Many people have already talked about the menu here, and there are some valid points. But let me start by saying that everyone that was working here was very friendly, helpful, and service oriented. The whole vibe of the place is like your super rich friend's kitchen, it has that homey feeling. Not uptight at all. That being said, the menu was good but I thought it leaned too heavily on liquid / oil / foam / porridge. My favorite dish was actually the squash with caviar - really intense squash flavor accentuated by whatever sauce was on it. I thought there was maybe one too many dishes (I actually couldnt eat the final bite, which was a salted egg yolk tart). I could have seen the menu ending on the raspberry dish which I really enjoyed. Will update my review once I get that menu emailed to me! read more

Now my 3rd time dining here and I swear every time I come back it feels that somehow they get better, even when it feels like there is no room to grow. The food is spectacular, respectful, thoughtful and often beautiful. They have a clearly envisioned menu in which seasonal, fresh produce is front and center and masterfully manipulated but often presented with such focus that it even appears simple at times (but underneath this veil of misdirection there is an intensity of flavor and thoughtful cuisson). I am beyond thrilled of my dinners here. The food = fantastic, the service = impeccable, the beverage pairings = perfection. I think this last meal may have been my favorite of any meal I've had anywhere -- keep it up Smyth, I really feel you deserve that 3rd étoile! read more

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I have never met a restaurant more deserving of their TWO Michelin stars. The dishes are imaginative while staying good looking. I love an open kitchen, especially when everyone on staff is so darn nice. My friend and I were LIVING for their descriptions of each course. Most importantly though, I didn't have a single bite that wasn't incredibly, mind-blowingly delicious. Every course left me wanting more and in every dish, the ingredients melded together with perfection. Every element tasted great on its own and even better when all eaten together. When I dined at Smyth our courses were: * "The Farm" Carrot Aguachile - Apparently carrots are in season and I was down with this dish. The carrots were sliced ever so thinly * Trout, Juniper & Kelp - This little fishy melted in my mouth. And the broth it was in, holy goodness. * Beet Mignon - Such a creative dish to have beets look, feel and even taste similarly to a filet mignon. Beets are on the rise in terms of popularity at restaurants, and I'm onboard! Plus the side of truffle added a nice diversity to the root. * 120 Day Aged Ribeye With Brioche Doughnut With Marmite Butter - This was some of the best steak I've ever had grace my mouth. I'm not big on red meats but I'm pretty sure I could eat this dish daily for the rest of my life. I was so in love with the steak, the warm & super soft brioche donut, plus everything that went along with it! * Egg Yolk & Salted Licorice With Frozen Yogurt Meringue - Another win for creativity with this one. They aged an egg yolk but kept in nice & runny, had licorice and salt surrounding the little yolk. Then placed it in the middle of frozen yogurt to recreate the egg look. This dish was topped on a dash of berries to add a bit of pizzazz. Such a fun dessert! * Milk Chocolate, Black Raspberry Preserves & Shiitake Mushrooms - Obsessed. I love chocolate and mushrooms but was surprised that in this dessert, I also loved the fruit. Just the right amount of berries flavor. This is another one I could eat every day for the rest of my life. All in all, Smyth has made me a huge fan. I'm into it. Highly recommended and I'll most def be back. read more

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We had the Omaha meal here. Now watching the chefs and kitchen staff harmonize their order to this meal was pretty awesome. You are able to see the entire meal made while being catered to by waiters and waitresses who are exceptionally attentive. There are many courses, but they are small. Small is not a bad thing since there are so many you will get filled up. Just be prepared the dishes are not your typical American food. Although the food was not up to our liking, we still tried a bite of everything thing brought to our table. We loved our bottle of champagne and the earl grey tea we ordered. It's incredibly expensive. Although we would not go back, we can appreciate the experience we got here. read more

Enjoyed my visit to Smyth, but not worthy of 5 stars. I really appreciate Smyth because they allowed me as a single diner (I emailed the restaurant to ask as Tock only allows you to book 2+), but the service was awkward. Upon arrival they informed me I could sit and wait for the rest of my party, to which I informed them that it was just me. They still had me sit and wait. After some discussion they sat me. The sommelier was one of the most awkward I have ever interacted with and he tried to over explain the wine pairing to me when all I asked was the amount of wine total in the pairing. I ended up opting for a glass of champagne. After about 4-5 courses another single diner was sat across the dining room. One of the servers suggested "if I was open to it" that we could sit together. I tried to politely decline letting them know I was already 5 courses in and I am sure the other (male diner) would not appreciate being rushed through the first 5 courses. Why would they even suggest that?! So bizarre and I have never had that experience before. The final thing I didn't enjoy was the 20% service charge that I wish was called out upon booking. This is a fee, not gratuity and there is an additional expectation for a tip. I did appreciate the interaction with the chefs explaining their dishes. The salmon was the best I have ever had and the kombucha root beer float was very innovative. Food was great, but feel flat on the experience. read more

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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. read more

Smyth - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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! read more

This is a Michelin two star restaurant. However, if you don't want every course to have some type of seaweed in it, this is not the place for you. The service was excellent. However, when our bill came, there was a additional service charge of approximately 20%. We were informed this is not the same as a gratuity and gratuity is be extra. Frankly, for a meal this expensive, I don't appreciate this of lack of transparency, given the fact that this is the worst Michelin star meal I've ever had. read more

Five alll the way Great service and excellent food one of the best in Chicago Also fantastic wine selection read more

The good: Dinner here was spectacular. I'd like to thank the Maitre D for arranging my table as a single diner. Every dish had one special pop of flavor that took an already terrific bite to a next level. The ribeye in particular was outstanding, a total umami bomb. The bad: One thing I did find rather off putting was that I ordered another pour of a somewhat rare wine at $165 for the glass. I thought why not. Didn't realize that they included an almost thirty dollar service charge. Just to pour a glass of wine??!! So my glass of Cote Rotie ended up costing close to $200. I would seriously advise not ordering any additional liquor at this place especially if it's something expensive. I get that they are trying to support the staff, but come on man! 30$ tip for pouring 6 ounces of wine? Still shaking my head over that. Edit: total cost of said wine was $227 for glass. So $165 plus tax. Then base the service charge on the post tax amount. Getting pretty close to cost of dinner itself. If I was told beforehand that this would be the final cost I would definitely have passed. If this is their policy, then perhaps the front of the house should be more transparent. The more I think about it the angrier I get and of course this ruins whatever good memory I had of dinner. What a shame as the food was outstanding. Its not the $227 per se, but the lack of transparency in the service charge policy. All in all it's a fine restaurant but a final "tip" from me is to never order anything there that isn't already paid for by your tock ticket. Not even an after dinner coffee and espresso, or god forbid another serving of wine. read more

Every dish was a unique experience with sophisticated flavors that may not be for everyone. The homey, down to earth vibes really separate Smyth from what one would expect from a 2 star Michelin restaurant. It was a pleasant surprise for everyone in my group! read more

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Smyth had high expectations of me and my husband. One of the last Michelin star restaurants left in the city to try, we settled with the Smyth menu and standard wine pairing. The experience it itself was mostly a disappointment, and we left confused and still kind of hungry. There were some good points, though: I really enjoyed the wines themselves. The unique chenin blanc dessert wine was my favorite. The aji dish was FAB. Fermented turnip and light pickled tuna. So perfectly balanced! The egg yolk, salted licorice and frozen yogurt dessert was also very interesting and delicious. And that about ends the high notes. Overall, service was strange, slightly cold and robotic. Maybe it was just the few who served us? Servings were *SO* small. One tablespoon of Uni. Two canelles of squash. Three bites of tuna. Oh, you're now 1/3 done with your meal. I found it extremely strange that there were 0 additional bites other than the listed menu. There was no amuse, there was no intermezzo/palette cleanser. No bread left me sad and carbless, which was especially needed with 6-7 glasses of wine served in two hours. One of the courses, the lamb, tasted pretty good but was god awful to look at. I feel like we got a bad cut here, because I saw other plates with normally sliced lamb. Another course was 100% under cooked (the lobster) which left it stringy, and one bite was acrid and fishy, unfortunately. Overall, mostly disappointing when you're expecting two Michelin star cuisine and paying over $600. I would highly recommend Oriole, Blackbird or Kikko in the same 'hood with a much more pleasant, well rounded experience where you won't leave hungry and you get what you pay for. read more

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

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Smyth was a unique and fantastic multi course tasting menu. We did the chefs table experience. Ambiance: There is an open concept kitchen so you can watch the chefs prepare the different courses and listen to them communicate. There is also an open fire in the back of the kitchen. Overall, while definitely upscale, the space and atmosphere is somewhat casual. The dining experience is not private, but this is not a bad thing. Because we had the chefs table, we had a front row table to the kitchen and were able to observe everything happening in the kitchen all evening. Service: the service here was awesome. I don't think we ever even got to the bottom of our water glasses. Since we did the chefs table, a different chef came to our table to explain each course which was a nice touch. There was adequate time between courses but we never felt like we were waiting too long. Nothing but good to say about the service. Food: Fantastic, unique, decadent, and exquisite. We had tons of different courses. Each of them were very different with unique flavor profiles. This was definitely seafood focused, but if you have an allergy or aversion to seafood, I think they would be able to accommodate. I will attach pictures of courses here but I don't want to get into too many details as I think the element of surprise was also awesome here. I will say, however, at the end I was full but by no means overstuffed so I wouldn't come here expecting to leave overfull. We did not get a menu so you don't know what is coming next, similar to other restaurants in this category. They said they would email a copy of the menu but I did not receive it. I also asked for a mailed copy but never got it. I think for the level of service and price, this is the one thing that could be improved and really was a bit disappointing. Price: this was definitely an expensive meal. It was about $850 for two at the chefs table without a wine pairing. I think it was worth it in the end. As has been mentioned in previous reviews, there is a 20% service charge. In other restaurants that apply this, this is implied as the gratuity. I am unsure what this goes towards at Smyth and it was not really explained. Once again, I would highly recommend Smyth and to definitely try and get the Chefs table if you can. read more

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I cannot say anything less than amazing for the food and the staff. From the moment my fiancee and I walked in the staff pampered us. Everyone that we had any interaction with was very friendly and courteous. The different front house staff that came to our table we're very affable. I made reservations for two for an early Christmas present for my fiancee and a birthday present to myself. Two birds kind of deal. We arrived a little early and, understandably, our table was not ready. Luckily, though the lounge/waiting area was very comfortable with leather chairs and couch. The leather armchair made me want to drink cognac, and read some leather-bound literature. The wait was not long as the hostess directed us to a "birthday" table. Which was dope. Very dope, indeed. The table was right by the kitchen and it made feel like I was in an episode of Hell's Kitchen, less yelling. Also it made me feel especially fancy. What also made it fancy was that on the table was a signed card from the staff greeting me for my birthday. They really went above and beyond. Being a lowly peasant by day I opted for the 8 course dinner, which was a mistake. Definitely go for the twelve. It would be too much to go over each course so I will only highlight our favorites. The panty droppers. The carrot aguachille was delightful. The chili water reminded of something I've had before, but I just cannot remember what. Second item that stood out is the new potatoes, rosehip & white asparagus. Them potatoes got me feeling basic. Last is the milk chocolate, black raspberry & shitake mushroom desert is, to out it simply, dope. To say every other course was forgettable is wrong though, but those stood out for me. To summarize this essay, I will definitely be coming back for that twelve course. That was the biggest regret of an, otherwise, great dinner. read more

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This was our fine dining experience during our current trip to Chicago, celebrating our 15 year anniversary. The restaurant is in a relatively quiet neighborhood. Inside the dining room is spacious, with probably around 12 tables, all with views of the open kitchen. The ambience is definitely one of comfortable coziness. We opted for the 5 course menu (we have an eight year old), no wine pairing. Below are the courses and my impression. First course: Salted raspberry and watermelon radish with seaweed and oyster. The saltiness of the oyster went well with the sweetness of the sauce to make a tasty bite. I thought it was good even though I don't really like oysters. Second course: Gulf shrimp with fermented asparagus in malted cream. The shrimp was perfectly cooked, and eaten together with the cream and asparagus made a very tasty bite. The cream sauce has a taste of caramel which my son appreciated. Third course: The farm potato with yeast, spring onion and trout roe. Basically a cooked potato with a mild sauce and roe. The roe added saltiness to the otherwise bland potato, not a really flavorful bite. Besides my eight year old, wife and I really didn't like this course. It was a substitute for a lobster course (according to the website menu) and was underwhelming. Fourth course: Beef ribeye with sprouted wheat and sorrel, served with brioche donut with aged beef au jus. This was by far my favorite dish. The beef was tender and flavorful, and dipped into the au jus which took three days to age, made it even tastier. The donut was a bit greasy and I didn't think it belonged with this dish, even dipped into the jus as suggested didn't really make it that special. Fifth course: milk chocolate with raspberry preserves, shiitake and kelp, egg yolk soaked in salted licorice with frozen yogurt meringue. The chocolate was served before the meringue, and it was not your usually bite of chocolate as it tastes sweet and salty at the same time. Good but not really special. The egg yolk meringue was unlike any dessert I've had, and all ingredients eaten together was very tasty. The only drawback was that the licorice was a bit too sticky and stuck to my teeth (wife had same complaint; she was also not a fan of the yolk). Overall it was definitely a memorable dining experience, with at least three dishes providing memorable tasty bites, especially the perfectly cooked ribeye. Service was attentive without being intrusive, and the ambience definite added to the fine dining experience. read more

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I have no words, simply amazing. Every dish was delicate, creative, delicious and different. One experience to remember. Worth every penny. And I was amazed by how the staff worked together, they were so sync with each other. read more

Smyth - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here to celebrate 6 months of marriage. The tasting menu was a wonderful splurge! Service was very attentive and we had a nice leisurely meal with wine pairings. As a nice touch they sent us home with a copy of our menu and tea bags and honey from the Smyth farm. read more

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Phenomenal food, amazing service, and a delicious tasting menu. Came here to celebrate a special event and it knocked our socks off. It's a Michelin 2 star and lives up to the name. Dress code is come as you are and some people were super fancy and we saw a few tables in very very casual attire- which was nice and down to earth. Our server was amazing from recommendations to descriptions and techniques of the dishes. Every dish was intricately designed and made our tastebuds stand on edge. Everything we tried during the vegetarian tasting menu was soo fresh and fun. The chocolate bars just blew my mind and so did the cantaloupe dessert. You get the quality you pay for and i highly recommend trying this restaurant. read more

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What can one say about a three star Michelin restaurant??? Having dined at many of the best restaurants in town and abroad, I can say without hesitation, Smyth will out kick your expectations. It's classy and decadent and one of a kind. If you're looking for a special and unique upper crust dining experience: Smyth will not disappoint. read more

My husband and I came here for our anniversary and we had a great dinner. The environment is comfortable, modern, yet rustic. We thoroughly enjoyed all of our courses of the Smyth menu. My only criticism is that the aged lamb I was served was unexpectedly chewy. We weren't overly full at the end, which is fine by me since I normally struggle towards the end of tasting menus. I highly recommend this place! read more

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Not surprised how delicious this place was. The bites are phenomenal and unique. Lots of citrus undertones which I love. What struck me the most while dining here is how much I enjoyed the open concept. I could hear the melody of the chef's cooking and working harmoniously with each other. read more

Went in May during the NRA show didn't felt the 3 stars, it was a solid 1, trying to stay in 2 but nothing was beyond expected to give the 3, but hey, im not an inspector, food was good, little too long service for me. however the service staff is good, the restaurant its nice but i felt like the putted all the tables in one corner and a big lounge. good for one time, im not going back read more

We came in early July for dinner, and we were able to have a summery tasting menu and wine pairing. We were greeted with a glass of celebratory champagne from a producer my husband and i actually visited when we were in France, so it set the evening off to a wonderful start. The staff is super knowledgeable and friendly, the ambience is retro/nautical/upscale scandi, and the music is all the best music from the 60s-70s and it SLAPS. The dishes we had were really inventive even for a Michelin restaurant: soup that sits in Californian sea grapes and gets stronger the longer it "seeps", a potato dessert that tasted like nothing we'd had before (and was in a custom dish that almost looked like a potato skin), and the freshest tasting peas we've had all season just to name a few. Will also say that the wine pairing is really well done and do not regret getting it! Would definitely come back to try their new menu items as the seasons change. read more

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like Smyth's decoration and also quality of the food. Person who like a little sour not heavy style will enjoy for sure. The caviar and lobster quantity and quality worth 5 star read more

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As one of my last stops in chicago, Smyth did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the whole experience from start to finish. The dining room is very open and pleasant in a very comfortable and relaxing environment. We had ordered the ommaha menu and it was an excellent journey. Really enjoyed starting with Maine uni with egg yolk and yuzu. Each aji dish was creative but the aji lions stood out to me. Crab dishes were all fairly well done and the bee's wax shell was creative. As a whole, smyth is worth the visit and can deserves its place as one of the top restaurants in the city read more

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What an unforgettable dining experience at Smyth. My boyfriend booked a table for two for my birthday and it was an incredible gift. We got the tasting menu with drink pairings...and it's A LOT of drinks, mind you. Twelve courses and twelve glasses of wine/sherry/sake! The folks at Smyth are super considerate when it comes to dietary restrictions; my boyfriend told them I was lactose intolerant in advance, so the people working at Smyth knew to ask whether some dishes might be okay with me. Honestly, the most attentive service ever. They noticed my bf was left handed so they placed his glass on his left. We'd get up to go to the bathroom someone would fold up the napkin and push in the chair. When we came back out, one of the servers would beat us to our seat and pull the chair out for us. The water glasses were always kept full. And it was nice making conversation with the hosts; everyone is super cordial and fun to chat with. So many courses but they were all amazing. I loved their take on the seafood tower, and how they were able to make chocolate and venison work together. Oh, and they made a savory macaron! I was blown away by the attention to detail in the flavor combinations and the drink pairings were remarkable. I wish I could go back. Unforgettable. Omg. Parking situation: street? I'd Uber there if you're going with the drink pairings, though. read more

The place: Beautiful, eclectic ambiance - the fancy farmhouse vibe permeates the air. We inquired about switching to a different tasting menu, bc it turned out we were celebrating more than we initially had planned on celebrating, but they weren't able to accommodate a last minute change - totally reasonably, so we stuck with the Smyth Classic menu. Service was great - everyone knew so much about the wines in particular, and our glasses never ran on empty. The taste: I still think about the first bite - an oyster, deliberately dressed with a bit of sweet and a bit of tart, presented on a bowl of ice. By the time we got to the rib eye, I was getting pretty full, but everything in between - the salmon - melt off the fork - the brioche and au jus - warm, flaky, savory goodness - it was all delicious. The wine pairing complimented each dish, but again, was a bit too much for the volume capacity of my stomach; my date had no problems, so chances are you won't either. My face: Cheeks a little flushed, since I drank as much as I could, and a sweet smile, crushing hard on my date for the evening. The classic menu was $95 each, so we paid $254 up front, and I think another $250 for the wine pairings. $500 for a celebration for the two of us. Not something I'd do every night, but I'd go back to Smyth the next time I have something to celebrate, without a doubt. read more

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What an amazing experience! I had never been to a Michelin star restaurant before and now I totally get it. Each bite of food was unlike anything I had ever eaten. And the wine pairings were perfection! The space is comfortable, the tables are nicely distanced, and the sound level makes it possible to hear one another. Loved having each wine described by a sommelier! Perfect place for a once in a lifetime celebration! read more

Smyth: 5 course tasting has 1. Uni glazed in egg yolk 2. Kohlrabi 3. Caramelized halibut 4. Aged ribeye 5. Brioche doughnut with marmite butter 6. Milk chocolate 7. Egg yolk soaked in salted licorice with frozen yogurt meringue ----------------------------- Best halibut I have ever had and best 2019 dessert! read more

Smyth - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This might be one of the worst restaurants and tasting menus I have ever experienced. I felt as if everything tasted the same and that we were eating baby food for most courses. It was nice when they gave us a little piece of meat to actually be able to chew something. I would recommend staying away from this place especially for the price and if you are looking for Michelin star in Chicago go to Ever down the street. read more

Smyth is an absolute gastronomic temple, where all your senses will be delighted. Even before your foodie skills start working you will already feel at home, with an extremely chic dining room, with an homely vibe, accompanied by an highly professional and elegant, but still very friendly and very personal, service. Then the food starts coming and the wines start flowing and it will be an unforgettable experience, with rides through the ocean, the vegetable garden, and the land. It is difficult to highlight one or two of the many wonderful dishes in the tasting menu, part of it will be your personal preference kicking in, but it is all so overall flawless that I don't think any of them will underwhelm you. Some of my personal favorites - the barely cooked lobster tail with toasted almond and strawberry, the kaluga caviar gently warmed in buckwheat butter, almond milk and newly pressed walnut oil & the Maine unagi grilled with mussel xo & rhubarb "ham" - this last one was so good and touched close to my heart, as the flavors brought me childhood memories of grilled fresh sardines over sourdough bread in the June popular festivals of Portugal. Need to reinforce the quality of the wine pairing, with all the wines served with incredibly detailed and interesting explanations about each winery, the grape, and the region. A final note that we were celebrating my wife's birthday and everyone acknowledged this in such a wonderful way, including a birthday card on our table when we arrived, signed by everyone. Something tells me that third Michelin star is, as it should be, on its way. If you're in the Chicago area, although the options are extensive, I highly recommend you making a reservation to Smyth and having one of the best times of your life. read more

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Went to smyth for their spring menu. Was there last summer and was blown away by their dishes. This time not as much w the flavors. This was their 'game' menu and both wife and I felt the flavor fell a little flat for us. The presentation was still amazing and worthy of their 2 Michelin stars but the taste was a bit off and lacking. They had only been open briefly since the last closure and wonder if they are still getting back into their rhythm. The presentation is always amazing and worthy of their stars. Still enjoy this restaurant tremendously and hope to be back in future but was hoping for a different tasting menu for sure! read more

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One of our good friends got us a meal here for a wedding present because they know how much we love food and without a doubt this was the one present we both loved exactly the same amount which was SO MUCH! one of our favorite tasting menus we have had in Chicago. It is a must! We had about 20ish courses and each one just as amazing as the last if not better, I was stuffed 2/3rds of the way though but I could not stop eating. I kept saying it's just one more bite. The drink pairings were also perfectly picked in regards to the course, if you are coming here to celebrate an special occasion definitely recommend getting the pairings it just adds a little more to your special night out! read more

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Food, service, staff, and ambience were all 10/10. Additional props for the diverse and creative tasting dishes, each accompanied by an excellent description. It was a joyful evening. I had the wine paring while my wife stuck to NA cocktails - all fabulous. Sommeliers we're very knowledgeable and helpful. Crazy expensive, but worthy. Probably a one-time splurge for us, but would recommend to other foodies. The only unpleasant blurb was an unexpected 15% percent 'service charge' which was explicitly described as 'not-a-tip'. read more

Was looking to splurge a bit and surprise my boyfriend shortly after Chicago restaurants reopened in July. Wonderful tasting menu, one of the best in the city. Well deserved 2 Michelin stars! Service and timing of each course and the sommelier was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the wines. Wine pairing was not required but I highly recommend it. Left full but not too stuffed. Decor was in the traditional west loop style and rustic loft feel. Can't wait to go back soon. read more

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KenScale: 8.75/10 I've always been deeply impressed with Chicago's culinary spirit and ingenuity whenever I visit the city. In terms of boundary-pushing fine-dining restaurants, I do believe that the Windy City is almost if not already on par with New York City. Whenever I have an opportunity to visit Chicago again, I always search for the next most exciting places where I can see and taste something I have not in NYC. When I heard of my parents' visit to Chicago in early November, I was torn among a few critically acclaimed places for a special family dinner. My wife Jun and I have not been to the iconic Alinea or Next yet so my first inclination was to try either. Then other newcomers like Smyth and The Loyalist and Oriole also grabbed my attention. After much deliberation, I decided on Smyth and booked a tasting menu experience for four at $155 per person on Tock website, as I believed the restaurant offered a fresh take on Chicago's New American cuisine in a fairly casual setting (compared to the rather austere vibe that Alinea gave me based on reading anecdotes about the dining experience there). While Jun and I will certainly visit Alinea and other exciting restaurants in Chicago next time we visit, I was very pleased that I chose the right restaurant this time, especially with my father who was constantly raving about the wonderful experience he had at Smyth. The team behind Smyth (the more casual basement restaurant The Loyalist is in the same building, hence the name "Smyth and The Loyalist"), a husband and wife duo of John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, is no newcomer to Chicago's fine dining scene, having worked at the restaurant of acclaimed Chicagoan chef the late Carlie Trotter before moving to rural Virginia. Their comeback to the Windy City is certainly one of the best things that happened to this city, with an understated yet elegant tasting menu experience that doesn't immediately jump out at you with any Instagram-worthy plating or fancy technique but makes you smile the more you think about what you just ate, starting with a capital oyster from Washington State seasoned with dulse, turnip and preserved berries (I don't quite recall I had an oyster this fresh in a while) and the maitake mushrooms cooked with burnt birch and wintergreen that were simply stunning in the way the smoky taste gets to your taste bud with wonderful effect. The balance of flavor and texture in the next couple of dishes, lightly steamed halibut with fermented green tea and glazed squash with quince, young pumpkin seed and wild rice, was also quite memorable, and showed that the kitchen cares deeply about how to combine different ingredients in a way that make them work in harmony in one another instead of one particular element dominating a diner's palate. Sometimes, the kitchen came up with a playful trick, like a bowl of chanterelle mushrooms that the server noted was inspired to replicate a pasta experience. I, for one, slightly preferred more straightforward dishes at Smyth, like the beef tongue dish that came as the last savory course. The meat was cooked more or less to perfection despite using a part of beef that is not often used for a main course, making me wonderful why restaurants do not use tongues more often. The dessert dishes at Smyth that we had were no less impressive, especially with the way the kitchen boldly combines seemingly incompatible ingredients and flavors. I had never had a milk chocolate with shiitake mushroom and kelp flavor in it, but that's what came to us before and the complexity of flavor from this novel invention was quite wonderful. Similarly, if I had known that roasted kombu can be used to make an ice cream as good as the one I had at Smyth (adding fermented grains and black apple to give a bit more flourish to the ice cream was also a brilliant idea), I probably would've walked around ice cream shops in New York City asking if they have ice creams with kombu flavor. The finishing touch of egg yolk soaked in salted licorice inside a bowl of frozen yogurt meringue, to give a salty and sweet combination of flavor, was again masterful. As noted above, Smyth only takes reservations with prepared tickets on Tock, which would therefore require some advance planning. I was very fond of the dining space of the restaurant, with a warm and unpretentious vibe that was perfect for our family dinner. Another aspect that impressed my father was service. When he accidentally broke a wine glass while pouring the remainder of wine from the bottle (by the way, the wine list at Smyth also looks to be quite well-thought out), he was attended to immediately by a server nearby looking to make sure he didn't hurt his hand. Of course, a restaurant staff would naturally do that anywhere, but the sincere demeanor of the staff was what won my father over on this place. Smyth is an outstanding restaurant, period, and I hope this place thrives in the Windy City for a long time. read more

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Probably my favorite experience at a 2-Michelin-starred restaurant. It was so nice and cozy, and coming in I was delighted by the smell of the brioche doughnuts to come. Spiced Pear Beverage: 1 star. Clearly none of their people have tasted this. It was so overspiced that I could actually taste the gritty grinds of the spices themselves. I don't like drinking sand. Not a great way to start. Oyster With Dulse, Currant & Daikon: 4 stars. The oysters weren't briny at all--this may be my favorite oyster dish ever. Very smooth and pleasing texture. It tasted very "green" but was a great few bites. Butternut Squash With Blue Cheese Oil, Sunflower Seed Miso, Black Walnuts Gogi Beurre Blanc: 5 stars. The surprise winner of the dish was the umami-laden squash seeds at the bottom of the dish, which elicited a tiny out-loud moan. "The Farm" Potato With Roasted Yeast, Guinea Hen Black Truffle Bouillon, Trout Roe: 4 stars. Wonderful combination of tastes and textures overall, but the trout roe felt a slight bit out of place besides adding saltiness to the broth at the bottom. Aged Ribeye With Sprouted Wheat, Fall Greens & Pickled Plum, White Truffle: 3.5 stars. The smokiness in the nori mustard sauce was not my favorite thing in the world, and this truffle was not as potent as other white ones I've had. Brioche Doughnut With Aged Beef Au Jus: 5+ stars. ERMYGERD. Hands-down the best thing I've eaten in Chicago. Warm, flaky, savory, and so beefy. Maybe in the top 5 things I've put in my mouth. Milk Chocolate, Raspberry Preserves, Shiitake & Kelp: 5 stars. This is a candy bar I wish was carried in stores. Chocolatey, fruity, salty, and a tad bit of umami comes together perfectly. Egg Yolk Soaked In Salted Licorice With Frozen Yogurt Meringue, Blueberry: 4.5 stars. They managed to do the difficult task of making licorice enjoyable. A wonderful balance of flavors and textures. The pacing was perfect and I was plenty full at the end. Something to note, though: you will pay more at the restaurant than just the prepaid ticket you got online. I purchased $38 worth of "extras" but paid $58 at the restaurant in addition to my $120 prepaid ticket. read more

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We got the Omaha fix menu which has maybe 15-18 courses, each of them was small. We were not that full after eating, but definitely good portion. Unfortunate I won't come back again. Too herbal for me. I think having some flowers and herbs in food are great but having it in every single dish is too much. Also some of the flowers or herbs taste nothing or bad. I am not a huge herb person and I hate fennel...I've never had a meal with that many dishes having such strong fennel taste...And there was even a fennel drink in my farm pairing....I wish I didn't have to waste that much food and $$ but eating that much fennel is torturing. I should have told chef I don't like fennel, but who would know there are that many dishes that are super herbal... for that I think I can only give three stars... Environment: Modern, cozy open kitchen dining room. They have about 12 tables for two and two three larger tables. Get one of the two corner tables if you can, which is more private. Overall it is nice environment l. Food: The first couple small bites are very refresh. The prawn with rose pedal is epic, followed by a couple sashimi, also very good. Then there are a few weird taste herbal dishes which I don't like...just too much herb and flower that didn't add any flavor. The meat courses are lamb and squab. Again , pretty good except for those decorative tasteless flowers...Presentation wise, they were all very pretty. Drink: Reserve Wine pairing was decent, they had a glass of sake for the Fish and shellfish, which is very special. The farm pairing has a bunch of juice, it was horrible, tons of fennel, not tasty herb. Unless you are huge fan of herb, don't order it. Price: 220 for Omaha plus wine and farm pairing. Overall pretty good price considering it was a lot of food. read more

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We finally went in for sit down dinner. The food was amazing! The service was tentative as well. We'd definitely come back for a different menu. One of the best Michelin starred restaurants in Chicago. read more

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If you're on the fence about trying this place like I was, I assure you this is the place you want to be. I had a choice between Schwa, Oriole, and this place. I kept reading that this place scored higher on the creative side, which always peaks my interest. Walking in, it felt cozy, swanky, and open in its floor design. All the waiters wear this denim like décor that felt sleek yet country. They would end up playing old pop records like Phil Collins on vinyl, which seems super hipstery, but fit so well with the vibe of the meal. I didn't make as critical as an analysis I normally would, as I was trying to soak in as much of the experience I could without looking at everything with a critical eye. Below are my highlights and thoughts on most of the dishes. Amazing milk punch- like a milk tea with a low toned fruit feel. Fucking fantastic. The uni dressed in habanada oil was out of this world. I literally could have drank it like orange juice. Uni paired so well with that habanada. The golden beets are a real treat with the gooseberries, but the unexpected pepper and ginger in the middle and bottom are such a shocking delight. Like a father who jumps out of the closet to scare his giggly kids. The shima head with trout roe tasted like the best tuna sandwich (in spirit) I've had in my life. But the textures are the true delight. With the creamy smoothness and liquidy pop of the roe, it felt like a fish jumping out of a white water rapid. The clams with green tea conjured images of the fermented kombu as karate chopping its way through the woods as the master Sensai green tea watched from a far. Earthy, acidic, with plenty of calming tea and greens flavor. Well executed and plated. The sunchoke dish May have been the show stopper. One is poached while the other is roasted. The guinea hen foie gras broth was Cygnus to the divided hemispheres of light and dark contrast. I wish I could have ate 5 of these dishes alone! Beets Royale is an insane variation of a old world type dish. What's usually offal, bloody, and carnal, is actually smooth yet potent in its replacement of beets. If I had closed my eyes, I wouldn't have thought otherwise that it was a vegetable. The sauce would bring a tear to any European grandmothers eyes. The short rib is an intense black hole of flavor. If the beef is the ship, then the black garlic is the anchor, while the truffle oil is the sea that stretched to an infinite horizon. That short rib was cooked as if It came from a low and slow smoker, which pulled right at my heart strings. I almost wished I could have a bigger portion, bone in, and really sink my teeth in it. But alas, that's not what a tasting menu is about. The transition dish of chicken liver mousse and corn was truly a marvel. Not only was it a rich, savory mousse, but it coincided with the sweet corn and sorghum popcorn in this unexpected marriage. If there was one dish that truly encapsulated the theme of the menu, this was it. Within a flash, it's gone from my mouth, yet I still think about it. The dessert come out in a flurry of assaults, blinding my rationality, yet drowning me in ecstasy. The variety of flavor and sweet and savory was a big plus for me. The chocolate bar was not only an amazing, gooey soft bar, but the mushrooms in it took it over the moon. Mushrooms and chocolates work so well together!! The plums are simple in its high toned sugary profile, yet I was licking the bowl clean. The seaweed caramel tart was like a dessert for aliens! Bitter, earthy, yet somehow still sweet, my head was rolling from the uniqueness of the dish. Even though it's not on the Omaha menu, the staff was ice enough to give us the egg dessert from the smaller menus. Nothing could prepare me for this dish. I swear they added psychedelics, as it blew my mind and senses out of the stratosphere of earth. I was no longer in Smyth Virginia, but rather the ether of the universe. I don't even like licorice, yet I crave it deep in my bones as I type this. Overall, this dish felt like someone made blueberry Greek yogurt ice cream, and then added unfathomable ingredients inside the egg. I beg everyone to get their hands on this by any means necessary. I was so delighted and overwhelmed by what this place has to offer. From the theme of the menu, the execution of the dishes, to the wait staff that feel like long lost cousins. If you have an option to come here, do it! read more