Disclosure: I received a gift card to Swig in exchange for writing about my experience in Milwaukee. This assistance in no way affects the opinions expressed in my posts about the city. All opinions are my own.
With so many dining options in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, it’s easy to be left wondering where to go. But if you’re looking for American cuisine, Swig is a good spot to check out.
I grabbed dinner at Swig after a day of exploring Milwaukee and ordered the smoked salmon tower, which is made with salmon, avocado, cucumber, cucumber yogurt, peppercorn honey, tomato, and grilled baguette. I also got a bowl of Swig’s housemade tomato-basil soup. Both were delicious and left me satisfied. What I appreciated most is that it was easy to tell that the restaurant uses quality and fresh ingredients in its entrees.
And related fun fact: In 2005, Swig became Milwaukee’s first and only small plate dining restaurant.
In addition to the great food, dining at Swig is a cozy, feel-good experience, whether you choose to dine indoors or outdoors. I chose to sit outside when I went to enjoy the air and remaining light for the day, and found myself at a minimally decorated table with a white flower in a drinking glass.
Inside, it feels a lot more intimate with a largely wooden interior, wooden furniture, warm lights, some cushioned seating options, and walls featuring art by local artists.
There’s also a bar inside with a TV screen in front if you want to just grab a drink.
Another aspect about Swig that’s worth mentioning is the attentive and friendly service – the servers regularly checked to make sure I was doing okay, and I saw them doing that for other customers. They were also able to answer questions I had about the menu and make recommendations. But it wasn’t just the waiters and waitresses who are on top of their game: I even got to chat briefly with the host when I popped inside to experience what it was like inside. He told me a little bit about the artwork on the walls and somehow about Milwaukee housing costs. It’s always insightful to talk to locals while traveling, and it was nice to be able to do that at a local restaurant.
With quality ingredients you can taste, a cozy dining atmosphere, and great service, Swig is a place you’ll want to grab a meal at when in Milwaukee.