Decent neighborhood place, friendly staff. Demographic skews a little older than some of the other bars in its vicinity that cater more to the young bros. Smedley's also books some good bands, mostly of the blues-jam variety, on a regular basis.
It's a good place to go if you just want to drink a beer and not be in the middle of a bunch of loud 22-year-olds looking to hook up, if you know what I mean. The beer selection is decent, if maybe a dollar or so higher per beer than some of the other bars. You should be able to find something good. There is also a pool table for hire.
Since I was going to bars before anyone ever heard of a smoking ban in a bar, I am not concerned if someone is smoking indoors instead of outside on the sidewalk. In any event I either haven't encountered this or it was 1 person and I didn't notice or care.
This place bills itself as a "restaurant" elsewhere, but it closes the kitchen pretty early and don't even offer a later menu of fries or poppers (they have bags of storebought potato chips). If you want to eat I'd say get there by 8:30 or you run the risk of being shut out.