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Dawson's Steakhouse, Sacramento, CA

Dawson's Steakhouse

4.5 (1875)
$50 and over
Steakhouse
1209 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Good for business meals
Established in 1988 and located in the heart of downtown Sacramento, Dawson’s Steakhouse has been a local favorite for over a quarter of a century and considered one of the best restaurants in Sacramento. Dawson’s serves farm-to-fork cuisine sourced locally and seasonally to reflect the richness of the Valley. From fresh seafood to California grass-fed beef, Dawson’s Steakhouse offers a contemporary twist of steakhouse classics and some bold originals. Enjoy fresh, local food, craft cocktails and exceptional service for an unforgettable dining experience at our landmark, AAA Four Diamond Sacramento restaurant. Treat Yourself!

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Wine Bar, Farm-to-table
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (916) 321-3600 ext. 0
  • Website
    http://www.dawsonssteakhouse.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Alexis Gutierrez
  • Private party facilities
    Our private/semi-private upper area of Dawson's restaurant can be curtained off and accommodates up to 14 guests comfortably. In our Vines restaurant located next to Dawson's we do offer private dining for up to 40 guests. Please call the restaurant for more information.
  • Private party contact
    Jordan Krishna: (916) 321-3606
  • Location
    1209 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
  • Neighborhood
    Sacramento
  • Cross street
    12th and L Street
  • Parking details
    Complimentary 3 hour self parking with ticket validation and $5 valet parking with validation.
  • Public transit
    Half block away from the K and 12th Lightrail station
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Hall Wine Dinner

    $175.00 per person

    Nov 7, 2025 only
    Sip and savor outstanding wines from Hall, paired with a regionally inspired five course dinner on Friday, November 7th. Guests will be seated at large communal tables with other guests for the dining experience. Representatives from the winery and Chef's culinary team will walk guests through the wine pairing process, menu writing process, cooking techniques, and also cover the wine making philosophy behind the featured winery. Seating is limited. $175 per person. Valet parking is complimentary. Advanced notice on any dietary restrictions required for accommodation. Reception with hors d'oeuvres and sparkling wine begins at 6:30 PM.
    Hall Wine Dinner Photo

  • Heitz Cellars Wine Dinner

    $175.00 per person

    Sep 12, 2025 only
    Sip and savor outstanding wines from Heitz Cellars, paired with a regionally inspired five course dinner on Friday, September 12th. Guests will be seated at large communal tables with other guests for the dining experience. Representatives from the winery and Chef's culinary team will walk guests through the wine pairing process, menu writing process, cooking techniques, and also cover the wine making philosophy behind the featured winery. Seating is limited. $175 per person. Valet parking is complimentary. Advanced notice on any dietary restrictions required for accommodation. Reception with hors d'oeuvres and sparkling wine begins at 6:30 PM.
    Heitz Cellars Wine Dinner Photo

  • Silver Oak Wine Dinner

    $175.00 per person

    Jul 11, 2025 only
    Sip and savor outstanding wines from Silver Oak, paired with a regionally inspired five course dinner on Friday, July 11th. Guests will be seated at large communal tables with other guests for the dining experience. Representatives from the winery and Chef's culinary team will walk guests through the wine pairing process, menu writing process, cooking techniques, and also cover the wine making philosophy behind the featured winery. Seating is limited. $175 per person. Valet parking is complimentary. Advanced notice on any dietary restrictions required for accommodation. Reception with hors d'oeuvres and sparkling wine begins at 6:30 PM.
    Silver Oak Wine Dinner Photo

Private dining

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,875 people are saying

Dawson's Steakhouse reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Sacramento / Sacramento Valley

    Steakhouse

  • Sacramento

    Steakhouse

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Dawson's Steakhouse in Sacramento is renowned for its "exceptional service" and "delicious, masterfully cooked steaks." The ambience is intimate and inviting, making it a perfect venue for special occasions. Guests frequently praise the "amazing" wine selection and professional staff, ensuring each visit feels "like a VIP experience."
1,875 Reviews

  1. Michaeline

    Sacramento / Sacramento Valley22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A lovely evening, good service, food and atmoshpere.

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  2. Sam

    Sacramento / Sacramento Valley3 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on June 7, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    For $100 porterhouse steak you would think it would be a nice cut of meat.

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  3. Lex

    Houston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service was amazing. The food was amazing. The ambience was amazing. I really have nothing negative to say this is a really great place. We were celebrating our wedding anniversary and we even got a complementary dessert that said happy anniversary. I would definitely go back.

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  4. Rob VIP

    Phoenix / Arizona6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had an incredible dining experience at Dawson’s Steakhouse in Sacramento. The food was exceptional — I ordered the ribeye steak, and it was cooked to perfection. Tender, flavorful, and paired beautifully with a side of sautéed mushrooms that were just as memorable. The presentation, service, and attention to detail really stood out. Everything from start to finish was top-notch. If you’re looking for a high-quality steakhouse in Sacramento, Dawson’s is a must-visit. Can’t wait to come back!

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  5. Darrel VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area29 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on May 31, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Have eaten here many times in the past and was very good. This meal was sad. Our waiter did not seem to like us. I ordered Halibut and asked for a chardonnay . He brought a tasting. My partner ordered a filet and asked for cabernet and he brought him a full glass, no tasting, which also happened to be a $35 glass. Meals came, filet was fine, halibut was dry, dry dry. Next time we saw the waiter was 30 minutes later. By the way, the dining room was not busy.

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  6. monique

    Seattle / Eastern Washington16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service was top tier. The food was fantastic. I ordered the market fish special based on the server’s description of it and I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. And the key lime pavlova was amazing.

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  7. George

    Sacramento / Sacramento Valley1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful venue for a meet or a date. The food's great the liquor selection impressive and the quality of the service top-notch. John was our waiter and he did a great job. We split a few meals he was quick to bring extra plates and really accommodate us. This was a fine dining experience which I recommend. Do you check the menu

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  8. Robert

    Sacramento / Sacramento Valley2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    If you’re a steak aficionado, Dawson’s is the place to go in Sacramento. The steaks are delicious, masterfully cooked, and the servers treat you like royalty. The restaurant even gave me a complimentary dessert since it was my birthday.

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  9. Todd

    Sacramento / Sacramento Valley1 review

    2.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We’d been looking forward to trying this place all week to celebrate my 48th birthday. First impressions were great—the ambiance was warm and inviting, and the staff made us feel welcome right away. Our server was fantastic: friendly, attentive, and quick. We brought our own bottle of wine, which they opened promptly, and the specials were explained in detail. I’d been craving a good steak, which I only eat a few times a year, so I was excited. I ordered the $100 dry-aged steak, my wife had the chef’s special (swordfish), my son got a ribeye, and my friend ordered a different steak. We also got the mac and cheese and asparagus as sides. Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to the experience we were hoping for. It took about 45 minutes to arrive, even though the restaurant was only about 30% full. My steak came out overcooked—closer to well-done than the medium I ordered—and it was dry and lacked flavor. It definitely didn’t have that “melt-in-your-mouth” quality you expect from a premium cut at that price. My son even said, “Dad, you cook steak better than this.” My wife’s fish was dry and overcooked as well, and my friend wasn’t thrilled with his steak either. On the positive side, the mac and cheese was decent, though I felt it could’ve used a thicker, creamier cheese sauce. The asparagus, however, was the highlight—perfectly cooked with just the right crunch. Props to the chef on that; clearly, he knows how to make veggies shine. That said, I’m sure the chef might disagree with my take on the rest of the meal, and I hope he’s open to feedback instead of just assuming I don’t know what I’m talking about. My wife jokingly said before we went, “Let’s just get tacos instead,” and honestly, I wish we had—street tacos would’ve been more satisfying. After spending over $400, I left still craving a great steak. Sadly, we won’t be returning.

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  10. Sue

    Sacramento / Sacramento Valley7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a wonderful dinner. The market fish special was outstanding

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FAQs

Dawson's Steakhouse offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (916) 321-3600 ext. 0.

Dawson's Steakhouse is rated 4.5 stars by 1875 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Sacramento / Sacramento Valley
  4. Sacramento
  5. Sacramento

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Dawson's Steakhouse

1209 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Additional information

  • Cross street
    12th and L Street
  • Neighborhood
    Sacramento
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Wine Bar, Farm-to-table
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Complimentary 3 hour self parking with ticket validation and $5 valet parking with validation.
  • Public transit
    Half block away from the K and 12th Lightrail station
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Alexis Gutierrez
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.dawsonssteakhouse.com/
  • Phone number
    (916) 321-3600 ext. 0
  • Private party facilities
    Our private/semi-private upper area of Dawson's restaurant can be curtained off and accommodates up to 14 guests comfortably. In our Vines restaurant located next to Dawson's we do offer private dining for up to 40 guests. Please call the restaurant for more information.
  • Private party contact
    Jordan Krishna: (916) 321-3606
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