Ah, the answer is a little nuanced, in my view. I've been eating at Swan ever since my Father brought me as a child, a tradition I've continued to this day. Locals still enjoy Swan because I suspect, like me, many have grown up with eating here, and probably have something off the menu made to their specific preferences.

Before social media, it wasn't always crowded, and I really can't remember the long lines. Once upon a time, having lunch there was a relatively simple affair, and, at worst, the line would consist of a few people--never anything remotely like what I've seen. It reminds me of the time I saw that long queue at a Shake Shack in Singapore, and I had to ask those waiting if the food were free. While I'm sure Swan's owners appreciate the extra business modern social media has brought, I certainly don't eat there nearly as often as I have in the past. What was it Yogi Berra said? It's so popular now that no one goes.

While only speaking for myself, I enjoyed Swan much more in the past before all this social media craziness, and rarely go there for lunch these days.