Swizzle Bar & Grill

The only reason to come here is karaōke when other places aren’t doing it. The bartender just dragged a table away from two paying customers and refused to find my friend a chair when our group came in. Honestly the worst. I wouldn’t be here if my friend weren’t set on Karaōke.

I’ve been here a few times and i could say that my experience was far from spectacular. Tonight, we came in without reserving tables, group of 10. My friends who got here earlier that we did were able to secure tables but lacking 1 chair. I asked the bartender if he had an extra chair that we could get but he rudely responded without even checking by saying «I’m sorry but you’re just gonna have to sit on someone’s lap.» Although my previous experiences here were far from spectacular, i have not been treated this rudely. Talk about very poor service but a very bad one at that. If it were not for friends, i would not even be in this disgusting place.

Swizzles is what you make it.
A few years back I followed some friends in there, got left behind intoxicated, and this strange predatory sort began a game of trying to get me to come back to a hotel with him. It was creepy and I tried a few times to leave, it wasn’t until someone (Karaōke DJ or the bartender that night) got his attention and gave me a «run now» wave. I didn’t like the place because of that guy and was nervous to go back.
I’ve fast become a regular there this year. Matty & Jesse both know what I’m ordering and who is going to be there with me. It’s a super friendly place, just make sure to introduce yourself to the guy behind the bar. If your friends ditch you, there’s always someone sitting at the bar who can let you know when the bartender is coming back (yes, it’s that safe a place when the bartender can go into the storeroom without fear of robbery) and will keep you company.

they really shouldn’t call themselves a «bar and grill» since the only food they have is snacks. maybe i’m just used to real pub food at bars. anyway, if u go b4 8pm, don’t expect a crowd; no worries tho, the staff is super friendly and down-​to-​earth. i’d prolly give it more than 3 stars if i were to visit on a more popular nite.

I’m not a huge karaōke fan, but I’ve managed to get around to various karaōke endorsing establishments in Ottawa over the years. Swizzles is probably my favourite out of the bunch. The karaōke nights aren’t too crowded, so there isn’t a huge wait in between the first, second, third, etc. times I go up to share my terrible singing and awkward inability to make eye contact with anyone. The skill level of the singers is varied, which is good because you don’t want all bad performers, but you also don’t want to be surrounded by people who just make you look even worse. Swizzles is also a gay bar, but the clientèle that attends the three karaōke nights during the week is eclectic, including middle aged metal heads, drag queens, white boy rappers and even one opera singer. I’ve always enjoyed my times at Swizzles and my friends and I often become chummy with at least one other table of people. Also, go on Sundays since a pint of draft is only $ 3.50.
I’ve been to Swizzles once on a non-​karaōke night and got some front row action of male go-​go dancers. It’s a pretty fun, but different, atmosphere and a lovely alternative to a normal dance club.

I have been here twice and the experience has been different.
The first time, it was a quiet evening and there weren’t many patrons. The bartender was cute and the crowd was mostly elderly men. We stayed for a drink and left as it was getting quieter by the minute. 3 stars.
The second time, there were strippers. Hot ones. They were also holding a wet underwear contest. I was drunk by this point and wanted to get up there and get wet but my man stopped me. Good looking out my man. All I remember was I kept screaming at one of the contestants to take it all off. 4 stars
So yeah, average it and make it a 3.5 star. I am rounding it off to a 4 star for the wet underwear contest.