Great food and great experience. The appetizers: diable shrimp was excellent. 5 pieces, cooked to perfection and presented well, Jalapeño hummus was innovative with a good hunt of Jalapeño but not over powering. Mac and cheese was really goos and we reordered it, and the burrata was great, though I don't remember much about it. For the brunch, the main meals were good. I had their breakfast sandwich and it was tasty and of the right size. Their bread pudding was tasty though it was more of a French toast in a sweet gravy vs a gooey pudding. Interesting twist and it worked. Overall a great place. The service was exceptional and 2 people that took care of us were outstanding. I've been adopting a lower tip approach in Seattle owing the increase in minimum wage, and would like us to get to a European low tip or tip optional situation. This restaurant owing their amazing service made it hard to tip low, but I still had to to stick with my principle. Highly recommend this place for a nice sit down meal. read more

SWeL Restaurant - Bar - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

The guru finds himself in Seattle looking for local fare. This is another place you yelpers said was good but I have some reservations. I came in super curious about this scallop dish they had. Now I've had scallops every which way possible. Scallops are so yummy they are next to impossible to ruin. But this dish called "oven fired bay scallops" changed my mind. It's basically scallops baked in cheese sauce. I took one bite of this thing and spit it out. I never thought I would hate a scallop dish but this is it. This is an absolute hot mess of a dish that should be taken off the menu and never be made again. The baking basically overcooked the scallops to the point that they are like rubber balls. On top of that all that cheese overpowered the subtle taste of the scallops to such a degree that I couldn't even taste the scallops. Then I tried their prawn appetizer. the chef made this one spicy. There was so much spice on it I could barely taste the prawn. I had to scoop it off the prawn before I could eat it. Those prawn were actually tasty and fresh and perfectly cooked. It really needed nothing more than some lemon juice. Then I had their rigatoni which was ok but the sausage that was in it was also a little spicy. What is this chef's obsession with spice? another thing I noticed was I was trying to find something light but they don't really have anything light. all of their pasta has a traditional tomato sauce or a cream sauce. All their salads are bit and full of cheese. Their pizzas are sizeable and full of toppings. This menu seriously needs to be redone. add a few light dishes and ditch some of the heavy ones. Overall food is decent enough for 4 stars but I am deducting a star for those two terrible appetizers. This is clearly the result of a young chef trying too hard. This chef needs to learn that sometimes less is more. read more

This is an excellent restaurant. We went there to celebrate my wife's birthday, and we were very happy with everything. The service was impeccable, the food was delicious, the cocktails were well made, and the ambience was soothing. We received great recommendations from our server, who went above and beyond to ensure we had an exceptional and memorable experience. We will definitely be back to try some of the other items on the menu. FYI - We tried the scallop dip, the rigatoni, the pancetta pizza, the hygge cocktail, gin and juice, and the pear bread pudding. read more

SWeL Restaurant - Scallops! - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

SWeL has been on my pizza list for awhile and it did not disappoint. My favorite part of the two pizzas we tried was the crust. I highly recommend the clams and mussels appetizer. I can't pass up Penn Cove Mussels whenever I see it on the menu. I thought I wouldn't like the dijon tarragon sauce but I ended up ordering some extra bread just to finish it up. Parking wasn't an issue since there is a small lot nearby and street parking. read more

See all

Wow what a hidden gem! Came here for our anniversary and we will be making this a stop in our rotation. Jessi(e?) was the most delightful server, she's so sweet and helpful and personable and made the experience even better. We started w the garlic caesar and now I want that every meal of my life. Then we split the mozz and pancetta pizza, pork chop, and skirt date. I have zero notes, they were cooked perfectly and deliciously flavored and we enjoyed every single thing we ordered. Come here! Ask for jessi(e)! Enjoy a wonderful evening! read more

SWeL Restaurant - Pork chop, skirt steak, beer - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Super fun restaurant but definitely want to get a reservation to avoid a long wait. We met friends for dinner. Really enjoyed the calamari with pesto and the baked goat cheese rolled in pistachios! Top notch! Also we drank a handful of fun drinks- staying in the basil theme had Basil Gimlet, Margarita Fogata De SWeL, and Hygge. All unique and refreshing! For dinner my wife and I split a pizza that was like pepperoni and margherita had a baby. Service was excellent, as well! read more

SWeL Restaurant - Birthday ice cream and chocolate chip cookie for two - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Had a great dinner at SWeL! We tried the oven-fired bay scallops which was rich and cheesy, though a bit heavy for my taste. The pizza with prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, arugula, and grape tomatoes was super tasty. Our favorite was the skirt steak, it was cooked perfectly, though slightly on the salty side. Service was great and friendly, though the wait was a bit long. The atmosphere was very cozy with cute decor. I'd say it's a perfect spot for a casual night out. read more

See all

Had a very lovely time here for dinner with friends. The service was fantastic, friendly and efficient. We were greeted when we came in and when we left. The place has great vibes, low lights made for an intimate setting. We really enjoyed the pizzas, the sausage and the smoked mozzarella. Would say the chop salad was the only miss as it seemed to be missing the hefty components (I only got 2 chickpeas). The pasta more than made up for the salad though. Delicious. read more

SWeL Restaurant - Pizza and Pappardelle - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If I could do half stars it would be a 4.5! SWeL was a lovely place for a "treat yourself'" meal. All of the food was fantastic, but definitely comes at a price. We got oysters, which were delicious, Salmon, and Pear Gorgonzola Pizza. I was happy with all of the food and the wine! Not sure if it's specific to the patio or if the tables inside are like this too, but the table was just too small for the size of the plates. We had to shuffle things around a lot to try to fit the plates and glasses on the table, which was a bit annoying. Overall, great food and I'd recommend as a date night or celebration. read more

SWeL Restaurant - Oysters - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Stopped by SWeL recently and honestly, the jalapeño hummus is the main reason to go. It's super good! the bread is amazing and the hummus actually has a nice kick to it. We also did the prosciutto and arugula pizza which was solid, especially since they give you chili oil to drizzle on top. The rest of the meal was great, but pretty standard. We had the caesar salad and the rigatoni which were high quality, but neither really stood out like the hummus and pizza did. read more

See all

Happy Hour at SWeL was such a great experience!! The service was incredibly attentive and welcoming from start to finish, and every dish we tried was packed with flavor. The carne tacos were a standout, the pizzas were delicious, the chicken sandwich was so good, and the Caesar salad was one of our favorites too. Great food, great service, and such a fun atmosphere--definitely one of my top happy hour spots in Fremont. Highly recommend! read more

Perfect date night spot! Service, atmosphere, drinks and food were all so good! Definitely going back! read more

SWeL Restaurant - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We sat outside on the patio for all day happy hour and it was great! The staff was very friendly. We ordered the jalapeño hummus and the carne tacos! Both are repeat dishes for us. 10/10 recommend read more

See all

my bf and i have been here a few times. their happy hour oysters are what brought me, and they were soooo delicious. as a caesar salad snob, theirs is pretty dang good, not too overdressed and crunchy and fresh. after experiencing happy hour, we came back for our anniversary earlier this year. i got the seafood pasta which was the perfect bite, plenty of mixed seafood with a great light sauce. my boyfriend got the pork chop and enjoyed it. i'm not sure if they rotate their menu at all, but that would definitely bring us back here more frequently. the service is always great and speedy, and the feel of the restaurant is cozy and romantic. a great date night spot! read more

SWeL Restaurant - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Located in Fremont, this restaurant has plenty of free parking nearby, which is extremely surprising given its central location to many bus lines and close proximity to the infamous gridlock traffic of Fremont Ave N in most hours of the day (like less than a block distance east). We walked right in at 4:30pm with no reservation on a Saturday as first customers of the dinner service, and throughout our dinner, we were surprised there weren't many tables occupied even when we left around 6:15pm. This place is honestly a bit underrated. Happy hour is 4-5pm, so of course we took advantage of that (and is the reason we went so early). Half off glasses of wine is amazing as we got 3 different glasses of wine (Sauvignon Blanc, SWeL red blend, Cotes du Rhone) priced around $6-7 each. Pizza is about 50% off, but of course the size is smaller than that of the regular menu, but that was okay since we wanted to try more food of smaller quantities. We got the prosciutto and arugula pizza, natural French cut pork chop, and Bartlett pear bread pudding, which is a satisfying portion for 2. The pizza is pretty decent, nothing out of the ordinary, and you are served chili oil on the side which honestly tasted minimally anything and barely has a spicy kick to it, so it felt like you were just adding extra oil to the pizza. The pork chop is a bit overhyped, after seeing reviews that claim it is the best pork chop ever, etc. While the pork chop is seasoned well and nicely crispy on the edges, it was not as juicy as I had hoped. I had to use a fair amount of the gravy on the side to make it less dry, and they served a large amount of mashed potatoes that were eventually quite dry with the amount of gravy they added. For $45+ I was a bit disappointed and expected a lot more. The bread pudding is really good. It is served in a skillet and they do warn you it is very hot. Each bite is so buttery and just the right amount of sweetness, and the ice cream is an excellent pairing to the bread pudding. It kind of reminds me of Pizookie at a chain restaurant, but way better and less heavy. Service is pretty good as they check up on you regularly and bring the dishes with the right cadence. Food here is decent, but be prepared to spend a pretty penny unless you stick to the happy hour options exclusively read more

See all

Waiters were disorganized but super nice and good ambiance. Food was good and intimate setting. Would return again but drink somewhere else because alcohol is rather pricey... Also here are current menu pictures because nobody else seems to provide these: read more

See all

Great food and service! We ordered the calamari and baked scallops for appetizers, and seafood linguine and chicken as entrées. We really enjoyed all the dishes, especially the added spiciness we requested. However, we were a bit disappointed that they ran out of oysters and pizzas, as those were the main reasons we visited. We reserved outdoor seating for New Year's Eve. Despite the last-minute booking, we were happy with the setup--they provided heaters, music, and checked on us regularly. Our server, Madeline, made our night with her patience and smile. We truly enjoyed spending the last day of the year with Swel. read more

SWeL Restaurant - Calamari - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

How do we start? It's a no-nonsense local shop, with an owner that has a solid, sense of practicality and humor. It's a place that you know that every person there gives care about each customer, is welcoming and while it's not the cheapest place, it's solid in all regards. The ambiance is bar like, but it isn't just a bar, it's a restaurant. While I was there, there was another family, another was celebrating a co-worker, and another was a date night. It's not overly dark, but I would say nicely lit-intimate. The food is delicious, and feels like it was made by someone who enjoys cooking. Everything is seasoned well, and the details like the garnishes just elevate the meal. Pizza was our meal for the night, and it was darn delicious. The crust was solid, the toppings were just perfect to ensure the flavors just come through. The salads were also filling, and tasty, the seasoning and dressing was good too. Overall, it's one of the places that I enjoy coming to, and with the staff being pretty awesome, just feels like the perfect combo of local waterhole, solid food, and oh yeah, they have parking in the back. read more

Happy hour all day, everyday, if you sit at the front patio! It's shaded so don't worry about any sunburns. It's a great people watching spot on Sunday as people leave the Freemont Market. I've only eaten off the happy hour menu so I'll speak to that. Wine by the glass and beer drafts are half off. I highly recommend the Italian sausage pizza which is also half price. I split it with my partner. I have tried the oysters, but they weren't for me. I like a more brine taste, but these had more of a buttery/fatty taste if that's more your style. Don't sleep on this spot. read more

SWeL Restaurant - Italian sausage pizza $14.50. A nice sharable potion. - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

This is such a great little date night spot! The drinks are strong so be ready! The Caesar salad is the best one I've ever had, it's got kale for extra crunch and a ton of garlic which makes it so scrumptious and the cheese? Yum!! The calamari was great, super fresh. I would skip the rigatoni, wasn't bad but nothing to write home about or nothing you couldn't make yourself at home. Staff is super attentive and friendly. Will be back! read more

SWeL lives up to its name, the ambiance is so intimate with a beautiful musical touch. I went for their personal pizzas during happy hour but honestly their entire menu looks delicious! My friend and I both loved our meal choices and were not rushed by the waitress to leave promptly despite taking our time to eat. My only note is how pricey their menu items are (outside of the happy hour selection). Coming here often would not be sustainable for many people but all in all, SWeL is lovely read more

SWeL Restaurant - Restaurant seating - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Food, ambiance and service were great. Forgot to take pictures of the rest of our meal but everything was fantastic. Would definitely recommend and come again. read more

SWeL Restaurant - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We came for an early valentines dinner. The restaurant has dim lighting with lots of seating. The waiters were all very nice and attentive. We ordered the bruschetta gluten free, the skirt steak, and the prosciutto and argula gluten free flatbread. The bruschetta was fresh and yummy. The skirt steak was my favorite, the chimichurri was perfect with the steak. My partners favorite was the prosciutto argula flatbread. I loved all the gf options here! Great place for a date night, would definitely come back. Highly recommend. read more

See all

I may have found my new favorite espresso martini in Seattle: the Café Esprés. SWeL (love the acronym) uses freshly ground espresso beans that are so creamy and delicious that they create the layer of foam on the top of the the drink. The tequila, vanilla, and coffee liqueurs balance the flavors perfectly to elevate this drink to something special. SWeL has the ultimate date night ambiance, with sexy, red lighting and decor. We were told to come here for espressotinis by a waiter at another restaurant, and are so glad we did! read more

SWeL Restaurant - Cafe Espres - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Had a great meal here the other night. We had salmon, seafood pasta, pizza, and beet salad. All were delicious. Service was excellent. Professional and friendly. They were accommodating when it came to helping us order a more kid friendly meal. In terms of drinks they had a solid selection of draft beer, very good selection of wines and cocktails. Will definitely be back for brunch and happy hour. Ambiance was really nice, upscale, modern, warm and not pretentious. read more

The restaurant was fairly busy on a Saturday night, which wasn't surprising given its prime location in the heart of Fremont. However, the busy area made parking a bit of a challenge, so be prepared to search for a spot if you're driving. Once checking in with the hostess our group was seated immediately and we were handed our menus and served water. I wasn't too hungry that evening, so I skipped appetizers and went straight for an entrée: the pork chop. The meat was slightly over but had a decent sear on the outside and went well with the sauce underneath the pork. The mushrooms cooked in red wine predominantly tasted like wine and overpowered the mushroom flavor that I love. I found myself with enough room for dessert, so we decided to share the donuts and the warm cookie with ice cream. The donuts, while fresh, were a bit too doughy for my liking and lacked the sweetness I was hoping for. On the other hand, the warm cookie was pretty good. It was soft, gooey, and served warm and paired wonderfully with the cold, creamy ice cream, creating a comforting and satisfying end to the meal. read more

See all

All day happy hour if you sit outside - pepperoni pizza was bomb, had a little basil with it which was a nice surprise.. staff was awesome & attentive read more

SWeL Restaurant - Pepperoni pizza - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The half off happy hour menu available from 4 to 5 pm everyday the restaurant is open is a great deal. Half off oysters by the dozen, wines by the glass, salads and pizzas add up to quite a saving. There are enough choices in the happy hour menu to put together a full dinner. read more

See all

The baked scallop dish is one of the tastiest things I've had in a long time. Don't forget to add the lime! I will definitely go out of my way to return here for that dish. I also had the pork chop, which was good. Nice ambience as well. read more

SWeL Restaurant - Baked bay scallops in a delicious cheesy sauce - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came in on a Friday night around 8pm and we were able to sit at the bar. Had oysters, the spicy shrimp, Caesar and the special ribeye. All the food was really tasty! Really loved the Caesar (we also loved it six years ago). Had some cocktails and wine. Everything was on point. Servers were on top of it, but not overbearing. Highly recommend! read more

SWeL Restaurant - LG Caesar - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cool vibes. Dim, red toned lighting. Came by for some apps and drinks on a Friday, sat at the bar. Got the Oysters, bread, and Caprese which were all nice! The pizza and main courses looked awesome coming out of the kitchen so I'd like to try that if I come again :D read more

SWeL Restaurant - Caprese - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Love this place! We moved out of Seattle and still drive back for the salmon and pork dishes ! Cool vibe, great food! Easy parking and lovely staff. read more

SWel hit all the marks for me. Food, drinks, ambiance, unforgettable. Espresso martini delicious, smooth and satisfying! Tried the SWel Black Manhattan another winner with great flavors. Bay scallop appetizer with baguette, was a yummy and comforting starter with our drinks. I enjoyed the creamy sauce w/ a toasty crust. Chopped salad was a fresh combination of flavors with a bright dressing that balanced well, I could have eaten just that for dinner. But I'm so glad I tried the carne asada skirt steak, med rare. I have never had this tender and tasty a skirt steak! The texture was incredibly tender like a filet, and so perfectly seasoned. I am inspired to make skirt steak at home now. Also enjoyed the linguini seafood pasta. I love the cozy and sophisticated ambiance of SWel, music was cool and not too loud. The server and mixologist are attentive, very knowledgeable, and happy to answer all our curious questions. Sadly we leave Seattle soon, but when we return SWel will be on our list! read more

See all

The bar area is so adorable. Great date-night spot. Got too exciting for food, so I forgot to take more pictures. The waitstaff is super sweet and attentive. Will definitely return! read more

SWeL Restaurant - Half dozen oysters - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Great food and fantastic ambiance!! The service was also great since the server had perfect timing on when we need something or not.

This place is very underrated, and I recommend it to anyone in the area. It's exceptional and the food is sophisticated without the pretentiousness and served in a very welcoming and relaxing space. read more

Looking for a sexy bar/restaurant with great food and warm service? We'll be back to this lovely place. Lucky for us Thomas at the front desk worked to get us into a table on a busy Friday night without a reservation. We started with craft cocktails. Hubby had a great Moscow Mule while I started with a greyhound with freshly squeezed grapefruit--amazing! We moved on to a table with a scallop appetizer and our main courses. I had the chicken with an amazing velvety mushroom sauce with sweet roasted carrots and roasted mashed potatoes. Hubby had the salmon (very moist and lovely) over black bean puree and fresh crisp asparagus. The place has a ton of ambiance and staff were prompt, professional and gracious. What more to ask? read more

See all

Everything about Swel is superb. From the moment we stepped in the restaurant, we were greeted,treated kindly and immediately shown to our table. Jessie, our server, was attentive without being intrusive and super friendly despite being slammed. The restaurant is warm and chic and manages to have a romantic air despite the hustle. We ordered pear pizza, goat cheese appetizer, Ceasars salad and the spicy shrimp. All plates were returned to the kitchen, cleaned by us. We will be back shortly, we might even become regulars. read more

wow reading these reviews i'm thinking half the people have never eaten here. service ok, music too loud (isn't it everywhere), way overpriced. The salmon and steak were both virtually tasteless. perhaps pizza and hh are the way to go here, but for full spread dinner it was a huge disappointment. read more

We had a great date night here! Started with the Caesar and jalapeno hummus - both were delicious, but if you don't like garlic stay away from the Caesar. For mains we had the skirt steak and the mushroom pappardelle, also both very well prepared. Finished off with the Bartlett Pear Bread Pudding, which was very nice and paired well with the Hygge cocktail. Service was attentive while also giving us enough space to enjoy our meal and conversation without frequent interruptions. Had a fantastic time and would go back again! read more