The Dawson Info
Amenities
Service options
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Outdoor seating
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Curbside pickup
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No-contact delivery
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Delivery
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Takeout
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Dine-in
Highlights
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Fast service
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Fireplace
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Great cocktails
Popular for
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Solo dining
Accessibility
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Wheelchair accessible entrance
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Wheelchair accessible restroom
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Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
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Alcohol
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Beer
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Cocktails
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Coffee
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Comfort food
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Happy hour food
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Hard liquor
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Late-night food
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Private dining room
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Small plates
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Vegetarian options
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Wine
Dining options
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Breakfast
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Brunch
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Dessert
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Seating
Amenities
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Bar onsite
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Restroom
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Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
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Casual
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Cozy
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Romantic
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Trending
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Trendy
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Upscale
Crowd
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Groups
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LGBTQ+ friendly
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Tourists
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Transgender safespace
Planning
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Dinner reservations recommended
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Accepts reservations
Payments
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Credit cards
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Debit cards
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NFC mobile payments
Children
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High chairs
Parking
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Paid street parking
Other
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LGBTQ+ friendly
Best KPortal Reviews
That lamb shank was one of the best lamb shanks I’ve ever had! Thick, meaty, fall off the bone juicy and it was a huge portion, had to share it and I enjoyed it.
The Dawson gets 10/10 for ambiance (music not too loud, could hold a decent conversation at the table), service (our waitress was so sweet and attentive), and food (nailed it).
For starters we had the chicken fried lobster and wood-fire grilled octopus which were both so delicious. Mains were the lamb shank which was a delight and the wood-fire grilled elk which was delicious. Ending the night with some lovely 3 ice cream mix. Great night out, will definitely be back!
The food is on the pricier side and the portions vary from big to very small. Very nice patio spaces and atmosphere but a little too loud.
We shared a lot of the dishes and it honestly felt a little hit or miss both in the taste of the dish and the size.
I really liked their Amish chicken. Huge portion and juicy. Their burger was a nice juicy charred burger as well. It’s off menu but they do serve it
We came here for Chicago restaurant week brunch and it was beautiful in the restaurant. My favorite item I had was the parfait. It was light and delicious. The food was great. Our server was attentive and personable. I can’t believe I have not been here before. I will definitely be coming back here to taste the rest of their menu.
The Dawson is a stable for brunch enthusiasts seeking a vibrant summer vibe. Their menu features refreshing cocktails, perfectly poached Benedicts, crispy potatoes, and a standout fried lobster appetizer. It’s the ideal spot to soak up the sun and enjoy a casual meal with friends. Their brunch ends at 3 (sorry can’t recall). But they have a monthly burlesque style brunch to keep an out out for!
TL;DR The Most Incredible Wedding Venue + All Star Event Team!
Our wedding at The Dawson in Chicago was an absolute dream, thanks to their incredible team and phenomenal space. Where do I even begin? Let's start with the food - it was beyond exceptional! Nearly every guest raved about how it was the best wedding meal they've ever had, and I couldn't agree more. The flavors, presentation, and attention to detail were simply outstanding.
The location itself is a gem nestled in a vibrant area surrounded by fantastic bars, making it an ideal spot for afterparties or welcome gatherings. It added an extra layer of excitement and convenience for our guests, making our wedding weekend even more memorable.
But what truly made our experience exceptional was Natasha, our venue coordinator. She's a rock star in every sense of the word. Natasha went above and beyond to ensure every aspect of our celebration was flawless. From orchestrating the rehearsal luncheon the day before to flawlessly executing every detail on the wedding day, she was our guiding light. Her professionalism, dedication, and genuine care for our experience were evident in every interaction, and she never failed to make us feel special.
Natasha's attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile made the entire process stress-free and enjoyable. Her expertise and coordination ensured that everything ran seamlessly, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the joy of our wedding day.
Thank you, Natasha, and The Dawson team, for making our wedding weekend an unforgettable experience. To anyone considering this venue, you won't find a more perfect place or a more dedicated team to bring your wedding vision to life!
Three of us had 2 appetizers, 2 drinks each, and an entree, it was approximately $130 per person. Everything was wonderful.
Our server Sydney was perfectly attentive and helpful. The sticky duck wings were a delicious appetizer, and we had the Brussels sprouts appetizer to share with our meal. The Dawson Burger & fries were delicious. My partner’s paparadelle with rabbit was delightful as well. I ordered the curry with a side of chicken— YUM! The curry isn’t overwhelming, it’s the right amount for this dish, and has just a mild kick of heat. So good! The chicken breast was cooked perfectly— not dry, with excellent flavor. I’m eating leftovers for breakfast as I write this, and it’s still fabulous, so I thought it was worth leaving a review.
I didn’t catch any pics of the drinks, but they were also great. My partner had 2 Old Fashioneds, I had 2 “Ceci n’est pas …French Cocktail”, and our friend had 2 Cosmopolitans. They were beautifully presented and sooo good.
Beautiful restaurant! Lovely staff. The only thing I would change is adding just a little bit of sound mitigation so that we could talk less loudly at the table.
Was welcomed with such positivity. The food was great, and the service was top-notch. Had a wonderful and memorable brunch.
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.
Quick Facts About The Dawson
Today
Opening Hours
| Monday | Closed |
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| Tuesday | 02:00 AM - 11:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 02:00 AM - 11:00 PM |
| Thursday | 02:00 AM - 11:00 PM |
| Friday | 04:00 PM - 12:00 AM |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM - 12:00 AM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM - 09:00 PM |
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