The Smith

Lovely bar/restaurant with outside/sidewalk seating and (weather permitting) wide open front allowing fresh air and the city vibe. Grab a seat under the awning and you can people watch while you eat and drink. The food was excellent as we're the drinks. The staff were friendly and super attentive. Two separate managers also made a total of 3 check-ins just to make sure we had everything, which we did. Our celiac diner was easily accommodated and the server knowledgeable about what was gluten-safe including cross-contamination (separate fryer for fries yay) and noted that all GF dishes come with little red flags.

It’s not easy to find a suitable spot for a 15-person party, but The Smith - LES totally nailed it for me. I already had a positive view of The Smith from past experiences at other locations (and for smaller groups), but here they totally blew away my already-high expectations. First off, the food was just exceptional. Everybody raved about the shared starters, especially the mac & cheese and kale and quinoa salad. The entrees across varied categories were enjoyed heartily without a complaint. Even the desserts and drinks were way above average, and several in the crowd believed they’d found the best chocolate chip cookie they’d ever had. We had ruthless foodies, normalcy-seeking suburbanites, gluten-free folks with their tricky plights, carnivores, and a vegan…and all were happy! Not easy to find a restaurant that can do that. Moreover, the service was impeccable. From the early planning stages, to them taking questions as the date came nearer, to the incredibly friendly and attentive staff on the night of, I just felt so well taken care of. I’m so grateful for it. If you’re trying to wrangle a big group together, you can’t go wrong with The Smith. Don’t doubt it.