Burgers here are better than ice cream. But I'm not a sweets lover so... The burgers are big, juicy, huge, and taste like what a good ole American burger should. Fries are good too. And they give you a pickle spear! Yes! The service was on point! Our server was a sweet, patient, and very on-top-of things server. Always ready to please. Ok, the sundae's are good too but I'm not really into that sweets thing. But they can easily convert me. Parking is good, which is always a plus in south Miami. Do I recommend it? Abasolootely!
(4)
Adam S.
Went here yesterday with my wife and mom. My wife and I love going here when we are in Miami which isn't often. The regular food isn't bad and the service is usually good but the best part of this place is the ice cream it's awesome and worth going there just for that if you happened to be in the area
(4)
Darryl D.
I've been to this location a few times and have enjoyed it each time. It's nothing spectacular, but I still do enjoy the food. Their offerings are pretty much regular diner fare. I tend to get the burgers here and they are tasty, but my favourite item is probably their fries (crinkle cut). They have a fairly extensive ice cream menu as well. Overall, the food is good and affordable. No complaints from me, but not a place i'd drive out of my way for.
(3)
Kathia D.
I am teetering between 2 and 3 stars. Today was my first time visiting with my goddaughter. She was thrilled but she's four. We ordered a patty melt and the hubby had a burger. The lil' one just got a scoop of vanilla. The waitress was nice enough but she just seemed so tired and out of it. The food was greasy and pretty mediocre. I was totally underwhelmed. The ice cream wasn't even that great. Totally disappointing. I could see how this would be a cute spot if you have the family in tow, as they might enjoy it. Luckily, I don't have kids, so outings like this are few and far between and only for my darlin' goddaughter!
(3)
Ivonne Marie C.
I've never been a fan of Swensen's Restaurant. There is always a huge line and since I go have dinner already hungry, I'm not one that enjoys a wait. However, I came here w/Emilio on Saturday afternoon - it must have been just before dinner time and the restaurant was almost empty. We were seated immediately and our waitress came right away to take our drink order, which she delivered just as fast. The veggie sandwich caught my eye so I ordered that, and Em got the special burger. His plate looked very good, and mine - mmmm!!! I had planned to only eat half my sandwich so I could have some ice cream for dessert, that is after all the number one reason to go to Swensens. Didn't quite happen, two empty plates later, we ordered the strawberry shortcake and shared it - it was sooo good!!! I really enjoyed my lunch/dinner at Swensen's. Now I know if I ever want to go back again to make it before the big dinner rush. The food was good - though I'd never give it five stars, and the ice cream was really good too. The girl that took care of us seriously deserves 10 stars. Our drinks were always full, she checked on us throughout the meal, brought extra napkins w/o us asking, and was very attentive and pleasant.
(4)
Sabrina Anna C.
3.5 Stars Dear Swensen's, I have always come here to stuff my face with loads of calories in one bowl. And I am always pleased. You really know how to do dessert! From the brownies covered in icecream and toppings, to the fantastic shakes, I know I can satisfy any sweet tooth here. But I will be honest, I was a bit weary and taken aback when the bf and his friend wanted me to meet here for lunch, after their racket ball practice and my shopping rendez-vous. I was rather surprised that the food was actually good (sorry Eddy and Elly, don't know what happened when you guys were there)! I ordered a turkey, bacon, cheddar melt that was just delish. On sourdough bread that was crusted with Parmesan, Mmmm... YUM! Very tasty and hit the spot. The bf ordered the Gourmet burger (medium rare) that was really good, although in my opinion, lacked salt. The burger came with cheese, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and lettuce. Perfect combo and done well. And the home-style fries were just good. I'll admit, not GREAT, but good. A little salt, a little pepper, some ketchup, and you're good to go. Was overstuffed from lunch so skipped dessert this time. Besides, was on a time schedule to make it to Life is Art. Next time Swensen's.... I'll come for a full calorie overload. :) On the constructive side... Try to have more attentive staff so that they are able to better service the customers. It seems that the staff sits around looking confused a lot. Took us about 7 minutes before anyone even brought us menus. Then another 7 minutes just to be noticed and have someone walk over. Not a good look. However, I will say once we made first contact with our server, he did come back and check on us a couple of times. Thanks for going above my expectations. There is definitely room for improvement however, so I hope you seize the opportunity. Sincerely, Sabrina*
(4)
jen r.
it hurts me to give only 3 stars to one of my all time fave sweet treat places! but i have to be honest their quality, portions, and cleaniness have all gone down within the past 10 yrs. i still remember my first time here as a kid, i was shocked and overwhelmed when the oreo ice cream sundae got to the table and it was bigger than my head (i said i was a kid) it was true love at first sight!! during high school this (along with the original chicken kitchen) were some of my friends favorite after school hang outs!! the popcorn chicken, mozzerella sticks, 49er sandwich, and patty melts are all oh so good!! they do have a great variety of food, even salads. and for dessert the oreo overload is my choice. ive tried others, but always go back to my first love!!
(3)
Elias G.
This is a good place to have a quick bite before or after a movie at Sunset Place. The food is what you'd expect, good, but nothing spectacular. The service is usually pretty good. The real reason to come is for the ice cream sundaes after you eat. They have some great sundaes of all varieties. The only thing that sucks is the parking situation. Specs is always empty and won't let Swensens customers park in their spots. Swensens is always overflowing with people, and yet they only have 6-8 parking spots assigned to them. It's ridiculous. I've been coming here since I was a little kid and the place still looks the same. Which is good for nostalgia, but it wouldn't hurt to remodel the place.
(3)
Ivonne J.
They should open earlier, we where waiting outside and instead of having a sign or someone coming to the door, they made us wait there.....
(1)
Eddy D.
I went tonight and can i tell you about an experience that convinced me of never wanting to go to a place again. The service was overwhemled by having a full house. I don;t know whether to blame management or the service staff but something was terribly wrong in the equation on how long it takes to take my order. I was sooooo in the mood for Whole Foods across the street but they were closing and their selection was not at their best, even though i purchased an '05 Chardonnay for $4. As for when the food finally arrived... I split an appetizer platter with chicken wings, chicken tenders, onion rings, & mozzarella sticks; with some strange sauces to accompany them that taste nothing like what they were supposed to taste like: Buffalo Sauce Mayonnaise Honey Mustard Blue Cheese Marinara Their "personalsize" pizza's taste like a ball pit at discovery zone, The only reason for not recieving a 1 star review is because someone ordered a milkshake that was par. But Coldstone is better by far. I see no reason to eat here. Wendy's next door is a better option.
(2)
Elizabeth D.
Whatever you do, do not come here for the food. The worst thing you can feel after eating at a restaurant is a strong urge to extract whatever you just ate out of your stomach and get back a severely missed opportunity. First off, the food quality is terrible. I had a personal sized cheese pizza which I honestly think is somewhat hard to get wrong. The little pizzas from the Taco Bell/Pizza Hut/KFC combo places are much better. My friends felt similarly with their own meals (even the sampler platter! how can you take the fun out of that?!). You're so cruel, Swensen. Aside from that, they desperately need a menu overhaul. Now that they've got the ice cream right more or less, they need to focus on their food. Because while I love ice cream, I'd rather get a sundae from McDonald's where I have the choice of getting tasty food along with it, than to ever come back to Swensen's again to be tempted to order something gross again. Service-wise - the waitress took a while to get to us (but she was nice), and the hostess came off rather unfriendly and snooty. I guess she has to deal with all sorts of kids coming in from Sunset Place, but smile for once, eh? That and the menu design sucks. Get some better fonts, yo.
(2)
Manny D.
Best shakes in town! Best ice cream desserts in town! Five words: Sourdough Cheeseburger Out Of Control!
(4)
Renee D.
I sooo agree with effie c. on the retirement home thing!! I don't know what it is - but this place should be a little more lively - I remember walking into a swensen's as a kid and thinking that I was in heaven. This one just lacks vivacity. The lights are always very low in here - and I really think there should be something to do for your kid when that sugar kicks in - like a plastic play center in the middle or something. My kid ends up running in circles around the booths. The ice cream display, as well as the decor seem to be from 1970 too - kinda a drab - don't think we'll be back here again - the only reason I give you 2 stars is because you have parking in both the front and the back - AND next door is a liquor store - so I can kill two birds with one stone :) jajajajaja
(2)
Yaxel C.
I used to think a long time ago this place was good. It's not anymore. Service was very slow, burgers are not fresh, you can tell when you bite a medium done burger, amount of fries is very small, for a kid, coke tastes more like water with flavor than anything else. Not what it used to be.
(3)
Tiffany H.
Swensen's is really good for ice cream and sweets. The food is just okay, but the random ice cream menu is great. It's one of those places I like to drop by when I have a serious ice cream craving. Like the previous commenter said, the parking situation sucks completely, but I've never had an issue not getting parking.
(3)
Alexis Y.
Regular diner fare with a few healthier options like turkey pita with avocado and alfalfa sprouts. When you want to be bad the sourdough melts are like a grilled cheese sandwich covered in a crispy cheese crust served with fries. They have an entire menu dedicated to ice cream and you if you choose not to share one of their outrageous sundaes they can make an individual portion upon request.
(3)
Jacob C.
I remember the days of going to Swensen's when I was a kid and loving the food and the copious amounts of ice cream available. Either things looked better when I was a kid or the quality has steadily decreased over the years. I went in to Swensen's the other night with a friend and it looked exactly as I remembered from when I was a kid...which isn't a good thing because they haven't renovated or updated anything. They still had the same stained carpets that they had so many years ago. It smelled like a wet mop inside the building. So my friend and I decided to get our ice cream to go since we didn't want to sit around with the gross smell.
(3)
Effie C.
This place needs some help before it goes the way of Beverly Hills Cafe in South Miami. The food is alright but it feels like one of those retirement home cafeterias so it's hard to guage how good your food is when your eyes are scanning the premises for health code violations. The decor is ugly and outdated and something just doesn't feel CLEAN about the place in general. I declare "bleecchhh" until they do something about this dumpy ass restaurant.
(2)
Melissa V.
I would usually come here with my mother to see my Aunt because she was in Kendall and we were in North Miami. This time, it was me with her and my hubby. He didn't really like the idea and I can totally understand. My face was oily at end of a meal here, especially from those fries. I had to share the palomilla steak with my mother. I liked their ice-cream, though. Also, parking is never good here, you don't want to get your car towed for parking in Spec's or Crown Wine. Their salads are the way to go next time.
(3)
Crissy B.
I'd been going to Swensen's on a somewhat-regular basis since I was about 5 years old. I'm 27 now, so I guess you could say I was a fan. But alas, things change. They've recently changed management, waitstaff, and raised prices obscenely, so I'm no longer a loyal patron. My fondest memory of Swensen's was going in a group of friends/parents as a kid and ordering one of their kid's meals. It came in a little paper trolley car with a coupon for a free ice cream attached at the bottom (do they even still have those?). I'm not sure what it was. The vintage tiffany lamps? The marble table tops? The delicious ice cream shakes? The kitschy 80's decor? The grilled cheese sandwiches with thick, seasoned steak fries? Swensen's was definitely my Miami spot for comfort food. But I think I saw the place through rose-colored glasses. I took a real look at Swensen's this afternoon. Lunch on Sunday at 2pm isn't the best idea. The hostess was flaky (said a 5 min. wait, turned out to be a 25 min. wait), and upon further inspection, it was all a mess. My mom complained about cracks in her glass and undercooked French fries, while my big problem was with the "you're like everyone else" treatment. What I used to relish about Swensen's was the Cheers-like atmosphere, with waiters and managers knowing regulars by name. But that's no more. Though the food's still decent, the prices are pretty steep for the value. $4.85 for what used to be a $4.45 grilled cheese sandwich, with smaller portion sizes? I kind of feel tricked. If you dare try it anyway, avoid lunch and dinner rushes. It gets pretty loud with all the customers trying to talk over each other. And the "well behaved" children running around and screaming at the top of their lungs? An added bonus. NOT.
(2)
Karen O.
Lets be honest here.... this place is for pure, unadulterated indulgence. The ice cream creations are extravagant and everything else has "comfort food" written all over it (yes, even the salads and the veggie sandwich). Good for when you don't want fast food, but also don't want actual sit-down restaurant (and also, don't feel like parking at Sunset Place to go to Johnny Rocket's). Servers are usually hit or miss, although they tend to lean towards hit. And parking can be hell (same for getting seated) during super busy hours. Come during the day for a quick nibble or a sweet treat!
(3)
Arturo M.
Ice Cream was good. I haven't tried the food though. So... Yeah.
(3)
cristina o.
I have never really gotten the obsession with this place. the ice cream is alright and the food is just not that good. too me this place is all empty calories.
(2)
J C.
Wow!! An Authentic Ice Cream Parlour.. just like the old school ones that closed down in SoCal.. I ended up going here for ice cream.. It was good. Great atmosphere.. It is Sit down with waiter service. We had a good experience. I hope they bring these back out west.
(4)
Bob L.
The front of the menu at Swensen's says "A Taste of San Francisco" or something along those lines...apparently this vintage 80's chain of ice cream parlors originated in SF. I"ve heard SF has had great restaurants over the years with top-notch attention to detail. Appparently in the case of Swensens that attention to detail got way-laid in Wichita on it's way to Miami... I'm not a fussy eater..heck..I'm in the business. But I would like a cup of coffee that doesn't have Aunt Millies lipstick stains all over the rim..or the 2nd cup with the mysterious brown blob stuck to the side of the cup of coffee...ugh. Service was decent..but after I sent the first cup of coffee back, maybe he should have CHECKED the second cup... I had a strawberry shortcake and my date had a small sundae. Neither were anything special. The strawberry topping was all "straw" and no "berry" and the ice cream tasted vaguly like a grocery store house brand... Went to the cashier to pay the bill and got the obligatory.."How was everything." I promptly told her that I couldn't drink my coffee as the cups were encrusted. She looked at me very politely, apologized and then proceeded to ring up my check...WITH the coffee.. Maybe in San Francisco this place would be a winner..but here in Miami it's just another mediocre restaurant iwth a kitschy theme...
(2)
Lorena L.
Food was pretty good and desserts were ok. For being a place with such an extensive dessert menu it was pretty disappointing when they came out. Server, Cassandra, was nice but a little distant. Probably wont return as I found it expensive for the value you get.
(3)
Y P.
What can I say, I love me some ice cream. And this place has a large selection. Heck, they have an extensive menu just based on it apart from the actual food menu. I don't really recommend this place for food but for the ice cream its satisfying. You know how they say that pizza is like sex and how even if its bad its good? Well, I feel the same about ice cream. Not saying that this ice cream is bad but its not the best in the world. They serve up pretty good sundaes and banana splits and really mean milkshakes. I would go with those. But if for some reason you feel like proving your manliness you can go for the earthquake, a 8 scoop and 3 topping mountain of awesomeness that might be a challenge for more than one. I wouldn't mind coming back here but its not a place I'll go out of my way for. Oh, and parking sucks, as you have read from the past reviews.
(3)
Vincent R.
oh, how i wish for a rating less than 1... where to start with the Roast of Swenson's? the ugly-ass decor? the shitty, generic food? the perennially bad service? the overpriced, wannabe-Friendly's ice cream? i really don't know what else to say about Swenson's. i ate there twice: once with my ex, and once on a date with another guy. the first time it was a horrible experience, but i chalked it up as "oh, maybe the restaurant was having an Off Night. maybe it's usually better than this." well, shucks folks, my second experience was just as bad. i can't say enough bad things about their ice cream, which they tout as the reason for their "popularity." shit-cream would be a better description. it is outrageously overpriced for what you get. anyone from up north probably knows Friendly's, and anyone who knows Friendly's knows that a Reese's Pieces Sundae shouldnt cost more than $5 and should be loaded with reese's pieces. well, the sorry-ass skank of a sundae i was greeted with was fucking $9, had about one scoop of ice cream covered in 8 metric tons of Cool Whip, and had NO reese's pieces on it -- just a crude dollop of peanut butter and hot fudge. seriously, Swenson's, you can go fuck yourself with a rusty chainsaw for all i care. you can marry Ann Coulter and mate with her and create noxious evil vermin to plague humanity, and then choke and die. you are a sad, miserable place and i truly wish i could give you a rating less than 1... but Yelp won't let me, so i guess you get off easy after all. grumble :\
(1)
Keith P.
Swensen's is a popular University of Miami hangout for college students, and it's old-school 1980s ambience is a testimony of that. In regards to the food, it is tasty, but the quality is less than average. The food is similar to Johnny Rockets and is a little bit greasy. Not the place to go if you are looking to eat healthy. However, on the positive side, if you are currently looking to satisy your sweet tooth, get one of the ice cream desserts. They are all amazing! Heavy but good.
(3)
Rebecca C.
Swensen's is one of my favorite places in Miami. I can't believe I hadn't reviewed it yet and not many people have! Best place for ice cream sundaes, hands-down. This is the place you go on first dates and you want to share a huge sundae with an overload of ooey gooey toppings your waist probably doesn't need. Or this is the place you bring your kid when they deserve a special treat for finishing that science project, Or this is the place you go for late night eats with your close friends after a movie. Or this is the place you want to grab a bite of "American-style" food, ya know, old fashioned USA diner type of burgers, fries, and sandwiches. Or this is the place if you are in the area and hungry. Or you want to break your diet and treat yourself to a malted milkshake. This is the place. To the overly cutesy or some may say tacky, tiffany-style lamps throughout, to the old-fashioned red booths to sit at. This is the place. Oh Swensen's please be here for years to come! PS you can add fresh avocado to any sandwich. so worth it.
(4)
Raul V.
We went for some ice cream and everything was great. A huge variety of ice cream flavors and combinations to put together your ultimate sundae. The service was perfect and the actual place was very nice and comfortable. We will definitely be back for our movie nights at Sunset place.
(5)
Stephanie M.
This is a must-stop place for icecream in Miami. The menu options were so extensive, it took me nearly ten minutes to decide on what to order--- not that anything on the menu was inedible! I think I finally landed on the Malted chocolate something-or-other. It was a glorious mound of chocolate/malt flavored icecream decorated with malt ball candies, chocolate fudge, a fancy cookie stick with the quintessential real whipped cream and cherry on top. It was all served up in a beautiful real-glass parfait dish on a glass plate. Delivery was beautiful, and of course the icecream itself ---- DELICIOUS. As other reviews have mentioned, parking is horrible. They have at most 5 parking spots dedicated to thier establishment, 2 of which are handicapped reserved spaces. BUT if you don' t mind walking your icecream calories off, it is worth the walk. I too was surprised upon walking in that it is a full restaurant--- like a more upscale Village Inn. I can only speak for the icecream, but I am sure the food is good too. I am not sure how accomodating this place can be for super-large groups, since the dining area appears pretty tight to begin with. It can be very busy here because of its proximity to the University of Miami, but do not let it deter you from experiencing the icecream, for at least once in your life!! I love how quaint this establishment is, and if I lived in Miami I would frequent this place all the time!
(5)
Andrea A.
It has been there forever, and frankly I forgot about it for many years (maybe a good thing because it is so good). The food is ok, but what you are going there is for the ice cream. They still have many of the ice cream treats I remember as a kid. The sticky chewy chocolate is still great. Now that Specs just closed next door, I hope this does not happen to Swensons. It really is one of the best in Miami.
(4)
Morgan M.
Swensen's used to be my monthly ice cream splurge, but everything on their menu is so expensive now that I choose the TCBY across from UM for my sweet tooth. Less fat and calories and you're in control of how much you want to spend.
(3)
Mitch A.
If you're jumping on Yelp to whine that the food is unhealthy.. Not sure why you went to an ice cream store for dinner. I've been here a few times, after Church on Sunday, for dessert on a Saturday and sporadic lunches and dinners. That said, the service has always been good, exactly what I expect from a place like this. You can read the other reviews.. It's true, there are no waiters with white towels folded delicately over their forearms. The food has been consistently good, and again, exactly what I would expect from a place like this. It's American food. There are quite a few healthy choices, to include a mushroom sandwich. They have tons of ice cream sundaes, all very delicious I'm sure! I stick to the oreo one! If you want something fancy, drive on, if you want casual American divining with a ginormous variety of sundaes and you're not going to destroy your budget then stop by Swenson!
(5)
Dewey C.
I needed a sweet after my dry Ruben at the Bagel Emporium so right down the street is Swenson's. I first discovered them in Massachusetts years ago and I liked it then and I still do. The raspberry sherbet is one of the best I have ever had. Their Freeze Frappe (with milk) is wonderful. My friends had been turned off by their earlier experience at the deli and were still hungry. They all had little pzzas (Three Cheese) and I tried a slice. It was really very good. Imagine pizza in an ice cream parlour. They had the raspberry Freeze Frappe and concured with my opinion. The decor is old ice cream parlor and just right. The wait person, young girl, could not have been nicer even though she was overloaded with customers. It's nice to see that something stays the same in Dade County.
(4)
Leslie G.
Walking distance from the shoppes @ Sunset Place. I was introduced to this place by my Sis yrs ago & man oh man i'm glad she did. I have never has one complaint. Burgers & sandwiches are awesome. Desserts the best part. My fav is the Mint Chocolate Chip! Also My sister's love the Chicken Pita's There is parking in the back as well. Friendly & fast Service.
(5)
Ali L.
Swensen's has long been a loved location in south miami. It continues to carry it's name! amazing ice cream :) love it here
(5)
Kristy D.
Swensen's is the home of my favorite dessert (the candy bar sundae) so when I'm in the mood to indulge a craving for sweets, this place is usually at the top of my list. Though they are well-known for their ice cream, they also have a great selection of lunch and dinner items, most of which are as undeniably delicious as their desserts. From soups and salads to burgers, wings, wraps and sandwiches, this place has something for everyone. I always order a side of ranch and honey mustard to dip the fries into since both are very good and I can never decide which one is better so I just get one of each (they recently started adding a surcharge for the sauces, which annoyed me a bit at first but it's only about 30 cents each sauce and is totally worth it so I still get them). There is also a lighter fare section for those who are counting calories. In addition to great food and desserts, Swensen's has some pretty fantastic servers that are very friendly and bring out your order quickly so my experience with the service here has always been favorable. Overall, Swensen's is a great choice for those who are looking for good food and good service at decent prices.
(4)
Enrique C.
Big fan of Swensen's! I have been coming here since high school and it's always been a great place for an old fashioned shake or ice cream. They have very tasty burgers and sandwiches. I came here recently for a malted milk shake with my favorite couple, The Doctors. They had chocolate & I had vanilla. Has to be one of the best milk shakes I have had in a long time. This would be a great place to take children for ice cream if you are all Cold Stone'd out, if that is even possible! Or a great place to take a date.
(4)
Johnny L.
Review for the dessert part only. We came here after grabbing some sushi and just wanted to get some ice cream. My friend told me he saw some ice cream shop down US-1 so off we went. Swensen's is located right next to Spec's Music and shares the same crappy parking lot. It's like 3 spots for the whole place....crap. We didn't know it was an actual restaurant, I just figured it was an ice cream parlor. The restaurant is nice though and kind of reminds me of a mellowed down Johnny Rockets. (Very old-fashioned). They gave us the hot food menu which looked like it had some decent things like cheese sticks, chicken tenders, club sandwiches, and burgers....but at higher prices than i imagined. DId I read it right!? $10.65 for a Regular burger?? (Please correct if wrong) We quickly asked for the desserts menu which was pretty large. I was pretty full so I only wanted something small. There is nothing small. If you want ice cream for a meal, come to this place. You won't be disappointed. The prices hovered around $5-7 for a variety of items from sundaes, ice creams, and such. They even have smoothies. Ordered a cupcake with ice cream. The cupcake was tiny but good enough. And the ice cream scoop came in a small little cup. This cost close to $6. The others got sundaes that looked better but they paid close to $7 each for theirs. As far as value and bang for your buck, I wouldn't come back to this place. Giving it 2 stars cause...well...."meh, I've experienced better". It wasn't bad, but there are other options.
(2)
Nancy G.
My family and I have been stopping by Swensen's for years. Although I cannot say much about their food; I can tell you, you should never pass the opportunity to have one of their huge and yummy sundaes.
(4)
Francois L.
Went to get some ice cream with my son ( 13) and 3 of his friends after school. Ice cream was very good, but price I thought for counter ordering was expensive. each boy had 2 scoops in a plastic cup $6 each, give me a break! i had one scoop on a cone 3,90..then again ,HaguenDaz is more expensive.. who knows, maybe I just don't get out enough. The entrance and atmosphere was so like when I first went in 1980 ! over 30 years ago, time for new carpet ...right? total 28 dollars
(3)
Dan B.
Bad food and mediocre ice cream. The rundown interior, combined with flashy, brightly-colored menu is strangely depressing. The food menu here is uninspired, based entirely on appetizers, kiddie food and sandwiches (whether they be hamburgers, pita sandwiches, or regular-ass sandwiches). I figured I was safe with the hamburger, but unfortunately the resulting meat quality was so sketchy I was actually a little worried, leaving part of it on the plate. Fries were greasy, limp and soggy, so I barely touched them. The wife's cobb salad looked like iceberg lettuce covered with sliced lunch meat from the supermarket. er...Nummy. As for the ice cream, what can I say, it's just your standard, scoop-style ice cream, though the restaurant tendency is to sell it in the "big ass container full of assorted flavors and toppings" configuration. After some searching, we found it is possible to get one scoop or single cone, but the staff may look at you with pity for not overindulging like everyone else. It's family friendly, grandma likes it,and the kids liked their mini pizzas, so unfortunately I may be back.
(2)
Cristy M.
Okay ever since I was a little kid I've been coming here and its great! Sandwiches, Burgers, and Best of All the ICE CREAM!! My favorite sandwich is the Forty-Niner, the Hamburgers are delicious too. We ended our meal with a banana split. The ice cream here is unlike any other and for me could be possibly the best in Miami. I stick t the plain Chocolote and Vanilla flavors but they are super creamy.
(4)
Nydia M.
I'd give this place 4 stars if it weren't for the craptastic parking situation. They have about 4 spots out front and about 6-8 out back. Unless you want to pay for metered parking, good luck finding an empty spot to park your car in. Parking in the spots assigned to the other nearby businesses means your car will be towed before you've even been seated. Now...the food. Swensen's has great sandwiches and salads. Even though they're known for their ice cream sundaes, I've never had one (I'm also not morbidly obese). They all look huge and calorie-filled. So if you're in the mood to stuff your face with frozen goodness (perhaps after a stressful life event? Go ahead and be an emotional eater!) Swensen's is the place to go! They have a bunch of sandwiches on the menu that come with that cheesy Sizzler-style bread...Mmm....
(3)
Steve S.
Finally, Swensens is back on our radar. I used to come here all the time as a kid, then drove myself since high school. I worked at AMC Bakery Centre 7 so that shows I know the place well. I even brought my wife and kids here but a few years back the menu felt boring and just didn't do it for us. Unfortunately, we would only come for the dessert. Now, fast forward to today and Swensens is now back on the radar. The new revamped menu is amazing. Coming back soon!
(5)
Carlos V.
Would have been 2.5. New chef, jacked up prices? Whoa! $15 cheeseburger? No thanks. Those "gourmet" burger places are that, overpriced. Sad this place joined that burger hype and pricing too. Anyway, food is good as always, just not digging these silly food prices. Not sure I'll frequent weekly anymore.
(2)
Iliana R.
I mean WOW ! I have not been here in years but I was not expecting it to be this good! New chef and menu and he's bringing it on! I had the NICA burger which is a ground beef patty topped with fried Latin cheese, maduros (sweet plantain) , vinegar marinated cole slaw and chimichuri sauce. It came with a side of onion rings that were divine! Everything was on point and I will definitely visit again! Nice to see this place doing so well after so many years :)
(4)
Christina H.
One of the best burgers I've ever had "Nica" Burger. Highly suggested by the Sever. Looking forward to coming back and trying the Krispy Kreme burger mix
(5)
Rocio R.
Came here without planning but I have to say, what a great mistake. Discovered they have truffle Parmesan fries which are AMAZING. I'd like to try their sundaes next time.
(4)
Jeanine M.
Love love love swensens! If you're ever in the mood for diner food that's tasty and cheap, please don't settle for Denny's! Swensens has it all and more. The place has been there for years and it's really done a nice job by changing up the menu. It's open late which is great for all those late night cravings, it's near the university so it makes sense. Been coming here for years and have never been disappointed. Today was a dessert crave. I ordered the cookies n mint sundae and left with my sweet tooth beyond satisfied.
(5)
Lauren M.
I have been coming to this restaurant for years. They have simple dishes and big portions. I noticed that they have new menus. I ordered the protein wrap, but I do not think that is what the waitress brought me. It was supposed to have egg and avocado, but the wrap didn't have that inside. I found corn and beans inside. The wrap was still good and we didn't complain about it. We were all so hungry! My mom ordered a side of vegetables and they brought a HUGE plate full. We were all so tempted to order ice cream, which is always delicious, but we decided not to. It wasn't easy!!! If you want a quick simple meal, this restaurant is for you!
(4)
C S.
Good food and the best ice cream creations. Gourmet burger is a great option... Never a long wait. Been coming to this place since way back in high school.
(4)
Cristy M.
So I hadn't been to this place in years ... Like since high school but after reading about the new chef and menu on Burger Beast's blog I made it a priority. I went with the hubby and kids and have to say that I was underwhelmed. The prices are very aggressive given the setting and subpar service. I don't think this place has been given a good cleaning in years. It feels dirty and old. We weren't impressed with our $13 nachos or $13 burger. It wasn't bad per se - but it wasn't memorable or something I absolutely have to eat again. The ice cream we shared was pretty good but again nothing out of this world. I would say the prices were worth it if the place was a bit nicer or if the ingredients were fresher or better quality.
(2)
Anabelle C.
Great spot after a movie with kids . Best chocolate milk shakes in South Miami. The kids got to sample several ice team flavor a before settling in the mint chocolate chip wish is super creamy. For parents they have a pretty good paleo menu and several light options so to can save room for dessert . Love this place staple after every movie night with the family .
(4)
Lou T.
Like many other locals Swensen's was a childhood staple. As an adult I found the food less appetizing and Swensen's became that place you just drove by and briefly acknowledged for the memories. When I learned that they had a new menu I decided to try it with my own children. The inside was just as I remembered it, but the food wasn't anything like the tired diner fare. The server recommended we try the artichoke dip. It was full of chunky artichokes and creamy goodness (a must try). The kids ordered the Mac and cheese and it was homemade deliciousness (nice touch). I had a patty melt that was cooked perfect! It was melt-in-your-mouth situation with onions and sauce. We also tried specialty ranch fries (our first time trying ranch on anything) and they were excellent. Of course we finished with their cookie sundae...we were shocked that it looked just like the picture AND tasted exactly like we imagined. I'm looking forward to trying more items from the new menu and making new Swensen's memories with my own children.
(5)
Charlie R.
Just had the chicken wings at Swensens they where great. And the Volcano burger is the best. Wings are juicy and meaty , the burger was cooked to perfection
(5)
Mercedes G.
Wow!!!! After coming to Swensen's for over 20 years and enjoying their desserts, I was pleasantly surprised when I came 3 weeks ago and was given their new menu... WOW is all I can say!! I ordered their burger and it was amazing, hand crafted, juicy, just perfect!!! My kids got their favorite popcorn chicken, even that has been perfected!!! The presentation was beautiful!!! I was very impressed and so happy that they have made such an awesome change!! I highly recommend that you consider Swensen's the next time ur out with the family... I did.. I'm back today!!!
(5)
Sara S.
We stopped here more for the nostalgia factor, at husband and I both grew up eating at Swenson's. The food was good, but pricey for what it was. $7 for a kids meal with Kraft Mac and cheese is ridiculous. Our paleo burger was good, but after waiting a half an hour it came out cold. Overall, I might go back, but probably more for dessert than dinner.
(3)
Jessica A.
Haven't been to this place in years but i happened to be working in the area so i decided to give it a try. This is not the place I remember. I had the Philly cheesesteak with sweet potato fries. It came with some sort of marshmallow cream sauce. My co worker had what they call the burger melt which looked amazing cooked medium rare just like it should be. Both were delicious. I definitely wasn't expecting to have such amazing food at a place known for its ice cream.
(5)
Felipe Z.
Been coming here for years this Icecream parlor/restaurant although I've never really ate any food there but the Icecream concoctions are whats up. My favorite is the Oreo overload.
(4)
Ramtothe R.
I absolutely love this place. Actually, I really don't know why because the only thing that I order when I go is the chicken Ceasar salad. This is the best chicken Caesar salad I've had but I would recommend asking it without the black olives, yuck!!! Parking is the only issue.
(3)
Kris K.
It wasn't at all what I thought it would be, I'm in Miami to visit a sick friend and the kids were so good all day I thought I would take them to an ice cream place for dinner, this place isn't your usual ice cream diner, it's great! I ordered a Berry Salad, the presentation was beautiful, full of fruit strawberries, blackberries, fresh lettuce and the chicken actually tasted like fresh chicken! I highly recommend this salad! I didn't taste the kids food but it looked good, prices are reasonable and my server was busy but available, she looked at her tables often and stopped to ask how things were after we had a chance to try the food. There was a small mix-up on my ice cream order and the waitress saw my wave and fixed it immediately! I love great restaurants!
(5)
Melissa F.
I was reluctently dragged here by a friend. It'd been at least a year since I'd last eaten here and hadn't been impressed then. All I can say is a lot has changed in a year! The menu seems different more modem than I remember. I had truffle fries and the volcano burger and topped it all off with a scoop of ice cream. The fries were crispy and delicious and the burger would hold up against any hipster burger bar. Couldn't have hoped for a better meal! I will definitely be back.
(5)
Madai C.
I've been coming to this place for over 23 years. I have GREAT family and friends memories. I'll keep coming with my son and family. The chicken wings with bleu cheese and hit sauce are a MUST. This is where i learned to LOVE chicken wings. For ice cream I love the mocha almond fudge super sundae or the ones with brownie :) I also really like the chicken pita pocket. The fries are awesome too and So is the sour cream burger. The joint is hands down amazing ! Will keep coming back as long as I can ! I love Swensens !!
(5)
Nick R.
New menu is on point! Burgers are only rivaled by their desserts. I had the burger melt. And I chased it down with a chocolate milkshake and Oreo overload. Heard they're starting brunches soon. If this new menu is a preview of what that's gonna be like, they'll be dealing with me on Sunday's as well as the rest of the week.
(5)
Frank E.
This place is always there for me. If I can't decide what to get I always know what I can have. The parking is tight, but there are usually places around back. Just make sure you don't take one of Crown Wine's spaces. Haven't seen them tow but you never know. Whenever I go I always get my usual. The Sourdough Cheeseburger. I get them to sub out the beef for the veggie patty. Always so good. The crispy cheese grilled on the outside of the bread. The cheddar cheese and super veggie patty inside. Round that out with the fries and an Ice Tea and I am happy! If there is room they have a full line of Ice creams and other sweets.
(4)
Bri B.
Greasy, fatty, delicious junk food! I love the turkey avocado sandwich, no peppers. However, unless I have two hours to spend to get a sandwich, I'd rather go elsewhere. There is never a wait to sit, but the service sucks, and there is a wait for everything else.
(3)
Tina A.
Ice cream is just OK. $4.25 for a small cup. If you are looking for something special, not worth it.
(3)
Jenny F.
Not sure what has happens to this place but it's AMAZING! Their extensive menu had plenty of options for everyone and the food was incredible!!! We ordered the Paleo Veggie Burger, Bacon Ranch Burger and started off with the Pork Belly Mac. All the items were great and the service was on point. Very clean and friendly... We had a great time and definitely will be back!
(5)
Ian T.
I remember going occasionally to this Swensen's when I was a kid and enjoying their sundaes and old-timey ice cream parlor atmosphere. I admit that my memories might have been a bit rose-tinted. So when my wife and I made a spontaneous decision to go to Swensen's with a friend, I was a bit let down at the somewhat Denny's-like atmosphere, with only minor nods to the "brass and tile" old fashioned ice cream parlor ambiance. Either way, the restaurant definitely shows its age and has seen better days. But it's about the ice cream, right? The choices are numerous, with many creative and intriguing sundaes, splits, shakes and sodas, including some truly monstrously size concoctions that allow a whole family to enjoy a single treat. We didn't try the actual food (as we had already eaten) so this review is purely about the ice cream. Verdict: it was ok. We shared the U.S. Mint sundae, described as: "Thin Mint cookie ice cream with hot fudge and crème de menthe toppings spooned into tall glass and capped with a creamy whip-plus a drizzle of crème de menthe. finishing touches include a rolled wafer, a cherry and a sprig of genuine mint." The actual ice cream is ok, but frankly you would get better at Hagen Dasz, Ben & Jerry's, Coldstone, Baskin Robbins etc. The presentation was cute, and very appealing, and what makes the sundae is the topping and extras. One item is that it's a lot of flavoring, such as the mint gel, versus ingredients like genuine mint leaves etc., so its a lot of artificial flavorings. It's fun, and probably nice for the kids. I enjoyed it when I was young. As an adult, who still loves ice cream, I confess I'd go elsewhere. I give it three starts because it's definitely not bad... just OK.
(3)
Mark L.
New menu was AWESOME! Was not expecting what was in store when I went. Pork Belly mac n cheese was great! All the different types of fries were delicious (we tried three different kinds!) and the new burger selection blew me away. (South Beach Burger was out of hand). Looking forward to going back with this new menu!
(5)
Carlos R.
As dated as iconic, stuck in the time when greasy and unhealthy food was the only option. Really bad quality food overpowers the fainted "nostalgia" decor of a vintage ice cream parlor. Overpriced junk food.
(2)
David C.
We drove by this place many times but finally decided to give it a shot. Boy were we not disappointed. The parking is pretty small as it only has room for about 5 cars (I'm not sure if they have another place for parking) but we were lucky that there was an open spot right in the front. I don't know how long the place been open but it has that 1950's decor and feel (minus the flat screens) which is a plus. The food is out of this world and there are many options to choose from. Make sure to leave room for dessert because there shouldn't be any reason you come here and not try one of the many choices of ice cream desserts.
(5)
Alexander M.
Been coming here for years. Always dependable. But this time much has changed. Burgers went from $9 to $14. New menu. I was shocked. WTF! Gave it a chance anyway. The veggie burger was $14 and well worth it. Fresh patty made from scratch and tastes like it. All dishes came out promptly and food was tasty. Staff knowledgeable and friendly.
(4)
Carlos M.
Been here a couple of time, love their burgers and season fries. Sometimes though it's bit clean as you see fries in the floor... Hate that! Their water is directly from the faucet which is in the middle of the restaurant Waiter was nice and friendly Ice cream are amazing!!! You should try the chocolate brownie fudge ice cream! Highly recommending it!! Space is a bit small and parking is really bad Will I be back? Yes I will
(4)
Mahmoud A.
It's been a while since I've eaten at Swensen's. Probably ten years. Not because I didn't like it but mostly life. So I heard that there was a revamped menu. I was excited to go back after a long hiatus. Well I will be coming back more often after my first bite. The new menu consists of mostly burgers and sandwiches. I highly recommend a visit to try the new items.
(5)
Madeline A.
Childhood memories. Ice cream is delicious. Especially the birthday cake. But it's extremely unhealthy. A place to go once in a while. It's always great when you do.
(3)
Meghan R.
We went here on the recommendation of a friend. We originally planned on having ice cream for dinner, but ended up going with the sandwiches because they looked so good. I had the Sourdough Cheeseburger and my mom had the Grilled Ham & Cheese on Sourdough. Both sandwiches were huge and very tasty. They came with a large helping of steak fries that were cooked perfectly. I really wish we'd had more room because the sundaes sounded and looked amazing! Parking is a bit of a pain. There are only 4 spots out front and if you havent been there you wouldn't know about the additional parking in the back. One of the employees even said how sometimes she can't find a place to park when she comes to work. So make sure to keep that in mind.
This place has a California restaurant/fast food feel to it and I like that because it's very rare especially here in Miami. The customer service was good. But What I think people don't understand is that the food is more of a side attraction to the ice cream. All in all this is a good fast food if you want more quantity and quality (don't get me wrong the quality isn't fantastic but it's still better than other fast foods) but make sure you get ice cream or a sundae if go.
(4)
Elizabeth G.
i love swensens. i love their burgers and the homemade ice cream is to die for. i highly recommend swensens. great place to go with the family and friends.
(5)
Hernani A.
I've had the best sweet potatoe fries in rhis place! Ans a salmon bagel that was amazing too. I like that is kind of and old place but keeps being updated and is pretty clean and neat. Is not the place to go on a date, more like for families and kids.
(4)
Emily W.
I'm from NC, visiting family in Miami. We used to have a swensens in greensboro and I loved it. It was a classic diner-type place that had amazing food. The Swensen's here is grungy. I know that they just replaced the booths and that is a huge improvement. The food is good, it's typical diner food- cheeseburgers and grilled cheese. They are known for their desserts which are phenomenal. Their ice cream is good but I'm not a big ice cream fan. I always get the caramel nut brownie but without the nuts and it's very good.
(3)
Miguel M.
The ice cream is really bad in taste and quality. It's just a bunch of toppings and whipped cream. If you are the kind of person that wants truly good ice cream, the kind that you can savor on its own, then this isn't the place for you. If you're the kind of person that enjoys drowning ice cream in Hershey's syrup or caramel (or have kids who like that) then this is the place for you. My friend that came with me thought it was "decent" (I thought t was loathsome, then again he also eats McDonald's mcflurries and lives them). I guess it's a matter of taste and it's one star taste for me. It actually seemed very family friendly, but I'm in my 20s and single so my review doesn't really consider that aspect (if you're a parent then you probably would give it more stars than me for ambiance). Also service was pretty poor. The staff wasn't particularly cheery or helpful, nor were they attentive. They took my order and brought my food (didn't refill our water or ask if we wanted anything else and we didn't even come near closing). So I can't really give them more stars for service.
(1)
Peggy G.
Classic. Great service and food. Super accommodating and knowledgeable of their ingredients. Had a great mid week meal. Fresh hamburger wrapped in lettuce. Huge portion with fresh avocado. My daughter enjoyed her turkey melt and had great mint ice cream. Great gf choice.
Growing up this place use to be our weekend lunch or dinner. My parents would love to bring my sister and I here. It use to be extremely popular and busy but I've noticed that over the years the hype seems to have died down. My fav item on their menu is the tuna croissant sandwich with a side of mozzarella sticks
(5)
Mima A.
If I could leave zero stars I would.parking is a pain in the butt.bathroom was dirty.im just going to write all the horrible things I saw.i just to come here and eat ice cream.it was nice.the prices keep going up the service keeps going down.dirty cups and utensils .i got a spoon with crusty food on it ewww.salad is over priced for a head of lettuce$12 .skip pop corn chicken they are salty terrible.even the fries were different.im never coming back.
(1)
Anais S.
Falsely lists business closes at 1:00am. They turn customers away by 12:45am. Don't list 1:00am as closing time if you will not honor it. Horrible service.
(1)
Nancy O.
Always a great spot for classic american food. Burger, salads and sandwiches galore!
(3)
Irene A.
For what we craved tonight...burgers and sundaes, this place couldn't have been better. Great food and exellent service! Perfect!
(5)
Haronyd M.
I've been a fan of Swensen's for a long time. I love to go there to have their sandwich, the forty-niner (named after the San Francisco 49ers), and then indulge in their selection of ice creams. I usually go during lunch time so there's not a wait. The staff has always been friendly and attentive. The sandwich itself is like a grilled cheese with swiss, ham, turkey and parmesan cheese crust on the outside. The fries that accompany the sandwich are AMAZING! I love all the different choices of sundaes and shakes but my favorite is the caramel brownie nut! I usually ask them to add hot fudge... YUM!! This is such a comfortable place to go for a splurge.
(4)
Amabel D.
This place is running between average and ehhh... The interior is a diner style kind of restaurant. You can either choose to dine in or go straight to the ice cream station (they have a crap load of flavors to choose from). The staff was friendly, however our waitress managed to get my friend's order wrong TWICE for her entree and dessert -__- (and we were the only guest she was serving since there was a max of 2 other customers in the restaurant) As for food, it's okay, not amazing... A variety of sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, typical diner food, etc. What stood out was they have a Paleo menu and croissant sandwiches! The turkey and avocado croissant sandwich is pretty yummy and comes with your choice of fries, coleslaw, or veggies. For dessert, they have it's own separate menu, with a lot to choose from too (sundaes, parfaits, milkshakes). I assume the Chocolate Macadamia Sundae is a hit because my friend and I tried to order it but they were out (meaning it must behold right?) I ended up getting a coke float.. And let's just say I've had better. To end this.. This place is ok. I'd rather go to Steak N' Shake or even better Jaxon's hehe.
(2)
David P.
Food was good, but the desert was AMAZING! Me and my wife agreed that we haven't had something that tasty in a while. We ha the caramel turtle chocolate something. We split it and it was more than enough.
(5)
Kristal C.
Soooooo let's just say I was very disappointed in the ice cream. Of course that the original and overseas will be different but this was just eh. We pretty much went for fries. Never again.
(2)
Joseph A.
I had heard about this place for 3 years and finally tried it. A COMPLETE DISAPPOINTMENT! I left feeling depressed and feeling like I was in a time warp. The place opened in 1971 and NOTHING has been changed or updated...except the prices. Many of the ice creams in the ice cream cases were half melted and looked very unappetizing. I ordered a sundae and chose 2 flavors that looked frozen, but the sundae was served to me half melted anyway. The caramel topping I asked for was added first I think rather than being poured on top of the ice cream...which left me with a glob of caramel at the bottom of my sundae dish. The ice cream had a grainy texture. Their website makes the establishment look like a fantastic and fun place for ice cream...comparable to Serendipity. Don't be fooled!! I'll NEVER return.
(1)
Humberto O.
Ice-cream like this comes only once in a few thousand miles. Its flavor can delight any individual, regardless of age. Pair it up with a mouth-watering burger and let your tastebuds travel back to the time of great dinners.
(4)
Yuniesquy H.
First time here and I gotta say it was GREAT! I like the decor it looks retro I know this lace has been open forever and now I know why. Great service, great food and amazing deserts! I'm coming back for sure!
(5)
Paola N.
Great place for a family to have a good lunch/dinner and ice cream. Kids love it! Chocolate shake and french fries are my favorites. Great for birthday parties! :)
(5)
Jeff W.
Excellent place for sundaes and shakes. Foods pretty good too! You might want to share a hamburger so there will be room for dessert. Portions are large
(4)
Barby T.
This place was worth the wait ... I had the chicken fiesta wheat wrap minus the guacamole and it was delicious ... super full. They do have the ice cream menu which everything looks good but too full to try. Maybe next time ...
(5)
Nicole M.
Delicious ice creams. My husband ordered his own Oreo madness, my mother a banana split and I got a chocolate lovers ice cream. We also ordered fries to have a combination of something salty and they were different and delicious.
(5)
Rose S.
Nice diner. It is also an ice cream parlor. Sad its not open 24hrs but I understand why. The location of this place isn't exactly the place noticeable unless you're a local. Service was great. The woman was very helpful and sincere, couldn't ask for a better waitress (5 Stars). Food were the typical American food, it was okay. Steak fries was excellent, fresh and not to season. Swenson's Gourmet Burger was something odd although had a quite decent taste. Not so much to brag about but it was different, something I've not seen in California. We didn't get any dessert to try because it was around closing time. So we were nice enough to leave them with a less mess situation.
(3)
Kathryn B.
Passed by last Friday after watching the Mouse King at The Mandelstam School! My friend's little cousin wanted ice cream, so naturally Swensen's being so close was the go-to. I hadn't been there in a while but I was shocked at all the new menu options. I opted for the I think it was called Southwestern Wrap? (guacamole, sour cream, cheese, chicken etc.. ) It was yummy and my friend's little cousin enjoyed a few bites as well. Fries... well you can't go wrong with fries. Overall you go here for burgers, fries and ice cream... you really can't go wrong.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dessert Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Mary e.
Burgers here are better than ice cream. But I'm not a sweets lover so... The burgers are big, juicy, huge, and taste like what a good ole American burger should. Fries are good too. And they give you a pickle spear! Yes! The service was on point! Our server was a sweet, patient, and very on-top-of things server. Always ready to please. Ok, the sundae's are good too but I'm not really into that sweets thing. But they can easily convert me. Parking is good, which is always a plus in south Miami. Do I recommend it? Abasolootely!
(4)Adam S.
Went here yesterday with my wife and mom. My wife and I love going here when we are in Miami which isn't often. The regular food isn't bad and the service is usually good but the best part of this place is the ice cream it's awesome and worth going there just for that if you happened to be in the area
(4)Darryl D.
I've been to this location a few times and have enjoyed it each time. It's nothing spectacular, but I still do enjoy the food. Their offerings are pretty much regular diner fare. I tend to get the burgers here and they are tasty, but my favourite item is probably their fries (crinkle cut). They have a fairly extensive ice cream menu as well. Overall, the food is good and affordable. No complaints from me, but not a place i'd drive out of my way for.
(3)Kathia D.
I am teetering between 2 and 3 stars. Today was my first time visiting with my goddaughter. She was thrilled but she's four. We ordered a patty melt and the hubby had a burger. The lil' one just got a scoop of vanilla. The waitress was nice enough but she just seemed so tired and out of it. The food was greasy and pretty mediocre. I was totally underwhelmed. The ice cream wasn't even that great. Totally disappointing. I could see how this would be a cute spot if you have the family in tow, as they might enjoy it. Luckily, I don't have kids, so outings like this are few and far between and only for my darlin' goddaughter!
(3)Ivonne Marie C.
I've never been a fan of Swensen's Restaurant. There is always a huge line and since I go have dinner already hungry, I'm not one that enjoys a wait. However, I came here w/Emilio on Saturday afternoon - it must have been just before dinner time and the restaurant was almost empty. We were seated immediately and our waitress came right away to take our drink order, which she delivered just as fast. The veggie sandwich caught my eye so I ordered that, and Em got the special burger. His plate looked very good, and mine - mmmm!!! I had planned to only eat half my sandwich so I could have some ice cream for dessert, that is after all the number one reason to go to Swensens. Didn't quite happen, two empty plates later, we ordered the strawberry shortcake and shared it - it was sooo good!!! I really enjoyed my lunch/dinner at Swensen's. Now I know if I ever want to go back again to make it before the big dinner rush. The food was good - though I'd never give it five stars, and the ice cream was really good too. The girl that took care of us seriously deserves 10 stars. Our drinks were always full, she checked on us throughout the meal, brought extra napkins w/o us asking, and was very attentive and pleasant.
(4)Sabrina Anna C.
3.5 Stars Dear Swensen's, I have always come here to stuff my face with loads of calories in one bowl. And I am always pleased. You really know how to do dessert! From the brownies covered in icecream and toppings, to the fantastic shakes, I know I can satisfy any sweet tooth here. But I will be honest, I was a bit weary and taken aback when the bf and his friend wanted me to meet here for lunch, after their racket ball practice and my shopping rendez-vous. I was rather surprised that the food was actually good (sorry Eddy and Elly, don't know what happened when you guys were there)! I ordered a turkey, bacon, cheddar melt that was just delish. On sourdough bread that was crusted with Parmesan, Mmmm... YUM! Very tasty and hit the spot. The bf ordered the Gourmet burger (medium rare) that was really good, although in my opinion, lacked salt. The burger came with cheese, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and lettuce. Perfect combo and done well. And the home-style fries were just good. I'll admit, not GREAT, but good. A little salt, a little pepper, some ketchup, and you're good to go. Was overstuffed from lunch so skipped dessert this time. Besides, was on a time schedule to make it to Life is Art. Next time Swensen's.... I'll come for a full calorie overload. :) On the constructive side... Try to have more attentive staff so that they are able to better service the customers. It seems that the staff sits around looking confused a lot. Took us about 7 minutes before anyone even brought us menus. Then another 7 minutes just to be noticed and have someone walk over. Not a good look. However, I will say once we made first contact with our server, he did come back and check on us a couple of times. Thanks for going above my expectations. There is definitely room for improvement however, so I hope you seize the opportunity. Sincerely, Sabrina*
(4)jen r.
it hurts me to give only 3 stars to one of my all time fave sweet treat places! but i have to be honest their quality, portions, and cleaniness have all gone down within the past 10 yrs. i still remember my first time here as a kid, i was shocked and overwhelmed when the oreo ice cream sundae got to the table and it was bigger than my head (i said i was a kid) it was true love at first sight!! during high school this (along with the original chicken kitchen) were some of my friends favorite after school hang outs!! the popcorn chicken, mozzerella sticks, 49er sandwich, and patty melts are all oh so good!! they do have a great variety of food, even salads. and for dessert the oreo overload is my choice. ive tried others, but always go back to my first love!!
(3)Elias G.
This is a good place to have a quick bite before or after a movie at Sunset Place. The food is what you'd expect, good, but nothing spectacular. The service is usually pretty good. The real reason to come is for the ice cream sundaes after you eat. They have some great sundaes of all varieties. The only thing that sucks is the parking situation. Specs is always empty and won't let Swensens customers park in their spots. Swensens is always overflowing with people, and yet they only have 6-8 parking spots assigned to them. It's ridiculous. I've been coming here since I was a little kid and the place still looks the same. Which is good for nostalgia, but it wouldn't hurt to remodel the place.
(3)Ivonne J.
They should open earlier, we where waiting outside and instead of having a sign or someone coming to the door, they made us wait there.....
(1)Eddy D.
I went tonight and can i tell you about an experience that convinced me of never wanting to go to a place again. The service was overwhemled by having a full house. I don;t know whether to blame management or the service staff but something was terribly wrong in the equation on how long it takes to take my order. I was sooooo in the mood for Whole Foods across the street but they were closing and their selection was not at their best, even though i purchased an '05 Chardonnay for $4. As for when the food finally arrived... I split an appetizer platter with chicken wings, chicken tenders, onion rings, & mozzarella sticks; with some strange sauces to accompany them that taste nothing like what they were supposed to taste like: Buffalo Sauce Mayonnaise Honey Mustard Blue Cheese Marinara Their "personalsize" pizza's taste like a ball pit at discovery zone, The only reason for not recieving a 1 star review is because someone ordered a milkshake that was par. But Coldstone is better by far. I see no reason to eat here. Wendy's next door is a better option.
(2)Elizabeth D.
Whatever you do, do not come here for the food. The worst thing you can feel after eating at a restaurant is a strong urge to extract whatever you just ate out of your stomach and get back a severely missed opportunity. First off, the food quality is terrible. I had a personal sized cheese pizza which I honestly think is somewhat hard to get wrong. The little pizzas from the Taco Bell/Pizza Hut/KFC combo places are much better. My friends felt similarly with their own meals (even the sampler platter! how can you take the fun out of that?!). You're so cruel, Swensen. Aside from that, they desperately need a menu overhaul. Now that they've got the ice cream right more or less, they need to focus on their food. Because while I love ice cream, I'd rather get a sundae from McDonald's where I have the choice of getting tasty food along with it, than to ever come back to Swensen's again to be tempted to order something gross again. Service-wise - the waitress took a while to get to us (but she was nice), and the hostess came off rather unfriendly and snooty. I guess she has to deal with all sorts of kids coming in from Sunset Place, but smile for once, eh? That and the menu design sucks. Get some better fonts, yo.
(2)Manny D.
Best shakes in town! Best ice cream desserts in town! Five words: Sourdough Cheeseburger Out Of Control!
(4)Renee D.
I sooo agree with effie c. on the retirement home thing!! I don't know what it is - but this place should be a little more lively - I remember walking into a swensen's as a kid and thinking that I was in heaven. This one just lacks vivacity. The lights are always very low in here - and I really think there should be something to do for your kid when that sugar kicks in - like a plastic play center in the middle or something. My kid ends up running in circles around the booths. The ice cream display, as well as the decor seem to be from 1970 too - kinda a drab - don't think we'll be back here again - the only reason I give you 2 stars is because you have parking in both the front and the back - AND next door is a liquor store - so I can kill two birds with one stone :) jajajajaja
(2)Yaxel C.
I used to think a long time ago this place was good. It's not anymore. Service was very slow, burgers are not fresh, you can tell when you bite a medium done burger, amount of fries is very small, for a kid, coke tastes more like water with flavor than anything else. Not what it used to be.
(3)Tiffany H.
Swensen's is really good for ice cream and sweets. The food is just okay, but the random ice cream menu is great. It's one of those places I like to drop by when I have a serious ice cream craving. Like the previous commenter said, the parking situation sucks completely, but I've never had an issue not getting parking.
(3)Alexis Y.
Regular diner fare with a few healthier options like turkey pita with avocado and alfalfa sprouts. When you want to be bad the sourdough melts are like a grilled cheese sandwich covered in a crispy cheese crust served with fries. They have an entire menu dedicated to ice cream and you if you choose not to share one of their outrageous sundaes they can make an individual portion upon request.
(3)Jacob C.
I remember the days of going to Swensen's when I was a kid and loving the food and the copious amounts of ice cream available. Either things looked better when I was a kid or the quality has steadily decreased over the years. I went in to Swensen's the other night with a friend and it looked exactly as I remembered from when I was a kid...which isn't a good thing because they haven't renovated or updated anything. They still had the same stained carpets that they had so many years ago. It smelled like a wet mop inside the building. So my friend and I decided to get our ice cream to go since we didn't want to sit around with the gross smell.
(3)Effie C.
This place needs some help before it goes the way of Beverly Hills Cafe in South Miami. The food is alright but it feels like one of those retirement home cafeterias so it's hard to guage how good your food is when your eyes are scanning the premises for health code violations. The decor is ugly and outdated and something just doesn't feel CLEAN about the place in general. I declare "bleecchhh" until they do something about this dumpy ass restaurant.
(2)Melissa V.
I would usually come here with my mother to see my Aunt because she was in Kendall and we were in North Miami. This time, it was me with her and my hubby. He didn't really like the idea and I can totally understand. My face was oily at end of a meal here, especially from those fries. I had to share the palomilla steak with my mother. I liked their ice-cream, though. Also, parking is never good here, you don't want to get your car towed for parking in Spec's or Crown Wine. Their salads are the way to go next time.
(3)Crissy B.
I'd been going to Swensen's on a somewhat-regular basis since I was about 5 years old. I'm 27 now, so I guess you could say I was a fan. But alas, things change. They've recently changed management, waitstaff, and raised prices obscenely, so I'm no longer a loyal patron. My fondest memory of Swensen's was going in a group of friends/parents as a kid and ordering one of their kid's meals. It came in a little paper trolley car with a coupon for a free ice cream attached at the bottom (do they even still have those?). I'm not sure what it was. The vintage tiffany lamps? The marble table tops? The delicious ice cream shakes? The kitschy 80's decor? The grilled cheese sandwiches with thick, seasoned steak fries? Swensen's was definitely my Miami spot for comfort food. But I think I saw the place through rose-colored glasses. I took a real look at Swensen's this afternoon. Lunch on Sunday at 2pm isn't the best idea. The hostess was flaky (said a 5 min. wait, turned out to be a 25 min. wait), and upon further inspection, it was all a mess. My mom complained about cracks in her glass and undercooked French fries, while my big problem was with the "you're like everyone else" treatment. What I used to relish about Swensen's was the Cheers-like atmosphere, with waiters and managers knowing regulars by name. But that's no more. Though the food's still decent, the prices are pretty steep for the value. $4.85 for what used to be a $4.45 grilled cheese sandwich, with smaller portion sizes? I kind of feel tricked. If you dare try it anyway, avoid lunch and dinner rushes. It gets pretty loud with all the customers trying to talk over each other. And the "well behaved" children running around and screaming at the top of their lungs? An added bonus. NOT.
(2)Karen O.
Lets be honest here.... this place is for pure, unadulterated indulgence. The ice cream creations are extravagant and everything else has "comfort food" written all over it (yes, even the salads and the veggie sandwich). Good for when you don't want fast food, but also don't want actual sit-down restaurant (and also, don't feel like parking at Sunset Place to go to Johnny Rocket's). Servers are usually hit or miss, although they tend to lean towards hit. And parking can be hell (same for getting seated) during super busy hours. Come during the day for a quick nibble or a sweet treat!
(3)Arturo M.
Ice Cream was good. I haven't tried the food though. So... Yeah.
(3)cristina o.
I have never really gotten the obsession with this place. the ice cream is alright and the food is just not that good. too me this place is all empty calories.
(2)J C.
Wow!! An Authentic Ice Cream Parlour.. just like the old school ones that closed down in SoCal.. I ended up going here for ice cream.. It was good. Great atmosphere.. It is Sit down with waiter service. We had a good experience. I hope they bring these back out west.
(4)Bob L.
The front of the menu at Swensen's says "A Taste of San Francisco" or something along those lines...apparently this vintage 80's chain of ice cream parlors originated in SF. I"ve heard SF has had great restaurants over the years with top-notch attention to detail. Appparently in the case of Swensens that attention to detail got way-laid in Wichita on it's way to Miami... I'm not a fussy eater..heck..I'm in the business. But I would like a cup of coffee that doesn't have Aunt Millies lipstick stains all over the rim..or the 2nd cup with the mysterious brown blob stuck to the side of the cup of coffee...ugh. Service was decent..but after I sent the first cup of coffee back, maybe he should have CHECKED the second cup... I had a strawberry shortcake and my date had a small sundae. Neither were anything special. The strawberry topping was all "straw" and no "berry" and the ice cream tasted vaguly like a grocery store house brand... Went to the cashier to pay the bill and got the obligatory.."How was everything." I promptly told her that I couldn't drink my coffee as the cups were encrusted. She looked at me very politely, apologized and then proceeded to ring up my check...WITH the coffee.. Maybe in San Francisco this place would be a winner..but here in Miami it's just another mediocre restaurant iwth a kitschy theme...
(2)Lorena L.
Food was pretty good and desserts were ok. For being a place with such an extensive dessert menu it was pretty disappointing when they came out. Server, Cassandra, was nice but a little distant. Probably wont return as I found it expensive for the value you get.
(3)Y P.
What can I say, I love me some ice cream. And this place has a large selection. Heck, they have an extensive menu just based on it apart from the actual food menu. I don't really recommend this place for food but for the ice cream its satisfying. You know how they say that pizza is like sex and how even if its bad its good? Well, I feel the same about ice cream. Not saying that this ice cream is bad but its not the best in the world. They serve up pretty good sundaes and banana splits and really mean milkshakes. I would go with those. But if for some reason you feel like proving your manliness you can go for the earthquake, a 8 scoop and 3 topping mountain of awesomeness that might be a challenge for more than one. I wouldn't mind coming back here but its not a place I'll go out of my way for. Oh, and parking sucks, as you have read from the past reviews.
(3)Vincent R.
oh, how i wish for a rating less than 1... where to start with the Roast of Swenson's? the ugly-ass decor? the shitty, generic food? the perennially bad service? the overpriced, wannabe-Friendly's ice cream? i really don't know what else to say about Swenson's. i ate there twice: once with my ex, and once on a date with another guy. the first time it was a horrible experience, but i chalked it up as "oh, maybe the restaurant was having an Off Night. maybe it's usually better than this." well, shucks folks, my second experience was just as bad. i can't say enough bad things about their ice cream, which they tout as the reason for their "popularity." shit-cream would be a better description. it is outrageously overpriced for what you get. anyone from up north probably knows Friendly's, and anyone who knows Friendly's knows that a Reese's Pieces Sundae shouldnt cost more than $5 and should be loaded with reese's pieces. well, the sorry-ass skank of a sundae i was greeted with was fucking $9, had about one scoop of ice cream covered in 8 metric tons of Cool Whip, and had NO reese's pieces on it -- just a crude dollop of peanut butter and hot fudge. seriously, Swenson's, you can go fuck yourself with a rusty chainsaw for all i care. you can marry Ann Coulter and mate with her and create noxious evil vermin to plague humanity, and then choke and die. you are a sad, miserable place and i truly wish i could give you a rating less than 1... but Yelp won't let me, so i guess you get off easy after all. grumble :\
(1)Keith P.
Swensen's is a popular University of Miami hangout for college students, and it's old-school 1980s ambience is a testimony of that. In regards to the food, it is tasty, but the quality is less than average. The food is similar to Johnny Rockets and is a little bit greasy. Not the place to go if you are looking to eat healthy. However, on the positive side, if you are currently looking to satisy your sweet tooth, get one of the ice cream desserts. They are all amazing! Heavy but good.
(3)Rebecca C.
Swensen's is one of my favorite places in Miami. I can't believe I hadn't reviewed it yet and not many people have! Best place for ice cream sundaes, hands-down. This is the place you go on first dates and you want to share a huge sundae with an overload of ooey gooey toppings your waist probably doesn't need. Or this is the place you bring your kid when they deserve a special treat for finishing that science project, Or this is the place you go for late night eats with your close friends after a movie. Or this is the place you want to grab a bite of "American-style" food, ya know, old fashioned USA diner type of burgers, fries, and sandwiches. Or this is the place if you are in the area and hungry. Or you want to break your diet and treat yourself to a malted milkshake. This is the place. To the overly cutesy or some may say tacky, tiffany-style lamps throughout, to the old-fashioned red booths to sit at. This is the place. Oh Swensen's please be here for years to come! PS you can add fresh avocado to any sandwich. so worth it.
(4)Raul V.
We went for some ice cream and everything was great. A huge variety of ice cream flavors and combinations to put together your ultimate sundae. The service was perfect and the actual place was very nice and comfortable. We will definitely be back for our movie nights at Sunset place.
(5)Stephanie M.
This is a must-stop place for icecream in Miami. The menu options were so extensive, it took me nearly ten minutes to decide on what to order--- not that anything on the menu was inedible! I think I finally landed on the Malted chocolate something-or-other. It was a glorious mound of chocolate/malt flavored icecream decorated with malt ball candies, chocolate fudge, a fancy cookie stick with the quintessential real whipped cream and cherry on top. It was all served up in a beautiful real-glass parfait dish on a glass plate. Delivery was beautiful, and of course the icecream itself ---- DELICIOUS. As other reviews have mentioned, parking is horrible. They have at most 5 parking spots dedicated to thier establishment, 2 of which are handicapped reserved spaces. BUT if you don' t mind walking your icecream calories off, it is worth the walk. I too was surprised upon walking in that it is a full restaurant--- like a more upscale Village Inn. I can only speak for the icecream, but I am sure the food is good too. I am not sure how accomodating this place can be for super-large groups, since the dining area appears pretty tight to begin with. It can be very busy here because of its proximity to the University of Miami, but do not let it deter you from experiencing the icecream, for at least once in your life!! I love how quaint this establishment is, and if I lived in Miami I would frequent this place all the time!
(5)Andrea A.
It has been there forever, and frankly I forgot about it for many years (maybe a good thing because it is so good). The food is ok, but what you are going there is for the ice cream. They still have many of the ice cream treats I remember as a kid. The sticky chewy chocolate is still great. Now that Specs just closed next door, I hope this does not happen to Swensons. It really is one of the best in Miami.
(4)Morgan M.
Swensen's used to be my monthly ice cream splurge, but everything on their menu is so expensive now that I choose the TCBY across from UM for my sweet tooth. Less fat and calories and you're in control of how much you want to spend.
(3)Mitch A.
If you're jumping on Yelp to whine that the food is unhealthy.. Not sure why you went to an ice cream store for dinner. I've been here a few times, after Church on Sunday, for dessert on a Saturday and sporadic lunches and dinners. That said, the service has always been good, exactly what I expect from a place like this. You can read the other reviews.. It's true, there are no waiters with white towels folded delicately over their forearms. The food has been consistently good, and again, exactly what I would expect from a place like this. It's American food. There are quite a few healthy choices, to include a mushroom sandwich. They have tons of ice cream sundaes, all very delicious I'm sure! I stick to the oreo one! If you want something fancy, drive on, if you want casual American divining with a ginormous variety of sundaes and you're not going to destroy your budget then stop by Swenson!
(5)Dewey C.
I needed a sweet after my dry Ruben at the Bagel Emporium so right down the street is Swenson's. I first discovered them in Massachusetts years ago and I liked it then and I still do. The raspberry sherbet is one of the best I have ever had. Their Freeze Frappe (with milk) is wonderful. My friends had been turned off by their earlier experience at the deli and were still hungry. They all had little pzzas (Three Cheese) and I tried a slice. It was really very good. Imagine pizza in an ice cream parlour. They had the raspberry Freeze Frappe and concured with my opinion. The decor is old ice cream parlor and just right. The wait person, young girl, could not have been nicer even though she was overloaded with customers. It's nice to see that something stays the same in Dade County.
(4)Leslie G.
Walking distance from the shoppes @ Sunset Place. I was introduced to this place by my Sis yrs ago & man oh man i'm glad she did. I have never has one complaint. Burgers & sandwiches are awesome. Desserts the best part. My fav is the Mint Chocolate Chip! Also My sister's love the Chicken Pita's There is parking in the back as well. Friendly & fast Service.
(5)Ali L.
Swensen's has long been a loved location in south miami. It continues to carry it's name! amazing ice cream :) love it here
(5)Kristy D.
Swensen's is the home of my favorite dessert (the candy bar sundae) so when I'm in the mood to indulge a craving for sweets, this place is usually at the top of my list. Though they are well-known for their ice cream, they also have a great selection of lunch and dinner items, most of which are as undeniably delicious as their desserts. From soups and salads to burgers, wings, wraps and sandwiches, this place has something for everyone. I always order a side of ranch and honey mustard to dip the fries into since both are very good and I can never decide which one is better so I just get one of each (they recently started adding a surcharge for the sauces, which annoyed me a bit at first but it's only about 30 cents each sauce and is totally worth it so I still get them). There is also a lighter fare section for those who are counting calories. In addition to great food and desserts, Swensen's has some pretty fantastic servers that are very friendly and bring out your order quickly so my experience with the service here has always been favorable. Overall, Swensen's is a great choice for those who are looking for good food and good service at decent prices.
(4)Enrique C.
Big fan of Swensen's! I have been coming here since high school and it's always been a great place for an old fashioned shake or ice cream. They have very tasty burgers and sandwiches. I came here recently for a malted milk shake with my favorite couple, The Doctors. They had chocolate & I had vanilla. Has to be one of the best milk shakes I have had in a long time. This would be a great place to take children for ice cream if you are all Cold Stone'd out, if that is even possible! Or a great place to take a date.
(4)Johnny L.
Review for the dessert part only. We came here after grabbing some sushi and just wanted to get some ice cream. My friend told me he saw some ice cream shop down US-1 so off we went. Swensen's is located right next to Spec's Music and shares the same crappy parking lot. It's like 3 spots for the whole place....crap. We didn't know it was an actual restaurant, I just figured it was an ice cream parlor. The restaurant is nice though and kind of reminds me of a mellowed down Johnny Rockets. (Very old-fashioned). They gave us the hot food menu which looked like it had some decent things like cheese sticks, chicken tenders, club sandwiches, and burgers....but at higher prices than i imagined. DId I read it right!? $10.65 for a Regular burger?? (Please correct if wrong) We quickly asked for the desserts menu which was pretty large. I was pretty full so I only wanted something small. There is nothing small. If you want ice cream for a meal, come to this place. You won't be disappointed. The prices hovered around $5-7 for a variety of items from sundaes, ice creams, and such. They even have smoothies. Ordered a cupcake with ice cream. The cupcake was tiny but good enough. And the ice cream scoop came in a small little cup. This cost close to $6. The others got sundaes that looked better but they paid close to $7 each for theirs. As far as value and bang for your buck, I wouldn't come back to this place. Giving it 2 stars cause...well...."meh, I've experienced better". It wasn't bad, but there are other options.
(2)Nancy G.
My family and I have been stopping by Swensen's for years. Although I cannot say much about their food; I can tell you, you should never pass the opportunity to have one of their huge and yummy sundaes.
(4)Francois L.
Went to get some ice cream with my son ( 13) and 3 of his friends after school. Ice cream was very good, but price I thought for counter ordering was expensive. each boy had 2 scoops in a plastic cup $6 each, give me a break! i had one scoop on a cone 3,90..then again ,HaguenDaz is more expensive.. who knows, maybe I just don't get out enough. The entrance and atmosphere was so like when I first went in 1980 ! over 30 years ago, time for new carpet ...right? total 28 dollars
(3)Dan B.
Bad food and mediocre ice cream. The rundown interior, combined with flashy, brightly-colored menu is strangely depressing. The food menu here is uninspired, based entirely on appetizers, kiddie food and sandwiches (whether they be hamburgers, pita sandwiches, or regular-ass sandwiches). I figured I was safe with the hamburger, but unfortunately the resulting meat quality was so sketchy I was actually a little worried, leaving part of it on the plate. Fries were greasy, limp and soggy, so I barely touched them. The wife's cobb salad looked like iceberg lettuce covered with sliced lunch meat from the supermarket. er...Nummy. As for the ice cream, what can I say, it's just your standard, scoop-style ice cream, though the restaurant tendency is to sell it in the "big ass container full of assorted flavors and toppings" configuration. After some searching, we found it is possible to get one scoop or single cone, but the staff may look at you with pity for not overindulging like everyone else. It's family friendly, grandma likes it,and the kids liked their mini pizzas, so unfortunately I may be back.
(2)Cristy M.
Okay ever since I was a little kid I've been coming here and its great! Sandwiches, Burgers, and Best of All the ICE CREAM!! My favorite sandwich is the Forty-Niner, the Hamburgers are delicious too. We ended our meal with a banana split. The ice cream here is unlike any other and for me could be possibly the best in Miami. I stick t the plain Chocolote and Vanilla flavors but they are super creamy.
(4)Nydia M.
I'd give this place 4 stars if it weren't for the craptastic parking situation. They have about 4 spots out front and about 6-8 out back. Unless you want to pay for metered parking, good luck finding an empty spot to park your car in. Parking in the spots assigned to the other nearby businesses means your car will be towed before you've even been seated. Now...the food. Swensen's has great sandwiches and salads. Even though they're known for their ice cream sundaes, I've never had one (I'm also not morbidly obese). They all look huge and calorie-filled. So if you're in the mood to stuff your face with frozen goodness (perhaps after a stressful life event? Go ahead and be an emotional eater!) Swensen's is the place to go! They have a bunch of sandwiches on the menu that come with that cheesy Sizzler-style bread...Mmm....
(3)Steve S.
Finally, Swensens is back on our radar. I used to come here all the time as a kid, then drove myself since high school. I worked at AMC Bakery Centre 7 so that shows I know the place well. I even brought my wife and kids here but a few years back the menu felt boring and just didn't do it for us. Unfortunately, we would only come for the dessert. Now, fast forward to today and Swensens is now back on the radar. The new revamped menu is amazing. Coming back soon!
(5)Carlos V.
Would have been 2.5. New chef, jacked up prices? Whoa! $15 cheeseburger? No thanks. Those "gourmet" burger places are that, overpriced. Sad this place joined that burger hype and pricing too. Anyway, food is good as always, just not digging these silly food prices. Not sure I'll frequent weekly anymore.
(2)Iliana R.
I mean WOW ! I have not been here in years but I was not expecting it to be this good! New chef and menu and he's bringing it on! I had the NICA burger which is a ground beef patty topped with fried Latin cheese, maduros (sweet plantain) , vinegar marinated cole slaw and chimichuri sauce. It came with a side of onion rings that were divine! Everything was on point and I will definitely visit again! Nice to see this place doing so well after so many years :)
(4)Christina H.
One of the best burgers I've ever had "Nica" Burger. Highly suggested by the Sever. Looking forward to coming back and trying the Krispy Kreme burger mix
(5)Rocio R.
Came here without planning but I have to say, what a great mistake. Discovered they have truffle Parmesan fries which are AMAZING. I'd like to try their sundaes next time.
(4)Jeanine M.
Love love love swensens! If you're ever in the mood for diner food that's tasty and cheap, please don't settle for Denny's! Swensens has it all and more. The place has been there for years and it's really done a nice job by changing up the menu. It's open late which is great for all those late night cravings, it's near the university so it makes sense. Been coming here for years and have never been disappointed. Today was a dessert crave. I ordered the cookies n mint sundae and left with my sweet tooth beyond satisfied.
(5)Lauren M.
I have been coming to this restaurant for years. They have simple dishes and big portions. I noticed that they have new menus. I ordered the protein wrap, but I do not think that is what the waitress brought me. It was supposed to have egg and avocado, but the wrap didn't have that inside. I found corn and beans inside. The wrap was still good and we didn't complain about it. We were all so hungry! My mom ordered a side of vegetables and they brought a HUGE plate full. We were all so tempted to order ice cream, which is always delicious, but we decided not to. It wasn't easy!!! If you want a quick simple meal, this restaurant is for you!
(4)C S.
Good food and the best ice cream creations. Gourmet burger is a great option... Never a long wait. Been coming to this place since way back in high school.
(4)Cristy M.
So I hadn't been to this place in years ... Like since high school but after reading about the new chef and menu on Burger Beast's blog I made it a priority. I went with the hubby and kids and have to say that I was underwhelmed. The prices are very aggressive given the setting and subpar service. I don't think this place has been given a good cleaning in years. It feels dirty and old. We weren't impressed with our $13 nachos or $13 burger. It wasn't bad per se - but it wasn't memorable or something I absolutely have to eat again. The ice cream we shared was pretty good but again nothing out of this world. I would say the prices were worth it if the place was a bit nicer or if the ingredients were fresher or better quality.
(2)Anabelle C.
Great spot after a movie with kids . Best chocolate milk shakes in South Miami. The kids got to sample several ice team flavor a before settling in the mint chocolate chip wish is super creamy. For parents they have a pretty good paleo menu and several light options so to can save room for dessert . Love this place staple after every movie night with the family .
(4)Lou T.
Like many other locals Swensen's was a childhood staple. As an adult I found the food less appetizing and Swensen's became that place you just drove by and briefly acknowledged for the memories. When I learned that they had a new menu I decided to try it with my own children. The inside was just as I remembered it, but the food wasn't anything like the tired diner fare. The server recommended we try the artichoke dip. It was full of chunky artichokes and creamy goodness (a must try). The kids ordered the Mac and cheese and it was homemade deliciousness (nice touch). I had a patty melt that was cooked perfect! It was melt-in-your-mouth situation with onions and sauce. We also tried specialty ranch fries (our first time trying ranch on anything) and they were excellent. Of course we finished with their cookie sundae...we were shocked that it looked just like the picture AND tasted exactly like we imagined. I'm looking forward to trying more items from the new menu and making new Swensen's memories with my own children.
(5)Charlie R.
Just had the chicken wings at Swensens they where great. And the Volcano burger is the best. Wings are juicy and meaty , the burger was cooked to perfection
(5)Mercedes G.
Wow!!!! After coming to Swensen's for over 20 years and enjoying their desserts, I was pleasantly surprised when I came 3 weeks ago and was given their new menu... WOW is all I can say!! I ordered their burger and it was amazing, hand crafted, juicy, just perfect!!! My kids got their favorite popcorn chicken, even that has been perfected!!! The presentation was beautiful!!! I was very impressed and so happy that they have made such an awesome change!! I highly recommend that you consider Swensen's the next time ur out with the family... I did.. I'm back today!!!
(5)Sara S.
We stopped here more for the nostalgia factor, at husband and I both grew up eating at Swenson's. The food was good, but pricey for what it was. $7 for a kids meal with Kraft Mac and cheese is ridiculous. Our paleo burger was good, but after waiting a half an hour it came out cold. Overall, I might go back, but probably more for dessert than dinner.
(3)Jessica A.
Haven't been to this place in years but i happened to be working in the area so i decided to give it a try. This is not the place I remember. I had the Philly cheesesteak with sweet potato fries. It came with some sort of marshmallow cream sauce. My co worker had what they call the burger melt which looked amazing cooked medium rare just like it should be. Both were delicious. I definitely wasn't expecting to have such amazing food at a place known for its ice cream.
(5)Felipe Z.
Been coming here for years this Icecream parlor/restaurant although I've never really ate any food there but the Icecream concoctions are whats up. My favorite is the Oreo overload.
(4)Ramtothe R.
I absolutely love this place. Actually, I really don't know why because the only thing that I order when I go is the chicken Ceasar salad. This is the best chicken Caesar salad I've had but I would recommend asking it without the black olives, yuck!!! Parking is the only issue.
(3)Kris K.
It wasn't at all what I thought it would be, I'm in Miami to visit a sick friend and the kids were so good all day I thought I would take them to an ice cream place for dinner, this place isn't your usual ice cream diner, it's great! I ordered a Berry Salad, the presentation was beautiful, full of fruit strawberries, blackberries, fresh lettuce and the chicken actually tasted like fresh chicken! I highly recommend this salad! I didn't taste the kids food but it looked good, prices are reasonable and my server was busy but available, she looked at her tables often and stopped to ask how things were after we had a chance to try the food. There was a small mix-up on my ice cream order and the waitress saw my wave and fixed it immediately! I love great restaurants!
(5)Melissa F.
I was reluctently dragged here by a friend. It'd been at least a year since I'd last eaten here and hadn't been impressed then. All I can say is a lot has changed in a year! The menu seems different more modem than I remember. I had truffle fries and the volcano burger and topped it all off with a scoop of ice cream. The fries were crispy and delicious and the burger would hold up against any hipster burger bar. Couldn't have hoped for a better meal! I will definitely be back.
(5)Madai C.
I've been coming to this place for over 23 years. I have GREAT family and friends memories. I'll keep coming with my son and family. The chicken wings with bleu cheese and hit sauce are a MUST. This is where i learned to LOVE chicken wings. For ice cream I love the mocha almond fudge super sundae or the ones with brownie :) I also really like the chicken pita pocket. The fries are awesome too and So is the sour cream burger. The joint is hands down amazing ! Will keep coming back as long as I can ! I love Swensens !!
(5)Nick R.
New menu is on point! Burgers are only rivaled by their desserts. I had the burger melt. And I chased it down with a chocolate milkshake and Oreo overload. Heard they're starting brunches soon. If this new menu is a preview of what that's gonna be like, they'll be dealing with me on Sunday's as well as the rest of the week.
(5)Frank E.
This place is always there for me. If I can't decide what to get I always know what I can have. The parking is tight, but there are usually places around back. Just make sure you don't take one of Crown Wine's spaces. Haven't seen them tow but you never know. Whenever I go I always get my usual. The Sourdough Cheeseburger. I get them to sub out the beef for the veggie patty. Always so good. The crispy cheese grilled on the outside of the bread. The cheddar cheese and super veggie patty inside. Round that out with the fries and an Ice Tea and I am happy! If there is room they have a full line of Ice creams and other sweets.
(4)Bri B.
Greasy, fatty, delicious junk food! I love the turkey avocado sandwich, no peppers. However, unless I have two hours to spend to get a sandwich, I'd rather go elsewhere. There is never a wait to sit, but the service sucks, and there is a wait for everything else.
(3)Tina A.
Ice cream is just OK. $4.25 for a small cup. If you are looking for something special, not worth it.
(3)Jenny F.
Not sure what has happens to this place but it's AMAZING! Their extensive menu had plenty of options for everyone and the food was incredible!!! We ordered the Paleo Veggie Burger, Bacon Ranch Burger and started off with the Pork Belly Mac. All the items were great and the service was on point. Very clean and friendly... We had a great time and definitely will be back!
(5)Ian T.
I remember going occasionally to this Swensen's when I was a kid and enjoying their sundaes and old-timey ice cream parlor atmosphere. I admit that my memories might have been a bit rose-tinted. So when my wife and I made a spontaneous decision to go to Swensen's with a friend, I was a bit let down at the somewhat Denny's-like atmosphere, with only minor nods to the "brass and tile" old fashioned ice cream parlor ambiance. Either way, the restaurant definitely shows its age and has seen better days. But it's about the ice cream, right? The choices are numerous, with many creative and intriguing sundaes, splits, shakes and sodas, including some truly monstrously size concoctions that allow a whole family to enjoy a single treat. We didn't try the actual food (as we had already eaten) so this review is purely about the ice cream. Verdict: it was ok. We shared the U.S. Mint sundae, described as: "Thin Mint cookie ice cream with hot fudge and crème de menthe toppings spooned into tall glass and capped with a creamy whip-plus a drizzle of crème de menthe. finishing touches include a rolled wafer, a cherry and a sprig of genuine mint." The actual ice cream is ok, but frankly you would get better at Hagen Dasz, Ben & Jerry's, Coldstone, Baskin Robbins etc. The presentation was cute, and very appealing, and what makes the sundae is the topping and extras. One item is that it's a lot of flavoring, such as the mint gel, versus ingredients like genuine mint leaves etc., so its a lot of artificial flavorings. It's fun, and probably nice for the kids. I enjoyed it when I was young. As an adult, who still loves ice cream, I confess I'd go elsewhere. I give it three starts because it's definitely not bad... just OK.
(3)Mark L.
New menu was AWESOME! Was not expecting what was in store when I went. Pork Belly mac n cheese was great! All the different types of fries were delicious (we tried three different kinds!) and the new burger selection blew me away. (South Beach Burger was out of hand). Looking forward to going back with this new menu!
(5)Carlos R.
As dated as iconic, stuck in the time when greasy and unhealthy food was the only option. Really bad quality food overpowers the fainted "nostalgia" decor of a vintage ice cream parlor. Overpriced junk food.
(2)David C.
We drove by this place many times but finally decided to give it a shot. Boy were we not disappointed. The parking is pretty small as it only has room for about 5 cars (I'm not sure if they have another place for parking) but we were lucky that there was an open spot right in the front. I don't know how long the place been open but it has that 1950's decor and feel (minus the flat screens) which is a plus. The food is out of this world and there are many options to choose from. Make sure to leave room for dessert because there shouldn't be any reason you come here and not try one of the many choices of ice cream desserts.
(5)Alexander M.
Been coming here for years. Always dependable. But this time much has changed. Burgers went from $9 to $14. New menu. I was shocked. WTF! Gave it a chance anyway. The veggie burger was $14 and well worth it. Fresh patty made from scratch and tastes like it. All dishes came out promptly and food was tasty. Staff knowledgeable and friendly.
(4)Carlos M.
Been here a couple of time, love their burgers and season fries. Sometimes though it's bit clean as you see fries in the floor... Hate that! Their water is directly from the faucet which is in the middle of the restaurant Waiter was nice and friendly Ice cream are amazing!!! You should try the chocolate brownie fudge ice cream! Highly recommending it!! Space is a bit small and parking is really bad Will I be back? Yes I will
(4)Mahmoud A.
It's been a while since I've eaten at Swensen's. Probably ten years. Not because I didn't like it but mostly life. So I heard that there was a revamped menu. I was excited to go back after a long hiatus. Well I will be coming back more often after my first bite. The new menu consists of mostly burgers and sandwiches. I highly recommend a visit to try the new items.
(5)Madeline A.
Childhood memories. Ice cream is delicious. Especially the birthday cake. But it's extremely unhealthy. A place to go once in a while. It's always great when you do.
(3)Meghan R.
We went here on the recommendation of a friend. We originally planned on having ice cream for dinner, but ended up going with the sandwiches because they looked so good. I had the Sourdough Cheeseburger and my mom had the Grilled Ham & Cheese on Sourdough. Both sandwiches were huge and very tasty. They came with a large helping of steak fries that were cooked perfectly. I really wish we'd had more room because the sundaes sounded and looked amazing! Parking is a bit of a pain. There are only 4 spots out front and if you havent been there you wouldn't know about the additional parking in the back. One of the employees even said how sometimes she can't find a place to park when she comes to work. So make sure to keep that in mind.
(4)Abram K.
For anyone who grew up south of Downtown Miami, this place is an institution. However, my most recent visit saw many upgrades to become a bit more of the times. Sure, the GREAT ice scream (the best malts anywhere) and the sourdough grill sandwiches are still incredible. My chicken sourdough grill that I have ordered for many years now has fresh sautéed vegetables included and is tastier than ever. The legendary old style fries are the same wonderfulness, but now come in a little canister. I invited the manager to the table to tell him that "I don't like change!" He was very nice and told me their only goal is not to be just the same, but to improve as well. And I noticed that now there are more than a dozen burgers available, more than ever before. It's still the great Swensen's, and I think better than ever. They still give me the several extra malt balls in my fantastic chocolate malt, so that will always get my vote!
(5)Scott T.
This place has a California restaurant/fast food feel to it and I like that because it's very rare especially here in Miami. The customer service was good. But What I think people don't understand is that the food is more of a side attraction to the ice cream. All in all this is a good fast food if you want more quantity and quality (don't get me wrong the quality isn't fantastic but it's still better than other fast foods) but make sure you get ice cream or a sundae if go.
(4)Elizabeth G.
i love swensens. i love their burgers and the homemade ice cream is to die for. i highly recommend swensens. great place to go with the family and friends.
(5)Hernani A.
I've had the best sweet potatoe fries in rhis place! Ans a salmon bagel that was amazing too. I like that is kind of and old place but keeps being updated and is pretty clean and neat. Is not the place to go on a date, more like for families and kids.
(4)Emily W.
I'm from NC, visiting family in Miami. We used to have a swensens in greensboro and I loved it. It was a classic diner-type place that had amazing food. The Swensen's here is grungy. I know that they just replaced the booths and that is a huge improvement. The food is good, it's typical diner food- cheeseburgers and grilled cheese. They are known for their desserts which are phenomenal. Their ice cream is good but I'm not a big ice cream fan. I always get the caramel nut brownie but without the nuts and it's very good.
(3)Miguel M.
The ice cream is really bad in taste and quality. It's just a bunch of toppings and whipped cream. If you are the kind of person that wants truly good ice cream, the kind that you can savor on its own, then this isn't the place for you. If you're the kind of person that enjoys drowning ice cream in Hershey's syrup or caramel (or have kids who like that) then this is the place for you. My friend that came with me thought it was "decent" (I thought t was loathsome, then again he also eats McDonald's mcflurries and lives them). I guess it's a matter of taste and it's one star taste for me. It actually seemed very family friendly, but I'm in my 20s and single so my review doesn't really consider that aspect (if you're a parent then you probably would give it more stars than me for ambiance). Also service was pretty poor. The staff wasn't particularly cheery or helpful, nor were they attentive. They took my order and brought my food (didn't refill our water or ask if we wanted anything else and we didn't even come near closing). So I can't really give them more stars for service.
(1)Peggy G.
Classic. Great service and food. Super accommodating and knowledgeable of their ingredients. Had a great mid week meal. Fresh hamburger wrapped in lettuce. Huge portion with fresh avocado. My daughter enjoyed her turkey melt and had great mint ice cream. Great gf choice.
(5)JoAnn C.
I've been coming here since a child. It use to be a place where it was affordable to take your fam out. Not any longer! Really? $14 4a burger?!? I was starving and Thot let me just order. Waitress asks,"onions raw or sautéed?" I said "raw" then she says there will b a charge 4 onions. What!! For raw onions!! Unbelievable and super greedy the owner to do that! We decided to skip the burger and only order our banana split. We get the banana split with NO banana!! Waitress comes w/no apology. Ok,worse is she went to give us one sliced banana and expects us to put the banana in ourselves! Omg! Never again! We demanded a whole new banana split. She disgruntled, took it back. We got a new one w/lousy banana Not2 mention small scoops of IC and a $10bill 4it.the waitress I might add came in the door w/us and didn't even wash her hands as she was our waitress and IC maker along w/the tall Indian manager who makes IC and does construction work as peeps eat. Doesn't wash hands! We bounced! Gave our $10 responsibly and left for FLANIGANS! $8.99 for burger w side and FREE RAW ONIONS! We also order an amazing IC dessert of 6.99 we were stuffed. Plus we had music a great waitress and environment! FLANIGANS manager even came and asked us if we wer all gud! With da place packed! Our NEE SPOT IS FLANNIGANS! GO THERE PEOPLE DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY TO HAVE IT PUT IN THE POCKET OF THIS GREEDY OWNER/OWNERS AT dispecable Swensens. Funny, what do they think..it's a high end burger joint on da beach? N O TTTTT! Get real and go back to what people enjoyed. We will NEVER be back. EVER. Been coming for over 20years what a shame.
(1)Aisha M.
Growing up this place use to be our weekend lunch or dinner. My parents would love to bring my sister and I here. It use to be extremely popular and busy but I've noticed that over the years the hype seems to have died down. My fav item on their menu is the tuna croissant sandwich with a side of mozzarella sticks
(5)Mima A.
If I could leave zero stars I would.parking is a pain in the butt.bathroom was dirty.im just going to write all the horrible things I saw.i just to come here and eat ice cream.it was nice.the prices keep going up the service keeps going down.dirty cups and utensils .i got a spoon with crusty food on it ewww.salad is over priced for a head of lettuce$12 .skip pop corn chicken they are salty terrible.even the fries were different.im never coming back.
(1)Anais S.
Falsely lists business closes at 1:00am. They turn customers away by 12:45am. Don't list 1:00am as closing time if you will not honor it. Horrible service.
(1)Nancy O.
Always a great spot for classic american food. Burger, salads and sandwiches galore!
(3)Irene A.
For what we craved tonight...burgers and sundaes, this place couldn't have been better. Great food and exellent service! Perfect!
(5)Haronyd M.
I've been a fan of Swensen's for a long time. I love to go there to have their sandwich, the forty-niner (named after the San Francisco 49ers), and then indulge in their selection of ice creams. I usually go during lunch time so there's not a wait. The staff has always been friendly and attentive. The sandwich itself is like a grilled cheese with swiss, ham, turkey and parmesan cheese crust on the outside. The fries that accompany the sandwich are AMAZING! I love all the different choices of sundaes and shakes but my favorite is the caramel brownie nut! I usually ask them to add hot fudge... YUM!! This is such a comfortable place to go for a splurge.
(4)Amabel D.
This place is running between average and ehhh... The interior is a diner style kind of restaurant. You can either choose to dine in or go straight to the ice cream station (they have a crap load of flavors to choose from). The staff was friendly, however our waitress managed to get my friend's order wrong TWICE for her entree and dessert -__- (and we were the only guest she was serving since there was a max of 2 other customers in the restaurant) As for food, it's okay, not amazing... A variety of sandwiches, burgers, wraps, salads, typical diner food, etc. What stood out was they have a Paleo menu and croissant sandwiches! The turkey and avocado croissant sandwich is pretty yummy and comes with your choice of fries, coleslaw, or veggies. For dessert, they have it's own separate menu, with a lot to choose from too (sundaes, parfaits, milkshakes). I assume the Chocolate Macadamia Sundae is a hit because my friend and I tried to order it but they were out (meaning it must behold right?) I ended up getting a coke float.. And let's just say I've had better. To end this.. This place is ok. I'd rather go to Steak N' Shake or even better Jaxon's hehe.
(2)David P.
Food was good, but the desert was AMAZING! Me and my wife agreed that we haven't had something that tasty in a while. We ha the caramel turtle chocolate something. We split it and it was more than enough.
(5)Kristal C.
Soooooo let's just say I was very disappointed in the ice cream. Of course that the original and overseas will be different but this was just eh. We pretty much went for fries. Never again.
(2)Joseph A.
I had heard about this place for 3 years and finally tried it. A COMPLETE DISAPPOINTMENT! I left feeling depressed and feeling like I was in a time warp. The place opened in 1971 and NOTHING has been changed or updated...except the prices. Many of the ice creams in the ice cream cases were half melted and looked very unappetizing. I ordered a sundae and chose 2 flavors that looked frozen, but the sundae was served to me half melted anyway. The caramel topping I asked for was added first I think rather than being poured on top of the ice cream...which left me with a glob of caramel at the bottom of my sundae dish. The ice cream had a grainy texture. Their website makes the establishment look like a fantastic and fun place for ice cream...comparable to Serendipity. Don't be fooled!! I'll NEVER return.
(1)Humberto O.
Ice-cream like this comes only once in a few thousand miles. Its flavor can delight any individual, regardless of age. Pair it up with a mouth-watering burger and let your tastebuds travel back to the time of great dinners.
(4)Yuniesquy H.
First time here and I gotta say it was GREAT! I like the decor it looks retro I know this lace has been open forever and now I know why. Great service, great food and amazing deserts! I'm coming back for sure!
(5)Paola N.
Great place for a family to have a good lunch/dinner and ice cream. Kids love it! Chocolate shake and french fries are my favorites. Great for birthday parties! :)
(5)Jeff W.
Excellent place for sundaes and shakes. Foods pretty good too! You might want to share a hamburger so there will be room for dessert. Portions are large
(4)Barby T.
This place was worth the wait ... I had the chicken fiesta wheat wrap minus the guacamole and it was delicious ... super full. They do have the ice cream menu which everything looks good but too full to try. Maybe next time ...
(5)Nicole M.
Delicious ice creams. My husband ordered his own Oreo madness, my mother a banana split and I got a chocolate lovers ice cream. We also ordered fries to have a combination of something salty and they were different and delicious.
(5)Rose S.
Nice diner. It is also an ice cream parlor. Sad its not open 24hrs but I understand why. The location of this place isn't exactly the place noticeable unless you're a local. Service was great. The woman was very helpful and sincere, couldn't ask for a better waitress (5 Stars). Food were the typical American food, it was okay. Steak fries was excellent, fresh and not to season. Swenson's Gourmet Burger was something odd although had a quite decent taste. Not so much to brag about but it was different, something I've not seen in California. We didn't get any dessert to try because it was around closing time. So we were nice enough to leave them with a less mess situation.
(3)Kathryn B.
Passed by last Friday after watching the Mouse King at The Mandelstam School! My friend's little cousin wanted ice cream, so naturally Swensen's being so close was the go-to. I hadn't been there in a while but I was shocked at all the new menu options. I opted for the I think it was called Southwestern Wrap? (guacamole, sour cream, cheese, chicken etc.. ) It was yummy and my friend's little cousin enjoyed a few bites as well. Fries... well you can't go wrong with fries. Overall you go here for burgers, fries and ice cream... you really can't go wrong.
(3)