Sad to see humiliating service at a Saint Paul staple. I went in with some family, 9 people, this past Sunday after Palm Sunday mass. When we arrived we were seated with server Mitch. The first think he greeted us with was a snarky comment about how parties this large should call before coming in. This was the beginning a meal whose service was embarrassing to Sweeney's to say the least. It took him 15 minutes to get out order, and when he did he seemed so frustrated with us and angry taking our order, we were not quite sure what to do. He kept making passive aggressive comments toward us, and making our business seem like a burden on him and the restaurant. I vividly remember watching him put our order in the computer, here he kept putting his face in his hands seemingly anguished. He made all of us feel unwelcome there, and gave us disrespectful service. We can only assume that this disrespect emulated from the automatic 20% gratuity at Sweeney's. I am not someone who would let my service go without a good tip. However, this service was so deplorable that Mitch would be crazy if he thinks we would have given him one. Mitch was very rude, and judging by his service I think he is not apt to be in hospitality, his attitude making him better equip for something like the DMV. I frequent Sweeney's and will not be eating there any time I see Mitch there with me. He really is a disgrace to the establishment. We are a Catholic family, and over half our party is now, or once was severe themselves. We all frequently eat out around Saint Paul and are not a difficult group to please. I hope that Sweeney's will reconsider their servers. I do not believe it will be hard to find people better than Mitch as he truly did provide the wort service that I have ever had. Just to reiterate, we felt as though the automatic gratuity made him fell as though he could treat us however he wanted. Please do better Sweeney's Mitch really is scraping the bottom of the barrel
Tracy Byrd
The music, atmosphere, and friendly people made this place must visit.Parking: On a Friday night, the parking was abundant. That set the stage for a wonderful experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips
Jonathan Posthuma
Love the classic interior and good beer list. Casual and fun neighborhood bar.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Mari Erb
Had their tacos, wonderfulGreat on tap
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
KLiv Viking
Great for hanging out with friends. Lots of Beer choices! Busy even on a Tuesday.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Bacon Cheese Burger and Fries
Sami G.
Stopped in on a cold snowy evening for dinner with friends. Nice atmosphere and comfortable seating. Great and knowledgeable wait staff. I ordered the soup first -which was chicken and dumplings. It was just like my grandma used to make! It was delicious and thick and creamy and the dumplings were so light and fluffy. I also ordered the 1/4# burger which , unfortunately was a huge disappointment! It came with cold fries and even though I ordered the burger medium, it was way over cooked and dry. The massive pile of lettuce on the burger also made it chilled. I know they can do better and maybe the 1/2# is the way to go.
J byrnes
5 stars for sweeneys! Love this place. Even through the ownership change and new menu, we come back. Moved out of St. Paul a few months ago and we still try to come as often as possible. Only 4/5 stars for food now BECAUSE we want the birria back!!!! It was soooo good and soooo missed. Also the boneless wings back too! (You should update the online menu)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Anthony Powell
Poor man lunches midday, taco
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Chantelle Roby-Coburn
Good food + friendly service!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
cole westerlund
Service is very bad. Management is worst than the service. Neighbor to the business. I was shown no care or compassion when ordering or waiting for the ordering process. Good prices but very poor service and management.
Would give it 3.5 if I could. It’s a classic neighborhood pub. Food isn’t gourmet, but it’s decent. Quality of food and service varies— sometimes it’s great, other times it’s poor. It’s a good place to gather with friends because theres something for everyone. You go for the atmosphere (it has a great outdoor seating area), generous drink pours, and daily drink specials.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Elise C.
It's a great little neighborhood bar! The dark ambiance is of the cozy variety, and the staff are willing to help out (even if you do show up with a large group--just tip generously, okay?). The drinks were normal and the food was solid bar fare. I'd swing by Sweeney's again!
Eric Snyder
I’m not sure how this is rated so high… the yelp and apple reviews are much more accurate. If you are drunker than you’ve ever been in your life and this is the only place open in a 20 mile radius, come here. However, if you like food, do not order it here. We tried the tacos and cheese curds, and we took one bite and the rest went to waste. We would have sent it back (which we have never ever done), but we had already paid. The drinks are fine, but it’s hard to mess up tap beer. Nevertheless, the happy hour deals are weaker than a lot of other places. Instead, save your money and go literally anywhere else. I would recommend pizza Lucé which is just down the road.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Sully Gwost
Well.. I used to live by this bar and pass by it everyday. Wanted to try it and I did tonight. Oofda, the atmosphere was as expected for a 5pm on a Saturday. However the waitress paid no attention to details and I totally understood cause they were busy. (Tip was 20%, because I’ve been there in the service industry.)However aside from service, the $12 cheese curds were inedible and the (thankfully just under $2 a piece) tacos were again, hardly edible. I will not be returning for food. Maybe for a beer after a hard day, IF it’s on the way, and between 3-6pm for happy hour , AND I’m craving only a summit draft.. for $5.25? I’m sorry, but I can’t recommend and won’t be returning. Quite disappointed….Parking: Parking in street. Rest was full.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Hannah Olson
The bartender and waitress were the absolute best! Great vibes, better people. Highly recommend - go for brunch ($5 bloody anyone?)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggs Benedict Sweenys Bloody Mary Really Great Bloody Eggs and Hash Row S Were OK Came Cold
Sad to see humiliating service at a Saint Paul staple. I went in with some family, 9 people, this past Sunday after Palm Sunday mass. When we arrived we were seated with server Mitch. The first think he greeted us with was a snarky comment about how parties this large should call before coming in. This was the beginning a meal whose service was embarrassing to Sweeney's to say the least. It took him 15 minutes to get out order, and when he did he seemed so frustrated with us and angry taking our order, we were not quite sure what to do. He kept making passive aggressive comments toward us, and making our business seem like a burden on him and the restaurant. I vividly remember watching him put our order in the computer, here he kept putting his face in his hands seemingly anguished. He made all of us feel unwelcome there, and gave us disrespectful service. We can only assume that this disrespect emulated from the automatic 20% gratuity at Sweeney's. I am not someone who would let my service go without a good tip. However, this service was so deplorable that Mitch would be crazy if he thinks we would have given him one. Mitch was very rude, and judging by his service I think he is not apt to be in hospitality, his attitude making him better equip for something like the DMV. I frequent Sweeney's and will not be eating there any time I see Mitch there with me. He really is a disgrace to the establishment. We are a Catholic family, and over half our party is now, or once was severe themselves. We all frequently eat out around Saint Paul and are not a difficult group to please. I hope that Sweeney's will reconsider their servers. I do not believe it will be hard to find people better than Mitch as he truly did provide the wort service that I have ever had. Just to reiterate, we felt as though the automatic gratuity made him fell as though he could treat us however he wanted. Please do better Sweeney's Mitch really is scraping the bottom of the barrel
The music, atmosphere, and friendly people made this place must visit.Parking: On a Friday night, the parking was abundant. That set the stage for a wonderful experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips
Love the classic interior and good beer list. Casual and fun neighborhood bar.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Had their tacos, wonderfulGreat on tap
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Great for hanging out with friends. Lots of Beer choices! Busy even on a Tuesday.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Bacon Cheese Burger and Fries
Stopped in on a cold snowy evening for dinner with friends. Nice atmosphere and comfortable seating. Great and knowledgeable wait staff. I ordered the soup first -which was chicken and dumplings. It was just like my grandma used to make! It was delicious and thick and creamy and the dumplings were so light and fluffy. I also ordered the 1/4# burger which , unfortunately was a huge disappointment! It came with cold fries and even though I ordered the burger medium, it was way over cooked and dry. The massive pile of lettuce on the burger also made it chilled. I know they can do better and maybe the 1/2# is the way to go.
5 stars for sweeneys! Love this place. Even through the ownership change and new menu, we come back. Moved out of St. Paul a few months ago and we still try to come as often as possible. Only 4/5 stars for food now BECAUSE we want the birria back!!!! It was soooo good and soooo missed. Also the boneless wings back too! (You should update the online menu)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Poor man lunches midday, taco
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Good food + friendly service!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service is very bad. Management is worst than the service. Neighbor to the business. I was shown no care or compassion when ordering or waiting for the ordering process. Good prices but very poor service and management.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Would give it 3.5 if I could. It’s a classic neighborhood pub. Food isn’t gourmet, but it’s decent. Quality of food and service varies— sometimes it’s great, other times it’s poor. It’s a good place to gather with friends because theres something for everyone. You go for the atmosphere (it has a great outdoor seating area), generous drink pours, and daily drink specials.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
It's a great little neighborhood bar! The dark ambiance is of the cozy variety, and the staff are willing to help out (even if you do show up with a large group--just tip generously, okay?). The drinks were normal and the food was solid bar fare. I'd swing by Sweeney's again!
I’m not sure how this is rated so high… the yelp and apple reviews are much more accurate. If you are drunker than you’ve ever been in your life and this is the only place open in a 20 mile radius, come here. However, if you like food, do not order it here. We tried the tacos and cheese curds, and we took one bite and the rest went to waste. We would have sent it back (which we have never ever done), but we had already paid. The drinks are fine, but it’s hard to mess up tap beer. Nevertheless, the happy hour deals are weaker than a lot of other places. Instead, save your money and go literally anywhere else. I would recommend pizza Lucé which is just down the road.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Well.. I used to live by this bar and pass by it everyday. Wanted to try it and I did tonight. Oofda, the atmosphere was as expected for a 5pm on a Saturday. However the waitress paid no attention to details and I totally understood cause they were busy. (Tip was 20%, because I’ve been there in the service industry.)However aside from service, the $12 cheese curds were inedible and the (thankfully just under $2 a piece) tacos were again, hardly edible. I will not be returning for food. Maybe for a beer after a hard day, IF it’s on the way, and between 3-6pm for happy hour , AND I’m craving only a summit draft.. for $5.25? I’m sorry, but I can’t recommend and won’t be returning. Quite disappointed….Parking: Parking in street. Rest was full.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
The bartender and waitress were the absolute best! Great vibes, better people. Highly recommend - go for brunch ($5 bloody anyone?)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Eggs Benedict Sweenys Bloody Mary Really Great Bloody Eggs and Hash Row S Were OK Came Cold