The Smiths — Restaurant in Lagos State

To begin with, they failed to deliver my starter to the kitchen. I noted the waiter's shock when I asked about the starter while he was attempting to deliver the main course. He proceeded to explain that he in fact did send it to the machine but it didn't print out or something..didn't understand the explanation to be honest.

My main meal went ahead to be delivered but turned out to be different from what I expected. The waiter had informed me that the seafood pasta I ordered was in a creamy sauce but alas it was actually olive oil. I drew the manager's attention at that point because I was becoming a little irritated and he came over to clarify that the waiter was mistaken and the seafood pasta was usually made with an olive base. The waiter took away my main meal to rectify it and subsequently apologized. The manager also promised to look into the issue of the starter.

My starter finally arrived which were the scallops and I noticed that two of the scallops were half the size of the third scallop. It was literally the size of the tip of my baby finger. I asked the waiter what was going on and why the scallops were not the same size and he responded that this is the way it is always served. You get one regular size and the two half the size of the regular size....I found that quite funny....hahahahah.

I then went to The Smith's Instagram page and showed him the image and video of the scallops in their post, which all appeared to be the same size on the plate and he responded with an "oh". He took this starter away yet again and the manager seeing what was going on proceeded to follow him to enquire as to what happened. He must have explained as the manager came back and informed me that they will add an extra scallop to my plate. I was actually pleasantly surprised when two extra (small though but still a very good gesture) scallops were added instead of one. Unfortunately that joy was short-lived when the scallops turned out to be salty as hell....:(:(:(

My pasta finally arrived and was okay. I then ordered the cookie and ice cream for dessert and that was scrumptious. Actually the best part of the meal. The manager came over to tell me that the dessert was on the house which again I have to admit was a lovely gesture on their part and made me less annoyed with the whole experience.

To be honest, I must attest to the fact that they made an effort to address any issues that arose. My confusion however was why so many issues presented itself in just one sitting.

Food wise I give them a 3/5. Ambiance a 5/5. The owners really went over and beyond with the ambiance of the place and you could tell that they took their time to provide Lagos with a spot that look wise, can compete with any fine dining restaurant abroad. Unfortunately that is where it ends as the food isn't really great nor the staff well trained on what the...

Arriving at The Smiths at 8 pm on a Tuesday evening, I was immediately offended by the waitstaff. I was left to stand for about a minute with my beautiful date in front of a largely empty restaurant… leaving me to remind the plentiful, thumb-twiddling waitstaff that I needed to be ushered to a table. “Do you have a reservation?” 🙄🙄 It’s such a pretentious question when there are just about 4 seated guests in the entire restaurant, talking about reservations, and yes, I do have a reservation. Not off to a great start… It’s an elegant space for sure, but it already reminds me of Taj, a space-constrained restaurant doing the most to squeeze in as many clientele... It’s not quite the same here, to be fair. The Smiths managed to keep their space grab reasonable.

It was a reggae night with a live band playing softly while sitting awkwardly in a tight corner. I wasn’t being impatient or too quick to judge the waitstaff; there’s clearly something amiss. My assigned waiter appears aware of protocol but not willing to participate in creating an experience for guests. The menu plays it safe with a collection of familiar Western favorites slapped with pricing that even Captain CBN would find offensive.

First impressions matter, but alas, 20 minutes in and I’ve not only managed to forgive but also forget all of the little quirks I whined about earlier. There’s no weightier metric to assess a restaurant by beyond the artistry of food and the quality/freshness of ingredients. The Smiths have earned their place right there in the uncommon category where only a handful compete… And yes, the pricing is entirely apt for what’s on offer. It’s an...

I felt this was a 4 star before sliding through pictures and realizing another Tomahawk had a better cut a week ago. Serious side eye. Yes, I know all steaks have variations based on cut and the actual cattle. But I also don't care for the three (3) sauces are pre-selected for you. They provide chimichurri, peppercorn and mushroom with the latter two (2) being tasty and expertly made. That chimichurri leaves much to be desired and I've had plenty Brazilian steakhouses to compare.

The Coke products (e.g. can pops) are pricey and so are cocktails. Yet, fresh squeeze juices are par for the course.

Here's what works:

1. Scallops are available. Bless them. I don't care for couscous but may scallops remain as the area is lacking for their offerings.

2. Tomahawk price and value. But it wasn't hot enough to melt the butter pat. That roasted garlic 🧄 was CHEF'S KISS. I'm baffled more steakhouses in the area don't have roasted garlic accompanying their steaks. Love the display and All Clad type service dishes.

3. Garlic roasted potatoes were done right. They remained hotter than the actual steak. I don believe they held the steak in the kitchen nor on the expo line as I heard the bell but we didn't sit under a fan either so I can't explain why it was so cold so fast. The butter and remnants congealed on the plate.

4. Decor & Aesthetics: Clean lines.Bright. Airy. Smart cutlery and monogrammed plates.

I do wish they'd consider serving the steaks hot and sizzling.

I shall return for linguine sans tomatoes and another Tomahawk. Maybe this was just an off day but I have hope as the flavor...