The team behind Citroen have a new concept on the way to North Brooklyn. The Sparrow will open at 185 Broadway in Williamsburg in a 2,000-square-foot space this summer, owner Dawn Eldridge told What Now New York. Eldrige said the space is under construction now, and they are hoping to open in mid-August.
Eldridge closed French restaurant Citroen late last year amid landlord disputes.
“We were initially going to have The Sparrow as a sister restaurant to Citroen, but ultimately we had to close Citroen about nine days before Christmas,” Eldridge said. “We were hoping to relocate Citroen, but we’ve decided at this time that we’re going to incorporate the more popular elements of Citroen into The Sparrow.”
The Sparrow will be an Art Deco cocktail bar in the Forman Building in Williamsburg. The spot was designed by North Brooklyn developer James Sparrow and the building is now considered a landmark. Eldridge aims to incorporate this history into the design.
“We’re bringing the design back to a more glam, Art Deco period in New York City,” Eldridge said.
Customers can expect high ceilings and a dramatic, glamorous design.
In terms of menu, fans of Citroen will see some familiar dishes, including their steak-frites, steak tartare, fois gras and burger. In addition to small and large French plates, The Sparrow will serve a full raw bar, including seafood towers, seasonal crudos and East and West Coast oysters. The team also plans to introduce freshly made doughnuts as a dessert option.
The beverage program will feature an expansive spirit collection, even larger than the one found at Citroen.
“At Citroen, we were very passionate about curating spirits that were a little more off the beaten path, sharing these lesser known small-bath companies — women-owned, minority-owned, family-owned,” Eldridge said. “We had about 300 different bottles behind our bar at Citroen, and we’re looking to triple that at the new bar.”
There will also be a global wine program for customers to enjoy.
