Inside Dawn, a New Hyde Park brunch destination | Eater Chicago
"I visited a storied Hyde Park space now reborn as an indulgent all-day affair offering Southern-style breakfast and brunch. Opened in late January in the former home of Piccolo Mondo, Dawn is Racquel Fields’s second Hyde Park venture (she also owns 14 Parish) and occupies a 131-seat dining room. The menu delivers playful spins on Southern staples like juicy pot roast with jalapeño cheddar cheese grits, cornbread French toast with a fried chicken thigh and spiced peach compote, and Clee’s Rich Lad — a po’boy stuffed with Cajun grilled shrimp and andouille chicken sausage. Fields weaves family references through the food and the decor — bird motifs that nod to her great-grandmother “Bird,” and a prominent sculptural light fixture resembling a long string of pearls left by her paternal grandmother — aiming for a retro-esque, “rich auntie’s house” vibe that still feels fresh. For Fields the restaurant is about more than morning meals; it’s designed for comfort across occasions, from brunch with relatives to after-work cocktails or a cup of coffee, and is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday." - Naomi Waxman
