I'm going to predict that The Dearborn ( 145 N. Dearborn St.; TheDearbornTavern.com ) will be around for years.
There are several reasons for thisincluding the cuisine, but I'll talk more about that later.
The airy, 8,000-square-foot restaurant ( at the Loop's Block 37 ), which opened in June, has sisters Amy ( an out lesbian ) and Clodagh Lawless as its ownersand the siblings certainly know their stuff, having learned the business from brother Billy Lawless, who's behind everything from The Gage to Acanto to the buzzworthy Lake View spot Coda di Volpe. ( Amy told WCT that it's been the sisters' goal for quite some time to open their own venture, calling it their "baby." )
And The Dearborn is already popular, thanks in part to its location, which is in the theater district. The day WCT stopped by, it turned out that Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda had just left The Dearborn about 45 minutes earlier ( and who knows who may stop by in the future? ).
The location also lends itself to seeing some cool scenery ( or people-watching ). The front area is called The Picasso Room because it affords a view of the untitled sculpture in Daley Plaza. ( It also pays homage to the "L" if you look at it from a different direction. ) However, there are also The Tavern, The Lawless Room and a special-events area called The Rialto Room that pays homage to the now-demolished Rialto Theatre.
And then there's the cuisine. Among the highlights when WCT visited for lunch were the local burrata, fig-and-avocado toast, and a BLT that is augmented with different items every day. ( I had duck confit. ) The desserts were almost beyond compareespecially the old-fashioned donut, which customers practically begged the owners to put on the weekday menu. ( Other goodies range from king salmon to a bison burgerand I can't wait to hit brunch, which offers items including French toast and foie gras as well as duck confit and 62-degree eggs. )
"It's been so well-received at this location. It's just great," Clodagh said.
With everything it offers ( food, location, service, etc. ), I think The Dearborn will be well-received for quite some time.