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    The Smith

    4.2 (825 reviews)
    ModerateNew American
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

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    THE SMITH ATMOSPHERE

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    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - The Smith

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    Gabriel H.

    Oysters flown in daily, elegant American style cuisine and ambiance, polite and informative service, and the eggs alla vodka was a first time try for me, it was spectacular. Thank you The Smith team!!! Our waitress was wonderful.

    Mckenzie J.

    I was on my friend's bachelorette trip to the city, and we came for dinner. To start, we decided to just enjoy the complimentary bread and butter, which we enjoyed. For my entree, I decided to try something new and so I got the short rib mafaldine. It was very good, and I would order it again. The cosmo was also great! As for service, our server was very kind and accommodating to dietary needs. That being said, service was a bit slow. Overall, I really enjoyed this restaurant!

    Benedict Johnny
    Penny B.

    Best mac and cheese I've ever had!! The rest of the food was also wonderful. The parmesan truffle fries are a must order. The service was alright. Got a little slow at times but overall, it was good. The food came out quick for a Saturday afternoon. The location is amazing, close to the river. The restaurant is bigger than I expected it to be so it was no problem getting seated without a reservation.

    Burrata
    Chris P.

    I had dinner at this place and enjoyed it. The menu was arranged before the group arrived. I love this because I get to sample far more on the menu than if I were to attend with my spouse or friend. The meal began with burrata. I love this cheese and know that it can swing in presentation from very watery to dry. This seemed to hit the perfect middle. Light flavor, not too watery or dry, and dressed with a bit of pesto and accompanied by garlic bread that was fantastic. The Caesar salad was good. Crunchy parmesan, which is always a nice treat on a Caesar salad, is enough to make me want to not share this family-style dinner. The dressing was near pefect, but given family style servings, seemed to not be enough for me. The roasted fingerling potatoes were divine. They were prepared with a lemon aioli, chile crisp, and topped with scallions. This was so good that we asked for another serving. Roasted brussels sprouts resting on an avocado base and pink peppercorns. They were nicely prepared and glad that others at the table did not care for Brussels sprouts. That left more for me. The Rigatoni alla vodka with delicious stracciatella cheese was a wonderful touch, and I was thinking about having that as a separate dish for dinner alone. Now, I am not a fan of poached salmon, but typically, the broth used to poach the salmon seems to be no more than salt, pepper, and sometimes, rosemary. I had instant regret once I tasted it, and it reminded me why I only pan-sear or grill salmon. One thing I loved about some of the places I ate in Chicago was the style of the steakhouse.

    Bob R.

    Fantastic food, service, and ambiance! We went for a birthday dinner. Having been to The Smith in New York, we assumed this would be the same. But their Chicago location has its own feel. Our server was excellent. He explained the menu and listened carefully to food allergies at the table. They are very sensitive to food allergies. The manager is required to stop by the table to verify what is needed, and to ensure the kitchen paid attention to the instructions, any food for someone with allergies is labeled with a red flag. The food was great. We started with an order of Brussel sprouts and some oysters. (The oysters were from me. I'm not a lover of Brussel sprouts.) They had several types of oysters to choose from. I asked the server what his favorite was and he said it was their special - an oyster from Virginia called "Chuck-cago." They were outstanding. For our meals we had a variety of things. Everyone was pleased with their entrees but other than presentation I can only speak to the bar steak. The bar steak is a flat iron steak which came our medium rare. I had it with the chimichurri sauce. It's served with sauteed spinach and fries (pomme frites). I also had their old fashioned. They use walnut bitters which gives the old fashioned a little different taste. There are two things that could be improved: (1) the chopped salad is colorless. They have apples in the salad - I suggest that they keep the skins on so the salad isn't just a pale green. (2) it is very loud, so much so, it was hard to hear people talking at our table. Regardless of those two items, our experience was wonderful and we do plan to visit again.

    Kari O.

    (Kari's rating 6/10) Came here for a quick bite and I've been to the Smith a few times before, but this was the first time I'd come in for brunch. The servers were really sweet, they checked in relatively often and gave us both sparkling and still water. She was relatively attentive and checked in the perfect amount. The bloody Mary was OK, a little bit fishy, not very spicy and came with a pepperoncini and an olive. The breakfast sandwich was next which came with an egg, almost like a hollandaise sauce on a brioche bun. The bun was very light and fluffy, a little bit sweet and overall pretty delicious. As someone who lives not too far from the Smith, I wouldn't necessarily come out of my way to come here, but it was a nice upscale brunch place.

    Carly M.

    This has to be one of the top burgers I've ever tried. Period. Although on the pricier side, the burger is filling and even comes with a side of delicious, perfectly salted, crispy fries. I get mine in medium rare and the burger melts in your mouth. I think the couple times I went, it is on the juicier side (this is no where a dry burger)! The Smiths is one of the places I recommend my friends if they're looking for a good burger spot. This place never disappoints. Service was amazing and attentive which is always a plus. The vibes were really chill and casual!

    Adorable red bow on the outside
    Raleigh D.

    Our server, Aaron, took wonderful care of us at Brunch today. His suggestion to share French Toast as an appetizer was genius- tasted like eating dessert first. My friend described it as "divine". We both got the shrimp and grits. YUM! Love the texture of the potato strings on top. Delicious coffee and cocktails. Just perfect!

    Spicy Shrimp Scampi
    Sammy W.

    I want to start off by saying the food from this place was absolutely delicious. We each had a bite of the other dishes ordered and I can confidently say they all were amazing. I had the shrimp scampi and it literally melted in your mouth with a crunch from the toasted bread crumbs which was an excellent touch. A tad on the pricer side for the portions but maybe I am just a hungry gal. The drinks were also a bit pricey for the small size but hey it's Chicago. They have a cute photo booth downstairs that gives six poses which was a great addition to this place. One thing I will say is that when I read this place was quite loud I didn't realize it was as loud as a busy bar. It was extremely hard to hear my friends and we would have to lean it close to hear what we were saying. If you're looking to catch up with some friends this might not be the best place. I also want to mention that this was my birthday celebration and saw that the table next to us had a small cake with a candle but our server never had any birthday treat. Not too mad just a little salty as she kept ushering us to get a dessert and I thought this was because of the birthday and was a complementary but it was included in the final bill.

    Charisma H.

    I've only come here for brunch so can only speak to that. it's been stellar every time. The smoked salmon with potato and poached egg is my favorite but everything has been good. I think the savory items have been a touch above their sweet ones though. The service is speedy and they keep your coffee cup filled up.

    Little Gem Caesar Salad
    Mindy Z.

    9/30/25 Tuesday Came in the evening with reservations. Food: -steak was 10/10 must try so tender and seasoned well -chicken was a bit overcooked and dry -skillet dessert was BOMB, but leaning on the overly sweet side -chocolate cake just the right sweetness and I love dark chocolate but a bit dry despite the layers of crème. The crunch bits were a bit hard instead of crisp -potatoes were ok, but not memorable -salmon tartar thing was unique but the crisped rice as a bit hard -standard Cesar salad not memorable -burrata pretty good overall and very nice presentation but the bread was a bit hard -veggies were tender and well seasoned but a bit too oily Ambiance: -the room we ate in was a smaller confined space with no windows so it's quite dim and has a medieval ambiance. Can get pretty loud with a big group. Service: -service was good but food came out slowly Location: Pretty central and close to the river.

    Burger Royale
    Erica J.

    We came for lunch on a Monday. The weather was perfect to enjoy outdoor seating. Mark maintained excellent service. I can't say enough about the kale quinoa salad. Simple, yet delicious. We really enjoyed the calamari too! I also had the avocado toast. My friend had a burger and fries with the side salad. The sparkling cosmo was a nice pairing. Excited to try this place for dinner.

    Sarah

    Amazing!!! The food and drinks were so good. We had the best server. He was so nice and friendly. My first time in Chicago and my first time eating here but I'll definitely be back.

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    15 days ago

    Great burger and calamari. Everything seemed fresh. Service was ok. Bathroom was super cute. Kid friendly

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    Page 1 of 21

    The Smith Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Smith

    What time does brunch end on Saturdays?

    Brunch is served on Saturdays & Sundays until 4pm! - The Smith Team

    Do they have valet?

    No, they do not.

    Do they serve breakfast in weekdays?

    Yes there is

    Is there a happy hour?

    Yes! They have $1.50 oysters and some happy hour priced drinks. Must order at bar.

    View All 7 Questions

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    Chalet

    Chalet

    3.7
    (192 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Stumbled upon this gem on Valentine's Day and I lovedddddd every bit of my experience!…read more For starters, they had cute valentines themed drinks and they were so tasty! They also decorated for Valentine's Day and it was soooooo aesthetically pleasing, great picture props! The music was also a viiiiibe -- whoever was DJing understood the assignment that day! Our server's name was Alon, and she was amazing! Very attentive, sweet, and informative. I told her I needed her name so that people would know who to look for when they visited next lol. She maintained great service, even when it got busy and she had to help others! Now, let's get to the part that matters most: the food! My best friend and I both had their burgers -- so fillingggggggggg and the house made aioli chefs kiss! We already decided we'll be back to try the tacos bc Alon said they're fye and I trust her judgement! The drinkssssssss -- honey listen, the champagne drink was a cute starter bc that margarita definitely didn't come to play! Also -- we didn't have reservations and still were seated in a timely manner with timely service! I'll be revisiting them for sure!

    I'm not sure what I was expecting but the restaurant fell flat for me. The staff were very nice…read moreand responsive. The restaurant itself is big very large but it's popular & busy. The extremely loud music made it hard to have a conversation. We were there during happy hour and enjoyed the Mexican candy shooters. The margaritas drinks were ok and the food meh. The boneless buffalo wings were just something defrosted fried and covered in sauce. Perhaps I ordered the wrong thing (beef & chicken sliders) but overall the restaurant wasn't appealing enough to make me want to return, especially because the bathroom smelled like urine. It may be a vibe during brunch or something but it just was not for me.

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    Crab Cakes
    Crab Cakes
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    Chips & Guac
    Arbella

    Arbella

    4.4
    (699 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

    (Kari's Rating 8.75/10)…read more Came with a friend late on a Friday night after dinner time We were able to be seated almost immediately at a nice little private Cove table. We ordered a flight of whiskey sours, which contained whiskeys from Japan, Vietnam, and Wisconsin. I also was able to order an amaretto sour, which they made with freshly hand beaten egg whites, which was a nice cherry on the top. As far as the whiskey flights go, I think the best one was the Vietnam flight because it had a slightly lemongrass twang and was a little bit lighter than the other two. The heaviest one was the Wisconsin which came with a little bit of a bite at the end, but it still wasn't bad if you're trying to blackout on a $15 budget. I would definitely come back with a larger group this seems like a great place, but is a little bit loud- so if you be prepared to yell or wear earplugs. The bathroom took my a second to find, which should have been intuitive considering it was on the opposite end of where you come in. I blame the lighting as things are already pretty hard to find in the dark, but eventually I made it there-Pat myself on the back.

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    DJ Adam Pecho bringing down the house
    DJ Adam Pecho bringing down the house
    Crab rangoon
    Crab rangoon
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    Vietnam Old Fashioned
    The Franklin Room

    The Franklin Room

    4.3
    (633 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$

    The vibes were nice. Lighting wasn't too bright, a dressier atmosphere, and definitely felt like a…read moregood spot for drinks and dinner. Service was fine. Our server was nice and water refills came at the right times. The burger was honestly pretty mid. It tasted fine, but our server said it was one of the best burgers in Chicago and I definitely wouldn't agree. 5/10. The salmon was tender and had a really interesting crust. It wasn't charred like I expected, almost had a rubbery texture, but I actually enjoyed it. The lemony miso sauce was delicious, the pickled cucumbers added a nice crunch. 7.5/10. The prime bone-in ribeye was fine. Good flavor, but nothing really stood out about it. 6.5/10. Dessert was the highlight of the meal. The chocolate crunch dessert was sooo good. Loved the marshmallow pieces and all the different textures from the crunchy mousse. 8/10. The salted caramel gelato had a great texture, but it was way too sweet for me. It tasted more like straight sugar than salted caramel. 6/10. Overall, a solid last-minute date night spot with good vibes, but the chocolate crunch dessert was definitely the standout.

    Instagram sent me, not via an influencer, but a very alluring ad. If I were to book a reservation…read morethen and there, I could get an Old Fashioned made with Colonel E.H. Taylor for a lower price. Sold! I made a reservation and stopped in that week (if not that very day). The Old Fashioned was fantastic! It had strong whiskey notes without hitting you with a wall of spirit the way a Manhattan, for example, does. The other additions of bitters and syrup did a perfect job rounding the cocktail out, adding sweet and savory notes. As much as I love variety, I loved it so much, I ordered two! I can't lie and say this wasn't at least in part due to the reduced price, that notwithstanding, me ordering two of the same is some of the highest, non-verbal praise one could get from me. For a main, I had the opportunity to try the burger, a special only available 5:00 - 6:30, and mind you I eked in by the skin of my teeth. Before I attempt to break this down, though, I need to take a slight tangent: Do any of you remember the quote from The Menu where Anya Taylor-Joy says: "A real cheeseburger. Not some fancy, deconstructed, affluent b***s***, a *real* cheeseburger."? I am pleased to report the burger here was somewhere between Chef Slowik's "very traditional cheeseburger" and the one Taylor Joy describes! In other words, just fancy enough to feel like I am getting a unique, creative, well thought out dish, but without all the pomp and circumstance! There's just one little problem: as soon as I bit into it, the juices erupting from within soaked the bottom bun, and turned it into a fork and knife affair with an unseen level of precision and speed. Very regrettably, this was the burger's undoing. That first, heavenly bite that had angels singing showed what the burger was really made of (and I mean this figuratively and literally). The beef was of the highest quality, well-seasoned, cooked medium and juicy, with a perfect sear that would have Louis Camille Maillard crying tears of joy. Two types of cheese (one being crisp and airy, the other thoroughly gooey and savory), the perfect amount of bacon, moisture and flavor from a tempura tomato, and divine sauces! One of them was a little sweet, which elevated the flavor like no one's business. Together, all these flavors were a symphony that could give Beethoven a run for his money. However, that unfortunate fact that the thing fell apart so quickly meant that symphony was limited to one bite, the rest being encountered piecemeal. I would rather skip fries than skip dessert (which I did), and ordered the Mango cheesecake. Such velvety perfection! Neither the sweetness nor the mango notes were overpowering, and while it didn't have the crust of a traditional cheesecake, the more gentle variant here absolutely works. I also appreciated the tart sorbet to offer some contrast in flavor, temperature, and texture. Now, let me talk about the service. Given that the restaurant was at capacity, the bar service and speed to get my items was reasonable. Could it hypothetically have been just a touch faster/more attentive? Yes, but in practice, when you have a full house, this is as good as it can get before robots take over. Finally, there is the matter of prices. There is no doubt in my mind that the quality is up there, at the same time, the reason I skipped the side of fries was it would have set me back $11. I suppose the real question is whether or not the quality equals the price, and after some reflection, I think the answer is yes, but one must be prepared for the sticker shock ahead of time. That said, the final verdict: The Franklin Room absolutely delivers on an all-around fantastic meal. I think whatever you order will be in the 90th percentile, at worst! However, this comes at a cost. Therefore, I would love to return to the Franklin Room, but it would likely be more a very occasional treat than a place where I'd be a regular.

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    The Franklin Room
    Mango Cheese Cake
    Mango Cheese Cake
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    Ema

    Ema

    4.3
    (2k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    The atmosphere was great for our 6 person group for brunch! Service was fantastic…read more A very nice ambiance that wasn't too loud for a brunch at 11am where we could all hear each other, sat at a round table so we could see each other. That part was lovely because often I find that with larger groups it's hard to ensure everyone is able to interact (especially since I was taking my parents) Lamb shakshuka was a winner in my book!! So flavorful and perfect hearty brunch. The skewers my parents got were wonderfully cooked. Others got a more standard scrambled egg breakfast that they said was nothing special. Definitely opt for a Mediterranean breakfast if you're at a Mediterranean spot imo.

    I was really disappointed with my experience at Ema. The portions were much smaller than expected,…read moreespecially considering the prices. The biggest issue was that our drink glasses had a terrible odor, as if they hadn't been washed properly. We mentioned it to the manager, who promptly replaced the glasses, and the new ones did not have the smell, which confirmed there was an issue with the original ones. I ordered the short ribs, which cost $35 and the portion was extremely small. One of the pieces was also mostly fat, leaving very little actual meat. For the price, I expected a much better-quality dish and a more satisfying portion. Overall, the experience did not live up to the restaurant's reputation or pricing. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

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    Ema tables and bar
    Ema tables and bar
    Double chocolate.
    Double chocolate.
    Inside

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    Inside

    The Smith - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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