Ate here in February as my first fine dining experience and there's nothing to say other than it was absolutely delicious. My only complaint is that booking a reservation online is for two people--not sure if going solo is an option (admittedly I didn't call and ask) but this is definitely the type of experience I wouldn't mind doing on my own! read more

We came here on our wedding night and the experience started with a handwritten note which the staff had signed. It was so unexpected and wonderful, so thank you guys for that touch. I won't spend much time reviewing the food because I'm frankly not very qualified - but everything was interesting and presented beautifully. The lobster with raspberry sauce, paired with a sparkling rose, was our favorite! I was also excited to see a few of my favorite varietals on the wine pairing. I did want to mention the service though, which was outstanding. We had a fleet of people watching our table, but without ever feeling like they were there until they needed to be. The food and wine was always served at just the right pace for us (which notably varied from other tables nearby). A couple drips of sauce on the table and someone glided by within two minutes to erase it. Best of all though, everyone we interacted with made us feel so at ease and welcome while they educated us on the food and wine. Thank you Smyth for the wonderful experience on our wedding night. read more

Smyth - We ate here on our wedding day and there was a handwritten card that they had all signed. So beautiful. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Located on a quiet street in West loop, this is a two Michelin star restaurant. Open layout with classy and humble decor. Dress code is casual and millennial friendly. Reservations are required. Allow at least 2 hours for the meal. The restaurant only does course meals. No À la carte options for the food. You do have a exceptional selection of wines and spirits. We opted for the 'Smyth', a 8 course menu priced at $155/person. The food was absolutely delicious with flavors I had never experienced before. Every dish was meticulously crafted and complimented the theme of the menu. My favorite dish being the 'Spring Onions With Dungeness Crab & Rhubarb Root'. Also loved the potato dish that was simple and mind blowing at the same time. We also treated ourselves to a 2003 Riesling priced at $100 for a bottle. The wine was beautiful and enhanced the experience. While the food was astonishing, what stayed with me is the hospitality at the restaurant. No doubt the food is worthy of its Michelin stars, but the kitchen/serving staff makes the experience a memorable one. I have never experienced a more genuine, courteous, funny and personable bunch of individuals. The experience was startlingly impressive. I would definitely want to go back to the Smyth next time I am in Chicago. read more

Smyth - Course menu - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had dinner with my partner at Smyth and we both agreed that it was hands down the greatest meal/ dining experience of our lives. I didn't know food could taste this phenomenal. Every bite had so much complexity yet was so balanced. The ambiance is high class while still so welcoming and jovial. I have nothing but high praises for Smyth- it is absolutely incredible. We chose the truncated menu and were very fulfilled, but now we want to visit again for the full experience. I love when smaller menus are offered as it gives you a chance to dip your toe in before a larger financial commitment. That said, Smyth is worth every penny. Unbelievable! read more

See all

Just another spectacular meal. Went for my wife's birthday and the experience was unparalleled. Unbelievably wonderful food served by a world class, caring staff. The reserve wine pair was mind blowing. read more

See all

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! read more

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. read more

*before and during covid review* Take-out caviar kit + Smyth supper 4 stars Of course food during covid wasn't ideal especially from places that are normally incredible but this meal was pretty good even with being take out. For the caviar kit we received: A bottle of champagne (Serge Faust Brut)- very bubbly and flavorful. Smyth exclusive Ossetia caviar- delicate, salty bliss. Salmon roe deviled eggs- not my favorite, felt a little over the top with ingredients and the flavors were off to me. Smoked lake fish with apple and lemon- again not my favorite. I just personally don't like the flavor of smoked fish. Brown butter potato chips- delicious! Hard to beat potato chips in brown butter! In the Smyth supper we got: The ricotta cavatelli pasta with gravy and meatballs- very good. Sauce was very tasty, loved the ricotta cheese and the meatballs were huge and unique in texture and flavor. The only thing I would say is that the texture of the pasta itself was too soft. Other than that it was a great dish. Salad & fixings: super fresh and excellent flavors and seasoning. Really nice to have a light salad to go along with the heavy pasta and meatballs. Tiramisu- scrumptious is the only word I can think of. Rich coffee flavor with creamy and chocolatey mixed in. Absolutely lovely. 18 course Omaha tasting menu with wine pairing: 5+ stars Please see photos for information on specific items from the tasting since it is a lot to list here. For our anniversary last year we decided to super treat ourselves with a pricey tasting menu and wine pairing at Smyth. We went for the Omaha, I got the regular wine pairing and my partner got the reserve. From the moment we walked in we completely felt like royalty. That sat us right where the action was so we could be close to the kitchen and see all the chefs buzzing around and composing dishes. It was a great spot and was also far enough that we could have a conversation without too much noise. When the wine pairing started it was clear that the reserve was well worth the extra money. At one point my partner actually said "I think I completely understand wine now, this is incredible." By the end we were super tipsy on the wine pairing so there's that too! When the food started it was just 18 courses of beautiful, mind blowing, inspiring, creative and unique food. I really don't have words to describe how amazing this tasting menu was. All I can really say about it is, if you absolutely love food and love trying new food put their tasting menu on your wishlist. The one we got was very pricey but from the photos I've seen, it looks like they serve some of the same items across all the tastings. Im sure a cheaper one will do the trick too. It was truly an out of body experience and we will forever compare other tasting menus to this one. Overall I honestly just love Smyth (and the loyalist) because they always create the most incredible food. Their tasting menu will be hard to beat but I am looking forward to going to another one at Smyth as soon as the world gets a little more normal again. read more

See all

For our first anniversary, the wife and I decided to splurge a little. Well, the actual anniversary would be spent at a 1st birthday party, but restaurants aren't kind to Sunday nights. I made the reservations about a month in advance, and when I realized I only pre-ordered one drink pairing instead of two, it was easy to make the update. My credit card had changed between the booking and the dinner, but I was able to pay the rest the night of. Smyth's decor and ambience is beautiful but also very relaxed. Like I was in a friend's cabin, but the cabin was decked out with the best kitchen appliances ever. And a giant fireplace just for imbuing things with smoke. Our servers also carried the same tone through the night. When we arrived we first went down to the Loyalist, because we weren't quite sure that Smyth was upstairs. The host at the Loyalist was able to call up and let them know we were coming. At our table we found a cute little card congratulating us and signed by the staff. We went with the ten course dinner as opposed to the eight or eighteen. I'm not sure if they try to time all the courses together because there were definitely some lengthy gaps in between some of the dishes, but at least we had copious amounts of wine. We were a little confused though...when they leave the bottle at your table, that's just to look at it, right? We debated refilling our own glasses, but our night ended with us pretty tipsy anyway. My three favorite dishes of the night were the gulf shrimp, brioche doughnut, and the chocolate bar. The shrimp was served with this sweet sauce, almost reminiscent of Werther's Originals. It was just on the verge of too sweet, but it worked great. The doughnut was served piping hot and made with beef fat, and was perfect for soaking up the bowl of beef au jus it was served with. The chocolate was loaded with umami, which contrasted with the delicate structure in which it was served. Not everything was loved, but there was definitely enough to delight us both, and we both had different favorites. The only other thing to watch for are tiny portions, the kind that make me feel my dad's disapproving glare from across the state. Like, couldn't I get two of those succulent shrimp instead of one? This combined with the long gaps are not a good combination, and most of the dishes are lighter too. But then again, fine dining is all about the experiences and exploring curious and new flavors which we got our fill of. Smyth is worthy of the praise it's been getting and makes for a fun date night to celebrate a big occasion. read more

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! read more

Spectacular! This is a special restaurant doing wonderful things. I've been fortunate enough to have had dinner there twice. Each experience has been exceptional, and I cannot wait to return again and again. I like the ambiance and feel of the space. It's flexible in that some people come dressed up but others dine wearing jeans and a t-shirt. It's great for date night, but there were also a few larger parties of 3-6. The tables aren't congested which I appreciate. The kitchen is open and visible to the dining room so you can see the chefs work their magic. There is a nice energy in the room, and the music is a cool mixture of 70s, 80s, and 90s. When you look around, everyone seems to be having a good time and enjoying themselves :) The service is professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. Everyone was so gracious to answer all of my questions about ingredients in a dish, cooking methods, etc. Aside from the space and the service, the highlight of Smyth is without a doubt the food. It is phenomenal. Chef Shields is putting out food that no one else in Chicago is. His food is seasonal, creative, and progressive yet thoughtful. It feels like he's cooking with freedom and having fun doing so but he's not stretching too far where the food becomes too cerebral or inaccessible to diners. It's difficult for a tasting menu to be strong from start to finish, but Chef Shields does this easily. I recommend following him on Instagram (@chefjohnshields) and Instagram stories because it's fun to see dishes he's currently working on. I really appreciate that Smyth regularly updates the menus on their website! I love periodically checking and drooling over the latest offerings. Smyth is a destination restaurant that should be on everyone's list! Highly recommend! read more

See all

Everything was delicious I just wished they were a little more experimental with flavors specifically with the tomato dish The actual location is well decorated and has a nice feel to it. Staff was phenomenal. Definitely will return. read more

See all

Went here on a Friday at 8:45. Need to make a reservation at least two weeks in advance to get a table in this two Michelin stars restaurant. When you make the reservation you pay in advance for the whole meal. I really liked the decor, it felt more like a home rather than a restaurant. We went with the 8 course tasting menu which takes around 2 hours. The food was really good specifically I enjoyed the smoked beef tongue and the brioche doughnut. Also the shrimp and the Halibut were great. Finally, my favorite dessert between the three shown in the menu was the yogurt meringue. Maybe I made a mistake and went to the gym before heading to Smyth but I felt the portions were super small. Although, I enjoyed the food left the place very hungry. Very conveniently their other more casual restaurant were just downstairs that I grabbed a burger there! read more

See all

Fantastic food; superb service. Highly recommend their wine pairing. The trout dish was phenomenal, it reminded me of Noma. The steak was aged to perfection (100+) days. read more

Smyth - Oyster - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Delicious food - service definitely needs improvement! Very snobby and uptight.. Great place to celebrate a special occasion though! Keep in mind there is no valet so plan to arrive a few minutes early to look for parking!! Head over to the Loyalist for an after dinner drink! (You might get some "eyes" if you don't order food! read more

We were very disappointed with our experience last night at Smyth, and as another reviewer put it there are a lot of "opportunities" that they need to work on. My husband made reservations 3 months ago for us to experience the 12-course tasting menu. We've dined at every Michelin Star rated spot in town, and others abroad around the world, so we feel like we have an idea of what to expect when it comes to service, preparation, tasting menu portions, etc. You know, because this wasn't our first rodeo. First, I must state that I have food allergies. Not only am I Celiac, but I'm also allergic to seafood and shellfish and carry an Epi-Pen on me at all times. My food allergies have never been an issue eating at any Michelin Star rated restaurants that we've been to both locally and internationally. We disclosed my dietary restrictions at the time of booking, but no one bothered to follow up or ask about it prior to our arrival. Upon arrival, our table was not ready even though we showed up on-time. We ordered a drink, and 20 minutes later our cocktails had still not been prepared so we were brought to our table. It was at least another 5 minutes before our drinks arrived, so 25 minutes from order to delivery. When we sat down, our server introduced himself and then went abruptly in to asking about my dietary restrictions and asked if I actually had those food allergies. To be honest it was kind of annoying, as I don't enjoy being "high maintenance" while dining out and wish I could eat whatever I pleased. But when he said "oh, um... ok, woah" in response to me saying I was celiac and had a severe allergy to seafood and shellfish, I got the feeling that the restaurant hadn't even bothered to think about what the heck to feed me for 12 courses. But I told myself that they are professionals, and surely I would still have an amazing meal. So, yeah... about that -- Not really. Aside from a few slivers of oxtail and gelatinous poached fois gras, my meal was completely vegetarian. I cannot begin to express how disappointed I was in their lack of planning and ability to accommodate my dietary restrictions. For $300 per person (plus babysitter!) to eat dinner, some fermented green onions and a dehydrated beet do not make a meal! Good to know: They count "palette cleansers" and goddamned AU JUS as courses, so imagine our surprise when the meal started winding down. As the first dessert arrived, and my stomach was literally growling from not eating all day to prepare for what I thought was going to be a 12-course mini-feast, we started looking at eachother like WT-?! Our night of strange flavors (nothing really wowed us unfortunately) and tiny servings of vegetables was not going to suffice. After we settled the tab, my coat was unable to be found for some time. While we waited, we looked up where the nearest place was to grab a bite to eat. They finally found my coat, and we drove around the corner to Shake Shack for a late night lettuce wrap burger. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about fine dining. But I'm truly baffled as to how this establishment earned not one, but TWO Michelin Stars with their service issues across the board. Instead of trying too hard to be "avante garde" with dehydrating and fermenting every dang teensie course, perhaps it's time to try a little harder with just serving great food with great service? Just a thought. [I forgot to take a pic of the Au Jus, but if you count all the pics there are 11. Every one of those were "courses." Totally NOT an acceptable 12-course meal.] UPDATE: Upon further inspection, it appears they fed us the 8-COURSE TASTING MENU and not the 12-course that we prepaid for! Really, Smyth?! read more

See all

Tuesday night 2-21-23, I had the wonderful dining experience at Smyth and The Loyalis. The food was outstanding however what really stood out was the careful and meticulous service our large group received from the staff. They were attentive to our needs while also being unintrusive. When dining I need to pay particular attention to menu items due to food allergies. I shared these concerns the day before the event in a email. Within 15 to 20 minutes of email I had a immediate reply from the General Manager of the restaurant reassuring no issues. During the food serving time I had a personal server coming to me and informing me what I was being served and describing the individual ingredients in each entre. This was a real first for me. In summary I highly recommend Smyth and The Loyalis particularly if you suffer from food allergies. Its going to be great experience. read more

Our experience at Smyth was nothing short of enchanting. I have no photos because I was so truly immersed in the experience I couldn't bear to bring out my phone. We had a vegetarian our group and I was impressed at the versatility they created in making their food and my food pair with the same wine. Interestingly, sometimes my food paired better with the wine, sometimes it was the vegetarian dish that was a better pair. All of the food was excellent. I tried things I normally wouldn't, and was caught off guard by the excellence of some dishes. The raspberry cream lobster and rose' was to die for! I liked that while they had the typical things you see on an upscale menu (caviar, foie grois) they also had many down to earth dishes, like avocado, and ribeye. I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed the wine pairings as well. The service was incredible. I felt that the staff genuinely cared that I had a great experience as a diner, and as a patron. They were knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and made me and my partner feel so comfortable. It was an absolute pleasure talking with them about our dishes, and our experience as a whole. Smyth operates as a well oiled machine and every little detail they do shows in the food and experience. I honestly don't understand the negative reviews about the service. We saw a couple walk out because of bad service and it was honestly just a grand display of the customers' lack of dignity. They good the same service as ours, and as an ex server, I can say with 100% confidence that their service was not what contributed to their poor night. Smyth is worth the stop, and the price, and I highly recommend it when you're wanted to try something exciting, special, and unique. read more

The food here is delicious and very high quality. I did the Omaha 20 course option and had a great time. The staff is phenomenal and made sure that my beverages were always refilled. Loved my time here and will definitely be coming back. They also gave me a to go box with a pastry in it! So sweet of them. read more

See all

Smyth is definitely worth a visit as the food is excellent. You will not leave this place overly full or hungry. Most of the courses were solid, but some were just meh. In my opinion, Smyth does not quite live up to its 3 Michelin stars hype. If Michelin gave half stars, I would say Smythi comes in at a solid 2.5. Service was very good, not issues whatsoever. The restaurant itself has a nice vibe with the open kitchen not too far away from the dining area. One thing I would recommend is a dress code. When you are dining at a place where the bill will run well upwards of $1000, patrons should at least look the part. Wine pairing starts at $215 per person and goes up from there for the pricier option with more vintage offerings. House wine list is exceptional with prices to match. Expect a 20% service charge which is NOT the tip. The tip itself is at your discretion, which I did not have a problem with as it was called out on Tock as well as the follow up emails from the restaurant. Overall a great experience and would highly recommend. read more

I've been to many coursed menu restaurants. I must say Smyth offers originality in taste and different combinations of flavors that is unexpected to pair well. For instance ... the Dungeness crab and foie gras dish... (my favorite) was rich and keeps you wanting to take another bite. The beet dish was my least favorite but I would give them the originality part. The rib eye was dry aged over 100 days which gave its full body flavor and tenderness. I would return to Smyth to try their other menus. read more

See all

Food was exciting and the wine pairings were amazing. That being said, the service and atmosphere left a lot to be desired. We got the full tasting menu and wine pairing ($1200 for two), and asked several times where our wine was. We also sat in a mostly empty restaurant, which felt weird for a 7:45pm seating. I would wholeheartedly recommend the chef, but our server didn't seem like she really wanted to be there. And at the end of the meal, our bill reflected a tax on top of the 20% service charge and full meal price, which we were told didn't include server tip (what??) Having been to a few restaurants of similar caliber, I probably wouldn't recommend the Smyth based on how much we paid for what we received. At this price point, atmosphere and experience are a huge part of what you're paying for, and felt like it was missing. read more

Slightly underwhelming. Don't get me wrong they push boundaries and are extremely creative, however some of the flavors were boring and repetitive. Main issue was the service. This may sound over the top but when you spend 1k for two people you expect the best. Came in for a 9pm reservation was ten minutes early yet had to wait thirty minutes and was seated at 9:20. Unfortunately, had to wait 20 minutes multiple times between some courses. Lastly, 20 percent tip was included and when I asked about if additional tip was standard waiter said it's was so the servers have a livable wage. This may seem over the top but I found the moment uncomfortable and felt I was being guilt tripped even though I had already tipped 20 percent. Keep in mind I was nitpicking a bit, but for the price and 3 Michelin stars I expected perfection. read more

I *really* enjoyed the two-Michelin-starred Smyth, though I cannot feign True Knowledge and must admit that I don't necessarily have the required experience to rate/compare one Michelin-starred restaurant from another. I say this because our party of seven would have rated Smyth just 2.5 stars while I am giving it 4, perhaps a bit generously. Though others in my group have been to Oriole and Alinea -- a restaurant with three(!) Michelin stars -- I have been to only one restaurant that was *formerly* Michelin-starred (it was Vie, which I really loved). However, nobody else in my group likes to cook, which I feel gives a completely different perspective on food versus simply being able to afford a $200.00/person dinner and eating it. I've written the review from MY perspective, a "cook's perspective," while inserting the collective reviews and ratings of 6 others who didn't always taste what I did, but definitely pointed out minor shortcomings in Smyth's service such as leaving empty cocktail glasses on the table for up to 15 minutes. The restaurant is really nice looking and their bar downstairs (called The Loyalist) looks overly similar. Once we moved upstairs for the dinner reservation, a few of us felt that a table of seven paying $1400 in a very similar atmosphere wasn't the right approach; it was as if we were still customers in the same bar, but the tab was much higher. Note that you pre-pay at Smyth, so the only add-on billable is alcohol. I've included the opinions of my six fellow diners, including a bunch of nice photos too. Here we go: our 8-course Smyth experience! # Amuse-bouche --- Capital Oyster Seasoned w. Dulse, Turnip & Preserved Berries Me = GREAT... A small bit of strawberry really elevated the taste of what you are used to with a raw oyster. This was a neat combination of ingredients and really unique. Table = (4 Likes // 2 Dislikes) The dislikes didn't eat it as one bite and could taste the "seafoodness" of the oyster. COURSE #1 --- Lightly Steamed Halibut w. Fermented Green Tea Me = GREAT... Perfectly cooked halibut and the blob of green-tea-infused gelee? Amazing and subtle all at once. Table = (4 Likes // 2 Dislikes) Green tea is polarizing, I guess. COURSE #2 --- Glazed Red Kuri Squash, Quince, Young Pumpkin Seeds & Wild Rice Me = GREAT... It included foie gras and the wild rice took form as foam, which had a really pleasant umami effect. Table = (6 Likes // 0 Dislikes) Universal love on this one. COURSE #3 --- Celery Root Glazed w. Truffle, Burnt Onion & Barley Me = GREAT... This little tart-like bite was delicious. I love root vegetables and Smyth really gourmet'd this one up a notch. Table = (6 Likes // 0 Dislikes) All seven of us enjoyed it. COURSE #4 --- Maitake Cooked w. Birch Wood & Wintergreen Me = GREAT... "Hey! I can make this." Ok, it was simple and I can't make it the *same* way, but this mushroom is grown locally, so we can all find it, grill it and serve with a butter sauce like they do here. Table = (6 Likes // 0 Dislikes) Meaty and mushroomy, this course was appreciated by the anti-fungi members of the group. COURSE #5 --- Smoked Beef Tongue w. Sprouted Wheat & Pickled Plum Me = GREAT. GROSS. GREAT. (LOL) I almost called Smyth for a substitution when I found out tongue was on the menu, but wow, I loved the flavor of the sauce and the charred edges of the tongue. The center is akin to Spam, so yeah... just eat it and don't ponder whether the food tastes YOU! ;-) Table = (3 Likes // 3 Dislikes) I got others' plates since they really didn't like the Spam-like softness, so that is what it is. I agree somewhat that the menu's beef selection was visibly cheap: tongue? Nothing of higher value/cost for a $1400 tab? # Amuse-bouche --- Brioche Doughnut w. Aged Beef Au Jus Me = GREAT... A fresh, Krispy-Kreme style doughnut without the glaze? I could eat so many! Table = (4 Likes // 2 Dislikes) This table only gets worse, as two people were unimpressed with the best doughnut I ever had. SAD! COURSE #6 --- Milk Chocolate, Raspberry Preserves, Shiitake & Kelp Me = GREAT... So delectable and divine. You could smell the powdered mushroom dust on top, but once you bit in, the soft ingredients combined into a Lady-Godiva-like dream. Table = (6 Likes // 0 Dislikes) Odd, this one... some felt it was overthought and could not sense the shiitake or kelp oil per se, but I noticed all ingredients and they just worked. COURSE #7 --- Roasted Kombu Ice Cream, Fermented Grains & Black Apple Me = BLAH... This was fiiiiiine, but weird. The ice cream was not interesting and the chewiness of add-ins was off-putting. Table = (0 Likes // 6 Dislikes) I ate two extra plates; hated by all. COURSE #8 --- Egg Yolk Soaked In Salted Licorice w. Frozen Yogurt Meringue Me = GREAT... So creamy with berry preserves hidden beneath. Lots of intriguing flavors and texture; the egg yolk had a chewy exterior. Table = (1 Like // 5 Dislikes) Everyone else was crazy and I ate three extra plates, woo hoo! read more

See all

Visited on 11/22/2017. I've never dined at a restaurant with 2 Michelin stars before, but I figured this was the perfect occasion to celebrate "Siblings-Giving" and my sister-in-law's birthday. Smyth (pronounced like "Smith" as in Agent Smith from the Matrix trilogy, not Sm-EYE-th) is one of those venues that should be on a bucket list for anyone spending a night in Chicago. Should you decide to drive, there is plenty of free street parking along Ada St. Should you arrive early, head downstairs to The Lobbyist for a strong cocktail. Should you celebrate a special event, inform the staff prior to your reservation and they will take the time to sign a birthday card, bring a complimentary bottle of champagne for the table, and contribute to the end of the party with a delightful chocolate dessert. Course #1: Salted Radish & Apple with Oyster & Seaweed (5/5) - It was large enough to savor with a couple of bites unlike a traditional oyster shooter, but small enough to wet an appetite and set appropriate expectations for the rest of the night. Course #2: Dungeness Crab & Foie Gras with Scrambled Kani Miso (5/5) - For some reason, I thought this would be amazing for brunch. Just make sure to enjoy an equal amount of all the ingredients in each bite, and don't devour the entire piece of foie gras at once like my brother. Course #3: Slow Cooked Beet with Boudin Noir (4/5) - Unfortunately, the explanation of how they created this dish was the best part... I think they managed to dehydrate the beet and re-hydrate it with juice from a lobster over 48 hours? Maybe I just don't enjoy beets after two unpleasant juice cleansing experiences that made all of my bowel movements look like they were hatched by Grimace from McDonald's. Course #4: Aged Ribeye with Marmite and Buttermilk (5/5) - The main event, and the reason why we opted for the five-course tasting menu over the eight-course tasting menu (I think the eight-course menu offered Beef Tongue as the main dish, and if you have read my Yelp reviews before, you know that I am not a fan). As the open kitchen was right next to our table, we could smell these ribeyes being prepared which added to the anticipation and enjoyment of this dish. Course #4: Brioche Doughnut with Aged Beef Au Jus (6/5) - This is the most popular dish at the restaurant, and was easily everyone's favorite at the table. Had one of us taken more than our allotted doughnut, we probably would have gotten into an old-fashioned sibling fistfight. I would easily pay $30 for a half-dozen box of these glorious pastries, and wish Smyth would sell these to-go like Molly's cupcakes one day. Hi Smyth... could you please do that? Course #5: Milk Chocolate, Raspberry, Shiitake & Kelp (5/5) - Just a little snack before the real dessert, and this had a strong mushroomy after-taste from the Shiitake sprinkles on top. Course #5: Egg Yolk Soaked in Salted Licorice with Frozen Yogurt Meringue (6/5) - I'm a huge fan of eggs. I think adding a fried egg on top of pretty much anything adds +1 to it (french fries, burgers, white rice, etc.), but I never thought about eating an egg yolk for dessert. It was cleverly presented with the perfect balance between sweet and savory. Cliff Notes Version: There is only one problem with Smyth: it raises the bar extremely high for any restaurant that will follow it. Ever since my previous roommate introduced me to the food-snob life, trying new restaurants has been an epic, five year, Lord of the Rings-style journey for me. There have been several ups and downs along the way, but I feel that once you try Smyth, it's like you've reached the end of the game. This was hands down the best $85 I've ever spent on an unforgettable two hour dining experience, so now I guess trying to find a place that can top Smyth (without severely digging into my checking account) will be the sequel to this game. read more

See all

I really enjoyed this place! It was amazingly delicious food with an awesome vibe and great staff. This was definitely one of my most memorable dining experiences and each aspect of fine dining essentially culminated into an incredible experience. Food tasted amazing and the desserts seemed never-ending! It showed as one course for desserts but we probably ended up with 6 dishes. It was so much and we were so full, we got dessert sent home with us! I loved their attention to detail including the small touches like having a handwritten card from the staff. It was an incredible experience and definitely highly recommended! read more

See all

Let me get my issues out of the way before telling you what I liked, because there was more that I liked than not. Issue #1: The food here is not a good value. We paid just below $500 for the Smyth menu and I doubt there was 4 ounces of protein in the entire menu. We came in hungry and left hungry and this is simply not acceptable in my book (at this price point and especially at a 2 star michelin restaurant). Issue#2: I really wanted to have a talk with the kitchen post meal. Most of what they did was good, but there were some things that were particularly offensive. For example, parsley oil and raspberries simply do not go together. There is absolutely no way to make this delicious. This flavor profile sent chills up my spine...it was the culinary equivalent of nails on a chalk board...I'm not sure I've recovered. Issue#3: The dessert courses were AWFUL. Seaweed and chocolate? Just stop. Cucumber with cream and pumpkin seeds? cucumber is not a dessert item, please stop doing this. I felt like the kid in the Emperor's new clothes sitting and eating this brine. I wouldn't be surprised if the desserts are what hold this place back from further greatness. NO. Here's what I liked: 1. The service was impeccable. Maybe the best I've experienced in Chicago. There was not a single misstep there. 2. I love their come as you are policy. It leaves complete room for visitors to focus on the food. 3. The beef fat doughnuts were OUTSTANDING. They were the Ron Swanson of doughnuts. I would go back just for the doughnuts. 4. The food was interesting, aside from the obvious misses (mentioned above) I did not feel I could have cooked the food better myself and this is a rare experience for me these days. 5. It was a dining experience that was overall satisfactory: The temperature was perfect, the music was perfect, the volume was perfect, the silverware was great, the bathroom was inviting. It was just great. The utensils were interesting....I mean, I am such a snob and I loved everything. So much of this was excellent, I would recommend despite the issues that I experienced. Maybe tell them that you have a cucumber allergy to avoid the cucumber dessert experience. read more

Smyth blew me away. I chose Smyth for an anniversary after seeing everyone raving about it over the past year. I had high expectations from that and due to the 2 Michelin stars and the restaurant and staff immediately delivered. Our initial interaction with the host was great and the table had a Happy Anniversary card waiting for us, signed by the staff! They continued the great service by giving us a few champagne glasses on the house to go with the standard wine pairing! We had the 8 course tasting menu and all of the courses delivered. A lot of tasting menus are more presentation than actual good food, but Smyth struck the right taste to interesting balance. I won't spoil the whole menu, but the stand outside for me were the 'meatball' beets and cow tounge surprisingly! The desert was also exceptional. The wine pairing is essential to a good tasting menu in my mind, so I was happy to see that the wine kept up with the food. Each glass complimented the course very well and the sommelier explained the reasoning behind each glass thoroughly. I can't recommend Smyth enough and I hope to be back soon! read more

Smyth - meatball beets - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Honestly, the best meal and experience my Husband and I have EVER had. I work in the food and beverage ingredient industry, and I love trying all of the spots around our great city, and Smyth has been on our list for awhile now. I'm so happy we did it! The Avocado/Pecan dish was by far, one of the most interesting concepts I've tasted in my life- absolutely hit on everything, taste, texture, temperature, etc. The wine pairing was always excellent, and the pairings managed to enhance each course perfectly. This has definitely taken over as our new favorite spot. My husband also enjoyed the music, as he sang along through most of our meal. As soon as we sat down and "Stairway to Heaven" came on, we knew it would be a great night ;) Thank you Smyth team for such an epic experience!!! read more

My return offered a different perspective on Smyth. This meal, shared with my girlfriend, whose roots are more similar to the environment Smyth means to evoke, allowed me to appreciate it in a way that I didn't on my first visit here. Still, enough has been said about the food by many more capable than I. Personally, a lot of the culinary elements remained the same. A delicious meal, not necessarily stunning, with some of the favourites I enjoyed more than a year ago. No theatrics, nothing pretentious, nothing ultra-luxe, but somehow the experience overshadowed the taste. To me, Smyth has this intangible "it," an ability to draw surprise, evoke emotion, the elements that make a great tasting menu beyond any stunning individual dishes. If there was anything that stood out, perhaps it was the trout. To me, it was just yet another good dish from a well-regarded restaurant. To my partner, it was reminiscent of a forest and stream near her hometown, fresh from the summer Norwegian rain. I think its the pursuit of this "it" onto which many of us pursue food as a hobby. When a restaurant is capable of offering such an impactful dish, I think it will always be worth visiting. read more

Overall the dishes are very creative. My favorite would be the age ribs, dungeness crab with fois gras and their house made chocolate with shiitake mushroom The rest are not bad. I find everything is over seasoned a little bit. I like their service and decor. read more

See all

We've tried both Aliena and Grace so figured we would try out a few Michelin 2 star venues this visit to Chicago. Smyth did not disappoint. For the first time ever, we decided to bring along a guest to our chef's tasting meal - our 3 year old daughter! All I have to say is the Smyth team is AMAZING. They greeted us with open arms and even asked if they can go across the way and pick up some McDonalds for our little girl. They had me at "HappyMeal". We were seated at a cozy semi-circle booth with an amazing view of their open kitchen. I didn't realize it until after our meal that Chef Chris from Grace opened up Smyth. No wonder we enjoyed the food. He took really good care of us last time we went to Grace with our niece and her friend from Houston. So... my favorite dishes were the Dungeness Crab & Foie Gras, Beef Tongue w. Bone Marrow, and Brioche Donut w. Aged Beef Au Jus. I also did the wine paring and loved each pour. We were satisfied with our meal and impressed with the team and service. We will visit again once they earn that final star! read more

See all

I had a wonderful experience here. The last time I had a 2 Michelin starred restaurant was at the Ledbury in London way before the pandemic. Personally, I enjoy the complexity and extreme creativity of each course. The use of simple ingredients and the incredible cooking technique. Both allows each bite to be so different and special. They re-use ingredients throughout the courses and I have to go through the pictures to remind myself - did I had something similar? I love that engaging experience especially there is no hard copy of the menu. Overall, I love the cooking technique presented here and the creativity of the dishes. Yeah the 20% service fee doesn't include tips, so what? If you driving a lambo, you want to complain about the gas price? It's all about the experience. In addition, if you don't like mix of ingredients - salty/sweet/sour all in one plate, you will probably want to go to a steakhouse or somewhere else that don't spend time thinking of their menu. Again, I will for sure come back. read more

See all

I chose Smyth for my Mother's 60th birthday celebration. We were blown away! From the very moment we walked through the doors, we were mesmerized. From the open kitchen to the friendly staff, everything was amazing! The food was well balanced and perfectly executed. The best part of the entire experience was the Staff. My mother and I have never tried a Micelin Star restaurant, much less a 2 Michelin Star, and to say we are glad to have chosen Smyth as our first is a tremendous understatement. If you have a chance, I would highly recommend trying this place! read more

Smyth - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

My wife and I went last night to celebrate a birthday. We were very excited for the experience, but I do wish I had reviewed all of the posts in the last couple months before going as there was definitely themes/trends I wish we were more prepared. Ambiance: Very Cool. Felt like I was in someone's modern/cozy house. Not loud and super intimate. Perfect for a romantic dinner. Service: 12/10! They were on their game! Rushed to pull out chairs, kept water glasses overflowing. Team knew most of the dishes fairly well and the Sommelier was very knowledgeable/approachable. Probably the saving grace of the night. Wine: 8/10. We shared a pairing as my wife and I are lightweights. Had really lovely wines throughout. There was a very strong wine served with the Caviar and a Sake which we were not fans of, but can appreciate the pairings! Took a picture of a label for 1 I really enjoyed. Food: 5/10. We were left wanting a lot more. The night started great with a Pea Tartlet followed by a lobster dish. Both delicious. I liked the White Asparagus with Dill but it was a little too strong for my wife. Caviar dish was great. And then it started to go down hill. Avocado dish with pistachio oil was ok. We had a salmon course which was tasty, but there were pinbones in both our pieces of fish. Foie was alright; Have had worse/better. Then we had the squab/pigeon which was rough. I have never had pigeon so it could just always taste this way, but it was tough and super gamey. My wife and I had maybe 4 bites in total. I think the wait staff saw that we didn't like this item and we tried to be polite and say it was just "different". The next dish seemed like a Hail Mary to make up for the squab as it was almost the same preparation as the dish before but they subbed the squab with trout. That was a better version. If it wasn't an ad hoc moment, I don't think that sequence of dishes makes sense. Then there was a venison broth which was nice. Dessert started with a tart/lemon granita with a custard which was good. Then an ice cream which was also tasty although I am blanking on the flavor and a black garlic fudge chocolate bar which I was not a fan of: way more black garlic than chocolate flavor so left a little too pungent of a flavor in my mouth when we left. Overall, I enjoyed the experience but was disappointed in the food. Not sure if we caught the wrong time of year to go menu wise but many items fell flat. Similar to other peoples posts I thought that the 20% service charge was the tip and was shocked when told that didn't count as gratuity. I didn't know what to do and didn't like feeling that way after an already subpar experience. Just outline the price upfront with the surcharge included so people know what they are getting into. For a meal that was $1,000+ I wanted to be blown away...and this left me not wanting to do a tasting menu again anytime soon. read more

Can't remember which prix fixe menu we tried... I think it might have been the classic? Which is not really a lot of food, so you might leave still a bit hungry like us. We came here in early February 2019, so I am sure their offerings have changed, but their menu was primarily vegetarian and fish. Not lot of meat dishes. Their portions are also quite small too. The taste and presentation of the food were all excellent though. Maybe next time we'll try for one of the pricier prix-fixe menus to see if there is a difference. Make sure to look through all their different prix-fixe offerings on their website, because they tend to have quite a few! Service was attentive and friendly. Be sure to grab a drink downstairs at Loyalist before/after your meal! Their cocktails were delicious. read more

See all

We selected Smyth for our anniversary and couldn't have been happier! Everything was absolutely top notch from the moment we were greeted at the door until we left at the end of the evening. The wait staff was extremely attentive to us (although we weren't quite sure who was our main person, who was the wine person, etc). The food was over-the-top fantastic --in a good way - and just kept coming, course after course, after course. We couldn't agree which was our favorite because each one was as delicious as the next. There was so much food that we finally had to tell them to stop! The decor is simple yet super cool, and the owner came over and introduced himself while he served one of the courses which added a nice touch. Well done, Smyth! We will be back again and again! read more

Smyth - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

When it comes to food and drinks- everything was delicious and tasty. I enjoyed every dish that came out. A couple issues I had was with the noise of the dining area, not having a printed menu, and not having a sweeter finish to dinner. Since it was so loud, I couldn't really hear our server describe the dishes. Not completely sure of what I ate, but it was delicious! I would love to come back for another season. read more

Started off incredibly promising but ended in utter disappointment. To preface this, my boyfriend and I came from out of town and chose this place specifically to celebrate his big 30th birthday. The restaurant itself is a little tucked away in what appears to be a newly renovated previously industrial part of town. The wait staff were very friendly and the space is very pleasant- like you're walking into someone's home, with a nice open air kitchen. We had ordered the Smyth menu, which seemed like the right amount of food at the time (so we thought .....). The first 7 courses were brilliant. And I will say "course" is a generous term to use, as the first few 'courses' were just bites. Particular standouts were the scallop and the Shima aji- it was very nice to see seafood done so well. The lamb was flavorful, but had a grainy texture, likely because the temperature was a little colder than expected. A little unfortunate, but honestly up until now it was still a 5 star experience. However, shortly afterward we were brought our first dessert. I was confused because I definitely thought there were more savory courses, so I checked the menu and they LEFT OUT THE FOIE GRAS. I asked the waiter and he said that 'the menu changes daily and it was not available, so we gave you a full scallop instead of a half". SERIOUSLY? A full scallop is not equivalent to foie gras. Most restaurants, especially if you're paying so much, would substitute a course instead of just eliminating it. Sloppy and bad customer service. The meal ended with three lackluster desserts (it's rare that I actually enjoy the desserts at Michelin starred restaurants- always the weakest part of the menu and it was no exception here, unfortunately). One was basically a tiny wafer of chocolate, the second was this egg that everyone talks about but I personally found underwhelming, and then a pineapple sorbet that was good but too little too late. My boyfriend LEFT HUNGRY, so be warned if you decide to come here. If I were to choose again I would definitely have chosen Oriole or Acadia. This place was not worth our time and neither will it be worth yours. read more

Congratulations on winning Restaurant of the Year at the Jean Banchet Awards. I was only in once, but it was an amazing experience and your win is very well deserved. I will definitely come in to dine again soon. read more

Smyth - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois