What's a way to (usually) get a sub-par restaurant meal? Choose a restaurant that serves more than 100 people at a time in an area swarming with folks who need to fuel up quickly, like Chicago's theater district. Then look for a place that's plastered with T.V. sets, not just in the bar area but throughout, and not playing sports, but beaming images from Instagram with reviews of its own food. Do so and you'd get The Dearborn.
But astonishingly, The Dearborn bucks the odds. It would get a nightly crowd of theatergoers even if it wasn't good, yet the kitchen hasn't lost its ambition, nor is it swamped by the huge number of diners who pour in nightly between 6 and 8pm. The food is sophisticated and toothsome, whether you go fancy with the scrumptious chicken roulade (rolled chicken with hen-of-the-wood mushrooms and a lovely sage- and lemon-infused jus) or dine on classic tavern fare—like juicy pasture-raised burgers or perfectly crisped fish and chips. Service is genial and efficient, and even with so many people, and the constant flashing of those televisions, the rooms are high-ceilinged enough, and the leather booths cushy enough, to absorb the noise and make the place feel lively rather than frenetic. An excellent choice for a pre- or post-show meal.
Chicago› Restaurant
The Dearborn
145 N. Dearborn St.
Our Rating
Neighborhood
The Loop
Hours
Mon 11am–10pm, Tues–Thurs 11am–11pm, Fri 11am–midnight, Sat 10am–midnight, Sun 10am–10pm (bar open for an hour after the kitchen closes)
Transportation
L: Clark/Lake, Washington, or Washington/Wabash
Phone
312/384-1242
Prices
Main dishes $18–$36
Cuisine Type
American
Web site
The Dearborn
![2 star(s) 2 star rating](/assets/rating/fromm-rating-2star.png)
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.