both good, but not the best we've ever had. The star of the show was the mac & cheese. Hands down the best mac & cheese I've ever had from a restaurant. It was the perfect combo of cheesy sauce & freshly melted cheese that pulls when you take a bite. It also came with bacon on top & wasn't mixed in, so you could eat around it if you wanted. read more

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Just stopped at this places for a few drinks with friends. The service was pretty amazing and the bartender, Juan, was great. He was very knowledgeable and his drinks were amazing. The ambiance was top notch. I can't wait to come back and experience a full dining experience. read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The empanadas are a must-get! The breakfast potatoes were standard, portions are huge, and as a MD girl, I appreciated the lump crab meat in the cake cakes. The mimosa could use less juice, otherwise the drinks were good. It's a nice spot to grab brunch overall and the service is great. read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Umm, yummmm! My friend visited this spot in September and insisted we check it out the next time we were in Chicago--and so we did. As a pescatarian who's also dairy-free, I ordered the Tuna Carpaccio (drooling) and the Coconut Curry, which is both vegan and gluten-free. Just an FYI that the curry has a lot of cauliflower. But I really loved my dinner. The building itself was different than I expected--pleasantly surprising in the best way. A couple of staff complimented by dress which was a plus for me. I'm thinking of coming back here with a group for dinner. read more

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Went to the Dawson the day of the river dyeing for Saint Patrick's Day and had a phenomenal time. The bartenders, Taylor and Ethan, were awesome! The server, Taylor, was wicked nice as well. Knowledgeable and friendly, they covered all the bases. The food was equally great, get the biscuits and gravy! To top it off they had a bagpiper come thru to put the cherry on top. read more

The Dawson - Biscuits and Biscuits & Gravy Bottomless Mimosas - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We always pop in before our reservations at La Scarola and was pleasantly surprised by a former student, Caesar, who is a bartender there. If you want classic cocktails and a chill vibe jump into the Dawson! Ask for Caesar! read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for the Christmas pop up Mistletoe & Mischief to have some holiday drinks and bites. I tried the Mezcal coquito. It's a small drink but strong and flavorful. My friends got the Deck the Highball and liked that too. For food I got the tuna ceviche. It was good but I think they need to cut the tuna into smaller bites so it soaks in more of the flavors. There were a lot of flavors and it's refreshing but I've had better ceviche. The waiter had recommended the coconut curry so I got that too. I'm glad I got it because it was full of flavor. I like that they put the golden raisins on top of the rice and not inside the curry, because I'm not a fan of raisins. The coconut curry has some spice to it which I love. It was not heavy on the cream which I like, so you still get the spicy flavors. Overall the experience was great and the decor made it a fun holiday experience. I will be back to try some of the other food because it was so hard to choose amongst all the flavorful items. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive. He kept refilling eaters for us and asking about drinks or anything else needed. The manger came out to thank people for stopping by and we didn't feel rushed at all like some of the holiday pop ups do to just push people in and out within 60-90 min. So it was a great girls night to catch up when home for the holidays and enjoy some delicious food. read more

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The Dawson is a go-to brunch spot of mine with one of the prettiest patios in the city! This time around, I ordered the burger with an egg on top which was so good. The burger came with jam and brie and the fries were amazing too. We also ordered the brunch empanada which tasted kind of like funnel cake! The servers are always super attentive and friendly as well :) read more

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Besides taking an hour to receive my food, the pictures in the online menu are misleading. There were five meatballs in the picture and I revived three. Not good enough for the $21 I was charged. Pictures of the potatoes were also misleading. Will not return. Overpriced and over hyped. read more

The Dawson is a beautiful space with so much outdoor seating! I came for brunch with a couple of girlfriends and we sat on the indoor/outdoor patio. The service was great! Our waiter was very attentive. We actually all got the omelet and we for an order of the ricotta pancakes to share for the table. The omelet was ok. It was filled with caramelized onions tasted a little plain. The omelet came with a side salad which was very good. The ricotta pancake was really the star of your show! read more

The Dawson - Omelet - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I went to the Dawson during my birthday weekend and it was such a hit. We got a last minute reservation & headed over after a HH. First of all, the atmosphere just feels classy. It's very new American modern esc, but both the patio & the inside are spacious & airy. The service was kind & attentive. We tried the focaccia (amazing) & roasted carrots (also amazing) & the salad. They brought out free birthday champagne & overall it was such an enjoyable experience. Perfect for a date night or a special event! read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very unimpressive. on the positive side, service was excellent and professional. Aside from that, the food was of mixed review. We were a party of 5- spent $300 (no drinks). Halibut was so so- came with 2 tablespoons (maybe) of mixed vegetables for $45, duck breast was mediocre- tough, and just warm. Again, 2 tablesooons of mixed whatever for $45. Caviteli with sausage was very good, Branzini was prepared beautifully- that was 5 stars. Veggie strudel was a joke. The icing on this cream puff was the 4% surcharge they tried to slip in.. . ASK TO HAVE IT REMOVED AND THEY WILL. All in all... 2 stars. Much better restaurants in Chicago in that price range. AVOID... read more

Ashley our server was incredible. She has great timing, recommendations, service was top notch. Thank you Ashley it was a great experience and meal. We can't wait to come back. $2 oysters were incredible I prefer raw he preferred grilled. Every drink we had was perfect great job bartender black mamba and I can't remember the names of the others but Ashley's got you. Rigatoni was spectacular very flavorful . Just go, go now I'm sure everything is good. read more

First time at The Dawson for a birthday dinner! The restaurant has beautiful aesthetics, definitely can tell the outdoor patio is perfect for summer. The set up of the restaurant is open plan inside so it is a little loud with everyone's voices carrying throughout and on top of that the music is pretty loud. Other than that the ambience is great here. The food and drinks were also great! And when they found out it was a birthday celebration they gave a complimentary cheesecake which was a great touch. read more

The Dawson sits at the corner of Halsted and Grand with large signs on both sides, making it easy to spot. The doors are large but easy for an able bodied person to open. Immediately upon entering one is awed by the openness of the entryway. Situated within a stairwell, the ceiling is several stories high, gilded by glass, adorned by soft, elegant chandeliers. The interior is just as lovely, with real candles at each table - tall candles , not tea lights. The bathroom was beautiful with a lovely scent from a lit candle as well as the scented soap. Despite the gorgeous decor, our server, Risa, was completely down to earth and extremely helpful. She came as soon as I'd been seated but acknowledged that I might not be ready yet, just letting us know she was there. I asked for a description of one of the beers and she was able to accurately explain various components of it. Although there was a karafe of water on the table, almost every time we took a few sips, the busser refilled our glasses from the karafe, unobtrusively. I was worried that rigatoni would be too spicy but Risa was able to assure me that she could remove the spicy breadcrumbs and the chili flakes. I asked her how large the dessert was and if were very sweet. Again, Risa was able to perfectly describe it. I was impressed that there was a vegan item on the menu! Unfortunately, it wasn't something I can eat so I ordered the rigatoni and by asking for it not spicy, it was delightful. Much larger portion than I expected so I had enough left over for a lunch. My friend got the burger cooked medium and thought it was underdone but wasn't sure if that was just him. We both thought the fries were perfect. Crispy on the outside and somehow perfectly fluffy and soft on the inside. Salted but not overly so. But the real winner was the dessert. I don't have too much of a sweet tooth but love passion fruit so I had to try the creamsicle. The cake was citrusy, moist, with a texture I've only had with homemade baked goods - something I could sink my teeth into with experience more than just saccharine fluff. Not terribly sweet. The ganache was sweet but this was perfectly balanced with lemon. The fresh orange segments provided a juicy burst of flavor while the passion fruit sorbet kicked it over the top for me. It also had thin, crunchy wafers which contrasted nicely with the texture of the sponge cake and the sorbet. I'd go back just for dessert and since I don't have a huge sweet tooth, that's saying a lot! read more

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