NYCReview
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Swoony's
Included In
Every few months, a new restaurant comes along serving American bistro classics and tip-toeing around the fact that it’s cosplaying Applebee’s for people who don’t know what riblets are. A glance at the menu at Swoony’s—iceberg wedge, cheeseburger, creamed spinach—and we wondered whether this Carroll Gardens restaurant was the latest spot to be disguising itself as suburban casual (see: Bernie's, Gertrude's).
From the same people behind nearby Cafe Spaghetti, Swoony’s self-identifies as a bar and grill—but it’s far from basic. Their burger, a decadent double patty that ranks amongst our best, is served on a Portuguese bun, dripping with Thousand Island dressing, and their caesar salad consists of asparagus topped with boquerones. A genius short rib au poivre comes in a pool of peppery cream sauce, giving the city’s best fine dining spots a run for their money—and the lively room is packed with people who’ve figured this out.
Swoony's is like a perpetual family reunion, set in the home your luckiest friend will inherit from their grandma. Fine China and nonsense tchotchkes line the walls of the 1930s townhouse, safely stored behind glass cabinets where the stroller set can’t reach them. You might have to dance around a few toddlers on the way to the bathroom, but if you’re on a date or drinking with friends, it’s not going to affect your experience at the adult table.
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
The short rib au poivre at Swoony's. photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Swoony's burger. photo credit: Alex Staniloff
That said, things get groovy early here. The soundtrack shifts from Dylan to disco around 6pm, and long before bedtime, the bartenders are busy trying to keep up with cocktails orders and draft pours from a tavern-style bar in the center.
Cafe Spaghetti’s backyard still owns the summer, but Swoony’s is just around the corner to give you a warm welcome home in the winter—or anytime you want a burger and a martini on a Monday. It's further proof that these people know how to create neighborhood restaurants made for the movies. But their ability to blend nostalgia with something new (see our notes below on their fantastic creamed spinach) make it worth the trek, no matter where you’re coming from. This is Carroll Gardens casual, at its finest.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Short Rib Poivre
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Lobster Orzo
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Creamed Spinach
photo credit: Alex Staniloff
Dorade
photo credit: Alex Staniloff