The signature menu items at Perrysburg gastropub Swig, which range from frankfurters to corned duck breast, remind me of some of the finest charcuteries I’ve visited in Europe and Montreal.
Owner Tony Bilancini, a transplanted Clevelander, said he was inspired by the restaurant scene in Chicago and brought those ideas back to Perrysburg, adding his own personal touches. For that I can only say, “Thank you, Tony!”
Charcuteries feature a culinary style devoted to the preparation of meat products, and at Swig the meat is trimmed, ground, seasoned, stuffed, smoked, and cooked on premise daily, something you don’t find in many Toledo-area restaurants.
Suggested for Openers
A good way to get acquainted with the variety and flavor of Swig’s meats is to order the “smoked, cured and curious” platter, containing samples of the mortadella, sopressata, capicolla, corned duck and smoked chicken. It comes with house-made cranberry mustard and lemon caper sauce ($8.75).
Another good get-acquainted choice is the sausage platter, choosing three of the house-made sausages—bratwurst, kielbasa, Polish, Italian, gyro, andouille, or chicken. The platter comes with spicy mustard, sauerkraut, sweet and sour cabbage and fries ($11.50). Swig’s sandwiches (or “sammiches,” as they call them) include a house-cured corned beef Reuben ($8.25), and the corned and smoked duck breast ($11). The butter-basted half-pound burger ($8.75) uses house ground beef made with brisket, chuck and tenderloin and is served with lettuce, tomato and onion. All the “sammiches” come with hand-cut fries that are thin, crisp and delicious, and the homemade ketchup is definitely not the typical squeeze-bottle variety.Sweet potato fries are another option to consider and they are also hand-cut, fresh-fried and excellent.
Swig also serves smoked beef tenderloin, BLT, mortadella, grilled cheese, pulled pork and Italian beef sandwiches. The Chicago-style Italian beef ($8.25) is topped with spicy giardiniera and served with a side of beef au jus. To get the genuine Chicago experience and flavor, pour the au jus all over the roll. And the smoked duck breast Reuben is simply awesome.
The aforementioned sausages are available on a bun or in a gyro, topped with lettuce, tomato onion and tzatziki sauce (priced from $4.25 to $4.75). Their house-made frankfurters come in the traditional Coney Island and Chicago-style, as well as a Cleveland version that is topped with bacon, Coney sauce, shredded cheddar and stadium mustard. A plain dog runs $2.25, while the Cleveland style is $4. Choose from a large list of additional toppers, including Chicago-style relish, grilled onions, sweet and sour cabbage and feta cheese sauce.
The only sweet dessert offered is the chocolate-covered bacon, bourbon-roasted pineapple sundae with Guinness chocolate sauce at $6. The bacon, or as I like to call it pig candy, is cured in-house and covered in chocolate, and yes, it’s good. In fact it’s great. Save room for this one because it’s well worth the calorie splurge.
With generous portions, moderate prices, great food and fast, friendly service, Swig is a must try—and you don’t need to drive to Montreal to enjoy it.
Swig, 219 Louisiana St., Perrysburg, is open Monday-Thursday, 11am-midnight;
Friday-Saturday, 11am-2am; Sunday, noon-10pm. 491-873-6224 or swigrestaurant.com.
