Swordfish Cocktail Club — Restaurant in Greenville

Cool concept and atmosphere, drinks were good and fairly priced. Unfortunately we had the rudest waitress and hostess I've ever experienced. My group of 6 hadmade reservations weeks in advance to celebrate a birthday, but were denied by the hostess upon arrival until they finally realized their mistake and allowed us to be seated. Whatever, things like that happen but she had a snobby attitude about it. We were seated in a small room with two tiny tables and one large table. Instead of giving us the large table, they pushed the two small ones together. Again, not a huge deal in itself, but it was tight with six people and all of our cocktails plus our water glasses/water bottles. After finishing my drink, I placed my glass at the back of the table near the wall to get it out of the way, and didn't realize (due to dim lighting and shadows) that there was an empty space where I thought there was not (due to the shape of two octagonal tables being pushed together), and the glass fell and shattered. The waitress came to clean it up and I apologized to her, but then she came back a minute later to collect the two votives on our tables "in case we decided to push everything off." Huh? What would make her think something like that was going to happen? Breaking the glass was a complete accident, not the result of any drunken shenanigans. We weren't rowdy or being inappropriate at all, just having lively conversation in a room by ourselves. It was very strange and made us all feel very awkward, and as if we were being reprimanded for doing something wrong. Without the candles on the table, it was SUPER dark, so we grabbed one off the big table. The waitress noticed immediately, and hurried in saying "I know I put TWO candles on that table." We just said we decided we wanted a candle, so we took one, and she just awkwardly laughed. After that, the waitress and hostess came in frequently to check on us, but seemingly tried to hurry us out. At one point, we were notified by the hostess that a party of 8 were about to arrive to sit at the big table behind us. We said that was fine, but after over an hour, no one else arrived at that table. I don't have proof of this, but I feel she lied, hoping we wouldn't want to be in this tiny room with 8 additional people, to try to make us leave. I have no idea why we were apparently singled out by staff and received such un-welcome service. I won't return here and wouldn't recommend it, unfortunately. The people in our group don't go out very often - we're home-bodies, and my husband and I have a toddler - so to be treated so rudely at a place where we made special plans was very...

Swordfish is amazing. It’s not 5/5, it’s 12/10. The entire staff is amazing, and really take the time to know what you want. I really don’t understand the negative reviews. My wife and I have been coming here regularly for 6+ months, and I just realized I haven’t written a review. Probably because I don’t write them often. As noted, it’s a Probibition era speakeasy joint. If your want vodka or tequila drinks, go elsewhere. That’s not what they do here. If you’re willing to take a chance, you can explain to any of the bartenders what you’re looking for, and they’ll make you an amazing drink you’ve never heard of. You could also just look at the carefully crafted menu and order from that, and you also won’t be disappointed. The menu IS ‘tapas’ or appetizer style. If you came here to eat dinner… you’ll be disappointed. It’s a cocktail club, not a restaurant . Manage your expectations.

We’ve taken a lot of friends here, and will continue to do so. The staff, the atmosphere, the drinks…. Best in Greenville, and we’ve been to most. At risk of hyping up our favorite spot so it’s even harder to get into, drink here with confidence. Swordfish is a top tier cocktail spot, and will continue to be a regular place we go to. The menu changes seasonally, but they also keep a regular selection of cocktails if you don’t like exploring. They will continue to have our business for...

In Greenville for the weekend I decided to check out Swordfish. I arrived late in the evening. In fairness there was a sign that said "Wait to be seated". But I waited and there was no sign of a hostess. Also since it was just me and the bar was mostly empty I decided to go ahead and sit at the bar. Once seated a young female bartender approached me and angrily almost shouting asked if I had "seen the hostess". I could have been sarcastic but I wasn't and I simply said no. She said something to the effect of "you must see the hostess". So I trudged the four steps back to the hostess station at which point the hostess had appeared and she led me back the four steps to the seat where I had been sitting. Then the same bartender barked something at me. I was so taken back by the experience that I didn't understand what she said. So I asked her to repeat it. Now she was clearly angry and almost yelled at me as to weather I wanted still or sparkling water. I said still. But once poured I thought about it and decided I could spend my money better and left the establishment. My suggestion is that you not take yourselves so seriously. You...