Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you - this place is amazing and quaint. The food is mouth watering delicious. We began with the antipasto platter with a variety of cheeses and tapende. We... More

Don't let the unassuming exterior fool you - this place is amazing and quaint. The food is mouth watering delicious. We began with the antipasto platter with a variety of cheeses and tapende. We also had several pasta dishes - our family favorite is the one with red peppers, garlic and anchovies (can't remember the name). This place is definately a rare find. Very eclectic clientele and helpful staff.
Less

Brad is the Sicilian soul food King!. Outstanding wines, delicious dishes, atmosphere, service...it's all amazing...I've been a regular customer over 10 years and still loving the experience. Go ... More

Brad is the Sicilian soul food King!. Outstanding wines, delicious dishes, atmosphere, service...it's all amazing...I've been a regular customer over 10 years and still loving the experience. Go now.. what are you waiting for?!!! The wine list is outstanding. Specialties and regular dishes are always indiviually made and have a wonderful handcrafted flavor,presentation and uniquness that leaves you wanting to try more offerings from the splendid menu. Obviously I can't say enough good things about the food here...it's always a memorable experience. Dont' miss the Roberto Clemente shrine or Brad's collection of swing and jazz musician photos... plus his occassional performance of blues harmonica and beat poetry...a spontaneous presentation.. Also Brad invites outstanding musicians from a variety of music genres to play in the cafe...ie Martin Hayes, Dave Friesell, Randel Bays, Oville Johnson and so many others there is not room to mention all of them... Well, as I said before...what are you waiting for??? Brad acceptse reservations for parties of 6 or more...less in your party... show up and grab a seat to wonderful eveing... it' s guarenteed you will become a new Swingside devotee. All it took was 1 time for me..I'm hooked!!!! Pros: Oh yeah...do it Cons: Can't think of any
Less

The food in very inconsistent! The staff has a high turnover due to the owner Brad, and his mood swings. The kitchen, chef's, and owner will never go out of their way to accomodate requests or... More

The food in very inconsistent! The staff has a high turnover due to the owner Brad, and his mood swings. The kitchen, chef's, and owner will never go out of their way to accomodate requests or special diets. The service has went downhill, I use to be a regular customer until I realized how the place really runs........mostly under the screaming of the owner himself, Brad- learn some manners and customer servcie!
Less

For years, the swingside has been a fantastic spot for great food ina casual setting. Great pastas and specials. The wine list is getting better and better. The staff is always friendly and... More

For years, the swingside has been a fantastic spot for great food ina casual setting. Great pastas and specials. The wine list is getting better and better. The staff is always friendly and helpful. If you want formal and expensive - skip it. If you want great food at good prices in a friendly spot - this is it.
Less

Still great after all these years. The Swingside Cafe is one of a kind, and I hope it never goes away. The presence of the chef-owner makes the quality of the food unbeatable. It's inventive and... More

Still great after all these years. The Swingside Cafe is one of a kind, and I hope it never goes away. The presence of the chef-owner makes the quality of the food unbeatable. It's inventive and seasonal and never boring. You could not make this food at home. The Sicilian influenced cuisine is sophisticated and layered and full of special ingredients, fit for kings and queens! Besides being where to go if you want to feel like royalty, the Swingside Cafe is a good place to hang out with people who truly appreciate food. It's also great for simpler meals by yourself or with one or two other people. It's nice in the summer on the deck and it's nice in the winter when it's cozy inside. It's possible to get out of there inexpensively, but you usually end up ordering about 4 things each since they are so irresistible. I usually can't stop myself from ordering the antipasto platter and that day's appetizer special plus an entrée, but stronger willed people than I could.
Less

This little place on Fremont Ave in Fremont is easily some of the best italian food you will find in Seattle. The service is amazing, friendly and very prompt with the food. The food, nothing short... More

This little place on Fremont Ave in Fremont is easily some of the best italian food you will find in Seattle. The service is amazing, friendly and very prompt with the food. The food, nothing short of amazing! Check them out! Here is the webpage: http://www.swingsidecafe.com/ Enjoy!
Less

I just tried out the Swingside Cafe this weekend, and cannot stop raving about the food. The restaurant is Zagat rated, among other things, and is so fantastic. In some ways, it's a bit of a hole... More

I just tried out the Swingside Cafe this weekend, and cannot stop raving about the food. The restaurant is Zagat rated, among other things, and is so fantastic. In some ways, it's a bit of a hole in the wall--our seats definitely had seen many customer's through their meals--but there is also a charm to the place. Black and white photos adorn the walls, and the music gives the place a happy, relaxing feel. The food is absolutely fantastic. It was girl's night out, and we started with the antipasto plate which included, olive tapenade, cheese, smoked salmon, and other delicious treats. I was pretty full just after the appetizer. The entrees are beyond description and the servings were generous. To give you an example of how great this place is, while ordering the Aglio Olio which runs around $16, our server asked if I would like to add crab for $19. I thought sure, why not. I was expecting a non-existent addition. Boy was I wrong. For just three bucks more, I received a generous portion of shredded crab that was easily worth more than three times as much! The quality, and value was a theme that was carried through the entire night. I'm definitely going back soon. Well, maybe I need to give myself a little time to burn off the last meal before heading back. I did kick the diet out the window this past visit.
Less

After a long hiatus, my wife and I tried the Swingside again this past Saturday, and our experience shared some - but not all - of the attributes cited by previous Judy's Book reviewers. The great... More

After a long hiatus, my wife and I tried the Swingside again this past Saturday, and our experience shared some - but not all - of the attributes cited by previous Judy's Book reviewers. The great service, quirky space and fairly-priced wine list were all in effect, but the food didn't quite measure up to the 5-star rating we were hoping for. We shared a (huge) caprese salad to start, and while the mozzarella and base-layer of salad greens were excellent, the tomatoes were a little on the anemic and flavorless side. I had the sausage and meatball special, and - despite their handmade-with-love origins - both were on the dry and bland side, not the flavor explosion I was wishing for. (My vegetables were also overcooked to the point of sogginess). My wife had a seafood puttanesca which was also solid but unspectacular - lacking the zip and personality you'd expect from that dish in this place. The portions for everything were huge so we failed to leave room for dessert... We'll certainly come back for the location, great people, pleasant space and overall positive vibe - we just wish the food lived up to the rest of the experience.
Less

I had a totally unexpected, incredible experience there. Swingside is very unassuming on the outside and inside - you sort of feel like you're eating at a relative's place for a big meal. Complete... More

I had a totally unexpected, incredible experience there. Swingside is very unassuming on the outside and inside - you sort of feel like you're eating at a relative's place for a big meal. Complete with cat that wanders around the restaurant, seemingly indifferent to the various tasty smells wafting about the restaurant. The food was incredible. The menu changes frequently, but we had had a very good halibut ceviche to start, and I had a great rabbit specialty. The service was as close to perfect as you can get. Our waiter was entertaining in an unassuming way, and did a great job matching the light hearted mood of our party. We lingered at the restaurant for a while and finished with a few glasses of Sauterne and a chocolate torte. We so thoroughly enjoyed our experience that we left a 35% tip. I think that says it all.
Less

Have visited Swingside on three occasions within the past year, the most recent of which was yesterday and it's simply wonderful. Enjoy the low ceilings, candles & dim lighting, & Pittsburgh... More

Have visited Swingside on three occasions within the past year, the most recent of which was yesterday and it's simply wonderful. Enjoy the low ceilings, candles & dim lighting, & Pittsburgh Pirates memorabilia. The presence of an extremely social orange tabby cat seals the deal. (However, if you give him an inch, he will take a mile. The servers are quick to point out that he is very well fed and loves to play the role with guests.) Have yet to encounter a dish that I dont like (sausage lasagna special, homemade ravioli), although I do find that some (Aglio Olio with Dungeness Crab) are just out of this world. Pleasantly surprised to find the house dressing was not raspberry (yeah!), but a robust, adult vinaigrette. Service is casual and on point, but never pretentious. It is one of my top three. Crowded on weekends be forewarned! Pros: Atmosphere, Non-pretentious , Unique Cons: Minimal Parking
Less