Smith & Wollensky

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101 Arlington St, Boston, MA 02116
Boston, MA 02116

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(617) 423-1112
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Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Smith & Wollensky - Boston, MA
Reviews
( 16 )
( 2 )
( 7 )
( 7 )
( 10 )

Best

The food is hands down delicious. My boyfriend and I started off with the split pea soup and the caesar salad. Although the salad was fine (I'm not sure how you can make caesar sa...

Worst

Have to say we felt like the trailer trash cousins invited to Thanksgiving dinner. No one really wanted us there but had to ask.Both the bread and the Caesar salad were a huge dis...

Predictable food, mediocre service (even for Boston)! 7/22/2006

Let me preface my review by saying that I'm from the Midwest, and the East Coast just does not do beef like we do. I've been to Smith and Wollensky's in several cities, and the Boston location is definitely sub-par. I don't quite understand why the service in all New England restaurants is so bad, but at steakhouse prices, I feel like it should have been much better than it was. We waited for a hostess for quite a while and then were all but abandoned at the bar, since our table wasn't ready despite a reservation and a number of open tables. The waitress came around to take our order, and to give us our check, and that was it. We had to order our wine from another member of the wait staff, and it was a pity for her, because we would have ordered much more if anyone had paid attention to us. The food was decent, but expected, not bad, not good; just what was expected. The presentation was non-existent--they literally must have slapped it on the plates. One of the best meals I've ever had was at a Smith and Wollensky, and this meal was not even close. I would have had the same kind of culinary experience at Outback or Bugaboo Creek for a third of the price and with better service. The location of the restaurant was the only good part about it. Pros: Valet, Close to T, Nice location Cons: Service, Value more
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Incredible 7/10/2006

First of all, location is extremely impressive. The restaurant is a renovated castle in Boston. The service was great, the food was FANTASTIC. The filet was cooked and seasoned PERFECTLY, the appetizers and sides(specifically the truffled macaroni and cheese) were amazing. After I left, all my date and I could say was ""wow."" Inside the building was really remarkable and very very impressive. I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. This comes with my highest recommendations. Pros: Food, Service, Decor more
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Rude Service, Mediocre Food 6/11/2006

I've eaten at this restaurant twice and have been extremely underwhelmed. The tuna tataki was excellent and the filet was cooked properly. However, the steaks are outright boring in flavor...much better steaks are to be had in Boston. The building is its primary plus. The service was so horrible and at times outright rude. I don't know who would be foolish enough to eat here and subject themselves to this type of treatment. Overall, this was 2 of the worst dining experiences I've had in Boston. Pros: Decor Cons: Service, Steak more
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Expense account meal 5/13/2006

Attended a meeting for 50 and had very impressive steaks. The side dishes were served family style in copper pots - cute, I guess. The service was good but not of the highest order. I can't say that I'd ever pay for a meal where the conversation amongst the first floor guests reeked of superficiality. You come here to be seen or to impress a client. Steaks like this are found at many restaurants. Oh, and you have to travel up and down floors to get to the rest rooms.... it does help you work off the calories. A friend took us for another meal here...Impressive seafood appetizer - that's it... Pros: Decor, "The Castle", Seafood appy Cons: Pricey, Must valet, Noisy dining room more
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Stay Away 5/11/2006

I paid $44 for a steak that was half fat and grizzle. Service was mediocre at best. Bad meal. more
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How to waste $200. 3/11/2006

Like eating in Grand Central Terminal. We ordered one sirloin, which was good, one cajun rib eye, tasted like was from Indian restaurant, soaked with a curry oil, disgusting, & 2 swordfish steaks. Server said cut was 2"" thick. When swordfish arrived, it was paper thin, similar to what you would get at a Fridays. My wife sent back swordfish for a different cut, but, they were out of swordfish. So, she had salad. Manager bought us desert, but by now we had enough of this overstated restaurant, retrieved our $20 valet parked car, and left. If you don't care about food, go there. But, if your'e out for a great meal, (and don't mind paying), there are many good steakhouses outside of Boston, that don't charge $40 for steak, and then make excuses for their pitiful performance on the plate. Leave this place to the yuppies. Cons: service, price, food more
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Huge dissapointment part 2 3/8/2006

2 Part review Part 2: We all ordered filet mignon. There were no sides included but would have expected at least one. She did mention a vegetable medley platter, so we opted for that. The calamari was soggy. The salad and soup were good, but hard to mess-up. When the filets came out, the orders were wrong. All overcooked, dry, and tough. The vegetable medley platter was small in portion and overpriced. Dessert was not spectacular. The key lime pie was unbearably sour. Overall bad service, okay food. Restaurant week should not be an excuse to degrade the dining experience. Its a chance for them to fill their tables and give customers an opportunity to indulge. We had other friends there the same night. Their experience was just as bad. This is not fine dining at its best. This should not be compared to the other steakhouses down the block. Pros: decor Cons: service, food more
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disaster... with an addendum 2/21/2006

Went to dinner 2 out of 3 nights... my fault for going the second time...food is good...steak is dry aged and very well prepared,, but it is only steak.....service is horrific... first night waited 1.5 hours for a table despite a reservation.....2nd night... despite being there on time ... they still ""gave ""our table away.... when we did get a table ... we waited 40 mins to even see a waiter,,,. so no bread , no water... just stuck waiting... service is so poor , I am ashamed to say i actually went back,,,. from now on all business dinners go to the grill 23... they know how to treat a customer......ADDENDUM>>>>...went back a month later for a business dinner which was done despite my objections . We were put on one of the upper floors in a private room. , steak was almost inedible... the service was laughable ... no eye contact, no smile, again the attitude that you are a burden to them (until it is time to leave a tip) .... I think they would have thrown the plates on the table if they could ..... the staff was so morose that they reminded me of the costumed staff at the Haunted Mansion at Disney, only here they were not acting. Aside from the setting, this branch is a blemish on an otherwise fine chain. The waitstaff and management here should be sent to the New York branch for a course in service, attitude and manners. Pros: dry aged steak Cons: bad attitude, horrific service, rude staff more
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Disappointing 2/16/2006

A party of 14 with reservations, we arrived on time on a weeknight and were shown to a cramped table in the far end of the dining room directly in front of a service hallway. The dining room was large and many tables that stood empty all night, yet we sat crowded together to the point that servers could not maneuver around the table. We waited not less than 45 minutes for our appetizers. Main courses arrived after a similar extended wait. Ahi tuna was not room temperature, it, and the accompaniments, were cold. Scallops had a flavor of lighter fluid. By the time the server returned to ask how our meals were, others were almost finished with their meals. As we exited the restaurant, the employees standing near the door with arms folded and grim faces gave the distict impression of awaiting our departure. An overall bad experience. Pros: beautiful room Cons: slow service, poorly cooked food, mismanagement more
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Average at best 2/16/2006

I took my wife to S&W for Valentines Day. The food was OK, service was not that great. Food was on the pricey side and the entire experience was a little too pricey for me. I walked in with high expectations and walked out disappointed. Pros: Side dishes, historical building Cons: Service, too expensive more
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Nice Joint but that's about it 2/14/2006

The Castle is impressive and the 4 floors of dining each have their own character. However, the infatuation stops there. The steaks were adequate, prepared according to order but nothing special. For the price, better steaks can be elsewhere in the city. The sides were small and had little imagination. Service was average as the staff was knowledgeable but left the water glasses empty way too often. I am glad I went but for the price I'll go elsewhere for steaks. Pros: Steaks, Atmosphere Cons: Service, Price more
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Alot of fan fare and no substance! 2/5/2006

Let me start by saying my family and I are experienced diners. We went to this restuarant as a group of 15 with reservations. It was one of the worst experiences I've had in a restuarant. The service was painfully slow, the waiter got our order wrong and the steaks were not cook as requested. A medium steak was deliver very rare. When we brought it to the waiter's attention he began to blame my sister, telling her their steaks were on the lighter side and he had explained that to her. He then returned the steak to the kitchen. It was returned to my sister a half hour later, burnt on the outside and still rare on the inside. The worst part was that no-one cared that we were having a lousy time. I will never go back and nither will my family. I do not recommend this restuarant. more
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Amazing 10/27/2005

Great food, great service, great wine list. I'll be back here again. Pros: perfect steak, huge portions Cons: expensive more
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Rude is a four letter word 8/9/2005

On the occasion of a 6/26 Genesis Fund dinner in the 4th floor banquet room, I and six friends had a decent meal and service. However, as we departed, the rear elevator stalled between the 4th and 3rd floors resulting in our being trapped for more than 45 minutes. We summoned the Boston FD who jaws-of-life removed us. Upon walking to the ground floor, the manager of the restaurant no only ignored us, but after we sought his response, he chastised us for overloading the elevator and causing it to be broken by the BFD. This was the height of poor service and rudeness. Not one of us will ever go to S&W again and will recommend that no function should ever be held there again. This management should be fired. No restaurant should be so insensitive to its clientele. We also discovered that the elevator often malfunctioned... Stay away! more
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Not the best steak in Boston 7/26/2005

We were very excited when Smith & Wollensky's opened up. It's such an interesting building, how could it be lackluster? Well it is. The ambience is nice, wine menu extensive, the steak was okay but the sides were poor. My husbands steak was not cooked accordingly but taken care of promptly. My steak was just okay. Do not order the cream spinach -- it tastes like spinach mixed with generic cream of spinach soup. more
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awesome space ,good steak 4/27/2005

Going here was my Boston history lesson,really awesome building and decor.Food was great maybe more so becuase i wasnt paying ,the desserts looked way better than they tasted . Its N.Y. steak place with N.Y. prices but im ready to go again. Pros: historic site, great steak, interesting Cons: pricey, desserts weak more
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Portion control not here 3/8/2005

My first visit did not leave me wanting to return for more, and not because i consumed 3 days worth of calories in one evening. We came on a Sunday night and were jammed into a busy dining area claiming the other rooms were closed during off-season (march?). The service started off OK, probably because we were their first customers, but as the night progressed my water glass stood empty. We were served wild salmon that was tasty, but had 50 or so bones in it. The crab cakes were excellent. The caeser salad could have used a bit more dressing. The tuna was described as having a ""light"" breading it was at least 1/4 inch thick. Each of us ordered desert and were not forwarned that one piece of cake would feed a family of 6! The wine list was excellent as were the wines by the glass. Pros: big portions, wine, interesting setting Cons: big portions, pricey, service more
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Nothing Like it! 3/8/2005

Took a group of clients here for dinner and it couldn't have been better. Steaks were almost too big but cooked perfectly and the lobster fried rice was amazing! The building is beautiful and I have to say, there is nothing better than eating a steak in a castle! I'll definitely be back! Pros: Atmosphere, Steaks, Wine List more
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Surprisingly perfect 2/12/2005

I'd read bad reviews here and on other sites, so I don't know if we caught them on a good night or if the managers have also read the bad reviews and made changes, but the service was impeccable. We arrived about 20 minutes before our reservation and were seated right away. Our waitress was outgoing, friendly and professional. The wine list was intimidating, but it wasn't hard to find a number of good wines around $40. Our steaks were cooked perfectly. Had creamed spinach and a heavenly truffled mac and cheese. For dessert I had the creme brulee trio (it's my favorite dessert so I'm biased) and my boyfriend had a slice of chocolate cake that was big enough for three people. Atmosphere, food and service were incredible, and while expensive, it wasn't unreasonable for one of those Very Special Nights. Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere Cons: Expensive more
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Valet Service 1/14/2005

Beware of using Smith and Wollensky's valet service!!!!! We used it recently, and then received a parking ticket from the city, along with late fees. I called the management several times, get referred to different staff members, who all agree the ticket will be payed. They admitted that there is a signifianct problem with valet service in the area, and many patrons have also gotten parking tickets while they were dining. Unfortunately, the ticket issue remains unpaid.Management has been unable to confirm when they will get around to paying for what they admit was their fault. Not worth going to S & W to deal with this kind of ""service"". Go to the Capital Grille in Brookline--they have plenty of parking! Pros: nice menu Cons: , valet service, atmosphere more
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Editorial

  • The Scene
    Spread out over four floors of the historic Castle at Park Plaza (built in 1891), Smith & Wollensky attracts wealthy tourists and Boston's high rollers. The handsome first-floor...

  • 12/11/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Sunday To Saturday From 04:00 PM To 10:00 PM
  • Payments: American Express, Diner's Club, Discover, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Central, Bay Village, Downtown
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