Visiting Smith & Wollensky - America’s Steakhouse On the Strip
Sitting at the second bar upstairs at Smith & Wollensky in The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes was like coming home when you were young, tired from a summer day, and you sit down on slightly tired leather at the dimly lit dinner table, accompanied only by the company beside you and-
“What are you doing hiding on over there?”
The bartender gladly smacks his hand on the table, almost in folly.
Do you ever have a time where it first felt like you belonged somewhere in a very very long time? The experience that I had in the gorgeous upstairs lounge was something out of credits to a drama with a happy ending. The bread fluffed when broken open, the butter glided as the salt and rosemary cracks on the crust. Water is served in a wine glass, proper.
The smartest choice I made in Vegas this trip.
Las Vegas bartenders I swear have a school in banter and patter — and I think I may have just met the head professor of it. It’s a shame that I do not remember my bartender’s name; his kindness was honestly some of the best I have experienced in service, and the staff at this location overall is the reason this has been one of my favorite solo dining experiences ever. Everyone was chatting me up and really carried on a suave, smooth, and confident aura. I was floored by the genuine joy of the staff at S&W in every interaction I saw.
Here’s an outtake of when one of the servers tried to mess with me while taking photos. Hysterical, thank you for the laugh — I needed it.
If you are ever to visit this location, I invite you to sit and reflect on yourself in the bar and find comfort. Never have I ever felt so not alone when I was.
For my order, I went classic and got a signature 10oz filet (rare) with a side of charred broccolini. A part of this meal was healing for me. I have been working through a lot of change in my life and worrying about it all working out — but being able to breathe was a whole lot easier with a perfect (and I mean perfect) filet mignon, neatly greeting you. Broccolini serving was plentiful and honestly I wish I had more room to eat more of it.
Hospitality is like a warm hug, and I really had a change in perspective after dining at this specific S&W. I hope everyone one day can experience a meal here that feels comforting, joyous, and just like home.
