What to order at Smyth

Must order
The yolk in sea-buckthorn vinegar; it has been on the menu since 2016 for a reason.
Signature dishes
Egg yolk in sea-buckthorn, Smoked sturgeon and caviar
Editor tip
The companion bar downstairs, The Loyalist, runs an excellent burger if you can't land the upstairs seats.
CuisineModern American
Price$$$$
Neighborhoodwest-loop
HoursTue-Sat 17:00-21:00; Sun-Mon closed
Last verified

Signature dishes: Egg yolk in sea-buckthorn, Smoked sturgeon and caviar

Must order: The yolk in sea-buckthorn vinegar; it has been on the menu since 2016 for a reason.

Tip: The companion bar downstairs, The Loyalist, runs an excellent burger if you can't land the upstairs seats.

Location

Address: 177 N Ada St, Chicago, IL 60607

Also in west-loop

Oriole ★ 4.8

Modern American$$$$west-loopTue-Sat 17:30-21:00; Sun-Mon closed

Oriole in Chicago is Noah Sandoval's two-Michelin-star room on Walnut Street in the West Loop, a quiet 28-seat tasting menu with a strong caviar service.

Signature: Hokkaido scallop with caviar, Quail with mole

Order: The opening caviar course; the kitchen treats it as the focal pivot, not a bookend.

Tip: The wine pairings are unusually well-judged at the German-and-Austrian end. Ask for them by region, not by tier.

Ever ★ 4.7

Modern American$$$$west-loopTue-Sat 17:00-22:00; Sun-Mon closed

Ever in Chicago is Curtis Duffy's two-Michelin-star Fulton Market tasting menu, opened 2020 after Duffy left Grace, with rigorous service and quiet plating.

Signature: Foie gras with brioche, Wagyu with mushroom

Order: The foie gras course; it is the dish that follows Duffy across his career.

Tip: Sit at the chef's counter if it is on offer at booking. The view of the pass is the room's best seat.

Elske ★ 4.6

Modern Nordic$$$west-loopMon 17:30-21:00; Thu 17:30-21:00; Fri 17:30-22:00; Sat 17:00-22:00; Sun 17:00-21:00; Tue-Wed closed

Elske in Chicago is David and Anna Posey's Danish-influenced Michelin-starred Randolph Street kitchen, a married chef-team plate with restraint and clean.

Signature: Duck-liver tart, Smoked beets with brown butter

Order: The duck-liver tart, an opening course that has stayed on the menu since 2016.

Tip: The Aquavit pairings are the room's secret weapon. Ask Anna for the by-the-glass walk.

The Publican ★ 4.6

New American$$$west-loopMon-Fri 11:00-14:00; Sun-Thu 16:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 16:00-22:00; Sat-Sun 09:00-14:00

The Publican in Chicago is Paul Kahan's Fulton Market mead-hall, opened 2008, anchored by the heritage pork chop and a daily oyster list of 20 to 30.

Signature: Heritage pork chop, Country ham, Oysters

Order: Publican-style pork chop for the table, with one of the ham flights.

Tip: The walk-in counter at the bar is first-come, first-served and turns over fast. Aim for 17:30 if you cannot book.

avec ★ 4.5

Mediterranean$$$west-loopMon-Fri 11:00-14:00; Sun-Thu 15:30-22:00; Fri-Sat 15:30-23:00; Sat-Sun 10:00-14:00

avec in Chicago is the cedar-walled Mediterranean wine bar next to Blackbird's old space, with the dates-wrapped-in-bacon plate that has run since 2003.

Signature: Chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates, Wood-oven flatbreads

Order: The chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates; on the menu since opening for good reason.

Tip: The communal seating means a walk-up at 17:00 usually beats waiting for a table. Bring a friend who likes elbows.

Full west-loop food guide →

More restaurants in Chicago

Oriole ★ 4.8

Modern American$$$$west-loopTue-Sat 17:30-21:00; Sun-Mon closed

Oriole in Chicago is Noah Sandoval's two-Michelin-star room on Walnut Street in the West Loop, a quiet 28-seat tasting menu with a strong caviar service.

Signature: Hokkaido scallop with caviar, Quail with mole

Order: The opening caviar course; the kitchen treats it as the focal pivot, not a bookend.

Tip: The wine pairings are unusually well-judged at the German-and-Austrian end. Ask for them by region, not by tier.

Ever ★ 4.7

Modern American$$$$west-loopTue-Sat 17:00-22:00; Sun-Mon closed

Ever in Chicago is Curtis Duffy's two-Michelin-star Fulton Market tasting menu, opened 2020 after Duffy left Grace, with rigorous service and quiet plating.

Signature: Foie gras with brioche, Wagyu with mushroom

Order: The foie gras course; it is the dish that follows Duffy across his career.

Tip: Sit at the chef's counter if it is on offer at booking. The view of the pass is the room's best seat.

Elske ★ 4.6

Modern Nordic$$$west-loopMon 17:30-21:00; Thu 17:30-21:00; Fri 17:30-22:00; Sat 17:00-22:00; Sun 17:00-21:00; Tue-Wed closed

Elske in Chicago is David and Anna Posey's Danish-influenced Michelin-starred Randolph Street kitchen, a married chef-team plate with restraint and clean.

Signature: Duck-liver tart, Smoked beets with brown butter

Order: The duck-liver tart, an opening course that has stayed on the menu since 2016.

Tip: The Aquavit pairings are the room's secret weapon. Ask Anna for the by-the-glass walk.

Kasama ★ 4.8

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Kasama in Chicago is Tim Flores and Genie Kwon's Filipino bakery by day, Michelin-starred tasting menu by night, in the Ukrainian Village on Winchester.

Signature: Filipino breakfast plate, Lechon

Order: The morning ube cruffin, which sells out by 10:30 most weekends.

Tip: The bakery has no reservations; the tasting menu books out 60 days ahead. Treat them as two different visits.

The Publican ★ 4.6

New American$$$west-loopMon-Fri 11:00-14:00; Sun-Thu 16:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 16:00-22:00; Sat-Sun 09:00-14:00

The Publican in Chicago is Paul Kahan's Fulton Market mead-hall, opened 2008, anchored by the heritage pork chop and a daily oyster list of 20 to 30.

Signature: Heritage pork chop, Country ham, Oysters

Order: Publican-style pork chop for the table, with one of the ham flights.

Tip: The walk-in counter at the bar is first-come, first-served and turns over fast. Aim for 17:30 if you cannot book.

avec ★ 4.5

Mediterranean$$$west-loopMon-Fri 11:00-14:00; Sun-Thu 15:30-22:00; Fri-Sat 15:30-23:00; Sat-Sun 10:00-14:00

avec in Chicago is the cedar-walled Mediterranean wine bar next to Blackbird's old space, with the dates-wrapped-in-bacon plate that has run since 2003.

Signature: Chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates, Wood-oven flatbreads

Order: The chorizo-stuffed bacon-wrapped dates; on the menu since opening for good reason.

Tip: The communal seating means a walk-up at 17:00 usually beats waiting for a table. Bring a friend who likes elbows.

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