Every concert boasts a different energy, especially varying by venue. A restaurant is no different.
We went to The Sparrow in Brooklyn, situated right by the iconic Baby’s All Right. The 330-capacity hot spot hosts a variety of acts with various dictations of what it means to have a night out. The Sparrow was perfect for a night that’s meant to be made just a bit more magical. Think: date night meets show night. It’s not the sort of spot to swing by for a quick bite, but a Saturday night dinner before seeing your favorite show can lead to lasting memories.
Immediately from interior decoration alone, The Sparrow positioned itself in the upscale-casual tier, which by the way, again, is exactly the sort of place to impress us on a date. Our meal only underscored just how luxe we were made to feel.
We couldn’t help but begin with oysters, which can truly make or break a restaurant. It’s a risky choice, especially before a concert, but the ritzy feel of the dining room floor gave me the confidence to take a leap. We’re here to vouch for them, too. The East Coast oysters were fresh and went down smooth. Served with serrano and chartreuse mignonette, the oysters gave us a light introduction for what would prove to be a rich meal.
As for the mains, we tried out the salmon and lamb. Of course, you don’t have to go quite so high-end when ordering at The Sparrow, especially if you’re catching a more chill show. They also offer a burger, which judging by their more creative mains, surely is just as flavorful.
The salmon kept up the light, fluttering feeling with a warm spring taste. The chamomile glaze was a highlight of the entire meal, though, a mellow and easily overlooked aspect. As for the lamb, I’m a sucker for ordering the red meat — and my gut instinct did not disappoint. It was cooked (temp-wise) perfectly. However, the only real criticism from the meal I can find was that the accompanying minted white beans felt unattached from the dish. The meat was great, but the dish needed be tied together.
Of course, we couldn’t head out for the big night without a sweet treat. The unoffensive crème brûlée was the perfect choice, especially if you’re looking to split it. However, that sentiment was one upped by the other dish we ordered. When I ordered the profiteroles, I expected small puff pastry type desserts— and I wasn’t completely wrong. They were certainly a puff pastry, but filled with ice cream and lathered in a chocolate sauce. The size of the pastries were an elephant in comparison to your more standard size crème brûlée. It was only missing one thing — an espresso martini — which would have been the best way to catch a buzz before catching the gig.
