Smith & Wollensky - Chicago Reviews

A great dining experience from the great food to the friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff. We started by sharing the French Onion and Oxtail Soup..excellent! We also shared a Tomato and Onion Salad and the Baby Iceberg Salad. We followed this up with The Prime Dry-Aged Bone In Ribeye with a side order of Asparagus with Hollandaise and an enhancement of Bearnaise sauce. The waitress brought us a delicious complimentary coconut crème cake with a candle(It was my wife’s birthday) for desert. So much food! We had a huge carry out despite the fact we were sharing. The meat was first class and did not need the Bearnaise sauce enhancement which was a waste. The Asparagus was fresh and crisp but the hollandaise sauce the one slight disappointment… everything else was so excellent, it did not detract from the overall experience of great food served by a friendly staff in a place with a warm ambience on a misty and damp Chicago night.

Fantastic place for diner+drinks. A little noisy -nothing above the average- space at the counter bar, super friendly staff and highly recommended options: Filet Mignon, Spicy Shrimps & sundae dessert…

Simply shocking, three hours one starter and no food the whole restaurant is in chaos - no food no management no explanation Avoid this place it’s playing on its name and has no desire to provide service for the money it charges. Go elsewhere

Went for a late lunch on Thursday. Twin (5 oz) filet medallions were $60 were good. My 8 oz filet, ordered medium, was served cut into 5 slices (why?!) was very fatty (where I had to cut around it and even pieces out), bland, and cooked nearly well done. A side of mashed potatoes was so runny you could literally drink it. Bread was served only half warm. Apple tart dessert was the best thing about the meal. A very average unsatisfying lunch without drinks was $160! Unbelievably expensive and SO not worth the money.

Just finished a great meal. Crab cake and steaks were spot on. Lucy was a wonderful sever. Weather was wonderful. Had the nutty berry drink it was delicious

I was a little bit in doubt on dining here because it was my first time in Chicago and I had a very bad experience in New York with them. But just starting from the view it was clear that it would have been a different ending. Great view,soft but prompt service withstanding all the requests. And gorgeous meat,good selection of wines,atmoshere at te best and possibility of talking business without being tampered be waiters(ours was a master of discretion!!) Will return for sure...keep up the good work

Great location overlooking the Chicago river - but that is where "great" ends and average starts. Server was pleasant and knowledgable; service was good. Party of 4 and we all ordered 10 oz. fillets, ( all medium rare), salads, and shared some sides. Fillets were cooked to medium rather than to medium rare and served to us ( we sat outside) atop the plates with no lids and therefore were all served "warm" at best- not hot. Very disappointing especially given how expensive these meals were. We debated S&W vs. Morton's Steakhouse and S&W won out probably because of the location. Very disappinting and we won't make this mistake again.

After a morning on the river we were starving and loved the patio option. We started with a shrimp appetizer, title escapes but oh so yummy! We ordered the Cobb salad and added beef tips for our entree. Best Cobb salad I’ve ever had. Service was efficient and friendly and the cocktails were tasty too! Not an inexpensive lunch but we’ll be back next time we’re in Chicago.

Beautiful venue situated looking over the river. This is one of the very best restaurants In Chicago offering exceptionally high quality cuisine and fine wine offerings. We started with cocktails in the bar, followed by Shrimp to start then Fillet Mignon and dessert. Portions were large and the steak melted. Mashed potato is to die for. Pudding are ginormous and delicious and will finish you off. Staff are attentive and incredibly helpful, the whole restaurant has a lovely feel to it. This is an expensive restaurant but in my opinion worth every penny.

We were in Chicago visiting my son for a few days and he wanted to take us to this place for for burgers as he said they are the best in downtown Chicago. WE made a reservation and had a table by the water which was beautiful. When the server came over we were told we could not order burgers at a table, only if you sit at the bar how ridiculous !!!!! I get the food prices at the table are 3 times the price and 3 times the size (hence the servers make alot of money in tips) and alot of it is a la carte but we only wanted burgers I did not want a $74 steak I would not have been able to eat even half of that amount of food and I am sure they don't allow you to share portions. So we had a drink at the table tipped the server well and explained to her we really just wanted a simple burger then we moved to the bar, she was very gracious and totally understood our situation, had no issue with us moving and within 15 minutes she was sat a table of 4 at the table we were sitting at so she lost no money. So we did order the burgers they were delicious very juicy and I couldn't even eat my whole burger so a steak for sure not. I think I took 1/2 my burger home to eat for lunch. Nice place but way too pricey for my style...........I would probably not return next time I'm in the Chicago area there are too many other places to eat with smaller prices and portions. The view is amazing and I'm sure it's a very romantic place for people who live in Chicago and make better money then where I am from so it is affordable to them but it's too expensive for my taste.

Dinner was fantastic! Service was great. Our server, Michelle made our evening special as we were celebrating our Anniversary. Atmosphere was ok. A little loud for my norm but great views of the river…. Started with scallop app with bone marrow. A little to earthy flavor me. Came out warm not hot. My wife had the sea bass. Very good but the sauce was overpowering the sea bass. Sauce was a lobster/crab cream base. I had the dry aged bone-in ribeye. Cooked medium rare and cooked to perfection! Finally at the end of the meal our server surprised us with their signature dessert, coconut layer cake. I was extremely impressed with it. It looks gigantic, but my wife and I finished it because it was so just so good…

Great Wine selection, appetizers and bread were excellent, steak was superb! Waitress did an excellent job, explaining the menu, we came on a busy evening without reservation, they didn’t hesitate to have a table ready for us promptly

Another stroll down the riverfront and another great place to dine. We like to just pop into places and check them out. Some history to this place and the food was exceptional.

We enjoyed our engagement dinner at Smith & Wollensky. Had a table right by the window and had a beautiful view of the Chicago river walk. The food was amazing, the staff was wonderful. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to have dinner that night!

Loved this place, excellent food and service. we were a bit squashed in at the table but the place was packed and we were glad to be there. Our waitress, Jennifer, was excellent. she knew we wanted to finish in time to watch the fourth of July fireworks and she made sure we were served promptly. She also recommended a good spot to see them, rather the madness of Navy Pier. Thanks Jennifer.

We had a Holiday event here with a group. The room had a terrific view of the water. The food was absolutely delicious! The staff is professional and quick. Amazing experience.

I was in Chicago earlier this week and took a client to dinner at the restaurant. We were seated inside, in the back of the restaurant, just below the divider after stepping down towards the windows. The divider was covered with dust (my seat had a direct view down the top of the ledge on the partial wall) and during our meal a vent began to leak water from the ceiling, crating a pool on the floor. One of the staff took an extended pole and towel to reach up and try to absorb the condensation - all while people were dining. Additionally, we had small flies (fruit flies?) hovering over our food while we ate. While the food was good, the experience was very disappointing - particularly given that this was a working dinner. Randi P.

Bad meat! The worst cut of NY Strip I have ever had. The meat tasted far from fresh, which was surprising considering how clean and inviting the environment was kept. That said, I attempted to give our meal the benefit of the doubt but it soon became apparent that the steak I was eating had probably been sitting in their freezer since the beginning of quarantine, and I couldn’t take another bite. Simply awful. Being a new resident to the downtown area, I’m always looking for new and interesting places to take my out of town guests for a good time and great food. Needless to say Smith & Wollensky didn’t make “the cut.” We ended up paying and leaving without eating. That being said, If you’re looking for a good steakhouse I would keep this option off the table, at least until they’ve removed all inventory of what is almost certainly...bad meat.

This place is a must visit. Had the Ribeye Steak for Two. Amazing table side service with flaming butter. The taste of the steak was even better. The smashed potatoes and creamed spinach was amazing. Service was great. View of the river was spectacular.

My wife and I went while visiting Chicago for the weekend and absolutely loved Smith & Wollensky. The service was phenomenal throughout our visit and the steak was perfect. We both ordered ribeyes with bone marrow butter and I can’t say enough good things about our meal. We will definitely come back next time we are in Chicago!

Nice ambiance and good food. Angry shrimp, salad, and Lobster bisque didn’t disappoint. Beautiful venue for since day.

The view of the river is magnificent. The selection for steak or fish is very good, overall an enjopyable evening.

My husband and I were there on Friday evening to celebrate my birthday. It has been quite a few years since we've visited, but always had great experiences in the past. Unfortunately Friday was not one of them. While nothing too major happened, we were disappointed in the overall experience for a couple of reasons. 1) we ordered twin stuffed lobster tails and a 16 oz bone in filet to share. Basically to create our own surf and turf, but the wrong steak was brought out along with the lobster and side. By the time they actually brought the right one, we were completely finished with the other items and lost out on that experience. And they brought and dropped off the steak, but did so without a steak knife, so we ended up sitting there until we were able to get one. 2) there was a table of 3 young adults behind us, I believe one was celebrating their 21st birthday, and one young man in particular was exceptionally loud and obnoxious. Talking rather loudly, using profanity every other word, etc. To me it seemed as if they were trying their hardest to be "seen and heard" and several tables around us kept glancing over at them and shaking their head. Most of the diners around us were finishing up shortly after they were seated so unfortunately we ended up getting the brunt of it. I will give the restaurant kudos for offering a free dessert but unfortunately that wasn't very good either. Long and short of it, while the location and view is good, this establishment seems to have lost it's class and quality both in environment and service. Too many other great options in Chicago to return.

Showed up about 10 minutes early for the reservation, no problem. taken directly to out table next to the river window on the "basement" floor. a great view of the boats and people. Drink order taken, poor tequila selection to be honest.. should have a few higher end stuff in this place... lost out on a drink order... great selection of wine according to the wife. Started with the crab cake. It was very very good. All crab no filler! Had the 28 day aged Prime bone in ribeye! was cooked to perfection. Wife had the filet oscar and it too was cooked to perfection. Both meals were just wonderful. Had a side of onion rings. Again these could have been cooked a bit earlier and were not piping hot, but still very very good. Would order again. Served with ketchup. Service was great. Attentive but not overbearing. Thanks for a great meal.

Nice steakhouse. We had to wait for our table and already had a great time at the bar. We then got a really great table with river view Service consistently excellent food very good. We can only recommend

Best of the best when it comes to steak. Can't beat the quality or the preparation. If you think you've had great steak and haven't eaten here, be prepared to see what you've actually been missing.

Smith & Wollensky hit it out of the park. The filet was one of the best steaks I've had in my life. The appetizer and sides were perfect. The service was top notch. The entire experience was perfect. We had reservations and arrived a bit early, so we sat at the bar. The staff told us we could take our table whenever we wanted. When we asked for our table we were immediately accommodated. We requested, and received, a table by the window over looking the river (I highly recommend sitting by the window). The atmosphere is exactly what one expects from a top end steakhouse: dark paneling, white table cloths, uniformed staff, clean and quiet. The service was excellent, attentive without being overbearing. I've been to a lot of steakhouses; Smith & Wollensky may be the best ! Smith & Wollensky does it right. They are a classic American Steakhouse.

Our family of three enjoyed an absolutely delicious late Sunday lunch at Smith and Wollensky. The oyster appetizer was light and tasty and the Swinging Tomahawk was perfect for the three of us. Wonderful service as well!

Not great, arrived at 7pm on a Sunday night, barely half full. Service was slow and forgetful at times, we were told a list of items not available but then saw other diners have them brought out after we placed our order. Had the seafood platter, was ok but not good value for what was served. Shame as we used to love this place, won't be going again.

Service was good and the food was cooked to perfection. A recommendation for people who want a perfect steak and are willing to pay a high but reasonable price for it.

We had dinner with family, the service was deplorable, first the person at the reception was particularly cold, then the waiter was bordering on unpleasant, he did not get a smile during the service, and we waited for our dishes for 30 minutes. The dishes were at exorbitant prices for a fair quality. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a service of this quality in the United States.

First a confession - I’m not a connoisseur, and in recent months I have barely eaten beef for environmental reasons. But when in Chicago... And what a steak it was. I only ate half, my companion ate the other half, and it was plenty! It was also the best steak I have ever had, medium rare and juicy! Asparagus is a perfect accompaniment. Views across the river are wonderful - heart of the city stuff. Service was exemplary, with even the manager popping by to say hello. I’m very very impressed.

Came in on a lazy Sunday lunch to be seated at a great table with a view. Burger was mindblowingly good, and went well with a local IPA on tap that the staff recommended. I ordered a side of Grilled asparagus that was probably the best I've ever had. Attentive, efficient and polite service. Also rushed me a warm wet towel upon request. Prices more than fair. Will return.

Everything was fantastic. Started with scallops and for dinner. We had the surf and turf and it was absolutely amazing. Then finished it off with a slice of chocolate cake. It’s the best chocolate cake we ever had. Whenever we’re back in town, we definitely will be back!!!!!!

My husband and I made rather quick work of the Tomahawk swinging ribeye, which we likely won't get again but only because it's a lot of food. It came with crispy potatoes and we added the creamy corn with manchego. Delicious! Before that we enjoyed the colossal lump crab meat cocktail, and after we were too stuffed for the complimentary dessert we were offered for celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary there. Instead our waitress recommended the key lime cocktail, served martini style. It was PERFECT. Made with Licor 43 from Spain, it provided all of the pleasure of dessert without the subsequent self hatred. Easy to book a table. Busy but not overwhelming. Highly recommend.

It's a very luxurious, high-quality restaurant. I recommend you make a reservation, because it's always full. The red wine is wonderful, the waiters are wonderful.

Beautiful setting with outdoor terrace seating on the Chicago River. Recommend making reservations to be seated outdoors. The service is friendly and prompt. We ordered scallops, served in a “boat” of bone, split and filled with marrow, the sea bass, salads, sides of onion rings and sautéed spinach. In general everything seemed laden with salt which overpowered the flavors. For the price the quality if good is only average at best. Otherwise the atmosphere and service are quite good.

We were a large group visiting for a trade show. The restaurant staff were amazing. The lobster bisque was at most room temperature, and the angry shrimp seemed overly salted to a few of us. The lobster tail also seemed a little over cooked. The wagu was a little rarer than I usually eat but still good. Our server Gaby was awesome & very entertaining. The 2nd server. I can’t believe I don’t recall his name. Cool baseball memorabilia too. Might be better with less people.

Both of us being Healthcare providers and overly conscious of social isolation we have refrained from going out to eat. This was our first date out since the onset of COVID-19. What a disappointment with the service provided. We were not done with dinner and the lady comes and starts clearing the dishes and cutlery. I had to bring to her notice that one of us was still eating, she leaves the dinner plate and takes away her knife. I spoke to the waiter and manager about it and neither were really interested. The waiter brought a knife and left it on the table. That was the last of the service. We were not offered any desert. There was no apology from the manager either. Next the check was left on the table. When you drop a couple of hundred dollars for a dinner for two you would expect better service. We were no where close to the 90 mins allotted for the dinner service.

My wife and I went for our anniversary dinner before a show. I had called ahead days prior and made reservations because we wanted window seats to look out at the river. Those seats are first come first serve, so we just reserved a table. They said they'd make a note that it was our anniversary. We arrived early around 4pm and asked if they had a window seat available. Even though it wasn't busy they said we should go downstairs instead. Seemed like they didn't want us upstairs. The lower area was fine, but for how much we spent the ambience was disappointing. It was the most expensive meal we've ever had; drinks, appetizer, sides, two entrees of their best steaks. House red wine was good. The shrimp appetizer was warm, but not hot. They were on a bed of cold mashed potatoes which seemed ann odd choice even if they were hot. When the steaks were brought out the guy didn't say one word to us, which we found rude. The steaks were hot and tender, but kind of flavorless. I don't like a lot of seasoning, but it was bland. Our waitress was very nice, but the friendliness started and ended with her. When we were leaving the host didn't say anything to us either despite am empty reception area. Despite their "note" that it was our anniversary the restaurant made no effort to make it a special meal in anyway. We're not from Chicago, so we may never be back. If we do return to the city it won't be to this restaurant. Overall just a disappointing meal for the price we paid.

Great meat, great service and great atmosphere. Expensive but highly recommended if you are a true meat lover.

We had the great pleasure of dining here before a show at The Chicago Theatre. The staff was very accommodating, friendly and unobtrusive. Our waiter made fantastic suggestions and made sure everything we ordered was perfect. The aged rib eye was perfectly cooked and incredible flavorful. My husband had a NY strip with Gorgonzola baked on which was an off menu item a,so cooked perfectly. My only regret is that we didn’t allow for enough time to have dessert!

Jennifer waited on us like royalty in the lower level grill. We sat at a table next to the glass for a great view of the river traffic. The bone in Ribeye my wife had could be cut with a fork. The twin stuffed lobster tails we excellently prepared with a generous amount of crab meat stuffing. The wine list covered all the spectrum's of a diners needs. We had a 2015 Darioush Cabernet that was reasonably priced at $210.00. It was decanted and served in a great crystal decanter. This was not a stuffy place but the food was as if you were having dinner in the finest restaurant. Could not be happier with our experience.

Restaurant is not bad - the steaks we had were better than many others, cocktails good as well. Quite loud atmosphere on a Saturday night, that was fine for us as we were with friends but others may prefer something quieter. Service was slow, not so much taking the order but the steaks themselves took about 45 minutes. When my steak did come, it was over-cooked, not worth mentioning since already waited so long there is nothing they can do, just expect better from somewhere at this price. It is a shame, because the food quality was good, just poor attention to detail.

I've been to Smith and Wollensky in NY (the original) and Vegas, and now Chicago. The food it always good, but very expensive. Even though the overall experience was good, I was a little disappointed in the service and meal. Our server wasn't as attentive as some of the others that we observed, and IMO, the medium-rare steak was undercooked. It was very raw in the center. The flavor was great, but I would have preferred it cooked a little more. The quantity was just right!

This Smith & Wollensky location overs an extensive (if expensive) steak menu in a restaurant overlooking the Chicago River. I had the veal chop with creamed spinach; both were very good. There's outdoor seating above the river that's nice in decent weather.

Took my family out Sunday for a dinner after the marathon. Everything was okay, our last dining experience was more enjoyable. Food was good restaurant was packed as expected. We had the scallops, I enjoyed the rib eye with bernaise, and Mac and cheese. Our server "J as in the letter J" was nice enough but approached the table a few times interrupting our conversation but nothing to be too disturbed by. Other than when she said "what do you want"..... We were seated late and wanted to have some more drinks after so asked for a recommendation near by.... They said STK on the corner is open late! Great so we head over there. Everything there was enjoyable however when we were leaving STK there was a major commotion near the front of the restaurant.... A woman screaming, trying to fight the bartender... to then move outside and begin trying to break the STK Door!! By the time we were outside there was our Smith & Wollensky server "J as in the letter J" with no pants or undergarments on laying passed out on the sidewalk in what seemed to be a puddle of urine. Yes... we payed almost $600 for dinner then left the restaurant and saw our server belligerent, half naked, and passed out. Along with 10 police officers and paramedics attempting to strap her to a stretcher. Smith & Wollensky was a regular spot for my family, however after this it makes me take a look at that. I have never experienced anything like that especially pertaining to a server at a fine dining restaurant. If that's someone who is representing Smith& Wollensky Chicago I will never be back.

We stopped in for a late afternoon snack and asked to be seated at the bar on the patio since it was a beautiful June afternoon. They apparently have a downstairs bar as well which has a different menu, but does not have outside seating. We ordered a drink and a large order of the fried shrimp appetizer. The shrimp were quite good. The wine list by the glass was a bit lacking for a higher end steak place. The low point of our visit was the service at the bar. We like to sit at the bar in many restaurants because you tend to get better service, but this gentleman who had an Irish/Scottish accent was fairly aloof. There was only a few other people at the bar so they were not busy. He left for an extended break after taking our order at which point a very pleasant female replaced him. He returned before we finished our meal and ultimately completed our service. We have some amazing steak houses in Dallas which offer exceptional service. Our experience at Smith and Wollensky on this day did not match what were used to experiencing in Dallas.

Let’s start with the positives: Location - terrific Service - very good (friendly, helpful, and the right level of attentiveness) Linen tablecloths and napkins - tick Food - good. On the less positive side: Medium rare does not mean medium (I note other reviewers have had similar issues). I could cope with that if I were not paying $50 (£40) for a steak (with a little salad garnish). The prices here are astronomical. Paying $9 for some very average fries is almost insulting. Everything else is on a similarly overpriced scale. I wished I’d checked the menu before sitting down. I don’t mind paying good money for top quality but this was taking the proverbial...

This was hyped up as a great venue to go to. Alas it was not. Was it that we were a tour group, but it was soulless and production like. A bottle of red wine cost $72 and sales tax totalling $80.46 The food was quite average as well. Returning, not for me.

Our waiter was awesome, but the experience not so much. Tons of pigeons everywhere, frozen portions of food on plate and stale bread. not what I expected from this chain. great location and excellent service.

Beautiful atmosphere and location, overall fantastic food. It's downtown Chicago and a high end steak place, so expect to pay high end prices. We ordered a NY Strip, a gorgonzola "encrusted" filet, French Onion soup and the au gratin, along with a cocktail. The strip was perfect, cooked fantastically and not overly charred which was to my liking. The filet was cooked to order, and butterflied as requested. It wasn't really "encrusted" with gorgonzola, more covered in it in such a drippy mess that it looked like gravy, and really pulled away from the flavor of the filet. It was 12 oz filet for $90 so that was really disappointing. The au gratin potatoes were one of the most bland things I believe we've ever had. Absolutely no flavor. Really unimpressed with them, and easily the worst point of the meal. We took them home and made hash browns with them lol. The pear cocktail was very good. The bread service was outstanding- warm and buttery and just delicious. So so so so good. But the star of the show was definitely the French onion soup with oxtail. So delicious. Overall, we're glad we gave S&W a try. Beautiful, busy restaurant in a lovely location. On a side note, we did feel the service was reallllly slow. The place was busy, but not every table was full. It was a while before our server took our order, and it took so long to get our food, that even the server did come over to start to apologize for how long it had been, and then suddenly the food came out. I believe it took around 2 hours total from seating to getting the bill paid and getting our coats to leave. Not the speediest service ever, but we weren't exactly in a rush.

Great food, great location, great staff but could be better... I'm not complaining, just giving a constructive criticism. We were there for a dinner. We had a reservation for 8pm but was there early. The bar at the street level was packed, we were told that there was another bar down below where we could hang out. And we were told that we would be seated soon. (Or should have told us that we would be seated at our reserved time.) So we went to the bar downstairs. We wished that we had known that we would be seated at 8pm as reservation indicated because the downstairs bar was almost empty, we could have had our dinner and enjoy our drinks and be done by the time 8pm came. Then when 8pm came, we were seated for our reservation in the bar area for our table. (Should have asked if we would like to be seated in the bar area, we hoping for a table, table) Again, had we known that, we would have eaten at the bar. But hey, the waiter was good to us, so was the bartender at the bar while we were waiting. Food was great as expected, the dessert was wow! At the end though we thought we would get all of the leftovers, but we only got the steak, no sauce nor the veggies that we left on the plates. (Should have asked us if we want everything, we did not recall being asked if we want everything on the plates) Oh well...Great food, great location, great and friendly staff.

Visiting Chicago for our wedding anniversary and wanted a great steak. This steakhouse came highly rated on OpenTable and Google so had to book a table. We were immediately seated upon arrival at Table 1 and we were treated like loyalty. Even with our little 18mo old. Great ice water, yes I love water! From there we had the tuna tartare which was to die for! Great accompaniment with cucumber and sauce. Order a bottle of Rioja wine from their vast wine list to pair with a tasty dry aged bone-in ribeye that was out of this world and priced well at $98. Wife had double portion of filet mignon at $58. The little man enjoyed the house bread and a beef pouch! We ordered the truffle Mac and Cheese and sautéed mushrooms which were the hit sides of the week in town! Just get them! To wrap things up we got a 10 layer chocolate cake which was comp’d for our anniversary. Great service, tasty steaks and great side dishes! Don’t miss out!

It was a perfect day in Chicago and Smith and Wellensly delivered great food and service. We had drinks at the bar while waiting on outdoor dining. I was introduced to luxardo cherries with my drink. They were delightful. I immediately ordered a jar online! The filet was perfectly cooked and paired with asparagus and new potato medley. Beautiful view of the river and river walk area.

This was my first time visiting Smith & Wollensky. This restaurant is a Chicago icon and wanted to see for myself if it was due to its past success or if it was based on its day to day merits. The answer was simple: they take care of every single detail from an excellent service to their extraordinary food. Their wine list is impressive. We had a red from Napa called Quilt which proved to pair well with our steaks.

There are a million choices of steakhouse in Chicago and we have been to all the upscale chain ones in other cities too. We don't generally go to them because as you enter you can hear the whooshing sound of them trying to vacuum the maximum out of your wallet as fast as possible. Was this ever not that! First of all you are seated in a fantastic dining room with views of the river. Then our server (Laura D) got us our drinks and took the time to discuss the menu with us. She gave great recommendations for apps and when it came time to order the main she actually advised us to hold back on too many sides so we wouldn't overorder. Have you ever heard of that??? Throughout the meal she was always there when we needed her and never hovered. She made the evening even more special. The wollensky salad and crab cocktail were spectacular, as was the dry aged ribeye.

Great first visit! Have been meaning to go here for some time. We decided to start celebrating our anniversary with dinner hear and it was amazing. Unfortunately it was too hot for us outside so we stayed in but had a lovely view out the windows. If your going here as a couple, splurge! Get the porterhouse for 2! So good! We mentioned our anniversary celebration and a huge slice of chocolate cake was on the House.

So when you pay $100 including tip for a 9 ounce wagyu steak you expect something reasonably tasty. Sadly that is not the experience you’ll have here. Most of what goes on here is hype. They’ll tell you about how exclusive their line of Wagyu cow is, Their exclusive history of import of some original Cow from Japan, and the lineage which progresses down to the piece of beef you actually get to eat. If only they knew how to cook. The steak did not have a proper sear. It was sort of gray on the surface. The sauce it was served with was bland, lacking both acid and any spice. That said the piece of meat was very tender. The asparagus was cooked to an appropriate al dente. They advertised an exclusive Rutherford Cabernet for $45 a glass. It was a solid California Cabernet but not one worth $45 a glass. Maybe $45 a bottle. My wife ordered the carrots and split pea soup and found them both bland and inedible. Service was on point - warm and friendly. the kitchen needs a lot of help. At the end of the day this qualifies as a fine dining experience as a result of the service - It just costs about twice what you would expect to pay. If you’re looking for flavor and value, walk 100 feet across the river and have the Chicago hotdog at the grill down by river, you’ll be much happier.

After a late afternoon flight and getting checked in to our hotel, we were all ready for dinner, but with a busy Saturday night, all of the restaurants we tried couldn’t seat us, so while walking back to our hotel, on a whim we decided to try Smith and Wollensky and they were able to seat us at the downstairs bar. We can’t say enough about the 2 bartenders, who were not only very attentive to our needs, but so friendly, all while tending a very busy bar, just outstanding service. As for the food, the steaks were excellent as well as the sides, couldn’t have asked for a better meal, we will definitely return on our next trip.

I guess it is our fault for choosing a steak restaurant for a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal. We often eat out on holidays when our kids are with their in-laws and brought along a couple in the same boat. We have our favorite holiday restaurants in Chicago but decided to try Smith & Wollensky and chose the prix fixe dinner. It was awful. The servings were really generous which is typical of steak houses in Chicago but the turkey was so dry that even with gravy it was hard to eat. The Brussels sprouts dish might have been good if it had been fresh but it had obviously been sitting in the pot or under a heat lamp for a very long time. The potatoes and roasted vegetables were better. Dessert was individual pies which seem like a good idea but there was so much crust and so little filling that it just was an unsatisfying ending to a disappointing dinner. On a brighter note, the service was terrific.

We had a lovely time and the location was magnificent. The steak was great but quite pricey. Crab cake appetizer was so very dry. Very disappointing. I was talked into getting the sauteed spinach. It as inedible as so much red pepper was added I has to spit out the first bite. These two items were also quite pricey but the waiter made no attempt to correct any issue. Lots of cash down the drain for sub par food. $220 bill and the only thing that was good was the steak. I feel a bit ripped off.

This has got to be the best restaurant in Chicago! The food, the service, and the overall experience was perfect and for me to say that is saying something!

I hosted a large group of people for a business dinner. Great location on the river, although inside it's difficult to see the water. Still nice view of the city. The interior is warm and welcoming and was never too loud. The food is quite expensive but absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. We started with appetizers that were my favorite items of the night - roasted beets, grilled bacon (OMG) and Angry Shrimp. They were all amazingly yummy. I think my main dish was the least favorite of the table - a large salmon filet. It didn't have much flavor, no sauce to speak of over string beans & a few roasted potatoes. The other people at the table made me jealous. The coffee & cocoa rubbed filet was amazing in presentation as well as taste. Another guest had the bone in rib eye that he said was wonderful and two had lobster tails. Side dishes were all devoured. Then dessert....wow. By far the Coconut Cake was the fav but all of the desserts were decadent and delicious, even the housemade ice cream. We had some big issues with our server but when I spoke to the manager at the restaurant, he took care of things and handled the situation very professionally and to my satisfaction. I would feel comfortable saying that the issue was with that particular person, not indicative of the rest of the staff. Highly recommend eating here if you have the budget. It's worth it. HINT...if you're staying at the Hotel Chicago, put the tab on your room and get additional points!

My two daughters and I spent three days in Chicago just reacquainting ourselves with the city. After a boat tour, we spotted S&W and decided to try it. We arrived about 4:30 to a pretty empty dining room so we were able to have a table by the window.,,,it was such a great view. I’m sorry I don’t remember the name of our waitress, but she was awesome. Also working with her was Jesus. They both far exceeded our expectations. We ordered drinks and thoroughly enjoyed them. We then had the baby iceberg salad,,,,it was great. We shared the rib eye, shrimp cocktail and whipped potatoes. The rib eye was absolutely out of this world. My daughter said how can the crisp, burnt ends taste so good. They were delicious. The potatoes were excellent and all the hot food was served hot. The shrimp cocktail was just ok as far as I was concerned. I asked the maitre d’ afterwards where the shrimp came from and he said they were from Asia. That might be why I wasn’t excited about them,,,,,I’m used to eating Gulf shrimp and I think they are the best. I would go back in an instant if in Chicago again.

We went to the Chicago restaurant on the river, and asked to sit outside since it was a beautiful day. The host said there were two parties ahead of us so we would have to wait at the bar, but we refused to wait and were shown to a table next to the window. And to our surprise, there were more than 12 empty tables all set up. I do think that if you are denying a table to paying costumers, at least make sure they don't see that you do have tables. Needless to say we were the only two dummies sitting inside the restaurant. My companion did not want me to make a scene so we stayed inside. There are many steakhouses in Chicago, but Smith and Wollensky will not ever again be in my mind.

My family if 4 dined here on Easter. We each enjoyed a filet, a couple sides and a dessert to share. We spent over $400 and found it ironic in this day and age no refills are offered on a fountain soda.

Very good restaurant. Delicious meat and very good service from the Personal. Varied wine list. Lina the view over the river

Called the restaurant to find out what they could offer for kids for dinner. Was told there was no kids menu and the staff member I. The phone wasn’t offering any alternative. I’m sure they could offer something but the guy couldn’t get me off the phone quick enough. This was going to be our last night of vacation dinner spot but someone else we get our business instead. Having been in S&M plenty of times in New York this was a bit of a disappointment.

I was attending a board meeting dinner with a set menu (in a downstairs banquet room) at this restaurant. I had only gotten out of the hospital a few days earlier, and had been pretty much on a liquid diet until this meal (nothing contagious!). When I quietly shared the situation with the server, he was so kind and accommodating. He made suggestions for switching out portions of the set menu, replacing the salad with delicious split pea soup, chicken instead of steak, and offering me sorbet instead of chocolate cake. He also checked in with me several times during the meal to make sure I was OK. I really appreciated his care and wish I would have gotten his name to share with the management.

I was expecting big things about this restaurant based on feedback from others who had been here who said it was great! Arrived and seated promptly and ordered a cocktail, sat outside in the beautiful weather Chicago was having. Some bread was brought to the table and plates but no silverware we had to ask for that. We decided to jump straight to entrée two filet steaks with mash and sprouts. The food came really quickly so in one way we were not left waiting but In another felt slightly like a production line! The steak was OK but I feel I’ve had better, the sprouts were so hard really inedible to be honest (I had some earlier in the week and Cheesecake Factory which were perfect, not sure you would normally compare the two restaurants!). The mash had a great taste but unfortunately was cold, we sent it back and the next one promptly arrived which was also cold. By this point we just wanted to eat, the mash was taken off our check but it left me all a bit disappointed. I did have the cookie dessert which was again OK not a wow moment. Promptly after that our check arrived leaving a feeling of wanting us to leave. No offer of a post dinner drink or coffee. So we paid and left. Unfortunately based on this trip I wouldn’t bother going back didn’t overly feel valued as a customer.

The food is great (if you like meat, they have great cuts and know how to cook them to perfection). The location is great and we particularly liked the Chicago River views.

Food and service were excellent. The fillet outstanding. For appetizers we had the Angry Shrimp, Crab Cakes and Scallops all excellent. Clam chowder also definitely worth getting. Salads were only okay. All in all great time - only thing to watch is it is very pricey!

Very pleasant meal outside, right on the river. Quiet, not bustling, excellent service, excellent food. Enjoyed the bacon-laden Wollensky salad with succulent mushrooms. Would do better with a little extra balsamic vinegar. Ask for it. Angry shrimp were large and a meal in themselves. The baked Alaska was pretty spectacular. Will certainly head back when it's time for a steak.

From hands down one the the best sidecar cocktails to the roast beef pop-overs and the surf and turf for two, this restaurant is all 5-stars. Excellent service, amazing food and perfect old steakhouse charm, and right on the Chicago River no less.

Food was fantastic, but the service was below average. Was seated and my napkin was missing and had to ask twice for one. Our server was distracted by a larger table but another server was observant and came to take our order. When our dinner was served our plates were dumped on our table, and desert our plates felt like they were thrown on the table. Food was great but would not go back for the price and below average service.

We are not fans of steakhouse chains, but OMG, it was wonderful ! My husband and I and 3 close friends were in Chicago for 3 nights and this restaurant was suggested. The view is incredable, we were seated outside' The waitstaff was very good, right on point. We ordered the 44oz steak and split it 3 ways, perfection. Never paid $185 for a steak but it was SO worth it !!! As I am typing this my mouth is watering.

We were very impressed with the fantastic view surrounding the restaurant greeted by a friendly young lady who took us to our table waitress came right over asked if we’d been there before we told her it’s our first time and started explaining things to us I only wish I had gotten her name drinks came fast we had the crab cake and shrimp appetizers some of the best we ever had main course was a bone in 21oz rid eye cooked just right so if you get the chance to go to Chicago give them a try

It is right there on the river walk. Nice atmosphere and the service was very good. Food is not Espectacular but it still was a nice lunch experience. We order two main dishes and split it between three people, it was enough.

We absolutely loved it. We ordered the seafood tower which was scrumptious. The service impeccable. Jesus made sure we had a very pleasant time. They brought a delicious chocolate cake for us to sing for him his happy birthday and gave him a card. I requested a window table and we got it. The food could not have been better. I definitely recommend it and will go back.

On a recent business trip we booked this restuarant as it was recommended by some friends who live in Chicago. We were shown to a riverside table with great views by a very friendly waiter. The drinks were served quickly and the steak was one of the best I have had. Overall we had a fantastic evening and will be returning.

Service! You get what you pay for. It's not cheap but what is in downtown Chicago. This place has plenty of atmosphere, very comfortable. We had a large party and they handled every request in a timely manner. The wings and shrimp appetiers were very good. Great steak, cooked to perfection and plenty on the plate. Good wine selection and cocktails were top rate. Great business dinner location!

Revisited primarily because of the location and view. Last year was a disaster this year it was back to being excellent. They accommodated us on the Patio, found us a better table and moved us and nothing was too much trouble. Service was excellent, polite, efficient but also good humoured. My faith has been restored that this is right up there as one of Chicago's best

Great steak experiences!! Of course thats what we were there for. Did not leave disappointed. My sons both had the 9oz fillet mignon and I had the 8oz Wagyu Steak. All perfectly seared with a good bottle of wine reccomened by the server. One comment on sides. No steak comes with included sides. You have to order separately. I think for the prices of the steaks, the sides should be included. Minor hitch, but we ordered the sides that all 3 of us shared and they were great. For desert we order the 'big fat chocolate cake' and they were not kidding! 3 of us could not finish it and took it home! All in all a great meal and would not mind going back again soon. FYI we looked up dress code and while they say come as you please, I made sure we all wore pants at least! But saw a table next to us in shorts for dinner. So!

Nice restaurant with very good fillet minion and enough space for the side dishes. The restaurant is not far away from the centre of the city and all the staff is friendly and ready to fulfil all your requests. You have to pre-book as it is very difficult to find a table on the spot

One of our favorite restaurants. Also have been bringing clients here for years. Everyone always enjoys the food, ambiance and service. Great location on the Chicago river walk. Ask for a table on the lower level on the window or deck in nice weather. Reservation recommended.

Unfortunately, I was to upset to write this after my visit on December 18, 2020. Now that I have calmed down I feel it’s only right. I visited the restaurant a year ago for my niece birthday and I thought it would be a good place for me to celebrate mine. We had a 6:00 reservation but because of traffic we were running a little late. I called the restaurant and explained to them what was going on. The person taking the calls said, 6:15 is the cut-off time. Whipping through traffic we arrived at 6:15 on the dot. My party waited for valet and we walked in. Once we walked in we greeted the gentleman and lady that were the host. We told them our name and they immediately told us we are 4 minutes behind time so we they would not acknowledge our reservation. Mind you their were people inside the restaurant, outside in a tent and EMPTY seating. After a back and forth exchange the man offered us a seat OUTSIDE in the cold I might add. One of the waiters lit one fire pit and we sat. I was so humiliated as I looked into the tent and saw people pointed to us and even inquiring about us being out there. What hurt the most is that there was a table in the tent only a few feet away from us that stayed vacant the whole time. I am shocked by the disrespect and disregard for paying customers. Our bill was over 300 dollars and we still left a tip. It’s unfortunate because the restaurant has lost several valuable customers that would support during a pandemic only to be treated like trash. God bless you!!!

A group of 9 - vacationing in Chicago for the 4th weekend dined here our first night. We are from Texas so our taste for beef and stuffy waiters can be critical. Our food was wonderful. The restaurant atmosphere was great. We ordered everything from Ribeyes-filets-salmon-lobster mac and cheese. The waiter was awesome, helpful, extremely patient with ordering, and pleasant to chat. And if no one has mentioned it, the bread brought out to begin the meal was a food group unto itself! So delicious. WE will definitely return.

Top 5 steaks I’ve ever had! Visited with a group of friends from the UK and US before a golf trip north of Chicago and we were warmly welcomed by the staff. Barman had great knowledge of beers and spirits. Waitress was fantastic, very accommodating and friendly. Steak was out of this world, incredibly tender and perfectly cooked and seasoned. Slightly more expensive than what we would pay in the UK, but definitely worth it and would recommend to anyone visiting Chicago!

We had a great beginning to the holiday season touring the lights of Chicago. We ended the evening at 1 of our favorite restaurants in the city ---- Smith and Wollensky. They did not let us down!!! It is a great place to celebrate with family; the food is unbelievable, the staff goes out of their way to make your dinner extraordinary. It was a great kick off to our holiday season. Thank you Smith and Wollensky!!!!

We went here after looking up good steak places in Chicago that weren't too far because it was wet and cold and this was just next to the Langham where we stayed I'll break the review down into components Service - 5/5; our waiter was friendly, knowledgable and helpful...the brioche starter that was free was delicious Sides - 2/5....ok so the truffle mac n cheese was nice but not mind blowing, the whipped potato had enough pepper in it to initiate a coughing fit and was not enjoyable to eat at all and the sauteed spinach was inedible - the amount of garlic was so out of proportion we genuinely didn't and couldn't eat it Steak - 4/5, it was a great steak and it was good well...I have had far better steak for far cheaper at Sydney fine dining restaurants and steakhouses Will I go back - no

We wanted to have steak for our dinner since in Chicago is famous for the best steaks in USA. We made a reservation for the 3 of us. Their home made bread is excellent. The steaks tender, tasty, excellent. But the real experience is steamwd spinach with chilli flaks. Goes excellent with the meet. It is a pricey place, but ok.

Smith & Wollensky is a well-known steak restaurant chain, and this location doesn't disappoint. The roasted beets and the tuna tartare appetizers were fantastic, and the rib-eye and filet mignon were outstanding. They also have seafood if you don't want steak, and plenty of vegetable options (a whole separation section for potatoes).

I recently dined here on a Saturday night with 2 friends. We had reservations, yet the host was borderline rude to us when we checked in. Someone really needs to give “Bob” some lessons on customer service and being welcoming. Thankfully, after our short interaction with him, the experience improved dramatically. Our waiter was pleasant and paced the meal well. We started with split pea soup and the iceberg wedge salad, as well as an order of the grilled bacon (because who can resist bacon?). All were delicious. However, our steaks were the real treat—as one would expect at a steakhouse. We each had a filet, but all were prepared differently: Oscar, blue-cheese crusted and a cocoa-rubbed version. Each steak was prepared as ordered and were tender and flavorful. They did not disappoint. The restaurant is located on the river which made for a beautiful view during our dinner. Seating is available outside, but on a steamy evening, we were happy to be inside with the air conditioning.

Went to Smith & Wollensky during a weekend visit to Chicago for our 35th wedding anniversary and the service was sketchy from the start and got downright unacceptable as our meal went on. This is unfortunate because the food was delicious. I spoke to a manager on the way out about my concerns and my wife received a call shortly after us leaving the restaurant that someone would be calling us to “make things right” but we never heard anything further. T Heer are better options in Chicago where fine food steaks will be accompanied by equally fine service.

Ambience and location is great - right on the river with chic atmosphere. The service is excellent - extreme attention to detail. The steaks are good bordering great. Appetizers were excellent, My shrimp cocktail was not as fresh as I hoped. All in all, it was a good evening, but still some room for improvement...

Was told this place was OK for steak, but was fooled it was great. Great Cajon ribeye well seasoned and cooked I would of went back the next day and had it again If I didn't leave . I never expected the meal to be that good. Good servers. Great time. Wanted to sit on dock but it was full. Great meal thanks I know your in Miami. I wish you had a restaurant in Tampa. Or Clearwater.

We have been celebrating our anniversary for the last 8 years beginning with dinner at Smith and Wollensky on the outdoor patio. This year was over the top! Our family joined us to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary and the staff was fantastic! Our head waiter, Jose, treated us like royalty! Our patio table gave us unbelievable views of the river and city! The food is always over the top! You MUST have steak here! And they ended the night with a cake and card for us! In Chicago this is the place to eat and celebrate! THANK YOU SMITH AND WOLLENSKY!

Just enjoyed one of the best evenings out we’ve had in a long time! The steaks were outstanding, sides and salads were outstanding as well. Really what made the evening “over the top” was the excellent service we received from Juan. Hands down THE BEST server I have ever had! If you are in Chicago and looking for a great meal, be sure to check out Smith & Wollensky but be sure to ask for Juan, you won’t regret it!2

Visited Chicago we went here to get a great steak and a nice view in the location. The table was fine but not much of a view from where we were. The service was great. The appetizers were good, the bread very good. We ordered the creamed spinach which was good. We got hash browns were good. I wanted a small steak so got a filet because they are tender but the coffee & something rub because they are usually bland lol Husband got the cajun rib eye, my usual order at another steak house we frequent. The steaks were ok, good but not great. My husband said several times well the sides were good lol so not a glowing report. Hi cajun steak was not a dry run but some kind of sauce and it looked like hot oil all over the plate and I like heat but man he let me taste that steak and it was HOT almost unpleasantly so. I cut into my filet and the knife didnt go in, huh, tried another side and it did but it was not a melt in the mouth filet, there was a lot of the ribeye left on the plate as there seemed to be kind of a lot of ifat and grisle. The quality of these steaks were not great I wouldnt go back. it might be a 3 1/2 star meal but I gave it 3 because I was disappointed.

On the water, white linen tablecloths, fantastic steak, delicious wine. A classic elegant steakhouse. Our favorite and we have been to all of them in Chicago.

We used to go to Houston’s smith… today we visit the one in chicago and o think the quality of the food is not the best one. The bread has hard! The soup didn’t have the quality of a. Clam chouder and the fillet was not juicy and the taste was not very good. It use to be a great restaurant but not anymore.

Over looking the river with a big piece of red and a heavy cab. The vibe is good, bustling and our server did a nice job. Smith & Wo's knows how to prepare that NY Strip, so for sure will be back in the future. Different vibe than NYC, but hey this is the windy city version.

Steak was awesome, dessert was amazing, service was fast, staff was polite, venue was Covid safe, & location great.

The quality of the steak is notably high, presenting a very enjoyable culinary experience for any meat enthusiast. In addition, the bread provided is a particularly noteworthy accompaniment, characterized by its delightful buttery richness and a pleasingly robust garlic seasoning.

The perfect pairing for our celebration of our sons wedding. Now I understand why this is my son’s and daughter in-law’s favorite restaurant. The food was excellent and the service was as well. Thank you Igor for the outstanding job taking care of us.

The views are great, ask for a table by the river when you make the reservation. The steaks were perfectly prepared as we asked, fries are not to be missed and asparagus were very good too. But I will come back over and over for the coconut cake. It is huge, but so rich. Several ways of presenting coconut and a bit of passion fruit to sharpen the flavors. Amazing. In another visit we had the chocolate cake, which is good, but does not come close to the coconut cake.

Noele was so amazing!! So knowledgeable about the menu/food and so friendly. Thanks Noele for the amazing experience! :) will be back to request for her area!!! Great food

Spent $1100 for our family time in Chicago and was gravely disappointed. the manager is very kind & attentive, but our server forgot an appetizer & ordered a steak wrong plus couldn’t even get water for the table. Reached out to S&W but sadly no response. Chicago has a great steak house on every corner but this is not one of them. Some of the steaks were good but service was far inferior. I would look elsewhere.

We enjoyed the twin petit filet mignon, which we split between the two of us - excellent steaks and enough to split for lunch for the two of us. Along with the top-notch sides (asparagus and the truffled mac & cheese), that left us with enough room for the skillet-sized warm chocolate chip cookie - yum! Expensive but worth it for the prime Chicago experience.

This dining experience was 5 stars and started even before walking into the establishment. We traveled to Chicago from out of state and were craving a steak dinner… bonus points if it had a view. Our Uber dropped us off out front. We decided to walk over the bridge right by S&W. We were able to get great views of the river front and a sneak peak into the restaurant that sits right above the water. Arriving at the host stand, we were greeted by warm staff who were able to seat us right away. Our server arrived shortly after and gave great detail about the drink and food menus. While waiting for our food, the host came over to us to say a table opened up by the window, overlooking the river if we were interested. We thought this was a kind gesture, especially after “dirtying” up one table. Our food came which contained a New York strip, the brussel sprouts and truffle fries. It was all delicious and flavorful. It was one of the best steaks I have ever had. As we were slowing down, what I am assuming was the owner or manager came by, asked about our stay in Chicago, how plans changed a bit due to weather and then got talking about kids and activities. She was an absolutely genuine, delightful lady. Our server came back a short while later saying that he had heard our plans had changed and offered us dessert or champagne on the house due to our plans changing. Like I mentioned, S&W is five stars for not only the delicious food but location, atmosphere and most importantly, their genuine and generous staff!

One of the best steak restaurants in the United States, prime beef properly cooked to your request is a staple of this wonderful restaurant. Sides are good as well especially asparagus. For desert their enormous chocolate cake is a must. One piece easily serves 4! Best past experience with the view was Batman spreading his cape atop a skyscraper across the river. Who knows what you might see!

We ate here with our family group and had an excellent experience. The service would outstanding and the food was excellent, and not overpriced by Chicago standards.

Highly overrated as far as I'm concerned. The service was fine. The food was over priced and truly not worth it. When you have to saw at an $82 steak with a steak knife to cut it? Not great. When you order medium rare and it comes medium well. Not great. We also ordered the scallop appetizer. $22 got us two burnt overcooked scallops and a mound of stuff. Maybe don't advertise it as scallops - although there were two which makes it plural. At one point three of the staff were just standing by our table trash talking another customer. I mentioned that I was also a customer and could hear them. To At this point I can say I've eaten there but I definitely won't recommend it to others or return.

We love Miami's Smith & Wollensky, so we thought it'd be a nice place to enjoy lunch in Chicago. Big mistake. Although there were several empty tables by the fence, the very methodic manager failed to have customer's centric in mind. He gave us the excuse that they were reserved (which clearly my pictures show they were not as they remained empty during our entire stay). As other tables were getting empty, after much insistence, we were offered to move if paid our bill where we were (we were half way through our meal at that point) and re-opened another bill in a table literally 1 step away. Unacceptable to think I'd stand up in the middle of my meal to do such thing. There are thousands of places that are worth a visit in Chicago, places that are happy to be in business after pandemic (apparently, this is not one of them).

Steaks are really good, but the restaurant is overhyped and overpriced. Be ready to spend more than $300 for two. Wines by glass are good, prises are $15-20. The service and entourage are awesome. Staff is really friendly and helpful - they may suggest and consult about every dish from the menu. Restaurant’s location is nice - downtown and river view.

We went there for a business dinner and it was very enjoyable. The food is a bit overpriced but it does take good. Service was very good.

Gorgeous location on the bank of the scenic Chicago River All dishes are presented as if they are prepared in the kitchen of a college Steaks, spinach, mash potatoes are all swimming in fat A pity, since when carefully separated from the butter/oil, the taste of the steaks is not that bad. You are expelled at 10:00pm because of an agreement with the neighbours to avoid the noise but you are only made aware of it at 09:45pm Service appears to ignore what efficacy and/or smiling means A mandatory gratuity of 18% is automatically applied to your bill, presumably because of previous experiences where unsatisfied customers were much less generous To be avoided except for the Cheesecake

A group of us, co-workers came in for dinner on a weeknight recently and sat outside with a beautiful view overlooking the river. Our service, Michelle was EXCELLENT! Very friendly, helpful, and engaging! Unfortunately, the kitchen wasn’t as helpful, they seemed to be quite behind and our food took an unreaosonable amount of time to come out – But she did her absolute best keeping us informed and even escalating to the manager who came to talk to us (he was nice, but probably could have done slightly more to help out, considering how long we waited)…. That was the worst of it and overall, it wasn’t really all that bad. The food was all pretty darn good! Their split pea soup was what we remembered from the original location in NYC and we enjoyed it! Cocktails and wine were both great as well. Their bone-in NY Strip was nicely done and perfectly seasoned! Dessert – Plenty to choose from… their signature coconut cake was great, as it usually is. Their incredibly huge chocolate cake was nice, but a little dry. Overall – It was a nice visit and would probably 5 stars if the kitchen wasn’t so jacked up… Service from our specific server was perfect – the best she could do given the conditions of management and the kitchen, but I’m still giving it 4 stars, when it’s probably more deserving of 3 ½ stars.

The food was extremely overpriced ($60 dollar steaks.) The portions weren’t very large. Our waiter, although, was extremely kind and funny and attentive. The chocolate cake is HUMUNGOUS, so save room. Only decent for an expensive steak house.

This week we hosted an engagement celebration for my son and his new fiancé. The maître d', Charlie, went over and above to make sure we had a wonderful time. Charlie reached out to me by text ahead of time to reassure me that our special celebration would be flawless and it was. Also thanks to our experienced server, Juan, for a flawless meal for the six of us. You and your staff made sure that our engagement celebration was perfect and your restaurant will be our go to place in Chicago for the foreseeable future. Many thanks, Paul S. - Park Ridge, IL.

Ryan is an amazing waiter. He is funny, knowledgeable and very attune to food allergies and the menu. He gave us great advice and helped ensure all of our food was free of the allergens we advised him of. I would definitely return for the food and because of Ryan’s welcoming and caring attitude.

Great atmosphere and Great food. Service was outstanding and had a great window seat overlooking the river. The tomahawk steak with the presentation was outstanding. The mac and cheese, we both said was the best we've ever had. The crab cakes for the appetizer was outstanding also. Thanks for a memorable dinner and a great view with outstanding service.

I ordered a filet mignon steak, well done. They cooked my friend's steak well done and mine medium rare. The service was very slow. The waitress often disappeared for long periods of time.

One of the best hidden places in Chicago. Food was implacable and service is top notch. From simple seafood appetizer to exquisite dry aged steak. Downstairs Wollensky Grill is the place to be ....

A little outdated restaurant which might enjoy a renovation and paint refresh, it serves extremely good meat. Wine list is quite large. Prices are on the high side but the view on the river is sure priceless

Service was mediocre at best. We sat there no less than 10 minutes with waiters go by us, around us and by us agin and no one said a word, gave us a menu or even gave us water. We finally had to ask for help. To boot, we were literally in the middle of the room so it’s not like we were out of the way and easily ignored. In 2 hours, our water glasses were refilled one time. We were parched. As for food: Bread was stale, Steaks and sides were good but nothing more special than any other less expensive place and the chocolate cake we took back to the hotel was so dry that it just went to crumbs when we put a fork in it. It was AWFUL! 100% not worth the +$500 we spent for four of us.

We had dinner here tonight and we were very happy with our choices. My partner had the salmon which he said was perfect and I had the filet Oscar which was a good sized filet with lumps of crabmeat and asparagus with hollandaise sauce. We had a great Cabernet from Paso Robles and we shared the signature coconut layer cake which was just to die for. Our server was Kristi B and I could not fault her. She was efficient friendly yet unobtrusive. In fact all the staff seemed very professional. It was expensive but this is a great location in a very big city so expect to pay for quality and service.

Unhappy overall experience here: service was off in small ways (waiter brought the wrong wine; another server spilled water and ice over the table without making an effort to clean it up; spinach was insanely peppered though we  did receive a replacement dish immediately after making the staff aware; waiter made an inappropriate comment when I asked to pay with Google Pay at the table). None of these are deal-breakers but I expected a more polished experience at this price point. On the bright side, the steaks were impeccable. The sides are a little heavy-handed and old-fashioned for my taste and I would have preferred to see a garlic or herb butter option among the steak enhancements, but that's a personal preference. Overall uneven performance, there are far better steaks restaurants in Chicago.

We celebrated my daughter’s grad school graduation. The management was kind and gave us a window seat along the river. The food was insane. Seafood tower for 6 was more like for 10. Beautiful presentation and everything delicious. For dinner we got a hanging tomohawk steak finished at the table. It is rare when the food quality matches the presentation, but in this case it exceeded it. It was the best steak I’ve ever had and I eat out often. Charred perfected. Tons of flavor. I cannot recommend Smith and Wollensky highly enough. In a city full of great steakhouses it is definitely our favorite.

We love this restaurant, especially in good weather when we can sit outside and enjoy the view of the river, the boaters, the downtown buildings and Riverwalk. The food is the best here and the waiters are pure entertainment with that professional touch. Extensive wine list and martinis are huge and perfectly made. Even in winter, the view is great, the ambiance is lively and you can sit downstairs with the glassed in view of the river for a cozy time.

Service was perfect. Food was delicious. Had gorgonzola crusted filet, truffle Mac and cheese, and Hasselback potatoes. Very good! A bit expensive but worth it to splurge on yourself.

We went out here for a business dinner. Atmosphere was lively but not overly loud. Food was mostly great but the service was very good and very helpful. Would return with a large group.

As usual, on our annual trip to Chicago, we had wonderful service,steaks,sides,and dessert on our annual Chicago trip. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND you visit it, the restaurant is wonderfully located above the River with awesome sunset and nighttime city views.

Smith & Wollensky in Chicago is a high-end restaurant, famous for their high-quality steaks, prime seafood, and award-winning wines. The restaurant is located at N State St, across from the Chicago Loop, next to Marina City towers, After a very busy day in the Loop area of the city, I stopped at the restaurant to have a dessert, was warmly greeted by a courteous hostess, and was seated at the bar indoors. I wasn't sure, if in such an upscale restaurant I could just order a dessert and tea in the afternoon hour. All the staff couldn't be friendlier, and I was told by an amiable bartender, that I can order anything from their menu, that I would like to have. Actually, he recommended their New York Style Cheesecake. I have to say, it was probably one of the best cheesecakes I've ever had -- it was fresh, rich and smooth, raspberry coulis was so tasty -- the dessert was absolutely delicious! The ambiance in the restaurant is classic, with power-dining setting, it has indoor and outdoor seating, beautifully appointed. The scenic views of Chicago River and the Loop are wonderful. The service was perfect -- upscale restaurants know, how to make their guests feel welcome, appreciate the service, and enjoy the meal, even if it is just the heavenly dessert and a pot of tea! Many Thanks for excellence! Look forward to coming back.

We ended up in a room without a view...with mediocre at best food. The seafood "tower" is not a tower and tasted like "dirty water". Will not return.

My wife and I sat out on the beautiful patio along the Chicago River on a gorgeous sunny Saturday evening for dinner here recently. The menu offered many great choices. Salads were terrific. Our selections of salmon steak and New York strip were mouthwateringly delicious! Their bread is so tasty. Wine selection is superb. And the staff at Smith and Wollensky know how to do service exceedingly well. For our anniversary they surprised us with a scrumptious piece of coconut cream cake. Wow! We will definitely be going back. I strongly recommend Smith and Wollensky Steakhouse for a great date night dinner or any other great meal you’re looking for!

Easy to get location, great service and nice place to dinner. I had an amazing steak, with tasty delicious wine, and a huge desert. 5 out of 5.

Had our Corp Christmas Party here on Dec 7 2023. I want to say that from start to finish was amazing. When I called to get information to the set up to the confirmation was amazing. Kerry did a great job behind the scene making sure it was amazing. The day of the event I had Hugo and Ceaser and lot of other staff to help make this event amazing. Everything ran perfectly and we eased into each course. The food was more than amazing and everyone was sooo happy with this restaurant. Hands down this was an amazing event and there was no stress to pull it off!!!!

Nice place on the river, with an outdoor area, but the interior is also pleasant. As a starter always serve excellent brioche with butter, we have continued with the dry aged rib-eye, very good and cooked to perfection. The dessert is American format, so huge portions and very sweet. Bill isn't cheap at all but no different from other restaurants of this this chain. Pleasant and accurate service.

G8 place , best location , friendly staff and the steaks..... that are an art for itself. Delicious , and well remembered

The filet mignon and oregon pinot noir were first class of course. But what really hit home, straight off the 8 hour flight from London and feeling slightly jet lagged was the friendliness and warmth of the service. Special mention for Ryan who was great.

I ordered a dry aged steak and I can’t say I was disappointed, I actually expected something slightly better though. Still a very good steak, really expensive but the price can be partially justified by the wonderful location, beyond the great quality of the food. I’d give 4.5 stars if only i could.

I enjoyed it a lot! You kind of expect that the food will be delicious, and it didn't disappoint me. All met the standards of the steakhouse and Creme Brulé was perfect.

The bartender was friendly and attentive. The warm bread is tasty, but not fine quality, the asparagus drowned in sauce, the fried lobster features two empty shells that take up most of the plate for show, and two lumps of fried meat that taste more like langoustine than genuine lobster.

There was a group of six of us for a late lunch after doing the architectural boat tour on the Illinois river- probably about 1:30 or later. Have always wanted to eat here for supper - the menu looks great, but we had lunch. Mostly sandwiches, a couple of salads, and the crab cakes. Be sure to try the classic split pea soup.

We were in Chicago for the weekend, and were looking for a good steak. Wow! Did we find it here! The weather was great, so we sat outside (which we loved). We had scallops, oysters, and a crab cake first. They were all excellent! We had the filet and lobster to share. It was about 18 oz of meat and two tails. The meat was fantastic, lobster was great also! The service was amazing. Maybe a little pricey, but if you normally eat good steak, it's not out of the ordinary. Highly recommend!

I took my father here for his 60th birthday. The server wished him a happy birthday and he was even given a birthday card from management. Was a very nice touch and thoughtful. I had the bone-in ribeye and my dad has the New York strip. We were both very pleased. Sides were a salad, asparagus and mac and cheese. All were above average. The restaurant also included a big piece of cake on the house! Additionally the location is perfect. Right on the Chicago River with city views. Highly recommend this place.

Nice ambiance and great views along the Chicago River. Steaks were excellent, desserts were super sized. Service was great. Wonderful night.

Having visited in years gone by we entrusted S&W as destination for a fine steak and an experience for our daughter. Our server was very attentive and friendly. Our dishes were ok. The angry shrimp was ok, but did not work so well with the purée which I had not appreciated would come with the dish. My daughter had the beef popovers which were very rich and seemed too oily. The wagyu flat iron frites was just ok. We paid in full and recognised our servers efforts and just felt like perhaps it was an off day, but did leave underwhelmed. Obviously a popular place so maybe just wasn’t for us this time round.

I came here for the second time knowing well that what you get here is more the brand than the quality. I was, in other words, ready for a bill close to 100$ for a meal (main course, side and wine by the glass). Nothing to say about my Filet Mignon, prepared the way I wanted and tender but I might have some comments - notwithstanding the prompt and kind service recovery - on the way the steak was presented and the hand-cut fries. The first one can be seen from the picture, the latter, being cold, was promptly changed and offered on a complimentary basis by the management. Overall my suggestion is to take a better care on how dishes are presented (that lousy salad leaf looked very sad). It doesn’t take much but can better support the 50 bucks charged for the filet. Of course the location has a good impact. Back in the years I sat inside and today I’ve enjoyed a loop-filled view.

From the service to the food to the atmosphere itself, Smith & Wollenksky's overdelivers time and time again. My favorite steakhouse in Chicago.

First time actually eating in a smith & wollensky restaurant. Had the pleasure of being there with my wife, with our kid asleep on the stroller for 2 hours, and enjoying a really nice quiet meal. Ordered the 28 day dry aged 24oz bone in rib eye and also the 16oz boneless new York sirloin. For some reason, didn’t enjoyed it as much as I thought I would do. Just like my visit to Chicago cut steakhouse, the surface of the steak is just too burnt for my taste. I ordered medium rare and it turned out medium...not a fan. That’s why I never really got to finishing my entire steak...it got too tiring for my taste. Howeve the overall surface was great and the wine selection was awesome. Would come back here again for sure. Too bad there was no prime roast as in NY for me...really wanted to have that.

On our first night in Chicago, my wife and I dined at Smith & Wollensky. They offer a great view of the riverwalk, have a full bar and outside dining. Our waiter provided exceptional service and recommendations. We began by sharing the Wollensky salad that was split on two plates. All the ingredients were fresh and the salad was large. Next, my wife chose the twin fillets wrapped in prosciutto and I the coffee and cocoa rubbed fillet. Both were delicious and the rubbed fillet was one of the best I have ever eaten. We shared sides of creamed spinach and mini twice baked potatoes. We finished with their classic coconut layer cake. The meal was great, our server the best and the night perfect.

Had dinner on the patio overlooking the Chicago River last Friday night. Just amazing experience. So beautiful and the food was very good. Great service and I recommend this restaurant right on Michigan Avenue

I enjoyed our stop here next to the river. It's a little dark, but with an old, up-scale feel. The food was good and our waiter was friendly.

We had thought of going to S&W for over a year and were lucky enough to be gifted a voucher by a friend of ours as a gift to finally have an excuse to go and indulge. We were so excited, spent time scanning the menu and deciding what to order - we went for the flaming tomahawk steak - flamboyant and expensive piece that was a great show - however very salty and over seasoned, similar with the lobster mac and cheese and potatoes. Starters and desserts were fine and we certainly my enjoyed the food, but our bill was $340 before tip - this was certainly not reflected (we felt) in the quality of what we ate and probably $150 over what we would have expected had it not been the S&W “brand” presumably. Glad to have been, but won’t be returning - overrated.

We celebrated a milestone birthday and we’re delighted with the birthday card from the manager when we sat down. We had the easy cost oysters - delicious! Our server was attentive but didn’t make us feel rushed. We all had different steaks and they were all cooked to our liking. I will return!

Steaks and Lamb Bby. Superb, the view is amazing, great dinner by the river.call for reservation.always a great experience.

Outstanding meat and service In Chicago the restaurant is besides the River and you need to get an outside table . It’s totally worth it. The waiter Igor was great !! Very generous portions on side orders We order hash browns and were unable to finish between the three of us !!! A bit pricey is the only complaint

Visited for business lunch with 3 colleagues. We were seated downstairs next to the glass wall overlooking the river, the view is really magnificent. We decided to focus on the meat (steaks, chops) and everything we ordered was delicious, you could see and feel the meat is top notch. My steak (ordered medium-rare) came over cooked, but I didn’t want to return it so I can eat while my colleagues are also eating. The staff, aware of the situation, brought us to the table another full NY strip steak as compensation. Would definitely visit again on my next trip to Chicago.

Service was good if a little over-familiar, but the meal was very overpriced - seared Tuna was seared very nicely on the outside but was also about two inches thick so was like chewing jelly. Couple with this the fact that the skin was on with all the fatty residue on it made it very unappetising. The carrot puree was just like a cream, but the red cabbage was ok! The starters were good - lovely burrata and really generous crab cocktail. Just a shame the mains let it down, and at very high prices.

You come here for the location and views. We were here on vacation for a nice dinner. We ended up with a table near the windows, but not right next to them. The noise level was very loud, louder then you usually expect in a nice steakhouse. I had the Bone-In Rib Eye and my wife had the Filet with Uni. We had the Yukon Potatoes and the Truffle Mac & Cheese for sides. The desert was the Coconut cake. Our food was cooked well and I enjoyed my Rib Eye. Neither myself or my wife were fans of the Uni on the Filet. We both thought our sides were fairly bland. I'm not a fan of Coconut but the cake was flavorful.

The place has a great location and view , we came to celebrate a special occasion with the family. The service from Michele was fantastic , portion size was adequate however flavoring and Cooking failed a little bit. Expected more on the food but overall experience was nice !!

Excellent steak, nice servants with good service. Enjoyed the waterfront view a lot ! Will be back soon!