I finally made it to Smoke's Bistro to sit down and enjoy instead of getting take-out lamb pizza. Ms. Linda was our server who showed care and was an absolutely wonderful spirit. The food is one of thee best in Chicago hands down. You will have to wait but it's BYOB so enjoy a cocktail as you nibble on those pillow soft delicious rolls they start you off with. I appreciate having a sit down establishment in the area with nice lighting, relaxing music and great customer service. Gives you living room feels. The food is seasoned to the God's and you can taste the care that went into both dishes. I had the salmon and shrimp with cream buttered sauce. It was perfect. Cooked perfectly, not dry, moist and full of flavor. My friend had the lamb chops that were slightly overcooked on the first attempt but flavorful, the second plate was on point with just the right hint of pink and juicy. The garlic mashed potatoes were full of flavor and whipped by hand. The asparagus and spinach were delicious. My only issue was that they had to remake her lamb chops but it was misunderstanding and it was quickly resolved. It was a great treat on hump day and I will be adding this into my monthly rotation. I appreciate gems like this in the neighborhood. read more

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I must say Smokes Bistro never disappoints. I had the grilled lamb chops . Grilled to Perfection. and mashed garlic potatoes, and grilled asparagus. It was simply delicious and fresh and well seasoned. Carmen was a great . server . It's a spot I enjoy dining at I definitely highly recommend. read more

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We had the best time. The service was excellent!!! Mrs. Linda was the best!!! She show so much love to us and we felt like we were at home with her having dinner. The food was soooo good and got so much! This will make us return and tell everyone we know to come for an excellent meal and great service!!!! read more

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Let me preface the review: I love that the resturant is local/in the community. Service-upon entering there is a sign-wait to be seated. There is a young lady at the hostess stand that did NOT greet/speak when I walked in. That's a MOOD CHANGER & a BIG NO, NO! Fix that! A pleasant greeting could make or break the experience before it start!!! The waitress was TOP TIER!!! She handled EVERY TABLE! She patient and pleasant. She was the only waitress in a Saturday evening. WOW! Ambiance-Confusing and not functional. The white table clothes give fine dining. However, the highboy tables and chairs give pub style dining with one or two booths thrown in for good measure. The chairs need to be re-postered. The mixed match furniture distracting and the TVs give a sports bar/pub vibe not upscale dining. The TVs should be replaced with beautiful local art work. The light was poor and not functional. Patrons were using their phones because of the poor lightning. The lighting should be fixed by adding more amber light bulbs during evening dinner service. Food-The food selection is so contrast! The pizza march the pub/bar, the other dishes speak to the "fine dining" experience. However I wasn't impressed. I ordered the Spinach, sausage, shrimp and broccoli fettuccine and it was not impressive. It tasted as if it was all prepared separately and mixed together. I encourage everyone to try the restaurant to support. I would hope the owner see my post and take the feedback as a way to improve and increase revenue. They do not serve alcohol and the soft drink was flat. Also, the scanner for Groupons should've been at the front counter! They had to take my phone to the back to scan ‍. I wish the restaurant well. Please invest in the bust and improve. I watched a few patrons turn around and leave. I could definitely be a business consult for you! Just email me if you're interested in my services. Good luck! read more

Smoke's Bistro - Dinning area. - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Did take out. The salmon stir fry was DELICIOUS. The lamb sausage pizza was AMAZING. The beef pepperoni pizza was tasty AF. The young lady Kisha (sp) at the front desk was so pleasant and helpful. read more

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My mother-in-law wanted to take me out to eat, and this restaurant is right in her neighborhood. I was excited to try a new spot, and overall, I was pretty satisfied. I ordered lamb chops with mashed potatoes and spinach--everything was delicious. My mother-in-law had turkey tips with fries, which she enjoyed as well. Even though we were the only two guests in the restaurant at first, it still took quite a while for us to be waited on. I suspect they might be understaffed because everyone we interacted with was pleasant, but the delay felt odd given the empty dining room--especially since I was very hungry. One small (and maybe personal) complaint: they didn't have any diet sodas available. In fact, they were out of both sodas I asked for--one diet and one regular. Considering that many of their guests are seniors, some of whom may have dietary restrictions like diabetes, it seems important to keep a few diet options on hand. The restaurant is nice and bright, only thing I didn't care for was the videos going in the background, playing on the large screen TVs, I found some of the videos to be inappropriate for a family restaurant. read more

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I try my best to support Black businesses and restaurants. This restaurants seemed that they concentrated more on the decor and environment than customer service. The food took over an hour while dinning in. And the restaurant wasn't crowded at all. Had to ask for water. Service plates. And menus. I wish them success but I won't be patronizing their business until their customer service changes for the better read more

First and foremost me and my sweetheart arrived at 6:10pm on the 11th of October 2025 and didn't even get approached until 6:30 then seated. We waited an additional 20 minutes to get water and our order taken. My order came first and to my surprise it was all over the place. Everything was fried and it had stuff I didn't order. When I looked and told the waitress this is wrong her only reply was that's wrong and I'll bring you some sides that were supposed to be with the meal. The catfish was fried hard not seasoned and the salmon as well. The hush puppies were also hard. The only thing that tasted decent was the unswas ones steam broccoli. My man didn't get his food until 7:23 mines was cold by then and my appetite was gone. I try to support black owned businesses but this place here was horrible. When I told the man who brung our food is there an owner I can speak to he said he cooking. Wow so not there is no one I can talk to I guess they don't care. I asked for a container and to my sur I got a stirofoqm container was brought to me. I wouldn't recommend this place to anybody. 7:40 time to go and the waitress is somewhere laughing and giggling with her friends. This was our first date out and ages because we both work hard but the experience only allows me to want to stay in or go to establishments that treat you correctly. I am devistated. Get better service and learn to treat people better. read more

Smoke's Bistro - Containers - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was very flavorful, and the portions were hefty. The service was excellent. Our witness Ms. Linda was very attentive and sweet. She gave us the best service, and made us feel warm and welcome. The Ambiance was welcoming, and warm. There was a family atmosphere, mostly because it is a family business. We had a great experience, and we will be back soon. I highly recommend this place. You won't be disappointed. Trust me. read more

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FOOD WAS SMACKKNG Say LESS. Pull up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had cream salmon w/ sauté spiniach and mashed pot. I wanted to lick the plate FOOD WAS SOO DELICIOUS. But I kept my composure. read more

The best I can say is they can rebrand this place but putting lipstick on a pig doesn't change the fact that it's a pig!!!! The food is ok but this placed is priced as if it's a fine dining restaurant when it is not--it can't be: BYOB, no website, and not on YELP, TripAdvisor, or OpenTable! Four stars because the food is decent. read more

Smoke's Bistro - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Good Food Is Not Enough Reliability, no excuses, and excellent communication are the true indicators of a good business. On Friday, 2/13, I chose Smokes to host a Galentine's celebration for a friend who lost both parents within a year and to honor my cousin's cancer survivorship--two deeply meaningful occasions. I made the reservation personally three weeks in advance and clearly explained the importance of everything going smoothly, including two of us arriving early to decorate before the others. Given prior experiences with long waits, lost orders, and repeated explanations about being short-staffed, I was intentional about confirming expectations. At the time of booking, no decoration policies were mentioned. A week prior, he did not initially recall the reservation. The day of, staff also struggled to find it. After finally confirming, new stipulations about decorations were introduced that had never been discussed. The tone was defensive and dismissive, including the assumption that I had "never been there before," despite my consistent support and referrals over time. Clear policies should be stated upfront and communicated professionally--without assumptions. When we arrived as planned to decorate before the guest of honor, we were told we could not set up until the entire party arrived--contrary to what had been agreed upon. The host and waitress were apologetic and did their best to accommodate us, and their professionalism ultimately helped steady the evening. However, the experience reflected deeper operational concerns: inconsistent reservation management, inflexible seating despite advance booking, and extended food wait times exceeding three hours. Constructive feedback: Operational Readiness If demand exceeds capacity, adjust accordingly--limit reservations, switch to carryout temporarily, or staff appropriately. Consistency builds trust. Digitize Systems Use a reliable digital reservation and ordering system to prevent lost bookings and misplaced tickets. Clear systems eliminate confusion. Professional Communication State policies clearly and calmly. Listen first. Remove defensiveness from customer interactions. Respect returning patrons who actively support your business. Accountability Over Excuses Customers understand challenges--but solutions matter more than explanations. Invest in staffing, training, and food preparation systems that allow meals to be served within a reasonable timeframe. Recognize Opportunity On a major holiday weekend, a thoughtfully decorated table celebrating survivorship and friendship was an opportunity--not a disruption. Collaboration with supportive customers strengthens a brand. There is tremendous potential here. The food is strong. The ambiance is appealing. But good food alone is not enough. Professionalism, reliability, and intentional customer care are what elevate a restaurant from good to exceptional. read more

I called in was told an hour and 1:45 almost 2 hours still waiting. Food is good but the service is horrible. I want to support our own. But y'all got to do better. I'm even more upset. I was told there was no medium pizza. I waited two hours and got a medium pizza. Had to cancel the platter because y'all never made it. This is unacceptable. Yes never again read more

Smoke's Bistro - Suppose to be a large pizza. 2 hours later you give me a small medium - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Food Was Good But The Waitress With The Colorful Hair Is Very Rude When U Ask Her A Question

Came in at 8 and only 6 tables were occupied. Was told the wait would be 10 min but they were still taking take out orders. 10 mins passed and with over 10 open tables, we still weren't seated. It felt like they wanted people to walk out because they closed at 9 and there were 4 groups waiting. People began to leave including myself. That alone turned me off. The young lady at the front also wasn't friendly. I will not be returning. read more

The food was phenomenal. My party and I ordered si much fun and no misses. The chicken tips was a highlight. BYOB read more

Smoke's Bistro - Appetizer (chicken tips over fries, hush puppies, chicken wings, & shrimps) -chicken & shrimp alfredo -Lamb chops -Salmon alfredo - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Easily some of the best food in the city, and the vibe is perfect if you're not in a rush. It's a place that you don't want to miss if you want GREAT food, with a very chill atmosphere. read more

9.19.25 i wanted to celebrate my mother's 86th bday. our block wanted to support this business in our community. so i suggested we go & celebrate. i made reservations for 8, then i changed to 10pp. the day of i waited for them to open to go inside & increase my number from 10-12. 6p we were there and were seated.. had to wait a few min for another table which was fine. but after being seated... we waited over 35min to get water and menus. they had a waitress who was nice but had no urgency at all. we sat waited far to long. if i didn't have my mother & a large party i would have left. after ordering over an hour later.. we finally got water.. we watched patrons come in shake hands with ppl from the back.. sat at the bar.. ordered.. ate.. paid & left before we ever got our food. ms. linda the asst manager came to my table several times and apologize she couldn't believe my table hadnt been served. she did offer 10% off each meal. while we waited.. we sang hb & cut cake. after being there 3hrs.. i never received my food. i was highly irritated. There was no butter for bread.. no salt/pepper on table.. & ran out of catfish. Several of my guest waited 2hrs to get their food. when they did... everyone reported that it was good & tasty. ambiance is cool food is good service horrible really need to hire ppl to serve & accommodate large parties & full house on weekend. i was very disappointed in my visit. probably will not dine in again. until i hear of better reviews of not waiting hours to eat. They ran out of catfish so I guess they decided to not serve me any food.. I never received my order. UPDATE AS OF 10/13/25 Lil over a week ago I received a call with an apology & invitation to come back and dine again.. the opportunity to make it right. I accepted. I was most likely not going to return.. but I'm SO HAPPY that I did. We were greeted & seated. Water and menus within 10m.. ordered appetizers.. bread arrived promptly.. we ordered dinner and was eating within 30min. HUGE difference from our visit 9.19. EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! SERVICE WAS WAY BETTER.. I WAS DANCING IN MY SEAT. SAY NO MORE!! I'LL BE BACK!! THANK YOU SMOKE'S BISTRO FOR MAKING EFFORT TO RIGHT THE WRONG! I'M HAPPY!! read more

Smoke's Bistro - Tuscan chicken pasta - Seafood Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This was not a good experience. I thought I'd try this place based on review. Since I live a great distance from the city I usually order my pizza half cooked meaning just until the cheese melts. This allows me to finish at home and enjoy my South Side pizza. This process usually takes 15-20 minutes max. After 15 minutes I'm told my request can't be accommodated. Why wasn't I told that in the beginning. Overall after trying a corner in the car before my hour plus journey home the was too crispy, there was too much sauce and a heavy hand on the Italian seasoning. To say the least this was a disappointing experience!!! Luckily for me I brought a pizza from my usual pizza joint ahead before I got here. I tried read more

I had a carry out from and I must say the food , services and atmosphere are all excellent!