Last night was our second time at Smith Street. We like it mainly because it's close to home. First of all it's very difficult to sit at the bar if you like to cross your legs.not a comfortable bar to sit at At all.I do think the food is pretty good.we had a cheese plate and we liked it. I would consider it more of a salad but nonetheless I enjoyed it Although it took for ever to get it after ordering. Saw other food going around that looked very good as well My husband was indifferent. Had a hard time getting a second glass of wine but it did come eventually. I explained to the extremely tall thin bartender that my ice was all water and I didn't want to stick my fingers in it so I asked for another glass of ice as I like to put an ice cube or two in my wine. I didn't think I needed to explain that, but I guess I needed to explain a lot more because when I got my ice there once again was no spoon. I would like to add that the bartender tried to refill my dirty wineglass. I think that is unacceptable in a nice bar. I don't know about you but I like a fresh glass with my wine, It's part of the program if you know what I mean? Especially since my glass was visibly dirty by then.Barback boy who was very sweet would come over with wet hands that he just took out of the water and he would drip water in front of us and grab plates. a bit of a turn off. When we asked them for silverware and plates after waiting for some time he brought us wet silverware that was extremely spotty,felt cold as if he had tried to wash it himself,and slightly sticky on top of that. We stayed for the music,it was good but the acoustics in there are just terrible. Last but not least my pet peeve is sitting at a bar and having the bar tender tender crash bottles into the garbage can loudly. they were not even that busy. I think they need extra Help! We probably would still go back because they are close by but if they want to build a reputation of being a nice neighborhood place for older people to enjoy they need to step up the service,train your staff not to be slobs and a little class! This Place has great potential, Once they figure out what they want to be when they grow up,
Review Source:Went here for an after dinner drink tonight....we had one drink and then left. Â The guitar player/singer was SO loud that I couldn't even hear my friend talking to me, and she was on the bar stool right next to me. Â Everyone else there seemed to be having a great time tho, so maybe it was just us. Â The crowd was a little older than I expected. I was thinking it would be a 30-40 type of crowd, but not so much. That said, the bartender Vanessa was very sweet. Â The drink was just ok, nothing I couldn't get anywhere else. I perhaps would go back again, maybe its better after work during the week?
Review Source:We went here because it seemed like it'd be a nicer/slightly more upscale place to have drinks. Â The decor is pretty unimpressive, but really we just wanted some whiskey/scotch which they had a decent selection of.
My major two issues were: that there was no one going around taking drink orders and even more annoying was that the music was obnoxiously loud. Â We couldn't even talk and after 20 minutes everyone wanted to leave. Â Everyone in the bear was screaming at each other. Â It may have been because earlier in the evening there was a private party, but regardless it was incredibly disappointing. Â We asked them to turn it down which they did (a little) for one song.
It seems like it's just a quickly thrown together lounge in some empty space Durty Nellie's wasn't using. Â Even if they keep the music at a normal volume on most nights, I don't really care to find out. Â It was pretty bland and had nothing that made me want to come back, with the music volume pretty much killing any hope I'd ever go back.
I would give this place zero stars if I could. First of all walked in and sat at a table, no server came by after 10 minutes. Walked up to the bar and tried to order drinks there and the bartender told us to wait at the table for a server. We then ordered drinks from a server who came by 5 minutes later. Waited another 10 minutes and NO drinks. Looked into the bar and the bartenders are looking up the recipes and tried the drink 3 times and still can't figure out how to make it. Ordered a beer and the server came back and said they just ran out. How do you "just" run out of a beer if you've only been open 2 hours and the place is empty. Don't lie to me. Ordered another beer and once again she came back to the table and said they were out of it. That's it, we walked out. Learn to make a cocktail before opening a cocktail lounge.
Review Source:Very cool experience! Â The idea is to have some adult beverages with friends and be able to hold a conversation. Â It is not about being overwhelmed by a band, or watching sports. Â This is an upscale place featuring great cocktails that is refreshing to the other choices available in the suburbs. Â
I just wish they had outdoor seating for when the weather is warm.
Everyone in my party had wine so I cant really comment on Smith Street Station's mixed drinks.
The atmosphere is missing something. I think the decor isn't quite up to par with what they are trying to do. The conversation areas are a great concept that I've seen in other bars. It needs to be more intimate and the couches and chairs need more uniqueness. I almost felt like I was sitting in the display sections at a furniture store. Perhaps  funky furniture and something to break up and separate the areas a little better. A fireplace would have worked well in there too, just not in the summer.
The service was great too!
Ok I'm going to preface this by saying that I am not 25, so I obviously have not been here. I just wanted to get in a word about the age limit and some of the cocktail choices, so take this "review" for what you will.
First of all, I've seen 40 year old men in jean shorts fall flat on their faces at Durty Nellie's. It's good to know that all those fine gentlemen have to do is swap the jean shorts for some pants and head on over to Smith Street. I can appreciate what the owner is trying to do here, and I honestly believe the suburbs need more of these places. But come on...you're open until 1 and you serve $11 cocktails...You're not going to get a bunch of drunk frat guys wandering in looking for Keystone. So for the love of god, drop the pretentious front and just be a place that serves craft cocktails in a good atmosphere. You'll attract who you want to attract.
I took a look on the cocktail menu, and a few things stood out. I think a few others pointed it out as well, but for $11, you need to improve on some of the liquors used. I know you can do better than Canadian Club. Most good mixology bars charge about the same amount and use better liquor (Violet Hour, Drawing Room, Barrelhouse Flat). Check out those places and take a few pages from their menu.
Now it's my turn to be pretentious and complain about the ingredients. Please please PLEASE don't put soda water in an old fashioned. That is a crime against drinking.
Basically, I can really appreciate what you're doing here and I hope more places like this keep popping up in the burbs. And on my 25th birthday, I might just rent a car and head over here. In the meantime, I'll continue to go to the fantastic cocktail bars where I'm welcome.
"Smith Street Station welcomes the mature, well-dressed patron at least 25 years of age. "
......Come on, really?
Smith Street Station. Say that five times - fast. Segway....five times five is 25, which is the minimum age for entrance. Sorry, kids. Yes, it is ageist-ish. Deal. Everyone I've told about this fact light up with intrigue? Relief? Both.
I love the fact that I can sit in my living room, and have deliciousness served to me by my favorite people! The atmosphere is so cozy, classy and comfortable. There are televisions available for those that can't do without, but it's hidden away for those who can. Mark and his staff are the real deal. Friendly, genuine and great company.
En Fuego has been the only drink I've had, and quite frankly it may stay that way. They have a great menu of craft cocktails, but En Fuego is a ridiculous mouth party where margaritas and jalepenos had a baby and named it "Awesome". Don't judge until you've tried it. Deliciouso!
Be sure to try the Whiskey Caramel Nuts, too. Mark has amazing nuts....um. Anyway.... I'll see you there!!
Disappointed in the small plate menu tonight had the white fish tacos the fish tasted as if it was freezer burned and rapidly defrosted, tortillas were wet and soggy they disintegrated when trying to pick them up. Â Also ordered the braised short rib sliders, felt like they had a good idea here but the chef happened to over cook the short ribs, which were dry and had the consistency of shoe laces.
Overall disappointment after a bad experience at Durty Nellies 18 months ago I was open to give this owner another opportunity. Â Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me, needless to say this was my last visit for food at any of his establishments. Â I repeat last visit for food their kitchen can't seem to get it palatable, but there is a nice ambiance and good drinks.
Smith station did have a nice selection of scotch and a hickory smoker which added a nice touch to the glasses. Â The staff was friendly and knowledgeable of the cordial offerings.
This gem of a place has quickly become one of my "go to" spots. It is everything I love about being out & nothing that I hate. From the staff, the decor, the drinks, the lighting and even the music level, this place is *completely* dialed in! Stop in for a visit & I promise Mark (the manager) will have you wanting to come back again & again. Smith Street Station is *exactly* what the NW burbs needed!
Review Source:Went there on Sat early eve for the first time.  Nice lounge with comfortable seating and a U shaped bar.  They do artisanal cocktails here and do a pretty good job. the cocktails are 11 bucks so if that is out of your price range you may want to go elsewhere. This is an adult lounge 25 and older. they make versions of classic cocktails like the Sazerac and the Mint Julip. Some of the drink involve being smoked.  they also have a selection of good beer and wine. Small plates are offered, mostly cold  but a few hot like lamb sliders. Attractive servers add to the ambience. I pleasant place for a night out. Its right on the train line so access is easy. Located next to Durty Nellies.
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