Smith & Kings

This place has bottomless mimosas on weekends from 10 – 2. I have nothing else to include in this review.

Best goddamn burger I’ve ever had thank you chef David
My friend and I came to china town to eat at «the pig & the lady» but the line was out the door and it’s only 130pm. So Smith and King is a few doors before and we stopped in. The place was completely empty, but the bartender (Jeff & he’s fucking phenomenal) welcomed us with open arms.
We sat at the bar and he made our drinks fantastic! We ordered a Moscow mule each, and lemme tell you, they’re strong and amazing. He told us about how good their burgers are, so we ordered ourselves some amazing burgers. They start at 11 $ and the go up as you add more goodies on top!

This place is okay for me, which is why i gave it 1 star. it wasnt my kind of place to be. went there with my bf. I would always see this place while driving past and finally got to see what all the fuss was about. There was a bunch of people outside hanging out, different mixes of people. I immediately thought, wow this is going to be fun. boy was i wrong. got in, it was SUPER loud. i know bars are loud to begin with but this was a diff kind of loud. there was a bunch of guys singing their music in the front & while they were singing, they would hold their mic up to their lips and it would sound like they were yelling. i did not like that. esp when im trying to talk to my bf but couldnt even hear a word he was saying :(so aside of that, i actually liked the drinks. it was strong & def not watered down like some other bars i know. BUT, if you dont buy drinks, they totally ignore you there, rude! the place is a cute small area with a stage like front & a bar. with bathrooms that have only ONE stall, so girls, i wish you luck! haha Not my type of bar. although everyone else should try it. thats just my opinion.

Excellent customer service. Bartender essential very attentive & informative regarding meal options. The lychee refresher was a good choice for myself. My friend ordered the maple bacon bloody Mary which they thoroughly enjoyed.
I enjoyed the lobster poutine fries. My friend loved his fries & foil grais burger. I liked my mac & cheese topped with bbq pulled pork.
Will be back again with more friends who would enjoy the atmosphere & what this place has to offer.
Parking was cheap for just $ 1.50 in the nearby parking garage.

The handcrafted cocktail menu contains something for everyone. Drafts, bottled beers and wines. The food menu isn’t huge, but the burgers and poutine are #TDF!

I ate here for the first time yesterday with a friend. I saw a poster on the wall saying that they’ll be celebrating their one year anniversary soon. Can’t believe it’s been in Chinatown/​Downtown for tha t long and I’m only now trying them out. I kinda of wish I came here sooner.
We arrived at about 12 noon and there was only two other people sitting at the bar, so the place was pretty empty considering the normal Downtown lunch crowd. But hey, it was fine with me, I hate when places are overcrowded anyways. The place is pretty dark, because of the chalkboard paint all over the walls, but it’s interesting. I had a nice lunch hour and was able to talk with my friend without being disturbed. There was only one server/​bartender, but she was pretty quick, friendly, and accommodating.
The food was a bit pricey, but the portions were pretty big and the food was yummy. We got the Foie Gras Burger and Lobster Poutine, and we halved both and got pretty full. The taste was pretty good, but we both agreed that it is probably not the healthiest place to eat. Maybe once in a while when you really want something totally yummy and bad for you.
All in all, I would definitely come back here to bring a friend or a bunch of coworkers to have a nice sit down lunch, where we can get served without having to fight a big crowd.

I’ve been here twice and I love it. Both times I sat at the bar and the cocktails are awesome. They have a new watermelon mojito that is a must try. They do have fresh jalapeños in this cocktail so it does have a little bit of heat to it. The Lychee Refresher and the Moscow mule were also quite tasty. Some of the bar stools are a little beat up though. It’s a little bit of a turn off, but the restaurant and bathrooms were clean so that helps.
We ordered their Montréal Poutine fries with pork belly and it was great! The pork belly was cooked perfectly and the fries were crispy which I love. We also ordered the jumbo chicken wings and they were okay. Nothing really to say about them except the fact that they are not JUMBO! These are AVERAGED size wings if that. We also had to ask for ranch and blue cheese twice after we already told the bartender that we wanted both. We were the only table in the restaurant! It’s not busy so I don’t understand why we couldn’t receive everything we wanted promptly. Which brings me to the service here… its hit or miss. The first time we went there the guy bartender was on it. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and actually made us want to come back. The female bartender that we had yesterday was not as attentive. The service was slow even though we were the only ones in there and she gave us the impression that she would rather have no tables. We wanted to order a couple more cocktails, but she didn’t ask us and just kept doing her sidework. I guess she didn’t need the sales or a bigger tip. We decided to go somewhere else for more cocktails. Even though the service is hit or miss here, the food and the cocktails here are winners. I can’t wait to come back and try other things. Hopefully the service will become more consistent over time.

OMG the first time I saw them on Instagram, I did a double take and looked closely at the caption «FOIE GRAS BURGER W/​POUTINE FRIES» wait wait wait whaaaa!!!
FOIE GRAS?
POUTINE???
All I could think of was, «look out Smith & Kings, here I come!»
I’m writing this review after a really great meal.
I got the Foie Gras Burger w/​Lobster Poutine Fries
— Suuuuuper Ono! Highly recommend! The Foie Gras didn’t really taste like Foie Gras, more like a hint of it, with a more pâté-​ish taste and texture. Burger meat was cooked medium (just the way I liked it). Bun was slightly sweet, which helped! Super decadent!!! I wish there was a pickle or something tangy to counter the decadence though.
— Lobster Poutine was so damnnnn good!!! Just get it. I preferred it over the regular Poutine because I love creamy sauces. Also, really decadent, just a heads up.
Bro got the Foie Gras add Bacon & Mac&Cheese w/​Poutine
— He loved it!
Bae got the Mardi Gras Burger w/​Fries
— Taste was good, but the burger fell apart):
They also got a Sweet Ass Ale & Watermelon Mojito
— Both were excellent
Food ⁵⁄₅
Service ⁵⁄₅
Overall, great experience. Also, I came on a Weds around 6:30pm, not too busy. Food came out quick! I will def come back!

I’ve seen the ads about Smith & Kings serving brunch, been meaning to stop by and finally got the chance to go today. I admit the bottomless mimosa may have been the final draw to pull me in, we get there and I find out that the bottomless mimosa is $ 25 per person… um. maybe next time. Not sure why as I’ve spent way more on drinks with my meals. but for some reason dropping $ 25 even for a bottomless glass seems a little high for breakfast/brunch.I did notice it was popular at several of the other tables but for today we went with a spicy Bloody Mary which was quite good (and spicy). During a time when brunch places have long wait times, S&K is a hidden gem where you can enjoy a great brunch while catching a game with no wait!
Food: We went with the Fresh Berry Waffles and the Eggs Benedict. First the Eggs Benedict. you can order it with a wide variety of meats, we went with the traditional ham. Perfectly poached eggs, served on sliced ham (and lettuce?) over nicely toasted English muffin. Very tasty, one of the better ones I’ve had. We asked for the lemon hollandaise sauce on the side but the dish really didn’t need it with all that yolky goodness. Served with a side of crisp potatoes the dish was just excellent. The waffles were also pretty good, fresh blueberries and raspberries, drizzled with a fruit syrup and topped with fresh whipped cream. Nothing too fancy but nicely executed, my only wish would have been if the waffles were a bit more crisp on the outside.
Service: Maybe because there wasn’t an NFL game on but we had no trouble walking in and getting a table right away. The food and drinks were served very quickly, our server kept close watch and came over several times to check on us, refill water, etc.
Atmosphere: Hip, cool place, normally a lunch/​dinner/​drinks place I heard they started serving breakfast during football season. Since it’s a mainly a bar there aren’t any booths but the high tops are comfortable enough.
Value: Aside from the $ 25 mimosa, the food prices while not the cheapest in town represented the quality of menu ingredients as well as the execution of the dishes.
Overall: Our server said they were only going to serve brunch during the NFL season but just decided that they will continue on serving brunch. It’s a great alternative to some of the other brunch places popping up around town and they are open on Sundays in Chinatown where most other trendy places are closed.

The food was voila! We got the lobster devilled eggs (which is one of their signatures — I personally don’t think it was all that great) We also had the foie gras burger which exceeded my expectations! If you’re a foie gras fan, this foie gras burger is a must! Its juicy and you can taste the hint of foie gras!
On the other hand, the service was not too great. The waiter took forever to refill our water (took more than 20 minutes) and took forever to grab out bill.

«I want to eat a burger for my birthday.» This simple request from one our friends led us to Smith & Kings. First of all, the location is great for any kind of downtown eating, whether it be a lunch break adventure or a pau hana get-​together. If you’re already in downtown, it’s a short walk down King Street, well before the Pig & the Lady. If you’re making a commute, no problem! There’s a convenient municipal parking lot on Smith Street right before you hit King Street; for a couple of hours it was $ 2.50. There’s also the street parking option, which is free after 6:00 pm.
Upon walking in, the ambiance was very casual and comfortable. Make sure you grab a table /​bar stools quickly, as the space tends to fill up. The décor inside is very much reminiscent of The Manifest a couple of blocks away — lots of brick, dim lighting and a vintage-​y vibe with the chalkboard walls.
Happy Hour runs from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. One of my girlfriends tried the Lychee Refresher, $ 5, and it was delicious… and totally dangerous because it tasted like juice! The menu is your typical bar fare — appetizers and burger options galore. They also have specials, so don’t forget to ask your server for those. This time I decided to go for the namesake burger, the King Burger, 8 oz. beef patty, cheddar cheese, pulled pork AND bacon. Very delish and it was a monster. This burger is a little messy… just something to keep in mind for those daring to try. The burgers come with your choice of salad or fries — go with the fries! Crispy, well-​seasoned, and compliment the burger well.
If you come in a large group or the place seems to be unusually busy, be sure to check your burger. We had a larger party of people and there seemed to be some kind of mix up with the orders and we also did have to wait a bit longer for our food — the grills just couldn’t keep up! Our server did explain that to us as we were waiting and kept trying to apologize. But other than that, everything was great. Next time, I would definitely consider splitting a couple of menu options with someone else, like some of our friends did.
Overall a great first time experience at S&K. It was a nice place to hang out and talk story after work /​school and I think I’ll definitely be back to try other things. I’m particularly interested in trying the Watermelon Mojito, Mac and Cheese, and their French Onion Soup, which supposedly shows up in their specials from time to time.
FYI — it looks like S&K regularly holds weekly events like Monday Trivia Night, Taco Tuesday, Wine Down Wednesday, etc.

Hmmmm … Smith & King’s: awesome Chinatown hipster ambience, lots of options on the menu, friendly service, so-​so overall.
The menu kind of annoyed the bejeezus out of me because every line had a different font, which made it ugly and irritating to read. It’s hard enough that there’s so much stuff on there, but to use a different font for each item is exhausting. I’m surprised they didn’t have to use Wingding’s, there are so many things on the menu.
Okay, since I got that out of the way: I had the Lobster Mac & Cheese, which was tasty but rich and expensive. I’d really only do that again if I had to. But I’ll admit it’s worth a try.
I ordered a burger for my partner in crime, and here’s where things get sour. So I was told the medium burger would be a little pink if that was okay. I thought, dur that’s perfect. It comes out more like medium rare, still dripping raw meat juices. Giiiirl, you didn’t mean pink, you meant red! Please be warned — they cook everything more rare than usual. Apparently medium means reddish, so for that nice pink juiciness, you’ll want medium well.
Soooo, my friend sends the burger back hoping for a 10-​second nuke to cook it to the «correct medium» and it comes back a few minutes later tooootally well-​done. I mean, it’s kind of to be expected. I guess it was okay because it was comped, but daaaang, it’s kind of like the waitress was fighting it and it was our fault they call medium rare «medium.» I think it needed to be explained better that they undercook.
It is considered a wine bar and on Wednesdays they have deals on glasses of wine, if that’s what you’re into. Don’t think I’ll be coming back here, unless it’s a last resort.

We dropped by near the end of a Saturday for drinks and liked it so much that we didn’t leave until the bar closed lol.
The hip hop music was great. There was a tiny dance floor by the DJ, but we chose to dance while sitting at our table instead.
And the drinks! So yummy. I had something guava flavored and another thing lychee flavored, and I fell in love with Hawaii all over again. Thank you Smith and Kings.
The only thing I didn’t like was that they only had one bathroom per gender.
But I would definitely come back next time I’m in town.

If you’re watching your cholesteral Smith & Kings may not be very helpful with that. Two of their best items on the menu, Foie Gras Burger ($ 16) and Montréal Poutine Fries ($ 7) will probably set you back a months work of progress on your cholesteral, but its so worth it!
The Foie Gras Burger, dare I say it, is THE best burger I have ever feasted on. It’s a ball of juicy, rich, flavorful meat between some kind of hawaiian sweet bread. My fiancé couldn’t stop raving about it and has proclaimed it the best burger hes ever had, even more so than those produced by a few luxuy food & Beverage establishments hes worked with.
The Montréal Poutine Fries are a gravy and cheese addicts gluttonous fix. I could eat this all day every day if one serving wasn’t an entire’s day worth of sodium intake.
Drinks are yummy and the Lychee Refresher ($ 5 during happy hour) is a must try and a great way to wind down after work. I love it that FINALLY, one bar in town offers happy hour until 8pm. Thank you for accomodating those of us that can’t get out of work before happy hour ends!
This overall is a very cool, urban hipster bar that should be on your next bar hopping experience.

Unilocal 100 Review Challenge 2015: ¹¹⁸⁄₁₀₀
I’ve both heard and read great things about Smith & Kings and finally, thanks to my co-​worker (@Douglas C.) who treated us to lunch, I was able to try this place.
Our party of 5 shared two round tables in their black interior restaurant. The large windows allows plenty of sunlight in. After reviewing the menu I decided on the original Mac ‘n Cheese while my co-​workers ordered Burgers and the Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese. We chatted away and before we knew it, our food was delivered — all at once, which was nice. I excitedly dug into my Mac n’ Cheese and to my dismay I tasted blue cheese. Now I love cheese! But I am a firm believer that there is a time and place for cheese. Blue cheese on my salad? Yes please! Blue cheese with my buffalo wings? Yes please! BUT blue cheese in my mac n’ cheese?! No Thank you. My co-​worker who ordered the Lobster Mac n’ Cheese had a similar complaint of the presence of aged, bitter cheese. At first I suspected the bitter taste was from the goat cheese since the menu didn’t mention blue cheese in their 5 cheese blend, but after confirming with the server, there was indeed blue cheese in the mac n’ cheese. The blue cheese mixed with some red pepper flakes and other spices was a no-​no for me. I ended up not finishing my dish and downing two entire cups of water. Which leads me to my other disappointment… our waters were only refilled ONCE! We all left thirsty with empty glasses of water (please see photos below).
On the other hand, my three other co-​workers enjoyed their burgers and shared their fries. The fries were warm and nicely seasoned but there was an inconsistency with some fries being crunchy and others, soggy. My co-​worker actually enjoyed that aspect of the fries, but not me.
Lesson of the day? Order the burgers.

For some time now, I have been going to bed thinking about where I could go to eat a juicy burger. I know that’s pretty bad lol. Anywho, I quickly skimmed and searched on Unilocal reading the tip sections for Smith and kings. I was wondering if «the King» burger was worth ordering.
I walked into the pub around 12pm, and it was quite empty. There was about three people eating inside alone, so I did not feel too bad eating by myself:) I took a seat at the bar where there was two huge flat screen televisions. I was greeted by a sweet bartender and she happily served me my lemon water.
I ordered the «King» burger, which consisted of house smoked bbq pulled pork, over a patty with applewood bacon and cheddar. It also came with a choice of house frites or market salad. I went with the fries;) hee hee
I waited patiently about 10 – 15 minutes after they accidentally brought me the wrong order. When my food finally came the presentation was beautiful. The abundance of bbq pulled pork cascading down on top of my burger was a piece of art. It was placed in between the bacon and melted Cheddar which had me cheer for joy!
I took the knife and sliced it in half. My first bite was meaty, flavorful, sweet, tangy, crunchy, and just heaven! The frites were also legit. Not too much potato, but just enough crisp. I would give this experience four and half stars if Unilocal offered halves lol.
Overall it was a great burger and I would be back!!!

I visited Smith & Kings during my quest to find some of the best mac and cheese dishes in the city. I convinced my parents to go with me because I figured they would enjoy some of the menu offerings. We went on a Saturday night for an early dinner around 6 p.m.
I was surprised by how small the S&K interior actually was. It was dark with high tables and bar stools — traditional pub/​bar set-​up. During our visit, it wasn’t even crowded, which was surprising for a Saturday. But, one of our servers told us that they didn’t start getting really busy until around 10 p.m.
There’s lots to try on this menu, but mac and cheese was my priority. Since the eatery wasn’t crowded, our food came quickly and service was great. Props to the S&K staff for being really pleasant, accommodating and more than willing to answer my questions.
I definitely would revisit this place because there’s so much on the menu that I want to try. I don’t think my parents liked the interior/​general vibe of this place (not great lighting, etc.) but my dad, at least, was happy with his food.
Here’s what we got:
«Fish & Chips»: This entrée featured a local white fish and seasoned fries. Our server said the restaurant is known for this entrée, especially on «Fish and Chip Fridays,» where the dish is only $ 10. I was interested to see how the dish tasted, so my mom ordered it and I had a few bites. We were all disappointed that the fish, though plentiful in amount/​serving size, was really oily and soggy. It wasn’t crispy, which is what you normally think of when it comes to fish and chips. The fries themselves were well seasoned, which I liked, but they were soggy as well. If the fish were crispier, it would have made all the difference (and I think my mom would have been much happier with her meal). But that, combined with the soggy fries, made her resolute to never order the fish and chips from here again. I don’t mind soggier fries so I helped her clean off her plate, but even I wouldn’t get this fish and chips … unless they just had an off-​night and the batter is usually crunchier and the exterior shell is delectably crisp (not overly hard, but not limp and soggy like we encountered). The fish itself tasted fresh and I like how there were 3 – 4 pieces of it, but the soggy exterior just ruined it for all of us.
«Smoke-​Roasted BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich»: This sandwich comes chockfull of savory, tender and juicy pulled pork, along with your choice of house frites or market salad. My dad ordered this as his entrée and was quite pleased with the turnout. He opted for the market salad to share with my mom; I probably would have gotten the house frites if I ordered this dish. But we were all astonished at how much pulled pork came with the sandwich! It was a generous helping and it made me hopeful that, if I ever got the original mac and cheese with pulled pork, the portion would be plentiful as well. I had a chance to taste some of the pulled pork and it was really moist and flavorful … just the way I like it. I wouldn’t mind ordering this sandwich for myself one day.
«Lobster Mac & Cheese»: I was torn between ordering the original mac and cheese and adding on a meat, or getting this lobster version. Our server said both versions were good – she recommended the pork belly or the lobster, so I opted for the lobster. Plus, I had seen numerous photos of this dish and was eager to try it for myself. When it comes to mac and cheese, the cheesier, the better, so I was more than happy with the five-​cheese medley (including gorgonzola, blue cheese, parmesan and mozzarella) that comprised this dish. However, if you don’t like your mac and cheese to be super cheesy – or you detest gorgonzola – you won’t be a fan. The gorgonzola is especially strong, but I don’t mind because it’s one of my favorite cheeses. There’s a sufficient amount of lobster chunks throughout; it’s not as plentiful as it could be, but that ensures that the cheese has the starring role. The bowl itself isn’t the biggest, but because the mac and cheese is really rich, the amount was more than sufficient. I found myself getting full toward the end of the dish; good portion and amazing, cheesy blend. This mac and cheese entrée isn’t for the faint of heart!
«Smith & Kings Mac & Cheese»: This creamy blend of five cheeses comes with the option to add smoke roasted BBQ pulled pork or crispy pork belly for an additional fee. Next time, I would want to try this option and add the pork belly, as our server recommended. I’m sure the pulled pork would taste delicious as well.
«Croque Madame»: This was the sandwich that my mom contemplated ordering, and after she tried the fish and chips, she was convinced that she should have gone with her gut and ordered this as her entrée. This sandwich features a cheesy layer and comes with your choice of house frites or a market salad. She saw photos of it on Unilocal and said that it looked good, so she is determined to try it next time.

My new favorite neighborhood bar close to work. Even though I don’t work in downtown, Smith & Kings is just a hop, skip, and jump away, and a well worth the short drive. Parking is on Smith in the Chinatown Municipal lot — $ 3 max pau hana time.
This spot gives off a mainland type of ambiance with the surrounding chalkboard menu and wood walls, and also because of their specialty cocktails and type of food. I’ve tried almost everything on the menu, but some of my faves include their Moscow Mule, pork belly poutine fries and lobster mac & cheese. Other nice options include lobster deviled eggs, foie gras burger, and any of the flatbreads.
Service can sometimes be a little slow, but all in all great vibe with awesome cocktails and food!
PS. I believe they are open for football games on Sunday mornings too!

I’m a burger guy and am always looking for solid burger options. Downtown leaves a lot to be desired in the burger arena. Enter: Smith & Kings! They are definitely a contender but I’m not ready to crown them tops for downtown yet!
Craft beer and cocktail selection apt for the downtown crowd, S&K offers more than burgers but this review is about my burger experiences.
Their burger is legit! Their King’s burger is a man’s burger! A meaty meal befitting a king: pulled pork, bacon, and wagyu beef! All this protein wrapped in a soft bun. I would balance out the innate saltiness and spend the 2 bucks for a fried egg (more protein! LoL).
On my second visit, the pulled pork was mixed in with bbq sauce. I rather taste the meat flavor sans the bbq sauce and will ask for the sauce-​less version on upcoming visits…
Fries were excellent. Although not ultra-​crispy, they were skinny and cooked through well. Seasoned like how fries should be! They sure do know how to make tasty fries!
Service was exceptional especially the gentleman tending the bar this lunch hour. Sammy (a co-​owner) cordially apologized for over cooking my patty. Assured me it was an aberration. The cook swears my burger was the only time he overcooked a patty. I believe them! My next visit, though, the patty was undercooked. Undercooking a patty does leave the juices intact but can leave a mushy texture. They will get it right eventually, I am sure!
I hear it’s a packed house when they have trivia night on select Wednesdays with prizes awarded. I should check that out – I am sure my fiancé would enjoy it!
Despite not being able to cook my burger to order, conceptually, i like their burger! I am a fan! Best burger downtown? Not yet but soon!!! Just cook my patty correctly, please!

I had lunch with 2 coworkers today. The interior is very casual bar setting & stools don’t have a backrest so you can’t lean back. Everything is black including the tables, stools, floor, walls & even their cloth napkins which is good for black clothing to avoid the usual white lint from standard cloth napkins.
Our server was really friendly & greeted us upon entry. After sitting, she brought us ice waters (without us asking) and offered lemon slices for our water glasses.
We had:
Poutine with crispy pork — (3.5÷5). We asked for extra crispy fries which were very tasty. The gravy was on the side to avoid soggy fries & the pork was a nice crispy, piece that added flavor to the dish. I put the cheese curd pieces in the hot, steaming gravy bowl to heat them up & melt them a bit, which worked & made the dish more enjoyable.
Lobster Mac & cheese — (²⁄₅). This sounded tasty in concept, however, I didn’t heed the warnings of other Unilocalers & tried it anyway. I was disappointed & it was blah. The lobster bits were on top of the dish in the center, after the Mac & cheese was cooked & plated. I think that if the lobster was blended in the cheese sauce or mixed in the pasta & baked with a bit of breadcrumbs on top, it could be wonderful.
Foie gras burger −(4÷5). This was a nice, juicy burger made with foie gras pâté, so it wasn’t as rich as if you had a piece of foie on top of the patty, so it was perfectly cooked & flavorful.
We were too full to try dessert, but will next time. I think our server said that their dessert offerings were molton chocolate cake, crème brulee & peach cobbler.
Service was prompt & very friendly (⁵⁄₅).