Chicago Michelin Smyth π¦ Really Delicious
Was sick and paused updates β still not fully recovered π«. Originally planned to take mom to Oriole, but their new menu didnβt appeal, so we tried Smyth β the last 2-star spot on my list! β€οΈ Highlights: π₯ Smoked Quail Egg β quail egg + toasted walnut + caviar β nutty and briny with a familiar five-spice vibe, but more complex. π¦ Lobster Two Ways β loved the lobster custard (silky smooth). The lobster meat came with a sauce like Korean radish kimchi β okay for me, mom enjoyed it. π¦ Dungeness Crab β looks plain but insanely delicious! Crab roe + meat + crab butter β umami explosion. Sauce with walnut oil and almond milk β fresh yet rich. π Squash & Caviar β layers of sweet squash soup, caviar, custard, and soft pumpkin seeds β seamless and satisfying. π€ Letdowns: π² Lobster & Seaweed Soup β server said not to eat much, just taste the brothβ¦ one sip was enough π€’. π King Salmon β sous-vide for hours β texture was soft like raw but cooked, oddly disappointing. White asparagus foam was okay. π₯© Wagyu β sauce was too sweet. π Mixed Feelings (& Why It Felt Monotonous): Smyth seems obsessed with seafood + nuts β toasted walnuts, walnut oil, pecan crumbs, hazelnut oilβ¦ The crab dish was stunning, but later courses like potato ice cream and the final tartlet had similar flavor profiles β felt repetitive. Even the quail egg had a reminiscent finish. Yes, they excel at seafood, service was great (our server was chatty and complimentary). Overall recommended β just be ready for some flavor dΓ©jΓ vu. #ChicagoEats #Smyth #Michelin2Star #SeafoodLover #NutOverload #HitOrMiss #FoodReview π½οΈ
