Swift Half

Waahhhh… I so miss their buffalo shrimp! I’ve only ever been ever find shrimp done like that at one other restaurant in Philly and that place closed down too :-(
They also had my Abbey Dubbel beer that I love. Great local food and beer gone… just like that :-/​
Swift was such a cool spot to chill with friends and play darts too. Why Lord… why’d you have to take my Swift Half away!!!

I came here on NYE and I heard that this was there last night. I couldn’t tell because our server was super attentive and helpful with our drinks throughout the night into the midnight hour.
Sad that I won’t get to experience Swift Half again!
Good Night, and Good luck.

I’ve tried, and tried, god all-​mighty I’ve tried. I want to like Swift Half. I really do. I like the name, I like that it has a really great outdoor space and decent bar area. It’s in my ‘hood, which I also like. — I like to patronize locally-​owned businesses. I like good beer, and they serve plenty of it here too. Service on the whole is always good here. And wait! Just recently I had one of the most delicious cocktails here, the Ghost of Mary. — a deconstructed Bloody Mary — so good, so tasty that I will return here solely for this drink– and it is so good that it earned Mr. Swift Half a star. Congrats.
But still… you would think all those factors put together would at least inch up Swift Half to four stars or more — but no! I just can’t bring myself to. I still hate the generic space. It’s more Applebees than local watering hole and nothing they can do can change that, short of moving all together. Most importantly what’s keeping me from liking this place is the food. Each time it’s a let down — each time, it never measures up. Sandwiches are always more bread than filling, pizzas are bland and short on toppings; basically the menu options aren’t terribly varied and dare I say it boring? Even the bacon-​peanut brittle that I thought would save the day, tasted like gristle and fat.
So there you have it, If you come here, don’t eat, just drink (that should be my tag line, come to think of it!) — and when you drink here have one of their lovely drafts on tap, or even better, try that signature Ghost of Mary.

So let me start by saying the 3.5 star average is extremely accurate, and unfortunately I can not give a half star rating so I will be nice and bump it up to 4 stars.
My friend and I came here because we had a gift certificate and wanted to finally check it out. When we first arrived, it seemed like they were a little short-​staffed because there was not a hostess but rather a host/​waiter for the entire restaurant. I guess this makes sense for a slow Sunday evening. The waiter eventually came over when we decided to seat ourselves. While the service was a little slow at first, I will say the waiter was extremely nice.
I ordered a Caesar salad which was okay-​nothing special, and the Braised Pork Rib Sliders – those things were absolutely delicious – I was definitely surprised by this after the so-​so casar salad. My friend ordered fries and the Buffalo shrimp – those were also great and I’m not even a huge Buffalo sauce fan. We washed down this pub food with Abbey Dubbels (highly recommend this beer!) and Miller High Lifes.
The Chocolate Pot de Crème is a little odd… it should be sweeter and the sea salt is too intense. I’m a huge fan of the chocolate and sea salt combination — but this just didn’t work :-(. The Bread Pudding was just okay… but then again, I’m not really a fan of Bread Pudding.
We actually stayed for a while playing darts and drinking more beer. The bartender is also very nice and the scene is very chill (not pretentious or hipsterish!) It was a good night. I’ll be back for more beer, darts, and those sliders!
Oh! and the bathroom is very clean and has nice toilet paper! – not that cheap stuff!

Nice beer selection, nice view of the Piazza screen when outdoor seating is available, friendly staff who will make good suggestions, food that offers a nice variety depending on your comfort range/​preference, etc.
Fries are very good, brunch is pretty good, chartuertie is pretty good, overall a nice destination place. A couple TVs, but not overwhelming as a sports bar. Nice standing bar for whenever (not when I have been there) it gets really crowded as an option.

Not even remotely impressed with this place. The food is mediocre and portions are… eh. My friend and I came to grab dinner b4 going out and had the lamb lollichops as an app. They were fresh and delicious but we paid $ 14 for 4 pathetic lil lollichops and we sat there starving and unsatisfied for another 20 minutes til the rest of our food came out. My mediterranean salad was fantasitc, big, fresh and tasty. But my friends short rib sliders were an absolute joke! $ 9 for 2 sliders? Poor guy left hungrier then when we got there!
I would probably not come here again…

I arrived at 6:53 on a Friday night, just in time to snag an outdoor table with a view of the Piazza stage (where a free 9pm show was taking place) and to get in my happy hour order (only a $ 1 savings per drink). By 7:15, all the outdoor tables were taken.
On my waiter’s recommendation for the best sandwich, I got the Reuben — and it was delicious! The bread was crispy, but not hard; there was plenty of corned beef, but it wasn’t heaped on in over-​kill as it so often is; and the beer-​infused dressing had a great flavor. The fries were a little thin — more crunch than potato.
Downright disappointing was the chocolate pot-​de-​crème. The chocolate was too bitter and smoked sea salt was sprinkled throughout the dessert so there was no way to avoid the huge chunks of salt — Hershey’s syrup and ocean water would probably have been better a better combination.

I had a nice, gluttonous late lunch at the Swift Half on Saturday evening. I’d been there a number of times before, but this was the first when I really concentrated on the food. My party of two was seated promptly outside and, as usual, there was a relaxed Saturday vibe in the plaza.
We started with the cheese and charcuterie combo plate — two cheese selections and two meats for $ 16. We chose the sweet coppa, the rosette de lyon, the old chatham camembert, and the leonora. The whole thing was delightful, served with bread, spicy mustard, pickled beets and olives, fig sauce, etc. Some variation of the combo plate will probably become a go-​to when I find myself at the Swift Half.
Next, we enjoyed the pierogies. They had a really pronounced roasted garlic flavor that was perfect with the cherry tomato confit on which the they were served. Good, if somewhat unremarkable.
Finally, we had a burger with a mountain of well-​seasoned shoestring fries. The burger was just okay. We ordered it medium (at my dining partner’s behest!!!) but it came out without a trace of pink inside. Still, it was a pretty solid burger, with a great bun. One thing that bugs me occasionally about burgers is when they’re too fat. This was somewhat of a problem here. Only the most monstrous of jaw cavities could get this thing in without having to squeeze the burger. I guess we were fortunate to have our burger overcooked, because had it been rare, I might have been wearing a few ounces of burger juice.
While our choices were pretty mundane, I’ll definitely be back to try some of the more interesting specials that our waitress told us about. You don’t have to eat a burger if you want skate wings.
For booze, the place is pretty straightforward, offering a pretty typical selection of local draughts, with the odd Bells and Port Brewing selection. Decent, if very small, bottle list. Cheap, gross, necessary $ 3 pounders. Also, a cocktail list I’ve not yet tried.
Overall, the Swift Half is a fine choice if you’re in the neighborhood. Be sure to try their awesome cheeses and cured meats.
Almost forgot — they have darts (why doesn’t everywhere!!!) and a good juke.

Gastropubs are taking over the world! Or at least Northern Liberties. This was my first trip to Swift Half and the Piazza, for that matter. I’ve lived in the Philadelphia area just about all my life and still find it a little weird that someone thought to plunk down this Piazza thing in Northern Liberties. Does someone want to tell me where all the regular folks are going to live once we’ve gentrified this entire city?
But I digress…
I appreciate what Swift Half is aiming for — a fresh, unique, delicious menu. However, I agree with Anthony S. in that they miss the mark with their «go big or go home» attitude. I was pretty excited about my B.E.L.T. (bacon, egg, lettuce, and tomato) sandwich because I adore breakfast for dinner. I felt the egg was overcooked, the bacon lacked the thick texture I was expecting, and the mayo was straight up out of the Hellman’s mayo jar I presume. The bread was very good, but could have used toasting to give it some oomph. I thought the fries were delicious, though.
Overall, I kind of felt that their menu was all over the place: mussels, fish and chips, burgers. Too many unrelated choices in my opinion. I really enjoyed my Georgia Kiss cocktail (gin, peach schnapps, soda water, and lime) and thought that was a pretty original drink. They also have a great selection of beers which do not disappoint. I liked the atmosphere. It was a bit noisy due to all of the people out on a Friday night at 9pm, but the large open space lends itself well to coming with a group. The outdoor patio on the Piazza is also a definitive plus.
I look forward to trying Swift Half again and hope they «grow into» their grown up menu. Just do simple food well, guys. Don’t prissy it up for the No Libs hipster crowd. When I go to a pub, I want hearty food that will compliment my beer selection and leave me feeling satisfied.

Hung out at Swift Half Saturday night to watch the Fiesta concert. Outside seating, but you must be ordering food to sit. The ledge around the seating was great though. You can bring your beer out and lean! Except if you’re like me and knock your glass off & it shatters everywhere.
Beer and cocktail menu is extensive. Prices are not bad and the service was friendly & fun. I wish they had actual seats outside, but that’s it.

Another one of our
specials! $ 25 gift certificate for $ 4 put to good use!
The food is good and the beer selection is admirable– and what a super location. Todd refers to it as the Peter Pan section of Philadelphia with a GIANT screen TV and a stage in the court yard.
We stopped by for a later dinner on a Friday night. We were seated quickly and just a little reminder: I’m knocked up so we didn’t partake in the beer selection– thank’s for bot giving us the stink eye, nice waiter guy.
We got the cheese platter– three of four cheese were good (but I think that was just a preference thing, not a bad cheese thing) and I had the pork slider app for my entrée– a little dry but good flavor.
The most interesting part of the meal, and for me the highlight, was the fudge platter we ordered. The menu boasts BACON fudge– and for me, it was clearly the best fudge on the plate. Yep. Chocolate and bacon. Mommy likes.
Another highlight– the amount of fries they guy to Todd on his sammy– I stole a TON and there were plenty of those fresh cut bad boys to go around.

Until last Wednesday evening, I had never been to Swift Half, let alone the Piazza, despite being a Good Dog fanatic. The bar was quiet, with only the booths occupied when I arrived. I selected a high top near the jukebox and surveyed the surroundings. The square room had high ceilings, dark wood paneling, a bar on one side, flat screen TVs, a row of booths and some regular and high top tables. Some generic art decorated the walls and modern light fixtures hung from the rafters. Despite the accents, the bar seemed a little sterile, but that was my overall vibe of the Piazza in general.
The lackluster décor was eclipsed by the friendly staff and great eats. I was famished, so I ordered a Bells Two Hearted and fried pickles, a $ 2 special. They arrived in no time and, I’m not going to lie; the thought of polishing them off and hiding the evidence before my friend joined me crossed my mind. I somehow managed to save her a couple, as I sat on my hands in the meantime.
When Blake F. showed her lovely face, she agreed that the pickles were delish. We went on to order a cheeseboard, which was nicely presented and very fairly priced. For dinner, I had the pounded curry chicken sandwich, topped with sautéed spinach, plum tomatoes and goat cheese. I should have taken a cue from Blake and boxed up my second half but I just couldn’t bring myself to stop. A glutton for punishment, I tell you. Fortunately, with my tummy stuffed, I couldn’t do too much damage on the heaping pile of fries that came with my sandwich.
The quiet refuge of Swift Half ended up being the perfect locale for our night of girl talk and world domination planning. I’ll certainly return, but I look forward to the warmer months which will surely bring out more of a crowd.

My husband and I really enjoy this place. Great beer selection, good food and nice staff. Try the Buffalo Shrimp — delish and a great price for the amount you get. Plus they are super dog friendly (outdoors seating). We brought our pup and they brought out a water bowl for him before our beers (which was a good thing) and about three of their staff came out to give him a treat.
Ok so I am modifying my above review because the last few times we have been there we were both a tad disappointed. While the beer selection is still pretty good, the last time we were there they were out of most of the drafts and the server didn’t know what they had been replaced with. Food has been so-​so, but the fries still rock.
On our last visit the server for our section was awful. We sat outside and a table that sat down after us was greeted and got their drinks before the server even said Hi to us. Service was slowwwww. While we were sitting there a table next to us left and a girl sat down at the now empty table that had two empty beer bottles on it. She had to actually call over the server to get his attention and he never cleared her table of the beer bottles left by the previous patrons.
Come on SW — you started out great now you’re slacking. Let’s get it together!!!

NEW YEARS DAY 2010:
9AM: Wake up mildly hung over in need of some greasy treats to ease the pain.
9:08A: Call McDonald’s on Greys Ferry to make sure that they are open before jumping into my car and driving there.
9:25A: Finally satisfied with my sausage mcmuffin and TWO hash browns (always say no to champagne punch)
4:00P: My mothers annual new years open house. Lots of free food, booze and people watching (living in Philadelphia for almost 60 years, my mother has gathered quite the group of memorable acquaintances)
6:30P Fairly drunk again. Damn those little pink cans of Sofia do it to me every time. My friends finally start arriving to the party.
8PM: Everyone is drunk. Our cleaning lady is hitting on my husband and our friends and all of the gay men at the party. It is truly a sight to be seen.
10PM: Lyndsey (me) has a brilliant idea. «Is it Friday?» Let’s go to 700!
10:05P: Six of us jump into a cab to NoLib from my residence in Rittenhouse.
10:12P: 700 Club is closed. :(
10:13P: LETS GO BOWLING! (this turns into a Grease 2 singalong down 2^nd Street… We’re gonna SC OR ORE tonight!)
10:16P: North Bowl is no longer giving out lanes. AND their kitchen had a fire so they aren’t serving food.
10:20P Standard Tap’s kitchen is closed. The thought of drinking more without having anything in my stomach is devastating, so we leave.
10:21P AHA! Remember that place we went for so and so’s birthday? Isn’t that close by?
10:30P Finally have a plate of deviled eggs and a delicious winter ale in front of me: Oh Swift Half, you have saved my life.
11P: We get our meals: 2 steak sandwiches (meh), a pressed chicken curry sandwich (yum), and perogies (yum)! Our friend falls in love with one of the servers so we sit for an hour trying to write the best love note to give him when he comes by.
Said friend xnays the plan and goes to talk to him like a real live person. They both do jiu jit su. But he has a girlfriend who looks just like her and has the same name!
Anyway, Swift Half gave us good food, good beer, and lots of laughs to ring in the new year. We will definitely keep it in our little black book.
xo

Came here on the suggestion of some NoLib living friends to catch an Eagles game. I somehow landed a super sweet parking spot, so that started off the Swift Half experience with +5 points. I know the bar had nothing to do with the spot, but it worked in its favor.
My boyfriend and I met our friends at the very first table you see when you walk in. It was oddly situated all by itself in what I’ll call the vestibule, right across from the bathrooms and not near any other table. There was a flat screen with the game on, though, in its corner, so that was awesome.
I went up to the bar to procure some on tap beverages and, as I was doing so, we were seated at a table outside in the PIazza’s courtyard which had a monster screen showing the game attached to one of the buildings at the end of the courtyard. Tons of people out rooting the Iggles on which made for a great atmosphere.
The tap list had some nice offerings — Southampton, Troeg’s, Yards, Bells, Stone — and I’m pretty certain I stuck with the Yards ESA all night because it was a special. I wasn’t too impressed with the food menu, though. Too hoity-​toity. As my boyfriend said with annoyance, «What pub doesn’t have nachos!» That’s all we’d really wanted, but the fries were delicious and we got the sliders, which our waiter stuck a 4^th on there since we had 4 in our party, instead of the usual 3 that the dish comes with.
The service was good — both waiters we encountered were very friendly and, once she looked my way, the bartender was sweet upon my first trip to the bar before we were seated.
What I liked most about Swift Half is its location within the Piazza courtyard. There was so much going on and so many different people in and out, it just had a lovely and vibrant feel. You can also bring your dog! Sorry to the pup whose tail I stepped on – I was a few beers in and I only saw that other dog’s tail that I tried to avoid.
Definitely a place I’d go back to. Just not when I’m looking for a meal.

Back home in Kalamazoo, there was a really special place called Bilbo’s that was on campus. It was a special place that served really delicious pizza but what made it really cool was an atmosphere that wasn’t too crazy with the Lord of the Rings theme but only after you where there a couple times did you catch the subtle nuances that made the theme make sense.
Later, they moved to a generic place in a strip mall with only one or two little special touches but the rest of it looking like an Applebee’s with the crap on the wall stripped away.
This is how I kind of feel about Swift Half. When you go to Good Dog for the delicious pub food, it isn’t until a half an hour in that you notice that all the pictures on the walls are of dogs. At the swift half, not only is the food kinda meh but there’s none of that character.
Granted, I understand that they haven’t broken the place in yet but I thought they had this type of thing down pat. In the meantime, I’ll be over at Standard Tap.

Finally, I got my ass to Swift Half. Ive been wanting to try this place for a while but the elusive outdoor seats have been eternally occupied. The annoyingly persistent Piazza buzz has made me wait for a quiet weeknight to even consider this place. Last night my friend was too hungry to wait for a table, because apparently the 3 empty tables would take at least 20 minutes to be ready for anyone (WTF!?). I swear these guys need to sober up and hustle a little. So, we grabbed a booth and settled in for food and beer.
The atmosphere was OK. It was kinda nice not being in a room full of hipsters. Yeah this crowd wasn’t trendy or even good looking at all, and I fit right in. OK, honestly, I like hanging out with ugly people because I look better than average for a change!
Our server was bright and cheery so that was good. We ordered our beers and looked over the paper menus. My friend chose the fish’n chips .He got two big hunks of deep fried fish on top of a huge pile of what I’d call perfect fries. He said the fish was good, it was light and flakey… but the breading was mega thick and greasy. Apparently it was a cagematch of flakey fish vs. deep fried and the fish lost.
I figured I’d stick to their Traditional Burger which I added goat cheese to and that too was escorted out with a handsome pile of perfectly tasty, crispy fries. This burger was good; It was juicy. A word to the wise: the cheese was worth the $ 1.50 extra cheese fee.
In the end, it was decent. We weren’t swooning over the place to plot our soonest return though. I think I’ll probably only return if it’s convenient or if I get lucky enough to nab a table outside, otherwise it was just OK like a lot of places. Well, that’s a start.
PS: while we liked our server, if she’d come by a little more often when our glasses were empty, we would’ve had more beers. We tipped her well since she saved us a few bucks as a result and we were not as tempted then to finish that lifetime supply of fries. I’ll probably live a bit longer, now that I think of it. Damn, I shouldve hugged her.

I thought I would HATE this place, but I didn’t. I’m impressed! Upon entering Swift Half on a lazy weeknight I was worried that the clientele would be overly douchey. I was pleasantly surprised by the drink specials ($ 2 yards) and the menu. I snacked on tasty cheese plates (DELICIOUS) and french fries (ALSO DELICIOUS).
I’m pretty sure I would avoid this place on a weekend since I assume it gets very busy, but on a weeknight it was pretty chill. Nice outdoor seating area… Nice vibe inside.
The bartender and wait staff were very friendly and helpful. it made for a pleasant experience. I’d surely like to try a full meal there sometime soon.

I’ve been to the Swift Half about four times since it opened, so this is a pretty well thought out review. Although I don’t have any pictures from my trips, I do have a good amount of insight. Here it comes:
I expected this new Good Dog outpost to have excellent food. I went recently with Allie, John, and Rachel and they were all ready for dinner. They ordered mussels, fish and chips, and cucumber sandwiches, respectively. I had a few mussels, and they were decent, but this is clearly not the spot you want to hit for mussels. The fish and chips looked delicious when they were served, but further investigation revealed that they were overly breaded and couldn’t keep up with Memphis Taproom. Rachel commented that her small appetizer was good, but also that she could have made something better at home. Needless to say, the food is not a selling point.
To be honest, I’m also disappointed with the beer list. In fairness, Swift Half has some good beers on tap. But when a week passes in between visits and not a single tap changes, I’m not inclined to return anytime soon. The beer list is not totally uninspired, with Southampton, Flying Fish, Stoudt’s, Brooklyn, even Chimay represented on tap. The bottle list is extensive and well priced. One nice part of the menu is the inclusion of small plates of meat and cheese that could be matched to beer, if you’re so inclined.
Currently, they have the Six Points Sweet Action on tap, which I raved about ever since the first time I had it at Sidecar. It’s not as amazing as my memory made it, but I was glad to see this hard to find beer on tap. It’s still excellent, and a nice find for a rare style: American Blonde Ale.
Service here is meh. It’s not bad, I think it’s pretty hit or miss depending on who’s working. My favorite thing about this spot, and the reason that I keep coming back, is the outdoor seating. The piazza is a really cool area, and it’s great when the Phillies are on the big screen. Inside
Swift Half is a normal bar, and I wouldn’t eat or drink inside. Outdoor seating is closed at 11:30 on weeknight, which can be annoying if you want to just hang out, or are shoo-​ed inside as you’re finishing your last pint.
Bottom Line: This is just another spot on my list of places that are most remarkable for outdoor seating. As the list grows, Swift Half loses favor in my book. The food is okay, but I wouldn’t want to come here for a meal. Really, this spot is only a go to for me if they continue to have beers that aren’t available elsewhere in the city. I was trying to decide between 2 and 3 stars, but this place just doesn’t make the cut in the end.

I didn’t intend to come here when I did. But when rain falls upon you during a festival you have to swerve your course in an opposite direction. And so long as that course led to beer I figured that it was a good decision. And it definitely led me to a great selection of beers!
It’s always a good deal when you realize that you know people working at the place. and since I instantly noticed my friends the Twin Towers working the door, I knew that I was about to walk into somewhere that I could be down with. And upon checking out a beer selection that touted things like Bells Oberon, Troegs Sunshine Pils, PBC’s Felur De Leigh, a Raspberry Wheat, and some other goodies that fact was confirmed. I was also hooked up with some good service and grew accustomed to the good selection of tunes on the jukebox.
If you come in expecting to compare Swift Half’s menu to Good Dog’s than you might be on the verge of dissappointment. But then again if you do that you may as well compare Devil’s Alley to Smokin’ Betty’s, or Buddakan to Morimoto (same owners=same menu=NO!). But overall I was kind of digging a few of the concepts. you won’t see me going crazy over the $ 9 cucumber sandwiches, or some of the other sandwiches. And while it might come close (?) I doubt the burger could ever top the Good Dog Burger! But I like that they had a well rounded mix of cheese plates and charcuterie items to offer. and things like the Duck Prosciutto & Fig Salad, the rack of ribs, and the fudge board especially ssound awesome. So it definitely has some hits among the experiments.
So over all I definitely enjoyed myself, and found their Happy Hour to be the perfect thing to occupy myself with during the rain. And I definitely look forward to hitting it up again during one of The Piazza’s many incredible free events!