Kingswood

I came here Saturday night for dinner. I made a reservation for two for 830pm. We didn’t get seated probably until 8:50. Now, that definitely did not sit well with me. What is more, the hostess kept saying it would only be a few more minutes, and that they were setting our table (seemed like a lie).
The meal however, was a better experience than the wait. My boyfriend and I shared the oysters — pretty tasty (thought $ 3 per oyster), and we each had the burger (which looked amazing on the menu, and tasted even better!). Kingswood also had some delicious cocktails.
As for the atmosphere, it was pretty typical West Villageish — young, good looking crowd, loud, dimly lit.
All in all, Kingswood was okay. Good food, but mediocre service.

Dined here with a date and I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed. We both ordered the Bronte burger. The burgers were nice cooked and tasty. But I wouldn’t say it was was mind blowing. In fact, I don’t think I would even recommend it. Kind of uneventful. The sides on the other hand were fantastic. In particular the Brussels sprouts are a must.

5 stars for location, 4 stars for food, 2 stars leaning towards 3 for service. Oh how sad to have to give a restaurant with a beautiful space and great food 3 stars for a problem that other reviewers note here, and obviously the restaurant seems unable to improve or listen to its customers (always tells me that there must be a problem with how someone recruits, inspires or retains employees, but that’s another story). Why, oh why, would you ruin a great experience with bad service?
The space is well lit, beautiful and in the heart of Greenwich Village. The food was really excellent, from the country sausage and homemade buttermilk biscuit, to the really outstanding burger and fries my friend enjoyed. I loved the menu choices, though more cocktail options at brunch would be nice.
Now to the service: My friend and I had a reservation at 1 pm. I arrived and told the host that we would like to add one to make it 3 people total. He said fine but that we would likely have to wait 15 – 30 minutes since we added a person — and that I would have to wait to sit until the whole party arrived. Uh oh. You’ve just hit on Toddy’s #1 pet peeve in NYC restaurants. Folks, half of the restaurant was empty, and I couldn’t sit down until my friends arrived (common sense anyone?). When my friends arrived, three minutes later, he immediately sat us. I tried to keep an open mind. It literally was 15 minutes before anyone visited our table, and that was only after I finally went to tell the host that a waiter had not come to our table. Then one immediately arrived, but she knew little about the menu and responded to every request with, «We don’t have that» and no offer to provide alternatives («But what I can do for you is … «). She finally admitted she was in training. We finally ordered our coffees and drinks, and then it took another 8 or 10 minutes for them to arrive. That was the last straw. We spoke with the manager.
Then the manager gets kudos for finally turning around the situation. She personally served us, and everything was attentive and personable from that point. We ended up having a nice experience, but only after we twice had to get out of our seats to request attention.
Managers: You have a good thing here. Quit wasting it. Glad to help.

This place tries so hard. Way too hard. They try to be more exclusive than they are, and charge accordingly. I’ve been quoted an hour and a half wait for a table on a Friday night, and been told that seating’s only for people eating dinner at 10:30. But it’s a nice space, crowd’s not too douchey, and it’s conveniently located.

The dry-​aged burger was just… dry. Not a lot of flavor for $ 26. The host wouldn’t seat us because the 4^th person in our party was late. That’s understandable, except for the fact that the place was completely empty at the time.
I do like that you can creepily peer into the kitchen on your way to the bathroom though.

Had the trout. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. I love garlic and this smelled like garlic when they brought it out so i was pleased. The potatoes were also perfectly cooked.
I tried some of my boyfriend’s «short ribs,» which i was also debating ordering. Glad i did not because it seemed like a lump of pulled pork and a bit on the dry side. Definitely not the sort of short ribs i was expecting.
Sticky toffee pudding for dessert! yum! haven’t had that since london. This sticky toffee was not so sticky but still good. Pretty sweet though with the buttermilk ice cream so it would be good for sharing.
Got a mojito and it was yummy. Apparently, they have a drink called the drop out that kinda of tasted like a lemon drop. It was also pretty good.

The only reason this is getting two stars is because my chicken was delicious. Other than that I had a terrible experience.
Someone decided it was a great idea to have their alcohol delivery at a peak eating time. Because of this, the delivery guys had to keep the side door open for roughly 30 minutes. If it was summer time maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad. But it’s not. It was about 30 degrees that night. This meant that me, and many other patrons around, had to enjoy dinner in our winter coats. My boyfriend even moved the candle closer to me so I could warm my hands. Yes, it was that cold. When he mentioned it to the waitress, as did the people next to us, all we got was an apology. I’m not cheap but you’d think we’d at least get a drink on the house. Or better yet a smart manager would have figured out a way for the cold air to not interfere with diners. It’s a shame because they lost a few customers that night over a silly thing that could have been avoided.

Meh. Been here for dinner. Been here for brunch.
Menu is ok. Service was shocking at brunch. They seem to be getting the overflow of people unable to bear the 2 hour wait for a table at Rosemary’s next door — and they’re wholly unprepared for the rush. We barely saw our waitress at all.
Ok in a pinch — but really much better options in this neighbourhood — Louro’s, Jeffrey’s Grocery etc

The best feature is Kingswood is the ambiance – I love it when an open space can feel both lived-​in and cozy, and a little sexy.
The food is decent. I guess it’s supposed to be Aussie-​inspired fare? I’ve been down under, and I still don’t know what that means. I actually think some of the vegetable side garnishes are more interesting than the mains. Just had wine, so can’t speak to the cocktails, but they do look tasty and attractive. Definitely good for groups.

When I have been here it’s never for the food– it’s always to meet up with someone (s) at the bar for a drink or in the downstairs part– which also has… a bar! The downstairs area has more space for groups which is agreeable with anyone’s need to not be squashed next to a bunch of tables all occupied with people sitting and eating. That said– you’re still going to be squashed next to people but they will be standing and not eating.
I was here around midnight last night for a friend’s 30^th bday — it’s a good place for that kind of event if you like being in rooms with lots and lots and lots of prettyish /​aloofish /​25ish-​35ish types in the West Village. It’s above-​average casual and not at all divey, a nice start before going somewhere more amenable to stupid late-​night bad decisions.

4 stars for the food, 1 star for the service.
We came here with a reservation at 6:30pm and the restaurant was still empty. The 90% of the tables was empty and yet they placed us next to 2 ladies who were the only customers and their table was just a foot away which we thought was ridiculous. So we requested to move us to another table further away from them so that we can have more privacy but the waiter refused it and made a lame excuse that they are all reserved. We would have been ok with it if they were really reserved, but the restaurant was still half empty even after 45 min! They really need to learn how to please customers, our dining experience here was ruined all because of the stupid and annoying seating arrangement.
However, I must say the food here was very good despite the lack of considerate service. Their churrasco was perfectly cooked, and we both loved it. I recommend the octopus too, it was tender and flavorful. The sea bass was simply prepared in a purist style without much extra treatment which worked nicely for true seafood lovers. The Kingswood food is definitely better than the nearby Whitehall, but I’m less likely to return here just because of the poor service. Besides, it’s not that cheap… if I’m paying $ 50-​$ 60, I expect the restaurant to be more flexible and provide better service. In summary it’s another pretentious scene restaurant but at least the food is good.

My experience at Kingswood was actually quite ordinary (and at times subpar).
First of all, the service was very slow. They seemed short staffed and I only saw two servers for a full restaurant for Saturday brunch, which was definitely not enough. It took forever for us to put our orders in and even get simple things like ketchup or more hot water. As my friend I was dining with put it, they had no problems with giving me a high five but had trouble giving us anything else.
The food was also decent. I got the breakfast sandwich and wasn’t that impressed. The brioche was dry and the sausage nothing spectacular. The ketchup was good and had a bit of a kick.
We also split a banana bread for the table, which I thought was the best part of the meal, but on its own, probably did not merit a return visit. We also had to remind the staff multiple times that we had put in an order of the bread.
On the positive side, the restaurant is really cute and had great décor, with lots of natural lighting.

***3.5***
The review is for the drinks and the bar. The cocktails here are solid. The 5 Spice Old Fashioned was smooth and spicy at the same time. Perfect for the rainy evening that was last night. They also have a varied beer list that doesn’t keep still for too long — for example, there is a Breckenridge Vanilla Porter on hand that isn’t listed on their current online menu.
As for the bar — a glowing island in the middle of a busy restaurant. Try to sit away from the door and you’ll be a happy camper. There are a large number of «bros» who hang out here for some reason, but don’t let that deter you — the cocktails are worth a visit.

Kingswood is what I expected given the competition in the area. However, the ambiance here left something to be desired — for me at least. Now, that does not mean that I did not enjoy every bite of what we ordered, because I certainly did. We decided to order a bunch of small plates and share. All were fantastic.
Truffle fries — seriously, when is it ever bad to add truffle flavor to ANYTHING?
Roasted brussel sprouts — cooked just right with a fried egg on top. Interesting addition but much welcomed.
Maplebrook Burratta — ummmmm yum?
Flat iron steak tartar — really really good, would recommend
Himachi crudo — light and fresh
Everything was outstanding.

I am the King. Where does the King like to feast, you ask? I doth prefer to dine at The Kingswood.
No, hipster waitress, I don’t want the poor people RW limited menu. I’m the King, duh.
With a bottle of red wine in our distended bellies, we delved into charred asparagus, truffle fries, flat iron steak tartare, raw fish carpaccio and some kind of quail egg concoction. T’was delectable.
As for the ambience, lots of beautiful people drinking/​eating/​mingling at the communal tables, happy/​affable waitress, and a chill vibe.
The King loves west village, hip, classy, d-​bag-​free, «older crowd with money» venues. You may call me, «your grace», when you see me.

My friend Bill recommended this place and it was great.
Really nice vibe here with friendly staff. I ate with two friends and we shared/​sampled a bunch of food and it was all delicious. I could have ordered anything on the menu. It all sounded great.
Some highlights:
Beet appetizer. Amazing
Mac and cheese. Molded in a square and quickly fried. Not greasy and some red sauce as a base. Very good. We ordered two.
Duck. Sliced thin and served medium rare. Delicious. Spinach sautéed as a base. Best dish of the night.
Pasta with veal ragout. Very light and tasty.
Communal tables and a nice bar.
Excellent!

I came here the first time for New Year’s Eve.
There are two levels — the main level, which is restaurant-​y, and the lower level, which is bar-​y. The upstairs had a sax player and had a very relaxed, classy vibe. Downstairs was more lively, and they even changed the music when we asked for something more upbeat.
I guess this place is an Australian bar, because everyone there was on holiday from Australia! The guys were attractive but didn’t seem to be very forward — lots of looks and smiles across the bar but not too many moves being made. Sadface.
I had a good time, and I would like to come back when I’m in the area.

The Kingswood is fantastic! As my boyfriend and I walked through the West Village on a Wednesday night, the large front window of Kingswood caught our eye. We were welcomed by the cool energy and laid-​back vibe of a 20 – 30’s something crowd. I loved the open, spacious layout that was created by the wrap-​around bar in the center of the restaurant. In the bar area, smaller groups and couples enjoyed cocktails. The dining room occupies the second half of the space, which accommodated many larger groups.
We sat at the last two available spots at the bar and we enjoyed glasses of Cabernet and Malbec. The prices were average for the neighborhood and the bartenders were cool and attentive. I hope their food is equally as impressive.
Impression: Great spot to take a date or to catch-​up with friends.
Plan to return: Yes, please.

Kingswood is one of those restaurants that you pass by on a Friday or Saturday night and see all the trendy people inside the huge windowed entrance and wonder what it takes to get a reservation there. Well, it’s not that hard actually. Just call or sign up on Open Table.
Aside from that, the host was super swamped, but SO nice. It amazes me when you can see that someone is constantly being bugged by a million people & swamped with work, but they still treat everyone with a lot of respect.
Our waiter, Jason, was extremely nice and helpful. Everything he recommended was divine.
The Star Dishes: Zucchini salad, The burger!!! and the Brussel Sprouts.
The only bad dish: The lobster Gazpacho — the reason why it wasn’t good was because you think you’re getting something that will taste like a light, refreshing lobster soup. But in actuality, you’re getting a dish that tastes like cold corn bisque. They should just call it what it is, Corn Gazpacho.
It’s a great spot, very trendy and fun atmosphere with amazing food. Go, now.

Maybe I’ve been too hyped up about Game of Thrones lately, but The Kingswood totally sounds like a place thunk up by George R. R. Martin. Or maybe J. R. R. Tolkien. Or perhaps whichever R. R. visionary was behind Medieval Times. You get the picture. Seated in this refurbished castle dining hall of sorts, with long, dark-​wooded tables and a stuffed peacock a constant image in my peripheral, I waited for some manor lord to declare to his guests:
«Tribesmen of The Kingswood, gather round! For tonight, we feast!»
But in reality, you’re not gonna find too many fantasy nerds here. No, The Kingswood rather is pretty damn trendy, hip, cool, hot, swag, fresh, far out, neat-​o, and whatever other adjectives you choose to suggest I was totally in the wrong place.
Still, a feast was certainly had. The Duck Gnocchi small plate, confit ragu and mirepoix (a French vegetable medley) over thick potato dumplings, was a special when I visited, and after re-​discovering the menu online since my dinner, I see has earned a spot on the everyday rotation, deservedly so. The Roasted Brussels Sprouts were topped with bacon, maple syrup, lime, and finally a fried hen’s egg, a delicious touch despite my initial reservations. The Red Beets were, well, fantastic big-​ass beets. Plated with goat cheese and hazelnuts, it may have been the best dish from their appetizer (or «Harvest») section of the menu.
As for an entrée, I went for the Ruby’s Bronte Burger, a super-​juicy selection that was probably also a little too juicy for its own good, as it completely fell apart by the end of the course. Still, I’ll take this over a dry patty any day (even if the bun was a little parched itself) and the cheddar cheese, sweet chili sauce, truffle mayo, and side of fries certainly didn’t hurt.
The wine list is a respectable two-​page affair and there are specialty cocktail offerings a-​plenty (priced $ 12 – 15), ranging from English highballs to The Kingswood’s own take on a Pimm’s Cup to a slew of tequila, rum, or bourbon-​based drinks. Naturally, with such an emphasis on mixology, not only is this place a great destination for Australian-​American-​Pan-​Euro up-​scale pub fare, but it has itself a loud, packed, singles-​driven bar scene to go with it as the night progresses. This can also be attributed to The Kingswood’s organic, well-​allocated space — lounge area in front, followed by a rectangular bar, with the rest of the room reserved for dinner service.
Despite its drinks-​date or numbers-​scoring potential, catering to big parties with its communal, picnic-​table seating is where this new West Village favorite really excels. Its varied menu succeeds in pleasing all types — vegetarians, carnivores, omnivores, localvores, winos, boozehounds, socialites, hipsters, and straight-​up haters alike. Basically, all your closest friends! The Kingswood’s got ‘em covered — let the feasting commence!

I’m a pretty happy-​go-​lucky dude. I see the glass as half full, I make lemonade when life hands me lemons, and I try to see the silver lining in crappy restaurants. Therefore, before I begin my rant, I’ll admit that Kingswood’s space is beautiful, and through no fault of their own, they’ve amassed a cadre of hip and well-​heeled diners. The sophistication ends as soon as your waiter plunks down the menu of stunningly unimaginative Australian inspired crowd pleasers, and begins to take your order.
Behind the dazzle of Kingswood’s décor, there’s a noticeable lack of passion in the food. Like an Australian Applebees, this is sustenance to push higher margin items like cocktails and a yawn-​inducing wine list. There was a clumsy platter of charcuterie and cheese, which at $ 40, warranted at least a 5 second explanation of their origins and names. Instead, they nonchalantly dumped this mess of proteins at our table, and we were left to guess the progeny of each wilting slice of meat and cheese — at least it made for good dinner conversation
A pork chop ($ 24), overcooked and bullied to the consistency of shoe leather was tossed with mealy brussels sprouts and drizzled with a murky and overwhelmingly salty soy/​caramel glacé. My dining companion suffered through depressingly boring roast chicken ($ 24). He perked up when roasted carrots, lovingly tender and sweet, arrived; they reminded him of home cooking, while the chicken reminded him of a chain restaurant.
If ‘tedious’ characterizes the food, then ‘apathy’ characterizes the service. 15 minutes to place our order, 15 more minutes to receive our first round of cocktails. After flagging our waiter via a helpful food runner, we waited 15 more minutes for the waiter to fetch our bottle of wine.
At some point in the meal, the wait inappropriately diminished — our main courses piled up as we struggled to finish our appetizers. And at the end of the meal, the waiter brusquely dropped the check while we were in the midst of a bottle of wine (and contemplating the next bottle to order). We took this as a sign that our waiter kindly wanted us to fuck off; so we did, with no intent to return.
The silver lining? We likely avoided a wicked hangover by not ordering that last bottle of wine.