Why is the key lime pie famous?

A small waterfront shop, Steve’s Authentic, has built its name on key lime pie alone for over twenty years. The signature snack is the “swingle” — a frozen tart dipped in chocolate on a stick.

Where for a proper meal?

Hometown Bar-B-Que, known for wood-smoked barbecue, is the anchor. Weekend queues can be long — time your visit, ideally around the ferry schedule.

Food Bazaar, inside a Civil War-era warehouse locals still call “the Fairway building”, is the neighbourhood’s kitchen — the warehouse interior makes the shopping itself sightseeing.

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Red Hook: The Last Working Waterfront · 7

Key lime pie and barbecue: the dock’s table

Ep. 7 · How to eat in Red Hook

FitTrip Editor · 2026.07.18

Red Hook’s food wins on handmade density: Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie, baking by the water for more than twenty years (the chocolate-dipped “swingle” is the signature), Hometown Bar-B-Que’s wood-smoked meats, and the market inside a Civil War-era warehouse (Food Bazaar, in the old Fairway building). A table where the maker is the seller — Episode 6’s revival-as-production continued on the plate.

There is hardly a franchise on Red Hook’s table. Instead: a man who has baked pie by the water for twenty years, and pitmasters raising wood smoke in a warehouse.

Pie by the water

Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie has built its name on one thing, in a small shop by the water, for more than twenty years Fact. The signature is the “swingle”, a frozen tart dipped in chocolate on a stick Fact — no better summer snack against the dock wind Estimate.

Smoke and warehouse

The meal anchor is Hometown Bar-B-Que, known for wood-smoked meats Fact. The shopping anchor is Food Bazaar, inside the Civil War-era warehouse locals still call the Fairway building (Ep. 2) Fact. The three share one trait: the maker sells it. The same grain as Euljiro’s old eateries and Bermondsey’s Maltby stalls — a working district’s table is honest everywhere.

FAQ

Why is the key lime pie famous?: A small waterfront shop, Steve’s Authentic, has built its name on key lime pie alone for over twenty years. The signature snack is the “swingle” — a frozen tart dipped in chocolate on a stick.
Where for a proper meal?: Hometown Bar-B-Que, known for wood-smoked barbecue, is the anchor. Weekend queues can be long — time your visit, ideally around the ferry schedule.
Where to shop?: Food Bazaar, inside a Civil War-era warehouse locals still call “the Fairway building”, is the neighbourhood’s kitchen — the warehouse interior makes the shopping itself sightseeing.

Checklist

Eat the swingle against the dock wind
Time the barbecue around weekend queues
See the warehouse interior at Food Bazaar
Plan meals around the ferry timetable

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