Restaurant

Smyth

Name: Smyth
Address: 177 N Ada St #101, Chicago, IL, 60607, US
Telephone: (773) 913-3773
Price range: splurge

American•Chicago•splurge

Smyth is one of the best american restaurants in Chicago for special occasion, especially if you want a strong option in Chicago.

Editorial review updated•Jul 28, 2026

John and Karen Urie Shields built smyth around a premise that still reads as quietly radical in fine dining: that the vegetable courses deserve the same intellectual rigor as anything else on the tasting menu. The kitchen's two Michelin stars reflect a cooking philosophy grounded in fermentation, preservation, and long-standing relationships with regional farmers — sourcing treated not as a talking point but as the structural foundation of what arrives at the table. The menu changes with those relationships, which means what diners encounter is contingent on what the land is producing and how the kitchen has chosen to work with it over time. The dishes smyth is known for illustrate that philosophy in concrete terms. The long-fermented beet course is regularly cited by guests and critics as a demonstration of what extended fermentation can do to a single ingredient — not embellishment, but transformation. The farm squash course draws on the same logic: a vegetable that most tasting-menu kitchens would treat as a supporting element given its own moment of full attention. The egg yolk with koji reportedly shows the kitchen's interest in umami-building through process rather than luxury ingredient. The preserved-produce dessert carries the preservation ethos through to the final course, which is either a coherent statement or an acquired taste depending on what you expect a dessert to do — guests who arrive open to that conversation tend to leave persuaded. Smyth operates as a tasting-menu-only room, so commitment to the full experience is the price of entry — practically and in terms of time. Service is consistently described as warm and genuinely informed, with a front-of-house team prepared to discuss each course at whatever depth a guest wants. Reservations book ahead; planning several weeks out is the realistic expectation for prime seatings.

James Whitfield, Restaurant Critic

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team•Report outdated information

Fine Dining special occasion refined destination

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Taste ID

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Taste Score 9.0/10

Rating (Google) 9.2

1,330 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.0/10

Taste Score

Google 9.2 from 1,330 reviews

Best for

special occasion and Fine Dining

Price and pace

splurge

Neighborhood

Chicago | 177 N Ada St #101, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

Price

splurge

Taste Score

9.0/10

Phone

(773) 913-3773

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Smyth

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Smyth on video

Short: High Speed Dining (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

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Short: High Speed Dining (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

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Short: Gourmand Anthony (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Menu and ordering

Smyth menu: what to order

Smyth is listed in the splurge price range. Check the restaurant's current menu for available dishes and prices. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

Check the current menu

Why go

What makes Smyth worth the move

Smyth is a reliable american choice in Chicago when you want something that tends to land well. Chef's Menu and Smyth Menu also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 1,330 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.2 from 1,330 Google reviews

Best for

special occasion and Fine Dining

Style

American in Chicago

Spend

splurge

Best for

Fine Dining special occasion refined destination

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 1,330 reviews

Price point: splurge

Popular dishes: Chef's Menu, Smyth Menu, Smyth Pairing

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TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by James Whitfield for Smyth

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Google snapshot

9.2 from 1,330 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by James Whitfield

No diner notes for Smyth yet.

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Plan the visit

Quick details

Book on OpenTable Menu Directions

Address: 177 N Ada St #101, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
Phone: (773) 913-3773
Price: splurge
TastyPals score: 9.0/10
Google rating: 9.2 (1,330 reviews)
Cuisine: American
Neighborhood: Chicago

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Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Smyth serve?

Smyth is a American restaurant located in Chicago, Chicago. John and Karen Urie Shields built smyth around a premise that still reads as quietly radical in fine dining: that the vegetable courses deserve the same intellectual rigor as anything else on the tasting menu.

What is Smyth best for?

Smyth is best for fine dining, special occasion, refined, destination. Smyth is a reliable american choice in Chicago when you want something that tends to land well. Chef's Menu and Smyth Menu also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 1,330 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Smyth?

Smyth is in the splurge price range (splurge). Google rating: 9.2 from 1,330 reviews

Is Smyth worth visiting?

Smyth holds a 9.2 Google rating from 1,330 reviews. Smyth is a reliable american choice in Chicago when you want something that tends to land well. Chef's Menu and Smyth Menu also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 1,330 Google reviews.