Swoony's
American restaurant · Columbia Street Waterfront ·
Iconic double patty burger on Portuguese roll; short rib
Iconic double patty burger on Portuguese roll; short rib
"It seems everywhere is serving the grown-up happy meal—burger ($26) and a martini—right now. At Swoony's, a new Carroll Gardens spot from the Cafe Spaghetti team, I'm not even mad at more of the same. They do it perfectly. And to be clear, the menu has plenty more to it, from a crab louie ($18) and clams casino ($18), to a hanger steak with "cowboy butter" ($33)—there's a retro Americana thing going on here, if you hadn't noticed—but take a look around the humming dining room and you'll see the thousand-island topped double-patty and martini spinoffs are a draw for many guests." - Charlie Hobbs
"Friday night is burger night for me, and after a long week the first thing I want is a burger and a martini; this one isn’t typical, thanks to a Portuguese bun (like an English muffin but better) cradling two patties topped with thousand island dressing and cheese. It’s saucy and perfect, especially with salty fries and a gin martini." - Melissa McCart
"After you spend all summer drinking spritzes in Cafe Spaghetti’s backyard, head around the corner to Swoony’s for the indoor season. The American bistro is Spaghetti’s sister restaurant, and further proof that these people know how to create neighborhood restaurants made for the movies. Swoony’s feels like an extension of the area’s idyllic brownstones, finished in nautical shades of blue and filled with old photos, fine china, and other tchotchkes. Picture-perfect charm aside, it’s the nostalgic comfort food, creamed spinach, wedge salads, and a double patty burger with thousand island dressing that’ll turn you into a regular." - neha talreja, bryan kim, willa moore, will hartman
"From the people who brought you one of Brooklyn’s best backyards, Swoony’s is an American bistro where you can sit with some friends and share a wedge salad and some short rib au poivre. The Carroll Gardens restaurant is clubby and old school—the kind of place that feels conducive to several martinis. Weekday reservations are easy to snag, but book a few days in advance if you want to eat here on a Friday or Saturday." - bryan kim, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick
"The clams at this tavern-like American restaurant in Cobble Hill overflow with golden brown breadcrumbs, and arrive at your table smelling of smoky bacon and green pepper. Those breadcrumbs are perfectly crispy-gone-soggy, the clam underneath is tender with just a slight chew, and the big pinch of oregano crunches like a potato chip. Sit at the bar, start with these and a cocktail, and then move on to a burger, or the short rib au poivre." - willa moore, molly fitzpatrick, neha talreja
