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The Swinery
Categories: Food Specialty Food Meat Shops Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Sandwiches Meat Shops, Burgers, Sandwiches [Edit]
3207 California Ave SW(between Hanford St & Hinds St)
Seattle, WA 98116
Neighbourhood: West Seattle
(206) 932-4211
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 6 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
77 reviews for The Swinery
Review Highlights
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"Do they have bacon hot dogs you ask." In 6 reviews -
"A perfect nexus of small town butcher shop and deli." In 16 reviews -
"The Swinery is my new favorite cured meats maker." In 11 reviews
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77 reviews in English
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Review from Alex L.
5/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Most awesome Butchershop on the West Side. Been stopping by at least once every two weeks to pick up all the Painted Hills Beef Products and Zoe meats coppa.
Service is really great. Love the Lady behind the counter, shes really awesome!
They also serve hot burgers and sandwiches before 4pm. Would recommend the ribeye sandwich. But not a big fan of the bun, only cause its so hard to fit in the mouth.
If your ever near the Metropolitan Market or PCC on the West side. Should swing by and visit this place! -
Review from Matt R.
5/14/2012
Pork overload.
Eating here more than once a year surely has to shorten your life expectancy (in the best possible way).
Their BLT is actually a slab of deep fried pork belly with the L & T- served on a rich Brioche roll.
If you're down with swine- what else do you need to know? -
Review from Amy N.
Seattle, WA
4/1/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Do NOT walk in here hungry.
I did. So, besides ordering the bacon for a recipe we were making, we each ordered a sandwich & got some good cheeses and salamis.
I ordered a Ham & Cheese sandwich. OMG this is perhaps the best H&C sandwich I've ever had. The cheese was melted to perfection. Having the caramelized onions on it was a nice addition. -
Review from Jennifer O.
Seattle, WA
5/7/2012
Don't go to the Swinery expecting to sit at a table. If you're lucky, you get one of the 4 stools at a bar or a bench in their small courtyard. Also don't expect a plate and silverware. You'll probably get your sandwich and fries in to-go boxes, even if you're not going anywhere.
What you do get, however, is a very tasty meat sandwich on a tasty roll. Both varieties of pulled pork sandwiches have been made of quality ingredients. The sandwich size is reasonable for one person to eat or two less-hungry people to split. If you order fries, the portions are plentiful (half order should satisfy two normal people), made from fresh potatoes, garlicky, but kind of soggy. Haven't tried the burgers yet, but hope to on the next visit to West Seattle.
They also have quite the butcher's counter with a wide variety of cured meats. The salamis look delicious... -
Review from Nathan A.
Seattle, WA
3/25/2012
Went there today for the first time as it was recommended by a client who's home I was working at..it was delicious! I had a pulled pork sandwich and my employee had the Spectacularrr and we were stoked!
Its a pretty small place with virtually no seating, but its a deli/hole in the wall and and I loved it.
Also the fries were awesome!
I will definitely eat there again, just not with too many people.. -
Review from Mike K.
Seattle, WA
5/16/2012
Not impressed. I did not eat here, but shopped in the deli. Very pricey. The fresh meat all looked a little on the old side. Not much choice for sausages on the day I was in. Bought sweet Italian sasauge and when cooking it, it had a very strange smell. Not sure if it was turning bad, but that is what it smelled like. It tasted okay, but not much "Italian" here. Very little fennel or any other spices. Not worth the extra couple of miles I had to go to get there.
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Review from Kayan L.
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
A group of us went for lunch. The fries were okay, not really salty or garlic-y enough for our taste buds. They fry them in pig oil, but that just made them greasy and you could taste a little bit of meat. Sounds exciting, but wasn't all that much so.
The Jalapeño burger was spicy, but meat wasn't super flavorful and bread fell apart easily. The ribeye steak sandwich was okay, but relied too much on the blue cheese cream sauce for flavor and the meat didn't really stand out. For being a meat shop, I would expect better.
The people in the group who got the burger all had leftover buns because the meat was just a small lump and after it was done the bun was not yummy enough to want to finish it. Kind of wasteful, but what can you do?
Oh yeah, for 5 of us, it took about 50 minutes to order our takeout and get it, with maybe 4 or 5 orders ahead of us. -
Review from nathan r.
1/30/2012
I'm gonna tell you about 3 burgers in two visits:
1st burger- this is the first time I've been in the Swinery for cooked offerings- the meats are amazing, and I'm not reviewing the cuts right now- just the cooked food...ANYHOO- the first burger ordered was delicious. The first few bites were packed with flavor and the bun was just the perfect bun to hold all the deliciousness together- EXCEPT, when I got to, oh, about bite #3. Unfortunately, both my burger and my partners "medium" burger were, um, raw...and i mean blue. Yikes. The counter person, came by and asked how we were doing, and we showed her the burger. She QUICKLY scooped them out of our hands, offered a drink on the house and said she'd be right back with "medium" done burgers.
She came back several minutes later, very apologetic and offered us 2 new burgers. Unfortunately, the pendulum swung the other way, and a little too heavy. Our burgers were well, well done. And for some reason, the same flavor wasn't there- missing carmelized onions, and something else. We ate it anyway and continued on with our conversation. The counter lady came back when we were done- and we were honest, I just wanted to give proper, and respectful feedback. I said the burger was over done, but I was understanding. The gals face dropped, and she apologized profusely- gave us an explanation of new employees and said that lunch was on the house and asked us to come again. Well, we were more than satisfied, and I'm happy to say- that was above and beyond for customer service- Thank You.
SO, 2 weeks go by and it was time for us to go back. Unfortunately, this time was no better. The burger just didn't have any flavor. The meat was meh, and for some reason it just didn't taste like much. Plus, there was a lot more bun at the end than meat. My lunch partner and I pondered on such things as we sat under a picture of a magazine with the Swinery's signature burger- to which my buddy pointed to and said, I just want THAT, and that's not what we had. No, no it's not. I wish it was, but it wasn't. The fries were overly salty this time too- and just too much.
All this said, I'm going to come back- I want to try the BLT, but I'm gonna have to lose a few pounds before I attempt to wolf another Swinery offering. I'll report back then... -
Review from Anthony S.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 12/24/2011
Have been here half dozen or so times since my first review. What I would like to inform of is that they also have prime cuts of beef. Definitely addressing a major hole in West Sea.
Was there during a holiday rush and they were packed, but service was enthusiastic and kind. Thanks!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/23/2010
Who ever thought buying lard would be hip and trendy?
This place always has a good selection.… Read more »
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Review from Angela M.
Seattle, WA
2/13/2012
In the last month i've been there twice, and both times i was completely ignored. The first time, she couldn't ignore me any longer as the other customers had left and i was still standing there having not been helped. I got the italian grinder and it was pretty good.
Yesterday i decided to go and try their breakfast sandwich. I stood in the store for over 10 minutes while the lady behind the counter completely ignored me. One of the other customers was asking questions on their bacon salted caramel, and she cut one into pieces and gave samples to everyone in the store..... EXCEPT ME! She gave samples to the people to the right of me, passed me by and then gave the rest to the people to the left of me. I was shocked! Then her friend came in, she began a conversation with him and i stormed out. Ridiculous. -
Review from Michael K.
Seattle, WA
11/22/2011 26 Check-ins Here
Addictive. I went in for a burger, and also came out with a roast "they just had lying around". I am a bit of a meat maven. Best damned pork rib roast I ever had.
Popped in for some staples, they were way out of turkeys, just thought I'd query in case they had 1 "just lying around" held my breath for 6 hours and there was a cancellation...... and get this they actually "called" and gave me the opportunity.
The list goes on with my new addiction, but they are 1st on my grocery shopping list. The quality amazing, the service 10X amazing. -
Review from Lynne A.
Seattle, WA
2/26/2012
Beautiful and delicious cuts of meat but I can't imagine returning because of the service. Energy and enthusiasm are great qualities but reading your customer is also important. The manager talked too much and listened too little. I was rushed and was given more information than I needed about every thing in the case. My friend and I could not decide what to bring home to our husbands and she seemed to be annoyed that anyone would dislike anything in the case. Not everyone likes lamb or is an idiot if they don't care to hear the details of butchery. Praising the meat as very fresh will suffice. Maybe I am just not the demographic here and this is perhaps more of a place for twenty something meat fetishists. It was worth a try, though.
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Review from Neil W.
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Swinery is a place that will make a Vegetarian and a Cardiologist wince. I love it! It's a butcher and a restaurant in one. I can grab a burger for lunch and grab a pork shoulder for dinner.
I just went to lunch with a friend. I did not need any meat for later which was a disappointment.
I had the... damn I forgot the name of the sandwich. It was their take on a Cuban sandwich. It was slow roasted pulled pork, ham, provolone, crispy pork belly, pickle, and mustard. It just was not pressed. It was very good. I also had the Danger Fries.... yes they are named that as a warning to your arteries. Fries with blue cheese / bacon bechamel sauce. Not the greatest, but still worth the calories.
I looked at the selection of products. They don't have a very extensive selection of meats, but what they did have looked amazing... bacon fat croutons.
This is also a Take Out place. They have a few stools at the bar, but it can get crowded very quickly. -
Review from Ryan C.
2/13/2012
came in with a dozen people. service was blazing thru and food came out perfect within reasonable waiting times... however, seating was bad. was sunny but it was too cold to sit outside. they have benches on the alley but no tables, thus we packed in the small shop.. anyways the alley stinks of BBQ, if you want to go home smelling what you are eating then go ahead...
had the swinery burger but did not read what i am going to get, thought that "swinery" would mean some sort of pork in the burger.. no bacon, that's separate. i dont' think it has any bacon jams either as it cost extra.. meat was on the spot, tasty, juicy, and meaty. the brioche bun.. omagah, so so so sweet and soft. never tasted such nice burger before. but i bet it will taste better with bacon! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! i am soooo saddened!
friend ordered the garlic fries, nothing special tho - hand-cut fries with fresh garlic and green onions? another friend got the ____ (fill in the blanks) fries. it was fries topped with gravy that has bacon pieces innit.. HEAVEN.
when ordering, think carefully and be kind to your heart and arteries! -
Review from Mairead R.
Seattle, WA
7/4/2011
The Swinery has an interior counter where they peddle bacon dogs, steaks, and chops along with cured meats, rich stocks, and pickled condiments. The customer service Just around the back, they've got a tiny courtyard where you can pick up housemade sandwiches, burgers, and other delights. I've heard the danger fries, which come with a blue cheese gravy, are delightful and I've every intention of trying them out within the next week.
On this trip, I got the pulled pork sandwich, which was delicious and greasy as all get out. The bun was a soft, buttery brioche and the pork came perfectly unadorned, cooked just right, and heady with fresh flavor. They topped it with the house-made slaw, a pickled profusion of flavor that complimented the steaming pork with some crispy texture. -
Review from Tabitha B.
Hubbard, OR
8/3/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Duck fat? Bacon hot dogs? Sweet Coppa, hold me! This is a must-stop shop on the way to my favorite grocery store, Metropolitan Market.
I was devastated that I arrived with a full tummy when I saw the chalkboard menu. Lamb burgers with Swinery Fries, chorizo tacos, and much more. Shoot! I have severe lunch hour envy of anyone who works within pickup distance of The Swinery.
I was eyeing the soppresata, but the woman behind the counter urged me to try the sweet coppa instead. Always trust the lady in the pig shirt. She knows this stuff. The sweet coppa was like cured candy, just melting on the tongue. On a warm day like this, all you'd need is some of this and a honeydew (and a bottle of viogner) and you'd be set for a nice night around the fire pit. I also picked up 1/2 a pound of bacon, which I'm plotting with as it waits in my freezer.
Super friendly, crazy knowledgeable people and a variety of meats and, uh, meat accessories (?) like broths and fats that will drive the chef in you insane with desire. I'll be back soon, this time hungry! -
Review from Amy D.
Seattle, WA
1/25/2012
Great quality meats/food and big on yummy!
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Review from Kimberly A.
Seattle, WA
2/2/2012
Awesome. Went with my roommate and my boyfriend, and we ordered the bacon dog, danger fries, and the pork belly BLT. Every single thing was delicious - our only regret is that we didn't try the famed bacon burger! Great selection of meats - we bought spicy coppa, pork belly, andouille sausage, and tasso ham, and everything was just as delicious cooked at home. Well done, Swinery!
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Review from Hayley D.
Seattle, WA
12/11/2011
Great sausages but pricey. Cheaper at pike place surprisingly.
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Review from Taylor C.
San Francisco, CA
1/9/2012 2 Check-ins Here
When I heard this place had the "Best Burger in Seattle" I made a point to stop by next time I was in town, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. The beef is high quality but the bacon is what makes this burger. This might be the best bacon i've ever had. It's thick cut and juicy and high quality. The voters definitely got it right. I can't speak to the rest of the establishment, but I can't imagine the rest of their butchered meats would be anything short of fantastic. I'll be back
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Review from Alex S.
Seattle, WA
1/28/2012
Good butcher shop, good meat products, good location, homey. The burgers they sell, however, are just OK. I've had about 5 of them now, and each one has underwhelmed me. High quality ingredients put together creatively--sounds good right? Too bad they don't know how to cook. If you ask for medium, it'll come out fully well done. If you ask for medium rare, it'll come out medium well. I wouldn't presume to say they always get it wrong if I hadn't experienced it 5 times in a row, over the course of a few months. Plus, the burgers don't have much sauce (no mayo, etc), so that means most of them are quite dry. It sucks paying $10+ for just a burger and realizing its dry.
I recommend getting a burger cooked rare (=medium), and adding one of their fancy mayos or bacon jam. Delicious. Too bad they don't come that way on their own. -
Review from Katy D.
Seattle, WA
1/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The most incredible pulled pork sandwich of my life!!! brioch buns are delightful. The chicken pot pie is a must buy when they have them!
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Review from Kelly H.
1/5/2011
I am totally a fan of Swinery!! who wouldnt' be if you are a pork lover! Their spicy coppa is amazing... you can't leave the store without it! And their bacon caramels... hmm... it's like... yay, there's a piece of bacon surprise after the sweetness!!
this place is a tad out of the way from downtown seattle... and there's really nothing else to do around there... but it's worth the drive to come to this neighborhood gem!!
can someone send me some of their spicy coppa to SF?? THANKS! -
Review from Tom T.
11/12/2011
You rarely get a GREAT customer service story on Yelp. It's usually these clowns that like to bash on a place because some shitty employee was having a bad day or should just be fired.
Well, here's a story about why the Swinery is so badass!
I go in last Sunday for some pastrami. I like to take sliced meats home from this place (although eating in and having a bacon dog or burger is awesome too). So I order some chicharones (fried pig skin...don't knock it, they're great) while I decide what I want. 10 minutes go by, and I'm shootin the breeze about pork and the weather with the gal who's workin there. I order my pastrami and some sauerkraut to go, and I'm being patient. She is so apologetic that it's taking a long time, she goes back to check on the fryer. Something is wrong with the fryer and they're gonna try again. She offers me my money back, and I wait patiently a little longer. about 10 more minutes go by (I'm just hangin out) and they can't get the fryer to the right temp. She is SUPER apologetic and wants me to leave with something from the menu for free (for being so patient and waiting so long). Again, I'm not even agitated, I'm just chillin out. So after she insists some more, I say I'll try the gumbo. I get this huge thing of gumbo like 60 seconds later and they are again SO SO SORRY. It was really nice, and great customer service! I LOVE THIS PLACE! And the gumbo was AMAZING! Like 10 different types of meat in it.
If you have not been to the Swinery, GO SOON! =) -
Review from Derek B.
Seattle, WA
5/8/2011
Went there for Mother's Day. Nothing says Mom like a Swinery burger, right? But it was great. We had fun just ordering because it smelled so good and looked so good.
We both ordered Swinery Burgers and got some Danger Fries for good measure, which were drizzled in a blue cheese gravy sauce that was killer. Great burger - not too big and not too greasy.
I'll be back. There's a lot on this menu I still want to try. -
Review from Samantha N.
Seattle, WA
10/24/2010
The food is amazing. The staff sucks ass. I've been there twice now, each time with my best friend...the first time the gal at the counter gave us an ear full of information and bantering that you would expect from someone you're exceptionally close to-for venting reasons. The second time, Oct 23, 2010 we went because they put a status update on Facebook for the breakfast hash of either andouille or pork belly. When we got there, we placed an order for pork belly hash and the guy gave us a hard time because he'd rather we order the andouille...well, isn't that up to your customer what they are going to pay for and stuff in their maws? Maybe that's just me.
We walked inside to pay and the same gal from our first visit at the counter started berating her co-worker for making an honest mistake. We didn't pay much mind to it, but then the girl at the counter started telling us that the gal she just gave the tongue lashing too was an unpaid volunteer and she just loves to treat her like shit...Seriously? You're an asshole.
We walked back down to get our order and there were more people waiting, the gal who had just been yelled at was yet again being berated by the chef, in front of customers and other co-workers.
Now I love the food, it's fantastic to have a butcher in the neighborhood. But it was so incredibly tacky how the treat their customers along with the volunteer who's spending her Saturday afternoon, unpaid, being treated like shit. Omit the yummy pork belly hash, the tactless and rude behavior of the staff at Swinery left a bad taste in my mouth and I won't be back. -
Review from Kellie L.
12/30/2010
:(
I am hoping to give this place better reviews, but when we were there on monday, they were out of bacon and the grill was closed. So I would reccommend not going here after a holiday weekend. We did buy the bacon caramels and some bacon pecan brittle. different, but yummy. See you next time swinery, I have hopes for you. -
Review from Tim K.
Olympia, WA
Holly cow, i mean pig.
We got a burger, fries, and their version of a french dip, slider style.
The burger was out of this world.
The fries really good.
Posole soup was crazy good. Who knew a boiled pig head (apparently the authentic way to make it) could be that good.
The slider, which was a special, was fair and the reason i gave four stars.
This was great. We will be back every chance -
Review from Danielle F.
Seattle, WA
5/24/2011
I had their cotochino at BlackBoard Bistro about a month or so ago. It was intensley rich and amazing.
I was in West Seattle again last week and walking down California on a sunny afternoon and stumbled upon The Swinery's store front.
I wasn't in a position to take anything home with me so I picked a few things to snack on.
I tried the spicy Coppa and a chocolate flavored salami. I thought they were both good but I like the texture of salami a bit better than the coppa. Wish I had been headed home I would have loved to have bought more tasty meat!
I'd love to go back and try some of their hot food! -
Review from Jen C.
12/25/2010
This is a Seattle jewel. I went there for duck and it turns out they don't have it despite I got that impression from their website. But, I happily walked out with hot coppa ($7 for a quarter pound), spicy salami ($7 for a third of a pound), gorgeous sliced bacon and a cute pack of bacon pecan brittle ($5). Everything was yummy! We took it to a party and it all disappeared immediately.
The salami and coppa were beautiful, shiny, salty and much spicier and with a cleaner taste than Salumi. Salumi it's been my favorite for years but this place was wonderful change of flavor. The Swinery is my new favorite cured meats maker.
Everything that they have in the meat case is very good looking. I noticed they sell rosemary-sausage-bacon stuffing, gravies, meat stocks, different kinds of fats, beacon short bread cookies, beacon chocolate chip cookies, crackers and preserves.
Why no 5 stars? My friend has been there 3 times and each time was treated horribly. And the man who helped me (owner?) wasn't very excited to let me to try the salami and coppa, it was a little awkward but he did it and I bought it so it worked out okay. -
Review from Colleen W.
Seattle, WA
10/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
We ordered four bacon dogs and a small pack of bacon caramels. Total: $18. Yowza.
The bacon hotdogs were delicious but tasted just like a good smokey weiner should. I'm not sure if it's worth the price tag yet. I want to try one that they make there to see for sure.
However, the bacon caramels gave us "oh my god" moments. I feel the need to visit confession. Yet, I will sin again.
I'm sure we'll spend more of another paycheck to try all of their delicious looking meat treats. -
Review from Angelina V.
Seattle, WA
2/4/2011
YES YES YES!
This place is a dream!
I love the pig knick-knacks and handsome service!
Excellent selection of meats with a unique twist. -
Review from Victoria W.
Seattle, WA
2/22/2011
I really felt like I was suffering from a heart attack after eating my fatty-licious sandwich here. Granted I should have expected this since the lunch special was a pork belly sandwich fried in pork fat. I don't know what led me to order this. Usually, the words pork belly, deep fried, and pork fat are words that I avoid like the plague, but maybe I felt that if I was going to a pork-themed shop, that I should go all out with my menu selection?
I felt guilty eating the sandwich (and no, I'm not one of those calorie counting type of gal.. I love to eat), but the danger fries were delicious. Nothing beats garlic fries (except maybe the ones you get at a Mariners game). Visit the Swinery after you run a marathon because it will definitely be an award to your hard work. If you're not planning to run a marathon anytime soon, I would avoid this place for your health's (and heart) sake! -
Review from Fenom H.
Seattle, WA
9/26/2009 2 photos
May I have you attention, please. Gabriel Claycamp's long-awaited Swinery is finally here (and, legit. And it doesn't get any better than this!)
It's an organic, sustainable, ridunculously delicious butcher shop. And it's an experience. Ever see some TV foodie tooling around Europe eating these high-def locally-raised tasty-looking artisan-cured meats and wonder 'hey, where do I get that in America?' Well, Tony Bourdain, welcome to West Seattle.
We went the first week they were open, and the line was out the door, but nobody seemed to mind--there was only one employee and they were out of their legendary house-made bacon by the end of the day but it was still worth the trip. Turns out another employee had to leave to go pick up two pigs and a cow, which tells you everything you need to know about how authentically hyper-local this place is: everything and everyone from the butcher to the curing of the meat to the animals themselves are, like a running back, straight up the block. (so to speak. At least within a 300 mile radius. Take THAT, multi-million dollar industrial agriculatural complex!)
As for deets: the prosciutto is better than anything I've had in Italy. And even something as simple as the ham is complex, flavorful, wonderfully marbled, and perfect (refers to both the black forest and tasso varieties). Who knew cured meat could taste so fresh? People were ALL ABOUT the venison terrine, but we were seriously feeling some bacon--since they were out, we went for the bacon dog (which is a sausage stuffed part beef, part bacon, and one hundred percent amazing). This dude has been accused of over-inflating my ratings (see the Jimmy Johns review) but not this time. This place is the real deal folks--it's off the chain. Be prepared for a pandemic of Swinery Fever, Seattle. We'll be back. -
Review from Andrew H.
Bellevue, WA
9/13/2010
This is a great butcher shop that also serves breakfast and lunch. I enjoyed the bacon dog (bacon is mixed inside the hot dog along with beef). The bread was a nice toasted baguette.
I also tried the bacon chocolate chip cookies. Yes, bacon chocolate chip cookies! And they were great! You should try them. Come get some baked already or buy the cookie dough.
The fries were excellent! They were simply potatoes cooked in beef tallow and salted with salt that has spent several days in the smoking chamber with the bacon. Very nice.
So why only four stars? When I went, they were out of bacon! Next time hopefully they will fix this and I will give them back their well deserved fifth star. -
Review from Jeff G.
11/8/2009
If man's best friend is "dog" then dogs best friend is probably.....Bacon!!!! Every time I drive by this place I see different dogs tied up outside pressing their noses against the window dreaming about all the delcious foods inside. If they're really lucky one of the friendly staff will open the window and hand them a bit of bacon hot dog. Woof!!
Fortunately I'm a human and I can actually go in and sample some of the amazing stuff behind the counter. I can even spend more money than I'd planned on a half pount of Bologna Bacon (Woof! Woof!), a small jar of pork rilette(AWoooo) Chicken Liver pate and several types sausages(Woof! Woof! Awoo! Pant! Pant! "tail wag)Listed in: West Seattle. There really is…
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Review from Jennifer M.
Seattle, WA
1/6/2010
I. Heart. The Swinery. They are fantastic and the gals behind the counter are friendly as can be. I happened upon them when a friend suggested they might carry casings for my planned sausage-making endeavour. She was right. And they were fantastic.
I had to order them two days ahead of time, but they arrived, already threaded on plastic tubes and soaking so they were simple to just pop right onto the sausage stuffing attachment on my mixer. The poor gal who was trying to show me the process with her hands was nearly dying because, to be honest, the process is ridiculously phallic if you let your mind wander into the gutter. Heck. It doesn't even have to wander. The process pushes it there. So yeah, we all had a great laugh as she tried to describe to me how to thread the casing onto the stuffer (See? Doesn't that sound phallic? and I'm just describing sausage-making!) The other customers were mostly middle-age men who seemed to find it funny as well. The place was packed.
Casings are a dollar a yard there, and we used about four yards of casing for 7.5 lbs of meat. Go us! It was a very successful trip and the bacon we got while there? Divine. Simply divine. I'm going to be trying out their three-bone standing rib roast here eventually. -
Review from Moneek M.
Seattle, WA
12/24/2009
Help! It's after midnight and I just consumed half of my bacon candy bar and I don't know if the rest of it is going to make it until morning. Maybe if I eat more of the Genoa Salami, it will have a chance...
OMFG!
If the Viaduct comes down, I didn't think it would be so bad to be landlocked in West Seattle with Bakery Nouveau to keep me happy. Now with a side of bacon from the Swinery, I'll be even happier... -
Review from Kristine H.
Seattle, WA
I echo another Yelper's sentiment wishing too that this place was closer to home... and then I realise that my arteries are probably quite happy that it's in West Seattle. It's just far enough that going there to pick up meats is a treat so I'm not tempted to go every week. Living near a Central Market and their meat counter is hard enough on this omnivore!
But onto my two cents: a friend of mine took me here after lunch and despite bellies full of Thai food, we were intrigued to sample anything from those glass cases. She had been there once before and was pleased with the quality of the items purchased. I trusted her judgment and the knowledge of our super-friendly butcher who took his time answering every queries we had about the items in question.
A jar of pork rillette with some bread was out for sample. After tasting it, one jar promptly went with my items to buy. After about 35 minutes of conversation + selection, I left with a couple of their burger patties, a package of pre-cooked golf-ball sized bacon meatballs, about 6 rashers of bacon, and a couple of sausages.
After cooking the bacon a few mornings later, I noticed that indeed the bacon popped and splattered less. The butcher explained that their bacon was dry cured thereby reducing the splattering factor. Store bought bacon is usually far wetter which makes for more pops and infinitely greasier clean up. The meatballs were good in a homemade marinara that I threw together and we liked the burgers. I've not used the sausages yet, they're in the freezer.
The stand out for me was the bacon. It was flavourful and crisp with a hint of smokiness that didn't overpower the rasher itself. It had a good ratio of meat to fat and was yummy when it was "accidentally" dipped in my maple syrup that morning.
Did I mention I'm glad they are seventeen miles away from our home? -
Review from Russell L.
Seattle, WA
1/30/2010 4 photos
Every time I come here, I like it more and more. The copa, bacon hotdogs and bacon shortbread cookies are delicious! I can't wait to try the lamb bacon I bought today too... I saw that they had some duck prosciutto too, crazy....
All in all, a nice shop with super friendly staff and quality cuts and cures of meat. Thumbs up.
