Bravo Dawson Food: "Avocado Toast " may sound boring and simple but it was far from that. The creamy avocado was taken to the next level by pairing it with an over-easy egg.The dish sent an " Taste Too Damn Good" alert to my taste receptors. Drinks: "Insanely Beautiful" was the name of my drink. The perfectly titled drink, made me feel insanely beautiful after I was done. Great drink , lots of flavor and perfectly sweet. read more

The Dawson - Avocado Toast! Picture taken by Dinah Ro - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had always wanted to try this place as I have passed it a ton of times! Finally, my friends decided to do their monthly restaurant club there tonight. We came in two groups, but both were able to score tables on their awesome outdoor patio. While the building looked huge, the padio was the place to be! I started with a Malbec blend glass of wine. Perfect with my meal and a pretty large glass. Most of the rest of my table got mixed concoctions including the pretty Blue Lagoon Bug Juice. I probably should have gone with that instead of playing it safe with a nice glass of red. We all wanted to try the Chicken Fried Lobster as an appitizer, but we were a little worried on the size. The server suggested our group of 7 get 2x the 3 piece dish. While the lobster was fantastic, it was very small and each person only got about 4-5 bites. It seemed a little expensive for what you got, but it was still good! The spicy ranch was a real standout on this dish. For dinner, I played it a little safe and went with Steak Frites. Steak Frites is literally steak with some French butter and fries! Simple, but usually very tasty. That was the case here. The Dawson prides itself on its wood fire grill so I was excited to try it! The steak was good, but I was expecting it to be a little more woody flavored. The part that wowed me was the fries and the pecorino aioli that came with the fries. That was probably the most memorable part. It appears that the Dawson does super well with the sauces! One of my other friends got the Steak Frites as well (she seemed to like it). Others got the mussels (a little small), the elotes (huge and worth the money it seems), pasta, and sausages! I didn't hear many complaints so I am assuming everybody was happy with what they ordered. We finished off the meal with three of the desserts. I got the macadamia nut banana cream pie. I loved it and they really roasted the nuts and candied them to perfection. We had a brownie sundae with orange ice cream. I liked the ice cream, but I thought the brownie was a little strong. We also got the peanut butter chocolate cake which strangely enough, I actually didn't try! It looked good and those who did try seemed to like it! I gave this place four stars instead of five because there were some customer service issues. First, they seemed to have given up the table for our 7:15 friends who were supposed to sit next to us. They were told their option was to wait 45 minutes or eat inside. They waited, hoping it was going to be shorter and ended up waiting about 20 minutes or so. They were nowhere near us, but they seemed to like their table either way! Also, the service was a little weird. Our main server was great, but we only saw him a few times during the evening. It seemed like he had way too many tables for one person. This is not the place to go if you are in a hurry. Service was very slow, but the outside was nice so we didn't complain. They seemed to fill our water glasses super quick even though the bottle was on our table. They also cleared off our table a little too quick and aggressively like they wanted us to leave. They took my friend's beer glass when it still was 1/8 full. It was so jarring that my friend on the other side noticed it too. Maybe it was a bad night, but service was not that great! In all, I had a great time and will probably return to eat and drink outside on a nice evening. The food was good, but it was a little on the pricier side. There are some real deals on the menu, but you gotta look carefully! read more

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My boyfriend and I went here last Thursday night for a date night. My two good friends that work there, Angel and Phu, have been trying to get me to go for the longest time. Sat outside since it was a really nice evening and had some wine, had some dinner it was delicious. He got the steak I believe and I got the salmon. Both were delicious, the steak was perfectly cooked and the salmon had an amazing crunch to it. We also had the octopus appetizer and then the cheese fondue... sorry I am forgetting all of these names. Loved that we sat outside and appreciate the fire pit that was nearby that chased away those pesky summer night mosquitos. Highly highly recommend! If you go there ask for Phu's section :) he is an outstanding server, friendly, never had us sitting and waiting on anything - very top of his game! read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

3.5 stars to be exact. I had a great time here and I think it's a great place, but when I reflect on it, I think the ambience mostly holds up the rating whereas the food itself was mediocre. Don't judge a book by its cover. This place is beautiful on the inside. The vibe and people makes you feel energetic and young. I loved the outdoor patio and the fireplace. There's both an indoor and outdoor bar if you're looking just to drink or to wait at while getting seated. Keep in mind that the bar is also full service, so it's a little awkward to wait around if you're just looking for a drink without getting a bar seat and the service is also a bit slower. Here's the food breakdown: The cocktails are delicious. I had "da bomb" which was literally da bomb. It reminded me of a boozy version of Vietnamese pickeled lemonade which is like a salted lemonade. (4/5) Spanish Octopus (4/5) Very delicious appetizer. Octopus isn't easy to execute. Hanger Steak (3.5/5) I am a carnivore at heart but the element on that dish that I liked the most was the polenta which deserves a 5/5. It was so delicious and creamy! The steak was cooked well but not nearly as memorable for a steak dish. Halibut (1.5/5) It tasted like a waste of potential. White fish is a double edged sword. The beauty in it is that is a great medium to absorb flavor. The flip side is that on its own, it has a very subtle flavor and can be easily overshadowed. The way it was prepared was bland. The vegetables did not enhance the dish either. They just seemed like filler. While that execution may have been to highlight the pureness of the ingredients, I think the Dawson has too many upbeat elements to it to have had such a humble dish. read more

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I live in the neighborhood and came here for the eighth time last night...Obviously, I love this place. The atmosphere is IMPECCABLE, as is the food, service, drinks, etc. In all of my eight visits, I don't think the menu has ever been exactly the same. Below are some of the items I've tried. Asterisks indicate my favorites. Kampachi Ceviche* Chicken-Fried Lobster Chorizo Fondue* Beets and Burrata Spicy Lamb Sausages Spanish Octopus* Pork Shoulder Mac & Cheese* Chicken Tikka Masala* Dawson Burger* Steak & Eggs Warm Brown Butter Sundae* There's definitely more, but anyway, come here. Order with reckless abandon. read more

Fantabulous. The burger was a hit and we tried a couple of starters as well. This is a good spot for a group. the waiter was attentive but not over the top read more

The Dawson - Cauliflower tikka - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for brunch, and while the interior is lovely I was sad it was too windy to sit outside because that area looked even better! Anyway i ordered the olive oil poached tuna (house-made english muffin, scrambled egg white, american cheese, serrano-dill aioli), which was delicious and came with some big chunks of roasted potato, but the star and winner of the meal was the bacon flight, and i will note the different flavors from favorite to least favorite: -Hungarian-Style -Dill Pickle -Rosemary Honey -Allspice Jowl Definitely get the bacon flight - it is worth every penny! read more

The Dawson is well located and beautiful. I've been many times over the years. The outdoor space is lovely, and the food and drinks are delicious, if pricey. I won't be returning any time soon, however, due to a rude bartender (the host could not have been nicer). My friend and I popped over for a drink before closing on one of the last nights of summer. The patio wasn't busy--there was one other table. I asked for a penicillin (off menu, surely, but a bar staple). The bartender huffed that he would have to go "downstairs to the kitchen" to get ginger. Don't make the penicillin then! Say it's not possible! But he harrumphed away. I would have tipped enough to make it worth his while, had he not avoided eye contact, slammed the drink down in front of me so hard that it splashed on my friend, and then charged $20 for it. Ordering off-menu is annoying. I get it. And the annoyance was made well known. At an establishment of this caliber (and price point), I expect better. Tell me it's not possible and suggest an alternative from your menu. For cripes sake. read more

Stopped in this weekend with three friends for drinks on the patio. Host was curt in attitude. Server was great. Drinks were strong. I cannot comment on the food as we didn't have any during this visit. However, I was taken aback when we started sharing our patio experience with several rats right before patio close. I mentioned it to the server who was very unphased and also who I believe to be the manager when she asked us to wrap up due to the 11pm patio close time. I joked with her that it was rats only on the patio after 11. Little too close for comfort for me...and the lack of any sort of response from the staff makes it clear that the rats are every day patrons of the patio. Do with that what you like.... I prefer a rodent free cocktail hour. read more

Excellent brunch but I love their outdoor patio. So much fun. Good variety on the menu for brunch. Honestly I was so tired of seeing everyone post pictures of delicious food from this place on Instagram without being able to taste it. Their bloody Mary was on point and the waffle (which my girlfriend ordered) was delicious. Do it! read more

The Dawson - The Dawson did not disappoint! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Beautiful place, delicious food and good service. Ordered mussels, fried lobster and vegan salad, all appetizer but easily feed two people. Mussels come in a very large portion. I like their coconut milk idea, kind of rich, but much better than the regular red or wine sauce. Fried lobster is okay, I am not a fan of fried food, but my husband like it a lot. Make sure to get Stiegl Radner, I could drink it every day. read more

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Went Saturday evening. Group of 12. Matthew was our waiter he did a decent job. I had a Long Island it wasn't anything to write home about. Everyone at the table had the fried lobster it was definitely tasty. A few people got buffalo cauliflower there were no complaints. Everyone also ordered burgers well done. It took an eternity for the burgers to come. The fries were cold and a lot of the add ons were not on burgers i.e. bacon, eggs, avocado. They sent out fresh fries and added toppings. Burgers were alright. read more

The Dawson is pretty solid all the way around. Came here late to the party and am happy to say, they still deliver. Great space, concept, look and feel, they got it right. Right from the top they get points. I had seen a review by someone with far too much knowledge of cocktails (okay, that's not possible, but he seemed to know his craft cocktails exceedingly well) give a major nod to "The Typewriter" so I ordered that right off the bat. Well, it wasn't on the menu anymore "but let me see what I can do and if we have all the necessary components to make it". Awesome, she took her time searching and I told her she really didn't need to go to all the trouble. But she did and I was glad she did! They had everything except instead of a Six year Templeton Rye, it would to be a FOUR year Templeton Rye. Oh mai, I think i can handle that.lol. It was lights out fantastic! So Monday's come with a nice $10 offering of small plates and we chose the Mussels which is ANYthing but a Small Plate. It was fairly huge and absolutely packed with flavor hitting all the right senses, from look, sight, smell and of course, TASTE. The Broth I could do shots of it. Simply magnificent! Backed up the mussels with crispy Frites w an appropriately spiced up Chipotle Aoli, quality. [X] Will be back. read more

The Dawson - Mussels (10$ Monday's = great deal) And 5/5 fries! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Love this place! I've been here several times and its a great spot for brunch or dinner. They have really good food with lots of indoor and outdoor space! I love that the outdoor space is closed off to the busy side streets so that you can fully enjoy your dining experience. Always have gotten good service here as well. read more

The Dawson is one of my faves. I love that Tik Tok hasn't got a hold to it yet because it's one of those spots that you Kinda want to gatekeep and share with friends and family. The staff is nice. The food and cocktails are amazing and their patio on a summer night is *Chef Kiss* read more

Had my bridesmaid proposal brunch here and the service and vibe were seriously phenomenal!

2 and a half to be exact. My husband and I went to Dawson's for a birthday party. The reservation was made as a private party so there was a prefix menu. We ordered the following: Old fashioned and whiskey - they had a pretty good old fashioned. Both drinks had a light pour. Bacon wrapped dates - tasty but the bacon was a bit overcooked. Burrata - delicious! The soft mozzarella with creamy center works perfectly with miche, fennel mostarda, and cape gooseberry. The dish comes with speck ham, which is very good and not gamy at all. Chicken Fried Lobster - breaded fried lobster, similar to the one you get at a Chinese restaurant. It was just ok. Halibut - I have had better halibut, the texture was nice and soft but the dish was overall very bland. I did like the black olives on the fish. Hanger Steak - think skirt steak (comes out already cut) but not a very good one.. We ordered medium rare and it came as medium well. The meat was tough and I could not eat more than one piece. The side of polenta it came with was very good, perfect substitute for mashed potatoes. Overall the service was very good considering we had one server for a table of 18 people. At one point, my husband ordered a drink and it magically appeared within a few minutes without us noticing (maybe we had a few too many)! I would not go back for the food or drinks.. But do I go back for the service only to a restaurant? Probably not. read more

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Gorgeous evening in Chicago and I'd been wanting to check this place out so we did. The website has excellent pictures but i did take a few of the 1st level and patio. Apps: We order the Spanish Octopus. Excellently charred. I am a fan of bbq Octopus since i tasted it in culinary art school. We also ordered the chicken-fried lobster tails. Right On the money with a lemon aioli. Yes!! He had a glass of Rose wine and i had a house specialty drink...can't recall the name yet...it was light and refreshing. Entree: Fish of the day not alot of bones. A tad bit salty he stated yet very tasty enough that he cleaned it and the fish cheeks! I had the lamb shank(bone in ...one small bone got in the mix) with a basmati rice, cucumbers and green mix. Delightful. Too.much for me to eat but very tasty. I totally recommend this establishment! Many folks shared meals (tip) read more

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Amazing drinks, food, and the coolest owner in Chicago. Came to the Dawson for drinks and food with colleagues from out of town and we had a great time! Amazing food, amazing drinks, and an even more amazing owner. When Branko the owner heard our accents he knew we were out of town and bought the table a round of shots. Classy move by a classy guy. Highly recommended. read more

I love the overall vibe and location of this place. It's definitely not cheap but for an extremely nice place with a great location you really can't expect cheaper options. We came on a Sunday for brunch and thought the upstairs seating area was better than the downstairs. You definitely have to feel the vibe of where to sit when you're walk in, but the spacing and seating options are really nice. The rooftop/second story has an outside portions which is perfect for drinking a mimosa or sitting out in the sun with your friends. We ordered off the brunch menu which had a great selection. I got the salmon toast which was delicious but definitely a very small portion. My friends ordered a type of soup that was recommended by the waitress yet she didn't specify that it was "soup." Overall the food and drinks were great, but I would definitely come back on a sunny day and have a drink on the outdoor section upstairs. The location is great for Chicago and service was super nice. You have to wear masks when you interact with the servers and they make sure to clean everything! read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Lovey place. Amazing patio for the summer with a wood burning outdoor fireplace that you can smell as you sit outside. The service is great, the ambiance is amazing, they almost always offer us champagne! And the food is great. We had the fish tacos which is a shareable dish (good for 3 people) and the fried chicken (generous portion). Both are impressive. The Dawson is also kid friendly - they have high chairs and mac and cheese for kids, and they accommodate big groups. read more

After viewing so many different amazing from other local Chicagoans who've visited Dawson, we had to go and see for ourselves. And I have to say that you will certainly not be disappointed be didn't like his burger however, I enjoyed everything we ordered. I had the fried chicken sandwich and fries with a frozen mai tai. He ate the Dawson burger with fries and I believe his drink was the critical hit. You will certainly not be disappointed with the drinks definitely will taste the alcohol a little pricey since they're small however still good nonetheless. Restaurant is also practicing some pretty strict social distancing requirements so that was comforting. read more

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Nice space with a large bar area as well as seating with kind of a gastropub feel. Tables are a bit close together and the space is loud, which actually be a good thing with your neighbors being so close. The cocktail list is large and unique, while beer and wine are decent. Most everything on the menu looked good, and also ended up being good though the hangar steak was very under seasoned and good but not great even after adding salt. Service was friendly and after the courses got screwed up and our steak was served with the appetizer course the server comped our next round of wine. It's definitely a local place and the food & drink appear worthy of returning. I'll likely be back. read more

This review is in regard to our wedding that we held at The Dawson - and about Jimmy, who was our wedding coordinator at The Dawson. Jimmy was an outstanding wedding coordinator, and we can't recommend him enough! He made everything about planning and executing our wedding easier, while also making sure every detail was handled to our liking. He is is clearly very experienced. With everything that goes into planning a wedding, it's incredibly easy for important elements to be overlooked (especially because we chose not to use a wedding planner). Jimmy made sure that everything that we may need or want was discussed and considered - including some details that we never would have thought of on our own. Some aspects of our wedding were unconventional, but he was able to work everything in seamlessly. Jimmy is part of the reason why we ultimately chose to have our wedding at The Dawson to begin with. He is an excellent communicator, and made us feel confident that he would guide us through a process that we found intimidating. He is also detail-oriented, and knows what suggestions to make in order for your wedding to go smoothly. He also helped to clarify next steps throughout the process by breaking things down into simple decisions we had to make, rather than leaving us unguided. He's also extremely kind, responsive, and fun to work with! He always made us feel like 100% of his focus was on us and our wedding, even though I'm sure he must have been involved in planning tons of other weddings at the same time! Jimmy knows how to best leverage what The Dawson has to offer. Our wedding night made use of different parts of the space at different points throughout the evening, both inside and outside, upstairs and downstairs. In the end, it all flowed together incredibly smoothly, and we didn't have any awkward transitions between different parts of the evening. We used the outdoor courtyard for the ceremony, then went upstairs to the second floor for cocktail hour while the first floor / courtyard were rearranged for dinner, before ultimately having a space in the courtyard cleared to be a dance floor. Additionally, Jimmy knows various Chicago vendors who have reliably worked with The Dawson before, and can be very helpful in guiding you through finding the right people to make your vision a reality. Jimmy's knowledge of the wedding industry made selecting vendors much less daunting. On the day of, he is incredibly organized, and helps to coordinate everything seamlessly. He updates you regularly on next steps, who has to be where, and what is happening when. On our wedding day, it initially seemed like it would rain, which would have thrown off our plans to have our ceremony outdoors. He had a contingency plan ready, and re-arranged the patio area so that the ceremony could happen with a roof over our heads. Luckily, the rain passed, and just as quickly, he was able to set everything back to how we'd originally hoped it would be. Knowing that he had a backup plan for any issue that might arise was incredibly reassuring, and allowed us to focus on ourselves, knowing that we wouldn't be the ones scrambling to address whatever situation arose. He also made sure that everyone was in the right place at the right time - from the numerous vendors we hired, to family and members of the wedding party who needed to be reminded of their cues during the ceremony. The Dawson is also SO beautiful and unique, and the food and drinks are amazing (as was our tasting!). So many people commented that it was the best food they had ever had a wedding. The staff were so helpful & friendly. And the venue offers indoor/outdoor space, upstairs/downstairs space, quiet areas, a room you can use to change/store wedding party stuff/etc., and a beautiful dance floor. All in all, we have only good things to say about The Dawson & Jimmy. We are SO HAPPY we had our wedding here! Jimmy helped us realize everything we wanted in our wedding day, & made an anxiety-provoking process fun & manageable. We can't recommend Jimmy & The Dawson highly enough! read more

Two words, people. Bacon Flight. Yep, you shouldn't need to hear anything else to decide to check out The Dawson. We were in the neighborhood, and decided to check out their cocktails, and we were not disappointed. They have a creative list of drinks, and with stellar bartenders like Chris behind the bar, you can't go wrong. Besides their own Dawson cocktail creations, they served up some mean classics, like a perfectly mixed Gin Gimlet. The drinks weren't only delicious, they were beautifully presented. And when you get peckish, the Bacon Flight is a perfect dish to share, and the rest of the menu looks worthy of a return visit. Cheers to The Dawson! read more

The Dawson - The cocktails are beautifully presented, and taste fabulous. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I loved this restaurant. The location is great and the atmosphere is beautiful. Our service was awesome, she had great drink recommendations. The fried chicken was perfectly breaded with a great slaw. I would highly recommend this spot for date night or with a group. We'll go back for sure! read more

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This restaurant definitely has a very romantic vibe going for it, with the dim candle-lit space. This week they were celebrating the 90s with various, 90s inspired drinks. I had "da bomb" which was a delicious, well-balanced margarita. For dinner I ordered the fried chicken. Was it amazing? No. Was it good? Yeah. The chicken skin was nice and crispy, but the standout was the coleslaw which had a hint of spice. The French onion sauce was very salty and not very pleasant. Don't order this on a first date, gets real messy! The hanger steak was well cooked, but lacked any real umph, real taste to it, but the accompanying polenta was good. Overall, a nice date night restaurant with great drinks and average food. Our waiter was not very attentive, but the ambiance was nice. 3.5 stars read more

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This restaurant absolutely blew me away! From the drinks and food to the outdoor ambiance, my boyfriend and I had the most perfect anniversary celebration. I would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant! Service was also fantastic. For drinks, I would recommend their old fashion and autumn sangria- they were amazing. As for food, the butchers cut was delicious! read more

The Dawson - Butchers Cut and Mediterranean Beef Kebab* - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here for brunch a month ago. The menu was small but the atmosphere was great. I had the brussel sprout hash, which was very good, along with the bacon which was 5 stars! The staff were very welcoming and accommodating. They even took a photo of us for their Instagram, which was fun! read more

We really enjoyed our night out at the Dawson. I had thought it was only going to be the two of us (myself and my husband) so I had made a reservation for two. I enjoyed a "Rose by Any Other Name" which is a fun version of the Aperol Spritz. When I arrived, our son decided to join (and we turned it into celebrating him ending a crap Covid year in CPS.) The host had no issues moving us to a table for four, which was a relief. We ate the Kale and Quinoa salad and wood fired Chicken which were both very good. My son enjoyed his pasta entree as well. We ran into friends celebrating a birthday and enjoyed another beverage. Billy the owner stopped by our table and we really enjoyed talking to him. We SOOO love the Gage as well, so makes sense we would love the Dawson. Things seem really "back to normal" and big Thanks to the Dawson team for a lovely June evening out on the patio! read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Last night was my second time at The Dawson and it was a great experience. Staff was super friendly, food was pretty good, and so were the drinks. My boyfriend treated me to dinner for my birthday. I remembered for others' birthdays, the staff had really sweet surprises. Last time our table got a free round of prosecco and dessert for the birthday girl. No drink this time, but a manager came over to check on us and offered a shot which was super nice! My boyfriend had the sausage plate and likes most of them besides the blood sausage. I had the burger and I've got to say, it is in my top 5 for Chicago burgers. I've had it before and it was just amazing. This time the only complaint I had was that the bacon seemed a little overcooked, so it was kind of hard to eat. The manager also brought us extra sauces to try and you can't go wrong with extra sauce. The ranch is spicy but delicious! We did get a complimentary dessert, and this was definitely the highlight of the meal. It was a fudgy brownie with hot fudge, ice cream, and whipped cream. We destroyed it. My boyfriend doesn't even like desserts and he loved it. I can't wait to come back here for brunch. Highly recommend! read more

The Dawson - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here with a friend for a brunch! I made a reservation for Sunday through Open Table! We had a nice welcome and they sat us right away! I love the decor and kind of modern style! And wooden pieces which is my fav! A+ for the style! We both ordered egg benedicts with lobster, mimosas and a coffee. They were just ok but not the best tough! I wouldnt order it for the second time! The couple next to us got burgers and fries and even though I am not a burger person they looked amazing!!! So I will be back for sure just to try it! Still loved the place and service was really nice too! read more

The Dawson - Egg benedicts - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'd like to comment on the food, but I never got to eat here. The restaurant decided they got a better offer to make money on somebody else, so just canceled my reservation at the last minute. (Perhaps they need to watch the classic Seinfeld episode--I don't think they know what "reservation" means.) It's too bad--I put a lot of effort into researching the place, even talking to the hostess about our handicapped accessibility needs. She assured me it would all work. So I arranged for everyone in our party to drive in from distant parts of the city. It was a special event and a real pain to arrange, but an even bigger pain to rearrange. And, despite the fact that I live in the neighborhood, they will never get a dime from me or anyone I know in the future. Shame on you, Dawson. read more

Terrible service and not worth the value. Planned event there, not only bad coordinator, the service is just horrible

Long time customer, first time reviewer. We love the Dawson. Ambiance is amazing, service is great, food is incredible (this burger is truly one of the best in the city) and it's a great price for the quality. I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone for anything from date night to large group work events - we've tried it all! read more

The meatballs and fried lobster were amazing! We went for restaurant week but ordered those apps from the regular menu. The selection on the restaurant week menu were ok. We had the cauliflower steak, which was average. The hamachi crudo was fresh but didn't have a lot of flavor. The red snapper tikka masala tastes like unseasoned Indian food. While the fish was cooked well, the sauce and overall flavor was thoroughly underwhelming. The cheesecake was good, the chocolate pie was terrible. Overall, good experience with great service. read more

Absolutely delicious!! We ordered the Tuna Ceviche which was just full of flavors, the Texas Redfish Tacos which really is good and big enough to share. We also had the fried lobster which is good but if you're deciding on only one app I would suggest the Tuna ceviche. Lastly I highly recommend a side of Brussels sprouts-it's definitely a large enough portion for 2 people to share and is delicious. A friend also ordered the burger and she said it was really good. The restaurant itself had a very nice ambience. Staff is very friendly. It's a little dark and the music is good but eventually got too loud. We went on a Friday night and the mix was more neo-soul--may be different on other nights. But all in all I highly recommend! read more

GREAT place! Enjoyed a few hours here with the Polkaholics on Oktoberfest! Hm, my reviews of late have included the POLKAHOLICS. That's okay, 'cos we love them. A few beers, some perfectly made, delicious ELOTES and a fun time whiling away the afternoon drinking some beers, eating DELICIOUS Elotes and enjoying the outdoor bar. I'm excited to come back for brunch. The bar staff is GREAT, friendly and dishy. Wonderful place! read more

I just tried this place for the first time today (for take out of course) and my was I impressed. The customer service was excellent, I spoke to a man named Michael and he was extremely pleasant to talk to. He recommended the fried chicken sandwich and what a RECOMMENDATION!! It was delicious and worth the price. I have also never gotten such crispy, perfectly cooked fries for a Togo order in my life. Usually they are a little soggy and floppy when you order Togo. But these were just as if you were sitting in the restaurant. I recommend to everyone. Going to have to try the Dawson burger next time. read more

The Dawson - Fried chicken sandwich - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I wish I had been here for dinner. Don't get me wrong, the option we went with was fantastic, but the menu here looks really good as well. We stopped in for after-dinner drinks, however, which was a very noteworthy experience all the same. I had the Chicago Typewriter. It was the best cocktail I have ever had in my life. Let me leave that where it is, because I want to stress it fully. I have had a few libations in my travels. I've had Sazeracs from all over New Orleans. I've had Old Fashioneds and Manhattans from all over Kentucky. Martinis from DC and New York; Sidecars from "The Sidecar" in Jacksonville; PIsco Sours from San Francisco. Wow... you'd think I have a problem. Well, I enjoy a solid cocktail when I travel, let's leave it at that, and I like to try new things. But, this one singular offering will always stand out to me as the best concoction I have ever tasted (so far). It's hard to describe, but it is perfectly balanced across the board. Each and every flavor hits the palette at the right time, and no one note steals the show. It is an ensemble performance worthy of an encore. So, I got a second one. I'm definitely going to visit The Dawson again the next time I'm in town. Hopefully next time I can stay for dinner, too. read more