The Smackin — Restaurant in Redford Township

Hey everybody, I'm back with another restaurant review. I give honest reviews and that includes the good and the bad.

I visited a restaurant that is new to me, The Smackin in Redford on 8 mile near Beech Daily. After seeing a TikToker rave about this place I wanted to try it. I went on my lunch hour and I'm glad I ordered ahead via a online ordering app. I waited in my car until the alert came through that the order was ready. I went in and the order wasn't actually ready. It needed a few more minutes even though the app told me it was. Definitely pre-order so you can get your food in a reasonable time. There were a lot of people in there waiting for their food. There were some small circular high tables, but not a lot of seating available. I definitely consider this a carryout spot, so it was a car lunch kind of day.

At first glance the food looked really good as you can see, the lobster grilled cheese sandwich was placed on a bed of fries. You can tell that the bread is toasted. Looks really good right? At first glance, yes.  But when I picked up the sandwich and turned it over, the first thing I noticed was that it was burnt. Absolutely burnt! Big red flag for me. I did not like that, but I went ahead and took a bite anyway as I was already back in my work parking lot and there was no way I was going back to the restaurant and be late to work.

The sandwich tasted bland to me. Very heavy on the butter which made it greasy, unfortunately it was also very light on the lobster flavor. You could physically see the lobster but the flavor wasn't quite there. I don't know if it was drowned out by too much butter or maybe it was the burnt bread. Whatever it was, it overpowered the lobster. Also, I don't believe it was 100% lobster meat. I think there was possibly Langoustines in there to help beef up the lobster filling. Had the sandwich not been burnt, it probably would have tasted a lot better.

I love a good for fry. Unfortunately these were softer than I  prefer and they were missing salt all together. They did not provide salt in the bag so soft unseasoned fries it was. Which also wasn't the best impression.

I ordered a "fresh lemonade" on the app and it did not indicate that it was a frozen slushie style flavored drink. So when I arrived and I was given a choice of frozen flavors, I was surprised because I didn't want a slushie. Regardless, it was pretty good even though it didn't taste like lemonade. I had two flavors mixed together and I liked it but it was very sweet as one would expect. So overall the meal was greasy, under seasoned, and sweet from the drink. Not my favorite combination.

I had such high hopes based on the review I had seen. Sadly this was a fail for me. Especially for the price tag of the sandwich. The lobster grilled cheese is ($32) and frozen lemonade ($6).  I was pretty disheartened by the fact that they would actually serve a burnt sandwich that cost $32.  Will I go back? Very unlikely. Maybe my visit was a fluke?  Either way, I was disappointed...

The food was definitely good. A touch on the salty side but very well seasoned otherwise. Hence the 4 stars. My wife had a steak and cheese sub and I had the catfish sub both were delicious. The cat fish was prepared correctly. I won't eat it otherwise because I've had greasy over done cat fish before. We shared the bacon chicken egg rolls which I think were the star of the show. No dipping was required. It stood alone. The 3 plates came with fries. They were pretty standard seasoned fries. Service was also pretty standard for any restaurant. Cost was not unreasonable as the portions and quality of food reflects the cost. I can see what I'm paying for. We shared a strawberry banana drink that you could tell was actually made with fruit and was not overly sweet.

Now to the atmosphere and why I knocked it down to 1 star. Yep you have a nice mural and chairs and what not but I didn't get to appreciate any of that because my wife and I had to go find a restroom. Taco Bell was much more accommodating. I can get not letting random people off the street use your restroom. However I'm a paying customer that dropped over 70 dollars at your restaurant. This wasn't a food truck. I shouldn't have to find a restroom. You're obligated not by law but common courtesy to your customers to provide it. I have been to restaurants all over Detroit and Metro Detroit and have never been denied use of the restroom if I was a paying customer, until...

Ok who owns this? My first visit was good, but last night's 2nd visit was not! I tried calling before I wrote this review but no answer. First issue is the oxtail philly. For it to be a new item on the the new menu, how is the price not updated? Charged me 25 + tax instead of what's on the menu. I asked the young cashier about it she just said "I don't even know maybe the taxes I said no sweetie the taxes made it even more. $27 and some change. Next was the peach lemonade, not good barely any flavor and especially not worth $5. Ok so I get home last night, open my container and said Ok looks good and alot of meat. I started to wat it and almost spit it out as it was beyond salty!! I said ok maybe it was just that piece so I started eating different parts and it all was way too salty especially for my high blood pressure! Not only was it salty but definitely not like oxtail meat! More of a roast and my household agreed! Let me find out yall giving people pot roast meat saying it's oxtail which I will put money on!! I cook both alot! $30 for that to happen, and now seeing others with same salty complaints yall need to refund ppl with no questions!! I still have that salty roast mess and will keep calling until I reach someone about a refund or credit for a different dish....