Swift and Union

My wife and her friends have been in a couple of times annd raved about the food, this was my first time. We shared the queso fundido which was interesting but good. My wife got the ploughmans platter, I had the lamb burger, our companians had the steak frittes and the rueben sandwhich. We also had the soup which was a curried tomato potato. I enjoyed the soup with a very light curry flavor and for me a mild bite. Our companion thought it was too spicy (what can I say, she’s a very mild kind of gal). All the food was great, the bacon jam on the platter oh so sinfully good. The steak was considered perfect, the lamb burger flavorful, moist, and tender. The rueben good, though she says her quest to find the perfect rueben in Portland continues. To top it off, we managed to stuff down a couple of orders of the apple fritters… let me just say that if you don’t order these at least once in your lifetime you will be missing out on one of the simplest culinary highlights your tastebuds can experience. They are not your ordinary fritters! they are moist little balls of cinnamon and apple chunks with a cinnamon sauce drizzled around them. They’re worth the diet breakdown. Your mouth will thank me.

Great Kenton neighborhood restaurant. Me, my husband and our 4 yr old daughter had an early dinner. Ambiance is nice. Nice open and airy space. Service was timely. Food was delicious. We started off with the pretzels. They were warm and soft. The mustard was tasty with a little spice. I had the steak frites. My only wish is the plate had half the fries and came with a small salad. I just like having greens on my plate. My husband had the carne asada torte. He loved it. Our daughter just shared our food. I was expecting some mellow music to be playing but it was mostly 90’s grunge. Which was fine, just made feel old. We notice this place can get busy, so get their early. No minors after 8 pm.

Modern with a western twist, with horse skull and pictures of cows lining the walls.
The service was good: quick, considerate, and kind.
I ordered the tofu sandwich that they had, which was pretty good. It was marinated in plum sauce, but lacked on the flavor side. It had Dijon mustard and slight smoky, charred bread, which brought the sandwich together nicely.
The side of leek and potato soup I got was nice and creamy, and my server was very helpful in finding out if it was vegetarian. Once again I think it could’ve been more flavorful, but it was still a nice comforting soup for the rainy day.
The price also seemed a little steep, but I might try it again for some of their other vegetarian options.

Kenton has needed Swift & Union for the past century: with its arrival, the neighbourhood finally enters the 21^st century (albeit, kicking and screaming as they’re dragged along).
I detest the proliferation of «noun-&-noun» eateries in this city, and so Swift nearly got a pass based solely on the unacceptable name: but perhaps it’s a reference to a shotgun wedding – or somesuch…
The beer list is concise but diverse (no 5-​IPAs here… as is current Portland fashion), and sure to have something which will satisfy both the pallet and compliment the menu.
Food is excellent. Well executed dishes pour swiftly out of the massive and immaculate kitchens. Gravlox is a must (and something I have come in for on its own), the raviolis in pesto are rare and special treat. The burgers are far and away the best on the peninsula; two words: Bacon. Jam.
Service is friendly, swift, and attentive. The space is a touch cavernous and can be quite noisy when full, additionally it can be quite cold – never warmer than 65*. Ever.
Swift & Union – despite its inarguably moronic name – is a GREAT boon to Kenton, the peninsula, and NoPo in general. Heck, it’s worth a visit even from deep SE!

My first impression of the place was from the bartender, I believe his name is Steve (n)? He was mixing a drink while we viewed the menu. Here’s how the conversation went:
Me: What are the popular items on the menu?
Him: Whoa Whoa. you gotta give me a minute.
Me: Oh, OK no worries.
He then starts to recommend dishes to us one of which was the Carne Asada Torte.
Me: Oh, is that the dish I saw when I walked in? He rudely interrupts me by saying
Him: Well, I don’t know what you saw when you walked in.
Me: I was going to describe it to you. it was a square dish that looked like it had gravy on it.
Him: Oh, no that’s the Hunter’s Pie.
I was immediately turned off by this guys tone of voice with me. What’s this guy’s problem I asked my partner. Neither one of were impressed with his service or lack there of… he barely checked in with us the whole time we dined. So. food was good but if the service is rude then I’m less likely to return. We’ll give it another shot but sad that if this guys working we won’t be sitting at the bar (which is our favorite spot).

Reuben was meh. More so I dislike the ketchup which is an unnamed local company I dislike with malt vinegar added. It’s ketchup, you don’t need to add your touch to everything on the menu.
My experience was like Alyssa C’s so I’m guessing it was not a fluke.

This was our first experience eating at Swift and Union but definitely not our last! The service was 10 out of 10. Our waiter, Scott, was very friendly and thoughtful. He gave us honest recommendations and helpful tips on what to try. My friend and I planned on sharing the Reuben, so we asked for an extra plate, thinking we would have to split the sandwich ourselves. But Scott came out holding two separate plates with the food already split for us. The portions are big and the food is good. Definitely not our last visit~

The absolute best lamb shank I’ve ever had. Literally slid off the bone, and ate it with only a fork. No knife needed.

Food Quality: excellent! I love the menu.
Environment: The biggest drawback… It is LOUD! They need to add some carpet or canvas frames to the walls to dampen some of the noise. If you want to have a casual conversation do not go here when it’s busy.
Service: great!
Appearance: it’s clean… Almost sterile.
Overall: this is a great dinner or brunch spot. If it wasn’t for the noise level I might give it 5 stars.

Our server was super patient and helpful. We ordered the Swift Burger and the Steak Frites and they were both incredible, like really really good. Also for those and 2 beers the price rage was only around 30 bucks. I definitely recommend and will be back myself.

I completely understand that this restaurant is new and still trying to find its groove on menu items; unfortunately, we must have come in on an off night because we had a really disappointing food experience here (although the service was excellent, so props on that). We came in around 830 on a week night and were surprised at how busy the place was! Upon seeing that, and also reading so many positive Unilocal reviews, I had high expectations.
We started with the pumpkin goat cheese fritters. How amazing does that sound?! Amazing, right?! Unfortunately they were not so amazing — kind of dry and somehow lacking flavor despite the flavor bomb I was expecting. Bummer.
Between the three of us we tried the Lamb Burger, Swift Burger, and Butternut Squash and Gorgonzola ravioli. My overall opinion of this place is everything SOUNDS way better than it actually tastes. The ravioli was SO rich I couldn’t eat more than a bite or two (I’m unconvinced I was eating anything other than cream on pasta); the lamb burger, although we ordered it medium rare, was so dry it was almost inedible. The Swift Burger was so salty, not even beer and water could keep me hydrated.
Overall, other than having good service and being kind of a cool space, I wouldn’t come back here. The food was just sad. I’m always bummed when I order something not good for me and then it’s bad… it’s like I should get a take back on those calories or something. Anyway. Bummer! Hope they get it all worked out.

A relatively new addition to the burgeoning strip on N. Denver in Kenton, Swift and Union has not let me down so far. We’ve been twice and enjoyed everything we’ve tried. The swift burger was cooked perfectly medium and the blue cheese nicely melted into the patty. The bacon jam gave it a salty and sweet addition. The pork belly banh mi was quite good as well. Both times we got the soft german pretzels and the mussels. The pretzels are well done and exactly as you’d expect. Brown and a little touch on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside. The mussels are delicious. Well cooked and swimming in a creamy curry broth. We find ourselves using the remainder of the pretzels to soak up the broth so that none goes to waste. I could practically drink this stuff.
The service has been great so far. It gets quite full on Friday and Saturday nights, but we haven’t ever had to wait more than 20 minutes for a table for 2. This has been a great addition to the neighborhood, adding more life to the N. Denver streets at night. I’m sure it will be a catalyst that will drive further business growth in the area.

finally, a more-​than-​decent restaurant in the kenton district.
I liked the ambiance. great wall art.
we enjoyed our lunch. the fish and chips and the reuben was quite good. we will be back to try more options on the menu.
Mike was very gracious.

What a nice surprise, while exploring the north end of Portland, we found Swift and Union in the Kenton district. The menu sets it apart from most pubs, some really interesting items here. I enjoyed a killer salad nicoise, super fresh greens, seared tuna, perfectly cooked egg, potatoes, etc. It was however missing anchovies otherwise it was perfect.
Of course there’s a nice selection of beer and wines. Service was great, nice décor and very cute neighborhood.

Yes yes yes here we go! Swift and Union’s got the flow!
Went here for our first time on a Friday night and it was busy but our wonderful server had it on lock!
Our party was 5 people which was one of the larger adult parties they had. I saw some families too but with small kiddos or babies.
We ordered a few rounds of drinks, then apps, entrees and desserts. It was fabulous. The space is comfy and the restaurant feels very established already. I think my only ambience complaint is it’s still too loud. I saw other people’s reviews say it’s improved since summer with the addition of sound panels — but it was my first time in the restaurant and I thought we had to almost yell to hear each other around the table.
I’m glad we had a recommendation to go because I would not have known about this spot.
We all ordered different things but shared tastes with everyone.
Cocktails were tasty. Beer selection was good.
Reuben was the best I’ve had in town! Delish. I could use a bit more meat in the sandwich but the flavor was on point.
Bacon jam! Wha?! I get why it’s on the «Take Some
Home» portion of the menu now. Yes. Eat it.
Shank (lamb) was cooked to perfection.
Steak & Frites perfection. Salty, savory, meaty goodness.
Butternut squash & Gorgonzola Ravioli were beautiful, cooked well, and full of flavor. My only problem was that I wanted more!
Beet salad was okay but I would love more beets in it.
Mushroom risotto was bland but good texture.
Chocolate mousse was tasty but texture was off a bit. It was firm in some spots and runny in some.
Crème brûlée was excellent!
Our server was also very gracious and helpful. She even warned us about how busy it was an that it might be easier to have all our food out at once instead of coursed. Totally fine with us! We enjoyed it all!
We will definitely be returning to this great place!

Swift and Union is a fantastic space for a meal or a drink with someone special or a casual gathering of friends and family.
I’ve been twice, once at the bar and once at a table near the window. The service is friendly, experienced, and fast. The food is solid. Almost every guest is going to find something they like. Though, I wish the menu was a little bigger. That said the prices are affordable and neighborhood-​friendly, most likely because the pantry is small.
The standouts are the fish & chips and burger. More often than not, I dread the fish and chips dredge, because the batter is thick and the product is oily. Swift and Union’s fish and chips is almost light, crisp, and less oily. The same can be said for their corn fritters. Their corn fritters will not drag you down. Their light, a tad sweet, and crunchy. If there’s one thing that can be said, they know how to balance their flavors.
Additionally, I’m typically not a fan of bread pudding or a dessert made from bread scraps, but their bread pudding is moist, not to sweet, and not too sticky for just the right bite.

My mother and I recently dined here for a dinner date.
We ordered the fried artichoke hearts, capers, and chickpeas served with a red pepper couli as a starter. Either we were both extremely famished, or the dish itself was way beyond delicious to let it cool down on the table. It was most likely the latter.
I ordered the Derby Hound cocktail, S&U’s variation of a Greyhound. It was very strong on the booze, but still quite refreshing and delicately sweet. It came in a tall glass and was worth the price of about $ 7 – 8
My mom had the soup of the day (Black Bean Chili) and the pear salad with hazelnuts. She seemed to enjoy both. I decided on the French Dip which subbed pastrami for roast beef. It was delicious! I like to think of myself as a French Dip connoisseur and found this dish was able to satisfy my sandwich craving tastebuds. The au jus was perfect!
The service was great, and the entire restaurant décor was pleasant and inviting. Swift and Union is a great addition to the neighborhood, since the setting and pricing of the flavorful fare isn’t over the top.

So much to like about this place.
The location — close to me, plenty of parking, a little bit away from the hustle and bustle of Kenton.
The place — super hip, bright and open. I do prefer my restaurants somewhat intimate and dark, but there’s a place for all kinds of eateries!
The food — really really good
The service — really really really good
The friend artichokes were good — I wished there were more artcichoke and less chick pea in the dish — but a treat nonetheless. The salmon cake eggs benedict were just lovely.
Prices are not even crazy high, just fancy high. And last but definitely not least, I have a crush on Ben the bartender. Adorable, efficient, makes an amazing drink, and is so very personable. Did I mention he was adorable? He made us a variety of awesome drinks, based on what we said we liked. Had us try them before he even put in the alchohol to be sure it didn’t need tweaking first. He is top notch, for sure! I may go back just for him.

After reading a bunch of strangers’ Unilocal reviews about this hot, brand-​new neighborhood spot, I was feeling downright jealous. Why did they get to go there before me? Why was this restaurant already so having its shit together like two weeks in? That’s not a thing. But it is.
Spouse took me to S&U tonight to thank me for spending three hours at the DMV to renew his tags, and I would say it was a pretty even trade. He had a killer Niçoise salad with fresh cracked pepper, seared Oregon tuna, tarragon dressing, & house-​made pickles. I fell in love with the Seared Salmon, which another review incorrectly named the curry salmon. Salmon, mussels, chickpeas, in a magnificent fragrant broth. Only minor complaint: dial down the amount you cook your seafood. Take it back just a minute or so. Our fish wasn’t overcooked, but it approached the perimeter.

When you think of great restaurants in Portland one’s mind doesn’t typically wander as far north as to make it to Kenton. Swift and Union is aimed to change that mindset. From the moment you walk in the door you start to get a feel for the history in which the restaurants name comes from. The walls are adorned with references to the meaty heritage. From horns to hooks, which are creatively placed overhead at the bar, you truly know you’re in a place that knows their meat. The only critique I have for the atmosphere is the need for sound dampening. It was somewhat difficult to carry on a conversation without having to repeat ourselves due to the way sound carries in the space.
On to the food. My husband and I both went for a burger and a cocktail. My drink was the Swift Kick (light on the maple syrup, thanks to a previous review on the sweetness). For the most part the cocktail is an old fashioned with maple syrup rather than a cherry. It was delicious, yet not overly different than one would expect an old fashioned to taste. The burger I was graced with was the Swift Burger. Let me just say, Bacon Jam, Yes Please! The bacon jam atop this burger is what it’s all about. The burger was perfectly cooked to my liking. The brioche bun was the perfect soft and delicate accompaniment to the overall package. The fries were perfectly cooked and seasoned and the house made ketchup has a slight sweetness that still has me trying to figure out what it was (blueberry? caramelized onion?)… Doesn’t matter, it was delish!
My husband selected the Nilsson as his drink of choice. With coconut water making up the list of ingredients the expectation was for more of a coconut taste, that was not the experience. In his words, the drink was good, but was more like a less sweet and slightly watered-​down mojito. I will have to add that it was refreshing if anything. His burger was the lamb which really had me reaching for a bite based on the ingredients listed. We were both let down with the lacking of flavor from the supposed apricot, mint and goat cheese. We certainly got lamb, which we love, but the meat did seem to blanket any other flavors that were present.
Overall, we will certainly be back to try the other great «sounding» items on the menu. We look forward to seeing and tasting what else Swift and Union has to offer.