A new restaurant, Swig, at 1921 North Henderson, in what used to be Park, will have its soft opening this Wednesday. Peter Kenny from the Capitol Pub has created a lush, dark space with alluring seating arrangements and retro lighting fixtures throughout. The patio out back, formerly Bar Celine, is technically now a "speakeasy" called The Gin Mill, which has already been open for a while.
The menu at Swig created by Chef Casey Holmes is expansive, to say the least. It includes vodka shrimp, Jimmy's (local) Meatballs, Steamed Pork Belly Buns, Mad Mussels (from P.E.I., made with Texas pecan smoke bacon) and Truffle Salt Fries, all just as appetizers. There's also an option for building your own specialty cheese and meat plate, and "flatbread" that is treated like pizza. The Banh Mi stands out among the burgers and sandwiches. And, alone at the end of the menu are two "Mains:" Bar Steak, which is a grilled flat iron steak with fries and the option of a scallion ginger sauce, and fish & chips with vodka tempura cod, fries and a house made tartar sauce.
While the food menu is one full page, the drink menu is two and a half pages with 15 beers on tap and bottled options from around the globe, including many American craft beers.
