I'll start with the good - I really like the food here and this is why I keep coming back.
But the service is absolutely atrocious at times...and also really good other times so i'm not sure what exactly is the problem. Obviously they can do well when they choose, it's just a matter of being there when their waiters are having a good day.
But the food is worth even putting up with annoying service.

I've been here for both lunch, dinner, and drinks and I would say the menu has just enough choice, and not too overwhelming like most restaurants in Shanghai. The beef tagliatelle was delicious and other dishes I sampled during dinner which included pastas, chicken, and the cauliflower steak. Dishes were not too big in portion and the restaurant had ample bread baskets for the taking! I didn't feel cramped in the spaces I've sat at and there is always availability for seating. Drinks that were off of the menu were actually able to be ordered which was a pleasant surprise so it felt like being in the states. The best part is I accidentally left my umbrella at the restaurant, and not only did they keep it for me, they called to followup about it! Impressive

Dakota is a bar with a pretty good neighborhood bistro menu, good atmosphere, and fairly significant service issues.

First, the good: the food. We had the charcuterie plate, a french onion soup, mussels, and a hamburger. Like I said, neighborhood bistro.

From worst to best, the onion soup came in last. It was a piece of cheese toast floating on brown water. No flavor, basically inedible. I had a bite or two and quit. The charcuterie platter was better, with bacon jam, pate, and some pickles. The pate contained chunks of fat, which is normal, but these chunks were about the size of my knuckles, and quite resistant to fork or knife. Another problem: the charcuterie plate did not come with bread or anything else on which to spread the pate & bacon jam. Given the service issues, this could have simply been an oversight. In any event, we used the breadbasket that came standard with every meal, and it worked out. The charcuterie plate also featured a few slices of what appeared to be Oscar Meyer bologna. Again, I didn't make an effort. The mussels and hamburger were both excellent, as were the french fries that came with both. The mussels were cooked perfectly, not at all overdone, and came in a delicious broth. The hamburger comes with sauteed onions, Gruyere cheese, and a generous serving of arugula to even it out. It had a delicious savory taste. Possibly the best hamburger in Shanghai. The fries are about the dimensions of McDonald's fries, and are just great. We also had a side of sauteed spinach, which was basically just that.

Service had significant issues. As far as I could tell, there was no waiter assigned to our table. Someone took our order, and we never saw him again. A busboy came by on three separate occasions to deliver our drinks and food to the next table over. Fortunately, the folks at the next table corrected him each time. After waiting in vain for a waiter's help, we resorted to grabbing the attention of whoever happened to be wandering by the table, and asking for bread to eat with the charcuterie platter, water, etc. Dakota serves several types of beer, including Vedett Extra Blonde and Maredsous Blonde. When I asked what the difference was between the two, I was told "They are two different brands," which is likely a true statement, although not overly helpful. I ordered a Maredsous. And was brought a Vedett. I'd never had either before, so I didn't realize this, until I tried to order a second beer and the second waiter informed me that the first beer had actually been a Vedett. The second beer was free of charge, which was a nice touch.

Atmosphere is good. It's dark in the restaurant - the lights are turned low, and the furnishings are dark wood. It creates a fairly intimate feel that would be good for a date or night out.

Overall, it's a good place to eat if you order the right things, and don't have high expectations of the service.

Dakota is rock solid standby

From the service to the food, this is one of the most reliable place you'd think about going to when you can't agree on where you really want to go.

In fact, it has been for quite some time.

I used to go for dinner a lot and since then I have pretty much confined my visits to the brunch time of day. I think it's because of the limited options at dinner time that I can never decide on.

I do, however, know a bit about their brunch and now, their lunch. Technically, since both are around the same time of day, it is what you order that defines whether you are there for brunch or lunch. The brunch here is bullet proof. The dessert menu could serve as the brunch for those that have a sweet tooth.

Today was the first lunch I tried. I went for the burger and fries. Both were excellent. The plate came with several tiny bowls each with a helping of ketchup or mayo. As a reward for a successful long walk there I got the Absinthe cocktail. Initially I really enjoyed the taste but the novelty quickly wore off. That’s not to say that it wasn’t well made more like I just didn’t care for the taste after half a glass.

Service is always excellent and bilingual.

Dakota in my mind has gone way downhill since the days when the French
guys ran it. The food is still quite good but the service is now shocking. Terrible

Plus it now looks like it is staffed by ex-Army guys who have no sense of humour
at all.

Was there last night and the waitress didn't know anything about the menu.

I ordered fries but they never came. The Fois Gras tasted a bit chemically.....

Granted, the mains were good.