Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub

My go to place for bad first dates because at least the food will be good. Get the buffalo chicken egg rolls, you’ll thank me. Also, their pizza topped with garlic, black olives, and fresh tomatoes is the tits.

Hey Unilocal — why doesn’t Swifty’s appear when I search «Delmar» ?
It’s the best bar/​bistro in town. Crowded at key hours. Great patio.

Swifty’s has updated itself with lighter bar paint color, expanded liquor selection, and improved TV viewing. Still the same «Cheers» type atmosphere, even for locals old enough to remember that show. Food still good and reliable– ask for your pizza «extra crispy» and you won’t be disappointed, especially if Ben is in the kitchen (he bakes mean cookies too!) Other favorites include the Chicken Philly, Bourbon Burger, and the waffle fries which are a step above regular fries. Cheers!

We stopped in on Columbus Day. It was beautiful outside and we figured the outdoor patio would be a good choice. Very quickly we realized they were understaffed and overwhelmed. All of the customers were angry and hungry. An absolute mess. We turned around and left as other people were getting up and leaving. Poor management.

I’ve been here a handful of times and this is really a 3 – 3.5 for me, however, when factoring in all the variables and, of course, my other ½’s input it squeaks by as a 4. I must admit, I’d shot down some suggestions to eat here in the past but when I finally made it in I was impressed by the beer selection, the wine selection (didn’t see that one coming), the robust menu (legal-​sized and double-​sided!), and the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Any time I find a place that offers turkey burgers I have to try them, and well, sadly I’ve had better. I definitely appreciate the effort and I won’t give up just yet! I alerted my hubs to the rave reviews on the deep fried buffalo burger but he opted for the back n bleu. He was definitely a fan! I’ve also tried their Apple salad which was standard, although maybe I’m biased since I’m not a huge romaine fan (if that’s what it is. Nowadays, if it’s not kale sprouts can you blame me for not knowing?)
In terms of ambience, let me tell you this spot is the poster child for «Thursday’s the new Friday» in Delmar! The outside patio is usually loud and bustling with patrons– no matter the night. They also host trivia on Wednesdays (still on my to do list). When all is said and done this place is a staple in Delmar and their strongest features are their hours and location– talk about real estate!

Friend-​recommended stop for dinner that didn’t disappoint.
Swifty’s has traditional pub fare with some nice surprises on the menu. My husband and I immediately went for the Fried Brie Sticks because we had never seen anything like it. They were perfectly fried — crispy, not soaked in oil — and filled with gooey, melty cheese and served with a caramelized pear compote that I still dream about and a melba glaze that had a sweet jam taste to it. It was like eating a cheese plate, but served and eaten in a very unique way. We loved every bite and enjoyed the new experience.
My husband got the Prime Rib Melt: shaved prime rib with sautéed mushrooms and onions and topped with Swiss cheese and horseradish mayo on grilled rye bread. He chose French fries to go with his meal. I got the Applewood BLT (no mayo) on toasted bread with sweet-​potato fries. The meals were served warm and we both enjoyed them. The portions were big, so we had enough left over for the next day. I was disappointed that my bread wasn’t really toasted, but the bacon was thick and crisped just right, the tomato was fresh and flavorful, and the lettuce wasn’t wilted from the warm sandwich. The fries (for both of us) were thick and seasoned just right (not to salty for his and not to over-​rosemary-​sprinkled for mine).
Our server was great. She was friendly and even served me the «gift» of a second glass of wine without me having to ask for it! A few minutes after she served it to me, she realized her mistake and came back to tell me that it was actually meant for another table. She asked me if I still wanted it, and I told her I would keep it because I liked it and had already taken a sip. It was a Pinot Noir. She ended up charging me for it anyway.
We ate inside, in the area where there are a few hi-​top tables and a bar. The atmosphere was energetic, the place was packed (even in the outside deck area), and it really felt like what it was — a traditional pub bar/​restaurant up north. We’re looking forward to our next visit.

I have to take a star away as a 4-​star rating is too generous for only having one stellar option. Perhaps when their other dishes reach a higher stage then Swifty’s can reclaim 4-​star status.

There aren’t a lot of options in Bethlehem, but the outdoor patio at Swifty’s is one of our go tos. Burgers, including the west coast (Brie and avocado) and the buffalo (deep fried AND dipped in buffalo sauce, not a bison burger) are favorites, along with the fish and chips. Great draught list. Friends have enjoyed the hot sandwiches but we stick to the burgers or fish and are always happy.

We’re new to the area, so we went out one day to explore Delmar. We passed by Swifty’s and decided to stop in when we saw the packed outdoor patio.
I quickly checked the Unilocal reviews before I ordered and I was glad I did because they tipped me off to the buffalo burger.
The burger is an experience and one every meat eater should try. Deep fried in buffalo sauce. It was really, really good.
We also ordered a chicken and brie sandwich, but it wasn’t very good. Same goes for the french fries.
If you go here, go for the burger and skip everything else.

Since Swifty’s has opened a second location on Everett Road, we have been 3 – 4 times. This place is really very good.
The food is excellent, the ambiance comfortable, the place clean, the wait-​staff excellent (so friendly and accommodating) and the manager a nice, friendly guy — very welcoming.
What a difference from the prior establishment! I hope they stay around for a good long time.

Checked out the new Swiftys location off everette rd. and I was told that yeah we are no longer beffs we are swiftys so everything is different. I ordered my normal Irish nachos and was given a small handful of chips with cheese and bacon, nothing else was not impressed at all usually the plate is enough to feed a small family of four, then I had the irish onion soup basically french onion soup it was so salty and I love my salt you couldn’t even eat it, even my husband wouldn’t eat it, to top it all off I ordered the shepards pie and recieved a salad bowl full of grease, with spoon fulls of mash potatoes uncooked carrots and what tasted like ground beef flavored for tacos, it was not cooked like a shepards pie should be cooked it was thrown together and poorly displayed will not be going back, so sad Beffs had the best food!

During our visit to Albany, our local friends decided to get us out of Albany proper an into one of the outlying suburbs for a little change of scenery. We ended up at Swifty’s for dinner and an adult beverage.
The beer list is really impressive, with more than twenty taps. I wish there was a little bit more focus on local (or local-​ish) brews, but there was a nice variety. The bar area was super crowded (especially considering it was a Thursday night), so I can imagine the place really gets hoppin’ on a Friday or Saturday.
I ordered the Shepherd’s Pie, which was okay. The mashed potatoes were creamy, but the meat mixture underneath seemed a bit carrot-​heavy and had a strangely sweet flavor to it. While I’m typically a purist and request my pie sans-​cheese, I went for it this time. Meh. I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. The hubs had the Reuben, which he said had very good corned beef.
I don’t know that I would come back here if I was in the area, except maybe if I wanted to sit at the bar and have a beer.

I want to come back because I feel like my experience could have been better. And I do feel like they have more to offer.
My food was too salty and my girlfriend’s food was too greasy. So add all that extra salt and fat, and you’re probably not going to feel too well. But this IS bar food, right?
The atmosphere is great and the wait staff is too. The food is above par, but only just.
Their fries were floppy. I appreciated that they where fresh cut, but I sure would prefer a crispy fry over a droopy fry.
Also, their «Irish chips» are deceiving. They’re actual potato chips. As in, American style crispy potato chips. Yes, we’re in America. I’m just saying… I’m sure they’re very good.
Good beer selection!
So, try them out and see for yourself! I’m looking forward to seeing how they handle burgers. Hopefully I’ll be able to upgrade this review soon!

It occurs to me that the new chef at Swifty’s might be unaware of what he’s getting himself into. Since I’ve been here a dozen or more times, I felt I should review, but I wanted to frame this review around a series of tips for the new leadership.
(1) Don’t touch the deep fried buffalo burger. Just don’t. Even if you think Mona Lisa’s eyebrows are a little too faint for today’s fashion, you don’t go in and Sharpie some thickness on there. Don’t mess with perfection. Please. Biting into this thing is like a symphony of taste and texture — juicy burger; crunchy deep-​fried coating; soft bun; cool tomato, lettuce, and blue cheese dressing; hot beef; hot sauce. Just leave it alone, please.
(2) Please do change something about the buffalo sandwich and shepherd’s pie. The former was dry and (mostly) flavorless. The latter has far too much melted cheese, compromising the balance that marks a good shepherd’s pie. While purists may say a shepherd’s pie should never have any cheese, I don’t mind some melted cheddar atop mine. However, the layer of melted cheddar shouldn’t even be half as thick as the mashed potato layer. The one I had at Swifty’s was probably 2 – 3 times as thick as the mashed potatoes. Not good. Fix that, please.
(3) Leave the rolls — reuben and buffalo. Both are phenomenal.
(4) It might be nice to see some improvements to the pizza dough. The toppings are always pretty good, but the dough is a bit thick and chewy for my tastes. Others may disagree, but — frankly — they can write their own reviews.
(5) My wife likes the buffalo chicken wrap, so you can leave that alone, too.
(6) Love the reuben, but maybe even a bit more sauerkraut would be warranted. It’ll cut through the richness of the rest of the sandwich.
All in all, I love Swifty’s. Great beers, good pies (though not made in-​house, they are sourced locally), very tasty food, and always good service makes this a go-​to in our household.
And please, Chef AJ, I can’t reiterate this enough — don’t touch that buffalo burger.

The infamous deep fried Buffalo burger at Swifty’s.
I’ve read about the Buffalo burger on no less than at least 3 local food blogs. This has to be the most talked about hamburger in the Capital Region, at least among foodies. It’s a thing of legend.
First a few words about Swifty’s, then my thoughts about the burger.
Swifty’s to me, looks to be a mind numbingly average place. My daughter’s Barney bites were middle of the road, processed chicken nuggets. Her fries, while fresh cut and not frozen, were fine, but limp and not crisp. My side salad, was accompanied by food service grade dressing. The salad itself was the typical hearts of romaine with a few mesclun greens thrown in, with cuke slices, red onion, grape tomatoes, and croutons. This stuff can be had anywhere. It’s nothing special.
The Buffalo burger though, it is special, and it lived up to the hype.
It arrived, and I basked in it’s subtle orange glow before digging in. The breading is light, it’s not greasy or heavy. Even though I had seen photos of it, I was surprised at how lightly coated the burger was. My burger was cooked to a perfect medium. It was a beautiful pink throughout.
I slathered on the included blue cheese dressing, and also some extra wing sauce I asked for on the side. The burger is thick and mine was very tender. The breading acts as sponge for the sauce and it does the job of holding on to just the right amount of sauce perfectly. The whole thing just works. As the french say, the burger has a certain je né sais quoi. It’s truly delicious, and I devoured it like a hungry lion. The Buffalo burger is a must have for any burger fan.
The Buffalo burger is a shining star among a sea of mediocrity that is Swifty’s. 5 stars for the burger, 2.5 stars for everything else.

Dependably great burgers and fries. No plate sharing charge. Great service. That’s it!

Outstanding service and good prices make this place a neighborhood favorite. Decent number of drafts available though mostly the typical Coors Budweiser Sam Adams selections offered at other bars. Niche bar area to mingle with a few tables and a separate dining room make it comfortable for hanging out or families. Overall good hangout place. Ask for Matt in the bar area for great service. Good food at a good price

For a non-​chain place to grab dinner and drinks in the heart of Delmar, Swifty’s is the pretty much the only game in town. (Lunchtime, also see: Four Corners Luncheonette, Breakfast: see legendary sandwiches across the street at McCarroll’s). It’s the space that formerly housed Beff’s, and the food and atmosphere doesn’t seem that much different.
Food is good – not anything that’s going to blow you away, but, well, this is Delmar. I went a couple of times while I was home for the holidays and liked the Dubliner sandwich (turkey, bacon, cheese– ah, all of the food groups) and the chicken pesto wrap. (Cheers for having actual pesto instead of pesto mayo!) Portion sizes are really big – huge sandwiches and lots of fries– so come hungry.
Lastly, from the waitstaff to the patrons, it’s a grade-​A spot to observe Delmartians in their natural habitat. I’ve admittedly spent most of my post-​high school years trying to get as far as possible from them, but there’s nothing like the promise of greasy food, and lots of it, to get me back to where I once belonged.

There arent all that many places to grab a quick drink in the Delmar/​Slingerlands area, so we wound up at Swifty’s while visiting this weekend. Loved their impressive list of draught beer and their servers were quite fast and friendly.
I only had a few pints of Guinness and didnt try any of their food, but it seems to be a nice enough place to chill out in the evening, meet some friends, or catch a game. Their patio area is nice in theory but it’s bookended by a busy street street and a parking lot so there’s not much in the way of ambiance there. That part was a bit of a disappointment actually.
Swifty’s gets gets the job done, but if you can drive an extra 10 or 15 minutes you’ll find plenty of better options in Albany proper.

I used to go here when it was Beffs and you never had a bad meal or service. Parking has always been a challenge. The only positive since it became Swiftys is they broke up the dinning area by adding booths in the middle for privacy and ambience. The outdoor patio is always a plus and clearly would have been a better choice than the bar on Monday. I was meeting a friend for lunch and texted her to order wings as I would be there in five min. There were 3 people in the bar when I entered. I saw a pint of Harp sitting and thought my friend had ordered it for me; however, that was hers and had been sitting there 5 min. The barmaid continued to fiddle with making chang while the beer sat. I asked if she had ordered, no they never came back. When she did come over with the warm flat Old Harp,(barmaid became defensive) I tasted it and said make mine a Stella and ordered the wings. Instead of filling my order right away she went to the regular at the bar asked if he wanted another an promptly served him a Guinness (which shouldve been a long pour), then drew my pint. When I got my pint it had lipstick on it. I promptly brought it back. Instead of pouring me a new pint, she poured the old one into a new glass! Is this low class or what? Especially when you pay $ 6.50/pint! The wings took 15 min and were cooked to order and pipping hot. The sauce was a bit spicy for Med but no complaints other than it was extremely salty and I’m a saltaholic. Veggies were crisp.
For me the service was inexcusable and if The owner Finds this practice acceptable then I myself will not return and will not recommend to anyone else. I agree also with Marney’s review.