Brad's Swingside Cafe

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. 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! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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! more