Smyth + The Loyalist
| Address: | 177 N Ada St #101, Chicago, IL 60607, USA |
| Phone: | +1 773-913-3773 |
| Site: | smythandtheloyalist.com |
| Rating: | 4.6 |
| Working: | Closed 4PM–12AM 4PM–12AM 4PM–12AM 4PM–2AM 4PM–2AM Closed |
Location
Photos 1
Reviews 8
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Diandra Asbaty
Ive had the opportunity to dine in some pretty fantastic establishments around the world. The one thing that irks me is when you go to a great restaurant but the service is so stiff you are afraid to move, or talk, or feel normal. It also irks me when the food has a sense of "trying too hard." Smyth is none of that. Its a perfect marriage of super interesting flavors (ones I would never think would work, but do!) and service so comfortable I could imagine hanging out with them. Believe me when I say NO restaurant is doing what they are doing. The whole staff at Smyth is on another level. The food is different but not for the sake of it. Smyth is refined, but it also feels rustic. Its warm, inviting, and in no way did I find myself scared to move, make a sound, or completely enjoy myself. The open kitchen concept is amazing- LOVE watching the art of everything that goes into this well rounded tasting menu. My favs: DUNGENESS CRAB & FOIE GRAS WITH SCRAMBLED KANI MISO: Seriously wanted more!! BRIOCHE DOUGHNUT Ummm, do these come by the bag?? MILK CHOCOLATE, HUCKLEBERRY, AND PRESERVED SHIITAKE MUSHROOM I dont even like mushroom!! Or, I thought? Turns out I like milk chocolate mushroom candy bars. Go. There. Now! This place is still new, so when people catch on to its awesomeness, you wont be able to get in.
EL
Elliott Papineau
Smyth is one of the most unique dining experiences in the country. The intimate setting will make you feel so welcome and the food will keep the night rolling until the end. Each course is inventive and new, but executed with precision at the highest level. After talking with all the chefs, their backgrounds were truly impressive. Some have work all over the world including stints in Japan and Sweden. The Chef de Cuisine, Nicholas Romero, has logged time at Grace as the CDC and currently holds 3 Michelin stars. The influences are felt, but the dishes stand on their own. My favorite course was the dessert with the salted licorice egg yolk. I have never seen that technique before, and it was a study in perfectly executed texture. The drink pairings were a stunning compliment to the meal capped off by an amaro and and coffee from Chicagos Sparrow Coffee. Every detail has been thoughtfully considered and I cannot wait to go back as the seasons progress. I have also been to the The Loyalist numerous times. It is a great spot for a drink and something small, or tuck into a booth and get the whole menu. The kitchen and bar know what they are doing. Chef Mark Bolton is an excellent cook and his experience is felt through throughout the menu.
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Julie Backas
Upon arrival at Smyth, we were treated like welcome guests, and invited to a comfortable seating area for pre-dinner cocktails and a delectable snack. The open kitchen design was entertaining, allowing us to peek in as the staff prepared for our meal. The atmosphere was elegant and sophisticated while comfortable and unpretentious. We opted for the wine pairings and were so glad we did. The service was impeccably timed and the staff quite friendly and knowledgeable, enhancing our appreciation of our meal by taking care to explain each dish and wine pairing to us. Our party of four was extremely impressed with the beautifully presented and unique courses graciously served to us. While there was nothing we didnt like, our favorites included the salad of duck and herbs, the squab with farro, grapes, and peas, frozen tomato mousse, and the milk chocolate with huckleberries and preserved shiitake mushrooms. To add to our experience, Chef Shields stopped by our table. We left feeling pleasantly full and super impressed with the genius of Smyth!
KR
Kristen Papineau
We dined at Smyth. It has an elegant tasting menu with complex dishes across a multitude of courses. We began our meal with two delicious snacks while casually sitting in their living room like lounge before being seated. It was a wonderful introduction, creating a feeling of comfort before sitting down to enjoy our meal. I was struck by so much on this menu; from the crab & foie gras to the chef’s ability to utilize tomatoes across different platforms. First with the tomato ice as a savory course and later the tomato and peach sorbet as dessert was a great way to show the ingredients depth during two parts of the meal. By far, my favorite course was the licorice cured egg yolk served over yogurt mouse with wild black raspberries. This dish was new and inventive and absolutely delicious. I hope this remains staple on the menu. The flavors were clean and overall it was a very memorable experience. I would highly recommend this restaurant!
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Mike Kierstead
We ate downstairs at The Loyalist, i think most of these reviews are for the dining room, Smyth, upstairs. The food here was really, really good. The table had the beet salad, fried green tomatoes, waygu beef tartar, flatbread and oysters to start. All of them were amazing. The chicken, trout and pasta were mains and were also enjoyable. The unfortunate reason for the 3 stars is the service. Server had absolutely no idea about the menu or the wine list. It was quite low level service. I feel this restaurant has great potential if it can sort out the service aspect of the dining experience. I see there are numerous other reviews on the service, so I will wait until that improves on reviews before going back. The food is worth the monitoring.
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D. Brown
For Smyth-My wife got us tickets. We went on a Saturday night and maybe for a new restaurant it was too much for them to handle. Maybe we should have waited to try at a later date. I dont think the quality of the meal matched up to the price. The service was below average for the amount of gratuity already paid before we dined. Im ok with the prepay but they should have a better grasp on pricing. Value is off. Some of the dishes were pleasant to the eye with unique flavors and textures. I liked the seaweed broth to begin, fresh herbs and flowers were great but it sort of ended there. Overall, seasoning was heavy handed. Desserts were intense but in the wrong way. At times we felt rushed and then slowed down.
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Matthew Olsen
I went to The Loyalist for dinner. Lemme tell you about it. Walked in and it was lit. I loved the ambience. I loved the decor. We were promptly greeted by the hostess. No reservation, but she found seats despite it being p busy. We started off with a couple brews and a shot of Old Grand-Dad. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, but I had my mind made up about what to order before I even got there. I am something of a burg connoisseur and The Loyalist did not disappoint. The patty was rich and perfectly cooked, topped with a delicious housemade American cheese, onion mayo, and maybe the best pickles Ive ever had. It was damn near a perfect burger. Ill definitely be back for more.
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Dave Sendre
I took my wife here for her birthday and the entire experience, especially the food, blew away all expectations. We had the 8-course menu with wine pairings which was more than enough for the 2 of us. All of the dishes were incredibly good but my favorite were the crab & foie gras, the prime rib and the lamb. The egg yolk desert dish was probably the biggest surprise and also remarkably delicious. Before and after dinner drinks at the bar down stairs made this a great one-stop-shop for a great night out. Yes, its pricey but the quality of the food, wine pairings and overall experience is tough to beat. Definitely a great choice for a special occasion.
