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Smyth Chicago Tripadvisor Reviews
Latest Reviews On Tripadvisor
14 Reviews
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Disappointing.
Disappointing on multiple levels; do not recommend. Top three critiques: the food started to taste the same (akin to blended seafood in salt), took four “courses” and an ask to receive the martini I ordered, and a spelling error, which is “fine” if you’re not a three star Michelin restaurant.
Be the first to ReplyBest burger ever anywhere
Oh my goodness not just the best burger in Chicago this is the best burger I have ever had. The loyalist burger with a beer and a shot it was absolutely incredible and the staff were second to none. I will be back this next time I am in town
Be the first to ReplyWould you like some steak with your sauce?
This review is for the Loyalist. I was so excited to come here since I heard nothing but positive reviews and the best cheeseburger in Chicago. WOW…so disappointing! First off we were sat at a high top table with the most uncomfortable bar stool I’ve ever sat on. With no back, no padding and no rungs to place your feet ( the lower rung was too low to reach and the higher one was like one inch from the top so it was like squatting). I think this was used as a medieval torture device. Anyhow, overlooking the fact that we were very uncomfortable I was hoping the food would make up for it…NOPE…I had the bistro filet, it was drenched in sauce that was not even good. I tried using another plate to dry off the meat, but even the meat was inedible, tough and dry (shocking since it was swimming in sauce). My husband had the “award winning” cheeseburger…omg…save the $20 and go to Culver’s and get a butter burger…so much better. The only saving grace were the fries which were some of the best I’ve ever had. The service was good as well, that’s the only reason for the “poor” rating instead of “terrible”. Also, the music was extremely loud we had to shout to hear each other. Just don’t get the great reviews, maybe I’m missing something. I would not go back and I would tell people to not go here.
Be the first to ReplyReview for the Loyalist
We attended the sister bar which is downstairs from the restaurant. It gives you a pub / bar feel but more elegant. The staff were very friendly and attentive and while they pride themselves in being a French fusion restaurant their choice of music “very loud metal rock” made it slightly impossible to enjoy yourself! The Louder the music = people need to shout to talk to each other = loud music and shouting people… Again the staff were amazing We ordered their cocktails which was great 10/10 We ordered their truffle deviled egg (1 egg sliced in half) while the taste was great 10/10 the price was not … $20 for 1 egg is a bit of a stretch! French onion soup without the soup 5/10… too cheesy and confusing Classic Burger was our absolute favorite 10/10 We also ordered the loyalist burger thinking that would be our fav dish but it wasn’t… too much happening specially with variety of onions and pickles on the burger which I believe acquires a particular taste… For two people the bill was $160 usd … 2 drinks + 2 very small apps and 2 burgers shouldn’t cost $160 …
Be the first to ReplyExcellent 2 star Michelin tasting menu experience
We had an excellent tasting menu at this 2 star Michelin restaurant. Service was excellent and the ambiance was very comfortable. It was great fun watching the chefs working hard in the open kitchen. Tasting menu had a strong Asian influence and flavors. Lots of creative play with sweet and savory combos through all the courses, including dessert. We enjoy our meal immensely!
Be the first to ReplyAbove and beyond service
The food at the Loyalist was very good -- my companion's burger memorably so -- but what will really stick with us was the service. The friend I was meeting for dinner is physically limited (walks with a cane), and the host went well above and beyond to make sure that she had a positive experience; this included coming out to meet her, helping her to our table, switching our table when the first one was cramped, helping us back out of the restaurant, and calling a cab for her. The wait staff was unfailingly friendly, even as we asked for multiple explanations about menu items and some modifications to our orders. It was a mild bummer that they were out of decaf coffee (which my friend wanted after dinner), but overall the hospitality was outstanding. I eat out relatively often in Chicago and overall find the service really strong, but even in a town where excellent service is the norm the Loyalist really stood out.
Be the first to ReplyMixed feelings
Well, I was about to rate this a 5 star and the read the other reviews about the service fee which we presumed was the literal service fee. Everything else was exceptional. Thomas the wine steward was knowledgeable and attentive, Hannah was one of our servers and she was delightful. We were sick with Covid and has to postpone and they were flexible with our rescheduling. The food was indescribably delicious and creative. They were very accommodating of my dietary needs and I greatly appreciated it. We planned to make it a monthly dinner but now knowing the service fee doesn’t go to the team??? We are strongly reconsidering ever returning. :(
Be the first to ReplyService fee or tip??
Incredible food and the wine pairings were excellent albeit over priced. Great service. 5 out of 5 until the end when we got the bill. On it was a 20% service fee that only invited confusion. Was this an automatic tip? I mean fine as I typically tip 25-30% so we asked the server. We got a very clumsy explanation inferring that it wasn’t the ‘top’ but also *kind* of the tip that only invited more confusion. We left an additional 10% only to realize, after reading reviews, that we just short changed the staff and actually the service fee is not the tip but just more takings for the owners, which just made us feel bad about our experience. How about just charging 20% additional on the meal and letting the customer tip as he is accustomed to instead of making this stuff convoluted?? Of course 20% additional would bring the tasting menu to about $330 and may make many more inclined to just go to Alinea. Anyhow the food was fantastic, service good, wine great but over priced for how much you get. Add 20% to what you’re expecting and you won’t be left wondering how to properly reward the excellent staff at the end of the night.
Be the first to ReplyNot a good experience.
I had very high expectations when I visited Smyth, but I have to say that I had a very poor experience (not even remotely comparable to other Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago), even a bit dishonest. The tasting menu was repetitive (three courses of lobster?) and very oily, so you could not taste the ingredients. I chose the reserve wine pairing, but you are not told the wines and courses in advance (you do not get the menu until days later), so I found I was not offered all the wines. The "caviar" courses are not prepared with real caviar (from sturgeon), but with regular fish eggs - the chocolate caviar plate is inedible. The last dessert (the "mussel") had a very strong bitter aftertaste. Service was rushed and inattentive. The wine pairing was very poorly (and robotically) explained by the sommelier and no coffee, tea or any mignardise was offered at the end. Did I mention that the prices are outrageous for the quality? If you are really looking for a gastronomic experience in Chicago, visit Alinea, Oriolle, Ever or Elske. Of course my feedback e-mail was not answered.
Be the first to ReplyYou have to go here
This restaurant has easily earned its Stars. The thoughtful ingredients, expert technique, and bold wine pairing, set against a beautiful space and executed by kind, knowledgeable, and humorous staff, made this experience nothing short of incredible.
Be the first to ReplyGood but Frustrating
Like other reviewers, I find this restaurant hard to assess. The room is lovely, warm and casual. The noise level was low and calm. The service was certainly not "fantastic," as some have said, but it was quite professional by post-pandemic standards. It is not, for example, anything like the old Tru (ah!) but is better than most places in Chicago. All service persons were well informed about the food and could explain my questions about even minor details of the multi-level food. Door staff was excellent. The food itself is complex and generally executed at a high level. Plates are very small, however, and at times are simply frustrating by their limited size. The lovely lobster, for example, consisted of about a postage stamp (literally) of thin lobster, accompanied by about two teaspoons of lobster mousse. The best comparison of the concept here in my experience is Per Se in New York, though Smyth does not offer the sophistication, course size, or panache that Per Se provides. That said, the experience is frustrating. For one, it is very expensive. We broke the $1000 barrier with the mandatory tasting menu for two people and one bottle of wine. Second, Smyth purports to celebrate the food of rural Virginia, but I seriously doubt that anyone unaware of this claim would draw any link between what was presented and Virginia. Third, as many have rightly complained, the bill includes a mandatory $160 "service fee" that is NOT the tip and does not go to the staff. If you add a 20% tip, as usual, you have really paid through the teeth for the privilege of eating here. For me, that is a reason not to return again. Most seriously, there is no menu. So if you are in any way interested in wine, you don't know what to order because you don't know what you're going to eat. The owners must assume that their guests have no serious interest in wine, as ordering a bottle without even knowing the menu is about as amateurish as it gets. Getting the over-priced pairing options is no better, because there's no menu for what that includes either. Combined with the $160 fee, I find this amazingly arrogant. We were told that we would receive an email with the menu later. Seriously? I just paid over $1000 plus tip and have to print out an email? I'll pass.
Be the first to ReplyYummy food in a very loud setting
The food was delicious. Wish I could say the same about the service. They seemed to be understaffed and long periods of time would pass before we could get our waiter’s attention. It may be that the kitchen was slammed because there were significant delays between courses. Also, the restaurant was really, really loud. Not the experience that I was hoping for. Will probably try the sister restaurant, Smythe, next time.
Be the first to ReplyFine dining at a high level of excellence and passion without the pretension
Our tasting menu, 12 course meal at Smyth was the best meal of my life. I loved the open kitchen. It was fine dining, with 2 Michelin stars, but it was cozy, not stuffy, and not pretentious. Our server, Bree, was fantastic. We enjoyed seeing the care and passion that all the staff put into their efforts. We loved the team approach, interacting with several team members, but still being able to develop a rapport with each one. I loved the mystery of not knowing what was coming next. The Sommelier was very knowledgeable and still approachable. He made excellent choices for our tastes. The presentation was lovely, featuring natural elements like wooden utensils, etc. Because of delayed flights, we rushed directly to the restaurant and had no time to stop to first check in to our hotel. The restaurant staff magnanimously accommodated us, made us feel welcome, and stored our luggage while we ate! We enjoyed the kitchen staff's chants: "2 white asparagus on deck." A delightful experience and very memorable.
Be the first to ReplyGood, but . . .
This is a hard review to write, because I honestly think this restaurant should be boycotted because of the way they treat their employees. Was the food outstanding? Yes. Was the service fantastic? Yes. Was the space elegant and comfortable? Yes. Was it worth the money? Absolutely not. All of the small dishes were fantastic and incredibly creative. They may not be to everyone’s liking (meat and dessert was a little challenging), but it requires culinary genius and imagination that deserves respect. The service was amazing (Brittany, Thomas, and Cassie made our night)! Now, to the hard part. Each meal was $265.00. OK. The wine pairing (the “low” level) was $145.00 per person. That’s more than a little pricey for maybe seven quarter pours of good, but not great, wines. But, here’s the KICKER . . . then they tack on a 20% charge that DOES NOT GO TO THE SERVERS!!!! So, unless you are a jerk, you have to tip on top of that. This waitstaff was fabulous, but they had to explain, apologetically, that the management gets that 20% and they get NOTHING unless you tip as well. I did, but I think it is OUTRAGEOUS. I would seriously consider telling folks to boycott this restaurant until they change that policy. When people see a 20% service charge, they assume it goes to waitstaff. As a result, these folks don’t get tips unless they beg. That’s crap. Overall, it is worth the experience. However, if you go, complain to management about there treatment of their employees.
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