Sweet Chick: Serving Good Vibes & Safe Eats
As someone with a ton of food allergies, I struggle with finding restaurants where I feel safe enough to dine. So, naturally, I’m always leery about trying new places. But when I read about how incredible the food was at Sweet Chick in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, I knew I had to give it a try. And, I’m so glad that I did.
About the restaurant
Founded by celebrity restaurateur John Seymour and prolific rapper and businessman Nas, Sweet Chick is a New-American southern fare comfort food restaurant with craft cocktails, picturesque views, and the best of hip-hop music playing in the background. Their Williamsburg Brooklyn location was the first to open in 2013, and according to their website, their philosophy is: “Have fun, eat well, and spread love [it’s the Brooklyn way].” I did just that during my visit. So much so that I’ve dined in the LA location twice in the past two weeks.
First impressions
During my first visit, I went with a friend for a little boozy Sunday brunch. Pro tip: Try the frose (yes, frozen Rose). As soon as I alerted our waiter about my food allergies, I had his complete attention, which doesn’t happen often. I told him what I wanted to order, and he assured me that he would confirm with the kitchen that everything would be safe – no cross-contamination with peanuts, tree nuts, or seafood. I wasn’t able to order the highly popular fried chicken because it’s cooked in a shared fryer that also prepares seafood. I was a little disappointed but the news was delivered by the manager with care. Typically in restaurants, I never see a manager. Usually it is the waiter who delivers the news, and it often feels like an it-is-what-it-is declaration, but not at Sweet Chick. In fact, the manager went over the menu and guided me through some options. For someone like me, this means the world because it’s not about being able to eat everything on the menu; it’s about being able to dine safely. Not only were they honest about what they could and couldn’t do for me in their kitchen – which is life-saving – but they also took the time to make sure I was still more than satisfied with my order.
I ordered the house salad (which comes with safe and delicious grilled chicken), the mac & cheese (which was prepared for me without the RITZ Crackers crust topping), and a regular waffle, plus cocktails, obviously. It was all incredible. My friend and I sat in the restaurant for a couple hours enjoying our food, drinks, and the amazing music and energy that filled the space. The décor can be described as hip chic with a rustic twist. The walls are lined with concert and performance posters from events held at the various locations, including one featuring the great Raekwon. Behind the bar, the famous Ice Cube lyrics, “Today was a good day,” illuminate the space and sets the tone perfectly.
Immediately after brunch, I came home and emailed the restaurant. I wanted them to know how much of a great time I had dining at Sweet Chick. I also wanted to feature them here on my blog, because I know how hard it is to find restaurants that take food allergies as seriously as they do. A few hours later, I received a call from Chip Cruz, one of the Sweet Chick managers who’s responsible for opening a number of their locations. He was so pleased to hear how well my dining experience was that he invited me back in to dine again.
The second time around
One of the true highlights of this second visit was learning more about the Sweet Chick process when someone with food allergies comes into the restaurant. First, when dining at any restaurant, alert your waiter of your food allergies immediately. This allows them to notify the kitchen and the manager of your needs and where you are seated. Every ingredient in a dish is commonly not listed on the menu, so don’t ever depend on that at any food establishment – communication is key.
According to Chip, something amazing that Sweet Chick uses to ensure safety is a kitchen cheat sheet. This chart lists their dishes vertically and the common allergens/problem ingredients horizontally. From there, an “X” is used to indicate the ingredient’s presence in a dish so that the kitchen staff can quickly and accurately determine if a menu item will work for someone and their specific allergies or intolerances. Once you’ve made your selections, the kitchen safely prepares your meal. During this dinner visit, I tried the grilled dry rub wings, mac & cheese (because it was so yummy the first time), and mashed potatoes with gravy. Again, everything on my plate was consumed with joy. As my drink for the evening, I tried the signature Sweet Chick cocktail – vodka, triple sec, watermelon, and lime. It was refreshing, and the perfect libation for the night.
Food allergies aside, Sweet Chick is somewhere you just want to hang out. I spent time talking to Chip about the unmatched vibe that you immediately feel when you walk through the doors. Restaurants in LA tend to feel like a see-and-be-seen experience, but not Sweet Chick. Celebrities do frequent the restaurant, of course, but that’s because of how real the place feels. There’s no VIP section, no separate list for influencers, or anything else that differentiates the dining experience based on who you are.
Sweet Chick currently has six locations, including Los Angeles, New York, and London. I strongly encourage you to try one of them. Not only will they feed you with love and care, you will also want to keep going back to this restaurant with music as its soul.
