The Dawson

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

Ambiance, ambiance, ambiance! That was the theme of The Dawson. The patio was lovely and as the sun set behind the skyscrapers of Chicago, it became all the more wonderful. The twinkling lights, beautiful vegetation, and the centerpiece: the show-stopping, quaint fireplace sitting at the back of the patio. This up scale, but not quite high end, restaurant hosted a wide range of parties the night I was there. From birthday parties, old friends catching up, girls night out, and romantic date nights, The Dawson can accommodate all. While the food at The Dawson was very good, it came up just a bit short for my party and I. Each dish we ordered had a minor issue that stopped it from being elite level new-American cuisine. The green goddess salad was a bit too tart, mac and cheese too peppery, lobster roll had a few pieces of shell, and the twice fried potatoes not quite as crispy as we thought they were going to be. The appetizers we ordered were very good. We had the Brussel sprouts and mussels and they were the highlights of the meal. I really struggled giving The Dawson 3 stars, but I also didn't think it deserved 4 stars. A more just review would be 3.5/5 stars. Overall, I'd return to The Dawson for the patio, but not sure I would come back for the food.

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

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

Good was phenomenal. Pricing was fairly priced. Didn't take photos of the baked oysters but SO tasty. Highly highly recommend!

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

Great spot to enjoy the fleeting warm summers w/covered outdoor seating. Enjoyed all the food and drinks (even attention to bring glencarin glass for whiskey)! Lobster fried chicken is a must order!

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

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

Abraham and Anna were very attentive and accommodating. Excellent food, amazing atmosphere, and great location. We had the oysters and burgers and loved both.