I've been here a few times, and they never disappoint! The ambiance is so bright and inviting. I love how the place is decorated. The bar is full, and they make great drinks as well. The servers are great and attentive. The food does not disappoint! I love the pot roast and jalapeño cheddar grits. That is sooooo good you cannot go wrong ordering that. I've also had the fried catfish on top of the jalapeño cheddar grits, and it was delicious as well! The French toast is very good as well. I tried the fried chicken for the first time during my last visit, and it was impressed. Overall, this is a nice establishment with good food options. They serve breakfast all day, so you don't have to go at a certain time of day to try it. I recommend booking a reservation during the weekends because they can get pretty busy. Parking on the streets is limited, but there is a parking garage around the corner that allows visitors to park on the top floor. Go check them out for some delicious food and drinks! read more

Overall, the place was nice and had a good atmosphere. When we were first seated, our table was dirty, but the staff came over and cleaned it right away, which I appreciated. I ordered the chicken with two sides. Everything could have used a lot more seasoning. It had potential, but the flavors were pretty mild. Overall, it was a decent experience, but there's definitely room for improvement when it comes to the food. read more

The hubs and I ate here on our last morning in Chicago. The atmosphere was bright & airy and a bit on the 50's beach-y side. Our server was friendly and kind. I ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes to start with and they were fantastic! We shared a Texas Duroc Bacon Flight while we ate our respective breakfasts of Bananas Foster Pancakes (me) and Cinnamon Roll French Toast (hubs). read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Cinnamon Roll French Toast, Texas Duroc Bacon Flight, Bananas Foster Pancakes - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have been here two times and both times the service was exceptionally well. The ambience felt like home and the food was downright good.. I recommend giving this restaurant a try especially for breakfast. The fried catfish was fried to perfection and flavorful. The macaroni and cheese is the best macaroni and cheese I've had in a long time from a restaurant and fried green tomatoes had such a great crunch with so much flavor you can't go wrong. The owner walks around and greet everyone with the smile and thank you, which I love the most. read more

Hear me out! As a south Louisiana woman, I want my food to remind me of home. This place is so beautiful inside with large windows. Love seeing people enjoying good food and conversations. The neighborhood was also so beautiful and it was perfect weather. Back to the star of the show, the food and coffee were so good. I cleaned my bowl and the French toast my God!!! Please make a reservation a day or two before you go. We had a wait but the park across the street was a pretty walk until our table was ready. read more

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This place was truly outstanding. Everyone from the host, to our server was really nice and welcoming. Our server was excellent and it was so cutesy! I loved the color of the walls, the painting, the lighting it has a feel and a vibe . There were so many people but it didn't take away from enjoying our intimate seating. I enjoyed the yams they had a strong hit of cinnamon and the fried green tomatoes were so pretty I almost didn't want to eat them. The fried chicken was in good portion and i felt the prices were appropriate to what is being served. EVERYTHING was fresh and the lavender and cucumber lemonade was fabulous! read more

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I would highly suggest making a reservation before you go because it was super crowded. They were able to seat me relatively quickly which was great. April was a great server. The food was really good. I love that they let you split the catfish to do blackened and fried, both were delicious as well as the sides. The chicken and waffle bites were my least favorite. The flavor was good but I wasn't a fan of the batter. I would definitely go back and try more things on the menu. read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Brunch Review Went to Dawn AM Eatery for brunch and overall had a good experience. The food was solid, though I'm personally not a fan of catfish or chicken fried in egg, it can take away from the seasoning for me (just my opinion). Portions were generous. Must-try: the pot roast and grits...absolutely amazing and the standout dish. The cinnamon roll French toast was good, mac and cheese was decent, and the greens were well seasoned. Drinks were good too; I had the martini flight. Service was excellent, great customer service across the board. The vibe is exactly what the name suggests...a clean, neat, casual eatery. Bar service can be a little slow when they're busy, and parking in the area can be tight, so be prepared to park on nearby streets. Would I go back? Yes, and again, if you love pot roast, don't skip the pot roast and grits. read more

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After spending a few hours at the griffin museum, this was the perfect spot to refuel. The ambiance is super brightly colored and cute. Service was so kind and homey. I ordered a Cajun Cobb salad which was largge haha I loved how saucy it was, and the chicken was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Solid salad and amazing portion sizes given the price. Overall, a nice restaurant to stop by and have a little bite. Especially loved the service and ambiance. read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Cajun Cobb Salad - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Finally had the chance to check out Dawn. Word of warning...Be prepared to struggle finding parking (Hyde Park is notorious for terrible parking)! The restaurant itself is very cute, but rather small. We had reservations so we didn't have an incredible wait time. We were seated directly underneath the air conditioner, but they accommodated us and moved us to a different table. The food came out fairly quickly, but was only average tasting, except for the grits, the grits were amazing! I probably will not return, but I do recommend you give it a try try! read more

We came here for breakfast and we had a great meal. We started with salmon deviled eggs and a biscuit basket which were wonderful. I had the Jambalaya skillet delish! My Daughter had French toast yummy. My Wife had eggs. Service was friendly. My only complaint is that the bathroom was far and if someone evils using it you have a long wait. Not big enough for a place this size. Still would come back here again. read more

The food at this place was so good! This is not a fast place, so if you're trying to get a quick meal, it's not going to happen. I was a little irritated that my food took so long, but once it came and it was so perfect, I forgave it. I had the fish fry. Two large catfish fillets and it came with two sides; I chose the jalapeno cheese grits and the yams. Amazing!!! My friend had the vegan fried chicken (mushrooms) and blueberry waffles, which she also loved. I was a little disappointed in the drink. I ordered a cosmo and it was tiny! The area can be a little tricky with parking, but if you have a little patience, you can typically find a spot within a few minutes. The place is bright and airy, the servers are very nice, and I will absolutely be back! read more

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Can't believe I just now discovered this place, but I'm so glad I did! I've been two weeks in a row now. Not only is the inside and patio absolutely gorgeous, but the food is amazing. Being vegan, my boyfriend finds it difficult to find vegan "fried chicken" options, so he loved this! I tried it and really liked it too. I'm a classic gal, so I stuck with pancakes, bacon, and hash browns -- ALL delicious! The staff is very personable and takes good care of customers. Last week when I went, they were super busy, so the kitchen was backed up. The owner came out to talk to everyone, apologized, and thanked us for our patience. The wait staff was also very apologetic and on top of what they could be. I love Dawn AM Eatery! It has become my go-to breakfast place. read more

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Wow! The ambiance of this restaurant is amazing and has a hint of southern charm. The service was pretty standard, but the real star was the food. I had the pot roast and jalapeño grits *chefs kiss* I would order over again and again. I also ordered the banana pudding pancakes (could've done without them) My friend orde d the southern plate and stated that the chicken was really well seasoned a fresh. read more

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This place was amazing!!! If I lived here I would come once a week to try a different dish. Our party of 4 was well taken care of by the staff. The vibe was bright and beautiful. There is outdoor seating as well. It's a linen cloth type establishment. The parking is a chore as it's in the Hyde Park area. It's swanky and the food prices are affordable. The food and sweet strawberry tea was so good, I will be dreaming about this place for a few days. I totally recommend it, and great vibes, good, and environment. read more

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I loved this place for brunch. The vibe, the atmosphere, the decor..all perfect. If you like lively settings youll love it. The service was great and the food was amazing. Ill definitely have to be back for just an appetizer tasting cause their appetizers sound heavenly. I had the catfish meal with cheddar jalapeno grits and Mac n cheese and wow..whoever is back there cooking knows how to add depth to flavor. read more

Second time coming here during restaurant week and it was great again. I even got to meet the owner this time and he sent my aunt out a free dessert for her birthday. read more

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I've been to Don A.M. Eatery twice now. The first time I tried the salmon croquettes with garlic/butter rice both were pretty good. On my second visit, I had the shrimp and grits with added jalapeños, and wow... easily the best shrimp and grits I've ever had! And I've had a lot. The jalapeño added so much flavor without being spicy...absolutely delicious and worth going back for. The deviled eggs with shrimp were really tasty, though the portion of shrimp felt like a bit much. I also tried the banana pudding pancakes, which weren't for me...the pudding flavor just didn't hit. The ambiance is cute and airy, with pink bar seating and a clean feel, though the non booth floor space is a little tight. Service was slow and I had to ask for things more than once, and parking in the area is tough. Overall: despite slow service and tricky parking, the jalapeño shrimp and grits alone make this place worth a return. read more

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Yesterday Z was our waiter again! He's a great attentive waiter! The place is always clean and the ambiance very cute! I love the pink chairs at the bar and the cute turquoise glasses at the tables. I had the salmon croquettes which came with rice, your style of scrambled eggs and a phenomenal remoulade sauce (please get it in stores if possible). My mom had the make it a classic breakfast which is two eggs, your style with your choice of sausage or bacon, toast or an English muffin. We also ordered a kid's order of pancakes to split! We each had a Greyhound drink which is coconut, rum, lime, grapefruit, and Marchino cherry. Delishhhhhh! Everything was great as always. Just have the chef to watch his cooking times. My mom's breakfast came out like five minutes before mine. We met the owner and he was very nice. He individually greeted everyone at the restaurant. He said his daughter curated the menu. It's amazing so she did thatttttt! Pro Tips: Parking is a tight as elementary teacher school Principal's braids but they do having parking on at the Solstice on the Park on the 5th floor (which is right across the street West of them) Full service bar starts serving at 10am so hold your horses!! read more

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First food stop after the airport and they did not disappoint. I decided to try this place out based on the previous reviewes. I went on a Thursday morning but I'm sure on the weekend a reservation is required. You will have to drive around to find street parking. The place looks really nice inside. Very big and they have a nice outside eating area. The staff was great! Our server was good as well and the food was even better. All of the flavors were coming through. I really enjoyed the raspberry lemons waffle. A must try! read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Dawn Am Eatery is located in the Hyde Park neighborhood. They have great breakfast and brunch options and the menu is very southern inspired. They have very creative entree and drink options. The food is really delicious and have both sweet and savory options. I highly recommend the Georgia peach pancakes as a sweet option. The place is very vibrant and the service was great and a place I would go back to again. read more

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A great Restaurant Week pick! The deviled eggs were great and I appreciated the generous smoked salmon portion on top of each egg. The lamb and grits special was great - while the lamb was a bit overcooked, it still tasted great and the grits were magnificent. For dessert, we had the crunch cake, which had a nice balance between sweet, creamy, and tart. Portion sizes were so generous and I left feeling satisfied! Service was slow, but we actually liked it because it gave us ample time to chat without many interruptions. Vibes were great, it's a beautiful space with great decor, but the seating stands out because it's chic and super comfortable! Overall a really great experience! read more

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Food was amazing, ambiance is always inviting, and the crew are polite and professional. I couldn't ask for a better experience. We traveled twice in a month just to have the fried green tomatoes again and fell in love with more! read more

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A party of 12 and we had to wait 2 hours after ordering to receive our food. Food was good.

Food was absolutely delicious and service was fast definitely check out Dawn's AM Eatery if your in town read more

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The grounds are beautiful, you can eat inside and out. I suggest making a reservation because you may have to wait otherwise (on the weekend). The food is consistently delicious! My entire party enjoyed everything we had! read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Salmon croquettes, eggs, rice and biscuit - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Refreshing homey dinner with innovative takes on classic Southern dishes. For my appetizer, i got the biscuit basket. Truly some of the best biscuits I have had, they were moist, flakey and fluffy. Hot honey was house made and was soooooo potent/flavorful. I could eat this everyday. My main was the Chicken and Cornbread french toast. The Cornbread french toast is something I didn't know I needed in my life - truly delectable. The crispy and juicy fried chicken had a flavorful crust. Bonus points for the spiced french compote that was the bow on top. One of the things I appreciated most was the staff friendliness and engagement. This place has such a welcoming environment and the staff truly want to help you. The owner came by and took the time to talk with us about our food, and about how they came up with the dishes we had. You don't see that kind of love and respect anymore in most places. The atmosphere is vibrant and warm. The prices are more than fair for the quality and quantity of food served. I can't wait to come back here again to try more! read more

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I visited this quaint spot for brunch with my sister and best friend; this was a great choice. The entire experience was pleasantly memorable. The service was great and the food was even better...it was very hard to make a selection. Everyone ordered something different but no one wanted to share. I ordered the shrimp and grits and smoked salmon deviled eggs and I think I saw angels, they tasted that heavenly! Parking is available around the corner from the restaurant for Dawn AN Eatery patrons so don't let that aspect discourage you from visiting. read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Shrimp and grits - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I am completely blown away!! I've wanted to visit this restaurant for months, and it was a complete dream. The food surpassed my expectations which were already high. I had the Pot Roast and Jalapeño Grits. It was perfection. The pot roast was tender and the grits were seasoned well. I will be dreaming about this dish. My guest had the Chicken and Cornbread French Toast. They said it was a 7 out of 10. I cannot wait to go back. It can be pretty packed. So I recommend making a reservation. Definitely, a great place to check out if you are in the area. read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Pot Roast with Jalapeno Grits - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Must try the chicken skins with the hot honey. The food is so good here. They have fresh baked goods at the copy there where you check, I recommend you take one home. Service is pretty good. I tend to bring many people here. It's a must try. The vibes are always so good. read more

Lovvveeeeddddd my visit to Dawn! Honestly, I couldn't believe I had not been there! We did breakfast on a Tuesday. We walked in and were seated immediately, by the window. The food was full of flavor! ...Like your grandmas cooking! The jalapeno grits were some of the best I've ever had! The Salmon Croquettes were so GOOD! Everything was so tasty and fresh! We sat there for hours talking and catching up, I had a few Expresso Martinis that were boozy and crisp! My friend had a few vanilla lattes, she said they were delicious! The space was large, clean and chic! I loved it and will be back! I can't wait to try the Tea Party! read more

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hands down THE BEST shrimp and grits i've had. the shrimp is perfectly cooked (and tails taken off) and the grits are so buttery and savory. the smoked salmon deviled eggs are also delicious af. i didn't try my mom's salmon croquettes but she liked them! the atmosphere here on a sunday morning is bustling and just lovely, and the owner comes and chats with every table -- i can tell he really cares :) a bright and classy but unpretentious restaurant with comforting fare read more

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I came here for brunch on a Sunday afternoon with friends, I wasn't familiar with this place but I'm always a fan of southern brunch cuisine. Overall, the space and decor was nice and ample natural lighting thanks to the big windows. The food was absolutely amazing! I thought pot roast and grits would be too heavy to eat for brunch, but it was portioned well! Those cheddar grits....I have dreams about them they were so good. I only removed one star because the service was a bit slow and inconsistent ; we had to remind the server a few times of things we ordered. But overall, it didn't dampen the brunch overall and I would return again. read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Pot Roast with Jalapeno Grits - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had the pleasure of dining at Dawn AM Eatery with a couple of friends on a Friday night, and it was such a lovely experience from start to finish. My friend made a reservation, but it looked like walk-ins were totally fine, there were a few open tables. Parking was super convenient, too! They offer free parking on the 5th floor of the Cornell lot, and I actually lucked out with free street parking right near the restaurant. From the moment we walked in, the hostess set the tone: warm, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. While seating us, she shared a few of her favorite menu picks (which my friends ended up ordering). This was my first visit, and I went with the Chik'n Bites... simply amazing. The batter was so well-seasoned, and the hot sauce, pretty sure it's house-made, was the perfect match. We shared the fried green tomatoes, my friends ordered the bacon platter, and I had the shrimp & grits with jalapeño and cheese grits. Chef's kiss. My drink of the night was the lavender lemonade, and it was perfection, not too sweet, just refreshing and beautifully balanced. At this time, there is one non-alcoholic (zero proof) drink option and it was shared that a mocktail menu is in the works. The ambiance is cute, cozy, and feels thoughtfully put together. Our server, Raheem (hoping I'm spelling that right!), made the night even better. He was attentive, warm, and genuinely funny. His energy made it feel like we were eating with family... just good vibes all around. As someone who's a pescatarian with a gluten allergy, I also appreciated that they offer vegan and vegetarian options, making the menu accessible for different dietary needs. I'm already planning my next visit because there were SO many other dishes I wanted to try. If you're in the area, definitely make this a must-stop. read more

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I absolutely love Dawn. I love the aesthetics of the venue. The service is very quiet and chill on a Saturday morning between eight and 10. The servers are very friendly and prompt and attentive. The food is excellent like 10 out of 10 recommend. This morning I had the fried chicken and cornbread French toast with a peach compote and when I tell you, I enjoyed it so much I knew I would be back to get more. read more

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We met one of my best pals who lives in Chicago here for breakfast before we started the drive home. This is a stylish restaurant on a corner; their website advertised free parking on the fourth floor of...somewhere. Unfortunately, we never found the fabled parking deck, but luckily there was street parking about a block and a half away and we were visiting during hours where we weren't charged. We selected this restaurant because you could make reservations; we got our reservation for 9:45. We unfortunately arrived a little late because we didn't account for road closures due to a cycling event in the area, but my friend got there on time and they held the table for us. The table actually wasn't even ready when we finally rolled in at about 9:55. However, it was ready within a minute or two of our arrival, so nbd -- I mostly just appreciate they kept it for us, though maybe they wouldn't have if my friend hadn't been there. The restaurant is a little nondescript on the outside but beautiful on the inside. There's lots of natural light and it has a sort of bougie/luxe feel without being super pretentious. It is rather echoey inside though, so speak up when talking! Service was pleasant but a little slow. I think they were maybe a little understaffed or overwhelmed by the volume of people visiting. We had multiple different waiters and waitresses assist us throughout their visit; it seemed like they were all stretched trying to help each other. My gal pal ordered the benedict, I got French toast and a blueberry lemonade, and my husband got the breakfast sandwich with a side of smothered potatoes. Overall, I think the food was decent though maybe not exceptional. I think the benedict was received the best, followed by the smothered potatoes. I liked the creative/southern spin on the benny though didn't try it myself. Husband gave me a bite of the potatoes, which were solid albeit a little on the cold side. They also were mainly just sliced potatoes cooked with onions, which was tasty but not what I think of necessarily when I hear "smothered." He liked his sandwich okay too, though it was pretty greasy. My French toast was cooked super well and still had a slight, pleasantly eggy taste with lots of vanilla and a semisweet syrup, but it was kind of dry (even with syrup). I didn't like the blueberry lemonade at all -- it didn't taste much like lemonade or blueberries, but was just slightly sour and watery. I thought the portion sizes were weird too. My French toast was massive but my husband's breakfast sandwich was sort of small and my pal's "big Benny" was almost comically small to my eyes given the price and the advertisement of it as, well, big. C'est la vie? I'm sure I'm not used to Chicago prices or portions, just thought it was weird that my entree was so enormous I couldn't even get close to finishing it while everyone else's was easily polished off. Again, our food wasn't disappointing, but maybe just didn't wow overall imo. I'd give this visit a 3.5 overall, but since you can't do half stars, I think it sits at a 3 for me. My friend who got the benny and actually lives in Chicago was pretty happy though and said she'd come back in the future, so perhaps that's the way to go! read more

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The ambiance and the service were both great!!! The food was amazing. The star of the show for me were the jalapeño cheddar grits, which i had with the pot roast and the shrimp. The shrimp on the deviled eggs were some of the best tasting shrimp ever. The biscuits were really good also. The drinks were good and beautiful. This was my first visit and I promise it won't be my last. read more

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We decided to finish off restaurant week with a minority owned business. It was such a treat to find this local restaurant and it accepts the inKind App discounts. My husband and I ordered off the restaurant week menu. We had devils eggs, fried green tomatoes, fried chicken with cornbread, and pot roast with cheese grits. Everything we ordered was delicious! My husband mentioned he would definitely like to come back to try other menu items. I also ordered a spiked sweet tea drink the name eludes me, but it was good. I wanted another but the waiter never returned with my drink nor was we charged. Free parking at the Solistic building. It is a tiny bit of a walk from the parking garage. They have high chairs. Unfortunately the hotel bathroom does not have a changing table in the women's restroom. The entrance is on the opposite side of the parking garage. read more

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Third time's a charm. I had an amazing time here - Q helped elevate our experience even more with the great service he provided. The pot roast with jalapeño grits was delicious. So glad I ordered this again. The brioche French toast unfortunately was average. There didn't seem to be enough egg batter soaked into the toast and the batter needed salt. Also it arrived lukewarm, but our server got us a new order that was nice and hot. The biscuits were delicious. My group especially enjoyed the hot honey that came on the side. I also tried my friend's salmon croquettes. They had great flavor but were on the dry side. A sauce would be good to serve with these. My hot chocolate was good but not worth $6.50. I believe this is an overcharge for hot chocolate. Despite those small issues, I had a great meal and the great service here today. read more

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Celebrating Chicago Restaurant Week! Dawn restaurant serves traditional southern food and they do it well. Their menu features a variety of main dishes with a choice of two sides, a great way to try a variety of foods if dining with friends who like to share. The food was delicious and was served hot and fresh. Standouts were the fried catfish, gumbo and short rib with jalapeño cheese grits. Everything was bursting with flavor. The only snafoo was with our desserts not being ready for 30 minutes after our meal. Otherwise service was great and the owner makes his rounds greeting guests as they arrive which was a nice touch. The location was convenient with street parking and a view of the museum of science and industry. We will go back again and try breakfast! read more

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