Sweetwater Bar & Grill

Formality, on this side of the Williamsburg Bridge, is about as common as a tucked-in shirt. But in its own, sepia-toned way, charming Sweetwater manages to put up a good front. You’ll find dark textured wood, funky tiled floors and soft orange lighting inside and a leafy back garden outside, making for a quiet retreat. The bistro menu delivers standards like a heaping pile of crisp onion rings, and some gourmet-for-the-’hood offerings like prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin served with green apple and potato mash. Pair it with vodka lemonade—by the pitcher.