SWeL Restaurant

Are you all plant based?

If only. In a perfect world we would be. Capitalism is a mofo. Vegetarians have many choices at SWeL. Vegans have it a bit harder, but we have accommodated many. (And not just a salad…)

Are you back open yet?

Yes we are!!!

Are kids allowed?

Kids are welcome! (Not in the bar of course...) We do not have high chairs, booster seats, or changing tables. Thank you for your question!

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Do you have gluten free options?

We have many! Most of our salads and entrees are gluten free. We also have a really yummy gluten free pizza crust that we can substitute. Let your server know your restrictions and they should be able to accommodate.

Do you charge a cork fee?

We do! We have great wines at reasonable prices in case that is a no go. ($30)

Are dogs allowed inside the restaurant?

Yes they are on the patio...

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Why does your website have a poop emoji?

SWeL means Sh!t We Like

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we stayed at the Palladium, which is the hotel attached to this restaurant, & they offer breakfast…read morevouchers for the chase sapphire reserve for part of their amenities- which gave us plenty of meals through shaker + spear. every morning we were so grateful to have delicious, well done breakfast to get our day started! every entrée that we had was really good, solid breakfast food that included coffee & juice. We had a mix of classic breakfast foods like omelettes, french toast and benedict- but our personal fave was the salmon benedict as well as the banana foster french toast!! I have to say, the food was pretty good- nothing super out of the ordinary, but the service is what blew us away. The wait staff was extremely professional, prompt & friendly. Our favorite server was Alexis, he made every breakfast feel like we were having one at home with a friend. The manager, hosts & servers were all amazing people who genuinely just want you to have a good meal. I really admire any restaurant that can truly make it feel like home. Thanks to Shaker + Spear for being amazing for our trip in Washington- will 100% be back!!

Nice and easy restaurant attached to a hotel. Service was rather slow this evening as there was…read moreonly one cook in the kitchen. It's nice to watch the staff cook because it tells you that the food is fresh. I have high expectations for seafood in Seattle. However, I was disappointed with the scallops as it tasted raw and cool to the touch in the center. I'm not a scallop expert but this one missed the mark - the flavors were off with the sauce (tasted earthy). Presentation and color looked good, but this didn't taste good. Also came here breakfast several times. I don't have pictures, but each time the breakfast was amazing!

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4.3(1.9k reviews)

2.5 mi•Belltown

The staff here is so much fun. Great banter, excellent service, and such a welcoming atmosphere…read more As a Southerner, I have pretty high expectations for biscuits and gravy, and more often than not, restaurants disappoint me on either the biscuits, the gravy, or both. Not here. The biscuits were incredibly buttery and flaky, and the gravy had a rich, savory flavor that tasted like it was made from a proper roux. I was genuinely impressed. The portions are enormous for the price, too. Even the inside of the restaurant was memorable, with fun artwork and signs throughout that gave me plenty to look at and laugh about. Definitely worth a stop, especially if you take biscuits and gravy seriously.

Ooo yum! I came by and ordered a biscuit to go and take back to my hotel. It was so good!! I loved…read morethe bacon bits on top and adding the over medium eggs on top was a great touch. Staff was very friendly and welcoming :) Cool casual vibe, small amount of seating but it is there!

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Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

17 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Jason F.

Elite 26

213

506

120

3 months ago

Swel Restaurant was an outstanding surprise and an easy recommendation. Parking in Fremont can sometimes be a challenge, but we had no trouble finding convenient street parking nearby. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed. The restaurant has a modern, stylish design with comfortable seating, great lighting, and a relaxed atmosphere that made it easy to enjoy the evening without feeling rushed or crowded. The service was impeccable from start to finish. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming, striking the perfect balance of being available without hovering. The food was simply amazing. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. We had the baked goat cheese, mushroom pasta and seafood linguine. The cocktail program deserves special recognition as well. They offer an excellent selection of creative, well-crafted cocktails, and everything we tried was outstanding. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the value. The pricing felt very reasonable considering the quality of the food, drinks, service, and overall experience. It's becoming increasingly rare to find a restaurant that delivers exceptional food, amazing cocktails, excellent service, and fair prices all in one place. Interesting that currently Happy Hour is all day long if you sit on the front patio, they view it as free advertising! We had a fantastic evening and will definitely be back. If you're looking for one of Fremont's best dining experiences, Swel should absolutely be on your list. read more

Daniel R.

3 years ago

This is some of the best food and drinks that I've had in Seattle for a long time. Amazing cocktails that were not too sweet and the appetizers, salads and food were all amazing. Not one thing to critique. I had the pork chop and my wife had a pizza. Usually I've found that any place that offers pizza as well as plates if other food, one or the other tends to be lacking. This was not the case and a pleasant find for a diverse group with picky eaters. The look and feel was also very relaxing and well put together. The servers, host and bartender were all very friendly and accommodating. It's always a nice experience when you are paying for an expensive meal to have the staff experience match. Sadly not the case for many restaurants in Seattle.,Highly recommend this place! read more

Adam C.

9 years ago

I would have to say this is a great, comfortable and relaxing restaurant. The atmosphere very friendly with a little bit of electricity in the air. Just like the neighborhood of Fremont is. The service is quite good with friendly wait staff that is always moving around to make sure the customers are happy and well taken care of. Something that a lot of restaurants are missing these days. The food is good and the best thing is they don't give you a huge portion. But it is not so small you leave hungry. After the main course you still have room for dessert. I would say this is a place that you would need to go back to so you can try something different each time. read more

Brenda R.

8 years ago

Wow, what a cool place. The atmosphere was wonderful and you can tell everyone was having a good time. Even the restrooms were cool. The server Ian was great. The food was fabulous from the pizza (which we had as an appetizer for our party of five) to our dinner - all five of us had different meals. Chicken, pork chops, salmon, linguini, and Caesar steak salad. We are south easterners and this was lovely North pacific fare. Would definitely come again. read more

Alena S.

9 years ago

Fantastic food, a very different menu and reasonable prices. We had the meat & cheese appetizer which was excellent. The seafood pasta which had huge pieces of lobster and was amazing. The service was friendly and attentive. The only down side to this place is that it's very dark inside-like spies could meet in the corner dark. I will back!!! read more

Terry M.

9 years ago

Beautiful restaurant in Fremont neighborhood. Flatbread with the jalapeño hummus is delicious and homemade. Goat cheese with fig + Kalamata olive tapenade was good too. Margarita was spot on. Will definitely be back. Can't wait to go for dinner. read more

Kevin G.

8 years ago

Love this restaurant! I've been here at least 5 times and I'm always impressed. Great food. Great service. Great ambiance. I've brought different people each time I visit, and they all love it as well. read more

Anne C.

9 years ago

Searched for a happy hour in Fremont that opened early and had a nice variety....oysters were a plus! The staff was fantastic, food and ambience wonderful. We will be back and bringing friends! read more

Alia B.

239

4 years ago

From the service to the appetizer and finally the dessert, we were impressed. We highly suggest the pear bread pudding and loved the unique pizza which has a softer bread-like crust. So tasty. read more

Emily D.

1 year ago

Their seafood pasta was delicious. We stopped by around 6 and there's no wait. Our server was helpful and gave us some good recommendations. Will be back read more

Erika L.

7 years ago

The seafood linguini was great! The cocktail menu has some great options, and the staff is great! A must-do in Fremont.

Steven S.

9 years ago

Wow this is a great addition to the neighborhood, super attentive and amazing menu. Super cute date place!

Seth Y.

3 years ago

After our previous service at a nearby restaurant, our waiter, Mariano, was amazing. Not much else to say.

Nibhay J.

3 years ago

Owner bullies reviewers on and off Yelp. I look forward to his call to give him a peace of my mind.

Kirsten F.

8 years ago

Everyone enjoyed the food and ambiance. We will definitely go back again - when in town.

Sarah B.

3 years ago

Everything is amazing! Food, service, vibe. They do it right. Cocktails are on point.

Lara P.

6 years ago

Please reopen soon (for takeout at least?)! Missing you guys so much!!

SWeL Restaurant - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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I don't usually write reviews but this passes my Is This a Good Restaurant test with flying colors:…read moreGorgeous veg (Waldorf salad and the best Shishito peppers of my life), plus amazing bread, setting the stage for perfectly prepared meat -- we got duck and steak frites. Cocktails are top tier and service was perf. Take your parents or go for date night, you can't go wrong! No pics because we were too busy eating. Trust.

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Delicious food, top notch service, and an amazing wine selection. Plus toasty heaters for outdoor…read moreseating! Thursday dinner was prefect. The wait was only about 15 minutes, and we sat outside under the heaters. Two of us ordered the black cod mousse with ikura, gem lettuce salad, and the cavatelli (without guanciale), with two glasses of wine each. Take pics of your place setting! The entree plates are all unique and hand painted.

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