* Sweetwater
Photo by Jeremy Liebman, NY Mag
CUISINE: American Nouveau/Pub Food
ADDRESS: 105 North 6th St., Brooklyn, NY 11211
between Berry St. and Wythe Ave.
PHONE: 718.963.0608
HOURS: Sun-Thu, noon-midnight; Fri, noon-2am; Sat, 11:30am-2am
CARDS: Cash Only
BOOZE: Full bar, Happy Hour Daily, 5pm-7pm; $5 martini specials, $3 well drinks, and $2 drafts
AVERAGE ENTREE: $13
MENU: Click Here
BRUNCH: Sat-Sun, noon-5pm
OUTDOOR DINING: Yes
SUBWAY: L Train to Bedford
MAP: Click Here
DELIVERY: No, only Carry-Out
EXTRAS: Outdoor Dining
WE SAY: This former dive bar is now a no-frills, cosy cafe. Sparse but tasty menu. Moderately priced too.
From City Search: Not much remains of the divey Sweetwater Tavern except for the name, the pressed-tin walls and elaborate tile floor--remnants from the '30s, when the space was a Polish diner. The owners of Carroll Gardens' Patois and Schnack transformed the joint into a comfortable bar and restaurant with burgundy diner booths and milky sconces, offering a late-night menu to please the block's post-concert crowd. Chef Tom Kearney (Blue Hill, Jean-Georges) presides over the contemporary, pared-down menu. His smoked trout, paired with capers and horseradish vinaigrette over a crisp potato pancake, makes for an exciting opener. Among the entrees, Sweetwater schnitzel layers a juicy breaded pork chop with a fried egg and anchovies for a tart bite. Succulent grilled hangar steak comes with finely battered onion rings. Though the strawberry shortcake has too-salty biscuits, the chocolate terrine brings together firm and melted textures with elan.
From Village Voice "A big thumbs up for this bar, conveniently located across the street from Galapagos and Northsix. The ancient interior ought to be landmarked, sporting significant quantities of stamped tin and vast, comfortable booths of well-worn red Naugahyde. The food is substantial and cheap, running to good burgers (though served on an English muffin, alas), better fries, and such ambitious fare as cod cakes, a thick glazed pork chop, hanger steak, and an unbeatable special of horseradish-encrusted beef short ribs. Beer and wine lists another plus."
From NY Times Tom Kearney, formerly the chef at Sushi Samba, prepares food that is one part pub grub, three parts Left Bank bistro. Nothing on the menu tops $15, and most dishes, like the Gruyere-draped burger on an oversize English muffin with skin-on fries, ring up under $10. Salads are so large, and so good, you might consider sharing. Entrees are not skimpy either, including the behemoth pork chop and the hanger steak. The dish that warrants return visits is a supple, smoked and roasted salmon fillet. But on late nights, or if the cook is flying solo, the place is prone to fumbles. Desserts always steer you back on track. -- Dana Bowen
From NYMag Sweetwater Restaurant in Williamsburg feels like it has been around forever, even though it only opened in mid-2004. For more than six decades, the space hosted a tavern frequented by meatpackers, dockworkers, and sailors, then, in a brief intermediate incarnation, a punk club. The new owners re-imagined the restaurant as an American bistro, which attracts locals, artists, writers, and musicians. The original pressed tin walls and ceilings, the timeworn floor tiles, and the bar, complete with a brass rail, are all intact, and now illuminated with massive, doorknob-shaped hanging lamps. Burgundy booths and banquettes, antique sconces, and old photos amplify the retro charm. The menu mixes French, Italian, and Spanish elements. For starters, saffron-tinged rice balls, stuffed with creamy provolone, are fried golden brown. Ccornmeal crusted brook trout is stuffed with oysters and sweet peas and served with a celeriac remoulade. Hanger steak is redefined with chimichurri sauce. Food of the Gods, a molten chocolate cake adrift in a creamy chocolate "soup," is an utterly pagan finish
Comments
I liked this restaurant but my new favorite has to be Rye in Williamsburg!
It just opened and I have already been twice! Its on 247 South First Street
between Roebling and Havemeyer. The chef, Cal Elliott, takes a new twist on
contemporary American styles such as the House Smoked Sturgeon with Boulangere potatoes, pancetta, frisee & horseradish, Sooo good, Followed by one of their fab cocktails! Love it!!
Posted by: Katie | June 3, 2009 10:46 PM
compliments to the chef, good food, especially the gnocchi and the pork chop. only complaint on the food were the portions, not very filling.
we were quickly seated and then waited almost an hour for our entrees. served one round of drinks when we first were seated and then didn't see our server again until it was time for the bill, which came quickly and was collected just as fast. the thing that bothered me was that the rest wasn't even very busy, empty tables to our right and left. service was simply horrid. i won't return and won't suggest to friends and family.
Posted by: J. Kenneth Hurd | January 4, 2009 06:07 PM
I can't believe I avoided this place for so long. Probably because it seemed like some sad-sack holding pen for lost weekenders from Brooklyn Heights...
But oh, Lord. The rack of lamb is really finer than any I have had in some of my favorite European cities on splurge night. The wait staff has always been genuinely welcoming, patient and actually conscientious for people wearing flannel on N 6th.
The atmosphere seems precious when you peer in, but in the low-lit back room, it is just right (provided no raucous parties or kicking children happen to be at the next table--thanks, condo dwellers).
Posted by: Skoa | November 30, 2008 03:11 AM
Came here once in 2006, and remember the food being very good and reasonably priced. On a recent visit, the supposed-to-be medium-cooked ordered $24-rib eye steak special (should have asked for the price) was overcooked on the outside and raw on the inside, and was super bland, and the lamb burger was overcooked, dry and also tasteless. Something has gone wrong with this place. You can't charge that much when you've got a couple of hipster cooks mulling around the kitchen. The bigwig menu-maker chef needs to stop by.
Posted by: disappointed | August 11, 2007 01:06 AM
I 100% agree with the post below. What happened to this place is a microcosm of what has happened to the whole neighborhood. Whatever attracted you here in the first place is long gone.
The food is twice what it used to be and you get half as much, just like rent in the neighborhood. I guess they're changing to meet the needs of all the geeks buying up those condos by McCarren Park. I could see them loving it here. As for me, I'm never going back.
Posted by: ad | June 2, 2007 09:25 PM
This place encapsulates the history of the North Williamsburg High-Rent / High-Cancer Real Estate Bubble Development Zone. Once a bar full of rough-and-tumble Greenpoint dock-workers and itinerant sailors, then a site for the urban-pioneering Williamsburg punk contigent, the NWHRHCREBDZ has successfully purged any local flavor from this lot. Using the punks as dupes to drive out the Poles, it has succesfully adopted the standard Noveau-Franco-American cuisine so loved by the Birken-purse young urban professionals and their slightly less wealth younger cousins, the Fendi-wielding Modest Trust Funders (MFT).
Bad Brains? Who the fuck cares about the Bad Brains when you could be eating some Moules Frites here or and any other one of these identical menu'd establishments and flipping real estate in the most polluted part of New York? Just don't get caught holding the deed when the buyers disappear!
Posted by: Permabear | April 22, 2007 01:28 AM
agree, service is not super fast, though waiter was very nice and accomodating. the food, however, is amazing. rich flavors, original combinations, freshly prepared. absolutely loved everything we had. makes up for everything. as long as people aren't rude, i could care less about service. part of the charm, for me.
Posted by: berry street | November 17, 2006 08:26 PM
i recently went here for my birthday with my husband. we are not really fancy dinner people so we didn't know where to go but heard that sweetwater was good and not too spendy.
my food was good but the mr. had four very small scallops on a chopped up mushroom for 16 bucks. he had to order some fries so he wouldn't starve.
i thought the whole "big plate, small food" trend was over.
we will not go there again.
Posted by: kayte | October 26, 2006 05:58 AM
I've had a number of really lovely meals at sweetwater, I fully intend to go their again and again. However, I have a funny petty thing to say, and this seems like the right forum for that sort of thing. I had lunch at sweetwater maybe a month or two ago, which was fine. Have you ever had a server who was so grossly ill-clothed that you almost didn't even feel like you were in a restaurant? That's what this was like. She was definitely wearing raggy cotton running short shorts, an oversized t-shirt and sneakers. It wasn't some kind of fashiony thing, it was just weird, and i don't want to be an asshole, but offputting as well.
Posted by: alex | August 18, 2006 11:35 PM
I live right around the corner and had friends visiting, so we decided to give it a go (first time).We went at 9pm and it was busy, but we were seated right away. Nice decor small but comfortable setting. Service was slow and I had to ask repeatedly just to get water for the table, we were never served bread either. The regualr menu and the specials all sounded good and were much accurately priced. I had calamari which was hot crispy and delicous served with lemon aioli, for my entree I had the hanger steak with broccoli rabe and onion rings it was excellent. However one of our party of 5 was served her entree almost 10 minutes after the rest of us were, which resulted in our food cooling off while we waited to eat with her.
This mistep could have been resolved by offer another round of drinks, dessert or having the dish removed from the check, unfortunately none of the above were offered. Overalll it was a good experience and I do intend on returning again.
Posted by: John Miller | August 15, 2006 08:48 PM
Sweetwater used to be my favorite brunch sopt with the best eggs bendict around at the best price but i really miss the honey roasted potatoes with rosmary and truffle oil. They were so good and they were made into boring standard potatoes the same week they upped the menu by 1 dollar each item! For shame.
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Posted by: ya pidoras | July 24, 2006 07:58 PM
Slow, slow, slow service. Never sit out back when the waitress who dresses like Jenny Lewis is working, you will die before you get your drink.
Posted by: James | June 20, 2006 11:01 PM
I was running around brooklyn today, and figured I’d stop by this place for some brunch. I was flying solo so I was hoping I could be in and out relatively quick. Alas I was, but not in the way I was intending.
Its a nice well restored place, with a real feel for what the architecture was like 100 years ago in the area. I walked all the way inside and didnt see any waitstaff. I proceeded to walk out the back door to where I hoped there was a backyard, when I saw the waiter who told me I could have any seat I wanted. I waited for about 7 minutes listening to Portishead blast out the kitchen until the waiter appeared again to take an order at a table two down. Walking back to the kitchen he dropped off the menu at my table and went back inside. I looked at the somewhat legible menu, and decided to get the eggs . I waited for about another 15 minutes but the waiter never came back. Not to get my order, nor to service any of the people on the back porch. I noticed that the couple sitting next to me still had their menus and had had them since I got there without any followup from the waiter. I asked them if they had already ordered yet as I was somewhat flabbergasted that it was taking so long. They said that they had already ordered and were waiting for food. What? So I’m gunna hang around for another 40 minutes until I get my food? I had already gone through the 3 sections of the sunday times and was really sick of waiting. Fuck this, I figured i’d just leave while i still could. (also, about five minutes after I got there some couple walked in and was still waiting for a menu)
I began walking out and the inside had filled up considerably. I guess thats why he couldnt make it outside.. But only one waiter for the whole joing? Feh and feh again. On my way out the door, I saw the owner (I’m guessing) chasing his black dog around the sidewalk. Apparently though, this place is pretty good.
Posted by: Jarkob | May 11, 2006 07:58 PM
I went to Sweetwater for brunch a few days ago...during the Great Blizzard of '06. We sat at the bar (though tables were available), and really enjoyed the delicious food and friendly service.
We had champagne and Bloody Marys (that's what Sunday morning is for), and the Bloody Mary was garnished with a pickled green bean, which was surprisingly yummy. I had the "Lost Bread," a french toast-like entree, served with maple-infused fennel. Yum! I will definitely be coming back for that. My date had the steak and eggs, and was very happy with his food as well. There was a lot of stealthy bite-stealing going on.
The staff was very pleasant, especially for a snowy Sunday morning, and the atmosphere was warm and bustling. Sweetwater is my new favorite brunch spot.
Posted by: Megan | February 15, 2006 02:26 AM
i love the dark european atmosphere. the crowd is sexy and the wait staff thankfully (unlike most brooklyn restaurants) know they are working! the food is delicious i'm so happy it's in the neighborhood.
Posted by: toddy | December 28, 2005 06:48 PM
i love sweetwater. i went there for the first time about a month ago and have gone back 3 times since. the service is pleasant, atmosphere is inviting & the food is great..
Posted by: lilly | December 7, 2005 07:28 PM
decor looks much better than the food is prepared.
Posted by: onceonly | November 12, 2005 10:50 PM
This place is nice for a special dinner or party. Elegant, warm atmosphere. A little expensive but it is higher quality so reasonable. Also the relatively cheap wine list is a plus.
Posted by: Frank | November 1, 2005 06:54 PM
I've lived in this neighborhood for years and was pleasantly surprised Friday when I went back to Sweetwater restaurant. I hadn't been there in a while and I'm glad I went back. I had one of the best meals I can remember. Do they have a new chef?
Whatever the reason,it is now a real restaurant, and thank goodness it's in Williamsburg.
Posted by: james | October 30, 2005 08:00 AM
Ate here on Saturday night. Walked in and had no trouble getting a seat out back where we could watch the sunset. Very pleasantly surprised by the food. Green bean salad with goat cheese fritters was delicious, although a bit heavy handed with the dressing. House made country pate was very good. Wine list is sparse, but perfectly adequate. Pan seared striped bass was lovely with a corn risotto and greens. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. There is a clear effort to distinguish this place from its previous incarnation. Crowd included holdover bikers from when this was a tavern, hipsters, and small families. Great place to bring parents when they are in town.
Posted by: Eliz | July 13, 2005 02:13 PM