I really liked the interior of the restaurant -- the décor was beautiful and had a great vibe. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the atmosphere. I ordered the Southern Plate, and it was a no for me. The chicken had way too much breading and was too thick, with very little flavor. For my sides, I played it safe with fries and yams, but neither impressed me. The yams weren't sweet at all and just weren't prepared well. Service-wise, I had to keep asking for straws, and when my friend's drink came out without salt around the rim, the waitress took it back but returned with the same glass. She said the bartender mentioned that if he remade it, it would be "too salty." Honestly, that's not how you handle it -- just make a fresh one. Overall, I won't be back. read more

I live near here so know it is next to impossible to get a table on the weekend. Both myself and a friend decided to finally check them out for lunch. Very sub par experience (both the food and service). It began when we walked into a half empty restaurant. A young man and 2 older ladies were at the front. The ladies completely ignored us (they were having a conversation); however we were greeted by the young man, who was very friendly. I had made an Open Table reservation just in case they were busy (which they were not); even with that, we still had to wait almost 10 minutes for our table (half the tables were dirty, had not been cleared; I experienced this a previous time when we attempted to do brunch here one Sunday; that time we just, left and went down the street to Roux where we had a far superior customer experience). We were finally seated; took another almost 10 minutes to get water/be acknowledged by our waitress. Friendly young lady but SLOW; we even had to get a young lady who was bussing tables to find go get her for our check at the conclusion of the meal. Again, they were half empty, not busy, so we could not figure out what the hold up was. I had the catfish (bland and underwhelming); however the cheese jalapeno grits were fantastic, best part of the meal. It's a cute spot; really pretty, bright airy space. But the acoustics make it difficult to have a conversation. I can only imagine how it is when it's packed full of people, we were seated near someone loud, I had difficulty hearing my lunch companion. Overall, just an okay spot. Customer service is the key; they get failing points for that. For what you would pay for a meal don't think it's worth it. Hopefully management works to correct this. read more

Top Notch service and eats! Dawn is located in the beautiful neighborhood of Hyde Park and is surrounding by the beautiful natural scenery filled with trees, museum and rich history, Since it's at the tip of Hyde Park, parking can be hit or miss but you eventually find something even if you have to walk a few blocks; it's worth it. Visited on a Sunday with a party of 2 without reservations, and the wait time was about an hour. So if you have larger parties or don't like waiting, highly recommend making reservations in advance. Service was prompt, the wait staff is personable, and will make sure you have a good experience. The food comes out hot and fresh. Also if you love a good mimosa, they offer bottomless with an assortment of different flavors. The atmosphere has a breakfast with Tiffany's type of vibe, and the glassware and floral arrangements reflect that aesthetic as well. It has a very light, airy, and whimsical feel. Also, the pastries at the front are baked to perfection, be sure to grab one either on your way in or out. read more

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I'm going to be so sad when people outside of the area find out about this hidden gem, haha. I haven't had a bad meal here yet. The restaurant ambiance is classy yet gives off a relaxed, neighborhood vibe; anyone who you bring to visit would be impressed. It's fun to sit at the bar when you can, but the service is just as good and professional if you're sitting in the dining area. My favorite dish is the shrimp and grits, which is flavorful (without being salty or buttery) and filling, especially when you cut up the large pieces of shrimp. Other menu item favorites are the friend green tomatoes (light, yet seasoned breading) and the biscuits (they are HUGE and come with, on request, multiple flavors of butter). If you do visit, especially on the weekends, definitely make a reservation! read more

Heard good things about this place and they met every expectation. You walk into a very nice decorated space that was open. The greeters were very friendly. Highly recommend getting the bacon flight and devil eggs. Note: Call for a reservation if it's just you and your partner. The Open Table reservation system only recognizes 7 or more people and gives you the false impression they are booked. read more

An exceptional dining experience. Whether it is breakfast brunch or dinner, Don is a place to go. If you haven't been here, please check it out. It's one of our neighborhood favorites and a favorite of the city. Serving wonderful, cocktails and creative menu items. read more

This was a nice cozy neighborhood spot that I was unaware of, so me and my friends decided to try it. The food was good, although my fried chicken was a little inconsistent, meaning my chicken breast seemed to be overcooked or fried in old grease and the wings were fried light and crispy and tasted fresher. The reason I gave it 4 stars is because the service could use a little improvement. It was slow and our party had to keep reminding our waitress to bring out parts of our order....to the point that we almost left without our desserts and had to get another staff member to bring them out because our waitress had gone m.i.a. Overall, they are worth giving them another try because the menu looks great and I would love to try other dishes that I saw other patrons order. read more

This restaurant was incredibly delicious. Upon walking in, I was immediately engaged by the natural light and vibrant decor inside. But the big reason I'd recommend Dawn is for the southern food. It was outstanding. For starters, the Fried Green Tomatoes were excellent. For the entreé, the Fried Catfish was cooked and fried to perfection. It appeared like it had come straight from someone's grandmother's kitchen. I ordered the catfish with a side of Greens and Jalapeño Cheddar Grits. It was like eating the comfort of the south all in one meal. It melted my soul. To wrap it up, I tried Aunt Lou's Strawberry Crunch Cake and it also put me to sleep. It was just all so delicious, I feel like I will have dreams about it for weeks. read more

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This place has great ambiance. Came on a Sunday and it was super busy. We didn't get seated until 25mins after. Ordered appetizers, chicken waffle bites & chicken skins. Disappointed about both. Neither was seasoned much. The appetizers took so long that I ordered the southern meal which had more chicken & two sides. The broccoli was hard not steamed at all. Chicken is a disappointment. Only thing good was the Mac n cheese. My friend ordered the pot roast grits and that was great. Stick to devil eggs and the grits. read more

I first visited Dawn a few months ago and had such a great experience! From the service to the food to the decor we were thoroughly pleased! Since then I have been back several times and they never disappoint! My only complaint is that my latte is never ever hot enough... it's always barely warm but next time I will start asking them to give it to me piping hot. We always go on random weekdays so parking is easy and there's never a wait. We usually arrive shortly after they open. I really love the deviled eggs and the fried green tomato dish. My husband LOVES the jalapeño grits, blackened catfish, and the biscuits. A must try! read more

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Made reservations for a table of 7 for my mom's birthday. Once our party arrived, we were seated right away. The waitress was nice, offered the kids in our group coloring pages of popular cartoons, the adults wanted them too. We started with drinks and appetizers. I was a little disappointed they didn't have any champagne nor offered me any sparkling wine. Opted for white wine instead. Also, my mom ordered an apple martini; but there was some type of misunderstanding; they gave her another cocktail that was on the menu. She also substituted with a glass of wine, keeping it simple. The ambiance is bright, which I think works well for photos. A few people ordered the fried green tomatoes; they did not disappoint. Very delicious and I like whatever sauce it came with. I ordered Cajun shrimp and grits for my entree, it was Soo delicious I cleaned the bowl. Everyone enjoyed their entrees as well. I was a little disappointed we weren't offered a dessert menu, so we didn't have anything to sing happy birthday to. It seemed like the waitress was rushing to get us out to close the kitchen. All in all, my family enjoyed the food and the experience. read more

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The food was delicious . I had the fried green tomatoes, pot roast with jalapeño grits and I have teiwd the lobster roll. The taste is on point. I had the mint lemonade with champagne. Very refreshing. read more

We came for restaurant week and can't recommend it enough! Everything tasted delicious! The fried green tomatoes were the best I've ever had outside of my grandmother's. Everything that we had that was battered and fried was crispy & fresh. The spaghetti was tasty and vegan friendly. The pot roast was juicy and tender and jalapeño grits were creamy and savory. I also had an order or gumbo to go and that was great as well. Everything was seasoned well, fresh and tasty. Sierra was our server and she was such a pleasure. read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Pot roast & Jalapeno Cheddar Grits - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best grits I've had in my entire life and I've had so great grits. The pot roast was so tender and perfectly seasoned. The bottomless mimosas were coming out so fast. The experience was so nice and pleasant. I can't wait for the next time I dine in. read more

Very friendly and very delicious! All 3 kids loved it too! Love the high ceilings and cool decor.

On a brisk afternoon , stepping into Dawn felt like walking into a serene morning--airy high ceilings, soft green pastels, and cream accents set the tone. The decor made the place feel cozy. The Georgia Peach Pancakes and Creamy Shrimp and Grits were delicious. In addition, the manager personally greeted each table, ensuring every guest felt welcomed. The bar setup and cocktails also caught my eye. I will definitely return. read more

First time here the food was great Employees was very friendly, I will be coming back here....very nice spot read more

Went for my sister birthday today. The food was really good. Salmon croquettes nice and flaky with remoulade sauce was tasty . Brioche French toast, shrimp and grits were amazing. The experience on the hospitality side was very bad. Our server was nice, but those assisting with bringing food. Our plates were thrown on the table, silverware was not clean and he said well I will just bring yall plastic . The manager on duty checked on other tables near us but never checked on us. We went back inside to purchase from the pastries that were displayed. The gentleman behind the counter never looked up or acknowledged us. He proceeded to get money from the register but never once asked if we needed help. Hospitality needs alot of work!!' read more

I went to his restaurant for the afternoon on a Saturday with a friend and I absolutely love this restaurant. It's very quaint and cozy and the ambience is just soothing.. The restaurant is always crowded which tells me they're making lots of money. I ordered the fried catfish with greens and sweet potatoes as my size. I so enjoyed my meal. Just delicious. I wasn't able to eat it all I was able to take some home to eat later I certainly will go back again. read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Catfish with sides - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything was literally good! I heard this was a black owned restaurant. Inside was beautiful and the vibes were immaculate. I will say the food was pricy. We sat at the bar and I had the shrimp and grits. I substituted the shrimp with catfish. Boy that was a good choice. Both were good but that catfish with shrimp was spot on delicious. Staff were nice as well. Thank you! read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Shrimp and Grits w/ appetizer - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food is delicious! Love the customer service and ambiance. Everything on the menu was fantastic

This is a great addition to Hyde Park! There are not that many breakfast places, and it's great that they serve their breakfast menu all day. We tried the breakfast sandwich, cinnamon french toast, mac & cheese, bacon, and hash browns. The sandwich, mac and bacon were delicious! We thought the french toast was somewhat heavy and the hash browns were soggy - but maybe we just ordered the wrong things. Service was also a bit slow for the number of diners there were. I'll definitely be returning to try more of the menu! read more

This was so good. I completely missed that there is free parking in the garage across the street. It's really loud and service was a bit slow. The food was yummy. read more

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

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Can't go wrong with any menu choice. Just all around great food! Helpful and friendly servers!! Gets a little noisy but great neighborhood option. Reservations are highly recommended. read more

Before we headed back to Indiana, we had the pleasure of enjoying Brunch at Dawn. The location is extremely nice and peaceful. Located tucked in the neighborhood in Hyde Park, Dawn is a must. We were greeted immediately upon entering. We decided because it was so nice out we would enjoy the outside patio area. The service was great and the food delicious. We started out with the Chicken and Waffle Bites. I Enjoyed the waffle with the chicken cooked in the waffle. Not a fan of chicken thighs but I still enjoyed it. We moved over to the main course of Fried Catfish, Greens and Sweet Potatoes. Everything was cooked perfectly. We also had the Jambalaya Skillet. It too was delicious. There are so many items I would like to try on the menu. We will for sure be back the next time we're in Chicago. read more

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This place is really great! The food is always on point. The ambiance is perfect! The staff is nice and it's usually easy to get in and out. The wait time is not typically long, even when it looks crowded. I love the pot roast and jalapeño grits- it's my go-to. My brother liked the entree chicken and waffles. My friends and I love the fried fish plate. I didn't love the French toast, but only had it once. read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Pot Roast with Jalapeno Grits French Toast Salmon Croquettes - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Enjoying Juneteenth breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants. The food was absolutely delicious read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Family! - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hey this is an honest review i made a reservation 4 guest few mins late no prob every single dish is tasty If you want to have brunch with extended family make the reservation right now! if you go on saturdays Mario(best serve) will be there to help you. so delightful 11/10!!! read more

Service was great and the food was delicious! I would definitely recommend this place and will be returning.

My hubby and I visited Dawn AM Eatery for the first time for an early dinner. We were thrilled!! April took GREAT care of us!! She was friendly, kind, and attentive. April thoroughly hilighted the menu items. We both had the Pot Roast & Grits...Yum-Yum!! We cleaned our plates!! The lemonade with cucumber mint was refreshing & delightful too! Looking forward to a return visit soon. read more

Dawn has been on my list of places to go, and it did not disappoint!!! The food and drinks were incredible. The vibe in the space was perfect. Everyone working was so nice, and our server was amazing. I had the cornbread French toast, bacon flight, and fried green tomatoes. Those are the best fried green tomatoes I've had in a looooong time. And the truffle on the bacon?? I don't even like truffles, and I LOVED it on the bacon. The cornbread French toast was delicious, and it was also inspiring as someone who likes to play with soul food cooking at home. I also had the Spell on You cocktail. I love mezcal, and this drink was perfectly smoky. I WILL be going back. I have friends coming into town for a conference this month. I will absolutely be steering them to Dawn. read more

I decided to come here once I left yoga since I walked past it the other day. The area definitely needed another breakfast place so I'm glad this exist. I will say they only have like three items on their vegan part of their menu was just kind of disappointing, so I wish they would add more items. Maybe they will in the future... I decided not to drink, but I was sitting at the bar and I was looking at peoples drinks we made, and they looked pretty good. since I was there by myself, I got service pretty quickly. The food was good. I think the waffles was just a little too sweet for me but overall it was good and the blueberries on top of it was so good. I will say the hashbrowns cost like six dollars and it wasn't a lot for the price of it. The staff was nice. The environment was great. It was pretty loud in there cause they were super busy, but I didn't personally mind it. Everybody was there with their friends and seem to be having a good time. I do look around at other peoples food and everybody's food looks pretty good and they all seem to be enjoying it. A nice black on spot. definitely going to come back with my friends. read more

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Absolutely wonderful find! Visiting Chicago for our anniversary and stumbled upon Dawn AM by accident. What a wonderful place. Service was friendliest I've experienced in a long time. Food came out quick and was off the charts! I had the lemon raspberry waffle and my husband the brioche french toast. Both were mouth wateringly great. Owner made sure to stop at every table to greet everyone and couldn't have been nicer and friendlier! Will definitely come back next time we're in Chicago and can't recommend this place enough! read more

Food was great, and my server Abiohann was definitely top notch. Overall the restaurants atmosphere was extremely pleasant, very warm inside. read more

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Me and my family had such a wonderful experience at Dawn, thanks in large part to Nolan! He was incredibly kind and accommodating--truly went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for us. His energy was infectious and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Shoutout to Jayla as well--she was a fantastic server! Friendly, attentive, and just overall lovely to interact with. You can really feel the warmth and care from the staff here. Can't wait to come back when we're back in town! read more

Went for Sunday brunch... Exceptional food and service -- the setting was acceptable. Manager/owner walked around and greeted/ thanked customers -- nice touch. Opportunity, smoother checkin process. read more

When they Opened, service was Great, the last 2 Vists service was VERY SLOW and I asked for a Manager, and this Young Lady with Braids said she was the Manager, I complained about a Cook standing outside the Kitchen Door smoking a cigarette with Black Rubber Gloves on and playing with his Cell Phone. She stated that he would probably change them when he went back into the Kitchen????? WHY WEAR THEM IF YOU LEFT THE KITCHEN???? after she made excuses for the Cook, I was very dissatisfied...Maybe the City would be a better place to complain about POOR SERVICE AND HYGEINE.... read more

Pot roast with jalapeño cheese grits was very good. Blackened catfish with collard greens and biscuit were outstandning. Also had the chocolate chip pancakes which were good. The mac and cheese was very good but the youngest said it was "spicy" for her taste. The heat was non-existent to me. Kids. read more

This review is only regarding a take out experience. I had the salmon croquette breakfast and it was not bad. It was just ok. I am interested in going in for a sit down meal, the place is busy whenever I go past it. read more

From the moment we walked in this restaurant didn't disappoint. Beautifully decorated. The food and services was top notch!!!! April our server was great. We ordered, fried green tomatoes, chocolate chip pancakes, banana pudding pancakes, and brioche French toast. EVERYTHING was so yummy. Even the drinks were delicious... lavender sweet tea came in a high top glass. I highly recommend this spot and will definitely be back!!!! read more

Dawn AM Eatery - Fried green tomatoes - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois