Smith & Wollensky

Not bad went vday weekend and the service was punctual and the drinks very good. The décor of the establishment was very nice Only down side would be the portion sizes of the main dish but that’s to expect with fine dining. Will go again
Furr

I was looking up a place for dinner at a whim and thought dinner at a castle maybe fun. And it was.
The dinner experience started at a high note. I got a waiter who had been with the steak house for years, starting in NY and moving to the back bay location. His service was spot on and after the dinner he even gave me a full tour of the castle.
Now I can totally get behind a dining experience just for the history or architecture so the personal tour itself is worth a 5-​star. But the food itself was stroller. I could just eat that Rosemary duck fat roasted root vegetable for ever. But the cocoa and coffee rubbed steak was heavenly too. But comparison the hash brown was ok even though I had it anywhere else I would be raving about it.
Peripherally, the dessert was solid. Coffee as good. My least favorite course was the bacon scallop. The bacon was incredible but the scallop was a bit too salty.

This one did not do it for us. We were here for my mother in laws 60^th birthday, which they were aware of as they confirmed it when they confirmed reservations. They made zero mention of it while we were there. None of the 4 of us were wowed with our steaks. Our waiter never came back after taking our food order until I asked for the check. He never checked if we needed drinks or if the food was good… Nothing. I feel like he did almost nothing to earn his $ 70 tip. The valet was 1 kid in a sweatshirt standing out front. When we came out from eating he handed me the key and told me where my car was. It was parked on the street, where it had been all night. I would think for $ 28 (including tip) the kid could have started it since it was a cold winter night. We will not be back as there are plenty of other places to spend our money in this great city.

I’ve been to a Smith & Wollensky before in Chicago which was wonderful. This experience was lovely, but wouldn’t say it was the absolute best, but the setting was A+.
We (my boyfriend and I, celebrating our anniversary) ordered cocktails, an appetizer, a filet and sirloin, and two sides. With tip, we spent under $ 250 which I’d say is fairly reasonable for a nice steak dinner for two here.
The rib-​eye carpaccio appetizer was delicious (my goodness, the marbling!), but it felt like it was missing a sauce or glaze of some kind. The biggest issue I had was that the arugula salad with the lemon oil was SO SALTY. We couldn’t eat it. Seriously. And I love salt, but someone went WAY overboard here.
I ordered the gorgonzola crusted 10 oz. filet and he ordered the 14 oz sirloin at the recommendation of Rhiannon, our server. Both steaks were cooked perfectly (mine=med & his=m.rare). We also ordered the beef bacon & cheddar tots and creamed spinach as sides.
I’m still (even after taking it home and trying it again) unclear what the side sauce was with the tots, as no one (not the food runner nor our server) explained what it was… so we didn’t try it. The tots were really tasty, and we enjoyed the spinach as well.
We didn’t get dessert as we each had about half of our meal still in front of us to bring home and have the next day.
All in all, it was a good meal, and the service was good, but by no means stellar or memorable, which is surprising because they actually encouraged me to write this review by handing us a business card with our server’s name on it with the check. If you’re going to do that, make sure your service is OUTSTANDING. Otherwise you just look like you’re fishing for compliments.

Horrible! First we have the most condescending server ever! Secondly there is floating things in my water, the bread was hard, the shrimp was stale and black tailed smelling fishy with a pre cut lemon that you can see is crusty and dry, also the Caesar salad was croûton-​less and had a bitter after taste in which we were told that’s how it is but the menu did NOT state that. To say the least I could go any where in the city for seafood/​steak and we are stuck at this dump for $$$$???
The manager checked in with the table behind us and walked right by us. So discussed we work hard for our $$$$ in this field and this is what we get? Shitty food not great quality as they portray and classes service!
Finally we get our entrees nine has a tiny ass tail that was over cooked. My husbands filet Oscar was over salty and rare when both were ordered medium. We are paying for a sitter w can’t afford as it is and this is what we get? I could f went anywhere and been better than date night.
The only great thing was ERICK who brought our food out most respected and professional person we have seen in this industry!

Tl;dr– If you want to eat at a high end steakhouse in Boston, don’t waste your money here. Poor service and lackluster food.
New Years Eve dinner with the family. We eat out fairly often and have eaten at many steakhouses. S&W is at the very bottom of that list. Add the fact that the service was less than I would expect at even a standard restaurant, I would give it 1.5 stars if I could. This is a very poor representation of a high end steakhouse.
First, the service. Took forever for our drink order to get taken, never checked in once the food came, ordered another drink that never came, waited forever for the bill, and in general was absent throughout the whole meal. He was very good at making sure we had bread and water and was friendly, just absent and we did not feel taken care of at all.
Next, the food. Beef and cheddar tots were soggy, oily and served with this disgusting goop on the side. Asparagus was woody and oily, lobster tail was rock lobster, not from New England (huh) and they mixed up the rare and medium rare steaks. However, the steaks were very tasty and the bread very yummy.
There are SO many places way better than this (Davios, Grill 23, Del Frisco, Capitol Grille to name a few). I wish we had spent the $ 450 (that was for 3 adults and 2 children and only one round of drinks) at one of the other fine steakhouses in Boston.

Same great quality as the one in New York. We had a good time and we enjoyed ourselves as usual. Greatly recommended

Today on the menu: a superb steak with a side of disappointment. We took our mother out on Christmas eve for her 60^th birthday. The experience was OK until it came time for the prearranged birthday cake to come out. We waited, our coffees came. We sat awkwardly, then the check came. So ruined the surprise we love you moment. My brother had to go hunt down the manager and host who he set it up with to explain the mess up. They did nothing to make it right. In fact, the manager could barely muster an apology. We get it was a mistake, but when we choose your restaurant for an occasion like this we expect that those in charge provide better customer service than one would get at an Applebee’s.
Otherwise, my signature bone in steak with the dry rub was great. Though, I asked for medium rare and it came out medium. My brother got the Filet Oscar, which he also found to be overcooked (he ordered medium and it was more like medium well). His wife liked her Angry Shrimp. The root veggies, potatoes and sides were yummy. We’ll never know about the cheesecake.

Suckered in by the dollar oyster sign, we popped in to check it out. Let me just say save yourself the trouble guys.
We ordered the clams and oysters both offered at a buck a pop and the clams were fishy and not shucked right. Oysters were decent but I really wouldn’t run back anytime soon.
That’s all folks!

For the beautiful exterior and hefty prices, you would expect more out of this place — but ultimately it’s a normal expensive steak place.
The dining area is fairly simple considering the large castle you’re inside of — I would have liked a more gorgeous interior or the opportunity to look around. The waitstaff seemed pretty rough and unclassy. And while I enjoyed my steak (the poivre crust is great, although it overpowers the flavor of the meat), my friend’s filet mignon was extremely tough despite being medium rare. The sides we tried (the truffle mac and cheese, the steak tartar) were tasty, though not particularly memorable.
Overall, it feels like the sort of place you bring older relatives who want something fancy and are willing to spend lots of money, without actually having good taste in food or a desire for a hip or elegant atmosphere. This place is still nice and everything tastes decent, but there are cheaper and nicer gems here in Boston!

Meh, bar staff that really don’t belong in a high end steakhouse. Apparently the bartenders also serve tables, and one even set dirty dishes on the counter next to me while he took an order.
It’s time for a service refresher.

I have always wanted to try Smith & Wollensky. My friend and I ate here last night and were truly disappointed. To start, the waiter seemed to only want to address the male of the table. I, the female was basically ignored. Didn’t ask if I wanted anything to drink, didn’t ask me if I wanted any sides… Those questions were addressed to my male friend, I was baffled.
He also rarely checked on us throughout the meal.
We found the food to be, okay, nothing special.
We both got filet mignon. Good, not great. My friend said «I could get the same filet at Outback.» We also ordered the asparagus and whipped mashed potato sides. The asparagus had no flavor and was bland. The mashed potatoes came in an antique pan, with a ¼ inch of olive oil, which was so strange to us. Not good. But we asked to get a new order without olive oil and it was no problem.
The experience cost $ 240 total, and it was just alright… We were not wowed. We’ve gotten waaay more spectacular meals elsewhere for even much less.
Just overall disappointing experience.

It was okay. Not worth the price point in my opinion. My wife loved her fillet. My T Bone came out luke warm and had a lot of gristle. I don’t think it was any better than a steak you can get at market basket.
Forget having a romantic dinner there. The manager turned the lights up half way through our dinner. A total mood killer. Invest in some descent lighting for heaven’s sake.
To top it all off, our server dumped my mushrooms in with my wife’s fillet, in our to go container, after we told her that my wife is allergic to mushrooms!
I think they are more concerned about their profit than putting out a good product.

Great dinner tonight. Steaks were perfect. Lobster, so so. Service was wonderful. Luv the atmosphere. I appreciated the accommodations for a vegan in a steak house. Will be back.

I eat here often as my Daugther loves to eat at the castle. If any other restaurant was in the castle we would still eat there as its the ambiance she likes.
We eat here at least once a month and it’s normally average. In comparison to Del Friscos, Morton’s, Capital Grille, Moo, The Palm etc Smith and Wol is below average in the quality of food, deserts, and service.
Last night I was uncertain they were open as I walked into an empty restaurant with no one to greet us. Ordered the pee soup which was served warm. The porterhouse for two came in a hot pan but the meat itself was luke warm and bland. It lacked flavor. The chocolate cake while very large was a little on the dry side. The bill for my 6 year old and I came out to $ 250, which is a little on the high side. Porterhouse was about ½ the bill.
The service was ok nothing too great. Server very nice but seemed like he wasn’t completely conscience. Again I will have to continue to go there as my kid likes the castle, but it’s average at best.

Steakhouse!
Located in an old castle in Back Bay makes it really cool and cozy.
Had the oysters as a starter, then the Bone-​in NY Cut Sirloin (which was as good as you should expect at a fancy steakhouse). I really don’t have much to complain about here.

Continuing Oyster Tour 2015 [yes, I’m a dork] S&W was a nice touch to a long week at the office. Servicing up their daily dollar oyster special, a few classmates and I found our way to Castle building and made our way to the bar. While I was pretty straight forward with my drinks, the barman was helpful to my friend who is always on a search for a good beer and was able to help him through a bunch of suggestions.
We started ordering up the desired mollusks which didn’t stay on our plates too long. Serving up some classic blue points we received our first dozen [and subsequent 2 dozens after that] very promptly and without fuss. If you would like, the barman will sprinkle fresh pepper over them just like a salad. Yes, a plus.
While their main entrée are a little on the pricey end [I will need another paycheck or two] the appetizers seemed quite in line for pretty good portions.
Altogether satisfying, our party left happy as clams.

This Restaurant Week review is way overdue, but luckily I remember this meal like it was yesterday, for better and for worse.
Let me first say that Smith and Wollensky does not skimp during RW. I made a reservation because I wanted a steak, and boy did they deliver. When our waitress sat my filet in front of me, my jaw nearly hit the table. I’m not sure how many ounces it was, but suffice it to say that it would normally be sold for much more than the $ 38 price tag on the whole RW meal. Tender, juicy, and cooked to a perfect medium rare, my steak was (almost) as good as it looked.
So, why only three stars for a great steak dinner at a steak house? Unfortunately, the rest of my experience was wildly uneven. As good as that steak was, my sirloin carpaccio appetizer (I went a little overboard with the beef) was rather lifeless. It tasted more like olive oil than anything. My dining companions’ bacon and cheddar soup was equally (and bafflingly) boring, as were the massive chocolate cake and cheesecake slices served for dessert.
A couple sides ordered off the regular menu – truffled mac and cheese, duck fat root vegetables – were delicious and perfect for sharing, but the onion rings tasted as if they had been drenched in sawdust before being deep fried.
Service was equally bipolar, as our waitress vacillated between warmth and humor and utter indifference. I certainly felt a shift after she realized we were ordering off the RW menu – a major pet peeve in my book – but she was up and down for the rest of the night, so who knows! Lest I think too much about it, I try to remember that steak instead, and my mouth begins to salivate all over again.

Eating in a castle is impressive and the steaks here definitely impress. The waiters wear old-​school white butcher coats, and I appreciated their commitment to the whole steakhouse theme. I had the filet oscar and it was delish! I also tried the beef bacon, which was not so much my fancy because it was too tough for me, but it’s an inventive dish so I applaud it.
I wish I had just walked around and explored the space and rooms some more but I was thoroughly sated and in a food coma so I was not up for exploring.
For dessert, we had cheesecake and a GIANT slice of chocoloate cake. When I say GIANT, I mean, it was so big, I’d say maybe 8 inches tall, with layers of chocolate mousse and very rich chocolate cake, so that other patrons actually stopped and looked at the gargantuan slice of goodness on our table.
Apparently the waterfront Smith and Wollensky is better, so I’ll have to try that one too.

Attentive staff, perfected aged steaks, & free cheesecake to celebrate a special occasion… I can support that cause!
The crab cake starter and complimentary rolls were delicious and just enough to wet the palette. Truly, the filet au poivre (course black pepper & butter) was perfectly cooked with a deep and flavorful sauce. It’s a no brainer to get the larger 8 oz. portion for only an additional $ 5. I was disappointed with the hash brown (despite being a huge!) because it was too salty. I should have mentioned this to the waiter because I’m sure they would have brought another one out. If you are celebrating a special occasion make sure to let the staff know; the restaurant will also call you and ask. As a result, you’ll be presented a healthy portion of cheesecake to share with your friends!
Tip — Try to get seated in the inner ‘library/​fire place’ room. It’s quaint and makes it easier to carry on a conversation without having to shout over one another.

I had visited S&W’s probably a decade ago, and my wife and I went back over the weekend. Great looking place inside & out. For such a fancy place, the hostess was dressed a little more casually than I was expecting (it didn’t bother me, just surprised me). We were promptly seated in a booth in the «ballroom» area. Beautiful room! Our waitress came over promptly to drop off menus, but was tied up with other guests for the next 5 – 10 minutes. When she came back to take our drink order, we were ready to place our entrée order as well. As we were celebrating our anniversary, they provided a complimentary glass of champagne, and a card signed by the staff (this was an exceptional surprise!)
My wife ordered the Coffee & Cocoa Rubbed Filet, I ordered the Long Bone Rib-​eye, and we split a side of roasted mushrooms. The fresh loaf of bread starter was nice, I liked the seasoning (kosher salt, rosemary, and other accouterments).
Ambiance — The outside looks like a castle, and the inside looks like a manner-​house/​mansion. Classy/​rustic/​upscale.
Service — Our waitress was very nice. A bit unpolished, but that didn’t detract from our overall experience. She was very friendly & attentive. Provided superb recommendations.
Quantity — All portion sizes were perfect. We were both pretty hungry when we arrived, and gobbled up the bread, she offered us more, but knowing the entrees we ordered, we opted to skip. I was more than full after finishing off my steak!
Quality — Everything was exquisite! My steak was prepared the way I asked, as was my wife’s.
Value — You’re not going here for a value-​meal. Her 10oz steak was $ 49, my 32oz bone in rib-​eye was ~$ 68, the mushrooms were $ 13.
Overall — We both very much enjoyed the meal and experience. I saw different managers go through the room to check in with guests after their meals were dropped off, which is always a nice touch. The complimentary champagne was very much appreciated. This is a great place for a special occasion!

The staff and kitchen here absolutely deserve all five stars of this review. Amy and Dean went out of their way to make us feel very special celebrating our wedding anniversary in Boston and even everyone around us that they were attending to seemed to be having a wonderful time and enjoying their meals.
We started our meal with the complimentary bread loaf and whipped butter — the bread was so fresh and had this great herb seasoning on it.
For appetizer we choose to order the lump crab cocktail which was a generous portion of fresh lump crab meat served with two dipping sauces.
Steaks we went with filets — The Gorgonzola preparation was different then I’ve had before it was more of a cream sauce with scallions and bacon then a crust but I loved dipping my steak and string beans right into it! My husband chose the peppery Au Poivre preparation and equally enjoyed the sauce.
The Truffle Mac & Cheese — creamy with a hint of truffle not overpowering at all rounded off the main course and left us so full we had to regretfully say no to any sweets.
We would go back to another Smith and Wollensky in a heartbeat. But this location was a perfect introduction to a wonderful and popular steak house name.

Ein äußerst gediegenes Steakhouse in Boston.
Gehört zur gleichnamigen, kleinen aber feinen Kette in den USA. Bereits das äussere, burgähnliche Erscheinungsbild ist vielversprechend und macht Hoffnung auf mehr.
Update 21.11.2010
Wenn ich ehrlich bin wird es heute mit dem Bericht über «Dry aged Steaks» nichts. Aus einem ganz einfachen Grund. Heute waren wir mit einer «Party of 3» im Smith & Wollensky zum Dinner. Da sich alle für Filet Mignon entschieden, gab es leider für uns kein «Dry aged Steak».
Ich hatte auf der Hompage von Smith & Wollensky einen Tisch für 20:00 Uhr reserviert. Wie sich herausstellt, war dies kein Fehler, da der Laden ziemlich ausgebucht erschien. Mit unserer Reservierung klappte es jedoch hervorragend und wir erhielten einen Tisch in der 2ten Etage im großen Speiseraum.
Das Interieur hier ist sehr ansprechend und wirkt gediegen. Im Raum an den Wänden verteilt, befinden sich Schränke in denen div. Weinflaschen lagern.
Insgesamt verteilt sich das Restaurant über mehrere Etagen (4 ?) und soll ca. 450 Gästen Platz bieten. Diese Auskunft erhielt ich auf Nachfrage von einem Kellner. Von dieser Größe merkte man jedoch nichts, da sich das Restaurant auf mehreren Etagen und pro Etage auf mehrere Räume verteilt.
Der Service den die Kellner boten wurde von uns als nahezu perfekt empfunden.
Die sanitären Einrichtungen waren vorbildlich.