I'm going this Saturday (so excited!). Does anyone know what's on the current menu? I'm trying to pick some wines to bring with me, but it's a little difficult to do so without knowing what I'll be served. Thanks!

Check out
http://www.schwarestaurant.com/
Click on Menu
also see
viewtopic.php?p=179021#179021
and
viewtopic.php?p=181498#p181498

leek wrote:Check out
http://www.schwarestaurant.com/
Click on Menu

Unless my computer is refusing to refresh, this is the menu I had back in December. Based on subsequent posts, I'd say that this is no longer what's on offer. If anyone does know what's on the current menu, I too would appreciate knowing so that I can use the info to justify another visit.

Ronna

Just broke my rule and called Schwa. The answering machine says they are only taking reservations through May. That seems strange to me. Do they always take reservations only for the next few weeks? That's not what I seem to remember.

Kennyz wrote:Just broke my rule and called Schwa. The answering machine says they are only taking reservations through May. That seems strange to me. Do they always take reservations only for the next few weeks? That's not what I seem to remember.

Thanks for making the effort. For most restaurants, calling is the easy thing to do. Obviously, though, Schwa isn't "most restaurants."

Ronna

leek wrote:Check out
http://www.schwarestaurant.com/
Click on Menu
also see
viewtopic.php?p=179021#179021
and
viewtopic.php?p=181498#p181498

Yeah, I did check the website, but I had heard that it hadn't been updated in a while. Was wondering if I could find someone on here who had actually dined at Schwa recently.

Did you also look at the 2nd and 3rd links in my response, which directly answer the "what wine to bring" question? Including quoting Michael Carlson, and what he recommends patrons bring?

When I went, the online menu was not what we were served. I also asked what wines to bring when making the reservation and they suggested nothing too oaky or bold as far as reds.

thanks for all the help, everyone. here's the menu i was served last saturday:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3047/352 ... 1242260446

hope that helps.

Is it customary to tip the standard amount at Schwa? Obviously there are no servers, and presumably the chefs are making more than $4/hr. I ask this as someone who typically tips 20-25% for good service, but is super tight on cash these days...

jeanpoutine wrote:presumably the chefs are making more than $4/hr

from the magazine article (gq?) - i think they worked out, due to high food costs and no liquor revenue - that's around what they were rounding off at

jeanpoutine wrote:Is it customary to tip the standard amount at Schwa? Obviously there are no servers, and presumably the chefs are making more than $4/hr. I ask this as someone who typically tips 20-25% for good service, but is super tight on cash these days...

Because they are chefs who are busy in the kitchen, but are also serving the food & are doing a damn good job of it (great pacing, attentive service, welcoming/friendly demeanor, etc.), I looked at it from the perspective that they're all simultaneously wearing server and chef hats, and tipped as I normally would for service of that caliber.

I leave a card which informs the staff that a 200% tip is coming to them. All they have to do is call the number on the card, and when I return the call, I will provide details about how to access the funds.

Kennyz wrote:I leave a card which informs the staff that a 200% tip is coming to them. All they have to do is call the number on the card, and when I return the call, I will provide details about how to access the funds.

When they call the number, does a recording tell them that you are the son of a deposed prince currently residing in Lagos, that their 200% tip is tied up in an offshore account, and that you need their help to have the money moved to the U.S. so that it can be disbursed to them?

Khaopaat wrote:

Kennyz wrote:I leave a card which informs the staff that a 200% tip is coming to them. All they have to do is call the number on the card, and when I return the call, I will provide details about how to access the funds.

When they call the number, does a recording tell them that you are the son of a deposed prince currently residing in Lagos, that their 200% tip is tied up in an offshore account, and that you need their help to have the money moved to the U.S. so that it can be disbursed to them?

Don't mind Kenny. He's just fulfilling his contractual obligation to make a smartass remark about Schwa's reservation system every time the thread is bumped

(I keed because I love, Kenny!)

'tis true, seeing the Schwa thread bumped gives me the same instinctual reaction as running into the girl who dumped me right before prom. Like Dom, she thinks I should be over it by now.

Dmnkly wrote:Don't mind Kenny. He's just fulfilling his contractual obligation to make a smartass remark about Schwa's reservation system every time the thread is bumped

He does it so I don't have to.

I got a good chuckle there Kennyz. In fairness though, I got a reservation on my 2nd call this afternoon(didn't bother leaving a message the first time). I was wide open for dates and we like eating later, but it seems if you get someone on the phone and don't require a table at 7 on a weekend, there are reservations to be had...

jeanpoutine wrote:Is it customary to tip the standard amount at Schwa? Obviously there are no servers, and presumably the chefs are making more than $4/hr. I ask this as someone who typically tips 20-25% for good service, but is super tight on cash these days...

I've always left the same tip at Schwa - about 20% on the post-tax bill. I wouldn't say there are "no servers". There are servers - they just happen to also be the chefs.

Guess who made the list...

http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2009/07/t ... tions.html

I am ecstatic to be returning 2morrow for my lady friend's 30th. It will be her first time. Hope she likes it!

Disaster! The grease trap has flooded and Schwa is closed today.

This strangely coincides w/ the President's visit to our fair city. Hmmmm....

Disaster! The grease trap has flooded and Schwa is closed today.

This strangely coincides w/ the President's visit to our fair city. Hmmmm....

Nah. Obama went to Alinea, I hear. Wonder if he took Mark Buehrle and Dewayne Wise?

sundevilpeg wrote:

Disaster! The grease trap has flooded and Schwa is closed today.

This strangely coincides w/ the President's visit to our fair city. Hmmmm....

Nah. Obama went to Alinea, I hear. Wonder if he took Mark Buehrle and Dewayne Wise?

I hope not, Buehrle and Wise can afford Alinea on their own.

sundevilpeg wrote:

Obama went to Alinea, I hear. Wonder if he took Mark Buehrle and Dewayne Wise?

not that I care where our president eats, or who his dining companions might be, but Buehrle and Wise were on their way to Detroit after the game last night.

Oh no~! Did they call you and cancel your reservation or what? We have plans tonight for dinner there and I hope everything has been resolved!!

I would think you could get your grease trap emptied in very short order. It's not a major undertaking.

They called and left a message about the closing. Apologized and would like to reschedule. I have yet to reschedule, but am sure they will do what they can.
Jenny, it sounded like a messy problem that could be taken care of in short order so I hope your rezzo is OK. Please be sure to let us know that things are up and running or otherwise. Good luck! Hope all goes well and you share details of the event.

Got the call back from Schwa. They are up and running and I've rescheduled this week. Hooray!

I had dinner at Schwa on Friday. I don't have time to prepare the sort of detailed post this meal deserves. Suffice it to say, terrific meal as usual. Michael Carlson appeared to be in high spirits and was a wonderful host for the evening. Highlights of the menu were crab with carmerlized plantains and a pork dish. I don't remember all the details, but Michael said they had obtained an entire pig from a local farmer who had fed it nothing but acorns. This made me think of Iberico ham, but the preparation was totally different. It was like roasted pork loin. In any case, the focus was on the intense flavor of the meat. It was one of my favorite dishes ever at Schwa (or anywhere else for that matter). There were a couple of dishes that didn't click for me, which is also par for the course at Schwa. One was a Hendricks gin bubble tea. The other was a cocoa nib consume with cauliflower tortellini. I had a cocoa nib dish on my last visit, and loved it, but this time the flavor was too bitter or burnt for my liking. Compared to my last visit about 6 months ago, the menu had evolved and none of the dishes were exactly the same (except that the quail egg ravioli made an appearance) but a lot of the flavor combinations were familiar. All in all, it was a great night that reaffirmed Schwa's place as my favorite restaurant. I can't wait to go back.

Thanks for the update! Looking forward to experiencing it again on Friday.