Restaurant review: Smith & Wollensky

This past week Sarah and I took advantage of Boston’s Restaurant Week to try out a new place to celebrate Sarah’s birthday.  Though Sarah ensures me that Smith and Wollensky is a well established high-end steakhouse chain (think Ruth Chris) I had never heard of it before.  Another thing I didn’t know is the fact that Smith and Wollensky is housed in a huge castle in the heart of Boston.

 A Castle

 in Boston…go figure.

I was steeled for an onslaught of cheesy medival chotsky a-la-medival manor.  What I discovered was a beautifully restored Civil-War era cadet academy that is absolutely stuffed with history of the First Corps Cadets.  Decked with memoribilia of the Cadet Corps, the walls are painted a rich color with roaring fires in every room.  The restaurant has four floors and I entreat you to avoid the elevator and take the stairs to all the floors and poke around.  After dinner I left to wash up and it took me 20 minutes to make it back to my table–there was just too much stuff to see. 

What I love about the place is that Boston is generally regarded for its rich Revolutionary War history.  The fact that there is a gem of Civil War history in the heart of the city should be more well known.  This would be a great place to throw a wedding.  There are such rich, beautiful areas that just beg to have a dramatic portrait done in.  The top floor library is large enough to host a reception.

After a round of drinks in the bustling gunroom that now serves as the bar, we headed up to the 4th floor library/museum (called the “Battle Room”) for dinner.  What can I say, dinner was really great.  Everyone had filet mignon (we were in a steak house after all) and all were cooked to perfection (I suggest splurging for the gorgonzola crusting if you do).  The staff throughout the evening was top notch and I could see them pulling of a wedding with aplomb.  The smaller dining rooms that have differing capacities ranging from 15 to 56 would be great places for a reheasal dinner too.

A view from the Battle Room

I am hoping to photograph a wedding there someday.  I just know the photos from an event there would be fabulous!  If you have had the opportunity of attending a wedding there (as a guest, family or the happy couple) please leave a comment and let us know what you thought.

Cheers!

 Craig