SWIFTY'S RESTAURANT IN NEW YORK CITY
****
SWIFTY'S RESTAURANT
1007 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10021
(212) 535-6000
****
Story By: Marcy MacDonald
Photos By: Ann Watt
****
Swifty's Cobb Salad
Named for the dog-napped boxer owned by their late boss, SWIFTY'S opened its doors and in swept the ladies who lunched -- with the men who could afford them. Chef-owners Robert Caravaggi and Stephen Attoe know their culinary magnets and even cater to the haute crowd off premises with Swifty's Event Catering. Robert always greets at the front-of-the-house and Stephen almost completely fills the miniscule kitchen (go ahead: look in, dodge the high flying waiters and say 'Hullo'). So if you can't live without corn fritters, loaded with red caviar and served with a dollup of crème fraiche, just remember, you don't have to know how to spell it; just how to stop saying 'more!' at $16.50 for three. Feeling religious? The Gravlax of salmon, cucumber salad and mustard dill will make you feel holy at just $17 a serving. The Crispy whitebait with red pepper dipping sauce is only $11 and makes you believe you're at the docks of London. Side of fries??? Don't miss the French fried onions, slivers of them, perfectly coated, light and crispy without being greasy at $7.50. But not as light as the Cheese Soufflé (which comes with a tossed salad and mustard sauce for just $23), so weightless, it levitates. Feeling puny and need comfort food? One heavenly slice of the best Baked Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and haricot verts (aka green beans) is $25 lip-smacking dollars. Allergic? They'll make you a brilliant Cobb Salad with or without the blue cheese. Swifty's Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes are served with creamed spinach (delish) for just $28.50. Although the roasted Scottish salmon and the Dover sole Meuniere are masterful, think 'meat' and treat yourself to the most expensive item on this intimate menu: Grilled Black Angus Strip Steak with béarnaise sauce and french fries for just $35. Hungover? Start with the Eggs Benedict at $18 (under the circumstances, who could bear having an egg look up at you from the table?) and chase it down with a nice bottle of Mumms Crème -- all day. And night. Seven days a week. And if you want to get a good look at Swifty: a painting of him hangs over the first table as you enter his restaurant. Want to buy him? Original Swifty art is at the Wally Findlay Galleries.
Comments