International Smoke

We had one of the worst dining experiences here last night. What should have been a nice family celebration dinner turned into an extremely long, frustrating, and disappointing meal. Service was painfully slow from the start. Even simple appetizers like the cornbread took forever to arrive. We specifically asked if the children’s meal could come out quickly, but it didn’t. Instead, it came out at the same time as everything else after a very long wait. Unfortunately, the food didn’t make up for it. The steaks were cooked terribly. One of us ordered a medium filet mignon and it came out looking nearly raw, while my ribeye ordered medium rare was closer to well done (see photo). By the time the food arrived we had already been waiting so long that we didn’t want to send anything back and restart the clock. When we raised the issue with the manager at the end, the response was essentially that nothing could be done because we didn’t say something earlier. I explained that the reason we didn’t send it back was because of how long the meal had already taken. Her response was that since we were a “larger group” and didn’t order many appetizers, the slow service should have been expected. What made this even more frustrating was that it was Saturday night and the restaurant was almost empty, which says a lot. For a restaurant that charges over $200 for a simple dinner for a family of three, the food quality, service, and overall experience were completely unacceptable. The restaurant seems to rely on the celebrity names attached to it, but the reality is mediocre food at premium prices. If you’ve read this far and are still planning on going to this restaurant, I feel like I need to mention the “loaded baked potato” that comes with the steak. Do not expect an actual baked potato (russet) like I did. Instead, it’s a button-sized potato you’d normally find floating in a pot roast. It’s laughably small and was a clear attempt at deception (which worked). We will not be coming back.

— Julian Sera

Had a great time here with friends. I had the Gentleman’s Manhattan - amazing drink. Mostly because of the fantastic bourbon. The smoke presentation is pretty cool too. The appetizers were delicious. The entrees were savory, flavorful and perfectly cooked. Prices are reasonable. Amazing experience.

— D L

I’ve been here a few times, the menu updates and it’s always delicious. The waiters are very friendly and knowledgeable with the menu and making sure you have a good experience. I would recommend for happy hour or date night! They also have a nice atrium for private events.

— Sara Salas-Sarmiento

I was with a group of 8 and we got the price fixed menu. We all had to choose that but it allowed us to try so many different things off the menu. The staff did a great job and made sure the people with allergies were accommodated (sauces on the side and pointing out menu items where the food was present). Would definitely eat here again.

— Ashley P

We stopped in on a Saturday night. The place wasn’t busy and there was no line, yet we stood at the entrance for almost 20 minutes without being helped. Two different staff members walked by and told us they’d be with us “in a minute,” but no one came. After waiting nearly 20 minutes, a staff member finally approached and said that for two people we could sit on the bar side and didn’t need to be seated — which would have been helpful information much earlier. The food was equally disappointing. The Caesar salad tasted bland because the lettuce was clearly washed but not dried, so the dressing and ingredients just sat on soaking-wet lettuce. The ribs with Korean sauce had good flavor in the sauce and it was really good, but the ribs themselves were dry. The biggest letdown was the chicken — completely unseasoned, overly greasy, and served as a dense, bland mass. We couldn’t even finish half of it. For comparison, Popeyes has far better seasoning (and I actually enjoy Popeyes) however no excuse for the prices that they charge. Overall, the service was poor and the food was very underwhelming. I would not recommend this place

— Timothy