The Dawson

Awesome date spot! Went for restaurant week and had a blast. The server was knowledgeable and friendly, the manager came and checked on us. The food was delicious and the drinks yummy as well!

Cool place. Nicely designed. Great selection of wine and cocktails. Less beers to choose from than most places. The food had never disappointed me. The outdoor bar and patio are a must in the summer.
My only complaint is that this place is a tad expensive.

I can’t get over how amazing this place is! I have been wanting to try the Dawson for a long time, and ended up finally going last night. The décor is beautiful and I can’t wait to return when it’s a little warmer so I can enjoy the outdoor patio! The cocktails were great, and the food was even better. Albacore ceviche and oysters were amazing… but I have to say the Kung Pao Brussels were out of this world! I had the steak for dinner, which was divine with the espresso mashed potatoes! A+ for sure, I will definitely return!

I visited during restaurant week and felt that my meal could easily be the best meal of 2016.
APPETIZER:
The Pork Mac n Cheese was rich in flavor, savory, and perfect to share.
The Albacore Ceviche was simply amazing. It was much different from any other Ceviches I have ever had.
The Chicken Fried Lobster Lettuce cups were great; it was like a mini lettuce wrap with incredibly crispy fried lobster. The wrap melts in your mouth!
ENTREE:
The creamy polenta complemented the monkfish beautifully for the Monkfish Osso Bucco.
The combination of gravy and spices was delicious for the Crispy BBQ Pork Shank.
DESSERT:
The Honey Panna Cotta might be the best dessert I’ve ever tasted. The granola complemented the Panna Cotta very well.
DRINKS:
They make a very solid old fashioned — top three in Chicago.
I liked the smokey flavor of the One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Byrrh. It is great for whiskey lovers.
In summary, great food, great drinks, and great atmosphere! Just make sure to take a great crowd!

One of my favorite places to eat. Pricey but delicious. Very creative dishes. None have disappointed. Try the fish tacos. Enough for 2 – 3 people and so scrumptious!

Best food ever ! I went here for my friends birthday about a month ago. The waiter was great and gave us all free champaign for a birthday toast and was great at spreading out our courses and giving recommendations. The oysters were really fresh and my favorite was the pulled pork cupcake.

Great atmosphere. It’s dark, intimate, and swanky. Came here for drinks on a late Thursday night and unfortunately didn’t make it in time for food, but the drinks were on point. The winter drinks menu had just been released the day before, so we got to try some very new creations. The head bartender was a friend of a friend, so he came out to say hello and make some recommendations. We tried the macomba lounge, chess cocktail, Toronto, and one scotch one bourbon cocktails. Very well crafted drinks with complex and interestingly paired ingredients. They definitely know what they’re doing here. The service was attentive and the staff was friendly. Will have to return for food.

I’ve been meaning to try The Dawson and finally got to stop in for dinner this weekend. This place is perfection. From the interior when you first walk in, to the food and drinks I loved everything! It’s so well designed, the drink menu is beautiful I wanted to take it home with me! They also play the best music!
We started with the ceviche and a dozen oysters. The oysters were nice and plump, but I was so in love with the interior of this place that I forgot to ask what coast they were from. The oysters come served with a mild almost Tabasco like green sauce. Interesting almost tarty taste but I was into it. The ceviche was albacore based and came presented in a really gorgeous bowl for sharing, loved the presentation over all.
For drinks I went with the cocktail of the moment the Chess Cocktail. It’s gin based with basil accents, really great drink.
For entrees I went with the classic flat iron medium rare and substituted the onions for mushrooms. The sautéed spinach that came with was so delicious. I wasn’t too into the blue cheese and oxtail stuffed potato, I found the blue cheese flavor too dominating, but the oxtail was great.
My friend went with the mussels. This dish is meant to be shared and they mean it, they give you what looks like a half of load of bread and a pound of mussels, such a dream! The mussels are in a coconut curry broth with mixed veggies.
For dessert we went with the chocolate + hazelnut cake. So good, perfect size as well. It’s more so a tort than a traditional cake and comes paired with a creamy Carmel ice cream.
To finish off we had a nice coffee cordial and tried out the drip bourbon. I’m not too big of a fan of bourbon but our waiter did such a good job explaining the drip process that it was great to try out. Over all The Dawson was absolute perfection from the interior, to the food, to the staff. I’ll definitely be back!

The Dawson delivered a solid experience. We stopped in for our reservation before the holidays and it was slammed. After waiting about 15 minutes past our reservation time, we were finally called to grab our table. Unfortunately, there was a mixup and the table that we were supposed to go to still had people at it. Another 15 minutes and we were seated. Special prop goes to the Manager that realized this mixup and comped us some appetizer for the wait. Little gestures like this go along way and I appreciated it. For starters, we opted for the Chicken Fried Lobster and the Grilled Acorn Squash. The lobster was perfectly fried and the batter was not too heavy to mask the delicate flavor of the lobster. Taste wise, the the grilled squash was amazing. The burrata and the brown butter-​sherry emulsion was amazing but unfortunately, the squash was only lukewarm, For dinner, we tried the Smoked Duck Breast, the Pork Mac and Cheese, and the Flat Iron Steak. The Mac and Cheese was exactly as described-​rich, creamy, and full of pork goodness. The steak was cooked to temperature and the acidity of the chimichurri sauce cut perfectly through the braised oxtail that the steak was paired with. The only (slight) disappointment was the duck. Flavorwise, it was on point but the skin was not rendered properly, leaving it to be chewy and rubbery.
In the warmer months, they have a great patio that I wouldn’t mind checking out.

I’m going to hell. And chances are, you’ll be joining me after wantonly spending $ 60 or more on a delicious brunch at The Dawson.
Mentor a child or volunteer in the community? Nah, I’d rather spend my afternoons drinking $ 15 rye old fashioneds; further solidifying an eternity engulfed in flames alongside a gaggle of serial killers and the soulless monsters who create banner ads for a living.
It’s too late for any of us to repent. So, embrace your fate and enjoy every decadent bite of your eggs in purgatory — an incredible vegetarian chili with enough kick to keep you sweatin’ for a millennia.
And make sure you take advantage of the build your own bloody Mary bar. My gluttonous friend certainly did by filling his glass with every top-​of-​the-​line condiment he could handle. We’re talking fresh shrimp, sausage and bacon with a hearty splash of vodka for good measure. He followed it up with a handful of Lipitor to prolong his inevitable heart-​related demise.
As for the restaurant? It was beautiful right down to the amazing menu art. The staff was also kind and angelic — quite the opposite of what’s awaiting us in a few years.

My company holiday party was hosted here. We had the entire upstairs section to ourselves. The outdoor patio was a nice touch with heat lamps and all. But let’s talk food… absolutely everything was amazing! We had oysters, lobster, shrimp, sliders, pork skewers, meatballs, shrimp balls I think, etc. etc. etc. Literally, everything was awesome. The bartenders were pretty cool too. I was talking to one of the guys about how I hate tequila and he said that’s all he drinks and I just haven’t had the right kind. He then proceeds to pour me a taste of Fortaleza Reposado and yeah, he was right. Two thumbs up for that one!
I can only give it 4 stars because it was a private party experience so I’ll have to be back and see how well everything is prepared and see about the service for myself. I WILL be back!

I’ve been to The Dawson twice. Once for drinks during Valentines Day weekend, and another time recently for dinner. The restaurant has a great open layout and seems larger than most of the restaurant’s nearby. I made a reservation before my recent Saturday night visit and my boyfriend and I were seated right away. The restaurant had some open smaller tables when we were there, so there is probably minimal wait without a reservation if your group is small.
With items like lamb chili and fried lobster on the dinner menu, there are some delicious sounding comfort foods to choose from. The two of us actually ended up splitting the Mahi Mahi tacos. The waiter did advise us that this dish takes a little longer to prepare, but we were fine with that and appreciated the warning. The platter came with two avocados, slaw, taco shells, and a large piece of the fish. You won’t go away hungry after ordering this dish, and we even had plenty to take home for left overs. The drink I tried during my most recent visit was the, Last call for calamity jane. The drink was pretty strong, but I did enjoy it, and I liked how the names of the cocktails are western themed. This is a very cool restaurant in the River West area, and I hope they continue to do well.

Review for BRUNCH SERVICE:
The GOOD:
–Menu is a little different from a standard brunch. Take a look at it online before coming.
–Beautiful Interior Space
–Great place for smaller to larger groups
–Awesome variety of cocktail drinks for brunch
–Nice, strong coffee
–Friendly managers, hostesses
–Reservations are usually available
The BAD:
–Our waitress was horrible. I’m very patient and respect wait staff and I don’t expect every waitress to be bright and bubbly on a Saturday morning but she seemed angry for no reason for a group of 8 nice ladies to serve.
–My hamburger that I requested medium– was completely raw.
–The food took FOREVER to come out.
THE MAKEUP:
The manager was very apologetic and very friendly. He brought out complimentary mimosa’s and took things off the bill. It’s sad that such a nice manager had an unappreciated server. She didn’t update us on any of the food, didn’t apologize for anything, and hardly explained the menu when asking detailed questions. It’s unbelievable that she didn’t want to work on a large easy group when it wasn’t even that busy.

All around wonderful experience! A friend and I threw a small, intimate baby shower for one of our soon-​to-​be-​mommy friends at The Dawson yesterday.
The staff was amazing from start to finish. Since we had such a small group, we just reserved a table in their main dining room. We brought in a few small decorations (flowers, plate chargers, etc.) The staff at the hostess stand made sure we had everything we needed — and even stored the gifts that the guests had brought out of the way until our friend was ready to open them. Our waitress, Meghan, was the perfect amount of attentive — we had everything we needed but were left to chit chat and enjoy each others’ company without interruptions. Upon leaving, the front of the house staff came by to check in, ask how everything went and to thank us for coming in (super classy)
As for the food, Meghan recommended a few incredible dishes to start off with and share — the pork mac & cheese (seriously in my top 3 mac & cheeses ever), the shishito peppers (a healthy serving size too), a tasty cinnamon roll, and yummy pumpkin spice coffee cake. All were great dishes to share and whet our appetite. For the entrees, I ordered the Eggs in Purgatory — a deconstructed chile quiles-​type dish that was equally delicious.
Already making plans on when I can come back!

How could I have not discovered The Dawson until last week? I’ve been living a few blocks from here for over two years. The ambience, the inventive menu and the terrific service set this restaurant apart.
This is a gorgeous multi-​level restaurant offering many areas to eat or just drink. The patio is one of them, and this is where I recently celebrated my birthday. I’ve been searching for an exceptional patio since my favorite Carmichael’s closed last spring (replaced by a high rise).
Our server, Gretchen recommended starting with the French fried lobster tale, which my friend and I shared. It was awesome, and I immediately regretted my decision to share it. I ordered the flat iron steak, which had a delicious chimichurri sauce (had to Google this when I got home, as it was a first for me). We split the side of espresso whipped mashed potatoes. Thought the ground beans added more texture than flavor, but the crème fraîche made the potatoes melt in my mouth… super rich, so half the side was plenty.
As I said, it was my birthday, and I wanted something chocolate for dessert. Only there wasn’t anything chocolate on the menu! So we settled on the pumpkin donuts with dipping sauces, which was good (but it was not chocolate).

Billy, one of the owners, stopped by our table to see how we enjoyed the meal. My friend explained how disappointed I was to be leaving without a chocolate fix. A few minutes later, Gretchen arrived with two servings of an incredible chocolate and caramel dessert the chef had whipped up just for us… plus a glass of champagne for the birthday girl!
I’m impressed. This is definitely a restaurant I will return to again, and soon.

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!

Sunday at 7pm without a reservation and we were seated right away! Awesome! The outdoor seating area was beautiful!
The drink list is impressive. Forgot what we all ordered but all so good! Thanks for the complementary bachelorette shot waiter!

Wow and incredible! Need I say more before you head on over to The Dawson? Now one of my favorite places to eat in Chicago especially for the ambiance
I have been my fair share of patios over the years and by far this is one of the best ones. The patio is large and beautifully decorated with a variety of different table set ups accommodating different types of groups. Our waitress throughout the night was very knowledgeable and friendly, she recommended great drinks to start the night off. However, I did find the drinks to be not be as strong as I would have liked it given the price.
Our waitress recommended the Albacore ceviche with tiger’s milk and the mahi mahi tacos for 2. The ceviche was a first for me, I didn’t think in my life time I would be drinking tiger’s milk especially in Chicago. However, it did pair very well to the albacore and the entire dish was very yummy! The mahi mahi tacos was literally 1.5 pounds of fish!!! If you are hungry be ready to stuff your face. We were extremely full half way through the fish and had to force ourselves to finish it.
What really stood out to me was the customer service throughout the night, we never had to waive down someone to refill our water, it was always full and a new bottle would be at our table before we got low. What struck me was when Kim, one of the managers came over to our table and began chatting with us and making sure our dinner was up to our expectations. Overall, this was definitely a wonderful experience with great food and drinks! Well deserving of a great review! Happy munching!
What To Order:
1. Albacore ceviche
2. Their fish taco for 2 which changes depending on availability
3. Top Cider Highball (very fruity soda drink)

I’d been refraining from going thinking it was just an over priced drinks and share plate joint with a cool patio but was pleasantly surprised to find innovative cocktails, interesting and delicious share plates from a small but refreshing menu and an intelligent, friendly, personable mixologist (Sorry Justin or Jason) who busy as he was had the knowledge and graciously made the time to explain some of the more esoteric components of their drinks.
He turned us on to their house infused bourbon and fruit cocktail, which was surprisingly delicious.
Dawson was than than I expected.

Stunning. The Dawson has a grandiose wood door entrance that makes you feel like you’re walking into a castle and when you walk in you’re greeted with a vintage industrial décor, which of course I love.
Unfortunately we didn’t get to sit outside to enjoy their beautiful patio and pergola. We sat in the back by the kitchen and waited for the rest of our group to join us. We got some drinks and then figured we’d order some appetizers while we waited. So we got two BBQ pork cupcakes. They were homemade soft, buttery, cheesy biscuits filled with tender, flavorful BBQ pork. One word… Glorious.
We gorged on those and moved on to our cocktails. I ordered «The Black Angel» which included Old Forester 90 Dawson Barrel, zucca (squash), pineapple, blackberry, lemon and bitters. Pretty tasty, however, I don’t think I’d order cocktails here again, they were good but I’m a beer person. I ordered a gumball head next, which is always a good choice and ended with a 312 Urban Raddler which I’ll be making my summer beer! Who doesn’t love a light refreshing cucumber flavored beer?!
For dinner I ordered their classic burger. It wasn’t outstanding but it wasn’t as bad as some I’ve had lately. The fries it came with were soooo good! It made up for the lack of crispy mashed potatoes which they were out of. Darn it, I really wanted to try those!
As far as our waitress, meh, she didn’t care to deal with us from the second we got there, so annoying. So we waited quite a while between our drinks, appetizers, meals and checks.
Even thought they have a small menu, I’d go back. The atmosphere is very welcoming and I really really want to check out their patio.