
About Swingin' Door Exchange
This cozy haunt with old-school, saloon-like decor serves cocktails & American comfort food.
What People Are Saying
from Google"The place is small, and packed! They will seat you if at least half of your party is there. Which was nice, since otherwise we would have had to wait a long time. We were seated right away at 11:30, but by noon, there were people waiting in line. Service was delightful, vibes were oldish but very Milwaukee. A perfect place to come with visitors on a Friday for a fish fry experience. 3 Sheeps Chaos Petter (hazy IPA, tap) $6 Hany loved this IPA. He wrote it down to get some later. Mahi mahi bites $18 Actually a little bigger than “bite” size, more like fish sticks, with about 2-3 bites each. They were ok, but Wasn’t a super fan of it. Probably will not order again. Combo fish fry $31 2 cod, 2 perch, 3 shrimp. Friend said it was great, and like the shrimp best. She also liked the cod better than the perch, and said it was less fishy. Red beans and rice with andouille sausage $22 This was a special for the day, and I thought it might be a little like a jambalaya… but visually it looked more like chili, a bit soupy. The sausage looked deliciously char-grilled. Friend loved it and left no leftovers. Clam chowder $9 Should have gotten the cup… and accidentally ordered the bowl. It was big and a lot of soup. But it was goooooooooood. BYO burger $17 Love that lettuce tomato and onion is included without a fee. The 1/2 pound Angus beef was cooked a perfect medium and seasoned just right. Solid burger. They charge extra for cheese, and lactose-intolerant Hany loved not getting it. Menu says it’s $15, but we were charged $17. Not sure why. We only subbed the fries for Brussels, and that’s supposed to be +1. Brussels sprouts Our server raved about the Brussels, so I was hoping to get the best Brussels. I must say, they were ok, but not the best I’ve had (cough cough, Cloud Red). I liked that they were cut into smaller pieces, but a lot of the leaves were burnt. I can see they’re going for the “crispy” or “crunchy”, but imo, a little overdone. Overall, a nice experience and definitely going back, but sticking to the basics for me."
"Cute cozy bar with great vibes and great food. They have a bar area which is open sitting or you can get a table on the other side. We ordered the grilled beet salad and the big KC burger and they both were delicious. The combination of grilled beet and goat cheese was phenomenal and something I've never tried before."
"Update Sept 2025: Came back for Taco Tuesday and it did not disappoint! The blackened tacos were incredible, three huge tacos, perfectly seasoned, loaded with flavor, and absolutely delicious. Portion sizes were more than generous, and every bite was spot on. This place continues to be consistent with both food and service. Still a favorite stop whenever I’m in Milwaukee, highly recommend! In Milwaukee for business and looking for a quick bite, we stumbled upon Swingin' Door Exchange — what a great find! It was so good, we went back again the next day before heading to the airport. Packed at lunchtime, it’s clearly a local favorite with a great vibe. Everyone was friendly and working hard to keep things moving. The burgers and chicken were delicious, but the real stars were the brussels sprouts and beet side dishes — absolutely mouthwatering. This is officially my go-to spot whenever I’m in town!"
"Amazing atmosphere in such a small footprint. A Milwaukee original, this is a place to stop in and enjoy. Comfort food galore, you will leave with a happy belly. Prices are great for both food and drink! Never miss an opportunity to go!"
"Went on a Friday night so it was definitely busy add in Christmas and downtown location and you get the idea…about a 30 minute wait but they suggested we order drinks and go through to the “overflow area”which turned out to be the lobby of an office or apartment building complex next door…it was nice because we weren’t in the way and it was certainly spacious…we ordered a Moscow Mule and a Bloody Mary…our table was ready in the prescribed 30 minutes…because it was Friday the fish fry was a must and my daughter got the Big KC Burger which was 1/2 LB patty, Roast Beef and Bacon both came with a side and choice of dipping sauces…the fish was as juicy as any I’ve had and a nice light batter(a bit on the salty side) and paired well with the tartar sauce…we both had trouble finishing but would highly recommend this spot under its current configuration …outstanding…the only reason I docked the atmosphere was, well, because it is the holiday season and people are a little louder and a little more obnoxious then is necessary…food and service were spot on and everything was as it was advertised and that’s all you can really ask…"
Hours
Nearby Coffee Shops in Milwaukee