Smee's Alaskan Fish Bar & Market Place — Restaurant in Reno

Food is a solid 4, service is consistently 1-2

Frequently encountered service issues (missed items, wrong items, appetizers brought with the mains) prompted this review.

Most recently, our appetizers (2) were again served just after our main courses. Consuming dishes intended to be eaten hot after they become cold, especially seafood, is many times unpleasant. With mains and a hot appetizer on the table, there was too much food to be consumed while both were hot. When approached, the server only repeated, “It’s not my fault, I put the order in the system”. She would not acknowledge guests might view such service as problematic. We decided to engage management because we have encountered this specific issue several times at Smee’s.

The manager (we later discovered he was also the owner) was contemptuous of our feedback. At the restaurant’s price point, one should expect reasonably competent service. He too would not acknowledge any issue, specifically that the volume of hot seafood was too great for it all to be comfortably consumed in a hot state. His first response was, “The server is having a bad day” (and he said this on two occasions). To which we responded, “That is irrelevant. The restaurant is responsible / accountable for staffing and service, including training, not the customer”. We accepted service issues previously in the spirit of understanding that mistakes occur but since service issues are a pattern, we pressed our point.

He then commented, “Well, I’m here every day and COVID makes things tough”. Our response, “Everybody’s work life, including ours, is tough because of COVID and 11 months into COVID, you should have service figured out better than you do”, especially at the restaurant’s price point. He did not remove the now cold appetizer and bring a fresh, hot version after we finished our mains. He was indifferent that we were regular customers. Eventually he grudgingly offered a discount, which was not even half the amount of the hot appetizer (there was also a cold appetizer, oysters, for which we did not request any accommodation). We declined the offer.

The math is straight forward to a business owner: is a customer accommodation in the amount of $18, even if the owner feels the adjustment is not justified, warranted to preserve a future revenue stream (9-15 visits per year, $100 - $150 per visit). This owner conveyed that he is entitled to his customers’ patronage regardless of restaurant performance.

Edit after owner response That I have never met you is a reflection on you, not me. As is accusing me of lying. Your character is revealed in your interaction with us and your response to this review. Characterizing our interaction as bullying is juvenile. We apprised you of persistent issues and you were indeed contemptuous, so yes, we said we would not return.

You took no ownership of the persistent issues we shared with you. Instead, you blamed everyone but yourself (us, your server, COVID). Your food is good but service is greatly lacking. Instead of using the feedback to improve your business, you attempt to belittle me to distract from the...

I want to start by saying there a lot of fine restaurants along the Truckee River downtown but Smees is definitely not one of them. The only reason I'm giving it two stars is because of the nice location and view. I ordered the Salmon. The menu said salmon with cilantro and lime garnish on a bed of jasmine rice and baby spinach. The dish came and, in addition to the forementioned ingredients, it had an abundance of tangerines, onions, and grapes. Not as garnish, mind you. The were fully integrated into the dish. I tried to pick around them but it just wasn't working. After a few bites I kindly informed the waitress showing her the menu and then showing her what I actually had sitting in front of me. Soon Mr Smee himself came to the table. I explained my dilemma and he immediately got defensive. I was upfront saying I just wanted what it said on the menu and that he could still charge me for two meals. It wasn't about the money. Instead of just letting it go he got snippy and his (ill-informed) counterargument was that they also had mango salsa on a lot of dishes but don't list all of the ingredients in the salsa. Now I'm an airline pilot not a chef. But even I know that salsa is, by its very nature , a BLEND. And he considers himself a professional restauranteur? What else doesn't he know about what's in his food?? What if I had a food allergy? Disturbing to say the least. My girlfriend's order was messed up too but I wanted to keep this short. To paraphrase a wise, well known philosopher, eating at Smees is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're...

Smee's has moved. It is now a fish and chips shop. Nothing like the other location. The fish and are still excellent. The remaining menu is okay.

First time visit to Smee's Alaskan Fish. The restaurant was not extremely busy and there was a laid back vibe going. We got a table inside right away. Not bad for 6:30 pm on a Saturday night.

The interior and patio seating rates a 5 star. Both were clean and we'll spaced. The exterior patio seating actually looks out over the Truckee river. Inside was a semi-nautical theme, tastefully done.

The food didn't quite rate a 5 but a does deserve a solid 4 stars. The wife and I shared a two piece fish & chips and three Mahi Mahi tacos. The fish for the fish & chips were crispy on the exterior and moist on the inside. Not oily and fresh tasting. The tacos had a very nice mango salsa and we're excellent.

The service was not up to par. There were only four tables occupied inside and the server picked her favorite customer and left the rest to rot. She took our order and picked up the money. No check ups. No drink refills. No nothing. Our server rated one star or less. Maybe given time the quality of the service staff will improve.

Update Mother's Day 2022. Food still excellent. The had fish and chips and I had shrimp and grits. We also shared a fried calamari. The shrimp and grits were delicious. I was very surprised since I really don't like grits.

Service this time was damn good. Our server was friendly and was timely with food and drinks. With this improvement, I will have to rate...