Smithereens
New York
At a glance
Smithereens is a dining spot situated in New York's vibrant East Village. Known for its unique character, Smithereens offers a blend of flavors that appeals to a variety of palates. The culinary approach combines creativity with a respect for traditional techniques, offering a menu that changes regularly to showcase seasonal ingredients. Visitors can expect a relaxed yet stylish setting, perfect for a casual dinner or a leisurely Sunday lunch.
The atmosphere at Smithereens is intimate, making it ideal for small gatherings or a quiet meal. The interior design complements its culinary offerings, providing a cozy and inviting space that encourages guests to unwind and savor their meal. This establishment also takes pride in engaging with the community through various initiatives, including a zine that reflects the local culture and ethos.
Smithereens operates on a consistent schedule throughout the week, closing on Mondays. The venue caters to a diverse audience, welcoming both locals and travelers seeking an authentic taste of New York's dining scene. Accessibility is a priority, ensuring all guests can comfortably enjoy their experience.
Reviews
Upon walking in I would think that it was giving a brutalist cool vibe but the walls were honestly washed and hollow. There was a ocean painting raw dog just smacked up on the wall at the bar too. They’re known here for their cool dish concepts, but this round, I feel the menu was executed poorly. My friend didn’t find any of the food particularly memorable but he was also hit in the head with a stone plate, so that could be why he has no recollection. What I mainly remember about the food was that the muscles were ode buttery. Like i can’t even recall what I ate to even write this review. That can’t be good. The best thing to get here is the seaweed dessert. Now that is fantastic concept and execution yummmmm! Good barstools @kismette on Substack for reviews!
More restaurants should be named after Susan Seidelman films, actually. Everything was great. Our standouts were the buckwheat pancake and the bread, although the rice with clams was a surprising big winner as well. Evil Negroni best drink - very unique mix of bitter, sweet, and hot!
I’m on a bit of a roll right now so I wanted to leave a retroactive review for one of my favorite restaurants I’ve tried in New York in a long time. We went to smithereens on a random weeknight with a reservation and we were sad immediately the server was great. She was super knowledgeable about Wine but very casual as well and she let us try some of her favorite wines before deciding on one for us to share. The interior has a casual upscale vibe which makes it approachable. The low ceilings, dim lighting, navy walls, cool furniture, all add to the ambience. The food though is amazing I don’t remember much but all I remember is everything we had was delicious and unique when the bill came at the end it was a standard $150 bill but we didn’t mind paying it at all because the experience was so great. 10 out of 10 would recommend going if you have the chance!
Had a delicious meal here recently. Our favorites: the buckwheat pancake with the smoked bluefish (absolutely delicious), the lobster roll, the monkfish with the kumquot, walnut and mint jams, the chicory salad (sublime). We also ordered the golden eye snapper with beets and yuzu (interesting but neither of us would order again). Do NOT pass up on the desserts. We ordered the celery ice cream float and the candied seaweed cake with licorice and citron - both amazing!!! In terms of ambiance, very nice - my only complaint is for the stools with no backs that are at the tables at the front. Not very comfortable. Fortunately they re-sat us at a much more comfortable table. Also big shout out to our server - super knowledgeable with good recommendations.
I love this restaurant. Hard to describe-but amazing flavors. Everything was a revelation. Have never gone wrong with any choice—but the bbq mackerel is my go to. The celery float dessert is my new obsession. The staff were gracious, helpful and willing to engage and ensure that our interests/adventures were realized. (I requested chop sticks to eat the bay scallops dish and the appeared!—I am sure they would have gone to the nearby take out to get them, but they had some available from a recent ramen pop up.) Extensive wine list and sommelier found us a bottle at our price point and delivered! Funky under street level space. So nice to have a relaxing and fun meal without the pretentiousness that has become far too common. (NYT review gets it so right)
