By tangling with Smyth in this new format, I hope to speak to a starker reality: one that better acknowledges imperfections (and their capacity for disappointment) on the path toward iterative excellence.
Smyth
For those open to its charms, Smyth remains the signature, most singular restaurant of its generation. The third Michelin star only confirms its spot in Chicago’s pantheon.
The “Mickey Mouse factor” refers to the phenomenon in which children who are picky eaters at home are willing to try all sorts of new foods within Disney’s theme parks. If you extricate the concept from its theme park setting and apply it towards dining writ large, the mechanism actually proves quite enlightening.