I'm giving this place a 5 star due to many reasons. Â Let me just say that one of the biggest is that they treat you like a person and that they appreciate your business. Â We made the trip from Olathe to Swagger based on the Triple-D spot on the Food Network. Â We went on a Friday night and it was getting pretty busy. Â The bartender immediately pulled over one more chair so that we could wait for our table from the bar. Then asked us if we would like to take the table for 5 because it was available now, or wait for a table for 2. Â We chose to wait, but thought it was awesome that we had an option to take that large table in spite of it being a busy night.
Our waiter was fantastic, very polite and very accommodating. Â The food was as good as we expected. Â Actually, we were more impressed by how big and how good the Greek Salad was. Â It's not one of those "Specialty" items, but it's what my wife got and it surpassed the salad at a nearby Greek restaurant for heaven sakes.
If there is anything critical I can come up with it would have to be parking, there's hardly any. Â Although there is plenty of it across the street, just be careful getting across with the traffic.
I had the misfortune of trying this place on a day when they were not at their best. I tried to make a reservation through open table but that wasn't an option. I went in because I had bought a Groupon and I'm on a quest to try new places. So we went in and put our name on the waiting list--45 minutes to an hour. So we waited for a seat at the bar. They have an interesting list of beer here so we tried  several on a beer flight and watched basketball while we waited. Several odd things here---the ceilings are in the bar area are low and reminded me of Tommy Farha's (shudder). Also, to see the tvs you have to turn AWAY from the bar. Very odd. There was a man at the bar who was falling asleep with a hamburger halfway to his mouth. They finally called my name to be seated. The restaurant part of the bar was very small. I think our server hadn't worked there too long. She was nice but never seemed to be nearby. We ordered an appetizer and it took 20 minutes to get to the table. There were several large groups there so I'm guessing that was part of the problem. A man came by the table later (I'm guessing he was a manager) and told us something had gone wrong with our order. We had already been waiting for a long time so this news meant we were waiting longer. He was very nice and told us the dinner would be comped and he apologized several times. When the food finally came out, the hamburger I had ordered had turned into a chicken sandwich. The server didn't come by to ask how everything was until after we were done eating. I let her know I had got the wrong food but the sandwich was good. At this point it was free and what was I going to do--wait around for another sandwich? This is definitely a mulligan. I honestly think it was just a bad, off night for the staff. I wish the service had been more attentive (I just wanted another glass of water) but I will give them another try. Update pending!
Review Source:I came here on the recommendation of a friend (and then I found out later about the whole triple-D review) . Â Â With all of the hype, I was (perhaps) expecting a bit more. Â The food and service was just ok. Â I tried the suribachi burger, and while it was a unique combination, it wasn't *that* great. Â The next time I come, (and I will come back at least once more), I'm going to try the 'Dead Texan'...I am such a follower.
Review Source:We went to Swagger to try the "Dead Texan" burger that was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. This was a good burger to try, it was big so we split it for two people. Â
We went back to try the Elk burger, which was a little gamey for my taste. Â I didn't really like the french fries either. Â Also, they were out of most of the beers on the menu, and we had to order about 10 before we found something they had in stock. For this experience, I am giving Swagger three stars, but we are willing to try it again.
They have a few other menu items that I want to try- The Fidel Castro (a cuban sandwich) and the Flying monkey's chilli.
Great dive bar. Â Seems like I saw another one down the road in Martin City-- no idea if they're related (one of you long timers may know; I'm so new back in KC), but I've only been to this one at 85th & Wornall.
The food is great bar fare- huge perfectly cooked burgers covered in anything you can get. Â The fries are totally addictive. Â The staff we've gotten each time we've been there has been totally helpful and helped with the low-pressure, low-key vibe.
I really love the atmosphere of Swagger. The beer offerings are amazing, the staff is super friendly and the music is always great. Â It is the kind of place where you could belly up to the bar solo to grab a cocktail after work or the type of place to get totally wild with a group. Â Think your singles-uncle's-lake-house-basement...that's Swagger...comfortable, unpretentious, totally awesome! Â Until this weekend, I'd only been before for drinks. Â But Sunday I finally sampled their breakfast. Â And YUM! Â It was incredibly indulgent and completely satisfying. Â It's sure to cure even the worst of hangovers. Â Don't get me wrong, this food is completely unrefined. Â It's the stuff you dream up at 3AM only to stumble home to discover an empty pantry. Â But don't worry, it will be waiting for you in the morning...just get a few hours of sleep first.
Review Source:This is one of my boyfriend's favorite places to visit in Kansas City, so once I saw that it was on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, I knew we would be stopping by on our visit to Kansas City!
We ended up at Swagger late on a Saturday night after going out. Â We got lucky and the kitchen was just about to close. Â So, we quickly put in our order. Â Since I am a huge nerd, I wanted to order from the items on DDD. Â The had these clearly labeled on the menu so that is what we did. We got the Pulled Pork Sandwich and the Cuban Sandwich and split both of them. Â I liked the Cuban Sandwich better.
I have been to Swagger twice now. The first time they were out of some of the tap beers (not a big deal for me because I was still recovering from a night out and didn't think hair of the dog would do any good) but the second time they were all up. Food was good, the BBQ sauce is more spicy than sweet, which I prefer. Â And both times the servers were attentive and just plain sweet. They list on the menu what was on Diners, Driver-Ins, and Dives so if you want to try what they did it's easy too.
Downfall is parking can be a little tough, with several stores in the building there just isn't enough parking. (We stole the Jimmy John's parking spot, they were none the wiser.) It definitely fits into the "Dives" category, but honestly, those are my favorite places. A bar where I can show up in a jeans and a hoodie for some hangover cure and not feel out of place.
This place was great. It looks kind of sketchy, but "don't judge a book by its cover" comes into play here.
We had an awesome waitress. She was friendly, funny, and intelligent.
The food and drink were delicious (a pastrami burger with fries, 6 buffalo wings, 6 BBQ wings, a Hoegaarden and a Crispen, split between the two of us).
All for a reasonable price.
A little out of our way (20 or so minutes), but we'll definitely be returning.
First visit today. Very eagerly anticipating it due to the hype locally and being on DDD. Â
First, the good.
The beer list is huge. Everyone should be able to find something to their liking.
Now, the not so good.
Parking is horrendous. I have no idea where you should park, but it is not obvious.
Had the buffalo wings. Spice on them was very nice, however, the skin was very soft and unappetizing. I think they should have cooked longer.
Onion rings were below average. They were crispy, but had a very unnatural breading on them that was overly heavy and almost tempura like.
Fries were natural fresh cut but were almost burned but till soggy and greasy somehow.
Now to the burgers. The menu says everything is cooked to medium unless otherwise requested. This implies they know how to cook burgers. My wife ordered her cheeseburger well done and it came out about medium well, so that was acceptable. Â My pastrami burger, however, was ordered medium rare, and came out crispy black and horribly overdone. Â After I flagged down the waitress, she apologized and said they would refire one right away. Â It came out quickly, but, alas, it was also WAY over cooked. Â Sorry, you do not three chances to cook my burger in one visit.
Service was fine, but the place was virtually empty, and yet for wings and burgers, we were there almost two hours. Â I have no idea why. Â
My burgers were comped, but since I did not eat either one, that should be expected. Â For $13 for a burger, you would think they would know how to cook it.
I may give them another chance at some point, but am definitely not in a hurry to do so.
The food here is horrible. Â I am personally very frustrated with the hype over this establishment. Â Most likely, the people who say the food is incredible is one of the numerous fatties that visit this so called dive. Two stars is ONLY because of the booze and beer selection. Â Service is usually alright, however the last visit was awful bar service.
1. Not a dive, (not scary, or dirty)
2. Food is for fatties
3. Wouldn't hurt if the punk barkeep would serve me a water
4. Dont waste your time, I would prefer Chilis
I should know..
I eat at a lot of fancy gourmet places
This little place is right around the corner from my house and I had heard lots of great stuff about it... Even before it landed on "Diners, Drive Ins, & Dives"... So, I finally made it in.
What ultimately got me in the door is when I discovered that they were open for breakfast 7 days a week. Yessss! Let's face it, there just aren't too many GREAT local breakfast places in KC. There are some... Yes. EGGTC, You Say Tomato, Classic Cookie, to name a few. Still, I'm always looking for something new, local, and Great!
Let me just say that if atmosphere is your game then I'm hoping you're a big Steven Segal fan. The atmosphere at SWAGGER is rustic... to say the least. It looks like a joint where bar fights and bounced checks go to die.
While we were there for breakfast I was able to see that they had several beers on tap, and the selection was pretty diverse too. Also, they feature a large selection of whiskeys too.
You starting to get a visual of the place now?
The service was cooky but good. Think the old sitcom ALICE meets Patrick Swayze's ROADHOUSE.
Anyhow, let's not forget we were there for breakfast, so let's get to it.
My friend had the Rattlesnake eggs, which were kinda like Scotch eggs. Hard boiled eggs encased in delicious sausage. Very good.
I had the breakfast burrito. Now I know that may sound pedestrian, but I swear to you it was the best freakin' Breakfast Burrito I've ever had in my life. And it's not even close.
It was filled w crispy potatoes, sausage (that also had some nice crisp texture, a layer of scrambled egg, cheese, and it was topped with this incredible red sauce. I mean I could go on and try to describe a Bfast burrito to you but seriously, just go get it. It's awesome.
I was thinking of giving SWAGGER a good solid 4 stars BUT if you serve something that is the best of that something that I've ever had in my life... I better damn well give you 5 stars.
So.. I did. Plus, I'm sure the owners can kick the shit out of me.
Cheers
@timscott411
First experience to the Swagger and we went there for breakfast. Nice breakfast menu and the food was good. The biscuits and gravy were tasteless but filling.
The place is a typical bar setting. The staff was really nice. Only complaint is that the place smells like a dumpster. Mixture of sweat, urine and stale beer. good start would probably be cleaning the carpet.
Plan on going back But no hurries on when we will
If I were to open a bar, I would not want to compromise anything. They didn't either, they knock it out of the park in almost every respect. The food is 10X better than any other pub grub in town, and unlike other restaurants, and the beer selection is even better.
This is one of my favorite places!
Only wish the TV were better, so I could watch a game and eat their great food and drink their tasty beverages!
Sirabachi... I'm still dreaming of this hamburger. I have yet to stop thinking about it, and I'm trying to find a new reason for work to send me back to KC so i can have it again.
I came into town for a week long meeting at work. I have my usual places i have to eat at in KC, but i always try to find a few new places. Mike came through for me on this one.
I walked into this dark dingy little bar and instantly thought i found a new place to call home. After walking into the adjoining room I found my party and began to look over the beer menu. WOW what a menu, very expansive and great priced. I started off with the KC Swagger which was made by a local brewer, It was a nice light beer, not to hoppy. After first round the delivery man showed up with Rye on Rye. After finding out that it was a limited edition beer, even the glasses are numbered. I had to try one. What a beer, just awesome!
By now it was food time, after looking over the menu i found a Sirabachi burger and a sandwich called the texas grilled cheese that looked like a heart attack. The texan was 2 grilled cheese sandwiches with a fried egg, bacon, and a hamburger patty. While that looks great, i had to go with the Sirabachi. Wasabi slaw, asian mustard, peperjack cheese, and a tempura battered hamburger patty. I was worried when i ordered it, but the chef knocked this outta the park! The flavors danced on my palate and i think i heard angels sing when it came out. This sandwich i swear is made with rainbows and unicorn tears.
I wanted to give Swagger a 2nd chance before I wrote my review and I am glad I did.
The 1st time we went was a month ago with 19 people. We tried to order drinks and they were out of everything. Which kind of ticked us all off. All they had was Bud Lite, Miller Lite and Corona, then we asked for Coke and she said how about Pepsi? At this point we needed drinks so yes Pepsi is fine.
When she came back with our drinks we asked why they were literally out of everything and she said they had just had the mini golf fund raiser the day before. Ok we can forgive this.
The food was pretty good. I had the Fidel Castro and Hubby had the Dead Texan. Everyone else had a variety of items. We all seemed rather happy.
They were short handed we had to wait a little while for our food, but we understood because the waitress told us up front so we didn't get mad.
The 2nd time we went last Friday night and the drinks they were a flowing.
Round 1:
Me: Mojito
Hubby: Coke
Male Friend: Larger
Female Friend 1: Peach Cider
Female Friend 2: Apple Cider
Round 2:
Me: Mint Julep (BEST I HAVE EVER HAD) They use Burrye in it.
Hubby: Bottle of Honey Wine 11% alcohol
Male Friend: Bottle of Honey Wine 11% alcohol
Female Friend 1: Bottle of Honey Wine 11% alcohol
Female Friend 2: Peach Cider
Round 3:
Me: Water I was driving later so had to stop drinking and switch to water
Hubby: A different bottle of Honey Wine 11% alcohol
Male Friend: A different bottle of Honey Wine 11% alcohol
Female Friend 1: Some type of Beer
Female Friend 2: Peach Cider
Round 4:
Swagger Beer for all. One glass we all just took a sip to see if we liked it and it was good. A lot like Blvd Wheat.
Oh yeah there was food too. Hubby and I split the BLT that was super good with a ton of bacon and the others split the Steve Martin. Which is a chicken Sandwich. We will be back for sure.
A buddy of mine is often waxing poetic on Swagger as his favorite dive to eat, if not booze. The rumor is somebody with some culinary pedigree runs the kitchen here and I can tell you that's a safe bet.
The beer list is impressive, a trend in good bars I'm starting to appreciate. The rumors of my generation and gen Y pushing beer snobbery to the heights of wine's fabled past (usurper suds!) are starting to hold some weight when a "feels like a dive" like this, with wall (ceiling actually) decorations of Miller High Life, carries such an extensive tap list.
There will be beer. Many high end beers.
But the food is what got me to try the place. Basically everything is a sandwich, save the appetizers. Â Speaking of appetizers: the loaded baked potato fries alone are gonna make me a repeat "I gave up fried foods years ago what the hell am I doing?" customer. Tons of toppings on what looked and tasted like perfectly fried hand cut spuds. Â Focusing on sandwiches works well for Swagger. I had the Fidel Castro, with seasoned ham and pork goodness, on an oily sliced hoagie roll of awesome. She had the ahi tuna sammich and damn. Usually tuna in steak form is kinda, you know, tuna-y in that bland way, not in that sushi grade way. But this big hunk of thunnus was seasoned by a champ and cooked perfectly. Quite nice.
My buddy who suggested the place and the lady I was with both suggested I try the relish. Or was it a cole slaw? I think it's a wasabi type substance, which I'll have to check out next time.
I was told the service would be slow and surly but that wasn't our experience. She was attentive and friendly. We sat in the restaurant type area so didn't have much exposure to the bar or bartenders. We went on a pretty busy Saturday night.
As there were zero negatives about our experience, good service, good beer choices, and great food, I can grant my super rare 5 star to Swagger.
Went here one week night and there wasn't an open seat in the bar, no biggie. Â I waited for a table for probably 10-15 minutes, not one person that worked here acknowledged my presence. Â But, finally got a table in the bar. Â I sat down, waited another 10 minutes for the server to come over, bus the table and take my drink order. Â I received my beer 10 minutes later, my friend received his drink another five minutes after that. Â On the plus side, they have an awesome, extensive beer list.
I went with their signature jerk chicken sandwich. Â How long did I wait? Â Did you guess yet? Â One hour for a chicken sandwich and side salad. Â I'm not sure what takes so long to grill one sandwich and put some lettuce on the side. Â Anyway, the sandwich was good, but nothing I'd go telling everyone about so they would come try it.
Overall, good menu, diverse beer list, horrible slow service.
My update is for breakfast - which was killer. Â The coffee was strong, the Bloody Mary (priced well @ $3.50) was extra spicy and my order of Rattle Snake Eggs was plentiful and very tasty.
The dish has hard boiled eggs which are covered with sausage and fried. Â Add a little Tabasco and this dish was a winner. Â The biscuits and gravy with added pepper was really good too. Â The home fries were just chunks of cooked potatoes. Â They didn't have any seasonings or onion/peppers added. Â Out of the 3 items on my dish these rated the lowest. Â But the eggs and b&g more than made up for the potatoes.
So, why is my review still 3 stars? Â Their credit card system. Â Either the printer doesn't work or the network is down or both. Â This has happened to us more than once. Â I should have learned. Â If they know this is a problem then let the customers know ahead of time to go get extra cash.
My favorite place in Kansas City. They have an extensive beer menu, which is always my priority and unique food. Given, Swagger is a bar I would say the food is not bar food. It is very unique and I highly recommend the Dead Texan or Suribachi Burger.
Swagger has the small town or "Cheers" feeling, which I am always seeking.
This is not a place to go if you are in a hurry, want a family meal, or hate to look for parking. Since Jimmy Johns moved in next door the parking is practically gone. I recommend parking in the shopping center behind Swagger to not have to cross Wornall.
Stopped by here last weekend for a pre-game meal before drinking at another bar in the area.
First things first - where in the world does one park? All the parking behind the place is dedicated to either the neighboring Jimmy Johns or the neighboring liquor store. Â I got lucky; I found a space directly in front of the strip mall (in a bizarre parallel parking setup), but my friend had to park across the street in the grocery store lot. Â And cross a very heavily traveled street to get to the bar.
The atmosphere is very friendly and you can tell this place is loved by the folks in Waldo. Â (A few regulars serenaded the crowd to That's Amore on our visit; not sure if they were sober at the time.) Â Service was a little slow on this particular night (given that they were busy but not jam-packed)... but it was still pretty good.
The food wasn't bad. Â My friend had the Waldo Trucker; I had the Kentucky Colonel. Â Swagger specializes in bar food, pure and simple -- while the food was good, I think I'd much rather come here to drink than eat.
My best experiences here have been sitting at the bar. Fantastic service! Bartender was on top of things and always made sure I had what I needed. The beer selection is tops and it seems like they always have something new to choose from. Obviously, the beer is the bar's pride & joy and you can totally tell just by how they serve it. I ordered a Crispin cider and it was served like it supposed to be - with lots of ice in a huge glass. Same with my husband who ordered a slew of different beers, all served with care and presented in their own fancy glass.
On to the food, its been hit or miss. Just because its been featured on a famous food television channel does not mean its a gastronomic paradise. It's a bar with decent bar food. Â I ordered the special once, a shrimp burger, and regretted it. It was just a burger with super tiny shrimp on top. It was okay, not anything memorable for the price I paid. Last time coming in I ordered the Cuban with fries and it was delicious. The flavor of the sandwich totally tasted like a spiced hot dog. Pork and mustard flavor goodness. I'll be honest and say I am not a fan of their fries. Definitely 'home style' - super greasy and limp. Next time, I will stick with the onion rings. All in all, totally coming back to get my drunk on!
I adore this place...
The staff is great the food is great and not to mention the selection of beer I was one happy dame. Â
The bartenders will be happy to give you all the samples you want which  I thought was awesome because I have ordered some drinks before and sometimes the surprise isn't so good. So this way, you're always guaranteed something yummy!
Check it! ;)
Honestly, a solid 3.5 stars. I wasn't amazed, but I will definitely be back at some point.
We had been wanting to try Swagger since we heard about it from friends over a year ago. Finally, the stars aligned last weekend, and we stopped in for lunch. As we arrived right at noon, it wasn't terribly busy and we were able to get a seat in the bar area with no problems. Our waitress appeared with menus quickly, and took our drink orders. Unfortunately, though the beer I ordered was on the menu, apparently they actually didn't have it, so that was a bummer. (And makes the beer menu somewhat moot.) They did have Boulevard Pilsner on tap, though, which made my husband happy.
For lunch, I ordered the Waldo Trucker (pulled pork sandwich with wasabi coleslaw, pickles, and fries), and my husband had the Dead Texan (burger with grilled cheese sandwiches for buns). Our food arrived quickly, and was alright - I wasn't wowed by the somewhat bland pork (and odd sauce on the side), and my husband was actually a little bit surprised that he was able to finish his burger with no problems, as he was expecting it to be bigger. I mean, it was a good size, but not so big that he didn't want dinner later, which was not what he expected. He said it tasted good, though the onion on it was a bit overpowering. We both thought our fries were enjoyable enough.
Prices were good for the portion size, and service was fast and friendly the entire time. I didn't get asked if I wanted a refill on my drink, but as I also had a glass of water, I didn't mind. We also used a Groupon, and that was redeemed with no problems.
The atmosphere is your typical neighborhood bar - nothing fancy, but a great place to have a laid back meal and a couple of drinks. I will also say that there must be some kind of healing goodness in the food or something, as when I arrived I was on the verge of getting a migraine, and when I left, I was pain free. :-)
Next time, I think I'll try the Cuban...and I won't wait another year for my next visit.
OK, Â overall experience 3 stars
I like to keep the food experience and the service experience seperate, because you can't let a foolish server ruin a perfectly tasty dish/entree....RIGHT
Food here was good. Â Ordered the Dead Texan, and Surbachi. Â Both were tasty however not completely and udderly awesome. Â They were GOOD. Â The fries were Awesome. Â I still have a problem with a 13 dollar hamburger but you pay for notoriety.
Service was lousy. Â That being said, you may have great service. Â Just be aware that if you draw the unlucky server/straw, you may be sitting a while while the rest of the restaurant (empty) gets ???
Overall the experience was good, not great, if you think it is fun to try new/different things then you should go, if for nothing else, to try the DDD favorites like we did.
Waitress was great, Walter wasn't. The food, eh. I could go either way. Fries were burned and soggy, if that makes sense. The burger was fairly good, though.
This just wasn't my kind of place. It's a bar. Let's not let the name fool us. "Spirits" are just some fringe micro brews and foreign beers I'm vaguely familiar with. We didn't order any hard drinks. The food's a little over priced for what you get. I had a cheeseburger because I'd heard from someone that it was the best in KC. It's not, let's be perfectly honest. And the fries... You can't have the best burger anywhere without good fries and these weren't good. At all. Burned in lukewarm grease is the best way to describe them.
Over all, it's okay. Meh is a perfect way to say it. If you want to know more, shoot me a message. I can't tell you that I'll go there again.
Ohmahgah... I *heart* this place. Â I wish I can squeeze it so much that it's head will pop off and I can take it home and eat too. Â
You walk in and it just seems like any divey local bar. Â But the food sets it apart from a all the other bars and a lot of restaurants. Â It's like a chef decided to open a bar for his back of the house folks. Â Cajun wings are great. Â We order it every time we come here. Â Chili is great. Â Sryiachi burger is great. Â Cole slaw is great. Â Fries are soggy. Â Onions rings better choice. Â Wait for food is long. Â Just drink while you wait. Â Have good conversations and get appetizers. Â Parking is small. Â If nothing there, just park across the street in the Price Chopper lot.
The Steve Martin [a jerk chicken sandwich with wasabi coleslaw] is a unique twist on a great chicken sandwich. Â Not too hot, not too sweet. Â Coleslaw and pickels on top paired well and added a new flavor with each bite. Â Outstanding sandwhich.
Cajun fries were spot on. Â Great spice that's not overwhelming but stays with you a while. Â Locally 2nd only to Oklahoma Joe's seasoned fries. Â
Bar is low key. Â Don't take themselves too seriously in spite of all the attention. Â Friendly local bar wit a mix of townies and food/beer snobs. Â Hole in the wall with a great beer list. Â Boulevard to Pauwel Kwak. Â 40+ on tap. Â Close to a hundred bottles.
Watch Jimmy John's next door. Â They're serious about not using there parking eventhough noone's there.
I want to start off with the main point in case you lose interest soon... make someone at your table order the Cuban (add bacon for a buck) and a side of Wasabi Coleslaw. Â Ask for the fries to be loaded. Â
Ok... now, you need to be the one that orders the Cuban or you will be jealous of this pulled pork and ham sandwich the whole time. Â Don't be tempted by the upgrade to onion rings. Â They are ok but the fries were quite tasty and even better with sour cream, bacon and cheese! Â You have the choice between fries and pasta salad. Â I'm picky about pasta salad and inquired about it. Â She said she would bring a sample but ended up bringing a sample of coleslaw instead. Â Anyway, you can substitute onion rings or a side salad (what? why?) for an additional charge. Â
The wasabi coleslaw was subtle at first, but ended up packing quite a punch (in the nose, it burned). Â This slaw ended up saving my sandwich. Â You see, I got the Dead Texan because I am impressionable. Â It was a novel idea (a pile of stuff), but the flavor just wasn't there. Â Just as the Cuban was the clear winner, the Dead Texan was the clear loser. Â I put some slaw on it and tried to imagine something better. Â
Coming in second place, The Colonel was something to shake a stick at as well. Â This sandwich was ever so moist and tasty. Â If you are looking for a chicken sandwich, then this one should be considered.
There was a special for the day and it was the Pastrami Burger. Not a bad burger but my heart was already won by the Cuban. Â
The place itself is a lot larger than the outside would lead you to believe. Â It had a bar seating area, another room for seating and then a game room. Â It was kind of sectioned off and I thought I was about to wander into the kitchen or some employee area. Â So, don't be afraid to look around. Â There is plenty to see. Â Bicycle on the ceiling, signs a plenty, at least four tvs in the the bar area and a beer list that is a full page long, small print front and back. Â Oh and the music ranged from Johnny Cash to AC/DC. Â
Parking is down a narrow ally in between Jimmy Johns and Swaggers. Â You almost have to know it's there before taking the chance it's not a dead end. Â It's not, but it seemed to be pretty tight quarters. Â
I already have a list of what I want next time. Â I must try one of the Portabella sandwiches (Tempura fried or hummus stuffed), The Steve Martin Jerk Chicken and I would like to sample that pasta salad with a Jameson and Ginger (depending on the price). Â The Caipirinha was 9 dollars ... I might try it some time but dang. Â
So, don't believe the DDD hype about the Dead Texan. Â Try it if you must, but don't expect much.
I love writing this review, mainly because I love Swagger. I even started out my birthday party bash here early this summer.
Where do I begin? My friend and I discovered Swagger a while ago, and for some time it was our "secret meeting spot". Not that we were involved in anything scandalous, but because nobody else knew of its existence. Swagger is a prime example that looks can be deceiving. Upon cozying up to the bar, I reviewed the extensive Whiskey List. Holy Bourbon, Batman!, it's like 8 pages long! If you like Whiskey, this is the place, they have it all! Not only do they have Whiskey, they have several different types of cachaca. Are you kidding me? Hello caipirinha heaven! (One night we talked with the owner, apparently his wife is Brasilian, Obrigada!!!)
A favorite appetizer is the Hummus. It is really delicious. Sometimes it is more chunky than creamy, but it is always tasty. It is served with huge pieces of feta cheese and kalamata olives as well as diced cucumbers. Their pita bread is warm and fresh, this hummus never disappoints.
One night I received a phone call from my friend, asking if we should stretch outside our comfort zone and try the Wednesday crab leg special (14.99, 1 lb crab legs, potatoes, corn and a bun). I'm usually not a fan of getting crab legs at a bar, but we took a risk, and they were great. They tasted fresh and were served hot with melted butter.
We took a little break from Swagger after the Triple D chaos. Although we were initially sad that our "secret spot" was revealed, I think things are back to normal. Maybe still a little busy, but not ridiculous, park across the street busy!
On my most recent visit to Swagger, I finally tried the Suribachi burger. Ok, novelty menu item. Not spectacular. The tempura breading seemed a little mushy, and although some reviews stated that the wasabi coleslaw was overpowering, my burger was actually... bland? My date ordered the Beef and Cheddar, and it was served to him cold. Our server was very friendly and immediately took it back (I'm sure to nuke it), and returned with a hot version of the dish. On this specific trip, the food was underwhelming. Luckily I have been here enough to know that this is NOT typical. In the future I will stick with a burger, perhaps some hummus, or maybe go back for crab legs and definitely a caipirinha or 3.
I still love Swagger.
I live close by but had never tried Swagger until the other day. I went for lunch with two co-workers. The atmospher is kind of cool - though there is a lot of "useless space" in the middle room that could surely have more tables. We only got a basic burger, which wasn't bad, but nothing amazing. They do have a few things that were featured on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives, but most of those sounded artiery clogging! I'm sure they are amazing.
It's probably not a place I would crave or pick, but would go back if someone else suggested it.
Swagger is the perfect dive-bar, with no-nonsense patrons, an excellent beer list (some incredible finds actually) and surprisingly great bar food. Â
Only disappointment was the Suribachi Burger. Â While a tempura battered and fried burger sounds amazing, it's execution is another thing. Â The breading ended up being mushy and just plain weird, while the wasabi coleslaw overpowered all the other flavors.
The Dead Texan however lived up to it's name; this gut bomb could easily kill any number of Texas residents, and they would die happy. Â Just read the description: Â "Two Texas toast grilled cheese sandwiches with a 1/3 lb. burger, 1 egg, 3 slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapenos, and peppercorn mayo in between." Â Seriously, it's as disgusting and delicious as it sounds.
We also had some wings (Cajun and Buffalo) that were plump, juicy and wonderfully sauced along with probably one too many craft beers. Â I had to order something I was familiar with to start off to give me some time to fully take in the offerings and pick out my next couple of (less common) drinks.
I'll definitely head back if I'm in the neighborhood and would even go out of my way if I'm in KC to have another Dead Texan
I love this place. We hadn't been in a couple of months, though. I guess it was pretty busy following their appearance on DDD. Late Saturday afternoon we were craving some burgers, though, and Swagger always fits the bill when I need a good burger.
The excitement surrounding Swagger has died down a bit; it was pretty quiet, a couple of folks at the bar, maybe four other tables occupied. My husband generally gets either the Dead Texan or the Suribachi Burger. On this occasion, it was the Dead Texan. He likes BIG sandwiches. I love just the Classic Burger, with pepper jack cheese. (It's my favorite burger in Kansas City. For real.) Their fresh cut fries are yummy. Â I've also tried their chicken nachos, and they are pretty darn good. The chicken is actually grilled, and I remember wondering if they fried their own tortilla chips. They make a lot of stuff in house from scratch, and you can taste it.
Also, GREAT beer list! Boulevard Tank 7 on tap. And good service. Seems like they hired a few more people to handle the extra business that came with their new found notoriety, which is a good thing.
So I saw this place on Diners Drive Ins and Dives. I was really intrigued by two of their burgers, the Suribachi and the Dead Texan. I knew the burger would be good what I didn't expect was that they wings would be awesome, the beer list would be extensive the prices would be reasonable (there are no prices on the web site) and I would be able to walk right in and get a table. Kansas City, why aren't you packing this place?
My buddy and I split a dozen wings, half buffalo and half Cajun. The buffalo were good but the Cajun was unbelievable...all in the spices.
We ordered two burgers: the Suribachi and the Dead Texan. The Suribachi was okay. My biggest problem was the wasabi coleslaw which was overpowering. It would almost be good to have some of that on the side and allow you to judge how much you want to add.
The Dead Texan was magnificent. I can't think of anything better than having a burger with two grilled cheese sandwiches as the bun. The egg and bacon were a great compliment and the jalapenos gave it a nice little kick.
The beer list was very good. They had a nice selection of domestic and microbrews - even some international brews (Russia and Japan to name a few)
In the end the cost was great as well. We had an appetizer, burgers and several high end microbrews and paid around $70. Which I thought was a great deal.
If you are in KC on vacation or live there, get over to Swagger. You won't regret it!
Huge selection of cheap drinks, surprisingly good food and great service!
The other night I went there to see my buddy's band. I'd been there before (when it was the Village Lounge) so I wasn't expecting much. From the exterior the bar looks the same, except for the sign. I was assuming they were still the typical dive bar which only had Shlitz or Miller on tap. So I got to tell you when I saw the beer/whiskey list I was in shock.
My wife and I got there before the band started so we popped a squat at the bar and started to make the difficult decision of what to drink. The bartender immediately acknowleged us and gave us some waters to start. She made us feel welcome. We talked a little about the bars history and she even told us about the food and gave us some great vegetarian options.
We watched the band and drank all night. While we didn't eat, a friend of mine ordered The Dead Texan.
The Dead Texan - Two Texas toast grilled cheese sandwiches with a 1/3 lb. burger, 1 egg, 3 slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapenos, and peppercorn mayo in between.
I got to admit after seeing it, I started to have second thoughts about being a vegetarian.
All in all it was a great night and (yeah i'll say it..) I swaggered the whole way home!
Let's face it, shall we?
You go to restaurants to eat...you go to bars to get loaded.
You want your food to be tasty and your booze to do it's job.
Thankfully for me, there is a place near my home that serves both purposes.
Swagger has become, for me, the kind of joint that I had always imagined I'd end up frequenting.
You walk in...the bartender knows your name, knows what you're drinking and often has it sitting in front of you well before your ass has a chance to fully meet your seat.
That could either mean that the service is great, or that I am a predictable alcoholic...BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER!
What does matter is that the staff at Swagger is friendly as hell and, I have found, not opposed to having one with you from time to time...another endearing quality.
Their booze selection is formidable...their whiskey being a thing of beauty...I've discovered many new brown liquids from old standbys to high end ,small batch bourbons and ryes...much to my liver's dismay.
Now, it might be enough for some that this place has ample amounts of liquor to wash away your troubles...but the food is the real draw here.
I will go on record right now...in a town FULL of great BBQ joints, you will not find a pulled pork sandwich better than the one they serve here.
It is flat out awesome. The fries. The sauce. The sloppy, juicy goodness of the sandwich itself. Freakin' awesome.
So much so that I have actually had to force myself to try other things on the menu.
Having tried both the Cajun and Jerk wings over the last few weeks, I can tell you that they are great as well.
My lovely girlfriend usually has the Greek Salad, which she has yet to be disappointed in.
They have daily specials, my favorite being the Friday Fried Chicken...again, amazing.
Hints of rosemary, crunchy, juicy...awesome.
Bottom line, it's a neighborhood joint where you can have a really great meal, hang out and have a few drinks and some conversation with locals, barflys and visitors alike.
And really, isn't that all you need some days?
My ONLY complaint is that the parking situation is kind of lame right now due to the impending Jimmy John's next door...but that all should be sussed out soon enough.
Seriously. Go to Swagger. Have some food. Get your drink on.
Personally, those lights are way to bright for me. Â If I am in a dive bar, I don't want to see every little detail, but rather revel in the romantic haze and mystery of dark lighting. Â Beyond a slight adjustment to the dimmer switch, I love it.
Between the old fart trying to pick up the two young chicks to my left and the booth behind me comparing shower dance stories, there is certainly enough entertainment to keep your ears perked the entire night.
The bartender was super cool and all over the refills.
The food must be kick ass, because plenty of patrons stopped by just to pick up to-go bags. Â It certainly smelled good in there.
I read to park in back and enter through the back door, but the sign said to walk around to the front, which can be pretty slippery in the alley. Â Looks like the back part of the restaurant is under some type of remodel.
Fun night.
I'm so happy to have finally braved that bizarre strip of pavement in front of this aged little strip mall! Â One night on our way home from somewhere we suddenly diverted the car into that awkward lane to grab some beer from Mike's. Â We pulled into a spot just past the tattoo place and landed right in front of Swagger, never really having noticed it before. Â We said 'ef it, let's give it a shot!
Now I daydream about their buffalo wings & 42 beers on tap, this lavish fantasy of tastiness has oft been a motivator in checking the tasks off my to-do list so I earn my coronary-threatening treat like a well-behaved adult. Â This self-gratification act I so merrily partake in is certainly not hindered by its close proximity to my home in Waldo, and judging by the predominantly blue-collar neighborhood, it seems Swagger's owners were smart in choosing locale.
As aforementioned, there are 42 beers on tap, a quantity worth raising eye-brows at. Â They've got good selections, too, I've sampled some great ales and a couple of stouts which were tasty, and our server tried his best to explain them but hadn't sampled most.
The interior is nothing to write home about, nor is the service which is pleasant but sparse. Â But what do you expect for a new-ish hole in the wall which I believe it's aiming to be. Â And if that's all you expect from it you'll be one happy camper! Â
The menu is hard to read but mighty interesting. Â Like the wings, there are several heart-attacks on there, but based on my deep & profound love for the wings I hope the rest of the food is worthy of my pending triple bypass. Â I did try the nachos, which were pretty good, far exceeding the standard cheese from a can that most of Swagger's competitors serve. Â I'm ready & excited to sample other fare, and my doctor is ready & excited to write me a prescription to Lipitor.
As of yet, it's hard to write a complete review on Swagger, simply because it's a work in progress. The interior is in the process of being redesigned, a new, custom-made bar is on the way and many of the younger, hipper locals are just discovering this new neighborhood gem.
I will say, though, if the quality of the food menu is any indication of what's to come, I'm very excited. The tempura Angus burger with wasabi coleslaw was to die for, and the rattlesnake eggs (hard-boiled chicken eggs wrapped in breakfast sausage) I tried for brunch were both tasty and, I thought, creative as all get out.
In addition to the food, though, the bar has 12 beers on tap, tons of bottles and a pretty extensive collection of Irish whiskeys (my favorite) as well.
I'll say that today, the only thing I don't care for in Swagger is the aging interior. Once their planned renovations are complete, though, I'll put this fine neighborhood joint on my short list of places where I enjoy eating just as much as I do drinking.
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