wow. i feel funny giving them 5 stars since i've only been there once, but wow. service? impeccable. very nice, attentive waiter who knew his stuff but didn't overdo the nice thing to the... More

wow. i feel funny giving them 5 stars since i've only been there once, but wow. service? impeccable. very nice, attentive waiter who knew his stuff but didn't overdo the nice thing to the point of annoying or intrusive. we got a caprese salad and some wine to start. the caprese was by far the best i've ever had. i didn't know it could taste so amazing! the tomatoes were heirloom and were plump and fresh. the mozzerella had to have been homemade, i've never had such yummy cheese. and whatever herbs they used in the oil and vinegar was to die for. the dinner was outstanding - the perfect blend of spices and chunks of meat over not-too-much pasta. and tons of flavor without feeling like i just ate an entire bulb of garlic. lots of veggie options on the menu. before we were even done with the appetizer i wanted to make plans to return. fairly priced, but not cheap. worth every cent.
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I actually laughed out loud when I read that review about the pepper. Not precisely tailored to your individual demands? Perhaps. "Blah," "little taste" and "less than par"? Give me a break! ... More

I actually laughed out loud when I read that review about the pepper. Not precisely tailored to your individual demands? Perhaps. "Blah," "little taste" and "less than par"? Give me a break! Wasn't that review about being too spicy (without any black pepper, mind you...)!? Anyway, not to get hung up on that, this place is my favorite "Italian" joint (that qualification brings terrible cliches to mind that are certainly not in effect here) in the city, and certainly up there across the board, and for good reasons. It's both cozy and alive and unneeding to cater to the boring masses (this ain't the Olive Garden), with great ambience and decor (know of any other restaurants sporting a shrine to the Bucs?) that serves the best Italian/Sicilian dishes along with an great wine collection I know of around these parts. Pros: Food with character, great ambience/decor, visible kitchen
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I am a frequent diner at Swingside and I have turned a lot of friends onto it, too. It's on my top 5 restaurants in Seattle list and I just can't say enough about it. What I love about Swingside... More

I am a frequent diner at Swingside and I have turned a lot of friends onto it, too. It's on my top 5 restaurants in Seattle list and I just can't say enough about it. What I love about Swingside is that I can show up in jeans on a Saturday night and have an incredible meal and bottle of wine in a fun, relazing, cozy atmosphere. The food is along the quality of what you would find at a fine restaurant, but the place is not stuffy like a fine restaurant. It's always a great dinner for the few who are lucky enough to fit in the cozy place. Pros: great food, nice wine list, "adult"
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Brad's is an experience not to be missed- the restaurant is small and quaint. The food is just right- well thought out flavors, great ingredients and fresh fresh fresh! Their pastas are fantastic... More

Brad's is an experience not to be missed- the restaurant is small and quaint. The food is just right- well thought out flavors, great ingredients and fresh fresh fresh! Their pastas are fantastic and rich- beware! The best in the house is Aolio- hazelnuts,olive oil, and who knows what make this dish unforgettable! If you get lucky, there will be live music included the infamous Spoon Man!
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If you want The Georgian, this ain't it. If you want McDonald's, this ain't it, either. This is the best "home-cooked" Italian food in the city, served in an ambiance of "family" and bustle. ... More

If you want The Georgian, this ain't it. If you want McDonald's, this ain't it, either. This is the best "home-cooked" Italian food in the city, served in an ambiance of "family" and bustle. Brad's wild boar ragout is the best around. The wine list is exceptional for such a small restaurant. You need to be the proper state of mind to dine here, though. The meals take time to prepare, so relax with a glass of wine and enjoy the "show" around you. I return here as often as possible. Great job, Brad! Pros: Great Food, Great Wine List, Bustling Ambiance Cons: Parking
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I've always heard what a great place this is... But I don't get it. The food strikes me as the kind of food a hippy friend of yours who considers herself a good cook would make. Lot's of... More

I've always heard what a great place this is... But I don't get it. The food strikes me as the kind of food a hippy friend of yours who considers herself a good cook would make. Lot's of ingredients, not a lot of finesse. It's very vegetarian friendly--to the point of neglecting the flesh! The atmosphere is very cool and cozy and comfortable, but I've been their three times (not my choice after #1) but can never find anything interesting on the menu other than the clam pasta. Pros: Cozy, Casual, Comfortable Cons: Eggplant Crazy, Not enough meat, too many ingredients
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I've eaten at the Swingside many times. Brad is a friend and a very generious host. The wine list is excellent and they know it pretty well. The food is a type of rich, full bodied, Southern Italian... More

I've eaten at the Swingside many times. Brad is a friend and a very generious host. The wine list is excellent and they know it pretty well. The food is a type of rich, full bodied, Southern Italian cusine that no body makes around here. The cons I can give it are that if it's crowded, it's really crowded. It's a very small place which can be cozy sometimes, but confining if their are too many people there. In these cases it can also be very noisey. The service is pretty spotty. Sometimes right on, sometimes terrible. It is pricey, but usually worth it. The dinning room has a very personalized, homey feel. It's not elegant, but still very nice. Always worth the adventure. Pros: excellent food, cozy Cons: unpredictable service, sometimes too cozy
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On our first visit to Swingside, the food was blah and had little taste. The second time, I ordered the pasta with white clam sauce to go, which I requested to be non-spicy (I have stomach... More

On our first visit to Swingside, the food was blah and had little taste. The second time, I ordered the pasta with white clam sauce to go, which I requested to be non-spicy (I have stomach problems). The dish was so spicy, I couldn't get past the first bite. I immediately called and asked if they could make something not spicy. I heard her talking to the chef, Brad, who started yelling, "There's no black pepper in the dish." He got on the phone and started yelling at me. He basically told me to go somewhere else and don't bother him. He hung up on me, so I called back to request a refund. The woman I spoke with was very apologetic and stated this happens frequently. I told her it was uncalled for and I wanted a refund, which she obliged. I do not recommend this place to anyone. Cons: poor customer service, food is less than par, unaccomodating
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