Smith’s Row

I had the Boneless Pork Chop the other night, and it was simply fantastic! The pork was perfectly seasoned and cooked and the sauce that came with it was a nice complement.
The service was excellent, too. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!

I can’t urge you strongly enough to avoid this restaurant. Two of four dinners were terrible. A $ 32 rib eye steak was sent back as inedible to be replaced by another meal that was so over salted it too was inedible. Fatty duck, undercooked baked potato, «creamed» spinach that was in a watery, tasteless sauce. And don’t even get me started on the lackluster service. Very slow and disorganized, dirty dishes left on table, simple appetizer took forever to arrive, two diners had wrong meal served to them and server just walked away and let us handle trading our very hot plates. They did remove from check the dinners that were sent back. Big deal. My brother in law never got an edible dinner. And he was the one who suggested this restaurant because he has eaten here before and enjoyed the food. But never again he said. Too bad, it’s a nice looking place and could be a great upscale restaurant if run properly.

First off the manager was dressed like a slob, should’ve gotten a hint on first impression. The server was excellent though. Salads came out looking thrown together and we could actually see the bottom of the plate. Steaks were requested medium and came out rare, but server happily offered to cook then longer. Two filets mignons came back well done and 2 were still rare. Still not happy, the manager offered desserts only and nothing else even when we were still clearly upset. Very disappointed and will not go back. Had heard excellent reviews on this place and had great experiences in the past. Management definitely needs some revamping

Really bad experience … Took my wife there for her birthday — i ordered for a burger — kid you not — this is what showed up after 25 minutes — the patty was 2inches in diameter — covered just half the bun ! attaching picture here!
Then no one bothered to get my credit card to charge it !!!
I’ve been here for several business meals… Needless to say I’ll not make that mistake again !

I had a fantastic lunch today at Smith’s Row. I have been there several times, but today’s lunch was over the top. My only regret is that I did not take a picture for you to see. I ordered the vegetable curry that is served over rice. When the server placed the plate in front of me I was awestruck. It was gorgeous — cubed sweet potatoes, asparagus spears, slices of red onion and red and green peppers, chick peas. All of this was topped with baby spinach and served in a curry that had a bit of heat. If you like you can add beef, chicken or shrimp for an additional $ 3.00, but I didn’t miss it. Rebecca was our server. She was attentive without being overbearing. As always, the atmosphere was lovely. When I’m looking for a fine dining experience in Columbus Smith’s Row Food & Spirits is at the top of my list!

Old school, but not in a charming way. Nice décor and decent service. However, the menu needs to be modernized. For nostalgia sake, I ordered Duck L’Orange. I couldn’t cut through through the fat with with my knife. All of the courses were desperately bland, perhaps designed for rich old people. I would think that the business travelers and architecture nuts that come through here would have better taste and expectations.

Visiting from out of town. I called and made reservations and told the person on the phone it would be my boyfriend’s birthday. She suggested the balcony saying it would be a great view and nice experience.
I made reservations for 8:30. When we got there the place was pretty much empty! We were the only people on the balcony.
Our server seemed very put out that she had to wait on us. She was exasperated from the get go and seemed more and more annoyed with us as the night wore on. We had no idea what her deal was and it was pretty upsetting since I was trying to make this a special birthday dinner!
I had the Steak Diane (i think …) and it was delicious. However, I was not a fan of the «famous» asiago potatoes and only got 2! Thought that was a bit silly. 2 tiny little new potatoes.
Boyfriend got the pork chop and said he was it very good. We also had the bruschetta which was oh so tasty.
The server’s attitude really made me think less of the place but the food really was good. Perhaps folks in Indiana just aren’t pleasant and don’t know how to socialize or be polite like Southerners?
Server: What do you want to drink?
Me 5 seconds after sitting down: Oh goodness, I don’t know! Haven’t had a chance to look at the wine list. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…
Server: I HATE YOU.
Okay, it wasn’t quite that bad… but anyway, go eat tasty food and soak in the history of 4^th street.

Concerned that there were very few patrons when we arrived on a recent Saturday evening. But those concerns didn’t matter at all. Great service by a knowledgeable server — started with a chilled Chardonnay and a perfectly mixed Gimlet; the crab cake appetizers were so crisp and flakey, I almost ordered a take out for later. The remoulade was tangy. Crisp salads with home-​made bleu cheese were accompanied by almost too hot/​crunchy bread. My crab encrusted salmon on a bed of vegetable rice was superb — moist, with a nice crunch of crab meat — wow. Her vegetable lasagna was bit dough-​ey, however the tangy cheese and sauce made up for it. Excellent service, terrific food, reasonably priced. I understand they have new owners — and they’re doing it right. Maybe some sidewalk tables would lure the younger crowd. We’ll be back soon.

I never got to eat here, after waiting at the front for someone to come by and seat me for 5 minutes, I left. Thursday night at 9:02pm

Great atmosphere. A little bit loud but we were next to the bar so it’s okay… I had filet mignon with asiago potatoes and a side Cesar salad. It was fantastic! The filet was wonderfully tender and the potatoes were delicious. (Potatoes could have been warmer…) My friend has cilantro lime steak, steamed vegetables and red potatoes and she LOVED it. She said it was the best steak she’s ever had. (She even ordered it well done and said she usually uses A-​1 but didn’t need to. Eeeew… LOL :) Service was good but the drinking glasses were so small the waiter had to get us about 10 refills between our water and sodas. Oh yeah, bread is served HOT… YUMMY! I would definitely return if/​when I visit Columbus again.

Visited Smith’s Row for St. Valentines dinner. We had reservations and were given a small table upstairs. I ordered lamb chops, a $ 37.00 dish and my wife ordered the filet. Lamb chops were served basically raw and the mixed vegetables were cold. My wife’s filet was good, but the rest of her meal was was over seasoned and she couldn’t eat it. I had to send my meal back to the kitchen and it was not returned to me until after my wife had finished hers.
As we were leaving, the new owner asked how we liked it, I told him of our displeasure and that two other tables had sent their meals back. He said, «not nearly as many meals are going back to the kitchen as have in the past»
We have been to Smith’s Row many times and always considered it a favorite, but not sure it will remain so for me. We will try it another time, but if they don’t get their kitchen in order, I give them less than 6 months to stay in business. Very disappointing for a $ 125.00 meal.

Yum! Stop drop and roll over to this place!

Owner (and Catering Manager) are both incredible. Always kind and make it a point to stop at the table and chat for a moment. The menu — oh where do I start? The Steak Diane — you could write a book about how tender, flavorful and lovely this steak is. The Asiago Potatoes… my only complaint is that they give you 2 little potatoes — 3 would be perfect as they are just the best side dish ever created. Desserts are good too — just can’t go wrong with this place. Great atmosphere and the service is just the BEST there is. Will go back often.

Really enjoyed this restaurant. Great food, wine & atmosphere. One of my favorite restaurants in Columbus!

I always like to go to Smith’s Row. The beautiful ironwork outside and exposed brick inside create an ambiance of refinement. The award-​winning wine list complements the upscale menu. My favorite thing to have at Smith’s Row is any duck option. I am also in love with the asiago potatoes that they serve at catered events. However, I must admit that they make delicious potato chips for the lunch menu, too. If you come to Columbus, you must stop in Smith’s Row for dinner.

Smith’s Row has had a quality menu of consistently well prepared delicious food for years. We always dine here & have group luncheons when in Columbus. You won’t regret a meal here!

I’ve been skeptical of this place for some time, and I should have just kept my curiosity. After much debate, my boyfriend and I decided to give Smith’s Row a try on NYE. He made a reservation for 8pm and when we arrived, were promptly asked for our coats and seated at a nice, cozy table. That’s about were the best of our night ended.
Our server was condescending and rude. I understand that we don’t fit your typical 70-​something, old money clientele, but we were there to have a great dinner and enjoy our evening. Not be talked down to like we were high-​schoolers going to some fancy place our parents gave us money for before prom.
My boyfriend ordered the beef tenderloin au poivre, and what did the rude server say in a very condescending tone!!! Do you even know what au poivre is?! Ummm, yeah… It’s right there on the menu… Water glasses went unfilled and we were never asked if we cared for another glass of wine.
I ordered the scallops. They were ok, however they were drowning in Red Lobster scampi oil… After dabbing all that off, they were cooked well and had a good flavor. However, to make it look like you got more, they cut the 3 large scallops IN HALF!!! That’s just culinary murder!!!
The décor inside, however, is very classy and nice. The huge staircase in the foyer is very elegant and draws your eyes upward which is beautiful as well with all the iron work that is throughout the restaurant.
All in all, I will never return. For $ 90, I’d rather give my $ to a more deserving establishment.

First thing: Smith’s Row is billed a fine dining restaurant that has an extensive and well-​reviewed wine list (even according to the rather uppity folks at that wine publication)…
Entirely true, w/​r/​t the wine & that’s the best, absolutely stellar news for this part of Indiana.
While the restaurant’s exterior is decidedly odd (Are we in NOLA? Savannah? Is that a saloon, and if so, why aren’t there horses tied up outside? When did I go to 1889? Why is the door suggestive of a castle? WTH?), the styling disconnect doesn’t continue to the interior. The interior décor is consistent and includes distinctive and attractive metalwork and a table arrangement that is conducive to working meals or family dining without eliminating the possibility of guests seeking a romantic meal.
The slightly less exciting news is that the service is good, not amazing (i.e. service is good, but doesn’t meet fine dining expectations as far as style, timing, and unobtrusiveness). One plus: the serving staff does an unexpectedly good job with large groups (even with kids), as long as they call ahead (even outside of the second-​floor event space mentioned by another reviewer).
The food is good. Generally well sourced and well prepared, though any kitchen occasionally has an issue here or there (especially when trying to send out food at the same time for a 20-​top).
I’ll insert here that I *really* *really* want to love this place like the child I never had. Except that (and mean this earnestly, not dismissively) whoever is in charge of the menu is trying to make SR the pseudo-​fine dining equivalent of Denny’s. There is certainly something for everyone times three on the menu, and (my impression after having had nearly every item delivered to my table on multiple occasions because of family and business events involving many people, as well as several meals with 2 or 4 individuals) not all entrees, appetizers, or sides are created equal.
WHY??? If it’s mediocre, don’t put it on the menu!!! If Chef doesn’t like cooking it, or thinks the people who order it are morons, well, that’s not good. Moreover, don’t add entrees that don’t pair well with every one of the available sides, particularly if you’re not willing to pair entrees with side suggestions and gently redirect those who make unfortunate choices. They’re the customers — they don’t know!
Perhaps it’s the product of being in a small-​ish town and feeling like the population won’t support an establishment with more defined culinary style /​direction — but I feel like there are enough real foodies in Columbus to appreciate amazing food, done well. When that’s what it is. And this, unfortunately, is not that. I promise, we’re really, really tired of driving to Bloomington for an amazing meal. Fingers crossed and hope to die — promise!
Unless your goal is being Applebees, don’t plan on serving menu items from (obviously) multiple cuisines involving four languages (French, including several provinces with entirely different styles; Italian, ditto; Mexican (really???); with me including American Steakhouse as a default) with no unifying theme, along with items featuring preparations or obvious ingredients from particular styles (old school steakhouse, Asian, crab house, BBQ joint, and actually, Applebees [Artichoke dip? Chicken fingers? Really? Chicken fingers? — for the love of all that is fine dining, at least put that crap on a children’s menu] for example).
In the context of the strangeness related to the exterior of the building, I’m not sure whether it’s a case of too many cooks in the (figurative) kitchen or something else. I have to say that I think that those seeking a fine dining or business dining experience in the Columbus area are savvy enough to appreciate a streamlined and uniformly exceptional menu over one that offers sub-​par or «filler» options.
(And yes, fyi, the lunch menu is just as multiple-​personality-​disordered as the dinner menu.)
P. S. «Fine Dining» pasta means fresh, house-​, or at least, semi-​dried, home– made. If you can’t do it, don’t do it.

The food was excellent — absolutely no complaints. My duck breast was cooked perfectly, and the asiago potatoes were fantastic. A small, but well-​rounded, bourbon selection was appreciated.
The service was lacking. A manager took our drink orders, brought our drinks, and took our food orders; someone else brought out the food and checked on us once; and finally, another waitress tended to us for the rest of the meal and dessert. My wife’s water glass sat empty for quite some time, and we started to feel forgotten. The service wasn’t bad, to be sure, but it did feel rather uncoordinated and as though nobody really knew who was taking care of whom.

This is THE place to go in Columbus for an upscale dining experience. Fine wines, great steaks, romantic atmosphere, the whole deal. They are also very adept at hosting large groups/​events on the second floor, where they can provide a more buffet style service if desired. This is the type of restaurant that you reserve for special events. I don’t eat here often, but when I do I’ve always been impressed with the service and food quality. Reservations strongly recommended during dinner.