The Smith

06/25/2008 Posted by Chachka

I was in New York over the weekend to celebrate my birthday with my friends. A few came with me from Boston, a few live in the city. We had tried Angel Share for a split second, but left because the line for folks waiting was backed up to the door. It didn't seem worth the wait. My friend from New York suggested the Smith. I am so glad he did. Three of us met at the bar and the bartender was cool, friendly and funny. He bought the sodas for my one (pregnant) friend who was not drinking which was just nice. We sat with a group of 7 and the hosts were very patient with us as we waited for our fragmented group to arrive via cab, train and foot. Steve, our server was just awesome. I didn't feel like I was in the giant mecca that is New York City with him. He was totally cool, friendly, helpful, etc. He could have been my regular server at the local pub down the street from my house. Aside from the fact that the Smith has very cool, laid-back decor, plays really great music and has a totally approachable, delicious menu, Steve really sealed the deal for me. When two of us tired ladies asked if they had (gasp) RedBull, he said no, but actually offered to go next door and get some. That gesture alone was the epitome of plain old hospitality. The best was that about 10 minutes later, he snuck a can between my girlfriend and I, unnoticed by her. Go to the Smith for the relaxed, unpretentious, friendly and comfortable atmosphere. Stay for the drinks which are cheaper than most places in NY and for the great menu on which everyone can find something yummy. Go back because they were just so damn nice that they started our night off in the big city in a really great way. Steve if you read this review, thank you again. You totally rock.

Pros: Cool decor, great music playing, friendly staff, great service.

Cons: Co-ed bathrooms...may not be for my Mom...

05/29/2008 Posted by p2rosebud

As a former native New Yorker I come back here about 4 times a year. I'm now spending the entire summer up here. I've read on here that it is good for kids, well as a mom I wouldn't bring my kid in for dinner but this place is does a great breakfast and brunch and I'd do dinner before the ususal NY dinner crowd comes in. The first time I came up here was when they did their soft opening late last year and it has quickly becoming the spot considering how the restaurant biz goes in NY. As for the service issues, I can only presume it was due to tenure as they were working out the kinks. I've never been disappointed with service and when I call, it has been answered with the first 2-3 rings. Is it busy yes and therefore it can get loud but what do you expect from a spot that is popping? If I want a quiet, reserved dinner I go earlier or at other "off-peak" times. I'm not a dessert buff but can do ice cream anytime of the year so I dig on all the takes on the ice cream sundaes - the birthday one and the strawberry one is great and yes I had fresh, sweet strawberries in November! I just ate their porkchop with fennel salad two days ago and it was amazing. Whether I get a babysitter and grab a few drinks at the spacious bar or sit down for dinner service I'm always pleased by the food and you can't beat the prices. I eat out at my Brooklyn summer spot for more money than I've spent here. That and I get to go back home and tell my friends about my celebrity sightings in an unpretentious, watch but don't bother atmosphere.

03/26/2008 Posted by livininsoho

We loved it! But go early or go late. We tried twice to get a reservation on a Saturday night (of course I called Saturday afternoon) could get nothing before 9 PM. Last Saturday we reserved for about 6:00 (I know, ungodly early dinner hour for a real New Yorker) and got right in. Staff was great--friendly and patient. Food was very good. Beer Battered String Breans were great--Fried Calmari was just ok. The Char Broiled Chicken was excellent as were the The Pork Chop and Wild Mushroom Ravioli. By the time we were leaving at around 7 or so, it was quite crowded. So what you gonna do? It's new and trendy with great food, good prices and friendly service--of course it's going to be crowded. We will be going back.

02/25/2008 Posted by lookingforagoodmeal

We had reservations for 945pm, it was very disturbing that many people were seated with no reservations, only a name on the list. You need to handle this better or you will lose customers. The tomato soup with cheese, beer battered green beans, mussels, short ribs, smashed potatoes were yummy. Disappointed by the mac n cheese and lamb schnitzel(over cooked).

Pros: food great with many interesting choices

Cons: do not manage reservations properly & very loud inside

02/14/2008 Posted by evillagefoodie

Ive been for dinner 2x and was really good and not overly crowded.. so good service and good drinks and dinner... but then i came back a few weeks later for brunch and couldnt even get in the door and from what I'm hearing the place is now super crowded --- which means somebody please open up another good restaurant in the 'hood there is room for one or 2 more!

Pros: good unique menu

Cons: can get very busy

01/30/2008 Posted by patattikim

I had 8:45 reservations for 4 adults and 1 toddler. We all arrived on time but unfortunately had to wait 45 minutes to be seated. Management was not very apologetic and bc the bar space was packed, we were stuck standing by the front door waiting for the previous party to leave. Once we sat down, the waiter was great. The pasta dishes were much better than the other dishes, which were just ok. And at the end of our meal, the waiter brought over some dessert wine on the house, which I assume was an attempt to make up for our 45 minute wait. It was a nice gesture, but it would have been ever nicer if the host came by to apologize for the long wait. Overall, I'd rate it a 5/10 and probably wouldn't go back.

Pros: Waiter was great. Friendly and attentive.

Cons: Long wait even with reservations. Host was not very personable.

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01/21/2008 Posted by williambillyons

The Smith has a bit of something for everyone, whether you're taking the kids out to a nice Saturday breakfast, hanging out for a late night cocktail, or enjoying a nice romantic dinner. The decor reminds me of something out of the Godfather and the photo booth and barbershop chair downstairs add a nice touch. Now to the food... The pork sandwich with cauliflower is amazing as is there potato chip topped with melted blue cheese. On Saturdays, they also have a great breakfast menu, I tried the Croaker (ham, gruyere cheese, poached egg) and it was delicious. They have solid burgers but they probably need to add a few things to the menu to stay fresh, though I'd eat that pork sandwich every day if I had to. Prices are reasonable, service was quick, and the location is perfect.

01/17/2008 Posted by angenyc

It has a scene but you can get a table. The place is big and there will be a wait but who cares the food is good and it won't burn a hole in your wallet. I would absolutely go back again!

Pros: ambiance

12/22/2007 Posted by cobraman332

I was at The Smith last night for dinner with 4 of my friends for an enjoyable meal, which definitely lived up to our expectations. Since this place is new and popular, we could only reserve a table at 9pm, but even at that late time the restaurant was still packed with 20 and 30-somethings looking to dine in a trendy spot. The Smith has a varied menu to say the least… our appetizers ranged from Lays potato chips drizzled with bleu cheese dressing to tuna tartar to tomato soup. The tartar was light, fresh and full of flavor… the tomato soup with melted cheese on top (a la French onion soup) lived up to the rave reviews we read – three of us ordered it in fact. The well-sized main dishes we ordered were the skate, a steak salad, a tuna nicoise salad, and the mussels – none disappointed. Best side dish was the French fries that came with the mussels. For dessert we ordered the basic sundae, but then our waiter comped us an additional “birthday” sundae that does in fact come with a candle on top, which was definitely the better choice. Wine carafes have about 1 1/3 bottles of wine… 2 carafes of a nice Pinot Grigio yielded about 3 glasses of wine for each of us, and they were reasonably priced. The great thing about The Smith is that everything there has a little hipness or kitchy-ness to it – walls are white tile (so “in” right now), table bread is tossed onto the table in a white paper bag, and wine glasses are actually similar to highball glasses that you’d see at a bar… very cool idea and just one example of how The Smith tries not to be fancy, but just hip and fun. Our total meal only came out to about $40/pp, which is great for NYC considering we had all that wine – likely NYU student rush incoming. My one regret: no chance to try the mac & cheese I’ve been hearing about… guess I’ll have to make another 9pm reservation soon… then again, since The Smith takes kitchen orders until 2am, maybe I’ll just stumble in one night after the bars…

Pros: Hip, Trendy, Inexpensive, Fun, Delicious Food, Not Fancy

Cons: Didn't have a chance to try the Mac & Cheese, Soon to be filled with NYU undergrads

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