Smith's Country Inn - Eau Claire

So, after several return visits, this place has definitely grown on me. In fact, it has become my go-to supper club in the Chippewa Valley. The food is consistently good, the service is always great, and the bar still makes one of the best old fashioneds I've ever had.

My husband and I went here once....ONCE; and NEVER AGAIN. The bartender was MEAN. She denied me a chaser for my Wild Turkey shot...even though I offered to buy the whole can of coke. She said in a snotty tone: Im sorry we dont DO chasers here . WTF?!?!?!?! We were nice..sober..etc..no need to treat us this way. We live in the area and most of our neighbors won 't go there either because the family that ownes it thinks their doesn 't stink. Skip this place...GO TO HIPPS!!!!!

We've passed this place in the evenings it would look packed. We always like to eat at local Non-chain restaurants. We dined on a Saturday evening. My husband ordered prime rib special. Nothing special about it. I had perch. It was OK, our baked potatoes were not done enough nor warm. Service was ok. The thing is, besides less than average food, NO ambience. No music playing in background in dining room. And looking at the bar set up and again no kind of background music, just listening to either quiet or restaurant noise for an evening out doesn't cut it. Bill with tip was $60.00. Not worth it.

I try very hard to patronize locally owned restaurants; I have tried really hard to like this place. The bartenders are aloof and slow, drink prices high and there is a constant reminder that they don 't take credit cards. I have tried many items soup is gloppy at best, jumbo shrimp need to reassess the word jumbo , steak overdone, potatoes cold and the salad bar is a mess. I have been with groups of all sizes and have experienced the same mediocrity. Believe me I have given this place many tries and will not dine there again.

My friends and I gather at least twice a year in the Eau Claire area, and we usually find ourselves back at Smith's for their prime rib dinner on Saturday nights. It is so good it has become a bi-annual tradition. Is it fancy? No. Is it tasty? Yes. I can't ask for more than that. The bartenders have always been fun and generous with us as well. We will see you again in a few months!