The Dearborn

A perfect date spot or brunch with friends! We were seated next to floor to ceiling windows, so it was nice to people watch in the city.

Our server was kind and even the general manager came to check in on us! They were quite busy on a Saturday around 1pm.

I got the chicken and waffles. While pricey at $25, they were delicious!! The chicken was juicy with a tiny layer of fat attached to the skin and breading, which made it very flavorful and tender. The waffles were thin and paired nicely with the hot honey. There is a bit of a kick to the dish, not spicy to me, but may be to some!

I did feel that the dish leaned on the sweeter side - but just a personal preference!

For my mom's birthday, we decided to take her to The Dearborn. I'd never been but after looking over the menu, I couldn't wait to dine in. My sister made reservations for 11:30am on a Friday and as soon as we arrived, our table was ready.

Since it was 5 of us, we all decided to try a few different dishes so we could have a variety of menu items to taste. For starters, we decided on the Parker House Rolls, Spicy & Mushroom Soup and Charred Garden Vegetables. My family said the rolls were a 10/10! The soup was delicious but spicy indeed and the charred vegetables were great, especially with the hot honey drizzled on top.

For the entrees, we ordered the Prosciutto & Fried Egg Pizza which was absolutely divine. The saltiness of the prosciutto paired very well with the creaminess of the egg and the freshness of the arugula. Unfortunately, the Midwest Fried Chicken wasn't a hit. The chicken was fried a tad bit too hard and the taste of the glaze wasn't what we expected. The Dearborn Burger was cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. The "Spring" Caesar Salad was fresh and appetizing. I loved the saltiness of the anchovies. The Fish & Chips were wonderful. The fish was cooked and seasoned very well and tasted very fresh.

As we were enjoying our food, our waitress made sure we always had everything we needed. The owner even stopped by our table to check to see if everything was going well. The customer service was top tier.

Overall, the restaurant was absolutely beautiful and the food was delicious!!!! I highly recommend trying The Dearborn Restaurant if you're ever in Chicago!!!

Overall our experience was pretty pleasant - would actually rate it like a 3.75

For appetizer - we had the rolls with duck fat butter. They were EVERYTHING. Fluffy, but warm with some of the best butter I've ever tasted. Mom thought the butter was "meh" but different strokes for different folks.

For entrees- Both my mother & myself had the Midwest Is Best salad - she added on shrimp while I added salmon. The combination of greens, apple slices, delicious bacon, dried cranberries & candied pecans were extremely agreeable to me.

For libations - Mom had them make a standard Whiskey Sour which was good. As for me, I tried the Near & Dear cocktail and was almost taken aback (complimentary). Would definitely get that again should I return.

For dessert - we really wanted to try the "Margarita" pie. The custard was pretty delicious but, my God, the crust was abysmal. Dry, hard to bite into then gummy. We both HATED the crust. Would definitely not recommend.

Came here at the recommendation of a coworker who enjoyed dining regularly in downtown Chicago. Old school tavern styled establishment with beige walls, murals, rustic booths and bookshelves - I believe the founders of the establishments were Irish immigrants and brought a part of their culture in the formation of this restaurant. Can't comment on the parking since I walked here from a nearby hotel - it is situated in a great location downtown for travelers as it's near some train stations as well!

Arrived here on a Thursday afternoon with the intention of getting a good brunch before a day of tourism fun! I got started with a glass of Rose and then ordered the famed Chicago's Finest Fish and Chips!

I'm not usually a fan of fish and chips as they usually come out dry but the one here at Dearborn was soft and batter was perfectly textured! Batter didn't overwhelm the fish flavor at all and I was still able to taste the freshness of the fish through all the flavors. I believe it was tempura style batter on fresh cod - a great combination. The fish sauce was a remoulade and malt vinegar which tasted even better than the usual tartar sauce! The fries that it came with were also a delight. Proportions were generous and I finished my meal very satisfied.

Service was very quick and attentive. I generally take a while enjoying my drink after finishing a meal and they weren't rushing me at all despite taking my plate.

To this day, I still think about this visit to Dearborn. I immediately understood why this was a fan favorite from the moment I stepped in but was even more impressed with the quality of the food! 10/10 would come back and recommend it to someone if they were visiting the city!

This was our favorite meal in Chicago over our extended weekend here. So glad we had a reservation as they get busy. Staff was super welcoming and attentive even they she was extremely busy. The manager even made his way over to ask us how we were doing. The vibe is vibrant and sexy. Looking over the menu I was surprised to see they had specials themed along with the Olympics and Lollapalooza that was going on. Love that! We were sat near the bar and the bar is gorgeous. We ordered cocktails and I was delighted to find out they had blue cheese stuffed olives for my dirty martini. We shared the fish n chips, ceviche and a salad. Everything was delicious. They even brought out a cake slice for our friend's birthday. Great experience.

After seeing reviews we decided to give this place a try for dinner.

To start there is no parking since in downtown so will most likely need to find garage parking or walk there from hotel. It is also very busy but we were still seated right away.

The staff was pleasant enough but to be honest at times both me and wife felt like we were forgotten about.

I got the bavette steak with mashed potatoes and wife got the fish and chips. We also ordered the rolls.

I was a little irritated that the rolls were not free like a lot of places. They were however really good. I still believe though it should not be an appetizer but a free pre meal snack.

The wife said her fish was good. Since they say it beat Bobby flay she thinks she was expecting more. I tried it and while it was good I wouldn't order it again.

My bavette steak was also good. Not great but good. The sauce is like a teriyaki sauce of some kind and that's just not really my thing. The potato's were good.

I ended the meal with their version of lava cake with chocolate ice cream on top. It was alright. I didn't finish it but I did eat about half. The wife had two bites.

The star was definitely the old fashioned. One of the best I've had.

All in all was let down by the meal. I expected a little more after reviews and for the price. If I went back it would probably just be for drinks and maybe an appetizer.

I'd give a 3.5 but since no half stars I can't justify a 4 so will go with a 3.

Arrived early so I had a beer at the bar. Friendly conversation with the bartender. The place has a cool, friendly vibe, overall. Friends arrived, we stayed at the bar for a bit , then was seated for dinner. They have some cool Olympic-themed choices on their menu (see pic) but I went with one of their known dishes - fish n chips. This recipe is noted for having beat Bobby Flay's challenge on TV. Huge portion of cod and not greasy at all! Friends had the Dearborn burger and chicken and both were also great. We also had the crispy hot honey chicken as an appetizer and that didn't disappoint either. Great spot in a great part of town. Come and enjoy!!

A seamless dinner experience! I had been in Chicago for a summit and wanted dinner. But not just any dinner, I wanted something local and known. Something with a delicious fish entree. I stumbled upon the Dearborn with a quick google search and a big green flag waved when I saw that their fish and chips entree had been featured on "Beat Bobby Flay". The reviews were consistently well received, so I was sold on visiting. I walked in on a Tuesday evening with no reservation and was seated immediately. The establishment had a good amount of people. It wasn't full to capacity but it was getting there and it seemed like an after work crowd. The decor had a nice, modern tavern feel to it. I was seated at a hightop table and offered a menu. Although I knew what I wanted, I still took a moment to review. It featured a nice variety of American dishes and some other cultural influences. My server came over within a few minutes and took my order. This was a very straightforward visit for me. I knew exactly what I wanted and stuck with that - I only had the fish and chips entree with a glass of tap water. My order was ready in less than 20 minutes and well worth the wait. The entree includes a hefty piece of fried cod with a serving of french fries, fresh coleslaw, and half of a grilled lemon. I was also offered a bottle of malt vinegar. This whole meal was absolutely delicious! The cod was hot, fresh, and golden fried to perfection. I broke it apart and dipped it into their creamy tartar sauce and was very impressed. I squeezed some of the lemon on it and it elevated the dish even more! I also enjoyed the rainbow coleslaw which for me a plus because I'm not a huge fan of coleslaw. The french fries were also nicely done. Altogether, a great plate and I was very satisfied.

In terms of service, the staff were pleasant and attentive. There were no issues. In addition, the establishment appeared clean including the restroom. Pricing was reasonable in my opinion, and reminiscent of home (New York City). Altogether I paid about $32 for my entree including tip and tax. Had I gotten drinks and appetizers, it would've been much different. All-in-all, it was a nice experience. I would definitely return if I am in Chicago and further recommend to others. It seems like a great place for after-work drinks or a dinner date.

I was excepting to be disappointed for some reason...and I was not.

The place is always packed so we were lucky to get a walk in table outside (it was hot and muggy so maybe that's why).

Service was excellent. Water right away. Staff was helpful, not pushy, timely. All good things.

Drinks were as described and well balanced - spicy drinks were spicy but not offensively so. Good mix of flavors and unique combinations.

Food was flavorful, filling and loaded with the prosciutto and arugula pizza was exactly that- see the picture. Truffle oil came through well as did the saba (balsamic-like reduction). The mezza plate had fantastic hummus. Eggplant was a little under-eggplanty but still top notch dip.

The two times I have been to this location, I was blown away.

To start, it is a beautiful, clean, and well maintained restaurant. I'd love to point out the amazing seating arrangements: The booths are comfortable, the restrooms are comfortable, and the hostess staff are very friendly.

When I walked into this restaurant, the warm toned walls made me feel so accepted and relaxed. This place definitely makes you feel the need for a drink (that's a good, relaxing feeling). The staff is extremely knowledgeable and kind. When we were seated, waters were immediately filled for us, and napkins were already at the table.

The service is outstanding, professional, yet friendly and fun. The servers know their menu very well, answered all questions about their food, and even gave us some really nice recommendations.

The meal I got was the Fish and Chips, id like to mention that I am not a fish eater. My boyfriend got this dish our first time and insisted that I had a nibble, and the rest is history. I fell in love with the flaky crust yet tender, and juicy cod. It was really large too!

The truffle fries are so worth dying for. That is how I'm ending this. Take a bullet for these fries, especially when you dip them in some ranch. ‍