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The Dawson, Chicago, IL
The Dawson, Chicago, IL
The Dawson, Chicago, IL
Patio - The Dawson, Chicago, IL
Spring Ceviche - The Dawson, Chicago, IL
Award-winning

The Dawson

4.6 (2774)
$31 to $50
American
730 West Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for groups
  • Great for creative cocktails
The Fulton River District is home to The Dawson, an expansive indoor/outdoor, multi-level space providing a multitude of dining experiences. The Dawson includes one of Chicago’s best patios conveniently found in the middle of the city.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Farm-to-table
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (312) 243-8955
  • Website
    http://www.the-dawson.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Private party facilities
    The Dawson is the gathering place in River West for globally-inspired American cuisine, award-winning libations and inviting decor. Featuring multiple spaces on two levels, including an expansive courtyard, The Dawson offers many options and is an event host's dream location.
  • Private party contact
    Events Manager: (312) 372-4001
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Location
    730 West Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Neighborhood
    River West
  • Cross street
    Grand Avenue and Halsted Street at the Grand/Halsted/Milwaukee intersection
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    CTA Blue Line - Grand Avenue stopCTA Bus - Grand Avenue/Halsted Street stopCTA Bus - Milwaukee Avenue / Halsted Street stopCTA Bus - Halsted Street / Grand Avenue stop
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Mother's Day Brunch Feast

    $75.00 per person

    May 11, 2025 only
    Celebrate Mother's Day in style with our extravagant brunch & dinner buffet feast from 10am to 3pm and dinner from 3pm to 7pm. Indulge in a lavish spread for $75 per person, while kids under 12 dine for $20. Enjoy an incredible array of offerings, including freshly baked pastries, fresh fruit, brunch favorites, and specialty stations including beef tenderloin, herb-crusted salmon, and much more. Add on a glass or bottle from our featured Rosé All May wine menu making her special day truly unforgettable. All moms get welcomed with a glass of sparkling rosé. View the full menu at the-dawson.com/mothers-day. Price is for food only. Beverage, tax and service are additional. 2hr seating limit.
    Mother's Day Brunch Feast Photo

  • The Dawson x Moody Tongue Communal Dinner

    $85.00 per person

    May 22, 2025 only
    Join us for an unforgettable night under the stars as The Dawson teams up with the award-winning Moody Tongue brewery for a courtyard feast like no other. This springtime communal dinner features a whole pig roast paired with three expertly selected Moody Tongue beers, including a special appearance by the Moody Tongue Brewmaster Jared Rouben. Start with grilled East Coast oysters in al pastor butter and chorizo empanadas with Oaxaca cheese. Then dig into our centerpiece: a slow-roasted pig glazed with mezcal and served alongside smoked mac & cheese, grilled chili-lime corn, wood-fired carrots, and vibrant Mexican street fruit. Top it all off with a decadent dessert by Pastry Chef Kymberli DeLost-Cuschieri, thoughtfully paired with a final Moody Tongue brew. 3 beer pairings included. Additional beverages available for purchase. Limited seating. Courtyard vibes. Smoky aromas. Unbeatable flavors.
    The Dawson x Moody Tongue Communal Dinner Photo

Private dining

Offers

  • Why limit happy to an hour?

    Multiple dates available
    Tue - Fri - 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    Join us every Tuesday - Friday 4-6pm for happy hour for special features including $10 cocktails, $10 wines, $6 beers, and specially priced bites.

    Why limit happy to an hour? Photo

Menu

The Dawson's menu was last updated on 5/12/2023.

View menu on restaurant's website

What 2,774 people are saying

The Dawson reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Dawson offers "great food and top tier service" with a "warm and inviting ambiance," ideal for dates or gatherings. Highlights include the "best bread we've ever had," duck wings, and vibrant brunch options. Despite a pricier menu, it's "worth visiting" for its festive atmosphere and standout dishes like the Dawson burger and wood-fired pork chop.
2,774 Reviews

  1. elisabeth

    Chicago3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We came to dinner with 2 young children. Taylor was our server and she was phenomenal, graciously dealing with the odd requests from the kids, cleaning up a spilled lemonade before I could even ask for another napkin, and ensuring 2 shared entrees came out on 4 separate plates. It was a birthday dinner and she nailed the timing and candles. She really made sure we had a great time. Thanks Taylor & the Dawson!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Matthew VIP

    Milwaukee11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome brunch! Highly recommend! We found parking no problem at all

    Is this helpful?

  3. Lisa

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Have been wanting to try this spot and was happy to get a reservation! Had steak frites and sides. The Mac and cheese was so good. The carrots the potatoes and the harvest salad was so delicious as well. I should asked for my steak done a little bit more but that was on me. Lol. Great ambiance and service. The espresso martini was perfect.

    Is this helpful?

  4. sarah

    Chicago3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and drinks and amazing service! Thank you to the team at The Dawson for your support of our daughter’s 18th birthday party with her friends. You helped us reach our goal of having the girls enjoy their dinner while my partner and I enjoyed a separate dinner and easily paid both checks! My daughter and her friends had a great time! Thank you!!!!!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Ariana VIP

    Chicago12 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 19, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Came here for brunch with the girls! Food was good, comforting, and good portions! Would come again to try their dinner menu

    Is this helpful?

  6. Ken VIP

    Chicago78 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Been a while since we’ve been to the Dawson, but it’s still worth a visit. Dined with another couple who were visiting for the first time. Everyone enjoyed their cocktails and entrees. Service was very good. Would recommend you give the Dawson a try. With summer approaching, they have a fantastic patio.

    Is this helpful?

  7. tony VIP

    Chicago4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and top tier service. I really enjoyed myself.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Adolfo

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 29, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Anna B was fantastic. Bottomless was fun. Nice space.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Sharon

    Chicago16 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on March 29, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Not enough menu options, especially sore someone who doesn’t consume beef or pork. There were no breakfast meat options!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Shon VIP

    Chicago11 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 23, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We've driven past The Dawson so many times on our way to the West Loop and were always curious to check it out--so we finally did! The ambiance was warm and inviting, making it a great date-night spot. While the menu leans on the pricier side, especially the drinks, the experience was worth it. We started with the Jason Samoa cocktail, but it wasn't quite our taste, so we quickly switched to an Old Fashioned, which was excellent. For food, we ordered the pull-apart brioche, and wow--hands down the best bread we've ever had. It was so good that we immediately ordered another plate. We also tried the duck wings, which were solid as well. Service was friendly and attentive, rounding out an overall great experience. Definitely a spot worth visiting, especially for that brioche

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Dawson offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. The Dawson also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (312) 243-8955.

The Dawson is rated 4.6 stars by 2774 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. Chicago
  5. River West

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Dawson

730 West Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Cross street
    Grand Avenue and Halsted Street at the Grand/Halsted/Milwaukee intersection
  • Neighborhood
    River West
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu, Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service, Farm-to-table
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    CTA Blue Line - Grand Avenue stopCTA Bus - Grand Avenue/Halsted Street stopCTA Bus - Milwaukee Avenue / Halsted Street stopCTA Bus - Halsted Street / Grand Avenue stop
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Website
    http://www.the-dawson.com/
  • Phone number
    (312) 243-8955
  • Private party facilities
    The Dawson is the gathering place in River West for globally-inspired American cuisine, award-winning libations and inviting decor. Featuring multiple spaces on two levels, including an expansive courtyard, The Dawson offers many options and is an event host's dream location.
  • Private party contact
    Events Manager: (312) 372-4001
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