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Smyth

Chicago

Inventive dining with a progressive farm-to-table approach

Chef CV: Karen Urie Shields and John Shields met working in the kitchen at what was then Chicago's most exacting restaurant: Charlie Trotter's. They were offered the opportunity to open Trotter's in Las Vegas, then, perhaps, the highest profile gig around. Instead, they moved to rural Virginia and re-imagined Town House restaurant with the use of locally grown and foraged produce, before returning to Chicago to open Smyth and The Loyalist, Smyth's more casual downstairs neighbour. The moniker is an homage to the years spent in Smyth County, Virginia, the place where they honed their culinary ethos.

Labour of love: Smyth is all about partnership: of the couple at the helm (Karen on pastry and John on savoury), but also between ingredients, instinct and technique. The warm bittersweet chocolate and maitake mushroom tart is a frequently commented on example, something diners feel surprised to find they love. But it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Shields really know what they're doing.

Farm focus: The Shields partner with farms across the US, ensuring the highest quality ingredients land on diners' plates. Marrying both consistency and creativity, dishes on the multi-course tasting menu are rooted seasonality and the flavours of the Midwest, with intriguing pairings and unique takes on ingredients all part of the experience. Expect the unexpected: trout belly doughnut with kumquat; caviar with green walnut; and a foie gras and rice pudding-based dessert.

On the list: On the drinks menu, expect plenty of small-batch natural wines from all over the world. The offering is seasonal, moving deftly between lighter-bodied reds in the summer months and more textured, weightier cuvées in cooler times.

Mover and shaker: In 2023, Smyth became one of just 14 restaurants in the US to hold three Michelin Stars, which it has retained in the years since. In a culmination of the team's myriad achievements since opening, Smyth is named The Best Restaurant in North America, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, as part of North America's 50 Best Restaurants 2026.

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