Smith & Wollensky

11/29/09

What's the hype?

by Amy3377 at Citysearch

Not really sure what "vibe" they're going for, but the host was really the only employee that I encountered who treated me like I was about to spend $75 on my dinner. The wait staff seemed too casual, forgetting to offer my table bread while the other tables all had a basket. My specific waiter made three appearances. 1) Take my order and suggest the most expensive of all items regardless of my questions about other items 2) Pops head in: "You doin' OK?" Thumbs up. Pops out. 3) After I flagged him down for my bill. Didn't thank me. Honestly didn't care if I had a good dining experience. But he sure liked watching whatever football game was on TV. For a meal that was "good" and service that was disrespectful, I see no need to return and support this business.

• Pros: Food was tasty
• Cons: Service was too casual

07/30/09

A Memorable Experience

by elmel at Citysearch

I don't understand how so many people could rate this place 1 or 2 stars. I went on Tuesday night and had a wonderful meal...worth the cost. I worked in the food business for many years so I know good food and I know good service and this place had them both.

My party (6 of us) gave highest marks to the Wolensky salad, prime rib, crab cakes and chocolate cake. The bone-in rib eye was good, as were the creamed spinach and potatoes. And of course, the wine and drinks were good. The waiters were so attentive. They made the meal special. And the view from the second floor was great as the sun went down and the lights of the city came on. Great atmosphere.

My only complaint was that I was freezing. I was in city shorts and sleeveless top. The waiters are in jackets so the temperature is set for them. I will be more covered up next time. And I definitely hope there is a next time. Go for it Wade. Don't let the complainers scare you away. Maybe go on a week night like I did when the crowds are smaller.

• Pros: impeccable service, prime rib, chocolate cake
• Cons: the temperature

05/14/09

Roller Coaster reviews

by WadeFromBellaire at Citysearch

It's a shame that S&W's gets such a roller coaster ride of up and down reviews. I've wanted to try it for over a year now. But with the horrible, to mediocre reviews on here lately, I will heed commenters' advice, and look elsewhere.

01/25/09

Overpriced, Cold Food, Useless Service ....

by mmtx at Citysearch

Arrived for prime time Saturday dinner, pleasant hostess gave us a choice of seating locations; chose a nice quiet booth. Had to shuffle between two different waiters before we finally received our requested bread; food waiter was totally dis-interested - took our order, eventually dropped off food and forgot to bring the condements we requested, couldn't get any wiaters attention to rectify this lack of service and didn't fancy getting up to search for someone...ate and eventually got waiters attention to clear the table. Advised the waiter that we weren't happy with the lack of service and cold food; he offered to comp a desert that we weren't interested in. Finally got our bill and left. Enjoyed the St Emillion...won't return. Can easily get a better meal, and exceptional service elsewhere.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Cold food - terrible sservice - overpriced

12/28/08

DO NOT ORDER THE GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST RUBBER CHICKEN ALERT!!!!!!!

by gitmogrunt at Citysearch

My wife and I have been to S & W many times. The service has been excellent, great wait staff, etc. We had our first negative food experience there this week-end. We made the terrible mistake of ordering the Grilled Chicken Breast. You ask, "Why was it so Terrible?Well , It was excessively and heavily salted, and literally covered in thick pools of Oil. I believe the cooks, blew it. They all should be deported back to Mexico immediately.The breast was not edible, I get sick just thinking of this piece of salted rubber chicken covered in all that unhealthy oil.WARINING DO NOT ORDER THIS DISH,

• Pros: Nice Wait Staff
• Cons: It's fast becoming like all the other lousy restaurants in HOUSTON TEXAS!!!!!

12/01/08

Prime Rib Rip Off At S & W

by Primeribnever at Citysearch

Prime-Rib Rip Off At S & W

Don't ever order med-rare or rare Prime Rib at S & W. This incident was strike two (the exact incident occured about six months ago) and they are OUT. There is a trick that a chef can do to make a well done serving of prime rid appear med-rare or rare. S & W has do this twice and I will never , never give them the opportunity to spoil my dinnner out again. How the trick works is that they take the serving of well done or over done prime rib and place it in a pan of gravey or even water turn on the heat and place lettece leaves in the center, very shortly the well done piece of meat has a rare appearence in the center when you remove the lettece leaves. Of course cutting through the meat it is still well done. Great trick but when you are paying over $40.00 and you think you are going to a class restaurant the only interpretation you can make is that these people are thieves.

I will remark that the service was excellent and they comp'd the prime rip portion of our dinner. I would have rather had a med-rare serving of prime-rib, and a pleasant evening.

11/25/08

Wonderful!

by SummerBrown2664 at Citysearch

My husband and I ate here for our wedding anniversary. They made it special and was absolutly wonderful! The food was incredible as well as the service! Everything was AMAZING!

11/10/08

How are these guys still in business?

by CypressTexas at Citysearch

How are these guys still in business with so many other chop houses offering excellent food at more reasonable prices? I had the wedge salad (the dressing tasted institutionally prepared) and the accompanying tomato was so under ripe and hard I couldn't bring myself to eat it (and I love tomatoes) and the presentation was on par with a good cafeteria. For an entre I had a mediocre T-bone (more gristle than you would expect from prime) which was not cooked properly and presented unadorned on a dinner plate for $44; my wife had the prime rib which she said was "OK". Accompanyment: A bland glass of the house red for $18 each. Mac and cheese, heavy on the cheese and take their word that it has "truffle oil" for $11. Sum total with tax and tip for the evening: $175. We've eaten at many other steak houses that offer much better quality for much less. Bright note: The desserts were killer (they must be outsourced); we didn't purchase one but they comped us for my wife's birthday---points for that. BTW, after we were served we never saw the waitstaff again. We had to run them down for our requests.

• Pros: Desserts
• Cons: Name it

07/12/08

Excellent Food & Service!

by shinobi at Citysearch

I had dinner here tonight w/ my brother & sister-in-law & thought it was great! I had the Maine lobster chowder for my appetizer & thought it was great, very flavorful. I had the bone-in ribeye for my entre & thought it was great too. It was juicy & had a lot of flavor. We had the lobster mashed potatoes & truffled mac & cheese for sides. I thought the lobster mashed potatoes was was bland, but my sister-in-law actually liked it. The truffled mac & cheese was very good. We had the strawberry shortcake for desert which was good also. We were very satisfied w/ the excellent service & the excellent food!

• Pros: Food & Service

07/06/08

Food Overrated, Good Atmosphere

by texaskiwi at Citysearch

While the private atmosphere of the 2nd story was great, the food was not what I was expecting given the hype. I've had better fried calamari at Pappadeaux (not saying much). The lobster in our appetizer and side dish were rubbery in the middle. The macroni and cheese side was pretty good. Overall the steaks were very good but I've had similar quality steaks for half the price. I was expecting more than run of the mill. The desserts were fantastic but did not make up for the less than stellar appetizers and main courses. The wait staff was friendly but was lacking overall. We were constantly waiting for him to show up even though there was hardly anyone in the restaurant. If you want good food, go to Flemmings. If you want good atmosphere consider Smith & Wollenskys. I will probably never eat here again.

• Pros: Atmosphere, Desserts
• Cons: Appetizers, Lobster, Calamari, Service