New Williamsburg restaurant Sweet Chick takes us down South
Sweet Chick is like that old friend in Brooklyn you have always looked up to – it’s the perfect mix of comforting and inspiring. The intimate 48 seat farm-to-table hangout residing on North 8th Street in Williamsburg is cozy but stylish, boasting long communal tables and two-top tables against the walls, all created from reclaimed wood from old Williamsburg buildings. The lighting is dim , illuminated with accent candles and adorned with a large chalkboard highlighting daily specials. A nine seat bar with your choice of seven craft beers on tap sits pretty on the other side. With a hip crowd and a down home feel, this restaurant collaboration between restauranteurs John Seymour and Sam Saleh is a place you will want to linger.
If you order one thing while at Sweet Chick for supper, let it be the Chicken and Waffles ($16) – this classic southern plate is nothing short of perfect. The chicken, brined in sweet tea, is equally juicy and salty with a perfectly crisp coating, and the waffles it is paired with are divine. Choose from three waffle flavors (Classic, Bacon & Cheddar, or Rosemary & Mushroom) and get this dish with three house made butters (lemon, herb, and cranberry) which all pair famously with the syrup. Other entrees worth trying are the Arctic Char ($21), a crawfish with a flageolet bean stew with preserved lemon and sauteed mustard greens and the juiciest Pork Tenderloin ($22) with brussels sprouts, raisins, hominy, and sweet potato mash.
There is a generous choice of sides and appetizers to pick from, but with the Kale BLT Salad ($12) you cannot go wrong. The thick bacon in this salad is cured in house by Chef Randy Reppel and it sits perfectly on a bed of fresh kale with a preserved lemon vinaigrette. The Mac and Cheese ($8) is the best I have ever had (sorry Nana) with the silky smooth three cheeses (gruyere, fontina, and an aged white cheddar) and the crunchy Ritz cracker crust smothered on shell pasta.
For dessert, the Southern classics are equally mouth watering, with the favorite being Bourbon Pecan Pie ($8), baked in house and topped with creme fraiche ice cream and caramel. The Sweet Chick Cheesecake ($8) and Double Chocolate Pudding ($8) are satisfying to sweet teeth as well, and the Cookie Jar ($10) is a great whimsical treat to share as a group if the other daily specials don’t catch your eye (they will).
The drinks are full of whimsy as well with well crafted names that make them even more fun to order. The Tiger Woods Ya’ll ($10) features Honey Jack and Hennessey with fresh lemon and Arnold Palmer on tap from local Brooklyn Soda Works made exclusively for Sweet Chick. The Purple Drank ($10) is a classic gin fizz mixed with Welch’s grape soda. The signature drink, Sweet Chick ($10), plays to multiple taste buds with its spicy sweet combination of watermelon-infused (in house) Bootlegger Vodka, lemon, watermelon puree, and a spicy brown sugar rim. Whether it’s a fun drink in a laid back atmosphere you are looking for or a long leisurely sit down feast with your besties, this is the venue to try…and brunch will be coming soon.
Sweet Chick
164 Bedford Avenue (at North 8th St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(347) 725-4793