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Welcome to The Swingin’ Door

The Swingin’ Door in San Mateo, CA offers delicious fish & chips in a lively pub setting with karaoke nights. Customers rave about the perfectly battered fish, crispy fries, and friendly service. While some mention minor cleanliness issues, the overall experience is enjoyable with a casual atmosphere. The outdoor seating, live music, and karaoke create a fun environment for patrons to unwind. The variety of drinks, including rare options like Russian River Pliny the Elder Double Pale Ale, adds to the appeal. If you're looking for a laid-back spot for good food, drinks, and entertainment, The Swingin’ Door is a must-visit.

LOCATIONS

Welcome to The Swingin’ Door, a beloved spot in San Mateo that offers a unique combination of Fish & Chips, Pubs, and Karaoke. Located at 106 E 25th Ave, this establishment is a go-to destination for those craving delicious seafood in a lively atmosphere.

When it comes to dining options, The Swingin’ Door has it all - from taking reservations to offering takeout and delivery services. You can enjoy your meal both indoors and outdoors, with the added bonus of free Wi-Fi and a full bar for your entertainment.

Customer reviews rave about the perfectly battered fish and crispy fries, making it a must-try for seafood enthusiasts. The homemade ketchup and generous portions of fish add to the overall dining experience. However, some patrons note that the atmosphere can be a bit divey, with sticky tables in need of a better cleaning.

One standout feature of The Swingin’ Door is its karaoke nights on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, where guests can showcase their vocal talents in a fun and welcoming environment. Live music on the outdoor patio adds to the charm of this venue, providing a cozy setting for late-night drinks and entertainment.

Overall, The Swingin’ Door offers a unique blend of tasty seafood, lively karaoke nights, and a casual pub atmosphere. Whether you're craving fish and chips or looking to enjoy some live music, this establishment has something for everyone. So, swing by and experience the flavors and fun of The Swingin’ Door for yourself!

START YOUR REVIEW OF The Swingin’ Door
Manny M.
Manny M.

I've been craving good fish n' chips for some time, cant find any place in the East Bay. By recommendation from a buddy, my wife and I came here the other weekend. WOW, delicious, perfectly battered, not like other places with thick batter that makes your stomach churn. And syrak fries, yummy! I like their homemade ketchup also. On the down side, it is kinda a dive bar, menus and tables are sticky, could use a better cleaning. As for my cravings, sure I'll be back.

D L.
D L.

We went here specifically for fish & chips and were not disappointed! I'm so happy to find a place that makes it right. The fish was perfectly flakey and tender and the outside was perfectly crunchy. The fish portions were generous. The steak fries were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, so good! Atmosphere is very casual and service id friendly. I would give 5 stars, but there were a couple of misses. The coleslaw we ordered was swimming in mayonnaise and inedible and I wish they had a better soft drink selection; we ended up drinking water. We look forward to trying the other items on the menu on our next visit.

Laura G.
Laura G.

Came in for lunch, Taylor the bartender, was fantastic. Personable, fun, and great service. Food was great, chipotle chicken sandwich, with perfect amount of spice and great steak fries. Loved the history and decor of the place.

Rosita L.
Rosita L.

I wouldn't say I'm a regular, but I enjoy going to this place. Every time we went there is always good time. Although last time I went on Sunday, it was so quiet and very few people. Unfortunately, I have never tried their legendary fish and chips!!! I will submit another review once I tried it. We tried irish slammer and it was great! This place has many varieties of drinks, and their bartenders always know their stuff.

Misha T.
Misha T.

Pretty solid fish and chips. Probably better than most? I do remember when this place was Prince of Wales and I think it was a little less dive-y then. Or maybe it's just rose colored glasses.

DANIEL W.
DANIEL W.

Haven't been here in a year they still serve a good fish and chips good beers on tap the bar tender is very friendly service is decent had lunch today and I'm happy see pictures

Annabelle R.
Annabelle R.

I used to come here for the dueling pianos, but it was usually dead upstairs with more guests coming to enjoy the karaoke on the lower level. Visiting this past weekend, years later since the last time I was here, I learned that they no longer have dueling pianos, which I think was a good decision (as much as I love dueling pianos). Karaoke is still the big hit here (along with their fish and chips of course). But they also had live music in their outdoor patio in the back, which was good cuz it was way too crowded for comfort inside when we arrived around 10pm on a Saturday. We enjoyed the sounds of island music on the keyboard, guitar, and vocals, some Bob Marley, and unique renditions of late 90's rnb, just good vibes all around. The outdoor setting was casual and cozy with picnic tables and a few other seating options available. By 10:45pm, the indoor crowd had diminished to something more manageable and we had a much easier time getting seating and service inside, to stay a little while longer and enjoy the karaoke entertainment. It felt like your friendly neighborhood bar (standard service and decent drinks, not the strongest but good flavor) and karaoke seemingly all performed by regulars, some interesting characters coming up on stage. It was fine. I'd stick with the live music outside though if I had to choose. Overall the place is far from perfect, but it's still one of my favorite spots in San Mateo for some late-night drinks and entertainment.

Renée M.
Renée M.

My friend recommended this place so we could do Karaoke plus she said the Fish n' Chips were good. You get the fish portions cut in chunks so all sides are crispy vs. long fish pieces. It was definitely crunchy & the fries were thick cut. It came with ketchup & tartar sauce. We also got the Hot Wings which were nicely done, no excess breading & had the hot sauce on the side so you could control your spice level. Had a few beers on tap including a Russian River Pliny the Elder Double Pale Ale. She said that's special as they don't offer this beer in many places. She's actually bought cases of beer at the brewery but was limited to 1 case/pp. She'd bring some friends to take advantage of the deal. I tried it but not into bitter beer so I tried the Hazy beer & loved it! It had a clean finish & sweet, fruity notes. Also fun was the Karaoke night! We sauntered back inside & were able to snag a table in an already packed area. There was a lively group who had a bday party & a lot of folks sang a song. They were all good. A few regulars went up to sing as well. My friend knew them as she frequents this often. Okay...she's a regular, LOL!! Lots of screens to read the lyrics & sing along with. Really fun place!