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Smyth Chicago Reviews
Deserves its 3 stars
This was the perfect place for our anniversary dinner. The food was perfect, from service and explanation to wine pairing to presentation and taste. So much thought has gone into each dish. Waiters were so attentive and so lovely and it felt like they could anticipate everything you need without you asking. It’s expensive but worth every penny.
I thoroughly enjoyed my restaurant experience here! The
I thoroughly enjoyed my restaurant experience here! The service from the waiters were excellent and ambience were nice. The food was crafted expertly and although there were a couple of dishes I didn't vibe with I still enjoyed experiencing them. Each wine paired nicely with the courses and were the perfect pour. Everything just flowed naturally the entire evening. There were more dishes than what I'm posting but go try for yourself! I'm glad I was able to try this spot out in Chicago!
OVERPRICED.
One dish was mind blowing, most were merely good & maybe two were just ok. I'll mention price a lot because it matters. This is by far the most expensive restaurant I've been to thus far however one bite was solely & honestly worth the price of admission. I've only had one other out of body experience which was truly tear jerk worthy but this was my second time. Dear God the lamb I've had here will honestly NEVER be topped. I hope any patron visiting here indulges in that dish alone
Leaving Smyth, my head swirled with emotions much like it
Leaving Smyth, my head swirled with emotions much like it did leaving the movie theater after having watched Star Wars, Episode 1, The Phantom Menace in 1999. "It was great, right?? It *had* to be. We waited to see it for 15 years. And it cost a fortune to make! Yes, I'm pretty sure I enjoyed that tremendously, didn't you??" But meanwhile, a sliver of doubt in my mind wedged itself deeply into the globs of gray still swimming with confusion. We spent over a grand on two people. Was it even good? Would I even pay $50 to experience it all over again? Oof. I waited more than two months to write this review, because I needed some time for the sting to peak and then subside in order to be as objective as possible (while recognizing that these reviews are inherently subjective.) I will start with the service, which I will compare only with other Michelin starred restaurants I've visited. At times it shined. But overall, it felt nervous, forced, and often cold. Many staff members radiated stress, as if someone higher up was watching like a hawk, and their job depended upon this experience going flawlessly. It lacked warmth. Nobody appeared to be enjoying their work. In stark contrast, I've been to 3 M-star restaurants that felt like being in your grandmother's dining room, where everyone not only made you truly feel welcome without anything being forced, but seemed to be experiencing joy themselves. Smyth did not have a hint of that vibe the night we dined. It actually made me stressed myself, as if we had been imposing. Of the maybe 12 dishes we ate, at least seven or eight of them were spectacular and inventive. No notes. One or two were unmemorable. But a few of them felt like an assault. Yes, Smyth experiments with fermentation and extremely uncommon elements in the culinary world. But some of the experiments actually felt like they were daring you to finish the dish. What was intended to push the culinary envelope sometimes felt like being pushed beyond the limits of acceptability. To put it mildly, a couple experimental dishes simply didn't taste edible, and my body struggled to accept that I was swallowing it. Whether that was their intention or not, I don't think I will try to push myself in that manner again. Many elevated foods are acquired tastes, but I will be okay with myself not acquiring these in particular.
Food was excellent, wine pairing was spot-on, service was
Food was excellent, wine pairing was spot-on, service was great. Restaurant was spacious with lots of space between tables. Really worth it.
Enjoyable experience
Very elegant and simple at the same time. David at guest relations is great ! Very simple menu , not a lot of options , but top notch quality ! Service is great with nice staff.
Absolutely fabulous.
The best meal we have ever had. My daughter and I were in Chicago on a mother-daughter weekend and went to Smyth - it was incredible. The food taste and texture, presentation, service and attentiveness of staff were amazing. We have been to outstanding restaurants all over the world and none compare with the quality of Smyth. Strongly recommend it!
One of the best ever!
A wonderful evening! Food was excellent, with many unique flavor combinations. For several of the courses, we said "that wouldn't be our first choice" and then were very happily surprised at how much we enjoyed the bites. Service was outstanding and personable. Tables are well spaced. One of the best ever.
I dined here for my birthday last month and it was the most
I dined here for my birthday last month and it was the most amazing experience. This was my 4th time dining here and it might have been my favorite yet. Every single bite was a work of art, plated so beautifully and somehow tasted even better. My favorite thing about Smyth is how experimental they are, i wonder how they even think up some of these things, and how they all work so well! The lamb brain donut was one of my favorite small bites of the evening. The caviar and almond dish was so mouthwatering. The scallop dish was absolutely incredible and is one of my favorite scallop courses i've ever had. The quail course was so mind-blowing, it was one of the best courses i've ever had the pleasure of eating, it gave me goosebumps! The service was wonderful, every one was very kind and helpful without being overbearing, they even gave me a birthday dessert which i was not expecting! Both of the other desserts were so delicious as well and the yuzu tart was perfection. I cannot recommend Smyth enough, it is such a special place.
Smyth's experience did not disappoint! We opted for the
Smyth's experience did not disappoint! We opted for the Chef's Tasting Menu and had 17 amazing courses. The food is presented beautifully and every staff member knew the food, with their passion present every time they discussed the dish or answered additional questions. The flavors were very interesting combos but keeping an open mind, we realized how different combos could shine together in a way we never imagined! It is easy to see why they were awarded three Michelin stars!
Frankly we were so disappointed with this.
It felt like the wait staff just memorized the lines of what the food was and why/how it was made just before telling us. The wait staff was beyond friendly and professional though so no discredit to them, perhaps they're just new. The wine pairings were alright but none stood out. We also got intoxicated with the pairing due to the amount poured vs food served. The only way I can explain this one is that every item was soggy and very seafood based. I'm not the biggest fan so that's on me but let it be known you better like the taste of the sea if you come here. 2 days later we went to Alinea and it was leaps and bounds better in every way from service to food to pairings. I was shocked to see the Michelin stars on this one.
Special place
I will start by stating this is not the place for everyone. Some of the ingredients and flavor profiles will not be appreciated depending on your personal palate. Having said that you will experience unique ingredients that will present the diner with an amazing culinary journey. Service is polished and very knowledgable. While the kitchen is open allowing the diners to watch their dishes being prepared, most 3 Michelin star establishments have the chef speak with the diners sometime during the meal. That wolud be a welcome addition to the dining experience.
Did a 12 course w wine tasting.
An absolutely incredible service and dining experience. 5+ stars
Got to experience this Michelin star restaurant for my 30th.
Every dish was more beautiful than the last. Very much a textural rollercoaster but we so enjoyed every dish. Service was perfectly timed and the space was modern but warm. If you have the chance to try their tasting menu do so!
Excellent food and wine pairing!
Cozy atmosphere, with few tables and pleasant decor. The food is excellent, the wine pairing was wonderful and the staff was attentive, efficient and passionate about what they do, especially the winemaker who served us, who in addition to being extremely knowledgeable always showed a passion for what she was doing!
Review for The Loyalist Patio Section
This combo of fine dine is super hard to get a reservation unless you keep an eye on it. We wanted to celebrate our daughter's birthdate and we only found place at the "patio" which is nothing but a few tables on the curbside. Thankgodness it was not cold for dinner but it was a little windy. The service was great, they even try to create a good atmosphere outside with a Bose speaker hanging on the tree - A for Effort! The food was of high caliber so nothing to say about that. They raise the bar on the wonderful Devil Eggs. We've enjoyed our main courses and desserts as well. The drinks are great too.
Superb 3 star dinner
An over the top dinner last night at Smyth! Superb service in a beautiful modern dining room. The kitchen is open and you can hear the chefs chant together as they prepare various courses. Service is impeccable and the food is too. I’ve posted the menu as well as photos of some of the different course and wine pairings. A really tremendous evening.
Service charge should be included in total it was unclear if tip or what it is be clear just charge the market price.
Everything was great but I hate the service charge add it the total amount total prior to booking , or do not charge it . I am unsure if it is tip or not waiter did not give clear explanation.
Hard Pass on the Loyalist--Especially the insanely overrated burger.
I have been wanting to get up to the Loyalist for years now. It was the famed burger that really piqued my interest, but when I looked at the menu (very bristro, at least it was about a year before I actually went) I knew my wife and I should enjoy it. Some restaurants just have menus that call to me. This was the case with the Loyalist. We arrived before opening and were seated promply, in a good place, and the staff was friendly and attentive. A bit dark, but speak easys are a trend that won't die, so I can forgive them for that. It does work in the basement space, and we felt comfortable. They brought us complimentary cava for our anniversary, and the bubbly was very good (a decent price on the menu and I would order it quite happily). The waiter was friendly, if a bit unseasoned, and demonstrated a close familiarity with the drink, food, and special menus. We came in with a plan, and made few alterations. I usually like to order a house cocktail before putting in a food order, but was okay with the gratis cava as it was good. that said, when ordering, I directly said that I would like to order starters first and then entrees after. The waiter rejected this plan and stated that the chef likes to "time the dishes" to maximize our experience. Well, I should have insisted. The starters (oysters on the half shell, anchovy toast, and beef tartare) arrived quickly and I ordered my first cocktail (my cava was gone now). It took considerable time for my martini to arrive (the cocktail list is extremely ambitions and I didn't trust them to pull these zany drinks off before sampling their wares--I am very happy I abstained given our experience. This meant that I had to choke down the appetisers sans libation. This proved to be quite the chore. The oysters were *very* milty. Some don't mind this, I am not a fan. Do they know you can order from cold water fisheries to avoid this in the spawning months? The anchovy toast was overly salty (we love anchovies) and needed more acid and perhaps a bit more crunch. The best of the trio, the tartare, was clumsly prepared and presented. The yolk on top was broken and spilling upon arrival, and the meat was clumsily minced (just use a grinder if you can't mince it by hand properly) and we both immediately had stringy meat stuck between every single tooth. All that said, the worst part of our appetisers experience was having our mains (fillet of beef, the famed OG burger and fries, and a green salad) arrive before we had fishished our first appetizer. We got our apps within 15 min (three, all at once) and the mains arrived 8 minutes later. So, we were under pressure to finish the raw bar items before the mains got cold. After wolfing down our starters we tucked into the entrees. Sadly, the best of the three was the side salad (which was quite good!). The steak was well cooked, but my God, why would you pour a pint of sweet balsamic reduction over a small filet? No thank you. Now for the reason for the visit. The Famous Loyalist Cheeseburger: a Dish to Miss I suppose it is possible that we were there on an off night, but this was completely disappointing. First of all, the legendary status plus the now near $30 price tag of this burger set the bar very high. What a disappointment. I have no idea how anyone could possibly rate this burger over Au Cheval's essentially perfect burger. The onions were stringy and tough, making the eating process extremely awkward. Did they not skin the onions? The burger was outrageously oversauced, making it a mess to eat and drowning out any beef flavor, which is what I look for in a good burger. We got a dessert, and that was fine but completely unmemorable. Give the Loyalist a Hard Pass. There are many better restaurants in the West Loop.
One of Chicago's two three-star Michelin restaurants
I know what it takes to earn Michelin's three stars. My wife and I have dined at Patrick O'Connell's Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Virginia, on more than a few occasions and we know how agonizingly difficult it was for him to achieve that elusive third star. In Chicago, only two restaurants (Alinea and Smyth) have been awarded three stars. Established in 2016 and located at 177 North Ada Street, between Randolph and Lake Streets, in the West Loop neighborhood, Smyth is situated on the second floor, above a bar called Loyalist, two distinct and exciting restaurants owned and operated by the husband/wife team of John Shields and Karen Urin Shields. After serving time and gaining experience at Alinea and two other Michelin award winners, Tru and Charlie Trotter's, the Shields decided to launch their own ships. Open from 5 to 9 Tuesday through Saturday and offering a 12-course tasting menu, allowing for 2 1/2 hours for the fine dining experience, with appropriate wine pairings, Smyth is everything you would expect from a recipient of the restaurant industry's highest acclaim. Like O'Connell, who switched from an a la carte menu to a tasting menu because it allowed him to be more creative in the kitchen, the Shields show an innovative and imaginative touch with each dish. Like crab soup, barbecued butternut squash, quail egg gently smoked and topped with caviar and barley caramel, lobster gelee with main uni, melon caviar and bergamot oil, sweet Dungeness crab meat flecked with crunchy bits of almond and served with a sauce of freshly pressed walnut oil and creamy almond milk, wagyu sided by a truffle-flavored donut with marrow glaze, lobster claws with bee hive and bee pollen miso with a beeswax hollandaise sauce, rainbow trout, braised beef cheek with dried turnip, black finger lime and burnt cabbage reduction, egg licorice and frozen yogurt meringue, potato ice cream and dark chocolate tartlet studded with kombu. Yes, Smyth is expensive, especially if you chose to dine at the chef's table, but it is the kind of experience you have to experience at least once in your life.
Chicago's No. 1 cheeseburger
The Loyalist restaurant may have to play second fiddle to Smyth, its upstairs neighbor that boasts three-star Michelin credentials. But when it comes to cheeseburgers, Loyalist is No. 1 in Chicago. Located at 177 North Ada Street, in the West Loop neighborhood, Smyth is to fine dining what Loyalist is to a dive bar, a split personality in the best way. John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, both of whom once worked for noted restauranteur Charlie Trotter, present two distinct, exciting restaurants. Loyalist is a rustic-chic gastropub, a dark and sexy basement bar that offers everything from French Onion eclairs to mussels in brandale cream. But the cheeseburger keeps hungry patrons coming back again and again. Open from 5 to 10 Monday through Saturday and from 10 to 2 for Sunday brunch, Loyalist tops its menu with one of our favorite desserts, chocolate profiteroles, a rarity on most menus, with warm caffe-mocha chocolate sauce and miso-vanilla ice cream. While I indulged in my cheeseburger. my wife enjoyed a Bistro Filet with madeira jus and anchovy butter and Carolina gold rice and endive pilaf. The cheeseburger tastes as good as it looks, a juicy beef patty sandwiched between a squishy sesame-seed bun and adorned with melted American cheese and pickled and charred onion. With thick cut fries and garlicky aioli. Isn't that worth at least one Michelin star?
I give the highest compliments for the level of service and
I give the highest compliments for the level of service and care from the GM, Chris. He went above and beyond and I highly recommend Smyth for a great meal and great service!
Phenomenal experience.
It's difficult to offer a review of this type of experience. I have no complaints or issues, and I feel that any compliments that I might lavish, have been stated many times over. The standout highlight of the evening were the custom mocktail created for us throughout the evening. Neither my wife or myself drink alcohol, and the restaurant manager made us unique cocktails for almost each course using different flavors, sauces, and oils from the kitchen. It was amazing. 4 hours flew by. After reading some other reviews, I would like to echo the previous comment about attire. Several people wearing t-shirts and one guy in shorts with sandals.
Service was excellent, the Ambiance was almost too casual!
Service was excellent, the Ambiance was almost too casual! Two food bloggers sat next to us in T-shirts and Shorts. Kinda took away from the experience. Food was an interesting mix of some reinvented classics to a lot of jelly's and similar textures with rather exotic ingredients. I found it to be 10 courses of Amuse Bouche and a couple of three bite dishes. Even after spending $$$$.$$ I was hungry. I guess if you want the experience you should try it, compared to the other 3 Michelin Star Restaurants in The US and one other in Chicago I would choose several of those over Smyth. I would return to Smyth if someone else was paying, but would have a Chicago dog before!
We wanted to come here but there was an issue with their
We wanted to come here but there was an issue with their reservation system and the person we spoke to just seemed clueless so they told us to checkout the loyalist which is their sister restaurant
Wow!
We hadn't been here for a while (see my previous review from a couple of years ago) and we won't make that mistake again. Simply outstanding. Wonderful preparations, nicely presented. Every staff person was friendly and helpful, possibly the least pretentious group ever met at a high end restaurant. Many favorite courses. Only one we didn't love was the "heaviest" savory course, lamb prepared multiple ways. But the others were terrific. The meal has many courses, but most are one or two bites so you don't come away feeling stuffed, just very happy. We need to go back sooner.
way overpriced, some very strange tiny helpings, you will
way overpriced, some very strange tiny helpings, you will leave hungry. pretentious wait staff, this place is trying to be french laundry, which is way, way overrated. do yourself a favor, skip both.
You can’t find better cocktails at this price point in Chicago
Review is for the loyalist I’ve been frequenting this place for a little over a year. Is & ate this prices you can’t find a better place. Sure there’s better cocktails but we’re talking about an intro price of around $30. The normal price for a cocktail here hovers around $15-17. My favorite cocktail here is house of 1k carrots, as well as the sweet potato one, I yam what I am. On this particular night we were introduced to a new cocktail which was natural corn killers which is served with a scoop of sweet corn ice cream from the upstairs smyth. Burgers isn’t the best in the city but it’s good. Food options are ok but trust the true gems lie within the cocktails.
I had high expectation for Smyth but unfortunately I was
I had high expectation for Smyth but unfortunately I was disappointed with my experience, especially since it was recently awarded its 3rd Michelin star. The dining room was beautiful and comfortable. However, I thought the room temperature was rather cool and distracted from my dining experience. The first few courses were delicious. I especially enjoyed the smoked quail egg and the osetra caviar with pumpkin seeds. The Maine uni and mamey sapote was very good. The uni was very fresh and not even a hint of "fishiness". Later in the dinner was the avocado and eucalyptus ice. This was a "miss" in my opinion. The Lone Mountain wagyu and cherry was also a miss. It was served too cold and the cherry did not complement the wagyu well. The final course was an egg licorice and frozen yogurt macaron. It was a beautiful appearing macaron but I don't know too many people that enjoys the taste of black licorice. The black licorice taste reminded me of my least favorite Halloween candy (Good and Plenty) growing up. As expected, the restaurant sent me a friendly reminder of my upcoming reservation. One statement caught my eye... "***Please note that a 20% service charge is added to all parties*** This is not a tip or a gratuity." I have been to other restaurants that added an automatic 20% service charge, which I have absolutely no problem with, however I have never been to a restaurant that said this 20% service charge was NOT a tip/gratuity! Am I really expected to pay 20% service charge and be expected to pay another 18-20% gratuity?? Why not increase the published cost of the meal from $325 to $390/person ($325 + 20% service charge) then ask for an additional gratuity? Why try to "hide" the true cost of the meal by tacking on a service charge on the back end? Just increase the cost of the meal. I had high expectations but unfortunately, I don't think I will be back.
We made this reservation when Smyth was still a 2-star
We made this reservation when Smyth was still a 2-star Michelin restaurant and were pleasantly surprised to find that it acquired the third star before our actual visit. This was probably the best fine dining meal I've ever had. Every single dish and drink was sumptuous, balanced, and memorable. The ambiance was lovely, and the service was phenomenal. We joked with the ladies sitting at the next table about still being hungry and getting a burger after our incredible meal (we were 100% facetious, I swear!), and the servers brought each of our tables amazing burgers and fries at the end of our meals. It was absolutely ridiculous, and yet we found room to finish our bonus course... Fantastic experience!
Incredible food but intense atmosphere
Absolutely incredible food from start to finish. The service was very good bu tthe atmosphere was intense rather than relaxing as staff appeared under pressure to choreograph the customer’s experience.
Dropbox hosted an exclusive round table dinner with some
Dropbox hosted an exclusive round table dinner with some professional from the AEC industry. We were seated in the private dining section on the lower level. The restaurant is cozy & classy! The event had a prefixed menu with a variety of fabulous dishes. Most dishes were meat forward, but the staff at the restaurant were very considerate to get me vegetarian dishes. The vegetarian dishes were flavourful! Cocktails: CITI-DILL-08 & Loyalist old fashioned were just fabulous and a must try!
Three star Michelin for a reason
A true culinary experience with a 15 course dinner. Very modern decor with an open kitchen giving at home feeling. Service is friendly, unformal and not pretentious. Very innovative. Right size portions to let you enjoy everything until the desert. The place is for foodies, not for showing off.
I'm not gonna go over every course for this 3 Michelin
I'm not gonna go over every course for this 3 Michelin experience, but I did provide a pic of the menu I was lucky enough to try if you want to see all of the courses. I really enjoyed myself at Smyth. We did do the chef's table. The vibe of the whole restaurant was great down to the lighting level, the warmth of the wood tables, and the 80's music being softly pumped in the background. The service was impeccable. They run a very tight and orderly brigade. I didn't do a wine pairing, but the old fashioned I had was amazing. If I was to highlight my 3 favorite moments, they would be: 1). MAINE UNI & MAMEY SAPOTE. The presentation was beautiful and the flavors were so original (for me) to be used with Uni that I was transfixed. 2). CRAB SOUP. I watched my partner have a Ratatouille moment the second she raised the cup to her mouth and smelled the seaweed. She grew up on the northern coast of California and I could see her lost in nostalgia. Her eyes teared up as this became an emotional experience for her. 3). LEMON LEAF & BEESWAX PARFAIT. The beeswax foam dries into what looks like a sponge. Very playful and very delicious. This was a very special experience. I would def come back.
Ask yourself what is beyond exquisite? The simple answer is
Ask yourself what is beyond exquisite? The simple answer is Smyth. The attention to detail by every person on staff is evident throughout the space. From the second you walk through their door until you set foot back out said door you are treated to the best the industry has to offer. Whether it be world class wines or the amazing cuisine the Chef has thoughtfully prepared the only thing you will leave there wanting is another reservation. No wonder they have 3 Michelin stars. See you soon and thank you for the incredible experience!
We went here to celebrate two of our friends birthday.
Boy was this a treat. The place was modern, clean and well decorated. The food were amazing. Every dish was prepared to perfection. Service was amazing as well.
Overall good experience , very enjoy.
Strange pace between dishes. Atmosphere was great. We had front side table next to the kitchen. Service was great. We read about experience about additional tip on top of that already 20% service fee. We weren't told that it didn't go to the staff , so we assumed it did. Maybe they got a lot of complaints about the tip issue . Food was amazing. we didn't like one dish which was the dessert , it tasted like black licorice and Chinese prune candy LOL. More like a 2 star than a 3 star Michelin. Was expecting more from a 3 star Michelin and for the price point . Wanted more main dishes. Didn't have beef , pork or chicken . Overall very good experience
We've been to many of the top fine dining places in Chicago
We've been to many of the top fine dining places in Chicago and this place is no where near as good as the others. Out of the 10-12 tastings, 2 were good and the rest were average at best. We did the "reserve wine" pairing and all were average wines. Also, BE AWARE of the 20% added service charge to the bill. This goes to the restaurant (not the servers) so not sure why they don't just raise their prices. Very deceptive! I've seen 3% service charges, but 20% is absolutely ridiculous, especially on a $1200 bill for 2 people. Really bad experience and so very disappointing!
I surprisingly loved our meal.
.. except the duck and foie gras dish. (Sorry, Peking duck trumps this for me.) I thought each dish was very unique and innovative. Service was amazing. They really went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable. The space is cozy, definitely warm, and it doesn't feel very crowded. I couldn't really identify any of the songs. My bf and I were surprised we liked it more than we expected.
Wow! My husband and I dined here last week.
We have dined at other 2 and 3 star Michelin rated spots in the city and this was comparable. This winter menu is very seafood heavy, there was only one meat offering and it was aged duck. I do wish there was more chicken or red meat in the meal. Everything else was shell fish and vegetables. But overall the service and presentation was top notch. When you first walk in you are welcomed by a lovely view of the full kitchen. Everyone is working diligently and listening to each other. I love hearing their synergy and their repetition of cues from the CDC. Some of my favorite dishes of the night were the toasted corn and truffle waffle, crab and almond (with a jasmine spray) BBQ king crab and rice koji, and of course the aged duck and yeast foie gras doughnut. We added the classic wine pairing. It was (I believe) 7 different wines, mostly white (makes sense since it was mostly seafood dishes). The staff said it would amount to about 3 full glasses but I think it was more. It was a great choice to add the wine pairing but of course was a bit pricey. The ambiance is nice. Very different from Alinea and Ever. Lots of timberwood and very West Loop feel. I am obsessed with the wallpaper in the bathrooms!! You have to check that out. :) After our meal my husband wanted a cocktail. They politely told us that they needed our table for the next party but offered a cocktail and champagne on the house to enjoy in the lounge (read: the lobby area). That was very nice of them and we obliged. Thanks Smyth!!
About a 2-2.
5: We were curious to check out Smyth, as the cuisine is inspired from the farmlands of Smyth County in VA! They offer a Smyth and a Chef's Table tasting menu, in which you make advance reservations via tock. We went for the Smyth, and note that if you have any allergies or aversions, you can work with the restaurant for substitutions and/or accommodations. Our menu included: +Smoked Quail Egg +Lobster Coral Custard, Lobster Claw & Raspberry +Lobster & Seaweed Soup +Sweet Peas, Lemon Leaf & Garden Curry Oil +Avocado & Habanada Slushie +Dungeness Crab & Almond +Squash & Caviar +Alaskan King Salmon & White Asparagus +Lobster Tail & Tomatillo +Lone Mountain Beef; Truffle & Bone Marrow Doughnut +New Potato & Pecan +Strawberry * Nasturtium +Sunflower & Marigold Tartlet; Mussel Caramel +Kombucha Rootbeer Float Overall, we felt that there wasn't much of a variety in the menu, considering the 3 stars - don't get me wrong, I do enjoy lobster, but I feel that there should have been a more variety of proteins that were used; the progression of the menu also felt similar in terms of flavors, and the dishes didn't seem too distinct from one another. The courses were aesthetically presented well. Service was fine. The hostess's demeanor should be re-evaluated. The interior of the place has more of a relaxed casual vibe, considering, with exposed frames and darker wood. Extremely limited street parking. +repeats in courses +okay service +extremely limited street parking
We have now been to Smyth twice, once in 2017 and in Jan
We have now been to Smyth twice, once in 2017 and in Jan 2024. Overall, this time we left feeling a bit disappointed and frankly, in some discomfort. Like with any restaurant where you are spending $1000 for two people, you expect excellence. On arrival, we sat unattended for over 25 minutes. As I was breaking my dry January I was gasping for a drink, but it took four or five attempts to finally flag someone down. From there the service was immaculate, but it was a really awkward first impression. The food - far too many of the dishes tasted too similar. I felt like I had gone swimming in the ocean with my mouth open by the end of the night - so many fishy, salty concoctions that whilst immaculately presented and interestingly described, all started to blend in to one. This made the non-salt water dishes really stand out - in particular the avocado was sensational as was the chamomile cloud dessert. Overall, both my wife and I struggled to finish some of the later dishes from the sea and left feeling pretty nauseous and over-salted. An establishment of this calibre should not be thrusting an awkward tipping situation on to its patron. Smyth applies an automatic 20% 'tip' on to your bill, but then the server reminds you that this is in fact not a tip but instead required to cover basic staff needs like healthcare etc and therefore any additional tip is actually a tip. The whole interaction was awkward and surreal - you are about to put your card down on a $1000 check to be told that if you want to tip you need to add a second tip. Do either - apply a service charge that covers all bases and say nothing, or don't apply the service charge let people tip, but dont try and do both. In summary, there is some incredible inventiveness and flavors in some of the dishes but for the most part the food was samey and disappointing. Service snafus and the whole service charge/tip situation further compounded the 'meh' experience.
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.
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.
This review is overdue.
In part, it's because I wanted time to truly consider our experience and making sure I wasn't assigning five stars simply because of the price of Smyth or their three Michelin stars. And, I assure you, with the clarity of time, I am not conflating our experience with ratings. Let's start with the most important thing to me: I am allergic to an ever-growing list of ingredients. I consistently dance a line of wanting exceptional experiences dining out and being more than a little fearful of encountering a rogue allergen. When I made this reservation, it was aspirational - I fully expected someone to look at the list of my allergens and point me in the direction of the nearest Portillo's. Instead, I received an email from Chris, who asked some clarifying questions and assured me that they could keep me safe. Similarly, on the night of our dining experience, our server reviewed my allergens with me again and told me it was now her job to keep me safe. The food was lovely. The adjustments made to my courses so I could enjoy the experience were brilliant - at other establishments, I've felt like an afterthought. It was evident here that the chefs considered what it would mean to remove one ingredient and what should replace it in terms of flavor, texture and experience. A poached persimmon replaced an oyster; sunchoke broth replaced lobster. The menu was eclectic and fun, featuring ingredients you don't often find on menus (like the pawpaw fruit which, like me, is native to Ohio). My husband, who is annoyingly not allergic to anything. enjoyed the menu the way it was intended but agreed my experience was not lacking. We each did the traditional wine pairing; our server was gracious enough to give us a two reserve samples to compare and contrast. Service was impeccable. The space was warm and welcoming on a cold Chicago night. The wine pairings were quite good. My only regret is not more appropriately thanking Chris or our server before leaving. Smyth is a rare dining experience, and to be able to enjoy it without worry makes it even more exceptional. I am beyond grateful for a meal we won't stop talking about it and for the care everyone at Smyth put into the experience.
Best 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
Would 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.
Review 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 …
Excellent 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!
Above 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.
Connect with users posting reservations for Smyth Chicago
AppointmentTrader is a community-driven platform where users can exchange their reservations or leverage their personal relationships with Smyth Chicago. Buyers can make informed decisions using automated seller ratings, which reflect past transactions and reliability.
Each posting on AppointmentTrader shows you which user submitted it and along with that provides a trackrecord of that user which indicates how much experience
the user has and how many percent of their transactions resulted in them issuing a refund.
If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Smyth Chicago at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Smyth Chicago page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* BraveCloth47, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* BraveCloth47 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to BraveCloth47 for any questions Peter may have as BraveCloth47 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* BraveCloth47 now uses their connections at Smyth Chicago to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If BraveCloth47 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, BraveCloth47 receives the $200 reward which is credited to BraveCloth47's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Smyth Chicago!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
