I had been wanting to try this restaurant for over a year and was finally able to make it for brunch! The place itself is extremely cute on both the exterior & interior. They have a nice patio outside, that we didn't choose to sit on because of the hour & a half wait... but we were able to sit inside near the open doors & windows. There are a couple different levels to this place, so lots of room! The menu was limited for breakfast/lunch but they did have some specials going on for Cinco De Mayo! We ended up ordering the chicken fried lobster, a side salad, the avocado toast, & the cheddar bacon biscuit (they're version of biscuits & gravy). I enjoyed my cheddar bacon biscuit while my friend was not crazy about her avocado toast. The chicken fried lobster was really good, just smaller than we were expecting and does not come with a side. Overall, we had a good experience! Our server was really nice and accommodating! Definitely want to come back for dinner sometime! read more

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My review for the Dawson is long long long overdue. I visited the Dawson on Nov. 5, 2016 with some friends in the area and we had a delicious brunch. While my fiance and I were in Chicago for the Rugby Weekend I knew I wanted to treat him to a good birthday brunch since it was in fact his birthday weekend. I asked a friend in the area to recommend a place for brunch and she told me to check out the Dawson and I am so glad she did! Just looking at the reviews and pictures I knew I had to try the food. My friend made a reservation for 4 on a Saturday around 11. When we arrived the place wasn't too packed and they had the table ready for us. The server came over and introduced herself to us and made a few suggestions for drinks and appetizers! Yes, appetizers for brunch! She recommended the pumpkin pie because at the Dawson they do dessert first! My friend and I totally ordered it too. We also ordered the bacon flight (4 kinds of bacon) to share as a table (but not me since I don't eat bacon). We also each ordered some beverages to start the day. Our drinks were brought over quickly and tasted great. By the time she brought our appetizers over we all needed another round of drinks. The best part? They added a candle to the bacon flight and we were able to sign happy birthday to my fiance. I am sure that embarrassed him a little, but whatever-it was fun! The pumpkin pie was so good and the rest of the group enjoyed the bacon. I don't think they ate it all, but they ate enough of it to say that the bacon was all tasty and delicious. Once our server brought our 2nd round of drinks we were ready to order. I ordered the avocado toast because the reviews for it made this toast sound heavenly. I really can't remember what else was ordered, but I think someone ordered a burger and I am pretty sure someone had a B.E.A.L.T sandwich. All I know is that there was a ton of food on the table when it was all delivered. The plated presentations of the food was eye-candy for me. It was almost a shame to start eating to mess up the art-work. Long story short, we were at the Dawson for about 2.5 hours and had a blast! Our server was incredible and friendly. The bartender made some great drinks (we even opted to take a shot of something at one point; it was the daily drip). It was a delicious brunch with delicious food. I really do want to go back next time I go to Chicago. I can't stop thinking about their avocado toast! When it was time to pay the check we just decided to split it 4 ways so that there wasn't any confusion with who had what and who was going to pay for what...it was just easier to split it 4 ways. Thankfully the group I was with was completely okay with that. I'm not sure if they do split checks since we didn't ask. Of course, it's nice to also let you know that the bathroom is downstairs if you need it. I had a bit of a hard time finding it, but I saw the hostess and she pointed me in the right direction. I'm sure they get asked all the time where it is. Overall, this is a great spot for brunch and I bet they have a great lunch and dinner service too. I do recommend you check it out when you are in the area. It's worth it-trust me! read more

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Had the elotes as an app, gem salad as entree and chicken fried lobster as an entree. All were amazing. The lobster was just a little over cooked, still very flavorful though. I had the greenhouse gimlet and it was well worth the $17 price tag. Our waiter, can't remember their name, was great! Knew all the specials, and was attentive. Table was bussed promptly after each dish was finished and our water glasses were always full. The restaurant was loud, gives a clubby kind of vibe. Overall a great place, good service, good food, and good drinks! read more

I can't say much about a lot on the menu, other than they have a good looking menu, but I am posting this review because of the duck legs (Sticky Duck Wings). This has to be one of the best things I've ever had. They are delicious, tender, and have an amazing glaze. I get them every time. They are fantastic. read more

The Dawson - Sticky Duck Wings - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was only the second time I've dined at The Dawson and I don't know why I don't come more often. We started with a bottle of wine - we let the server choose which bold red was best within the $65 price range. She chose the Frida Kahlo, which we had never had and it was great! Food: We had the Yellowfin Tuna Ceviche and Buffalo Cauliflower as starters. Both were very good - I could've had the cauliflower for dinner it was SO tasty! I had the burger, one friend had steak and my other friend had the chicken for entrees. We were all very pleased with our dishes! I felt for the amount of food and drink, the price was very fair! I will certainly be back more frequently! read more

My friends and I checked out this spot for Sunday brunch and we enjoyed our experience! There is tons of outdoor seating, which we loved! The food was good. Two of us had the chilaquiles, and our other friend had the feta omelette. I asked for no queso on mine, and the waitress asked if I had an intolerance so it seemed like they typically don't do substitutions? Not sure what that was about. Other than that, the meal itself was well prepared and the atmosphere was enjoyable. read more

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

Loved the place. Atmosphere was great. Food and drinks were really good. Service was lacking, waiter was slow. Despite that, I'd go back. read more

My friend and I dropped by here after dinner for a drink. We sat at the bar and were taken care of immediately. The bartender immediately got us water and menus, and he took our order and prepared our drinks quickly. My cocktail (doggie paddle) was pretty potent and tasted great. Although we didn't stay here for long, I really liked the atmosphere -- dimly lit, not too loud, pretty classy-looking yet comfortable. I'd love to come back here for a full dinner experience. read more

The Dawson - drink menu - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great food. Especially the duck wings! You have to get it. Ambience was great at it wasn't too loud so good for conversations. read more

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Super cute place with cute and tasty drinks! Everything we ordered was so good I would come back and reorder some of the same things. The rigatoni was spicy but super flavorful. The blue cheese salad we got was also something I would reorder so goood. Also ordered the tikka pot pie which was spicy and flavorful as well. read more

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A great place for food! We almost ordered everything off the menu! Must try the Waygu Steak, grilled octopus and Tortellini!!

Been wanting to go here for years and thankful that we were finally able to go. The food menu changes often online from what I could tell. Ordered the burger with egg and a side of carrots, both of which I would recommend for anyone. The sauce for the carrots was absolutely delicious. Drinks were also very well made. Make a reservation on open table ahead of time but when we went at 6 PM on a Friday night there was still ample seating available. Most entrees were much pricier than I would have expected but the burger was decently priced. read more

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Walking just a few blocks from my apartment to the Dawson the crowd grew from 2 people to 8 and we ironically all walked into the Dawson simultaneously. That should tell you how great this place is! The brunch vibe was amazing... We started with the Buffalo cauliflower and empanadas which we all enjoyed. My party of four each got different entres, I got the salmon toast which was tasty but not as filling as I'd hoped. Luckily we also had enchiladas, a burger, and huevos rancheros to share. Each of those dishes were significantly more hearty in portion. Nonetheless, can't wait to enjoy the cool patio vibes for brunch again. I didn't sit inside, but from what I could see, looked very rustic/cute. Since this is a pretty popular brunch spot, I'd recommend making a reservation. read more

The Dawson - Smoked Salmon Toast - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great place for brunch, especially when the weather's nice. They have a large patio, but it can get crowded so make a reservation. All the food I've had is delicious. The drinks are also really good, they have a few house concoctions (bug juice!) that are better than you would think. If you go for dinner the mussels are a must try! read more

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Cocktails on a spectacular patio. Probably one of the best looking patio's in Chicago. Sets the mood on a summer night or a warm fall evening with string lights and well appointed landscaping. It's a large space with plenty of seating, although get a reservation as it's popular with plenty of nearby spots for a drink before or after. Really good cocktails with elevated spirits. Tip - you can get alcohol added to the very delicious non-alcoholic drinks. They also seem to know their pork. They have a pork roast experience we didn't have the chance to do. However got the pork chop and it was amazing, very well cooked. Overall it's an interesting mix of elevated food/drinks, laid back vibe in a nice setting. A bit on the pricey end though to bring it down a star for value. read more

Both the interior and exterior of this restaurant are beautiful!! The large windows let in a lot of natural light. The wooden staircase seen right at the entrance is sleek and modern. Their outdoor patio space looks really cute and I'd love to dine out there when the weather is warmer. We tried to make reservations on opentable for a Saturday evening at 7 but all of their reservations were booked except an early 530 one. So try to make your reservations in advance! Drinks: The cocktails on the menu change every few months so I don't think these are on the menu anymore, but I had the cool kids cabin -- old forester signature bourbon, dickel #12, Swedish punsch, st germaine, amontillado, sherry, hibiscus, black tea, and lemon. This was really good! It was served with a lemon slice and a pretty flower. My friend had the morning assembly, which was a Japanese whiskey based cocktail. She said it was good but that she liked the cool kids cabin better! The cocktails were $13 each Food: We shared the chicken fried lobster appetizer ($18), the Texas redfish tacos ($48), and a side of Brussels sprouts ($9). The chicken fried lobster was such an interesting concept. I've never had fried lobster! It was very tasty, especially eaten with the spicy ranch it came with. Wish the portion size was bigger! The Texas redfish tacos dish is a whole redfish and comes with tortillas, guacamole, charred tomato salsa, chimichurri, Napa cabbage slaw - so you can assemble your own tacos. I think we both made at least 3 tacos each and there was still fish leftover. It's a good portion size, but I didn't love this dish. The fish was tender but a bit under seasoned in my opinion. Wouldn't order it again. The Brussels sprouts were solid but nothing too crazy. I'll have to come back to try some of the other things on their menu! read more

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We went here for a birthday celebration and could not be more pleased! I suggest making a reservation, since we made one and requested outdoors but indoors is all they had - it was packed on a Wednesday night! We were greeted with champagne and a delicious drink menu. Our service was amazing -- they were very attentive. Everyone loved what they got and the birthday girl was happy! I wish the chicken fried lobster was a bigger portion, but wow was it worth the few bites! read more

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Such a great experience dining here tonight! Our server Manny went above and beyond! He knew the menu inside and out. We started off with the meatballs which were fabulous. I got the coconut curry with steak which is one of the best meals I've had out in a while, while my bf got the lamb shank which he enjoyed as well. 5/5 dining experience. read more

The Dawson - Coconut curry w/ steak - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Oh my WOW. What a wonderful surprise The Dawson was. My family made a reservation for 6 people on a Monday night for my mother's birthday and it was a great place to celebrate. My family generally gravitates toward Asian cuisine as it better suites my grandmother's taste buds, but for this special occasion, she was open. We arrived at The Dawson and was greeted with a stunning entry way with a staircase to the left and gorgeous light fixtures. It's clear that this is the type of space that could accommodate larger special events. We were seated immediately as our reservation was for 5:30PM. (very early for dinner, but for grandma). Our waitress was very nice went reviewed the menu with us as well made a few recommendations. It almost felt as if we were ordering the entire menu. For appetizers we had the chicken-fried lobster. It was fried to perfection with a great crispy exterior and a tasty ranch sauce. The only downside to the dish was the price. A whopping $18.00. For sides we ordered the Brussel Sprouts, Mac and Cheese and Heirloom Tomato Salad. The stand out was definitely the brussel sprouts. Served with a spicy aioli and soy lime vinaigrette. YUM. For entrees we ordered the Hudson Bay Scallops, Farmer's Pork Chop, Texas Redfish Tacos, Steak Frites, and the Halibut. The best entree in my opinion was the Pork Chop. Thick cut and grilled to perfection. Crispy with grill marks on the outside and juicy on the inside served with grilled peaches. The cherry on top of this entire experience was the Ice Cream Crunch Pie. We ordered it as the "cake" to sing happy birthday and it was quite the dessert. I would come all the way here just for the sweet treat. Thanks for the great experience! Grade: A read more

Amazing dinner experience! Went w my husband and 2 other couples for a birthday dinner on a Sunday. Service started good then got slow at the end which was disappointing. Other than that every single person was very very happy with their food & drink. Apps: Pork tacos - 5/5 2 per order. Yummy! Skate wing - 5/5 small portion but delish Onion rings - 5/5 great seasoning & crisp! Entrees: Pork shank - 4.4/5 by 2 diners. Cleared plates! Chicken fried steak - 4.5/5. Collard greens were eh but the rest was delish Chicken & gnocchi - 5/5. Wow Curry - 4.5/5 Whole fish - 4.5/5 Funnel cake dessert was amazing! We will be back Dawson. You were fab :) Highly recommended read more

The Dawson - Funnel cake - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So this is one of those restaurants I have had on my list to hit for a while and sooo...glad I finally made it! Was it the 78 degree perfect weather in October or was it the wonderful company, the beautiful patio or the great service that made this a 5 star experience? I will just say YEEESSS! But on top of that the food was excellent and the beer and wine list is well thought out and numerous top notch options. Specialty cocktails were flowing and although I didn't try any the mixologist were workin hard and making beautiful drinks (I stuck with wine). Management came by twice during our meal to ask how our experience was in addition to the servers, food runners and bus staff working like clock work. NICE TOUCH! Although the the patio and outside bar are the true hit for this establishment the interior is "almost"as nice. Very open and a well lite space with a wonderful bar ...its a truly beautiful space! This is one of those places that immediately vaults to the top of my talk about and revisit list. Can't wait to return! read more

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The ambiance was nice and the patio was nice too with a dj. But we were super confused at the portion size. We planned on ordering things to share and was told portions were shareable. To start we ordered chicken friend lobster and this beet salad and added shrimp (which made it a literal 33 dollar salad..) This is what was given to us. The chicken fried lobster was good and so were the drinks. But we didn't stay longer for entrees as we didn't feel we would be able to actually split the portions like we thought given the fact that the plate was half full like this for 33 dollars. We had planned on trying multiple menu items but at what price point for the amount of food? Greens are not expensive products.. so you would think portions would be more generous atleast on a simple salad. If it wasn't for this my rating would definitely be higher because we liked the vibe before the salad came out. read more

The Dawson - Beet salad with shrimp - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for dinner late Saturday afternoon. Second visit for my wife and I who were in town visiting. Had a party of 6. Will admit that the drinks, the food and service was good. No complaints there. However, we were all blown away by some of the prices. The drinks and especially the price of steaks were just too much. The cheapest thing on the menu was the burger at $21.00 while the cheapest steak (fillet) was $64 and the bone-in ribeye is $94.00 ? Geezzzzz. And $34 bucks for a plate (not a bucket) of Fried Chicken. Really? C'mon guys. I felt like we were being gouged. I know Chicago is expensive, but you guys aren't exactly on Michigan Avenue. We won't return a 3rd time. read more

Great service and food! Our waiter went above and beyond to tell us about the drinks and all the food options. The restaurant is charming and has an old world feel. Their patio is also very open and beautiful. We had the empanadas, scallops, and rigatoni , we also enjoyed their fabulous cocktails. In particular we loved the chia tea one! Would highly recommend! read more

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Top 10 service of any restaurant I've ever been to. Our server made an effort to get to know us and our taste to make smart suggestions based on her expert knowledge of the menu. We ended up getting the oysters, scrumptious Monkey Bread, Chicken Fried Lobster, Ricotta Pancakes, and Shrimp & Grits. My husband ordered the Bloody Mary, which they tweaked to his specification. He's very picky and this was one of the best! I am not a fan of tomato juice, but I must say it was very good. My ranking of the dishes would be 1. Ricotta Pancakes 2. Shrimp & Grits 3. Monkey Bread 4. Oysters 5. Chicken Fried Lobster. All of the dishes were outstanding! The nuance of flavor in each dish was spot on. Everything was perfectly cooked and perfectly seasoned. We visited many wonderful restaurants during our trip to Chicago, but The Dawson left the longest lasting positive impression. Next time we're in Chicago, we'll definitely be back to The Dawson for both brunch and dinner! read more

I really like the Dawson! Beautiful, large open space, cool crowd and great food and cocktails. The only negative, fairly slow and messy service, which could be due to it being a new restaurant. I'm sure they'll iron that out. I would recommend the Kale Salad and Chicken Fried NY Strip. Yeap, that's right. They battered and fried a NY Strip and paired collard greens, mashed potatoes and a honey biscuit with it. How would I describe it, you ask? It's like the perfect cupcake-that has a moist cake with bomb cream cheese frosting. A smart and good looking boyfriend that likes romcom. Its like a bad shoe that is also comfortable to walk in. A freakum' dress that has built in spanx. It's perfection is what it is. PERFECTION. Highly recommend the Dawson for any occasion. They also have a large upstairs space that can be reserved for large parties. read more

The Dawson - Chicken Fried NY Strip - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Brunch is not only a Sunday meal but a great Saturday option as well. My girlfriends and I came in Saturday at 2:45 and were made aware that brunch was about to end and there would be a limited bar menu until dinner service. We were all pretty hangry and ready to order the second we sat down, and we were pretty much set on brunch. The second we sat down our eyes saw the kung pao Brussels sprouts on the menu and put in an immediate order while we browsed the rest of the menu. The waitress came by and told us not to rush and we can go ahead and order off any menu as we please. We then ordered a round of drinks (various wines). I had the sparkling rose (tis the season), it was delightful and very refreshing. For our main orders 3 of us ordered the burgers (mine was sans bun and I added an egg- hey it was brunch after all) and the 4 girl ordered the avocado toast. Food: Kung pao Brussel sprouts- yummmm they were so good. Perfect hint of spice, the sauce was delicious and the brussels were cookies perfectly. Burger- DELISH!! My burger was cooked to a perfect medium (just how I like it) the egg was a great topping for a brunch add on (there was a bacon option too but I passed on that). Knife and fork all the way glad I opted out of the bun. The fries were also seasoned perfectly and accompanied with a pairing of ketchup and some kind of yummy aioli. The food was delicious, the service was not bad, and I loved the interior. Unfortunately, the weather was super crappy and we did not get to enjoy the outside patio but I will for sure be back to enjoy a perfect Chicago day on the patio and try their dinner read more

The Dawson - Avocado toast - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Does this place remind anyone else of the Creek a la the 90s TV show? Our party of 4 visited with a Gilt City voucher*, so at the discounted price of $23, I got a cocktail, bourbon shot, and an appetizer. I would have been completely unsatisfied had I paid full price for what I consumed. These are a few areas where the Dawson is lacking: a) the "daily drip" bourbon was supposed to be flavored with lemon, berry, and other elements, but it just tasted like any other bourbon. b) the appetizers are on the small side. For instance, the pork belly lettuce wraps came with a few measly pieces of pork. The girls and I shared 4 appetizers, and we were still very hungry, so we each ordered individual entrees. You got us, Dawson! c) on the Gilt deal, we were limited to appetizers under $15, so 1/3 of the choices were off limits. The shrimp corn dogs and the bbq pork cupcake were so so. I enjoyed the beet salad the most, as it had a nice flavor with mustard and citrus ginger dressing. d) our waitress was tough to get a hold of at times. The outdoor patio has a nice atmosphere, including heat lamps, couch(es), and outdoor fireplace. If you find yourself here, I do recommend the duck entree. Duck was tender, and it came 2 ways: BBQ leg and sausage. I just spent more than I was expecting on this outing. *Funny story. A nice gentleman came by and was 100% surprised that we had a Gilt voucher because he said he was the owner and was unaware the Dawson was signed up for it. Hmm... he went away to check on the matter and came back, saying his wife must have signed the establishment up. Haha. Just funny that he was totally unaware of this. read more

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I have been coming here for 10+ years after I fell in love with the GTO drink. It was the reason I kept coming back. Unfortunately last night I went and they completely changed the drink. I asked for the old recipe and they didn't have the needed ingredients. I likely won't be going here anymore. I'm unsure why the drink was changed as it was ordered so much that it was put on tap. Definitely disappointed. read more

Comically terrible service offset by good food. While the food was quite good, especially the chicken fried lobster, our server was completely disorganized and spoke nearly zero English. Even if it was his first day on the job, I would have a hard time imagining he could learn to English and how to be a sever in a reasonable time frame. He was unable to explain where the restrooms were or what the market price of the steak was. It's hard to believe the Dawson would ever hire such a person who totally unable to do his job. That said, all the food and drinks were great. read more

I'd describe The Dawson as "comforting with an upscale feel." My friend suggested this gorgeous spot for dinner plans on a Monday. She made a reservation for 5:30 PM, which was absolutely perfect because the lighting inside at this time was still sunny and welcoming in the midst of this never-ending winter! There is dark, warm wood throughout, with elegant ivory-colored walls and tall candles on every table. Of course we began with cocktails, and if you're looking for unique mixes, The Dawson is a fantastic place for just that. While most of their signature drinks are whiskey-based, I'm more of a fruity drink gal, so there were two in particular that stood out to me. One was the Desert Blossom, which had strong flavors of apricot, lemon, and moscato. My favorite part of the Desert Blossom, however, was how beautiful it was: it was presented with both a flower *in* the drink, along with some more small flowers attached to the glass with a mini clothespin. A Pinterest dream come true! The other drink I ordered was the Red Dawn Rising, which had very recognizable flavors of pomegranate, pineapple, lemon, and raspberry. This drink was also gorgeous, so of course I took a photo! They really know how to nail down the aesthetics here. As for appetizers, it was difficult to choose, because I honestly wanted them all. We tried their meatballs, which were insanely delicious but not overly filling if you're sharing. The roasted cauliflower was our second choice of app, and not only was it pretty to look at, but was crispy, and without a doubt the fanciest cauliflower I've ever had. For my main course, since I'm a BIG fan of seafood, I ordered their mussels. Our waiter spoke very highly of the seafood at The Dawson, so I took his word for it, and I'm glad I did! My mussels were presented with an extra bowl to discard my shells into, along with bread for dipping into my broth. Our waiter even switched out my shell bowl halfway through the meal. Now that's classy. I felt full and fulfilled after my meal... but was still ready to look at that dessert menu! I'm a big fan of banana pie, and their's was the absolute best banana pie I have ever had! Honestly! I would honestly go back *just* for that pie. I think the reason their banana pie is so different is because they put a banana compote on the piecrust, as opposed to just whipped cream. UGH. It was so good. I highly recommend the Dawson for their great service, gorgeous interior, and their insanely delicious menu. But I mostly recommend it for the pie. Go, go, go! read more

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The place is loud and vibrant. The lighting is soft but not dark. The service is exemplary. They check on you without being overbearing, fill your water more than often enough, ask you how you like your dishes, give you enough time to eat it but don't make you wait too long before they return. They do service right. It was our first visit and we chose two snacks to start - the pretzel with mustard sauce and the roasted acorn squash with burrata. The squash was a very small portion for three (1 slice) but it was perfectly cooked and tender squash with melted and oozing burrata and some toasted nuts. Could have eaten the entire serving by myself! The pretzel was a real disappointment. There was an unnecessary dry cheese sprinkle on the top that detracted from what might have been a good tasting pretzel but it was stale and lacked the traditional alkaline (high pH) water boil that gives all pretzels that dark rich color. They asked us how we liked it and I did mention it was a bit stale and they did take it off of the bill. The pretzel was served with what was an overwhelmingly large portion of whole grain mustard dipping sauce that would have been enough for 6 to 8 pretzels of that size - not one. The mustard sauce was nasal-clearing hot and overwhelmed the flavor of the bland pretzel. The pumpkin soup with roasted marshmallows was creamy and rich. The mcDucketts (sp?) were perhaps a bit over emulsified and uniform in texture, a few bits and pieces of duck in there would have been nice, but they did have a good flavor. The buffalo chicken sandwich could have been much better if the bread had not been so dry and if they had offered a blue cheese sauce and or s melting cheese. It was not spicy at all as one would expect of a buffalo sandwich. The menu description says it has a buffalo slaw but there was very little spice to speak of. The two thin fried chicken breast pieces had very good flavor on their own and once I took off the bun and added the chili aïoli (that really had no heat whatsoever either) to the chicken along with the Buffalo slaw it was quite good. Perhaps they have a problem with their bread supplier and need to make a change. The reuben burger really didn't taste like a reuben but it was very juicy and had great beef and sauerkraut flavor. The fries on both sandwiches were seasoned well but not quite hot or crispy enough. The two true saving dishes that pushed us to a four star rating from three were the pork belly lettuce cups and the chocolate mousse dessert. The pork belly was crispy, unctuous and had complex Asian flavors. $15 for 4-1 inch chunks of pork was rather expensive but the flavors were amazing. They were served with four pieces of Boston lettuce, a small dish of shredded carrots and pickled cucumbers. The chocolate mousse had three different flavors of chocolate - a light milk chocolate whipped center, coated with a thin, dark bittersweet chocolate layer and then topped with a dollop of a medium dark chocolate pudding, chopped cashews and a sprinkling of sea salt. Many of the beverages are quite expensive - lowest price on a glass of wine was $10 and as high as $19! Beers range from $4 to $9 and they have an interesting array of beers and cocktails. There were quite a few items on the menu that we did not try that sounded very interesting and given how well they executed the pork belly, the acorn squash, the soup and the dessert, The Dawson merits a return trip. We hope to make it back during restaurant week. read more

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Had a wonderful experience at the Dawson last night. We told them we were celebrating a birthday when we made the reservation, so they brought us glasses of bubbly to start. We got the Moroccan meatballs to start, which were very flavorful and had a nice kick to them. For entrees we had the rigatoni and butter chicken pot pie. Both were absolutely delicious, fresh, and good portions. The service was excellent too! Our server was very attentive, and the manager approached us at the end of our meal to ask how everything was, and also brought us an aperitif on the house. Great food, great people. Well worth the price. read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Running late for our intended arrival time, we called beforehand to make sure we'd make it before the kitchen closed. Once we arrived and were seated, we were told it closed early (11 minutes) and they were doing last call for drinks. Confused and hungry LOL, we were going to get a cocktail and leave but the sweetest waitress, Thaise, asked her manager what could be done and we were able to get appetizers, salad, and 2 cocktails. she was attentive, knowledgable and so kind. Will be back for the quality of service alone read more

I went to The Dawson for a quick pre-dinner cocktail with a girlfriend! Upon arriving, the downstairs area was packed. Nervous we would not get a seat, we quickly checked in with the hostess to check about the upstairs. To my surprise, the upstairs was a totally different scene. It was much more relaxed and chill than the down stairs area. We found a spot for two at the bar. The menu looked amazing. I wish we had more time there! I ordered the G.T.O and it was delicious. The thyme really stuck out, but was not over powering at all. It was a great drink. Next time I'm in the city, I plan on making a stop for dinner at The Dawson!! read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really enjoyed this! I had the peach burrata salad with toast and everything tasted fresh. Pretty large portion but a little pricy for no meat. read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Oh boy oh boy. This place is goooood. We came here for my dad's birthday. It was supposed to be a delicious celebration, and that it was. We started out with the chorizo fondue and the chicken fried lobster. I usually don't like lobster, but I loveddd this. I could have eaten that and two more plates on my own. The chorizo fondue was great...I mean who doesn't like melted cheese?? Then, for our meal, we split the scallops, corn ravioli and a side of brussel sprouts. I didn't want the corn ravioli at first glance, but after tasting them, I could not stop eating them. Wow they were so good. And the scallops were great too - a bit fishier than most scallops. But I still loved them! And the brussel sprouts were very different from the usual brussel sprouts I have, but I still really liked them. But for the grand finale...dessert! They brought out a little sundae for my dad with a candle. They spared us by not singing happy birthday, but still made him feel celebrated. But the sundae was a brownie with fudge and a scoop of orange ice cream. The brownie was delicious and I'm a sucker for a good brownie. But the orange ice cream was weird...that's just a personal preference. Finally, we ordered the ice cream pie and the peanut butter chocolate pie. The peanut butter chocolate pie was much too rich for me, but the ice cream crunch pie was so good! The crust was like a sweet graham cracker...and there was chocolate lined inside of it. I would highly recommend it. Overall, the service, ambiance and food was amazing. They really know how to treat guests and make them feel special. It's a great location and it really treated us with a special experience. We with hopefully be returning again! PS: it would be a great wedding location! read more

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Perfect date night spot! We sat outside and the ambiance was super cute. They even offered me a blanket since the weather was a little cool. We started with the meatballs-Asian inspired with hot and sour broth and rice noodles. They had a little kick to them- perfect dish to share for an appetizer. For entrees I had the cavatelli pasta and my boyfriend got the butcher's sausages. We also ordered the Brussels sprouts to share. All the portions were large and we took home leftovers of all of them! While I didn't try the sausages my boyfriend said they were super good. And the pasta was delicious! It had a lot of meat between the pork ragu and the sausage pieces which made it very filling. Too full for dessert but I'd definitely come back to try it! read more

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

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Had a great experience dining here for New Years brunch. They have ample heated outdoor seating and all the tables are well distanced. The lobster BLTs were delicious, fresh and they were very generous with the lobster. The fried chicken and French toast was also delicious. read more

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{3.5} Its one star for the amazing space. - Two story entrance with large glass windows and black metal mullions. - Large dining room w/ bar and open kitchen. - Rustic meets industrial finishes everywhere. Wood flooring and tables, leathery seats and bar stools, exposed beams, weathered brick, simple vintage lighting. And that's just the inside. - Fenced in back patio w/ bar, fireplace and views of the neighborhood. Another star for the drinks and charming bartenders. - I had a super refreshing gin and cucumber cocktail. What's better on a warm summer afternoon? A third star for the bites they were serving up. - I attended a party at the Dawson - so the food consisted of appetizers and small desserts. - The meatballs and pretzel bites were especially yummy. - Little chocolates with salted caramel were fantastic. I don't know if they make them in house or get them elsewhere but I could have easily eaten 20 of those suckers. A bonus half star for the details. - The plates for the apps were dainty and darling and I want a set for my own kitchen. Reserving that last star and a half for my return visit - the dinner menu looks gooood and I need to spend more time on that patio. Until then Dawson... read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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