On Swann — Restaurant in Tampa

Location: On Swan Restaurant is located in the charming Hyde Park area of Tampa, FL, a trendy and upscale neighborhood perfect for a relaxed outing.

Parking: Parking can be a bit of a hassle. There’s valet service, or you can try your luck with limited on-street parking nearby.

Food: The menu is standard fare, featuring salads, burgers, desserts, and a full bar with a decent selection of alcoholic drinks.

Seating: There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor area is especially nice in good weather, but the metal chairs aren’t the most comfortable if you’re staying for a while.

Price: Prices are on the high side, especially for the quality of food offered. For example, a single scallop costs $10 and isn’t much bigger than a quarter, and adding a couple of shrimp to pasta sets you back another $10.

Staff: The staff is one of the highlights of the experience—friendly, attentive, and welcoming, which adds to the overall atmosphere.

Wait time: Wait times can get long during busy hours, so making a reservation is a smart move.

Environment: The restaurant has a cozy and casual vibe, fitting for a hangout or casual date. The Hyde Park location adds a touch of charm, but the overall comfort is dampened by the hard metal chairs.

Menu: The menu is limited, with standard items that don’t offer much variety or uniqueness.

Quality of Ingredients: The ingredients are decent but not exceptional, which is disappointing given the pricing.

Taste of Food: The food is okay but not particularly memorable. The fried chicken burger is tough to chew, and the potato chips served with it are hard. The overall quality feels a step above fast food but not worth the price.

Overall Impression: On Swan in Hyde Park is a nice spot for a casual hangout or a laid-back date, thanks to its location and friendly staff. However, the high prices and average food quality make it hard to recommend for a full dining experience. It’s better suited for drinks and light bites than for a...

I really want to give this place 4 stars, but can’t. Staff is very attentive and courteous. Food & atmosphere was a small disappointment. Nice, but really non-descript and extremely loud. Definitely not one of the best places to eat in the Tampa Bay Area, but not terrible either. My girlfriend and I started off with the cheese board which captivated our minds and melted our mouths, but we found it to be lacking the most important part – cheese. A 25$ cheese board should have a lot of …well, cheese. Our server was wonderful and helpful; she talked us into starting with the cheese board before making final decision on main course, which proved wise. While lacking a lot of cheese, the board had plenty of things to nibble on and we were well on our way to being stuffed by main course ordering time. We both decided on the Hamburger, both medium well – no pink. Our original selections (Chicken & Pork) we thought were too much for our stomachs. To our surprise the burgers were undercooked with plenty of pink and greasy. I think we both went from 4 stars to 3 at this point. As wanna-be food critics, we were actually surprised at the lack of it all. My girlfriend kept relating her experience to that of a Carrabba's. The more I think about it, the more I think she is right. I had a Mai Tai which I found to be a delightful surprise. The fries were overcooked, but still good.

Overall I think we both found On Swann to be a well marketed hipster place that we enjoyed visiting, but have no future plans to visit again. As for recommending this place, I am on the fence. I enjoyed our night out, and we had been dying to try it, but felt like one of 10 other high-end restaurants around the area would be better in the future. If you want the hipster badge of “I went to this place” than I think you will not be disappointed, but if you want to indulge in some of the best eating around, On Swann is definitely not the place to be. Hope this helps...

Alright, let’s dive into this Onswan culinary adventure with a playful twist, dishing out the deets on these plates with some zest and zing!

First up, the pork belly—oh, it’s a star! This slab of swine is cooked to perfection, striking a sassy balance with a bourbon glaze that’s sweet, sticky, and just a tad boozy. Paired with a citrusy sauce that zips across your taste buds, it’s like a flavor tango in your mouth—smooth moves and no missteps!

Next, the saffron arancini are little golden orbs of joy. Fried to a crispy, crunchy shell, they crack open to reveal a creamy, sunshine-yellow rice center that’s practically singing with saffron’s sultry notes. Each bite is a delightful crunch-melt combo that’ll have you reaching for more.

Now, the scallops? Hmm, they’re a bit of a wallflower at this flavor party. They hit one note—kinda flat—and leave behind a peculiar aftertaste that’s more “huh?” than “yum.” Missing that bright acidic kick, they’re not exactly begging for a love letter home.

But hold the phone, because the bread pudding is a showstopper! Warm, cozy, and drenched in a caramel-salted bourbon sauce that’s pure decadence, it’s crowned with a scoop of dreamy vanilla ice cream. It’s so divine, I shamelessly went back for seconds—yep, I’m that person!

Oh, and don’t sleep on the beef carpaccio! It’s a total rockstar, with paper-thin slices that melt like butter. If raw meat’s not your vibe, just pretend it’s fancy prosciutto—same silky vibe, all the wow. Trust me, it’s a must-try.

Finally, the hot chicken—holy cluck, it’s incredible! Tender, juicy, and packing just the right spice punch, it’s like a flavor fireworks show. Every bite is a juicy, spicy hug that’ll leave you grinning.

Onswan’s got some serious game, with hits that’ll make your taste buds dance and a couple that might need a bit more rehearsal. Go for the pork belly, arancini, and that heavenly bread pudding—you won’t be...