12/11/08

Awesome Italian food!!

by Fremontster

This place rocks!! The food is tremendous, the ambiance is like the warm embrace of a loved one, and Brad, the owner is one hell of a chef and a super n ice guy to boot! They recently made Zagat's list of

the Top 100 Italian Restaurants in the country. Everything on the menu is delicious, but if the seafood gumbo is one of the specials-do not pass it up. I can't wait to go back. In fact I just made a reservation for Saturday, but I think I'll pop in tonight as well. We are lucky to have such a wonderful establishment in Fremont.

And, to "girl x" who has never stepped foot in the place, but works for another Italian place --you should give it a try before you write a disparaging review. Of course they order food from other places on occasion. Would you want to cook the employee meals after cooking all night long? No. Do you want some variety? Yes. It's not like he is ordering from the pizza place or wherever it is that you work (which is undoubtedly nowhere the quality of food that The Swingside pumps out) and serving it to his guests for god's sake!

• Pros: great food, friendly service
• Cons: you might have to wait to be seated -especially if they have live music

07/13/08

Not traditional italian

by teppa25

Waited a hour for food-hotel called and said we were looking for a place that served traditional italian-lasagna-etc.they said they did-paid taxi to get there and the food was the farthest thing from traditional italian-kinda funky-mom and pop owned-would not go back-asked for marinara got meat sauce-waiter never came back to ask how food was-had also wild boar sauage?

06/22/08

great experiance and food

by johnandlinda

I have to say this is a down to earth Seattle place to enjoy. We only found it by stopping for coffee just to use the bathroom after a parade. Not only did we not have change for the coffee, they weren't yet open and their cutest little daughters not only served me up a drink on the house. we came back four hours later to eat. I do have to say the menu was small, but that being said it doesn't need another item! the food was amazing. very authentic and I can't wait to go back. The atmosphere was downright comfortable. If you want a commercialized restraunt with a huge menu and service you can complain about don't go. If you want to sit and relax and enjoy a good meal... go for it. I live 30 miles away and will make the drive alot to go again and again.

06/15/08

Best Restaurant in Seattle

by beckib017

Just taste the food and you'll see how great it is. The people who work there are nice and remember their customers (even if they've only been there once before). The restaurant itself is in a cute little house and has a beautiful back deck. The food is amazing and authentic tasting (I spent four months living in Rome!) Order the Aglio Olio.. It's my favorite!

• Pros: waitstaff, food, food, food
• Cons: small, short wine list, closed on Mondays

05/23/08

Blah...............

by jjrosey

This place is over rated for sure! I use to live in the neighborhood and eat here often, but I personally got sick of listening to the owner (and cooks) argue and bash on the wait staff and customers. I don't think that they realize that they are so loud is such a small place. The food is nothing special and agree with the last reviewer, NOT a clean restaurant. I will never go back to this arrogant, dirty joint.

• Pros: N/A
• Cons: I think I have said enough

04/29/08

Just a note

by girl_x

First let me make one thing very clear - I have never once set foot in this place.

That said, I?ll just relate the following: I work for another Italian restaurant in town (I won?t say which one, for obvious reasons, and I want to avoid all appearances of ulterior or impure motives, so no plugs!), and Brad calls us ALL THE TIME for delivery ? To the cafe! We deliver all the time to people at various restaurants who want something different, and I totally understand that: Thai joints, sandwich shops, espresso bars, etc. ? Fine. But an Italian restaurant ordering takeout from another Italian place? I had wondered what was up with that, but in light of the other reviewer?s remark that the place is ?not always clean,? all these calls for delivery suddenly make a lot more sense. Ew.

01/10/08

Great Italian in a harder to find Italian city

by jj00

We finally have a good solid choice for great personal Italian food in Seattle. We decided to check it out after it got the audience winner for best Italian restaurant. This place could probably survive in the Italian-packed East coast restaurant scene. The owners are originally from Pittsburgh, so maybe that explains things a bit (I have to admit we are too). The menu was on the smaller side, and most of the dishes seemed to be specialized with lots of ingredients. We read about the place being crowded, so we showed up shortly after it opened and had the place to ourselves. The food and service was excellent, we'll definitely be going there again.

• Pros: specialized menu, personable, great food
• Cons: no lasagna

11/22/07

one of a kind!!

by munchalot

I have been to brads many times

and i have always had a memorable

experience.

Its not always clean or stupendous but its always unique!

There is no other place like it on the planet!

Take a chance and check it out!

I luv it bcause it defies all that is wrong with this world!

Sir munch!

• Pros: totally unique!
• Cons: shaky service

09/29/07

My Favorite Spot for Italian in Seattle!

by hubriis

There's a reason Brad's Swingside Cafe is consistently rated the top Italian in Seattle. Great for me, they're right in the neighborhood! We enjoy dinner at Brad's a couple of times a month, and while on occasion I will try one of their specials, I am completely in love with two of their standard pasta entrees: the Bolognese and the Aglio Olio.

The Bolognese is served over farfalle and features a gorgeous, seductive classic Bolognese sauce highlighted with wild boar and venison. The addition of these rather exotic meats adds a wonderful depth to the sauce that just makes you want to dive in and wallow in it.

The Aglio Olio is a Brad's specialty and takes a hodge-podge of ingredients such as garlic, olive oil, crushed red pepper, and hazelnuts and masterfully incorporates them all into a one-of-a-kind sauce that will make your taste-buds sing! Served over linguine, you can't go wrong with this dish.

Most entrees are good not only for dinner but for lunch the next day - make sure you don't fill up on bread before dinner hits the table! The wine list is a little small but very good and reasonably priced.

The restaurant is housed in an old house, and thus has all the requisite charm. The main dining area is charmingly cramped, and can get a little loud on weekend evenings...but the food makes it entirely worth a little noise. There is also a smaller back room which has been transformed into an underwater grotto - the space is smaller and quieter, but they need to change the current very-uncomfortable wood folding chairs.

We love coming to Brad's, and will continue to do so because the food is truly amazing.

05/08/07

Brad is the Sicilian soul food king!!! Service is awesome. Food outstanding. Wine list unbeatable. A great overall experience... what are you waiting for???? Do it!!!!

by toadetta

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