One of the first times I walked into Swine Dining, it was still the Old Fontenelle Gun Shop, my dad was working some part-time hours, and I had just finished school suspension at the “Success Center” across the street. I don’t remember what I did, but we can all rest assured it was an accumulation of infractions for either being late to class or talking too much. Of course, that was probably around the year 2000, and a lot has changed since then. I mean, I still talk way too much, but I’m not that late – not that often anyway. Oh, and that gun shop was turned into a delicious barbecue restaurant.

For years, Swine Dining has been the go-to BBQ joint in Bellevue, and for good reason. Its’ consistently excellent, award-winning food draws folks from all over and it’s a regular lunch spot for many of us Offutt-employed-individuals.

While Swine Dining hasn’t been around for decades like some of the other Bellevue Classics, it has more than cemented itself as a staple in our fair city. So let’s dive in.

At my most recent visit, I made a rather large to-go order at the counter and my wife and I waited at a nearby booth. The place looked just like that last time I’d been there – not in many years – both inside and out. It was cozy, quaint, and covered in awards and official accolades alike. I confirmed the “Best in Bellevue” banners went back from 2025 to 2018 without a single miss! I do have to admit that I was a little disappointed at how many things were unavailable on a Friday night. I was really looking forward to introducing my daughters to burnt ends, and I would have no other place do it. But they never did offer burnt ends all the time, only on special occasions. What was more baffling was the unavailability of their “all in the pool” mix - my dad and my wife both wanted the signature sandwich. “All in the pool” is Swine Dining’s decadent, chopped-up mix of brisket, pulled pork, and smoked sausage. You should really try it when you go. Also, the young staff could work on their bedside manner. But dammit if they didn’t get our six-person order exactly right and accommodate every one of my little extra requests.

The food traveled quite well, and we were soon back at my folks’ house, feasting on generous portions of succulent and smoky meats. I challenged myself to go beyond my comfort zone of pulled pork or ribs, so I ordered the two meat plate with brisket and smoked sausage, two-thirds of that delicious “All in the pool” combination with sides of coleslaw and sweet potato waffle fries. Historically, I gravitated towards the pork offerings at any barbecue restaurant. I think because I had more positive experiences with the flavor and moisture content. The brisket I had had was always dry and tough. But the heaps of sliced, smoked beef I had from Swine Dining were downright delicious. The weight of my fork was nearly enough to pull it down through the tender cuts. It was not only tender beyond compare, but also flavorful and just fatty enough to be succulent and irresistible. No wonder they’ve won so many dang awards. The smoked sausage was sliced into tasty little medallions that my six-year-old couldn’t keep her hands off. The coleslaw was fresh, crunchy, and sweet, and the sweet potato waffle fries were an excellent balance between crispy and tender. My mom made her signature order from days of old: A half chicken with potato salad and coleslaw and noted how consistently good it was compared to back in the day. Both the spicy and regular BBQ sauces are smooth, sweet, and packed with flavor. They made an excellent addition to my three-year-old’s chicken tenders and fries after I threw them in the air fryer the next day. What is with kids not eating anything at dinner? How do they survive? Luckily, the food reheated really well. The fries are those large, old-school kind with bits of peel on the pieces that came from the outside of the potato.

We finished off our celebration of gluttony with some apple crisp and bread pudding. Both had excellent flavor, but did feel a bit…glutenous? They are those kinds of extra-thick desserts that would benefit from a large scoop of melty vanilla ice cream.

For some reason, I was kind of looking for a reason to be unhappy with the food after learning they were out of burnt ends, “all in the pool”, and mac n cheese. But all I could find was mouthwatering barbecue served in ample portions. I was happy. My family was happy. Lethargic post-meal comas were had by all. If you live in Bellevue and haven’t been to Swine Dining, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you live under some sort of rock – probably a sedimentary type left over from the retreat of the glaciers. If that’s the case, then I highly recommend crawling out from beneath it and going to treat yourself to the award-winning food at Swine Dining.

Matt Hebert is an engineer and self-published author. His dopamine-fueled creative pursuits have spanned from chicken keeping, sand sculpture, acting, and public speaking, but writing is nearest and dearest to his heart. He lives in Bellevue with his wife and two daughters. You can find him on Instagram at @jerkofalltradeshebert or email him at matt.hebert.books@gmail.com

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