Smith's Country Inn - Eau Claire

After several visits, I've definitely come to appreciate this place. It has become my favorite supper club in the Chippewa Valley. The food is reliably delicious, the service is always excellent, and the bar still serves one of the best Old Fashioneds I've ever tasted.

My husband and I visited this restaurant once, and we won't be returning. The bartender was unfriendly and refused to give me a chaser for my Wild Turkey shot, despite my offer to buy an entire can of Coke. She responded in a condescending tone, saying, "I'm sorry, we don't do chasers here." What?! We were polite and sober, so there was no reason for that kind of treatment. We live nearby, and many of our neighbors avoid this place as well because the owners seem to have an inflated sense of their own importance. I recommend skipping this restaurant and going to Hipps instead!

The main issue was the lack of ambience; there was no music playing in the dining area. Even at the bar, there was no background music, leaving us to listen to the faint restaurant noises, which took away from the enjoyment of our night out. The total bill, including tip, came to $60, and frankly, it wasn't 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!