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  • Dawson's On Main

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Dawson's On Main
Dawson's On Main

Dawson's On Main Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://www.Dawsonsonmain.com
  • Phone: (317) 247-7000
  • Hours of Operation:

    Lunch: Monday - Saturday: 11:00am - 4:00pm

    Dinner: Monday - Thursday: 4:00pm - 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 4:00pm - 12:00am
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Steakhouse, Seafood, American
  • Executive Chef: Luis Pineda
  • Dress Code: Business Casual
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Delivery, Full Bar, Late Night, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Smoking Area, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Catering: Full scale catering service for all events large and small. Full service food and beverage service. Off site private venue available.
  • Private Party Facilities: Full Service golf course pavilion with a seating capacity of 250 people for meetings and weddings. Full service kitchen and bar on site.
  • Private Party Contact: Chris Hill (317) 247-7000

Getting there

  • Cross Street: 16th and Main
  • Parking: Public Lot
A word from Dawson's On Main
Dawson's on Main, not your typical neighborhood restaurant. We offer bold flavors, fresh ingredients and a warm atmosphere. A menu of steaks, seafood, pastas, sandwiches and other specialties make Dawson's perfect for family gatherings, business meetings or romantic nights for two. In addition, we… offer a banquet room for larger parties and outside patio dining. We offer a full selection of specialty wines, classic bourbons, or the ever popular variety of Indiana craft beers. We are located one block south of the world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.Continued
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Awards voted by OpenTable diners
  • Diners' Choice WinnerGreat for Lunch
  • Diners' Choice WinnerNeighborhood Gem
Diner Reviews
  • "I ordered Steak Susan, which was even tastier than expected. The steak was cooked just as ordered, and the broccoli and mashed potato sides were also very good. The roll served was hot and appeared to be freshly made (crusty outside and tender inside). All of the food had a fresh taste (not processed). This rates for me as a highly recommended food experience and is a good price for this dining. I live in Broad Ripple and have eaten at most of the restaurants there, so I know. Here, I sat at a table outside, which was nice except for the continuous noise coming across the street. The constant steam exhaust noise got annoying after awhile and was constant throughout my 1 1/2 hours sitting there. But, I would sit there again!"
    Dined on 7/19/2014
  • "Our extended family get together every Friday. We ate at Dawsons last Friday - the food was excellent, the service was excellent and Dawsons is now one of our favorite places"
    Dined on 7/18/2014
  • "My wife killed a gnat in her salad. Could've come from anywhere but she still had to do it. Her chicken was smothered in stuff and I had to excuse myself to remove two pieces of artichoke hearts from my teeth with my difficulty. I had pork chops which were good but would have been better without the chutney. Potato cakes were very good. And half priced wine was a nice surprise."
    Dined on 7/15/2014
  • "We had a group of 10 at Dawson's on Fri eve, 7-11-14, and it was tremendous! Friendly, hard-working waitress, great food, nice atmosphere...couldn't ask for better meal & venue!"
    Dined on 7/11/2014
  • "A great dinner for our anniversary. A busy place even for a Thursday night. Our waiter Jonathan was very attentive. Best dishes - lettuce wedge (order the mini), the scallops, the signature onion soup, crab cakes, steak, pot roast."
    Dined on 7/10/2014
  • "Always a fun place for any occasion, we eat here 2-3 times a month, would go more, but not real close to home."
    Dined on 6/26/2014
  • "A friend recommended for anniversary dinner - we did not want to hassle with Avon or Castleton traffic - what a gem. Food was great and it is an attractive, well staffed restaurant - I would definitely pass on the recommendation. Thank you!"
    Dined on 6/21/2014
  • "This place was hoppin' for lunch! I'm glad I made a reservation through OpenTable, because they had a wait list by noon. Great food and the service was sharp and attentive. I will certainly plan to come back."
    Dined on 6/11/2014
  • " Service was great. Food was just ok for me. Would go back to try something else."
    Dined on 6/10/2014
  • "My wife had the crab cake dinner and it was excellent. I had the tuna and it was very good. My wife had a watermelon martini that she really enjoyed, and I had a glass of house cab that met my expectations. As usual, great food at a reasonable price."
    Dined on 6/7/2014
  • "We went for my bestfriends bachelorette party dinner, and Big Ron was amazing!! The food was delicious, fast and affordable!! I would recommend this restraunt for any occasion big or small!!"
    Dined on 6/7/2014
  • "We live on the other side of Indianapolis, so it's about a 40-mile round trip for us. There are at least 25 restaurants within a 10-mile r.t. So why bother to go to Dawson's. For one, they have just introduced a new menu with great variety. Second, EVERYONE on the staff has a friendly smile. The food quality is good and the interior well appointed. There's an expanded outdoor seating area too. What amazed us was that our server was just on her 6th day of a new job, yet she provided flawless service. We'll be back."
    Dined on 5/30/2014
  • "I have been dining at Dawson's on Main for several years. The service, food, drink selections, and ambience are always exceptional. It is a great place to meet up with friends for drinks, or for a family dinner. Parking is never an issue. Staff make you feel at home. "
    Dined on 5/29/2014
  • "My husband, step son and other guys they hang out with, always go to dinner, this is one of there favorite places to go."
    Dined on 5/15/2014
  • "Food was exceptional and plentiful. Remodeled Main Street with view of Motor Speedway - great location. Very friendly hostess and waitress. Will come back again and again."
    Dined on 5/15/2014
  • "First visit on Mother's Day and my whole family was very impressed. We will be returning!!!!"
    Dined on 5/11/2014
  • "We northsiders don't have a monopoly on great restaurants. Discovered this gem on Open Table and it's the ideal place to dine for ANY reason. Great food prepared to perfection and attentive waitstaff. Can't wait to return!"
    Dined on 5/11/2014
  • "We had a made a reservation for 7 for Mother's Day lunch and when we got there the hostess was rude and told us that she had seated us in the bar because she didn't know we had children in our party. She claimed that Open Table doesn't give them enough information and they've had problems with them ever since they subscribed. I told her that it was a poor decision to seat Open Table reservations in the bar if they weren't sure of the parties ages. They had a very expensive limited mother's day menu which I wasn't aware of. Everything was $25 and up. They didn't offer any bread before the meals were served and service was terribly slow! They need to step up their game if they are going to try and host special occasions!"
    Dined on 5/11/2014
  • "Overall everything was great, I think there could have been better management organization for being open on a Sunday. This is not a normal buisness day for the restaurant and some of that showed in the services. Would go back again cause food was great!!!"
    Dined on 5/11/2014
  • "server was fantastic and the food was good. would eat there again and would recommend to others."
    Dined on 5/11/2014
  • "Only get to Indy/Speedway a few times a year and Dawson's is always on our list as a must for dinner! Best tenderloin sandwich in town and their other dishes are great too!"
    Dined on 5/10/2014
  • "We went the day of the first Grand Prix 5/10/14. Food was fantastic, I had the ribs and my wife had the steak with blue cheese. Friends had stroganoff. All was excellent. The bar was loud but that was probably driven by the level of intoxication of other patrons who had attended the race. We will be back!"
    Dined on 5/10/2014
  • "Very good all around. The place was hopping as usual for May in Speedway. Despite the very busy night all went well for my modest gathering. We were not rushed even though there was a very large crowd waiting for a table. Food was great and served hot. Ample to eat for everyone. I use this restaurant as my once a year "special" dining experience but now know they have an early bird menu which will make it available to me more often. I only wish I could find a few coupons to help out. They seem very scarce."
    Dined on 5/10/2014
  • "Been to Dawson's on Main three times in the last ten days. I am in town for Speedway activities for the month of May. The first visit was spectacular. Food and service were spot on. The second visit was not as pleasant, and if not for the first visit, I would not have returned. Our menu choices meant that the food was mediocre at best. The order was wrong and the service slow. The third visit, on Friday night of the Festival on Main was enough to keep me coming back. The food was excellent, although the service was somewhat lacking. A note to the chef...please use much less St. Germain in the glaze on the pork shank, which is not Osso Buco BTW. Overall, a convenient restaurant to the Speedway with decent food."
    Dined on 5/9/2014
  • "We found Dawson's On Main by accident, but we plan to return when we visit Indy for an annual event in 2015. It was awesome. "
    Dined on 5/9/2014
  • "Nice relaxed dinner near the airport. Very good food. "
    Dined on 5/7/2014
  • "This was chosen as an alternate to the overbooked (and overpriced) downtown Indy scene for our anniversary. This was a MID WEEK experience and I doubt they had their 'A' team going. The steak was just one hair shy of absolute perfection, the caramelized onion-mushroom-bleu cheese topping was delicious. The Salmon was very nicely done and tasty. I know this is going to sound weird, but whoever did the fresh carrots... certainly the best in any restaurant that I have ever had. So well so that both the wife and I were surprised...not too soft, not too firm... flavor.... hmmmm that detail alone would score well. So if you're looking for somewhere that can present food that is well prepared without being pretentious this is it."
    Dined on 5/6/2014
  • "We'll be back! So many great menu items to try we can't wait to go back. Quality of food was excellent. We made reservations, but opted to sit in the bar instead, as it looked very comfortable. Had a great time!"
    Dined on 5/3/2014
  • "very unassuming appearance from exterior but great gem on inside, great menu and food was outstanding, highly reccomended and will def be back"
    Dined on 5/2/2014
  • "Very energetic atmosphere with great food, service, and you never know who you might run into from the racing community in Speedway. Several good fish combinations and salads are large and refreshing. I particularly enjoy the French onion soup. This is an impressive place to take clients, family, and friends for a relaxing meal."
    Dined on 5/2/2014
  • "Our trip to Dawson's was for our wedding anniversary. We have dined at Dawson's on several occasions and have always been extremely pleased with the food. Our waiter, Jonathan, was very attentive and made sure all of our requests were taken care of. We dined at Dawson's back in the late summer and were seated outside. Jonathan was also our server that evening, however our experience was not pleasant so we were apprehensive on having him as our server again since this was our first time back. I will say that Jonathan is a great server and we must have just caught him on a bad night last time. I would be happy to have him serve us again. "
    Dined on 4/28/2014
  • "A friend and I have not seen each other for about six months. We met at Dawson's for dinner. We both liked the place and are definitely going back sometimes soon. We were not rushed, we were even offered sample of food to help make our choice."
    Dined on 4/22/2014
  • "We had reservations for Easter Lunch. There were 10 in our party and we all arrived at our scheduled time. They advertised lunch from noon until 4pm and listed all the items available for lunch. When we got there over 1/2 the items were gone. The price was 24.99. We sat down got our drinks. The servers were prompt and courteous. We assumed they would be replenishing the items on the so called buffet so we decided to stay. Our mistake. The head bartender said that the chef (cook) said once an item was gone it is gone. So we had no rolls, corn, green beans, white cod fried fish no desserts and the rest of the items were slim to none. We will never go to this establishment again. No apologies from the staff or manager. Terrible experience. "
    Dined on 4/20/2014
  • "This was our third visit to Dawson's on Main. We live on the northeast side of Indianapolis, so it's quite a drive for dinner. But even though we are surrounded by nearby restaurants, what brings us back to Dawson's is the great combination of menu choice, comfortable dining room, and excellent service. This time we brought along another couple for their first visit. There really is something for everyone on the menu, including several specialties. But what made the night so enjoyable was Justin, our server. His amount of attention was just right. It equals the best service we've had at any restaurant. Now we're looking back to retuning for an evening of outside dining, since there are quite a few tables available. "
    Dined on 4/19/2014
  • "We meet once a month there for a fine meal and lively chat about the book we read that month. Always request a back booth and have never been disappointed. We never feel rushed as we sit and talk for awhile."
    Dined on 4/16/2014
  • "Dawson's was just what me and my love needed! Wonderful service, great staff and wonderful food. All around a great experience!"
    Dined on 4/12/2014
  • "The location of this restaurant on quaint Main Street in Speedway attracts a big lunch crowd. We have always had great service here, great food, and the ambience is nice due to an ecletic mix of stained glass, wood, and even a small fountain in back of the main dining room. My favorites on the menu are the homemade soups, the black and blue salad and the fish and chips. Of course, they have an excellent tenderloin since that is the state sandwich of Indiana."
    Dined on 4/9/2014
  • "I would recommend dawson's to anyone. They have great food, reasonable prices, and the staff is always friendly. I've only been there for dinner, and it would be great for a romantic evening or dinner with the family."
    Dined on 3/28/2014
  • "We love the food. Everything I have tried has been good."
    Dined on 3/24/2014
  • "Justin was our bartender/server. He did a fantastic job!! When I ordered my salad without onions, he went as far as to hold the "tomato relish" which included onions and replaced it with a chopped tomato. Our filets were cooked to perfection, juicy and tender. We will definitely return."
    Dined on 3/22/2014
More reviews ›
  • Save Money-Eat Early
    Monday-Friday 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM›
    Come and check out our new early bird specials for all ages. Appetizers and entrees at a great price. Monday-Friday 4-6. Excludes Tax and Tip. Special valid May 28, 2014 - Aug 28, 2014 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Mondays and Tuesdays from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Offer valid May 28, 2014 - August 28, 2014
  • Prime Rib Dinners
    Friday-Saturday 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM›
    Every Friday night we offer Certified Angus Beef Prime Rib that has been slow cooked to perfection. We offer a King Cut 14 oz. and a Regular Cut 12oz. Excludes Tax and Tip. Special valid Jun 4, 2014 - Sep 4, 2014 on Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM. Offer valid June 4, 2014 - September 4, 2014
  • Friday Night Seafood Special
    Friday 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM›
    Every Friday night we offer a fresh Seafood Special for the evening delivered fresh that morning. Excludes Tax and Tip. Special valid Jun 4, 2014 - Sep 4, 2014 on Fridays from 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM. Offer valid June 4, 2014 - September 4, 2014
  • Half Price Wine Night
    Tuesday 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM›
    Half Price Wine on all bottled wines from our extensive Wine menu. Excludes Tax and Tip. Special valid Jun 10, 2014 - Sep 10, 2014 on Tuesdays from 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM. Offer valid June 10, 2014 - September 10, 2014
  • Martini Night
    Thursday 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM›
    Choose from over 30 different recipes from our special menu. Big Ron and Willie will be sure to tack care of you. Excludes Tax and Tip. Special valid Jun 5, 2014 - Sep 5, 2014 on Thursdays from 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM. Offer valid June 5, 2014 - September 5, 2014
  • See all 5 deals and offers
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Diners' Choice Awards
  • Indiana Winners
  • Neighborhood Gem
  • Indianapolis Winners
  • Great for Lunch
  • Neighborhood Gem
Learn more ›