Dee and I hadn’t seen each other in a while. Life happens, schedules stop lining up, and suddenly it has been months since you sat across from your friend and actually talked instead of texting a string of half finished sentences.
We picked Swoony’s in Carroll Gardens to fix that, and funny enough we landed on it for the exact same reason without ever comparing notes. We were both influenced by the burrata babe. I just wanted the walk. My office is close enough that skipping the subway felt like the whole point of the day.
The Room
Carroll Gardens has a way of making everything feel clean without trying too hard, and Swoony’s fits right into that. A few sister restaurants sit nearby, all under the same blue theme, and nothing about the place reaches for your attention. No flash, no extravagance, just a good spot in a good neighborhood that knows exactly what it is.
We sat at the bar for no particular reason. Sometimes you just want the stools. Staff was friendly and chill in the way that makes you forget you are being served at all.
The Martini With the Cheese On Top
I had two or three Martinis and lost count somewhere in the middle, which tells you how easily they went down. Not drunk. Just happy. The best one came with a chunk of parm cheese speared right on top, and I am not going to apologize for loving cheese sitting on my drink. It worked, and I would order it again just for that garnish alone.
Tuna Crudo and a Kale Caesar Playing Defense
We went light to start since neither of us knew how much food was coming, and did a little family style spread across the table.
The tuna crudo landed first. Big clean chunks of tuna, a light vinaigrette, avocado, capers. Fresher than I expected walking in, and it did not try to be a fussy raw bar dish. It just did the basics right.
Then the Tuscan kale Caesar, which I ordered hoping it might quietly cancel out the burger I already knew was coming. It did not, but it earned its spot anyway. The kale never overpowers, and the crispy chickpeas give it a texture that keeps it from tasting like penance.
The Smash Burger
Double smash patty, cheese, on a Portuguese bun that looks like an English muffin that hit a growth spurt. Whatever you want to call the bun, it is softer than a standard brioche and it works. Solid, no notes, exactly what Daisy promised.
The Cheesesteak That Stole the Whole Meal
Here is the part nobody warned me about. The special of the day was a cheesesteak, and I had not been craving one until it hit the table.
Crispy bread. Meat that was not drowning in cheese. No truffle nonsense sliced on top for no reason. Just an old school cheesesteak built the way it is supposed to be built. I did not need sixty ingredients fighting for attention. I needed someone to get the fundamentals right, and Swoony did.
I would beg them to put it on the permanent menu. I doubt they will. If you catch it as a special, do not think twice.
Final Verdict
Swoony’s is going into the rotation. Close to the office, an easy walk, chill vibe, and I genuinely cannot find a downside. Dee got her burger, I got a cheesesteak I did not know I needed, and we tried to bar hop after but my fat ass and hers agreed we were done for the night.
Dee, thank you for the push to finally go. Long overdue.
If you are in Carroll Gardens, this one is worth the stop. I will be back to work through the sister restaurants nearby.
As always, what do I know? I am just a fat guy from Brooklyn trying to survive the week, one martini at a time.
Looking for more NYC restaurant reviews? Check out my Best Steakhouses in NYC, Best Burgers in NYC, and Best Restaurants in NYC lists.