Dawson for Brunch blew us away!
Every person who greets you is warm and welcoming and the service remains stellar throughout your dining experience! Shout out to Michael Sepulveda GM and Dimitri, our server who both generously went above and beyond to ensure we had a marvelous and memorable afternoon. We started with carafes of water on the table which I love and appreciate and also with Mimosas - Girls just wanna have fun! Cheers! Then as an “appeteaser” for the sweet tooth, we opted for the richest, most decadent Bread Pudding French Toast served with caramelized bananas, candied pecans, whipped mocha cream, and caramel syrup. YUM! Teased and pleased we were as we indulged in 3 more entrées (difficult to just select 3 with so many fabulous options): The salmon platter which was generous and beautifully presented, the avocado toast which topped with egg, bacon, a mountain of greens and beautiful purple radishes, etc. and last but not least, the most unique dish: Steak perfectly cooked medium rare on a bed of delicious potato, caramelized onion and red pepper hash accompanied by a large bowl of poblano cream with poached eggs that was seriously to-die-for with toasted country bread to top it off (and for dunking!) - mmm, so happy! We have never eaten a dish like this or even seen it on a menu and it was outstanding! We were so full yet they brought us a “drip” to savor as a perfect ending – their daily unique concoction that they keep on tap, a special offering only at The Dawson. Bourbon, cinnamon and some other liqueur was on tap for mid-day and it was fantastic! My friends and I had a fabulous time and appreciated their attentiveness as well as their attention to detail.
I highly recommend this place for both brunch and dinner. Exceptional on every level. Cheers and thank you! ��
Our party of four came in for brunch on Sunday. We made a reservation for 10:30 (when they opened) and were seated immediately. The building and restaurant itself is so fun and unique! The service we received throughout our dining experience was awesome. The menu, while not extensive, had wonderful options to choose from, and were all delicious!! We will definitely be coming back, hopefully in the summer to enjoy the patio! Thanks for a great experience!
Great place. Good food and music on the patio. Really good menu!
Wonderful service, friendly staff, and food that left me speechless. The scallops were perfectly cooked, and I've never had acorn squash with such a perfect texture and complex flavor palette. Not to mention the fabulous cocktails and great recommendations from the bartender! Needless to say, it exceeded my expectations.
OMG. The lamb shank was simply superb. Loved it! The chicken fried lobster was outstanding. Even the beets and parsnip appetizer was quite tasty! And the butter cake sundae was to die for. In a word...scrumptious!
We received top service and the food is to die for so if you are ever in the area don't hesitate to stop by. You won't regret it!
Danny Rahnefeld-Kratsch
+5
Had the octopus and hanger steak, completed with a great waiter's choice of chardonnay. I'll definitely be back. Staff was extraordinary friendly, location is impressive �
A fantastic drink menu was complemented by a menu that had some very interesting options. A friendly & knowledgeable waitstaff along with very helpful managers made for a awesome evening. I can't wait to go back.
This place is THE BOMB! Luv the ambiance, it was full of pretty people (including me, of course) :-). Love the setup. My date had the port chop. I couldn't keep my fork outta his plate. It was TO DIE FOR!!! Never hadd one so tender and flavorful in my life! I had then tortellini. They were hands down the most delicious tortellini that I've had. The drinks were not wimpy. Whooooo! I will be back for the pork chop!!!!!
This place was amazing. We were served at the chefs table which faces the kitchen and were able to see first hand the fabulous chefs at work. Each chef took great pride in the dishes they were creating. The staff was amazing and took great care of us. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.
Well taken care of by friendly staff, delicious food, proper drinks, left stuffed and happy. Would go back for the chicken fried lobster alone, but everything was so well done. Thank you.
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I went here twice in the last week for dinner. Once with colleagues and once with my husband for their holiday burlesque experience. The food is 10/10! The spicy rigatoni is phenomenal! The mushrooms are a must-try and the ceviche and brussel sprouts were also favorites. Don’t sleep on the rabbit pasta, I had never had rabbit before and was afraid it would taste gamey but it did not at all, it was very good and I would liken it to ham. I had both the wagyu and the filet, I would actually say I liked the filet better, the wagyu was very salty and too well done for my liking (I order my steak medium rare for reference). The Mac and cheese side was not good, it’s very bacon forward but the cheese tastes like gross fake cheese. The dessert menu did not look appealing but we tried the peanut butter pie and it was not good, it was not flavorful at all. The Some like it Hot cocktail was very good, the wine list was good but they were out of the Barbera both nights when I went. Finished the night with a cappuccino.
The burlesque experience was weird and we wouldn’t go to it again. First off, the reservation was for 8pm so naturally we assumed that we should arrive the customary 10-15 minutes early in case it was a hard and fast show start time. They would not seat anyone until after 8pm so we were waiting in their main entrance with everyone else that had booked the experience and it got quite crowded while we waited to be taken upstairs. Then as you can imagine they took everyone up at the same time so that was also very chaotic because then everyone was ordering at the exact same time and took a while to get drinks. The burlesque show itself was odd, it felt more like a drag brunch than burlesque. It was also set to holiday music which made for a weird / bad vibe and I wish they would have made it clear in the promos because we probably would not have booked it. The DJ was good between performers though. I would rate it very low quality burlesque.
We got the birria grilled cheese, cheese curds, & ricotta pancakes 🥞 ! everything was really juicy and the flavors were delish 💅 def a great brunch spot 🗽
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A Brunch Adventure at The Dawson
The Dawson's brunch menu is a symphony of creativity and flavors, offering a range of dishes that promise a delightful journey through taste. Guests can enjoy a fresh Fruit Plate or opt for the Berry Parfait's berry and yogurt medley. The Super Green Salad and Wisconsin Cheese Curds provide diverse options for different tastes. Those seeking unique indulgence can try the Brunch Empanada or the Chicken Fried Lobster for a spicy twist.
The Smoked Salmon Paris-Brest and Khachapuri offer innovative combinations, while the Crab Cake Benedict caters to seafood lovers. Sweet options include the Nutella Stuffed French Toast, and the Chicken & Waffle provides a comforting experience. The Dawson Burger adds a classic touch to the menu, while satisfying sides like Mac & Cheese and Twice Fried Potatoes complement the offerings.
The Satyr Scrambles, a blend of flavors, conclude the main menu offerings. The Dawson's brunch menu is a testament to creativity, offering a variety of dishes that cater to different tastes. With unique twists on classic brunch items and a commitment to quality, The Dawson promises an unforgettable brunch experience.
5-stars and highly recommended!!!
Stumbled on this wonderful restaurant while walking in the area, during our visit to Chicago. It’s now on our list to come to every time we’re in the city!!
Fabulous food, staff and atmosphere. Our server and support staff were over the top outstanding.
And who knew a simple salad could be so delicious!! Thank you Dawson for a wonderful start to our Chicago visit.
Never fails to please. Bar dining is great and not too loud. Slide into a booth for a more intimate experience or enjoy their outdoor space (heated in the winter) for a tucked away experience of the city's most beautiful intersection.
1st day vacationing chicago and landed into this really nice bar! Nice vibe and cozy! Drinks are phenomenal. Definitely try the drink called GTO! The owner is very sweet and approachable! Will come back!
Highly recommend this place. Great ambiance, excellent food and our server Daniel was awesome. Very knowledge and checked on us regularly. They also have some fantastic craft cocktails and an extensive whiskey collection.
I wound have given Dawson 5 out of 5 for all of the above reasons. But the highlight was the owner Branko stopping over. Very cool of him to check on us and fun and interesting dude. Then he surprised with complimentary bubbly. And that my friends is how you build loyalty. I'll definitely be back!
Definitely a fun hip restaurant in a cool neighborhood. This is a large venue with both indoor and outdoor seating, and the food is very flavorful and delicious! I was most impressed with the halibut! The cheese curds are paired with a really unique cinnamon ketchup, which was a neat experience. Just be aware that the music is played relatively loud inside the restaurant, so it may not be the best spot for dinner if you're looking for somewhere quiet to have a conversation. Overall a very fun spot, and worth checking out!
They are temporarily closed due to an unfortunate fire incident.
Dawson is a great restaurant. Its pretty huge but almost full. We love that the chef experiments with the menu and introduces new dishes very frequently.
We have recommended this restaurants to many of our friends and they have loved the food and service here.
We love the service for sure but the food is exceptional.
We can’t wait for Dawson to open back up and dine with them soon.
Highly recommend this place if you are celebrating something special or for a date night.
Had a good time here. The restaurant is gorgeous and I’d love to come back in the summer. The cheese curds were REALLY good, absolutely would get them again if we came back. Hands down my favorite thing we ate there. They give you some sort of fancy ketchup with them that I really liked but my SO was not a fan of. The cheeseburger felt like the most “worth it” of their expensive menu. For what it’s worth the burger was pretty solid albeit a little charred but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. The fries the burger came with were also very good. Kind of reminded me of a gourmet version of McDonald’s fries. The rigatoni pasta was solid but I’d pick the burger over it any day in terms of cost and taste. I wish the menu had a little more variety, it felt a little limited in terms of entrees, but everything we tried was solid.
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We chose The Dawson as our wedding venue for our intimate, 70-person wedding where we wanted to display one of our favorite neighborhood spots, that would highlight incredible food and a memorable night for us and our guests. The Dawson surpassed any and all of our expectations and delivered an incredibly high-quality event in every scope. Sheena, the Dawson’s event coordinator, is perhaps the most incredible person we could have worked with. Her ability to understand our needs and respond went above and beyond anything we could have imagined. Her ability to go the second mile along with her superior ability to anticipate and react creatively was extremely appreciated. The atmosphere created by the Dawson’s staff during our event, the impeccable food and talented bartenders really made our night better than we could have imagined. The Dawson, their team, and Sheena specifically deserve 10 out of 5 stars for their meticulous attention to detail, planning, and execution. Do yourself a favor by going with The Dawson for your next event, you truly will be in the best hands!
American food with a fancy twist on the aesthetic appearance of a restaurant. We got the Dawson burger, the Rigatoni, and the Wisconsin Cheese curds.
The Dawson burger is just your ordinary cheeseburger. The fries were crispy and tasted like an upscale version of McDonald fries. Their rigatoni was delicious, the portion size could be better for the price you pay. The Wisconsin cheese curds were good but not $12 worth, and their cinnamon ketchup that came with it, was not for me. But who knows, other people might enjoy it a lot.
The food was good, could have more variety of items, and the price could be bargained with as well. A fun spot to go to for a first time but probably wouldn’t come again unless a special occasion.
I went to The Dawson with family and friends today for brunch and we sat on the beautiful Christmas side! It was such a vibe! The food was outstanding and the service was fantastic! Jenna was our server and made our experience memorable! I’ll definitely be back here.
A truly awesome dining experience!! The Dawson provides a fresh, modern atmosphere with the perfect-sized menu and very attentive staff! We tried the Oysters to start, followed by Seared Scallops with Saffron Grits, Fish Tacos (not pictured, sadly), and the Peach Upside Down Cake for Dessert. Oysters are usually always pricey at restaurants, so no surprise there. In terms of value regarding the main dishes, definitely go for the Fish Tacos: a huge fillet of market fresh fish (delicious and cooked perfectly!), served with lots of warm tortillas and all the fixings. The Upside Down Cake was an excellent value as well. Highly recommend!!
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My friend made reservations for a party of 4 for restaurant week and I am glad because we got seated right away. Our server was very nice and helpful. They had so many options on the menu; I wanted to try everything! If my stomach could handle that much food, I would, but here's what we ate:
- Sticky Duck Wings - wow it was full of flavor! The meat was so tender. They top off the dish with fresh honeycomb and that was a great pairing with the bread underneath.
- Mussels - the sauce that it was cooked in was so rich and creamy. Highly recommend dipping the bread that comes with it into the sauce. It all comes together so nicely.
- butter chicken pot pie - I've never had pot pie before, so I can't really compare it to anything, but it was still delicious. The crust was so fluffy and the inside was quite full with chicken and veggies.
- Wagyu skirt steak - This dish was part of restaurant week. It wasn't a large portion and the meat was a little tougher than expected, but the flavors were there.
- Quail - also another dish part of restaurant week. There weren't a lot of pieces, but it was super crispy and actually had a lot of meat.
- we also ordered 2 different desserts, but I don't remember what they're called unfortunately. I liked that both weren't too sweet and still hit the spot though.
The Dawson is a great spot to go for any occasion. Highly recommend!
Took my parents here for dinner and we had an awesome time. The food was soooo freaking good and the drinks were refreshing and strong! We sat outside and it was a beautiful day. The food and drinks came out really fast and our server was super nice and funny! Would definitely love to come here again!
The Rigatoni is amazing!!!! It gets 5 stars all by itself. Great outside seating and the service was great. There was not a long wait for food. The coconut curry was also delicious. One of my friends had the chicken fried lobster and thought that it was amazing! I would definitely go back to try other items from the menu.
The halibut is excellent! Flaky, crispy outside and tender inside, it had the perfect use of salt and flavoring. Do not be afraid to ask them to turn the music down. Our table was right under a speaker and they were able to turn ours off.
The restroom is immaculate!
Also, try the focaccia.
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