The food is always spot on. Great staff, very pro . The ambience is great. I love the chicken pot pie at Smitty's! I highly recommend this restaurant read more

I've walked by this restaurant many times when I am running errands in Pasadena. I made a same day reservation and was seating in one of the booths. Considering it was a random weekday night, there were a good amount of customers inside. We ordered the prosciutto and mozzarella plate ($22) as it was their chef's special for starters this night. The prosciutto with the cheese and grilled crispy toast was delicious. The cheese melted in your mouth and the prosciutto had good flavor, not too salty. One thing I didn't like too much was how the oil was drizzled on top of the prosciutto. I would have liked it on the side instead as I didn't really think it needed much oil if any at all. For our entree, we ordered the king salmon ($36) with a side of the seasonal vegetable which happened to be asparagus ($10) and the French dip sandwich ($25). The French dip sandwich came with shoe string fries and boy was there a ton of fries. Don't get me wrong, I love fries but there was a ton so I definitely couldn't finish it. The French dip sandwich was yummy. The bread held up the meat well and didn't make it soggy even when I dipped the sandwich it was still good. The salmon was pretty impressive. It was plated beautifully and seared to perfection. I would definitely recommend these two dishes. However, the seasonal vegetable was definitely not worth it. For $10, we got 6 pieces of asparagus... Too bad the main dish doesn't come with anything besides a cherry tomato here and there. Overall, we had a good experience. The waiter was very attentive and the host kept checking in with everyone to make sure everything was going well. The dining crowd definitely seemed to be on the older side. Also, if you are driving in, there is a parking lot in the back or plenty of street parking (its free after 6pm). read more

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Went to Smitty's last night for an adult dinner. They were able to squeeze us in on a Saturday night without a reservation as long as we vacated the table in time. To me that timeframe seems long but Servis did take a while so I see where they mentioned it. Either way we got out of there on time. The restaurant is very cute and comfortable has kind of an old-school feel but I liked it. Our server was very kind and tried to be attentive when he was there although he could disappear for large portions of time. We ordered two cocktails each and they were adequate. They had a good booze to soda ratio and my espresso martini was fantastic. This is actually the first place I've ever had an espresso martini way back in the day. So I knew it would be good. Unfortunately when I did not know is that drinks were $18 a pop We ordered a wedge salad to start and split it. I asked for a chopped but it came out regular however they were very quick to take it back and chop it for me. I thought the lettuce was crisp and cold. The dressing was delicious and they were just the right number of toppings. I also ordered the soup of the day which was a corn chowder with cornbread croutons. The soup had really good flavor once you dumped a ton of salt into it. I was kind of a theme for the evening. All the food tasted fine but needed salt For dinner my husband got a half order of baby back ribs and I got the pot pie. The ribs were cooked nicely but he said the sauce was just OK. The portion was adequate for a half rack. But a little pricey for the amount that you get really. And it's à la cart so you have to pay like nine bucks for a side of french fries or potato. For my pot pie it was delicious. It comes in a shallow bowl with a huge thin crust on top. It's not a pie crust per se it's very different than anything I've had but inside it was very flavorful with lots of veggies but needed salt. We did not end up getting dessert and they didn't give you any bread to start with. Overall our meal was $170 which I think was really really high considering they were only two of us. But part of that was certainly the exorbitant cost of drinks. Good atmosphere and I would certainly go again but I would be leery if what I was drinking read more

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Our friends treated us to dinner here on a Thursday evening. The ambiance is more of an intimate setting. The lights are dimmed and the service was great. Enjoyed the new york steak and grilled mushrooms. The calamari and shrimp appetizer was scrumptious. Also, you will get to enjoy a certain photo on the wall in the women's restroom. Overall great experience. Convenience of valet parking and would recommend. read more

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Smitty's is one of about five Pasadena restaurants that are our go-to places - the food/service is always very good. But this last time was a little disconcerting - is it a classy place or a loud sports bar? It was the latter, and not even full. If we can't get a quieter patio table out back so we can converse (they were booked w/large parties) we'll go elsewhere. read more

Just went here for my father-in-laws bday dinner. He's always telling us to try something new, so we booked smitty's. Arroyo chop house is always a solid choice so we assumed the same for Smitty's as they're the same group. The good: My wife and I had the pasta specials. Lobster ravioli and beef stroganoff. Both were delicious. Nice pesto cream on the ravioli, which wasn't too heavy, and a rich brown butter cream sauce on the stroganoff. Tender beef and Al dente noodles. Brother got the steak special which was cooked to his liking and had good sides. The Caesar salad was tasty and fresh, and the drinks came promptly. Service from our waiter was impeccable. The not great: calamari was fried too long. It wasn't brown, but it was like eating a squid chip. My FIL's ribs were dry-"like jerky" in his words. It wasn't worth mentioning in the restaurant; I'm never looking for a comped dish or handout. All in all, a fun evening out. Wife and I will be back to try out some of their other offerings, just probably not the ribs or calamari Update: extra star for great customer service. read more

Decent food with a nice atmosphere. There is an outside dining area that is beautifully decorated with plants and fairy lights. The inside gives you a old-fashioned feel with framed black and white photos. There are booths on the side and a sports bar near the entrance. They have valet parking behind the restaurant for $5 which is not bad or you can park at the 90min free lot across the street. The service was good too. We ordered the chef's special appetizer that came with yellowtail and it was good although I've had better. They only give you three pieces so I don't think it was worth $22. The chicken piccata was not bad either. I was expecting a little more chicken but since I was not super hungry, it sufficed. It would be nice to have a more carb-y side tho like mashed potatoes since the sauteed spinach was a little much. But I guess that's why they have a separate section for you to order more sides. The trout was delicious and my dad was a fan of their filet mignon. It was his first time ordering it rare and we were honestly a little skeptical about it but it did not disappoint! Overall good service, standard food with a nice atmosphere. read more

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It was the day after Christmas and we were looking for somewhere that we were able to be seated immediately at 5PM, which thankfully this place had many open seats at this time, even for tables of 10 people! So we were seated outside (their extended "patio" in the parking lot) and we were afraid that it would be cold, but surprisingly, it wasn't too cold at all with the outdoor heaters and tent. We really enjoyed how spacious everything was, so definitely very social distance friendly. We ordered many things for our feast and I liked how the table was also very widespread and roomy for all the entrees we ordered. My sister really liked their cornbread the most here. We then ordered some salads, ribs, pasta, lamb, etc. Out of all, I think the lamb stood out to me the most since it was very well seasoned and cooked. Everything else tasted a bit just average to me, which I was pretty disappointed in the pasta and ribs. The pasta was a lackluster cause the sauce had this sour taste to it, and the there wasn't a lot of meat on the ribs either. It was a bit on the "overcooked" side, which the ribs were more crispy than meaty. The salads were just pretty standard. Honestly, my dad also compared the food here to Cheesecake Factory, which I kinda see, but I would say it's a more upscale Cheesecake Factory here haha. The servers here were nice. There is also parking in their own lot, which I heard was $7? Though, you can park across the street in the next plaza for 90 minutes free and just walk a bit :) read more

Smitty's Grill - Cornbread - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Everything went well at Smitty's last night. The way we were greeted, the food, even the thank you as we left. The fried chicken at Smitty's is some of the best around and last night was no exception, it was fantastic. Our last experience over a year ago was less than stellar so we were reluctant to return. So glad we did and will return many times more. Change in management? Unsure but whatever they did worked! read more

Clean restaurant, great service, one of the best in the area! Too American cuisine right here

The food, the ambiance, the service, everything was just awesome! Had Friday night reservations, easy to park and seated as soon as we arrived. I hadn't been in over 10 years so I wanted suggestions. My waitress basically picked my meal. I was not disappointed. I had the fried chicken with creamed spinach. So tasty. Not greasy but super crispy! Our tables favorite was the cornbread though, it's a must. So warm with the perfect sweetness, with butter and honey. You can't go wrong. read more

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Great service always with a smile, food is good and it's really cute around Christmas as it's decorated for the holidays.

We started with salads-- a wedge salad, and the Caesar salad. The Caesar salad is delicious. They had a lobster ravioli special with a pesto cream sauce, which gets a 10. The service has been marvelous and very attentive, and the ambience of the restaurant is inviting I highly recommend coming to Smitty's ! read more

By far one of my favorite restaurants! It's a weekly stop for us and the staff is so amazing to our 3 kiddos. Special shout out to Jared who always goes above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect, greeting us by name and even accommodating last minute parties of more than 10 people. Patrick makes the best drinks in town. You won't be disappointed! read more

We came here one night to try something new and fresh, and that's exactly what we got. The food was great and the overall atmosphere was phenomenal, the two host at the time Emersen and Esteban were very accommodating and welcoming. Will definitely be back read more

Smitty's Grill - Main Lobster Roll - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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My cousin asked me to host and plan her milestone 40th birthday dinner. I called and visited no less than 20 locations throughout SoCal trying to find the right place for her and decided to host in the back patio area of Smitty's Grill for Veterans Day Weekend 2023. We had a guest list of 16, and the back patio area with the twinkling lights, easy access to valet ($10) was stunning. The guests were seated in a rectangle allowing for guests to sit directly across from each other allowing for conversation to flow well. Many of the guests came as far away as Norco and Hesperia to dine here and all gave raving reviews of the dinner options. The gumbo was a popular appetizer of choice for the guests, along with the sand dabs and chicken pot pie. One of my guests is gluten free and two weeks later she was still raving about the grilled salmon and potatoes. As my cousin walked in we all started singing and hyping her up, and the other patrons on the patio joined in on the fun. We brought a few table decor to add to the table scape and it went well with the already established patio area. Our waiter was very attentive and even brought out a side table so that her custom birthday cake could be displayed for her dinner guests and photos. Everytime I have dined at Smitty's the service is always impeccable. read more

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Great ambience, Great place to dine in and have a good evening dinner. I had my daughter's dinner at Smitty's for her high school graduation with twenty five family guest. Smitty's servers did not disappoint, they attended to us in every way! The waiters professionalism made our dinner evening special. read more

The steak is good here. The chicken is really good as well. However, the skillet cornbread is the best.

I usually don't write updated reviews unless I have a drastically different experience; however, Smitty's absolutely exceeded my expectations in all ways. Celebrating a friend's birthday here was perfection - from the personal hand written card to the complimentary birthday ice cream, all these extra touches made her feel so special! First of all, the outdoor seating set-up is absolutely STUNNING! With al fresco dining now the new norm, the tables were properly social distanced with beautiful light decorations perfect for celebrating any occasion. There were heat lamps scattered to keep patrons warm and the staff were all wearing masks and face shields. For my entree, I ordered the regular prime rib ($39) with a side of baked potatoes with all the loaded toppings ($10). The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and the classic aus jus and horseradish paired well with the prime rib. The loaded baked potato was ginormous! Would 100% recommend as they were both delicious. Last but not least, the staff here are the sweetest! Our waiter Johnny and EVERYONE we interacted with were so attentive, the service provided was seriously impeccable. We were consistently checked on, our waters constantly refilled, and they quickly brought us everything we requested. I honestly don't think I've had better service before at any restaurant. I cannot rave more about my experience here and I will most definitely be back for any occasion. Thank you so much Smitty's - the new standard for dining has been set for me! read more

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iest piece of food I've ever eaten. Off the dinner menu at smittys. Over the phone order was great but when we got the food no dip was in the bag. Called for replacement for my surprise my of horrible. This hot cup of salt water was so bad and hot. The bread was so dry and boring. $25 sandwich making me disgusting. As if I asked for au ju and they said ok here take some salty lol dip. The Cajun chicken sandwich was basic and lacking effort. For $23 each got salty shoestring fries. Disappointed we have gone to restaurant many times. read more

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I really hate to do this, but disappointed doesn't even cover it. We came last night for a family birthday dinner for 6ppl. They gave us the round table by the bar which normally I would love. Initially, it was set for 5. We asked for another chair and the host looked dumbfounded at us. He did bring the chair and the we said we were short one set-up. This was ignored. 3 tries with 3 different employees later, we had the set-up. Normally, a table like this is great, but here it is on top of your bar pick up for your wait staff. It was too crammed for them to get by and uncomfortable for us. Particularly, every time one of them approached the pick up area the grumbled and made a face. It's not like we asked to b e seated there. We were made to feel in the way the entire time of our $400.00 dinner. The entrees were very mediocre. The chicken picata was ridiculously small and way over lemoned for what you charge and an additional $12.00 for a small serving of pasta was a crime. I had the liver and onions and was so excited to have it since you only do one a month. I had to ask for a knife to cut through the very sinewy piece. Definitely not like my mom's. The rest of our party had hamburgers and a French dip. I was just shocked at $400.00. We won't be back anytime soon. read more

Love this place for great ribeye and other Smitty's classics on the menu. This is a family favorite place for special occasions, too.

My dad loves their ribs! I order him some pretty often lol and highly recommend. I've tried other items from their menu and it's all just as tasty very well made and high quality ingredients . Delivers very well too just as well as dining in :) it warms my heart to give my dad a meal that makes him very happy and Smitty's does just that every time, thank you dearly ! read more

Smitty's is a real treat; from the old school elite treatment- no matter who you are- surely makes you feel like the queen or king that you actually are! Food is impeccably and consistently scrumptious and cooked to perfection. Waiter tonight was Reuben and he was outstanding in every way- really wanted to make our night special, which it definitely was!! read more

Smitty's Grill - Gratis birthday sundae!! So delicious! - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

The service was exceptional. Loved our waiter. The ambience was welcoming. The tables are located in different rooms so you don't get overwhelmed with noise. The steaks and chicken piccata were great. I loved how the chicken breast was sliced into thin slivers and sautéed so the chicken was still moist. The sauce was creamy without being heavy. The spinach was delicious. And don't miss their corn bread that comes with butter and a bottle of honey. Personally, I thought the bread was sweet enough. read more

The food was delicious! We had a special appetizer that was a tempura shrimp with a chili sauce so yummy. Our server was Johnny and he had Daniel shadowing him. They were both great , very attentive and consistent. Ambiance was very intimate and cozy, great music playing and the low lighting is very nice. We had a great time celebrating a friend's birthday ! Thank you Smitty's for the hospitality and our drinks and appetizers, everything was delicious. read more

Update to my previous review in 2017. Enjoyed a dinner with friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. The food and service were really good. My chicken pot pie was warm and soothing. Loved the crab cakes appetizer. My wife enjoyed her seafood chioppino dinner. We also enjoyed some good wine. read more

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I've been dining here for years now, amazing flavors and great service. This last visit probably wasn't their best look. We were seated, but then wasn't greeted by our waiter for about 5-8 minutes. Then, after that i observed that it was taking above normal delays for our waiter to make his rounds to check on us, which made me realize they were most likely short staffed that nite, for this is not how Smitty's flows normally. My Prime Rib (which is my go-to dish here) was extremely overcooked. This is not what disappointed me, but that it took 10 minutes for them to check on me to address the issue. The manager did come by to acknowledge the situation and offered a salad or soup, but i had already had both, so i passed on the offer. By now my wife was almost done with her meal. They finally corrected it but now timing is off and my wife is now just waiting for me to finish. Then, we always look forward to the hot fudge sundae. When we received it, it was served 60% melted. We still ate it despite it being not at its best. This tells me the dish was probably sitting for some time before being served, thus the short staffing issue. Finally, we received the bill and I was charged 100% in full for everything, including the melted ice cream. I'm a customer that will always pay above and beyond with generous tipping, and never complain about price. I just find it a little disturbing they feel the overcooked meal with extended downtime to address, melted ice cream and delayed service justified the full price bill. I'll still be back, I'll continue to support and enjoy Smitty's as well as the sister properties. But this caliber establishment like this shouldn't produce below-par experiences like this. read more

The food was good. The ambience perfect. The service was good. I would go back again, but knowing that the food is not outstanding.

Always great food and service, only area to improve is the bartending and quality of drinks

Came to Smitty's Grill for the first time as a craving for chicken pot pie was in order. I yelped "chicken pot pie" and got a lot of hits for pie places among others. As I scrolled down I came onto Smitty's Grill. I checked out the pics and noticed their chicken pot pie looked massive and reviews were good. I made reservations via yelp. Arriving at Smitty's it was mid rush-hour for dinner and the main dining room was packed. Took our seats at what was a secondary, smaller dinning room good for a couple big groups and one table (my table). Was warmly greeted with water requests once seated. Anthony, our server then welcomed and introduced us to Smitty's Grill. I took from him that Smitty's was a "Comfort Food" place. I proceeded to tell him we came because of the chicken pot pie and he said it was a staple on the menu which we tried and thoroughly enjoyed w/leftovers. Also tried the crab cakes, small but almost pure crab meat with just the right ingredients binding it all together (YUMMY). Also ordered the bowl of chilli which was simply divine. To accompany the chilli I ordered their corn bread . Let me tell you, the corn bread was the star of the dinner. It is served in an individual cast iron skillet and topped with almost a coffee cake layer on top (WOW), it's served with butter and honey! On the side! I later learned the corn bread was compliments of the house it being my first time at Smitty's!!! They gained another customer as their food was delicious, the service was spot on, and the ambience was elevated casual. Will be back to try the rest of the staples and for the corn bread!!!! read more

Smitty's Grill - Bowl of chilli w/onion n cheddar on the side, corn bread in the middle and chicken pot pie at end. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Always solid old school Passdena. Great cocktails and fresh potato chips. Love the chicken picata. read more

I wanted to like Smitty's because I love American comfort food and Yelp showed it had 4 stars so how bad could it be? Not to mention, they always seem to have availability when my absolute favorite spot, Houston's, is booked up. (Well, now I know why). You can't even compare those two places as Houston's is far superior in quality/service/food and the two restaurants simply don't even fall into the same class. Houston's is so buttoned up and consistently high quality and delicious - compared to Smitty's which seems like a hot mess service-wise and serves food that tastes like a step up from Chili's. The past few times I've been there has been such a disappointment but last night was the worst and we vowed to never go back. 1. Each time I've gone, for some reason the servers never know which servers are serving which tables. It's the most bizarre thing and, because of the confusion, we're left just sitting there for a while. (Not to mention that last night we went at 515pm and there were only a couple occupied tables so what's there to get confused about?!). 2. As a result of said "confusion", we are never brought MENUS. The first time I was ever went to Smitty's, we sat there for 25 minutes without anyone speaking to us or even bringing us a menu - that time, since it was my first visit, I didn't know if they had a diff way of doing things so I was patient at first, but literally had to flag someone down....and this has happened the two subsequent times including last night. I don't get it, don't you normally get handed a menu when you get seated at a restaurant? 15 minutes in, we had to flag down a random gentleman (who ultimately didn't end up being our actual server), and he asked if we'd had our drink orders taken and we said that we never even got a menu to look at. And he was all flustered and confused. So he finally brought us one. Meanwhile, the couple seated directly in front of us (who had actually arrived later than us) were already eating their appetizer. 3. Server never told us they had any specials when she took our order. Only after we put in our orders, we overheard a different server telling our neighboring table about the specials for the evening - and we were so disappointed as all the specials were items that we normally love and would've wanted to order (last night they were salmon and flat iron steak - which happen to be our two fave items). 4. The same specials-withholding server told us all side dishes were swappable for any sides listed on the menu. My partners dish came with two sides so he swapped them for two different items, and we ended up getting charged $12 for his second side. I asked the server why and she said his "two sides were actually equivalent to one side". And she couldn't have maybe told us that? Plus his "farmers market vegetables" that he got charged $12 for ended up being broccoli (we were expecting a medley based on the name) that was seriously overcooked and mushy. 4. The food is mediocre at best. Like I said, "stepped up" Chilis (and I say stepped up only because they claim to use ingredients like Mary's Chicken etc). But otherwise it's salty, overdressed. I had their famous "meatloaf" which was super salty and crumbly. And my partner had the ribs which were dry (some parts were as dry and chewy as jerky) - which prob explains why 50% of it was made up of bbq sauce. 5. Majority of the items are à la carte so even if the prices initially "appear" reasonable, they're not, b/c you have to order separate sides unlike Houston's where all entrees come with sides. Bottom line, SKIP SMITTYS AND GO TO HOUSTONS. Just make sure you book a ressie at Houston's at least a few days in advance as they fill up quickly (for good reason). read more

Thanks Yelpers! Comfortable but classy Restaurant with in and outdoor seating. Semi open kitchen where you can witness the chefs busily creating your dishes. Real bartender who mashes a lot of drinks, like an Old Fashioned! It is a value in that the dish sizes are HUGE, labor intensive and fresh. Even the wine servings were HUGE!! Professional service and our food was served piping hot! Enjoyed the outdoor seating with the seasonal street tree lights. read more

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(+) Iron Skillet Corn Bread (+) Ribeye I made reservations for a Sunday night for three. The restaurant called me a day before to confirm the reservation. Upon entering, I didn't have any expectations and Smitty's grill did deliver great service and food. Food: To start our dinner, I ordered the iron skillet corn bread, which was a great start! The corn bread arrived at the table and i loved how crumbly and tasty it was. Our waitress brought some butter and honey to complement our bread, but honestly the corn bread tasted better without the additions. For my entree, I ordered the ribeye steak. The steak was so tender and juicy! I loved the outer fatty layers that added flavor. The ribeye comes with two sides so I selected the french fried potatoes and seasonal vegetables. The french fried potatoes are shoe string french fries and were excellent . The seasonal vegetables (zucchini) were good, but a little too much butter for my liking. Ambiance: The ambiance was my only downfall during my visit to Smitty's grill. The restaurant is compact and very loud. I don't know if it was just loud because of the holidays. Service: The service was excellent. From when we entered to when we left, we were thoroughly taken care of. Our waitress went over the daily specials and gave us ample time to order and enjoy our food. If it's your first time going, I'd recommend to order the same items I did. It is safe and the options you should be ordering at a grill place like this. I will probably be back, but definitely a treat. read more

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Smittys in Pasadena is a real nice spot. In the center of all the action surrounded by many other restaurants and stores. Tons of people everywhere, lots of dogs which makes me happy. Tough to find an opening on a Friday night so reservations are a good idea. Lots of central parking lots. I guess you would call it a steak and seafood restaurant. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Really nice patio with a fire place and a larger Covid patio. Seemed like great quality and everyone loved their choices. To start we got the crab cakes which were so light, with great flavor and d served with the most amazing cranberry slaw. I ordered the prime rib French dip with fries, a very good Sammy. My nephew ordered the Cajun fried chicken sandwich and it was delicious, judging by his empty plate. My brother ordered the special, King Salmon with risotto . Don't believe I've ever had a lighter more flavorful piece of salmon. Excellent .. I'd definitely go back. Great experience. Prices are as to be expected. read more

Smitty's Grill - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

We just moved to So Cal and Smitty's was recommended to us. We were looking for a nice place for my husband's birthday and also taking someone whom we hadn't dined with before and wanted a wide array of items for her to choose from. Our server, Luciano, was helpful in letting us know fav dishes at Smitty's and when we said we wanted to split the pear salad between the three of us his recommendation of getting an order and a half was the perfect amount. He also helped us with wine pairing for my prime rib and husband's rack of lamb. Both dishes were cooked to our liking, nice presentation and delicious. For dessert their speciality right now is strawberry shortcake and it is not to be missed--so good. We were seated at a booth which gave us a beautiful view of the restaurant and a great introduction to a place we will dine at again. read more

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Let me start with the cornbread.... Get the corn bread and put butter and honey on it. We ordered the cornbread as an appetizer and for dessert. I got the prime rib. It's probably one of the best pieces of prime rib I've ever had in my life and I've been living on this planet for over five decades. My wife ordered the ribs in the mac & cheese with ham. It's was delicious. All the food was excellent! I'm looking forward to our next visit! read more

We had a wonderful dinner at Smitty's celebrating my husband's birthday. Great service and amazing food, thank you Luis A. & great staff support. read more

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Party of ONE here. The bartender is slaying it and his "Tito's martini straight-up, two blue cheese olives", the very best. The Smitty salad is meh. Get the wedge or ribs. The 'homemade' potato chips are not worth the $7 and should be gratis, especially at the bar. I shared them with everyone around me. The hostess tonight (12/6/24) is a straight-up fool. "We don't have any tables tonight except the bar, cook bar or outside" inside an empty restaurant. I sit at the bar, enjoy the service, take a gander at OpenTable and there is full availability ALL night long for 2 - 4 tops. Hire a liar with some panache. read more