Smyth
Iron Horse Hotel,500 W Florida St, Ste 102, Milwaukee, WI, 53204
Smyth Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
Iron Horse Hotel,500 W Florida St, Ste 102
Milwaukee, WI, 53204 - Phone (414) 831-4615
- Website https://smythrestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Upscale
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Sarita N.
Went for Sunday brunch. Food was delicious. Drinks were so so and expensive for just beong ok(the readon for the 4stars instead of 5) Server was attentive and friendly. Will definitely go again
(4)Isaac S.
Came here for lunch. I had their burger and it was very good. My companion had the fish tacos and he was very happy also. What impressed me most was the service. We were treated like VIP guests and the staff was super-attentive. I will definitely return. One thing I would like is a changing menu here and a few more options.
(5)Joy V.
Amazing decor and beautiful creative food this is a favorite. On this particular occasion I made my reservation via open table. Because I was treating out if town guests I made the note asking if there were " priceless menus" so my guests would order what they like without knowing the costs etc. And with short notice this was seamlessly and very discretely handled. It made the entire evening smooth and my guests were so impressed. Thank you for going the extra mile! Will be back. I had the lamb and It was the best I've ever eaten
(5)Snowinwi S.
Horrible brunch! We went here for Father's Day brunch and were very excited to try it due to many great reviews. It was quaint and comfortable and more casual than I was expecting. our waitress was nice enough, the Mimosas were very good. The food on the buffet was not that great. The bakery items and bagels were stale. They were also cut in half, which made for a very messy display. The omelet station is where I had the biggest problem although no one else seemed bothered. The man making the omelette used his hands for everything. There were no spoons in the containers with the omelet offerings. He just grabbed the ham, onions, peppers, etc... With his fingers and put the ingredients in the pan. YUCK! He removed the waffle from the waffle iron with his hands and broke it in half with his hands and gave it to the woman that ordered it. The ingredients were not refrigerated at all. I don't understand how they can get away with that. It was truly disgusting. I will not be returning to The Smyth and can not recommend it due to the numerous health violations that I witnessed. How can this even be possible?
(1)RG I.
I had not made it down to the Iron Horse and Smyth yet. However, when the best chef in Milwaukee made a move to the Smyth, I knew my avoidance was coming to an end. I ventured down on a Wednesday evening and was not worried about the quality of the product, as I have eaten MANY a meal at Chef Jason's prior place, Dream Dance. I only wondered what the menu would look like. On my first trip to Smyth, I went with a soup starter (Milwaukee is still suffering from cold weather this April, so soup is still viable) which had a texture that I would have paid $25/bowl for. That is how good the soup was. I went with the scallop for the main course THINKING I would be able to leave the table happily fed but still able to have some desert. Not gonna happen. The portions were very generous and the quality was out of this world. The orzo as the side was a great addition. I was worried that Milwaukee would lose Chef Jason and his commitment to Wisconsin product for his menu. Luckily, we get to keep him a little longer. If you have never tried his creations, it is time for you to enjoy a dining experience.
(5)brenda w.
We had Thanksgiving dinner here and boy was I disappointed. I called ahead and asked a lot of specific questions and was totally mislead about what the meal was actually going to be. I was told family style all inclusive, not if you are not satisfied with the small portion we will sell you more for an additional fee or two. I was told side dishes served in various serving dishes and brought to the table not a slop tray of items oozing together. I was also told we would have a choice of a dessert not just given a sampling of the choices. I knew when reading the menu I was not interested in most of them so I wanted the choice. When we arrived and I saw the table next to me with a plate (platter seems too generous a word) of what looked to be overly dry Thanksgiving fare I knew we were in trouble. It was so colorless in appearance and was presented so poorly, how could a chef let that be brought to a table especially on a holiday! Not exactly invoking of that Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving feast. I specifically asked the waitress if we could have the side dishes in different bowls and was told no! When I pushed the issue a bit I got the mantra of this is all family style what does that mean? If it had not been a holiday I would have left. Everything kinda oozed together to the point that I was not even sure what were were eating. There was so little turkey on the plate it was almost comical. We folded and paid for an additional side dish of brussel sprouts which was very tasty and shockingly generous considering the scant serving of turkey provided. Evidently we should have just ordered side dishes! We were not asked if we were pleased we were simply presented with check. when the meal was over. We did take the desserts home because my husband does not eat sweets and I was so annoyed I just wanted to get the heck out of there by this point.
(2)Steffi S.
Yippppppeeeee! . I would quite possibly give it more stars if I could. The first time I went there was for dinner and had the most delectable scallops. First though I had the salmon and corn chowder. That was good too. For dessert I had flour less chocolate cake. Delish. The service was EXCELLENT. The next time I went for brunch. I can't even begin to tell you how good that was. The red velvet pancakes with marscapone topping and homemade vanilla maple syrup was to die for! The fresh salmon was by far the freshest fish that I have ever had. The biscuits and gravy made with duck sausage were great. Oh and the omelette made with fresh asparagus was super too. I will admit it was pricey, so I don't know if I will ever be able to afford to go back, but I sure hope I can...and I hope that day comes soon :)
(5)Stephen A.
We ate at Smyth last night for dinner before we went out for a Play at the Milwaukee Rep. The Iron Horse Hotel is an awesome building. The developers did a really good job restoring the building. We figured beautiful location fancy looking restaurant the food must be great. Well I was not impressed with the quality of food. I had the Halibut for dinner and we shared the scallops for a starter. Both items in my opinion were over salted. Also I am not a big fan of burnt vegetables (Anyone can burn leafs of vegetables) The leafs of Brussels sprouts are burnt for presentation. If I wanted burnt food I would go to a cheaper restaurant. My fiance had the duck. The risotto on her plate was really good from what I tried. The duck was also very salty and fatty. The service however was great and as I said before the location was beautiful.
(3)Carrie G.
I expected better. Typically I try to not have high expectations of any restaurant, despite what I may have heard. But Smyth is well established, and given the advanced billing, and the price, I expected better. The decor is fantastic, as it is in the entire hotel. It's rustic meets biker meets traditional/classic. There is dark wood, dark iron and dark slate. Most likely I would not have chosen this restaurant, but their participation in Walker's Point Foodie Week prompted a friend to want to go, so I agreed. The Foodie Week Menu offered three courses for $31, from a choice of two appetizers, three entrees and two desserts. The appetizer round delivered a Sweet Corn Chowder and a Chicken Liver Parfait. The chowder featured plenty of fresh sweet corn and a few red peppers in a very rich cream broth. The chicken parfait was a liver spread served with a side of fresh bread. The chowder was very laden with cream and butter and a bit too rich for me to taste more than a few spoons. The parfait spread has good flavor, but no real wow factor or taste that made me want more. Our entrees were Black Earth Pork Tenderloin topped with Pork Belly and Onion Tortilla. The Pork Tenderloin was served more rare than I had ever had pork and the low lighting made it a challenge to decipher how low, until I saw my photos. The pork belly was ok, it also appeared a bit underdone. The tastiest part of the dish was the bed of dumplings under the pork. The were handcrafted, light and delicious. The onion tortilla had a good flavor, but the portion was rather small. Desserts were rich, as could be expected. Salted Caramel Pudding had a cream forward taste and very subtle notes of caramel and salt were lost in the richness. Peach crepes were good, but again so much rich cream buried the taste. For my palate the over-abundance of butter and cream really took away from the actual flavors of the food. Instead of enhancing, they became very overwhelming Sadly, there was little in this meal that would entice me to return.
(3)Alex G.
Service was great, my waiter Nick was very helpful navigating the cocktail and beer options. The Wisconsin style old fashioned reminds you of what your grandpa drank, but better. The food was great and interesting decor.
(4)David P.
Overall I think this place is very unique and has some great food to offer. That being said there are three minor things that I think is a little annoying here. First off the large dinning area is extremely loud, even after asking our waitress to turn down the music the place was still hard to head someone sitting across from you. Second, the menus can be confusing with needing to select large, medium, or small plates to eat. And lastly, the cost if everything is very very high. The Cowboy Ribeye is $56! This place doesn't seem like it would be serving a steak that is that expensive. Now! Even though those three things are downfalls, the place is still a great place to eat, the food is fantastic, the dining room (although it is loud) is very different and cool compared to other places I have seen in the area, and the service was on par to what I would expect from a place like this.
(4)Ilana O.
I was wavering between 3 and 4, but the food tasted good, and the service was mostly spot on, so I think they earned the 4th star. The place: classy. tons of different sized jars with oil and wicks aligned the walls. dim. service was very attentive - poured our water, changed our silverware - except when I needed a knife for my dessert crepe.....but I got one eventually. The only somewhat odd thing is some of the seating arrangements they have. We were seated in a booth with 2 separate tables (big enough for 3 or 4 people to sit at, each), and the group of gals also in that booth commented (loudly, rudely) that they were dismayed that "other people" had to sit near them. This isn't entirely a reflection on Smyth, but I could hear every single word that came out of their mouths, and to me, that's not a really conducive to a pleasurable dining experience. The taste: We went for Walker's Point foodie week to try it out, since the hubs is sort of averse to eating in hotels (after all, they're usually catering to people not from around here, so in our experience, have been sub-par). He had the chicken liver (with these amazing apricot noyeax...which should have been called YESyeax, because they were great), the pork belly, and the salted caramel pudding. I had the bread salad, the trout, and the peach crepes. Everything tasted good....interesting, well prepared. Amazing? No. Mediocre? No.... Just not very exciting or unique, in my opinion. From this experience though, I would consider it for a group of people who aren't very adventurous eaters, and I think everyone could find something on the menu that suits them. My face: Wondering if we could have eaten off the regular menu for less than $62 (plus tax and tip) - and I think we could. Normally, we don't each order an appetizer and a dessert, but we might have opted for other entrees. Content with our choice for Walker's point foodie week, and would recommend for a date night, if anyone asked.
(4)Carol K.
Brunch at Smyth was definitely better than dinner. Was it because I knew what to expect? After all,brunch is rarely a fine dining experience like I expected at dinner. But no matter the reason, if you are in the area, check out brunch! We were warmly greeted and shown to a seat along the wall. The menu has a very good selection of items. I went with the "plain Jane" ( 2 eggs anyway I liked) a side of Bernie's bacon ( a Port Washington specialty) and a taste of Racine Kringle. My dining companion went with the breakfast sandwich with his choice of meat. Our entrees came up quickly, our coffee cups kept full and my Bloody Mary perfectly pierced ( loved the beer chaser!). And while any bacon is good- this thick cut, applewood smoked treat rocked my world!!i would go back just for more of that bacon! And the size of that breakfast sandwich was unbelievable!! All in all, a great way to start my weekend in Milwaukee!!
(4)Margaret R.
My boyfriend and I tried dinner here during Walker's Point Foodie Week and Smyth didn't disappoint. I've had their brunch years ago and it was fabulous. Overpriced but fabulous. (Not sure how much it has changed though since that was a different chef.) I debated between 4 and 5 stars and since we left happy and wanting to come back, I went with the full 5 stars. I frequent The Iron Horse regularly for drinks and apps in the yard and the bar so it was nice to have dinner in the full restaurant. The ambiance and decor is very hip and they staff is attentive and efficient. Our meals were prepared perfectly, great flavors and my only small complaint with the food were some of the portion sizes were on the tiny side. I'm not expecting huge plates of food in these sort of establishments, by any means but a few items were pretty minuscule. The corn chowder and peach crepes were my favorite items. The bread and butter were also exceptionally good. The busser/food runner who cleared our bread asked if we wanted more and we said yes, however it never came. Oh well. Approachable menu with an upscale feel. An ambiance that is easily fun for a group yet also romantic for two. Delicious food, delightful staff. We'll be back!
(5)Annette J.
Stopped in for lunch when I was staying at the Iron Horse and I was truly impressed by my meal. I'm actually craving the soup I had which is kind of crazy. I mean, I love soup but I rarely find myself actually craving a bowl I've had somewhere. So well played, Smyth. Started my meal out with a tea hot toddy. It was really interesting. A little sweet in the way that a sleepy time tea is. I was curious to try it but I admit it didn't really move me. But that was more my own preference since I'm not big on that type of tea. Then I started with the soup. Oh, the soup! A wisconsin beer cheese soup with brown butter popcorn and pretzel slices. Good Lord. The soup was smooth, not overly beer-flavored and oh so good. I tossed a piece of he brown butter popcorn on each spoonful and it melted in and created this wonderful nutty flavor I went crazy for. The pretzel slices were buttery as well and just fantastic. This was by no means a light soup but it was amazing. Next I got a "nosh" plate of local meats and cheeses and it was also supurb. 3 different meats (salami and pate varieties), 3 cheeses, crispy baguette slices, along with some mustard, cornichons, roasted garlic and some fruit preservers. My type of cheese plate! The servers were very attentive although towards the end of my meal I had to jump on a conference call and I felt that they were a little overly attentive during that time. Being attached to a hotel I'd think they'd get a lot of business folks come through and it would have been nice to have a little more downtime while I was on the phone. But that's a small nitpick. But the soup! I want that soup!
(4)Keerin P.
Went for the Sunday Route 66 brunch and was very impressed. It's an all-you-can eat buffet but you also get kitchen made items included in the price. Also included is bottomless mimosas, a huge plus to make the $30 worth it. Everything that's came out of the kitchen was amazing, especially the French toast. The buffet was good but not ass good as the kitchen items, the waffle was pretty good though.
(5)Mike P.
SHRIMP AND SCALLOP HASH IS HASHTAG AMAZING. DINED: On a Sunday evening. Smyth was on my list of places to try since seeing photos on Yelp of the hotel, restaurant and food. ORDERED: We ordered tapas style (best way to get a feel for a new place): Shrimp and Scallop Hash $5, Cheese Curds $14, Lobster Deviled Eggs $2.50 ea, Carr Valley Mac 'n Cheese, Cheesecake, Dessert Cheese flight TASTED: The food was hit and miss sadly. Highlights first: The shrimp and scallop hash comes with said two seafood proteins, diced potatoes and a red sauce (tomato, paprika maybe?). It was amazing! The Lobster Deviled Eggs are a cool spin on the traditional, this ones about texture. Briny pickled shrimp, smooth lobster puree filling, texture of the hard boiled egg - great appetizer. The Cheesecake was one of the best we've had in Milwaukee. New York style but an artistic spin on it. It was presented on a rectangular plate with a triangle of the cheesecake, dots of cherries and cracker crust filling the plate. October is American Cheese Month so honoring local cheese makers, Smyth offered a Sartori BellaVitano and Saxon Creamery Gouda. It was presented on a dark iron tray that fits the aesthetic of the restaurant. The cheese was accompanied with a fig spread, warm bread, candied walnuts and honeycomb (although only a few traces of actual comb). The plate price comes with a champagne pairing, which my wife enjoyed. I paired the cheeses with a cognac. Dished that fell flat: The Carr Valley Mac 'n Cheese was dry and not creamy at all. The spiral pasta topped with toasted bread crumbs looked great but fell flat. The cheese curds made with local Clock Shadows Creamery curds lacked flavor. Like the mac, it looked great but was missing salt I suspect (no salt or pepper on tables). Both of these dishes were left mostly uneaten. These two issues were temperature and lack of salt - really easy fixes. SERVICE: The great service starts when you enter the Iron Horse building as the door was held open for us. A friendly hostess seated us. Our waiter, named Nick, was really great at his job. He described menu items with panache, it was like poetry hearing him describe the Wild Pacific Salmon dish. He was attentive and a pro. SUM OF ABOVE PARTS: The dining experience was great. The space is gorgeous, candles everywhere. I don't use the term "romantic" very often but I'd describe Smyth as a romantic spot to dine. A few dishes fell short but I'd return for a few shared appetizers, drinks and dessert. (Obviously we didn't order an entree but after $14 failed cheese curds I'm not sure if I'd take a $30 gamble on a main dish.)
(3)Jeff L.
Had the brats and fries with an Arnold Palmer. The setting is great and cool place to grab a meal.
(4)C D.
Two horrible meals. Butchers steak was unbelievably tough. Looks like other reviewers have had much better experiences than we did. We won't be back.
(1)chocolate s.
forgo the organic salad $11 for a bag of greens sans the champagne vinaigrette : the plate nor the greens were wet. I mentioned thus to the server she said she would bring more- I corrected her and said 'bring some'. She presents me with an over saturated olive oil substance that did not contain any herbs, garlic, salt or champagne. The salad ruined a great lunch.
(2)Sadie T.
We went for the Sunday brunch. There was no need for a reservation. The atmosphere is cool, very Hwy-chic. The server was very pleasant and attentive. The brunch is a buffet and is $33/person. This includes either a mimosa or a bloody mary. It does not include coffee. We each ordered coffee. Our total bill was $70 before tip. The brunch included various hot items that had been previously prepared, biscuits and gravy, potatoes (dry), meats that I didn't pay a lot of attention to, french toast, granola, yogurt, a bit of fruit (strawberries and blueberries), baked goods like donuts, a whole smoked salmon, cheese, cold cuts, vegetables, and an omelet bar staffed with an omelet maker. There are also a dozen or so menu items you can order, small plates included in the breakfast price. Overall the food was decent, though a few of the buffet items were too old, the potatoes were stiff and dry. I felt there could have been more fruit options at the buffet beyond blueberries and strawberries. We ordered the bread pudding french toast and the tiramisu pancakes. Both were okay but didn't blow my mind. The coffee was extremely acidic. While the atmosphere is fun and the service pleasant and fast, I did not feel the food we consumed even came close to $70 total. If you have a massive stomach and can really pack it in, then you could get your money's worth. $33 for a breakfast buffet in Milwaukee is pretty steep. I also feel that $33 should include coffee. The price is just too high. It is a classy place and there is a lot of food of decent quality. But this isn't Chicago or New York. They are probably capitalizing on being in a hotel and therefore getting the hotel guests in rather than the guests having to drive elsewhere in Milwaukee for a meal. I would go back here to try dinner or lunch for a special occasion, but the breakfast buffet is overpriced. The Ambassador has a fantastic breakfast concept (unlimited small plates) for half the price.
(3)Anne C.
Went here last night with a bunch of locals. Apparently the chef has changed recently so the menu is new. The ambiance is excellent - comfortable, casual, hip. The menu is diversified with an eclectic array of small medium and large plates. Absolutely everything we tried was off the charts delicious and unique. The chicken pate was yummy, rabbit meatballs amazing (had to get two orders!), goat cheese curds delectable (who doesn't love cheese in Wisconsin), buffalo tartar yummy and served with a poached egg, the octopus was one of my favorites, and the kale and cauliflower were simply delicious. Also tried the squab, the sturgeon, the steak (incredible and probably the tables favorite entree), and the chicken. For desserts we had to try them all (benefits of being in a large group) - s'mores, lavender creme brûlée, sour cream panacotta, and Apple tart. All ridiculously good. Service was excellent and attentive - just right. Would highly recommend!
(5)Jennifer H.
I attended Smyth for a friend's birthday dinner- It had delicious food and impeccable service, highly recommend!
(5)amy t.
Food: 1st course: amazing. we shared the spinach, arugula and lamb naan appetizers. Our waitress Lisa then brought out another appetizer compliments of the chef- the pesto black bean hummus with prosciutto. all AMAZING. Even the salads had interesting different flavors despite the simpleness of the dish 2nd course- halibut (with a special order of broccolini instead of the potato strudel. they were very willing and able to satisfy any request), scallops, tenderloin and mushroom dish... don't think i could pick a favorite if i had to. The mushroom dish came with poleta which i normally dislike. Couldnt stop eating it. honeslty the best way to dine at this restaurant is to have a little bit of everything. Dessert: choc cake and the frozen mousse. Lisa did it again... Brought out lemon tart as well. rich, flavorful, different spins of classic desserts. Couldn't have asked for a better birthday !
(5)kara m.
We were staying at the Iron Horse and wanted to also try Smyth. The food was good. I had the scallops and was loving every little drop on the plate. The service was attentive to our needs. I felt our server was in a bit of a bad mood. She was kind of short with us but maybe they were trying to give this "hard edge" personality. Happy with the visit.
(4)Alex A.
This was one of the best restaurant meals my husband and I have ever eaten. The scallops and my husband's filet were perfect and mouthwatering. One review mentioned the scallops being over buttered. They were rich, but not over buttered. My husband mentioned that his meat was better than some of the fancy steak houses in Chicago. The restaurant is small and quiet which is hard to find these days. The wines were wonderful but one complaint is that my Pinot was $12 for a glass and it is a $10.99 bottle at Binny's in Chicago. Our waitress could have been a bit more friendly and the host should have known our name when he came to retrieve us at the bar. Ok, minor complaints! Overall, fantastic meal for a celebration!
(4)John R.
Still a great atmosphere but both the food and service have started to slip. 6 months ago I'd have given it 4 stars.
(3)Annemarie D.
Started the meal with the salt and pepper crispy calamari. Here's a confession: the only reason I can eat calamari is because it's fried. Frying makes everything better and of course brings me closer to my first heart attack. Any way back to the calamari. It's served with cranberry chili sauce. The sauce is a delightful spicy tart blend. They should sell it in bottles to go. It's that good. I ordered the filet of beef tenderloin which came a delicious medium as I had ordered. The filet was accompanied by apple bacon and pickle whipped mashed potatoes. When I saw the potatoes on the menu, I wasn't too thrilled but figured I would try a spoonful and see how they were. The bacon was a great addition with the pickles giving a tasty crunch at the end. I was sad when I finished them and wished I could have more. There was a red wine mustard syrup drizzled on my plate which made the filet even better. They should bottle that too. You will pay a lot to dine at Smyth but it is worth every penny. The staff and food are 5 star all the way.
(5)Karen S.
If I was writing a review for just the food at this place, I would give it 4 1/2 stars, everything was faboulous except for the desserts. But the atmosphere and the noise level in this place made us not want to come back here, which is sad because Chef Jason is a very talented guy and I would love to eat more of his food. I thought this was going to be more of a fine dining experience so I did have those expectations. The service was also very good. My husband is very sensitive to noise and has a very hard time with a lot of restaurants in Milwaukee. That being said I think if a restaurant can at least create some more private spaces by putting in booths or corners where you where it might be a little quieter it would be a good idea. Sometimes we go early to places so that it isn't as noisy but that wouldn't have helped here cause the noise from the bar carries over and also the music, which wasn't that great, so it was noisy even when the crowd of people left in the restaurant.
(3)Van D.
Nice, simple atmosphere with excellent food. Stayed at the Iron Horse hotel and went to Smyth for dinner. Foie Gras appetizer was great. My steak was well cooked. Definitely would come back
(4)Michael T.
We went for lunch. The place is beautiful. The hotel is just south of the Harley Davidson Museum. I'm Not sure why the reviews for Smyth are ending up under the hotel. They each deserve entries, no? Anyways. I had the burger. Which was a manageable size and juicy and perfectly cooked. I'd go back for that. The fries were limp and awful. Get a side salad instead. The salads were mesclun greens and looked delicious. My wife had their salad with the grilled cheese. She was disappointed in the sandwich though. She said, "wrong cheese, wrong bread, not enough butter." The soups were all cream based which is good or bad depending on how far away from Wisconsin you grew up. The beer list has the local favorites that you'd expect. Service was attentive. I don't really like sitting on stools at a high table, but the place was so attractive that it didn't bother me too much. Overall a good alternative to downtown lunch locations and a nice addition to the city. I look forward to returning for dinner.
(4)David Z.
Sunday buffet brunch. This is a really cool place for foodies. The brunch menu (part buffet and part ordered) picks up on items found on old Route 66. Fig bisquits and duck sausage gravy or Flannel hash are outstanding. The Whiskey quiche or Tiramisu pancakes are interesting. Pass on the Scotch egg. The price ($30) is high, justified only if you get a big slab of prime rib. No desserts. Outside seating in The Yard is great on a nice day. We got to see all the Indian Motorcycles on display the Sunday we were there. We would go back often if tthe price wasn't so high (with tax and tip, $72).
(4)Patrick W.
Excellent. Food was really vert good and the wine list is solid. Service (Ashley) was also very good and just the right amount of attention and little "extras" like telling us where we could buy a certain cheese from the cheese plate that she knew we really enjoyed. Music is a bit loud but I think that's an intentional part of their ambiance. Will definitely go back. And....by the way.....the mashed potatoes in the won ton wrappers were amazing!
(4)Alyssa P.
We've had brunch here a few times. The selection is huge...hand carved meats, salads, fruit, chilled seafood and hot dishes. The prime rib was perfectly seasoned, the bacon was awesome. It's very pricey, but you do get all you care to drink mimosas which offsets the price, if you drink. The service is always excellent and the atmosphere is relaxed but fun.
(4)Krishna A.
Pork Belly sandwich.. truly was the one of the two absolute best BLT sandwich I have ever eaten! As expected, it is extremely fatty.. but sinfully delicious.. Truly, it is a sandwich to die for (which you probably would, with clotted arteries!). By the way, parking is free, only for diners.
(5)Andy O.
Awesome vibe. The style of the restaurant is very cool and fits in well with the hotel. Great food and great service. Will definitely go back next time we're in town.
(5)Christopher J.
Had dinner here with my girlfriend this past Friday. Atmosphere - Very nice and comfortable setting, lighting is essentially 100's of candles throughout the restaurant, comfortable booths, and cool decor. Service - Our server was great, very kind and attentive. Menu/Food - The menu has some very interesting options. Not very large, but good selection of apps, salads, and entrees. My girlfriend got the Kale salad to start and I had the soup of the day (pea w/truffle oil). Her salad was crisp and tasty and my soup was delicious...for entrees, we had the scallops and the pork tenderloin, both were PHENOMENAL! The scallops were cooked well and had a good sweetness to them, and as for the pork (served with red cabbage and spatzle), the pork was cooked spot on and the sauce and flavors were excellent...couldn't recommend this enough! Looking forward to having the leftovers as a sandwich....portions were good size and plate appearance was very nice. Overall, highly recommend this for a nice date spot or just great food....thanks for an excellent evening!
(5)Colton J.
Came here for mother's day brunch. The staff was friendly and our waitress was excellent. The drinks were never empty and empty plates never sat on the table. All the food was great except the biscuits and gravy, but who cares when there is delicious prime rib and duck breast. Overall great experience. Definitely coming back next time I'm in Milwaukee.
(4)Meghan H.
All I can say is WOW! First of all, after a rash of bad service at restaurants, the service was impeccable. We came in late, were the last table in the place, but she never treated us as an inconvenience. She was friendly, frequently checked to see how we were doing but not so much it was obnoxious, and overall provided excellent service. The food is the second highlight. The crab cake was incredibly moist and flavorful. Husband had the lamb shank, which had been braised, and which was extremely tender. I had the bone in ribeye, and I have NEVER had a ribeye like that. It was tender, almost tasting like a tenderloin, well seared, but perfectly medium rare in the middle as requested. Came with an excellent pan gravy, and a scalloped potato side. Yum yum yum. We had the brussel sprouts and mac and cheese as a side. The sprouts were great. Mac and cheese was ok, I think after the saltiness of the steak and pan gravy, it didn't taste as good because it wasn't as salty/flavorful. Everything is served on cast iron dishes, which I thought was interesting, and it kept the food warmer longer! The decor is very cool was well, awesome wood floors, tables, leather seats, really simple but cool lighting fixtures, and lots of candles in mason jars. Would go back in a heartbeat.
(5)Jessica N.
I'm very sadly giving Smyth a 3-star review for my dinner here last Friday. I've had the food here previously for breakfast and a rehearsal dinner and it was delicious. I brought a group of girls up here for a Girls weekend and while there were some highlights there were also some very medium dishes that left me a little disappointed. Note: we ended up splitting a bunch of the hot/cold small plates and in the past I've had entrees (steak or pork chop) so I wonder if that is more of their forte. We tried the following (ranked in order of what I liked the most to what I liked the least) Scallop - Good, tasty dish (but not amazing) Brussel Sprouts - Yum Roasted Beets - good but simple Oxtail - i LOVE oxtail and I found the dish to be a little strange. Bread wasn't crispy and too much bread in proportion to the meat. Beer Cheese Soup - a little thin and grainy (tho I did like the idea of the popcorn served with it) Polenta/Mushroom - WAY too salty Mac and Cheese with carmelized cauliflower - How could this be bad! It was SO bland, you couldn't even tell the cauliflower was there (and it could've added a lot of flavor). Plus the cheese was too thin. I love this place too much to write it off, plus I know they change up their menu, so I'm hoping the next time I try it it wows me!
(3)Kelly W.
Wonderful atmosphere and incredible food. We split a bunch of small plates, but the portions were very generous... We left stuffed and very satisfied! Our favorites were the pate and the rabbit meatballs- excellent! Great wine selection too!
(5)Irene H.
Smyth offers great lunches at great prices for casual luches. It has great atomsphere and delicious food. Lunch from scallops to chicken are all cooked perfectly.
(5)Mike C.
I've always wanted to dine at Smyth. I've had lunch here a few times and plenty of drinks at the adjacent "The Yard" and Branded, but last night was the first time I had the pleasure of ordering off of Smyth's dinner menu. This I gotta tell you first: I LOVE the style and look of Smyth. Smyth, and the entire Iron Horse Hotel, is a restored old furniture factory. I'm a fan of those who restore and repurpose old buildings. And Smyth, with its exposed rough-hewn timber, blackened metal and weathered leather, is one of the best restoration examples in Milwaukee. Softly lit with hundreds of Mason jar candles, it's a beautiful place to dine. For food, they've got a simple, but varied menu. Pork, fish, chicken, beef and meatless options--there's something here for every palate or digestive philosophy. I went with an asparagus salad to start and followed it with the Miller Farms Chicken. Though the menu did not say, I'm going to assume that "Miller Farms" meant the chicken came from Miller Poultry--an Amish organic farm located in northern Indiana. I've got a love/hate affair with chicken. The way many prefer their bird is as a boneless, skinless, flavorless dry wedge of white rubber. Seems like all too often, this is the chicken that I am served. However, in the hands of a chef with mad skills, chicken can become one of my favorite tasting proteins. So ordering chicken is a bit of risk--I'm either gonna love it or I'm gonna hate it. I had to try it and you know what? I loved it. The chicken is pan-roasted and stuffed with sweet garlic and Italian parsley. LOTS of garlic, I might add. Roasted perfectly and encased in a golden brown crispy skin, the meat within was succulent. I eated it all. My wife didn't have as big of an appetite as me, so she dined on a miscellaneous menu items: roasted red pepper soup, chopped salad and we shared a lobster deviled egg with pickled shrimp. All good. Sorry it took so long, Smyth, but we really enjoyed our night. In fact, about the only thing that would have made it better was if I could have pulled up and parked outside on a Harley Davidson. Someday, I tell myself, this will happen. ;)
(5)Marian Q.
I've only ever been to Smyth's brunch buffet which is AMAZING! So please keep in mind that when you read this review. The brunch is meant to take you on an "American brunch experience". The hot foods that are out are the standard brunch foods, eggs, sausage, bagels etc. But the flannel hash is a real standout, along with the fig biscuits and such sausage gravy. As for the items for order, I have nothing bad to say about any of them. I would definitely recommend that you do no leave without trying the tiramisu pancakes, they'll definitely keep you coming back. The service is wonderful and the coffee is strong. It's worth the $30.
(5)Meade S.
Nice cas restaurant in the wonderful Iron Horse Hotel. Had a great meal, I ordered the venison, which is there "specialty" and it was great.My partner ordered a rib eye steak and raved. The wine by the glass selection was very good too. Only minor complaint was that the restaurant was pretty empty and they seated us at a banquette table and then put another couple, two kids on a date who sat next to each other on the bench side, so I had two people gawping at me. In a 70% empty restaurant, why would they seat someone on top of us? But, those banquette tables are a pet peeve of mine...:)
(4)Mark Y.
I dined at Smyth on Christmas Day with my family. I have a love/hate relationship with buffets. What I learned is, ultimately, you get what you pay for. The price tag of the Route 66 brunch was $37 per person, including all you can drink mimosas. Sure, it's pricier than your Golden Corral or your Best Western brunch, but the premium sure is worth the money. The Route 66 theme pays homage to dishes made by some of the good grubbing spots along the old Route 66 from IL to CA. Some of these items can be found on the buffet, while the rest can be cooked to order. Yes, you can order as much as you'd like. One of the highlights include the swordfish risotto with fried brussels sprouts and shaved parmesan inspired than none other than the now defunct Ocean Ave Seafood in Santa Monica (now the Water Grill). My other favorite item was the prime rib from the carving station. The chef will cut a piece to your liking and you have the choice of adding horseradish or au jus. Really, the beef is of excellent quality and very little is needed for flavor. Other notable items were the red flannel hash, thick cut pieces of Nueske's bacon, the huevos ranchero, and the WI cheese and charcuterie plate. The only item that I wasn't too impressed with were their roasted potatoes. But seriously, I can cut them some slack since who the hell wants to eat potatoes when there's better stuff on the buffet. Aside from the savory items, be sure to save room for sweets. Smyth is pretty awesome in that they source their baked goods from the likes of Rocket Baby, Miller's Bakery, and Racine Kringle. And be sure you save room for the passion fruit mousse torte! It's one of these desserts that tastes light while eating eat but will catch up with your stomach fast. The service we experienced here was excellent. Andrew was very personable and attentive. I tend to drink a lot of water with meals, and my water glass was never empty. He kept the coffee cups (Colectivo coffee, by the way) topped off as well. So, I've been to one too many buffets in my life. The quality and creativity of the Route 66 buffet puts it on par with some of the Four Seasons buffets I've eaten at (minus the fact Smyth's doesn't have a seafood or sushi bar). Thus, I definitely recommend Smyth for a true indulging and gluttonous experience!
(5)Michael D.
I have been meaning to try Smyth for a while and finally took the opportunity to set up a business dinner to try it. The Good The atmosphere is great. Dark inside and not too loud, it provides a great venue for conversation. The outside looked inviting, with large comfortable chairs and a nice view. Food selection is pared down to 3 columns, simple, yet they manage to include enough variety that there should be something for everyone. I dined with 2 others and one got the roast chicken (about 1/4 of a chicken) while the other got scallops (4) on polenta . They each had a chop salad while I opted for the roasted red pepper soup with gorgonzola cream followed by shortribs with tabbouleh on bib lettuce. The soup was quite good, well balanced and not over salted. Though the price felt a bit on the high side for the serving size. All three entrees presented well and both diners liked their choices. The Bad The shortribs were cut into lardon sized pieces and were quite overshadowed by the citrus of the tabbouleh. It could have been almost any meat and it would not have mattered. I was a little disappointing, since shortribs done correctly melt in your mouth. This felt like prime rib, but again, the flavor was stomped on by the sauce. I still don't quite get what they were trying to achieve with that combination. It did not taste bad, however I would never order it again. The Ugly The service was some of the worst I have encountered. When you see a table deep in animated serious conversation, DON'T keep asking every 5 minutes if everything is ok... interrupting the conversation each time. The restaurant was not full and there was no need to turn the table. That alone would have kept me from giving 4 stars, but combined with the ribs, they barely made 3. The short of it... It's an interesting place with some fun food choices and not overly large portions, which means that as a date location, it seems perfect. However, don't expect to have a conversation without being interrupted.
(3)Richard S.
I attended another great Wine Dinner here recently. It was entitled:Old World Food-New World Style. The guest Chef was Felix Hafner, visiting from Europe, who was one my favorite Chef's when he worked here. I always loved his ability to put interesting twists on traditional dishes. This Dinner was the perfect example of that skill. 1st Course Bread Dumpling Carpaccio with Venison Ham, Arugula, Pumpkin Seed-Hazelnut Brittle and Raspberries. Surprisingly light. Thin slices of Dumplings with the flavorful Venison, Peppery Arugula, Crunchy, Sweet Brittle and Tart Berries was a perfect start to the night. Served with a Bottex Vin du Bugey-Cerdon "La Cueille". The berry flavors in the wine were a perfect compliment to the food. 2nd Course Red Beet Foam Infused Soup with Bindenfleisch, Speck and Serrano Ham. A light, modern version of the classic soup. The several different dried meats added a nice salty, hearty note. Paired with a 2008 Kientzler, Andre Gerwurztraminer. I am not a huge Gewurztraminer fan, but the spicy sweetness of this wine was a good match for this course, especially the saltiness of the cured meats. 3rd Course Skrei (Baby Cod) with a Poached Egg over Glazed Leeks and Spinach. I am a sucker for a Perfectly Poached Egg (probably because I can't make one to save my life!) and that's what I got here. The Cod was tender and sweet. The Leeks and Spinach were fantastic, but I loved that Poached Egg! OK, I am a totally wierd foodie. Served with a 2010 Gobelsburg Gruner Veltliner. This was a very complex wine that played interestingly against the straight forward flavors of the dish. 4th Course Degustation of Suckling Pig with Celeriac and Potato Confit. Spanferkel on a plate! A Pig lovers Dream. The Trotter's (which I didn't think I'd like) were my favorite. The only negative was that the Belly hadn't rendered down enough and was a little chewy, but still tasted great! Paired with 2008 Hardegg Veltlinsky Zweigelt. This wine was very soft and rich with mild tannins and a taste of sour cherries. Another great pairing! 5th Course Kaiserschmarrn Here is your Austrian Lesson for today! This is basically Austrian for Pancake. It reminded us of an excellent version of a Funnel Cake. Light, sweet and buttery, it was the perfect end to the meal. Paired with a Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling. This was a refreshing, fruity sparkler that went down very easy. This was a great meal with great friends that I will remember for a long time!
(5)Jessica O.
Hands down - This is my new favorite brunch spot in Milwaukee. I brought my family from out of town for Sunday brunch last weekend, and it was incredible. Smyth has a "Route 66"- themed menu - with super creative twists on classic brunch comfort food found all along the legendary highway. For 30/person, you can troll the buffet line, or get made-to-order items from the kitchen and from the chefs in the buffet line. My group started off by getting samples from the food along the buffet line. My favorite was definitely the fig biscuits with duck sausage gravy - the biscuits were fresh and sweet, and the gravy was savory with a little kick. Then, we ordered from the kitchen. The tiramisu pancakes were insanely good. Mocha swirled pancakes with marscapone cheese whipped cream and espresso syrup. Everyone at my table ordered them at one point or another, and was lost for about ten minutes in a foodgasm-induced trance. But once I came out of that, I split the cranberry and golden raisin bread pudding french toast with cinnamon whipped cream with one of my companions. It came perfectly done, soft inside with a nice crust on the outside. I rested for a little while, then finished off my experience with the swordfish and wild mushroom risotto. Which was probably a good thing, because it was so good, I might not have had the heart to order anything else had I started there. If swordfish knew they were going to wind up in a dish that spectacular, they would throw themselves willingly in to the nets. And the service!!! Oh my goodness, our servers were incredibly friendly and attentive, our drinks were never anywhere near empty, and the food ordered from the kitchen came out super quick and steaming hot. The price is a little steeper than most Milwaukee brunches, but it is well worth it!
(5)Tim D.
As a group of 10 we had a reservation and turned up half an hour late. Smyth were very understanding and scrambled to accomodate us. Service was first class, the restaurant was full full FULL! Our food was delivered in good time given the large crowd. The quality of all meals was excellent - appetizers and entre's. An excellent meal, highly reccomend this restaurant!
(4)Ken M.
Two words: Foie and Gras.
(5)Pete J.
A friend and I went here today for lunch, on a tight timeline. The service was exceptional, five stars. Not feeling rushed at all, but appetizers, entrees, check paid, valet brought car all in less than 50 minutes. The room is really nice, roomy, private, beautifully restored space. So, decor rates five stars as well. The food is what brings this overall to a 4. We had truffle chips. Homemade potato chips, not greasy, but no truffle flavor whatsoever, overly salted, lots of pamesan powder. All in all, what could have been spectacular was ho hum. The cheese steak was good, as was salad accompanying this, with lots of blue cheese. The burger (I let my guard down and actually tried meat) was delicious, a blend of sirloin, brisket, and chuck. The fries accompanying the burger were ok, not great. So: A beautiful room, superb service, but food that with a little more care could be outstanding. I certainly will give them additional chances. I have been here for the "Route 66 Brunch" which is a great value for the money. I have also been here to dinner, which was good. The wine list is thorough and creative, if somewhat overpriced. The bar is very cool, as is the lobby.
(4)Natalie N.
My 1st visit to Smyth was not a good experience, far from it. We went the a second time on the recommendation of some friends. From what I understand the chef was at Dream Dance prior to Smyth and we had heard wonderful things about Dream dance. With that said, our second visit to Smyth was what we had hoped the first trip would be. We had the chef's tasting menu and it was good. Very well executed and well thought out flavors. The menu consisted of Lobster salad, scallops, ny strip, cheese course and dessert. I will say this. The desert was awful. We were told that it was going to be a strawberry tart but it ended up being a champagne sorbet. I love champagne but this desert completely missed the mark and was not consistent with the rest of the meal. I was a little disappointed to end the meal on a sour note. But overall, a great experience. Im sure we will be back
(4)Gregory S.
Enjoyed a nice buffet this morning. A little pricey but very enjoyable. No pressure to eat and clear the table so my wife and I were able to sit and talk, something hard to do when you have children, thanks grandma for sitting today.
(4)Michelle M.
I saw the Route 66 Sunday brunch menu when I booked my stay at the Iron Horse and knew we would have to give it a try. I am a sucker for a decadent brunch buffet! It's an unusual format, with most of the items being on buffet tables in the lobby, and another selection of items that you order directly from your server. There are some tasty selections from both sections- chicken fried steak, prime rib, DELICIOUS "flannel hash" and fig biscuits with duck sausage gravy up at the buffet, and a selection of eggs benedicts (including crab cakes!), tiramisu pancakes and a GIANT "breakfast burger" off the menu. At $30 per person, it's pricey, but you get a crazy amount of quality food and it's pretty delicious. And if you're REALLY a pig (like me, apparently), you will be too full to eat dinner, so there, you saved yourself some more money.
(3)Eric B.
"Have you ever been to carnivore heaven?" I know, I know, Frank Booth did not ask that question, but he might have, after the nitrous wore off. I know that if he did, I would answer YES, a thousand times YES, because I have eaten at Smyth, in Milwaukee's finest boutique getaway, The Iron Horse Hotel. Smyth hits almost all of the high notes for a carnivore connoisseur - rabbit, tartare, foie gras, venison, veal, and steak. The only item missing from the line up was duck, but perhaps that will be added to the menu once we enter the fall months. Although I love steak tartare, and Smythe's steak tartare looks very, very inviting (good evening, quail egg, my dear), both times I was here this summer I started with the rabbit deux appetizer. Smoked and braised, lightly softened with a fatty bacon laden sauce, it is one of the finest rabbit dishes I've had, and it is massive. Sufficient as a small entree, you are well advised to eat half and take the rest home, for it makes a deliciously savory lunch the day after. For entrees, the veal chop and the venison are both ridiculously good. The veal chop is juicy, tender, and milky as all good veal is, with a savory blue cheese risotto adding a delicious shot of funk into the mix. The venison osso bucco is also eye rollingly good; gamy without being tough, rich and flavorful, and with no need of a knife. Again, I found this dish to be quite large and also worthy of lunch the next day. Kelly had the sirloin, and it was comparable to Elmo's in Indianapolis (one of the best steakhouses I've been to), and the Chop House in Chicago. Simply a perfect steak. Their house made ice cream is rich, airy, and creamy all at once, and the Alterra coffee is particularly good. Oh, my, I've forgotten the bourbon and the wine! Woodford Reserve is proudly served here, but they also have their own barrels of rye. I was unable to get the full story on where they get the raw materials or how long they age the whiskey, but the rye is spicy and makes a strong manhattan - my fellow noble bourbon boozers, you will love it. As for the wine, the selections are reasonably priced but predominantly American. However, you can find some good earthy Old World varieties to properly complement the meat. In particular I recommend the Rioja - Ribera del Duero, it was delicious, and, a 2004 vintage, well aged. Finally, while I love the exposed brick and high end loft/rustic decor, be warned that Smythe does get a bit hot and stuffy in the summer months. It was 90 degrees the second time we were there and the AC system at the restaurant and hotel is not up to the task in the larger rooms. The weather won't hit those high notes often in Milwaukee, but when it does I would stay away from Smythe as it will suppress your savage carnivore. And we can't have that, now, can we?
(5)AV G.
Food is good-place is nice--i expected more. Pricy for Milwaukee--bread service was weak. Good coffee--very similar to what everyplace in Chicago offers. Naturally, Carol K was here 2 years ago! Read her review for a great update. This warehouse district in Milwaukee is beautiful--my intitial thoughts upon seeing it--
(3)MO P.
Very disappointed because I had my friends take me out to dinner here for my birthday. I had a good experience before and was excited to go back. Unfortunately, none of our dishes wowed any of us. My daughter had the salmon...but they must have smoked it with the raw meat because there was a "smell" to it that just overpowered the fish inedible. She just boxed it up that night, and we put lemon on it to get rid of the smell. My dish was the beef tenderloin...not sure what all the bits are on the bottom but didn't want my beef swimming in it anymore. The steak itself was ok. All in all, no more Smyth for me...I like fine dining and this experience just wasn't 4 star. The restaurant wasn't busy either so maybe things have changed. I put in reservations on the safe side, but we were the only ones there at 6:30pm.
(1)Sally M.
Route 66 brunch was pretty amazing, for what was mostly a buffet! We gathered our closest friends and parents here the morning after our wedding to have one last fun meal together before the weekend was over. On a Sunday around 11, the restaurant had a few patrons but could easily seat our table of 10. $30 includes a mimosa or champagne, free reign of the buffet, and made to order items on the menu. Some faves: Flannel Hash (prime rib and potatoes and more), omletes, fruit salad, caesar salad, fig biscuits, chicken fried steak/waffles, tiramisu pancakes, brunch burger Come to think of it I can't think of any misses. The service, buffet, and atmosphere were perfect. I'll be back to update for dinner sometime soon!
(4)Brian P.
Went there for the first time last night and was quite pleased. Our appetizer of sesame/sweet chili calamari was excellent, as was the cheese and artichoke dip. The dip came with nice, big pieces of garlic bread, and the calamari had a perfect crunch to it. For dinner, I had the Waygu beef, and my friend had scallops. The beef was nice and tender, with a great amount of charred crust around it (a personal preference of mine). The scallops were perfectly cooked and seasoned, and the size of them were fantastically big. The only reason they're not getting 5 starts is that the service lagged at times. We waited about 10 minutes for a beer and glass of wine, and the waitress seemed overwhelmed at times despite the fact that the place wasn't very busy at all. However, once the dinner came, the service was more than excellent. Can't recommend Smyth enough, it's a great date spot too.
(4)John A.
It has been a bit since last visit so here is the straight scoop. It has been a long time since I have had fish dish that turned my head, but last night the chef had premiered a fish stew that was AWSOME! The broth was light with whole baby tomatoes that were lightly smoked the fish was perfectly poached with sweet shrimp, Manila clams & mussels from PEI. It was the best I've had since the Union grill in Seattle. I'm giving 4 stars because the service missed on little things. The cappuccino was Luke warm, waiter could not pour the wine without always leaving a few drops on the table. The was no side dish presented for shells with the stew. The Oxtail warm appetizer was delicious, but the bread was a tad to tough. Despite this do not miss the stew!! It is soooo much comfort awesomeness in a bowl.
(4)Alex X.
I've been catching up on writing reviews because the more I use Yelp, the more I've appreciated how useful the user reviews have been in finding good food places, whether locally or away when we are on trips. My wife and I have the good fortune of eating at all levels and all kinds of restaurants and had been eagerly anticipating our first visit to Smyth at the Iron Horse Hotel. We were there just last month and it was a major letdown after reading so many glowing reviews. We had reservations, arrived a few minutes late, and our table was still not ready. After waiting patiently for a while, we were finally seated outside the restaurant, kind of in the hallway of the hotel's lobby. I guess that was fine since the restaurant seemed extraordinary loud that evening. The waitress was super nice, apologized for where we had to be seated, and served us very well. We ordered drinks and then ordered our meals. We waited a very long time before our food arrived and when it finally came out of the kitchen, our food was given to the other couple sitting in the hallway with us. I don't remember what either of us ate and went to look up Smyth's menu today to see if it would jar my memory but it has since changed, probably due to what's in-season now. First impressions are everything when customers have ample dining options. Maybe we'll go back to Smyth for a second chance. Maybe we won't. It's certainly not the most expensive dinner we've had, but it was moderately expensive and when I can't recall what we ate or whether it was good, that says something -- we can spend our nights out somewhere else like Bacchus, Eddie Martini's, Lake Park Bistro, or Mr. B's.
(3)Jon A.
I feel I have to post an update to my initial review. I received a very nice message from the manager at Smyth regarding my review and how the information would be passed along to the staff. Since my reviews are so flippin' long, I exceeded the character limit and had to leave out some details about my overall experience. Let me clarify some of those points here. The server was not there a lot near the end of the meal, but that was because she was assigned a larger group who were monopolizing her time. True, she still could have checked on us more (and she did more than my last review let on), but I would have figured there would be some floating among the other servers to help out. Our server had a smile on her face the whole time and I appreciated that. It's not easy in the service industry and I can't knock those who do it with a smile without a compelling reason to do so. My main issue was still with the food that I personally ordered, but I didn't spend the time to note that my wife's food was very good and she enjoyed it. I enjoyed the tartare very much as well as the Manhattans. The steak wasn't what I had hoped for and I should probably stop ordering steak at restaurants because I just don't seem to like it anymore. I need to switch it up a bit. I appreciate the feedback enough to up the review another star and will be open to giving it another try.
(3)Todd H.
On a beautiful summer day, there is nothing like the Iron Horse's patio. Unfortunately, we were experiencing a 100 plus degree day and we didn't feel like roasting outside like one of the Iron Horse's pizza's. The dining room of Smyth is dark with accents of natural wood. It's rustic and chic all rolled into one. The lunch menu is above average. I had the burger which was juicy, tender and comes on a brioche style bun. Friends had the tuna salad sandwich, the tenderloin steak sandwich and the lemon chicken sandwich. I was told they were good, but nothing hit the "wow" factor scale. Where Smyth and the Iron Horse stands out is their cocktails. If you go, get the watermelon , basil smash. They're cocktails are pricey, but worth it.
(4)K M.
I am glad this little gem is in my back yard.... First class service, excellent ambiance, and great wine and beer selection. This should be on your list of places for that special little treat.
(4)Jason G.
The best steak I've had in Milwaukee. Honestly, I have had better steaks but this was very well prepared. The service was pretty good. We had to wait a bit before the main coarse came out but all-in-all it was a great experience. The outside seating area is the best. I have to say I was REALLY impressed with that part. On the next warm day, make sure you get reservations for this place and sit outside. It is very, very cool.
(4)Kathy G.
We had brunch at The Library in the Iron Horse Hotel. The service was outstanding. There were 6 of us so we had to wait until they set the table up. - and this is communal style seating which is always fun. Because we had to wait, the staff brought us a tray with coffee to enjoy while we sat in the gorgeous hotel lobby. The architecture would be worth charging an entry fee for. Once we were seated we took notice of the Bank of London antique chairs that we sat in and the thick, beautiful tables. We ordered bloody marys and they were great. The menu has just a few offerings, the first sign of good food done well, quality is always better than quantity. We ordered our brunch items, sat back and enjoyed the conversation. The place just makes you want to relax and enjoy your visit. The food came and it was amazing, as expected. Everything was so good, it doesn't matter what you order. This place is a must.
(5)Elle E.
I have been to Smyth 2 times, but the Iron Horse a number of times, including staying in the hotel with friends when they visited for the weekend (that's my disclaimer... ) Smyth - teach me to love. Your food is decent, but man, your service... The first time I was with 12 people for a birthday brunch. Slowwwww, service. We waited and waited for the check then before we even got it, the manager came up to our table to offer us a complementary drink (to move to the bar so they could turn the table) Um... we're waiting on our check! Second time was also for breakfast. Again, ridiculously slow and random service. Slow to get check. The place wasn't that busy. Damn, I love you Iron Horse, and I'll be back. But Smyth - meh. Maybe dinner sometime?
(3)Bridgette M.
I've been to Branded with a work party and remembered being impressed with Smyth's menu. I believe they must have just changed it a winter menu and everything looked pretty delectable. I wasn't impressed with their wine menu however, but they have an ample beer list with everything from obscure local beers like Plover's O'So Night Train (a delicious oatmeal porter) to Coors Light. To start, we ordered bacon-wrapped rabbit over rabbit confit and brioche, which literally melted in my mouth. It was amazing. We also ordered the beet salad, served over arugula with goat cheese, which was good - much like any beet/arugula/goat cheese salad. Though I will admit that somehow Smyth's beets were just better. As entrees we ordered the "Porkerhouse" and the Venison Osso Buco. Both were downright fantastic. The taste of venison was very subtle in the osso buco, which may be disappointing for some but was perfect for me. Served atop a lemon and carrot risotto, the flavors blended perfectly. I honestly orderd the Porkerhouse because I love puns, but the cut was prime and the sweet potatoes and kale it was served with complimented the peppery flavor of the meat quite nicely. I was a little disappointed you couldn't taste the gouda in the sweet potatoe mash, though that may not be a bad thing for everyone. Finally I tried the lemon tart with blueberry ice cream. I was honestly a tad underwhelmed. The tart was a bit goopy, and there were more blueberry preserves than ice cream which failed to balance the tartness of the lemon. Overall, we will certainly be back. The entrees were fabulous and I can't complain about the service. The atmosphere alone I think would be worth revisiting. A definite must visit if you've never been.
(4)Randy E.
I like it when the servers at Great Restaurants turn negatives into positives. That's what happened tonight at Smyth in the Iron Horse Hotel, Milwaukee. My colleague & I sat at the bar and had dinner. The Bartender/Server (sorry I forgot his name) was engaging ,entertaining and informative. The problem was when our entrees came out there were some miss fires w/ the kitchen. Everyone was very helpful and took care of the problems. They were quick in getting me a new steak while asking my colleague if he wanted something else while we waited. Then once we were presented with our bill he let us know he covered the couple of drinks and starters without us asking. That's why I'm writing this Review! It's not about some of the negatives anyone can experience at any fine restaurant. It's about what they do about it. And I'm here to say I would come back anytime & YOU should too.
(4)Kevin G.
This is a biker hotel/restaurant. It fits the atmosphere perfect! We were there during the Harley-Davidson 110th Celebration and they were putting on a better party than the HD people. Wife had a chicken platter and she absolutely loved it... well cooked, juicy, with stuffing inside this de-boned delight. On the other hand, I went simple with pork belly on mac 'n cheese. Never had it and went for something new. What a surprise! The pork belly was average, but the mac was outta this world. It was some sort of 5-cheese in house specialty and it was heavenly! I really, really, really, really loved it. We will definitely be back.
(5)KT S.
Excellent preparation, service, and atmosphere. That said, the food was bland. All the seasonings needed to be dialed up significantly. Lots of potential, but they really have a timid approach to their food. We were seated promptly, and our waitress was attentive all evening, made great suggestions without being over the top. We ordered the Ahi tartare as an appetizer - it was fantastic! Followed that with the wedge salad, again, amazing presentation and flavors. When our meals arrived, I was very eager to taste them, but they were somewhat disappointing. I ordered the venison osso bucco - it was prepared well - very tender. It was served over a saffron risotto with a side of roasted carrots. My husband ordered the salmon, and we shared the smashed red potatoes. Without exception, all of the entree items were prepared flawlessly, but needed to be flavored much more than they were. I found myself adding significant amounts of salt in an attempt to increase the flavors. I had high hopes for the saffron risotto in particular, but more saffron was definitely needed. I will definitely be back, the atmosphere was fantastic and based on other reviews, it seems a brunch visit is in order. However, I certainly had higher hopes for the food!
(3)Christopher M.
Unique menu with unique tastes. I had the "porkerhouse" with cherries and it was great. The mashed potatoes were perhaps the best I have ever had... smooth with a great texture. This is a restaurant you want to go back to try the rest of the menu, and that is a good thing. Expect to pay for it though.
(5)David B.
A team of us working in the Milwaukee exurbs decided to get some real food, and we picked Smyth based in part on its Yelp reviews. We loved it. The atmosphere is old Midwest, as the hotel was carved out of a 19th-century bedding factory. (The restaurant is in the warehouse part.) It's one of the last wood-framed buildings of its size in Milwaukee, so the wooden support posts really do hold up the building. One of us had the pork chop, one a steak, one the fried chicken, and one a baby lobster and pasta dish. All of us enjoyed the food, enough so that two of us (pork chop and steak) took the remains back to the hotel to have for lunch the next day. (This is harder than you think when traveling for business.) The service was attentive, but perhaps a trifle insincere, as each option on the menu was the waiter's "top choice this evening." It rose to comedy, actually, as all four of us wound up having the "top choice." I'd also recommend the Old Fashioned to start. The bourbon comes from right across the street at the 1907 Distillery, and the bartender made it perfectly.
(4)Kimberly J.
Nom, nom, nom! loved the route 66 brunch. Tiramisu pancakes were incredible. Lamb was perfectly cooked and lean. Hands down the fig biscuits and duck gravy was the star of the meal for me personally. I was too full to try the scotch egg and hash.. Next time, I promise. LOVED the complimentary mimosa. Super fancy pants and classy.
(4)Jeffrey H.
This review is going to hurt me to write. I have been a fan of the Iron Horse and Smyth for several years now. The hotel is my staycation spot and anytime I have a free weekend I head to Milwaukee to my home away from home. Apparently, in the last several months they have changed Chefs and therefore changed their menu. Smyth, your food is still great but the menu needs a change. Where did the several "simple" steak dishes go? You are serving prime steak - you don't need to litter good meat with jelly's and jams. Where is your Beer Cheese Soup? It was to die for! I would rate the food four stars - however, I was greatly disappointed to see the menu had changed. It was like going to McDonald's and them only serving burgers topped with quail eggs, pig and raccoon milk. Bring back the simple stuff! It's official - you're trying to hard!
(3)Steve S.
Went back again for brunch and it was exceptional! We even had Pat, our server from dinner a month ago. Brunch started off great with pastries brought to the table. I was expecting bread but imagine my surprise when I saw a basket filled with delicious assorted fruit danish. Light and buttery. I had the Crab Benedict and my partner had the regular eggs benedict. His mom had the "breakfast burger" which is a hamburger with a fried egg. Everything was incredible. I like poached eggs now and the crab cake was on par with the some of the best I have ever had. The only downside was the mimosa/bloody mary cart. All three of us ordered mimosas. They were decent but they did not use grand marnier. Just inexpensive sparkling wine and OJ. Not bad but not great. Plus, they filled up a couple of glasses a second time before we finished half of the first one but still charged us for two individual glasses. Not a big deal but considering how well everything was done, this just seemed a bit out of character for the restaurant. Overall, a very good brunch; one of the best in the city.
(4)Michael L.
I enjoyed brunch here with my co-worker. The atmosphere was excellent, my food was delicious & our server was attentive. One of the mangers Monica stopped by our table. She was extremely personable & even took us on a mini tour of the hotel. I will be back soon again!
(5)Grace T.
Really overpriced for the quality. My hubby, 1yr old son and I were staying at the hotel attached to the restaurant. We walked in at 530 when no one was there and the hostess looked appalled at us because we were "walk-ins". She looked at the seating chart for a good 10seconds trying to figure out where to seat us.... hello....this is milwaukee, not NYC!!! And then she spent a good 8 minutes looking for a highchair. Anyway, I ordered the roasted chicken and my hubby ordered the scallops. We split the spinach salad. We had our son eat off of our plates. Anyway, the salad was weird - spinach, sliced strawberries, candied pecans, fried cheese croutons and this super strong vinagrette. There were more strawberries than spinach and the dressing was so vinegary. Our dinner came out and it was a mess.... I had two big pieces of chicken on the plate, then three large tomato wedges to the left, then 6 large slices of undercooked potatoes (alternating blue and yellow) to the right of the chicken....with some more candied pecans scattered throughout. There was so much on the plate, that there was no room to cut up the chicken....which was overcooked and dry!! My hubby's scallops were drenched in a thick butter sauce that obliterated the scallops which were sitting on top of this cheese drenched orzo...there was so much sauce that you couldn't taste anything but cheese and butter. Yuck. Not to mention that our water glasses were empty the entire meal and the waitress didn't even check on us once. I barely finished my meal, and was glad when the bus boy came and took my plate away. He asked if I was still enjoying my meal before he picked up my plate...I almost told him that I hadn't even started to enjoy it...... We unfortunately have to meet some folks here for Sunday brunch.... not looking forward to it...... would rather go somewhere else.
(2)Jim M.
Sunday brunch: nothing else like it in milwaukee. Whiskey quiche, smoked salmon, omelets made to order, prime rib, leg of lamb, blue gill, crab eggs benedict,terrimisu pancakes, and more, for just 30 bucks. Everything was great. The one negative was the douche bag valet. He was a jerk when we got there, and was worse when leaving, and actually seemed surprised when he didn't get a tip.
(5)Ryan V.
We had an absolutely amazing meal here on a lazy July 4th evening. We were visiting Milwaukee and didn't have much to go on, but Yelp took us here, and thank God for that. Our shared naan appetizer was heavenly and rich, and I had a sausage and corn soup that was the ultimate in elevated Wisconsin cuisine. But our main dishes there the stars. I am still kicking myself for not ordering the morel mushroom entree, which my friend was wise enough to get. They were cooked perfectly, and the sides complemented the dish so well, it may have been the best plate of food I've tried this year. My other friend got a trout dish that was equally sublime -- light, fresh, and well-sauced. I got the Porkerhouse, which was an insane amount of food, but I devoured it all. The cherries were a perfect counterpoint to the savory meat, and the mashed sweet potatoes were sublime, if a bit too much. I wish we'd had room for dessert. We were served by a knowledgeable and patient waiter who put up with us and even shared the fun with us a little by the end. His choice on wine was exactly right for our meals. A must-eat when in Milwaukee.
(5)David B.
A recent weekend dinner here with a visitor from Washington was a pleasant affair that left us comfortably full but slightly overloaded with menu information. Our server obviously had a great command of the various ingredients and preparations used that evening, but the detail to which she explained the menu was a little overwhelming and kept us from conversation a bit longer than was comfortable. The rabbit confit was quite well done, as was the foie gras which was seared with great aplomb to a lovely dark caramel crust. Both appetizers are worth experiencing. Our entrees were both well prepared. My venison osso buco was braised beautifully and complemented well by the roasted root vegetables that accompanied it. My only quibble was the absence of a marrow spoon to fully enjoy all that the shank had to offer. My companion's salmon special showed great respect for the fish, not overcooking it as salmon so often is. Desert was competent but not what I could consider a strength of the kitchen. Both seemed perfunctory in their execution but displayed no real flaws. Service was rather uneven. It began strong, with a very detailed if not overwhelming explanation fo the menu highlights. However, after our appetizers arrived, service slowed to a near halt that required some pleading eye contact with our server to show that we were ready for the next course. A bit more consistency in table service might be helpful in the future. Overall, Smyth is a fine choice for a slightly dressier evening out, even with its the slight shortcomings.
(4)Eric L.
Best brunch ever.... Ever...
(5)michael p.
Dropped in on a Saturday night with another couple. Gracious enough to find us a table even with a "lost reservation". Rabbit and foie gras (sp) (duck liver) appetizers were awesome. I ordered the porterhouse which was cooked medium-well vs med, which I ordered. While the flavor was very good I should have sent it back due to the texture being "too tough". At $30 I should have said something. Other than that everyone else said their food was very good. Atmosphere pleasant and staff very attentive. $240 covered 2 appetizers, one soup, 3 bar drinks, one coffee, 4 main entrees and the tip. Obviously not something (i) can afford every week but is now checked off the list of restaurants to eat at in Milwaukee.
(4)Janet T.
We at dinner here over the weekend and it was fabulous. The services was exceptional...at first they seated us at a two-top and when we asked to move to a cozy corner booth..."no problem". We had the fried calamari (a great spicy twist to one of our favorite apps), we shared the wedge salad (something we typically wouldn't order, but the gal next to us got it and it looked delicious...and, it was), for our main course we split the ahi tuna (tasty, but I'll definitely ask for more sauce next time) and the flat iron steak with potatoes (OMG...it was incredible). Great place, cool comfortable ambiance that begs you to linger. We will be back!
(5)Jessica O.
Ambiance: Rustic charm. Exposed pipes and beams, distressed exposed brick and wooden floors. Low lighting. Very cozy and intimate feel. Beverages: Pretty much anything you could want. Fully stocked bar. They pour a generous glass of Prosecco. Yum. Food: All the options on the menu sounded amazing and delicious. It was difficult to whittle down my options. I decided to go with the Filet of Beef Tenderloin. What a delicious decision. Per my order my filet came out screaming rare. La, la love ya, pretty baby.... Anyway, the bark on that sucker was mighty fine, a testament to it's well seasoning and perfect searing. The filet came with Bacon and Pickle Mashed Potatoes. I remember thinking when I read it "What an odd combination". Trust me, it works, oh does it work. The pickles give the potatoes an unexpected but welcome texture, crunch and tang and balances out the fattiness of the bacon. Which incidentally, they didn't skimp on, ah bacon, my one true love. The sauce was a red wine and mustard sauce, it was heavenly. I wish they had more on the plate, I wish they had a place where I could go swimming in it and "accidentally" swallow it. The pre-dinner bread they served was excellent. Warm from the oven, crusty on the outside with a nice egg wash crust and soft insides. And can I just take a moment to give mad props to Smyth serving ROOM TEMPERATURE butter for our bread. Seriously, I hate when I want to butter my bread only to have a fricken indelible butter brick ice cube that I have to wait and thaw or tear my poor little bread to smithereens. *exhales slowly, counts to ten* Thank you Smyth for not making me choose between evil and lesser evil. Staff: Multiple servers worked our table, I am not sure if this is standard or simply because we were in a large group. Regardless, they both came to introduce themselves. One asked what we were celebrating, it was a friend's birthday and they were kind enough to bring out a small tartlet with a candle for her. They did a wonderful job keeping our table happy and properly booze up, no easy feat with the group of alcoholics I was dining with that evening. Food was brought out properly, this is especially difficult when some of our party ordered apps, soups, etc. and some didn't. The staff made the entire meal appear seamless. Bathrooms: Drop. Dead. Gorgeous. Seriously. Dark brown tiles, gorgeous old fashioned enameled sink with shiny brass faucets. TWO full length mirrors, nice touch guys, nice touch. Parking: They have valet parking and if you have the means and aren't weirded out by strangers driving your car I would suggest taking advantage. There is precious little parking around the hotel itself and the bulk of it is either a) down dimly lit industrial sparsely populated side streets b) far away or c)all of the above. Eke. Pointers: They have a patio, it is spatial and sunken below street level which it nice because it's flanked by a pretty busy street. It is shadowed by the Calatrava bridge which casts it's eerie white glow down on the patio. It appears to be the perfect place for a drink in the summer months.
(5)Pete D.
Great food fresh and unique Kyle and cauliflower, diver scallops, every good steak and many other tasty delight cool items. But the real store is the top notch service by the whole staff. From the bartender, server and kitchen staff. All four of order 6 minutes before the kitchen closed. Everything come out on time warm and Beautiful. Thanks to all
(4)Billy T.
We went for our anniversary dinner. I'd heard good things and was expecting a little of the wow factor, especially given that it's on the pricey side. Overall, kind of a disappointing experience. We got off to a good start: my wife had the beer cheese soup and I had the mizuna salad (with beets). Both were good. There was way too much time between courses though. When my ravioli appertizer came it was a let down. One lousy piece of ravioli on sweet corn. My wife had the nosh plate which was better--wish I had that instead. There was a huge wait between the appetizers and the main course. We waited forever. They brought out dinner rolls, which were good, but there was no way three dinner rolls could tide us over that long. Tables that sat down when we had started our soups and salads were being served and having their dishes cleared and for some reason we were still waiting. When my surf and turf came it was lackluster. You know it's not good when the part of the dish you like the most is the twice backed potato. The ribeye was fatty and the smoked sturgeon, seemed to me, a little undercooked. My wifes plate, the NY Strip, was a little more flavorful. The waitress brought us out two glasses of champaigne for our anniversary which was a nice touch (service was friendly).
(2)Leah P.
Literally, the best steak I have ever had. Seriously...better than David Burke, Ruth Chris and Chicago Chop House. My fillet was simply delicious. The cheese plate was fabulous, and the service was fantastic. The only thing that I would suggest to Smyth would be to use a razor to clear off the inevitable crumbs from the crusty bread. Using your hand is kind of rude.
(5)Kim B.
I recently went to Smyth to celebrate a friend's birthday. We had a private room, so the noise that other people have mentioned didn't seem to be an issue. The wine/drink list was great. Our server was fantastic. And the best thing? The music selection! We were all dancing in our chairs (IN them, not ON them...it's a classy place!). The food was not that great. I started with the Wisconsin beer cheese soup. I'm not sure if it was the beer that was used, but it was really bitter and didn't have a lot of cheese flavor. For my entree, I had the red wine braised short ribs. They were overly fatty. The sauce was delicious, but I would have expected a better cut of meat. My dining companions really loved their meals, including the pan-fried chicken and the venison. I'll definitely give it a second chance, and I'd highly recommend it for a group special occasion.
(3)Barbara L.
Mother's Day brunch cost $50/adult and not one thing on the buffet (and it was all buffet) rose above a mediocre rating, and much fell below. No seafood, only dry smoked salmon and over-cooked halibut. The prime rib was tough....a costly disappointment.
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