Jane D.
Yelp
I don't wish to further amp up its popularity and squeeze myself out of a table, but.... boy do I like this place. :)
The food menu* at Swyft looks fairly ordinary on its face (think: omelets, burgers, pizza), but in execution, almost everything we've tried has been extraordinary. They have a relationship with Rock Cobble Farm, local to Kent, which sources absolutely gorgeous produce and herbs, and some dairy products, especially in the summer months.
* The cocktail menu, on the other hand, looks anything but ordinary! More on that later...
By way of example, a gorgeously fluffy omelet ($19; mushrooms, gruyère, sourdough, salad), studded through with buttery, firm oyster mushrooms, came with a side of salad that almost outshone the perfect omelet. These greens were no mere afterthought; they were tender and flavorful as only the freshest greens can be, garnished with pretty microgreens and violets, perfectly and simply dressed (NOT overdressed) so that you could fully taste the vegetables. The omelet came with lovely bits of finely julienned herbs on top and a wee bit of tender thyme inside. I loved that the gruyere was included in moderation and did not overwhelm the other ingredients.
I'm certain that a lot of ink has already been spilled in praise of the wood fired pizza -- but they really are praiseworthy. The dough is perfectly proofed, perfectly chewy / thin / crisp for our New York / Neapolitan-partial crowd. The San Marzano tomato sauce is naturally, vividly sweet, not sugary. Toppings are in balance. The Randy Savage ($20; San Marzano tomato sauce, housemade mozzarella & Italian sausage, onion, aleppo, oregano) came with just the right amount of crumbled sausage and mozzarella (e.g. not a thick, rubbery, overwhelming layer), a touch of heat.
I didn't try the Al Diavolo ($20; San Marzano tomato sauce, housemade mozzarella, soppressata, hot honey, aleppo, oregano), but it was reportedly excellent and "very rich." The pizzas are sized for a single person. Our 12-year old had 3/4 of his pizza. The Pardner had 1 1/4 pizzas and some of our daughter's Combo Breakfast ($17; two farm eggs any style, sourdough, bacon, homefries).
That combo breakfast? The eggs were perfectly cooked to her tastes, neither wet nor overly hard. I wasn't super fond of the thick cut bacon on my last try, but hers were beautifully made, pleasantly crisp, not rubbery. And the home fries were perfectly browned, the varietal of potatoes used actually a touch sweet, but with a Russet-like starchiness. I don't know if this was just the result of using a very fresh potato or whether this was a different varietal of potato. (We are accustomed to grocery store fare, which is typically far from being farm-to-market fresh.)
Now the best part of the restaurant: the cocktails! They are inventive and interesting full of herbs and unusual flavor combinations, e.g. avocado or date or cheese-infused / bacon-washed vodkas or tequilas. We don't frequent fancy cocktail bars in NYC nearly as often now as we did before we had children, but I can safely say that Swyft's genius mixologist(s) has/have nothing on what we consider the City's finest. (We have in mind Little Branch, Employees Only, Milk & Honey, Death & Company, etc...)
The two we tried on this visit:
- Pomelo Meadows ($15; crystal infused vodka, date vodka, jasmine tea, grapefruit, pomelo, matcha) -- hmm, not sure what kind of crystal they used to infuse the vodka, but it sure was tasty. It was only a touch sweet, but had just the right touch of richness and bitterness from matcha, a clarifying touch of citrus. It came garnished with the loveliest sprig of flowers -- I think elderflower, but could not confirm.
- Something to Greek Out About ($15; vodka, cucumber, fennel, yogurt, black pepper, lime, basil) -- perfect for those who like savory cocktails over sweet ones. I loved the fragrance of the cucumber, lime and basil, didn't detect much fennel or black pepper though visually, it was present. Very refreshing in the summer heat.
Love the cocktails, love the food especially when it incorporates fresh produce. And we love sitting on the patio under the wild cherry tree with our pup, secluded from the bustle of Main Street by a thick hedge. Prices may seem high based on the menu descriptions at first -- but when you taste the food you'll well understand why it's at this price point. What a magical place in Kent!