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Above and beyond service
The food at the Loyalist was very good -- my companion's burger memorably so -- but what will really stick with us was the service. The friend I was meeting for dinner is physically limited (walks with a cane), and the host went well above and beyond to make sure that she had a positive experience; this included coming out to meet her, helping her to our table, switching our table when the first one was cramped, helping us back out of the restaurant, and calling a cab for her. The wait staff was unfailingly friendly, even as we asked for multiple explanations about menu items and some modifications to our orders. It was a mild bummer that they were out of decaf coffee (which my friend wanted after dinner), but overall the hospitality was outstanding. I eat out relatively often in Chicago and overall find the service really strong, but even in a town where excellent service is the norm the Loyalist really stood out.
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Tuesday night 2-21-23, I had the wonderful dining
Tuesday night 2-21-23, I had the wonderful dining experience at Smyth and The Loyalis. The food was outstanding however what really stood out was the careful and meticulous service our large group received from the staff. They were attentive to our needs while also being unintrusive. When dining I need to pay particular attention to menu items due to food allergies. I shared these concerns the day before the event in a email. Within 15 to 20 minutes of email I had a immediate reply from the General Manager of the restaurant reassuring no issues. During the food serving time I had a personal server coming to me and informing me what I was being served and describing the individual ingredients in each entre. This was a real first for me. In summary I highly recommend Smyth and The Loyalis particularly if you suffer from food allergies. Its going to be great experience.
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Two Michelin stars, has to check it outGreat service as
Two Michelin stars, has to check it outGreat service as expectedBooked tasting menu (abbreviated version) online with $100 down per personEasy to get in for an early dinner on a weekday, there was only one other table there that earlyNice West Loop locationService was prompt and friendly, the usual reciting of each ingredient Warm donut with cheese was fantasticSurprising hazelnut and crab meat dish with almond milk was delectableInteresting porridge with a previously extinct rice and quail egg and foie gras was a little heavyLast egg tart inspired dessert was delightfulOverall great experience but worth $500? Probably not.
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Very helpful and great staff, great service, but $1400 x 3
Very helpful and great staff, great service, but $1400 x 3 people, with no wine tasting a bit ridiculous, considering that some dishes missed the combo they were going for. Creative dishes, but not as innovative as we would expect for that price and Michelin rating. Once in a lifetime experience, but that's it.
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Had the chance to check out Smyth during my last trip to
Had the chance to check out Smyth during my last trip to Chicago and loved it! The bold, balanced flavor combinations in this seafood-centric menu had my tastebuds dancing! The highlights: sunchoke cannoli, Maine uni (who knew the East Coast had uni?!), and beeswax sherbet! Also a fan of the cozy rustic-chic vibe they had going on with the decor--a warm welcome and escape from the cold Chicago winter!
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We had an incredible experience at Smyth; we both agreed it
We had an incredible experience at Smyth; we both agreed it was our favorite tasting menu in the City. Every plate was beyond delicious and the perfect size. The service was impeccable and the restaurant has a cozy but open atmosphere. Will definitely be returning!
Well, I was about to rate this a 5 star and the read the other reviews about the service fee which we presumed was the literal service fee. Everything else was exceptional. Thomas the wine steward was knowledgeable and attentive, Hannah was one of our servers and she was delightful. We were sick with Covid and has to postpone and they were flexible with our rescheduling. The food was indescribably delicious and creative. They were very accommodating of my dietary needs and I greatly appreciated it. We planned to make it a monthly dinner but now knowing the service fee doesn’t go to the team??? We are strongly reconsidering ever returning. :(
tasting menu.black truffle & sweet pea tartletsummer squash, chamomile & togarashi pepper(highlight) lobster coral & hazelnut custardlobster claw & raspberry leatherlobster consomme & berry cevichechilled california avocado, pistachio & sea lettucelobster tail warmed with almond milk & newly pressed walnut oilfoie gras, barbecued avocado & blade kelpslow roasted lamb saddle, porcini & bitter greens(best) pleasant ridge reserve cheese & caviar doughnutlime leaf, pine & sheets of icestrawberry & nasturtium honey potpreserved egg yolk tartlet, marigold & jasmine(highlight) barley mousse, burnt chocolate & caviar(highlight) black walnut & venison consomme with 8 year japanese whiskybonus pic - foie gras éclair from bar downstairsoverall, amazing. "as good as it gets."
Incredible food and the wine pairings were excellent albeit over priced. Great service. 5 out of 5 until the end when we got the bill. On it was a 20% service fee that only invited confusion. Was this an automatic tip? I mean fine as I typically tip 25-30% so we asked the server. We got a very clumsy explanation inferring that it wasn’t the ‘top’ but also *kind* of the tip that only invited more confusion. We left an additional 10% only to realize, after reading reviews, that we just short changed the staff and actually the service fee is not the tip but just more takings for the owners, which just made us feel bad about our experience. How about just charging 20% additional on the meal and letting the customer tip as he is accustomed to instead of making this stuff convoluted?? Of course 20% additional would bring the tasting menu to about $330 and may make many more inclined to just go to Alinea. Anyhow the food was fantastic, service good, wine great but over priced for how much you get. Add 20% to what you’re expecting and you won’t be left wondering how to properly reward the excellent staff at the end of the night.
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This might be one of the worst restaurants and tasting
This might be one of the worst restaurants and tasting menus I have ever experienced. I felt as if everything tasted the same and that we were eating baby food for most courses. It was nice when they gave us a little piece of meat to actually be able to chew something. I would recommend staying away from this place especially for the price and if you are looking for Michelin star in Chicago go to Ever down the street.
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Many people have already talked about the menu here, and
Many people have already talked about the menu here, and there are some valid points. But let me start by saying that everyone that was working here was very friendly, helpful, and service oriented. The whole vibe of the place is like your super rich friend's kitchen, it has that homey feeling. Not uptight at all.That being said, the menu was good but I thought it leaned too heavily on liquid / oil / foam / porridge. My favorite dish was actually the squash with caviar - really intense squash flavor accentuated by whatever sauce was on it. I thought there was maybe one too many dishes (I actually couldnt eat the final bite, which was a salted egg yolk tart). I could have seen the menu ending on the raspberry dish which I really enjoyed.Will update my review once I get that menu emailed to me!
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All I can say is WOW! Surely one of the top experiences of
All I can say is WOW! Surely one of the top experiences of my life. I was invited to a private event here last week and learned the Smyth and The Loyalist is led by former Chef's from Charlie Trotters and Tru, two of my favorite places ever. The creativity, artistry, and exquisite flavors were mind blowing. But better yet, the service was impeccable. Each course was a learning experience, the servers and sommeliers always happy to share the details of what we were eating and drinking.All of this capped off by a caviar goody bag to take home! The attention to detail in every step of the evening was truly incredible.I cannot wait to go back.
I had very high expectations when I visited Smyth, but I have to say that I had a very poor experience (not even remotely comparable to other Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago), even a bit dishonest. The tasting menu was repetitive (three courses of lobster?) and very oily, so you could not taste the ingredients. I chose the reserve wine pairing, but you are not told the wines and courses in advance (you do not get the menu until days later), so I found I was not offered all the wines. The "caviar" courses are not prepared with real caviar (from sturgeon), but with regular fish eggs - the chocolate caviar plate is inedible. The last dessert (the "mussel") had a very strong bitter aftertaste. Service was rushed and inattentive. The wine pairing was very poorly (and robotically) explained by the sommelier and no coffee, tea or any mignardise was offered at the end. Did I mention that the prices are outrageous for the quality? If you are really looking for a gastronomic experience in Chicago, visit Alinea, Oriolle, Ever or Elske. Of course my feedback e-mail was not answered.
Food was awful. It was Heavy, oily. All the dishes tasted the same . definitely not worth it . Disappointing
This restaurant has easily earned its Stars. The thoughtful ingredients, expert technique, and bold wine pairing, set against a beautiful space and executed by kind, knowledgeable, and humorous staff, made this experience nothing short of incredible.
4/5 by 👻
@John on 08/12/2022
Like other reviewers, I find this restaurant hard to assess. The room is lovely, warm and casual. The noise level was low and calm. The service was certainly not "fantastic," as some have said, but it was quite professional by post-pandemic standards. It is not, for example, anything like the old Tru (ah!) but is better than most places in Chicago. All service persons were well informed about the food and could explain my questions about even minor details of the multi-level food. Door staff was excellent. The food itself is complex and generally executed at a high level. Plates are very small, however, and at times are simply frustrating by their limited size. The lovely lobster, for example, consisted of about a postage stamp (literally) of thin lobster, accompanied by about two teaspoons of lobster mousse. The best comparison of the concept here in my experience is Per Se in New York, though Smyth does not offer the sophistication, course size, or panache that Per Se provides. That said, the experience is frustrating. For one, it is very expensive. We broke the $1000 barrier with the mandatory tasting menu for two people and one bottle of wine. Second, Smyth purports to celebrate the food of rural Virginia, but I seriously doubt that anyone unaware of this claim would draw any link between what was presented and Virginia. Third, as many have rightly complained, the bill includes a mandatory $160 "service fee" that is NOT the tip and does not go to the staff. If you add a 20% tip, as usual, you have really paid through the teeth for the privilege of eating here. For me, that is a reason not to return again. Most seriously, there is no menu. So if you are in any way interested in wine, you don't know what to order because you don't know what you're going to eat. The owners must assume that their guests have no serious interest in wine, as ordering a bottle without even knowing the menu is about as amateurish as it gets. Getting the over-priced pairing options is no better, because there's no menu for what that includes either. Combined with the $160 fee, I find this amazingly arrogant. We were told that we would receive an email with the menu later. Seriously? I just paid over $1000 plus tip and have to print out an email? I'll pass.
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Yummy food in a very loud setting
The food was delicious. Wish I could say the same about the service. They seemed to be understaffed and long periods of time would pass before we could get our waiter’s attention. It may be that the kitchen was slammed because there were significant delays between courses. Also, the restaurant was really, really loud. Not the experience that I was hoping for. Will probably try the sister restaurant, Smythe, next time.
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I am disappointed in my experience at Smyth.
The food was fine, with the exception of one course, but the service was significantly below par, and below what one would expect at a highly regarded establishment.I dined there this past weekend as part of a party of 6. Our reservation was at 7:00pm, it started out with us waiting 45 minutes before we received our first course. The only interaction was to take a cocktail order, and drop the drinks off. At no point in the first 45 minutes, were we checked in on, or told why there was such a delay. The individuals refilling our water/drinks were highly attentive throughout the evening - and I want to acknowledge and appreciate that.My wife and I are vegetarian and enjoyed our food courses. The rest of the party by and large enjoyed their courses as well, with the exception of one of their protein dishes (which had significant fat and gristle). They mentioned this to our host, who replaced the course.The real issue was how slow the coursing and service was. There were a few points in the evening where there was no courses being sent out for over 20 minutes after finishing the prior course. At the 3.5 hour mark (their website describes a 2.5 hour experience) we asked our host how many courses were left / how much time was left, and they said about 1 hours worth. So a total of 4.5 hours, when it should have been 2.5 hours. Understand if it was a slow night, or they were backed up, but tables that were seated after us, completed their experience before us. We were frustrated and disappointed and considered just asking for our check. The first check they brought out, did not have a wine that was ordered, so they brought out a second check. And lastly, they said they would email us our menu (we dined there on a Friday, it's currently Sunday) which I have yet to receive.This level of service is disappointing at any restaurant, much less a 2 Michelin star establishment. When we left, there was no acknowledgement of, or explanation for the poor service. Having friends in from out of town - I was excited to share what I expected to be a wonderful dining experience. Instead I regret making the reservation. I have to imagine this was an off night, or something was happening behind the scenes. But my party's experience here was very underwhelming.
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Came here to celebrate an occasion.
The restaurant is beautiful and the vibe is excellent. I'd break down the food into two categories.1. Savory - was excellent. My favorite being the lamb dish with the caviar doughnut on the side. 2. Sweet - was unacceptable. They didn't serve a single proper sweet dish - there was a palette cleanser, which was fine, and then a mixed dessert mess with beeswax and all, which was inedible, then they brought back some savory dessert-like dish, which killed the whole sweet mood, and they finished it off with something that was not memorable. Basically no dessert.At this price point, and with the two stars, this felt underwhelming. They didn't even have a parting sweet that they hand out on exit - almost all other establishments of this caliber do that.Would not recommend.
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When it comes to food and drinks- everything was delicious
When it comes to food and drinks- everything was delicious and tasty. I enjoyed every dish that came out. A couple issues I had was with the noise of the dining area, not having a printed menu, and not having a sweeter finish to dinner. Since it was so loud, I couldn't really hear our server describe the dishes. Not completely sure of what I ate, but it was delicious! I would love to come back for another season.
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like Smyth's decoration and also quality of the food.
Person who like a little sour not heavy style will enjoy for sure. The caviar and lobster quantity and quality worth 5 star
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I had a wonderful experience here.
The last time I had a 2 Michelin starred restaurant was at the Ledbury in London way before the pandemic. Personally, I enjoy the complexity and extreme creativity of each course. The use of simple ingredients and the incredible cooking technique. Both allows each bite to be so different and special. They re-use ingredients throughout the courses and I have to go through the pictures to remind myself - did I had something similar? I love that engaging experience especially there is no hard copy of the menu. Overall, I love the cooking technique presented here and the creativity of the dishes. Yeah the 20% service fee doesn't include tips, so what? If you driving a lambo, you want to complain about the gas price? It's all about the experience. In addition, if you don't like mix of ingredients - salty/sweet/sour all in one plate, you will probably want to go to a steakhouse or somewhere else that don't spend time thinking of their menu. Again, I will for sure come back.
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Fine dining at a high level of excellence and passion without the pretension
Our tasting menu, 12 course meal at Smyth was the best meal of my life. I loved the open kitchen. It was fine dining, with 2 Michelin stars, but it was cozy, not stuffy, and not pretentious. Our server, Bree, was fantastic. We enjoyed seeing the care and passion that all the staff put into their efforts. We loved the team approach, interacting with several team members, but still being able to develop a rapport with each one. I loved the mystery of not knowing what was coming next. The Sommelier was very knowledgeable and still approachable. He made excellent choices for our tastes. The presentation was lovely, featuring natural elements like wooden utensils, etc. Because of delayed flights, we rushed directly to the restaurant and had no time to stop to first check in to our hotel. The restaurant staff magnanimously accommodated us, made us feel welcome, and stored our luggage while we ate! We enjoyed the kitchen staff's chants: "2 white asparagus on deck." A delightful experience and very memorable.
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My wife and I went last night to celebrate a birthday.
We were very excited for the experience, but I do wish I had reviewed all of the posts in the last couple months before going as there was definitely themes/trends I wish we were more prepared.Ambiance: Very Cool. Felt like I was in someone's modern/cozy house. Not loud and super intimate. Perfect for a romantic dinner.Service: 12/10! They were on their game! Rushed to pull out chairs, kept water glasses overflowing. Team knew most of the dishes fairly well and the Sommelier was very knowledgeable/approachable. Probably the saving grace of the night.Wine: 8/10. We shared a pairing as my wife and I are lightweights. Had really lovely wines throughout. There was a very strong wine served with the Caviar and a Sake which we were not fans of, but can appreciate the pairings! Took a picture of a label for 1 I really enjoyed.Food: 5/10. We were left wanting a lot more. The night started great with a Pea Tartlet followed by a lobster dish. Both delicious. I liked the White Asparagus with Dill but it was a little too strong for my wife. Caviar dish was great. And then it started to go down hill. Avocado dish with pistachio oil was ok. We had a salmon course which was tasty, but there were pinbones in both our pieces of fish. Foie was alright; Have had worse/better. Then we had the squab/pigeon which was rough. I have never had pigeon so it could just always taste this way, but it was tough and super gamey. My wife and I had maybe 4 bites in total. I think the wait staff saw that we didn't like this item and we tried to be polite and say it was just "different". The next dish seemed like a Hail Mary to make up for the squab as it was almost the same preparation as the dish before but they subbed the squab with trout. That was a better version. If it wasn't an ad hoc moment, I don't think that sequence of dishes makes sense. Then there was a venison broth which was nice.Dessert started with a tart/lemon granita with a custard which was good. Then an ice cream which was also tasty although I am blanking on the flavor and a black garlic fudge chocolate bar which I was not a fan of: way more black garlic than chocolate flavor so left a little too pungent of a flavor in my mouth when we left.Overall, I enjoyed the experience but was disappointed in the food. Not sure if we caught the wrong time of year to go menu wise but many items fell flat. Similar to other peoples posts I thought that the 20% service charge was the tip and was shocked when told that didn't count as gratuity. I didn't know what to do and didn't like feeling that way after an already subpar experience. Just outline the price upfront with the surcharge included so people know what they are getting into. For a meal that was $1,000+ I wanted to be blown away...and this left me not wanting to do a tasting menu again anytime soon.
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Not happy with this despite all the hype.
We felt extremely rushed during our meal with very little explanation of the courses and wine, which is what we were most interested in. Also the food was just a bit too gamey in my opinion
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Smyth was a unique and fantastic multi course tasting menu.
We did the chefs table experience.Ambiance: There is an open concept kitchen so you can watch the chefs prepare the different courses and listen to them communicate. There is also an open fire in the back of the kitchen. Overall, while definitely upscale, the space and atmosphere is somewhat casual. The dining experience is not private, but this is not a bad thing. Because we had the chefs table, we had a front row table to the kitchen and were able to observe everything happening in the kitchen all evening.Service: the service here was awesome. I don't think we ever even got to the bottom of our water glasses. Since we did the chefs table, a different chef came to our table to explain each course which was a nice touch. There was adequate time between courses but we never felt like we were waiting too long. Nothing but good to say about the service.Food: Fantastic, unique, decadent, and exquisite. We had tons of different courses. Each of them were very different with unique flavor profiles. This was definitely seafood focused, but if you have an allergy or aversion to seafood, I think they would be able to accommodate. I will attach pictures of courses here but I don't want to get into too many details as I think the element of surprise was also awesome here. I will say, however, at the end I was full but by no means overstuffed so I wouldn't come here expecting to leave overfull.We did not get a menu so you don't know what is coming next, similar to other restaurants in this category. They said they would email a copy of the menu but I did not receive it. I also asked for a mailed copy but never got it. I think for the level of service and price, this is the one thing that could be improved and really was a bit disappointing.Price: this was definitely an expensive meal. It was about $850 for two at the chefs table without a wine pairing. I think it was worth it in the end. As has been mentioned in previous reviews, there is a 20% service charge. In other restaurants that apply this, this is implied as the gratuity. I am unsure what this goes towards at Smyth and it was not really explained.Once again, I would highly recommend Smyth and to definitely try and get the Chefs table if you can.
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