Could not get over the bad taste of their well water. Dinner is over priced for Connecticut. It is not in NYC.

Terrible meal. First time at the restaurant and it will be our last. I am writing this review so you don't ever have to endure a meal there. The steak was not good. It wasn't 'bad' in the sense of 'rotten' or 'gone bad,' but it was not good. I could have gone to Shop Rite and bought a steak and put it on our grill and it would have tasted better. I could have gone to Andros Diner and had a steak and it would have been better. It was so bad that we were laughing while we were there because there was nothing we could do except wonder why on earth we found ourselves in such a godforsaken restaurant. At least we were entertained by the 'cheese table' where the waiter intermittently dumped a large ziplock bag of pre-cubed cheese onto the tray as needed. It was comical how the place was run. Who has a cheese table with nasty manufactured cheese? The so-called salad bar looked like it was borrowed from what fell on the floor at a diner salad bar. Nothing was quality, nothing was worth going there for. Everything fell so short of what was expected, or what is 'acceptable' that there is no hope for this restaurant. It looks like the owners are looking for profit, not a good experience (buy the worst lowest-cost food, charge steakhouse prices, and laugh all the way to the bank). The atmosphere is called 'rustic' but really it is run-down and dirty. My husband was sick for a full day after his meal. Just don't go. read more

Not bad. Food was good, surprised to see the salad bar during covid but it was clean and fresh. There was also a cheese block with cheese cubes but I steered clear. I ordered the steak kabobs and it was cooked nicely. The ambiance is an older home and dark. I hadn't been there in years, and while the meal was good I'm not in a hurry to go back. read more

Was charged $3.00 for each Diet Coke I ordered. Not worth the money! Beef stew had very little beef in it. First time and last time.

What another fabulous dinner again. We frequent this fine quaint restaurant twice a month. Always enjoyed the friendly servers, great hostess and bartender. We know we are going to get the same perfect meals each time we order. The great amenities of a Cheese and Cracker selection, Salad Bar, all complimentary. Please if you love Steak, give them a try. Salmon is awesome as well. Betsy and Lee read more

Amazing place! Beautiful atmosphere with a great staff! Not to mention, the food was incredible. From the salad bar, to our starters, and finally, the entrees were excellent. I loved their bbq pork chop special with rice pilaf. Also, they have a great selection of wines and mixed drinks/cocktails. read more

Having grown up in Monroe, the Smithy was always reliable for a great meal. I returned to the Smithy for the first time in 15-20 years last Friday evening with my wife and had possibly the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. We arrived at 6:30 and were waited on by a lovely young lady. Our drinks arrived at 6:40 at which time we placed our order. We enjoyed a salad and patiently waited for our meal. 7:15 rolled around and the waitress assured us it would just be another couple minutes. We ordered another drink and at 7:20 she delivered them and said our meals would be up momentarily. At 7:30 she stops back and repeats that they should be plated any minute. 7:35 rolls around and again she states our meals will be plated shortly. At 7:40 I asked her to bring me a check for what we drank and to cancel the order. After another 10 minutes, I actually had to find the manager on duty to get the check. He simply stated sorry and handed me a check for $48 to cover our 3 drinks !!! I hate to say it but I would find other options if dining in the Monroe/Trumbull/Newtown area. This is NOT the Smithy we grew up with. read more

Really substandard place. Nice people cozy place, but the salad bar by the grill, cheese and crackers over in that corner and a Manhattan served in a wine glass... cream of potato soup was Luke warm and as thick as wall paper paste... just didn't live up to $40 plus steak prices. Not impressed at all.... read more

The place is cutely decorated and ok on prices. Service was good which is why not a lesser star but good service makes it hard to complain. The adults in our party ordered the rib-eye which was all over cooked and had lots of gristle. The potato was small and overloaded with sour cream. Salad bar was nice but only salad so could not serve as stand alone and had cold bread. Cheese board was pepper jack so kinda processed. They could do so much better here. The weird part was kids meals. Dino nuggets and a bag of chips or Kraft Mac. So lazy. Kids don't mind... I won't come back as even outback tries harder. Shame as it could be better read more

Took my mom and son to Smithy's Saturday night. It was packed but we were seated right away with our reservation. The salad bar was very tight and not easily accessible could also use some alternate lettuce options. The service was ok but not the best I had to keep trying to get the waiters attention to get water. They really should have someone checking for that . Steak was cooked to perfection though. read more

Had dinner at this once terrific restaurant a couple weeks ago.First time back since new owners took over...Walking in,the place looked fresh &clean,gone were the dark rugs on the floors,and dim lighting,I was happy to see it! Now, on to our dining experience,we were seated, and greeted by a waitress who took our drink order,after a few minutes a young man came by and said he'd be our waiter, and also asked for our drink order,confusing, but at least they were trying.After waiting awhile, the 1st waitress came back with our drinks... The menu was the same as it's been for 30 years, steaks,fish and a chicken dish,loved seeing the new owners kept the menu.After placing our order, the waiter told us to help ourselves to the "cheese block"( this place was known for its huge chunk of cheese with crackers to nibble on while waiting for your meal)..much to our disappointment, the "cheese block" consisted of 3 small cubes of cheese in a small wooden salad bowl coved with a napkin, we felt funny taking the 3 small pieces, so we decided to move on to the salad bar which consisted of salad, and very few toppings,and it was set up so it was hard to reach under the hanging plexi glass and get to any of the toppings, obviously designed to cut back a little, we made ourselves what we could, and took it back to our table.Now our dinners come out,stuffed chicken and a petite filet.I asked for the filet medium well, and it came out well done,I was going to say something but decided to just eat what I could, not wanting to wait for another.My friend had the stuffed chicken breast, which he said was dry, and luke warm.Nest part of both our meals were the baked potatoes,delicious...This place isn't cheap,$24.99 for the chicken breasts,& I think $34.99 for the petite filet, I understand everything is expensive these days,and don't mind paying for a good meal, but this experience was disappointing to say the least.Maybe the chef had an off night,but 3 cubes of cheese, and a skimpy salad bar to go along with these prices??.. no thanks.. read more

Excellent service great food nice comfortable cozy atmosphere with fireplace and feel like you're in a country in bed and breakfast

T$ the Traveling Foodie with Food, Fun & Fiesta enjoyed a delicious steak at The Smithy. The ambiance is casual and the food is prepared to order with outstanding detail. If you're looking for an exceptional steak and some wonderful seafood, check out The Smithy in Monroe, Ct. Two thumbs up & a clap! read more

The Smithy - T$ the traveling Foodie from Food, Fun and Fiesta enjoyed a delicious meal at The Smithy in Monroe, Ct. - Seafood Near Me - Monroe, Connecticut

Exemplary service and amazing quality of food. Tiny menu but if what you offer is perfect then you're doing it right. I'm surprised to read so many complaints about the salad bar, it was exactly what it should be. Lettuce and all the fixings, dressings, your choice of special toppings and 2 varieties of bread. Plus a cheese bar with 2 varieties. Both come free with the meal and both areas incredibly fresh and clean. Trust, I'd much rather make my own huge salad and add exactly what I want than to be given what a restaurant thinks I want. Anyway, all our steaks were perfectly cooked. Our waiter excellent and attentive, even on a packed Saturday night. We each got dessert and they were delicious. They would have gotten 5 stars but 2 things. 1) Others are right about their water. It tastes bad, terrible even, and one of us had a dirty, lipstick-stained glass. 2) they cannot make a decent Bloody Mary, *shudder*, it was horrible. I honestly plan to continue going and trying everything on that menu! read more

Just a quick shoutout to Maureen, the new owner. Happy to support a woman-owned business! Our party of 5 enjoyed everything - fish, lamb, porterhouse - everything. Glad to see you're now offering local beer on draught, it's a great addition. read more

My group has met at Smithy's several times and haven't been disappointed. Someone in the group has tried most of the items on the menu, and no one has been disappointed. I have Had the NY strip and it was one of the better steaks I have had outside of Nebraska in several years. and the salmon it was also done very well. As others have mentioned to the salad bar is small but well stocked and the complimentary cheese block always has a good quality offering. Smithy's is a small place that isn't fancy which adds to its charm. The only downside is the service can be a bit slow at times but the wait is worth it. If I'm ever back in the area I'll be stopping at Smithy's read more

The place is definitely old charm! Food is good, small cheese table with crackers and some pretzel like cracker. There is a small salad island, as well. Not one of my favorite places to go but not the worst. Like I said, the food was decent but a different type of vibe there, for sure. Give it a try and judge for yourselves. read more

CLASSIC! First floor of old colonial house turned into a treasure. Simple menu, all hearty and filling options. Simple and classic salad bar, stuffed chicken breast is best I've ever had. Clam chowder is best besides Maine of course. Reliable menu for those resistant to change. Just love this place! read more

Haven't been here in a long time. This place is nothing fancy kinda caught in time but good salad bar and food.

So, I'll admit I'm a bit biased about this place. My parents went to The Smithy the night before I was born twenty eight years ago and we (I say it assumably) have been returning multiple times a year since. No, it's not an NYC steakhouse. No (like some stupid other yelper commented) you cannot exchange certain sides. No, they will not cook your steak perfectly every single time without fail; but why would you want them to? Those ideals are reserved for steak houses serving entrees for $50 for a sirloin, and The Smithy not only doesn't offer those concepts, they don't want to. Why? Because this is an honest to goodness old-time steakhouse, not something that was advertised on YES. The Smithy has served amazing food in a one of a kind environment for longer than most yelpers have been alive, so consider that. This is Monroe Connecticut were talking about, and this restaurant represents every element of charm this corner of the state has to offer. The ambiance is without parallel and especially given their price point you will not find a truer colonial style meal without paying three times as much in a pseudo-rebuilt house in New Haven. Support The Smithy. You will not be disappointed. read more

We took my mother to The Smithy to celebrate her birthday (after a tasting at White Hills Distillery) and all 5 of us were very happy to have found this steakhouse! The steaks (2 cowboy specials & 3 NY strips) were cooked perfectly and did not have a lot of fat, gristle or sinew on them. Our server Kelly was fantastic, we enjoyed an outdoor table and just had a good time there. We're looking forward to the next visit! read more

Great selection of choice beef with some seafood and poultry. I have been here over a dozen times and the food is always excellent. Staff is very friendly with unlimited salad bar and cheese/crackers. YUM!!! read more

The Smithy - Seafood Near Me - Monroe, Connecticut

I've always liked the Smithy. It has a warm, comfortable vibe...not trendy but cozy. It's a limited menu but that's never been a problem for me. The chopped steak is my favorite, but all the entreés are acceptably good, I've never had a bad one. The salad bar is small, but all items tend to be fresh and nicely presented. The cheese table is a real treat. There's always one "slicing" cheese and one "spreadable" cheese, along with a nice variety of crackers and breadsticks to enjoy them with. The servers are old-school, in that they tend to keep the same team year after year, and there is something to be said about settling in knowing that you'll be taken care of by the same person on each visit. They aren't overwhelmed by the number of diners and they can provide better service as a result. Plenty of free parking and easy to get to, right on Route 111 in Monroe. Now for the not-so-good stuff: A while back, the owners decided to try and save a couple of bucks by switching to Freaky Dog soda. For those of you unfamiliar with Freaky Dog, it is a putrid, undrinkable swill that's only bought by mom-and-pop establishments that don't think anyone will notice that the Coke or Pepsi they ordered tastes like spicy vomit. This is a much larger problem at the Smithy than it would be in most places, because their water has a VERY powerful copper taste and an unappetizing brown color. Since I'm not a vampire, the water isn't to my taste, and I don't drink liquor, so I'm pretty much out of beverage options at the Smithy. If non-alcoholic beverages aren't your thing, you'll probably be happy dining there. A year ago I would have given them four stars, but I took one away for the Freaky Dog, and one more because I took the time to write to the owners about it and they did not trouble themselves to reply. read more

The Smithy is located near the corner of Route 25 and Judd Road in Monroe. It has a private parking lot that fills up quickly on busy dinner nights. If you're looking for a super early dinner, it opens up promptly at 5pm. This restaurant is a Monroe staple. It's been here for many years and when I first decided to go here I wanted a true steakhouse experience. It fulfilled that craving and much more. When you enter, it is very dark with a fireplace and plentiful seating. There is even an upstairs dining area but only for parties and large groups. When you are seated and before they take your order, you are encouraged to snack on the cheese bar and bread. Every day there is one slicing cheese and one spread cheese. I am a sucker for cheese and this totally makes me happy. You can go back up as many times as you like. Once your order is taken, you can go up to the salad bar. Their "house" dressing is ranch... who can say no to that? The salad bar is limited, but satisfying. The menu is very small but all the steakhouse basics are on it. Different steaks, chicken, seafood, etc. and always specials are offered (check the left board when you walk in). I always order the grilled salmon with rice. I have never been disappointed with this. The salmon filet is huge! Between your entree, salad bar and cheese bar, you will always leave full and happy. The servers here are super nice, patient, informative and attentive. Your entrees are not started until you go up to the salad bar. So if you'd like, sit with a drink and relax. read more

This is my second favorite steakhouse in the entire world! The atmosphere feels perfect for a steakhouse. The meals are prepared right in front of you, fast and at a great value. The steak is always fabulous, but I'm even in love with the stuffed chicken and some of their other dishes. I've never been disappointed, and you won't be either. A fabulous restaurant! read more

I can not say enough about the staff, friendly and engaging with the customers, happy and always smiling. I've just starting going there 6 months ago and it has become my favorite. The food is always cooked perfect with wonderful flavor. I am on a mission to try everything on their menu. I've had the rib-eye that blew my mind best steak I've had an 20 years. Then I tried the filet, so very tender and moist. My last visit I had the special, lobster stuff cod, huge chucks of lobster again seasoned perfectly. Hope there around for many more years to come. read more

For how much this place charges, and for the fact that they've actually increased prices over the past 2 years the takeout experience is awful. Cheap cheap cheap. 2 rolls for 4 dinners. Got the salad dressing completely wrong--asked for thousand island only got blue cheese. Gross. Bad experience read more

Not bad. Steak was ok. Salad bar was limited. Decor could use some work. Like I said... not bad Food 3/5 Service 3.5/5 read more

Recently had dinner at Del Frisco's. It was good! But it couldn't touch the filet mignon at The Smithy. Was worried when it sold a little while back that it would change from the place we fell in love with when we moved here ten years ago. Other than some overdue sprucing up, it's exactly the same. Great service, great food, great ambience. Love it! read more

I'm a steak connoisseur and have sampled filet mignon at over five hundred establishments all over the world. Now, for what The Smithy lacks in updated decor, its filet mignons are among the best I have ever had. In addition, they're always great, and I've eaten at least fifty there. Michele and John are extraordinary wait people with a huge fan base. Granted, the decor is mid-1970s, and the lighting is sparse, but the food is always excellent. My husband and I know to go for the 5:00 opening, and we usually choose midweek since the place can get packed. read more

Absolutely amazing food. Very authentic restaurant great for a date or with older children. Prices are inline for the quality of food and service. All dinners have a salad bar and a cheese and cracker block. Adds some fun to the experience. We ate stuffed sole and lobster stuffed haddock. Truly delightful. read more

I moved to the Midwest years ago, but still go back here with my family every time I'm back in CT. As others have mentioned, many on the staff have been there for decades. They are friendly and I've never had a problem with the service. The dining room may me dimly-lit (candles on the table provide most of the light) and a bit cramped (only about fifteen tables), but I like the intimate atmosphere it creates. It gives you that old-timey New England feel, and is warm and comforting instead of stuffy and pretentious. It even includes a brick fireplace by the front entrance. Despite the size, it doesn't seem to get loud like other small restaurants. With the small dining area, I would suggest calling ahead on a Friday or Saturday night to avoid a longer wait. You'll never leave hungry. The giant, self-serve cheese board (the kind of cheese rotates from day-to-day) is a unique touch. The horseradish is my personal favorite. The salad bar gives you some control and includes a good bread selection. I can't really speak for the bar - it is small - as I always order beer or wine. I've had just about everything on the menu. I prefer the steaks to the seafood and chicken, but have enjoyed all of it. The entrees are prepared on a grill just behind the salad bar. The side offerings - potato, rice pilaf, steamed vegetables - are solid. They're nothing to write home about, but are always dependable and tasty. All in all, The Smithy is a Monroe institution and worth supporting. Is it trendy and modern? No, but change isn't necessary when you have a fantastic product. The same great food and service that you had there in 1990 is the same great food and service you'll get there a quarter-century later. That kind of dependability is increasingly hard to find in older restaurants. read more

I've been coming here since I was a kid with my grandmother. Everything I've ever had from the smithy is always on point. The steaks are always cooked perfectly and the drinks are always made well. Never once had a problem here and the staff is always really friendly and on the ball. There's always a decent wait but it's well worth it. I suggest going here if you want to impress someone on a date. It's a great place to go to. read more

One of our all-time favorite steakhouse's ever....from the cheese bar to the salad bar to the steak and lobster to the atmosphere, the service which is always phenomenal ..... five stars all the way!!!! See you soon read more

This place is great!! The movie night was fun and the food is delicious! Then my family got COVID so we ordered takeout from them it was on time, they give u all the cheese and crackers as if ur dining in house, luv it, can't say enough good things bout this place!!!! read more

The food is simple but very good. The atmosphere is a little dark and old fashioned. The salad bar is excellent. Overall a really nice place for dinner. read more

So, we went to the Smithy last weekend and I think that it has been about 15 years since I was last there. I don't think anything has changed, and that is a good thing. Sometimes in life you need an "old reliable" and the Smithy is it. We got there just a few minutes after 6:00 and we were seated at the last table; one drawback is that they do not accept reservations. Just after we were seated, the line of hungry customers was forming, so we definitely lucked out. The menu is limited, but that again is fine. It eliminates the hemming and hawing. My husband had stuffed chicken, which was actually two stuffed chickens and more than he expected; I had lobster tail which was quite large and I almost couldn't finish; kids had grilled shrimp scampi and glazed ham - they were both happy. Of course, part of the charm of the Smithy is the "cheese and cracker" stand, which on this night was an extremely kicky horseradish cheese and a simply mild monterey jack. All meals come with the salad bar, which is pretty basic, but good enough. My only complaint, if it could really be called that, is that our waiter had about 7 or 8 tables, so he wasn't quite as quick with the drinks or order-taking as we would have preferred, but it wasn't entirely his fault and quite frankly, its nice to see a place that has been around for 30 years or so still doing a great business. read more

Pros- Porterhouse-tasty and cooked just right, with nice hash marks on it too. Baked potato-great. Striploin-tasty, Mrs. Soy enjoyed it. (What's a striploin by the way?) Lobster tail-huge, tasty, and not that expensive. Salad bar-small but unlimited, with bread, and well maintained. Cheese block-unique, and a nice touch. They only had Monterey jack tonight. It's a tasteless cheese but an interesting concept. Entrée sides, salad and bread-included with the entrée, no surcharge. Soda-$2, nice price. Beer-$5, okay, I guess. Ambiance-we loved the old time look and feel. No pretentious adornments anywhere. Try the naugahyde bench seats in the back. They're the best. Cons- Service-slow as molasses but not the fault of the waitress. She was so cheerful and friendly. She was the only waitress and the place was almost full. Management needs to have more servers or a better backup plan in case one calls out sick. Overall- We'll be back. The price was fair and the meal was good. You won't be disappointed. read more

Take a trip back in time at the Smithy..... Cheese and cracker help-yourself table. Old fashioned salad bar with bacon bits and russian dressing. Dim lighting with red cloth napkins, dark wood tables, chairs and walls. All of that said....The steaks are wonderful. Great filet and NY strip, high quality beef perfectly cooked , old-fashioned ( reasonable ) prices. If you are feeling like a very good steak, want to be casual, like the quirky ambience of a 1970 Victoria Station, this is a place to go. read more

The Smithy is a blast from the past. Go here if you want a good basic meal, good service, Vintage 1970's atmosphere. Remember salad bars? They have one. Our waiter had even been working there for 30 years. Don't see that much anymore. I recommend to anyone wanting a traditional type of meal and experience. read more