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Sidecar Bar & Grill
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants American (New) Bars, American (New) [Edit]
560 5th Ave(between 15th St & 8th Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Neighborhoods: Windsor Terrace, Park Slope
(718) 369-0077
Announcement
Tonight! Our Food Network premiere! 9:30pm- Bites and Bubbly will be served! DJ to follow- See you then!
Announced 3 days ago- Nearest Transit:
-
Prospect Av (D, N, R)
4 Av (F, G)
9 St (D, N, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6 pm - 4 am
Fri-Sun 11 am - 4 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
195 reviews for Sidecar Bar & Grill
Review Highlights
"The fried chicken is insanely good."
(in 58 reviews)
"We shared the white bean dip and grav lax."
(in 18 reviews)
"But the veggie tacos were really really good."
(in 12 reviews)
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195 reviews in English
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Review from Max C.
Brooklyn, NY
1/24/2012
Pretty laid back, cool, kinda expensive, kinda nice, good food, place. If you want to take a date somewhere and look like you have nice things all the time and this is just a casual norm, this is totally the place to go. Drop a 10'er on a mixed drink and don't think anything of it, it'll taste great. Grab a dinner that will be more money than you want to pay for a casual meal, but will actually be worth it in the end. But remember, play it cool.
Atmosphere is dim, with cool tunes. I find the combination of the expensive cocktails and dim, orange lighting to be an odd combination that creates an extra dizzying effect. If thats your thing, this is totally your place. Employees were laid back and nice. My date got a little drunk and started trying to arm wrestle me, spilling her water, and kinda causing a scene. They seemed cool with it. So that was nice. However, for being such a cool, hip place, all the employees are forced to wear these dumb red shirts, kinda like at Applebees. Don't care for that.
The food is good. The fried chicken is so good, one taste of it can drive any vegan to purge any doubts or soy from their stomach permanently. Personally, my parents raised me to shun such a food and I never really cared for it much myself. However, after eating the fried chicken at Sidecar, I have become addicted to fried chicken in general, always desiring it, never able to get my fix. That is, unless I stop in at Sidecar
Don't get any sandwich. They do this dumb thing where they grill the bread. It leaves these big, black, charred lines on all the sandwiches. You'd think this would be cool, but really it just tastes burnt.
Went for brunch once and ordered the Hangover Soup. The soup was very good, however I resented the fact that it was called the "Hangover Soup." I feel like by ordering the Hangover Soup, they are applying some stigma to me that might not apply. Maybe I'm not hungover, ok? Maybe I just want some good soup? They should change the name to "Just Trying To Have Soup Soup." I was, however, pretty hungover, and it did help.
So in conclusion, if you're trying to find a local bar that you can spend most nights at, throwing back multiple drinks and hanging with your friends all night, this is probably not the bar for you. Also, if you're looking for a restaurant you can go to most nights of the week like in Seinfeld, having it be "your diner spot," this is not the restaurant for you. However, if you want a really cool, really enjoyable treat for yourself, or impress a hot date, all while maintaining your casual demeanor, this is the place for you. -
Review from Kit M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/29/2012
I want to love this place b/c it is really close to my apartment, and I like the decor. Also, the food and drinks are pretty good (I do love the Hecho in Mexico brunch cocktail). However, it is rather expensive, and I have to ask, is the attitude really necessary guys? The place is owned by 2 brothers, I think, and one of them is polite enough, and the other is just rude. Despite the fact that the food is good (though overpriced, in my opinion) and the drinks are refreshing, I try to avoid this place b/c I don't like feeling like they are doing me a huge favor (or more like they are doing someone they kind of resent a huge favor) by serving me.
They are open until 4am though, so if you want something nicer than diner food, and also not pizza, this is the place. -
Review from Mariana S.
Brooklyn, NY
I live for their menu, small but awesome. They do not have a friendly vegetarian menu but they have great seafood dishes . I also love the fact that they do not have to wait long for a table. There are a number of things that make this place great.
I usually get the Moules Frites- Mussels with Fries, really good, they put some chipotle sauce on the mussels that give it an extra kick. really tasty! The fries are always perfection. I like to rate my restaurant by their fries and this place passes with flying colors.
I highly recommend this place. The service is good, staff is friendly, clean restrooms, portions are big and my friends I always leave with happy full bellies! -
Review from Erik W.
Brooklyn, NY
2/9/2012
A little on the pricy side, but they have a simple menu and eveything on it is delicious and well-prepared. Additionally, an excellent and unique drink menu and an equally awesome brunch. Great service, great atmosphere - if you've got the ducats to spare, you can't go wrong at Sidecar.
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Review from Ishmael V.
Brooklyn, NY
1/11/2012
I am a huge fan of sidecar, the drink and the establishment.
I've been there inebriated and sober and each time I have to say, "I love this place".
I've used Scoutmob here and had a delicious brunch once, and once again said "I love this place".
The decor is of a wood adorned diner, with huge open windows for lots of light. I am not completely sure, but I think they have a garden (don't quote me on that).
They have creative drinks on their menu and a great selection of beers, and make a mean Sidecar!Listed in: NYC top grubbing…
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Review from Ian J.
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
To be honest, I like the place, but the food is just not exciting for me. It's definitely decent, but not worth the cost (for some items.)
Drinks are good, beer selection isn't bad. I wish it rotated more, and had better local options. I don't come here too often because I can't justify $14 on a thin burger without any punch to it.
For what it's worth, it's nice for drinks and hanging out. The environment is cozy, and it's hard to find great places this far south. -
Review from Will E.
Brooklyn, NY
1/1/2012
I had brunch at sidecar for the second time today, to bring in 2012 with some good food (and cure my hangover). Both goals were met and surpassed. The staff is always friendly and professional, solid service, but the real draw is the food. First time I came, I had the corned beef hash, and today I had biscuits and sausage gravy. The hash, with a perfectly over easy egg over top, was excellent. Now, I'm a New Englander by birth, so biscuits and gravy is a foreign concept to me, but I was blown away by the creamy gravy over homemade, flaky biscuits. Both visits, a friend ordered the fried chicken salad sandwich, and this is always a favorite.
The decor is very "hip," very Brooklyn, but not over the top. Excellent cocktails and a great selection for alcohol, but I usually end up here to eat, saving my drinking for a more moderately-priced and less "cool" alternative on this block (Black Horse, Der Kommisar, Buttermilk). This is why they lose a star, despite the gourmet eats and tasty beverages. The vibe is a bit too cute, trying too hard, and they don't quite pull off the one critical component of a speakeasy--that is, the easy-going, relaxed atmosphere.
In any case, I highly recommend Sidecar to eat, to partake in fancy cocktails, if that's your thing, but mostly to eat. -
Review from Raphael D.
Brooklyn, NY
Eating bar food is kind of like getting in to a contentious and codependent fwb relationship with the wrong person and you also usually call on it when you're drunk in said bar.
Sidecar is the only bar where the thought of bar food doesn't give me sad eyes. Inside of this pretty big and dimly-lit space is a damn good menu from the burger to the fried chicken to the veggie tacos. Fries are sliced up belgian style and the order is plentiful enough for two people.
If you're lookin for Mary on Sunday morning they serve em up really good along with a limited but potent (as far as bars go) brunch menu. Pair the migas with an irish coffee for brunch and you've got yourself a tasty silver bullet for that brutual hangover. -
Review from Chris C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/10/2011
There are three things that make this bar amazing, but take one out of the equation and all you really have is a cool speakeasy place trying a little too hard considering the neighborhood its in. But here are the three things:
1) The Fried Chicken really is 'the man, the myth, the legend.' I'm from the south and trust me, you ain't never had fried chicken like this befo.
2) A bartender that works there named Will. This guy is a walking encyclopedia of exactly what you need right now. He is without a doubt one of the most un-annoying bartenders in Brooklyn. And those of you who live in the slope know what I mean.
3) The Bloody Marys. Don't underestimate the power of one of these things. Its more of a 'hair of the dog' kind of a bloody than a 'oh, I think I'll go out to Sidecar for brunch with my mom when she is in New York' kind of bloody. This thing will make you right in a hurry. I can go in after a night of mayhem with the lads and pound one of these and have some oatmeal on a Sunday morning for $12 total and leave feeling like I can run the NYC Marathon.
But like I said, take only ONE of these away and you get a 3 star joint on a good day. They have been open for about a year now and they still have a 'pending' health code rating. Not a good sign. And there is a bartender there whom I shall not name, but he knows who he is who could do with a little less attitude and a little more respect the locals, mothafucka. But thats just me.
Give it a whirl. And if you catch Will at Brunch on Sundays, you will not be disappointed. -
Review from Evan T.
Evanston, IL
1/21/2012
Who puts a green bean in a bloody Mary? These guys do and I'm totally on board! $10 is a little pricey even though it was a really great drink. For brunch I had the hangover soup; the poached egg was excellent but the broth was otherwise kinda bland. Others ordered an omelette, cheeseburger, and cheese grits; satisfying but not spectacular.
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Review from Shawn F.
Brooklyn, NY
11/29/2011
holy crap the food is unbelievably good. ridiculously large portions. I had the fried chicken with a side of the best kale and bacon I've ever had in my life. my date had the gumbo. cocktails are pretty good too.
I will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu. prices seem high at first glance but then you see the size of your plate and are not disappointed! -
Review from Malcolm K.
Brooklyn, NY
10/2/2011 33 Check-ins Here
Sidecar whips up the best Bloody Mary in New York. Period. I've been to the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan - the bar in which the Bloody Mary was invented. Theirs is good. But Sidecar's Bloody, with its horseradish root-insused,Tito's vodka base, spicy notes, clever garnish, and double the size at half the price, make it the undisputed king.
And that's just for breakfast. Stroll into Sidecar on a weeknight and you'll be surprised by any one of a number of creative themes. From DJs to trivia to half-priced oysters, Sidecar does an outstanding job of making the the weeknight fun again.
For dinner, the menu features enough diversity to please just about anyone. While the fare tends to stick within the place's comfort zone, occasional specials are just that, 'special'. Sidecar won't throw something on the menu just for the sake of having something different. Rather, they'll only step outside of their boundaries when something calls for it. The seasonal soft shell crab, for example, is a delectable feast fit for a king.
I mentioned the bloody. But that's just an introduction to Sidecar's comprehensive, seasonal, not-to-be-reckoned-with cocktail menu. The FDR. The Dude. The off menu, jalapeno cucumber margarita (don't tell them I told you). All of them, nothing short of phenomenal. Seriously.
On top of that, the atmosphere suits any time of day, any day of the week. Just dark enough during brunch, just light enough in the evening.
What makes Sidecar's name ring out, though, isn't the bloody, the weeknight themes, or the dinner menu. It isn't the drink list. It isn't the decor. Nope. What makes Sidecar stand out is the majority of the staff. In short, they try and succeed at creating a genuine sense of neighborhood - a quality that stands valuable in an otherwise rebellious, 'contemporary' Park Slope.
In short, if you're looking for a quality, valuable, genuine Brooklyn dining experience, day or night, give this place a shot. You won't regret it. -
Review from Anamaria S.
Brooklyn, NY
1/21/2012
I have never written a review like this one, but I am writing because I want to share our experience at the bar -- I just returned home after the worst night at Sidecar I've ever experienced. Ever since meeting the owner of the place, shortly after they opened, when I sat at the bar, I have been thrilled to have such a place in the neighborhood. For that reason I've been countless times, and have brought friends from out of town to the bar, even though it is so routinely crowded on weekends when I have visitors. The food is pretty overpriced, but tasty, and I have found that Fausto is a great bartender, that the staff has been kind to us. I always enjoyed the white bean dip and the fried chicken. My very recently deceased father in law, who loved Sidecar despite the fact that he was 71 and clearly less "hip" than most of the crowd on a given night, used to hop on a bus on 5th Avenue to join us for a burger and a cocktail, and I loved meeting him there. To honor him I have felt happy to go there and think of him when we have been lately. However, tonight, I was so disappointed and embarrassed to bring friends to the bar, not only because of the behavior of the bartender, but because of the way that we were treated by Tim, the manager. Tim did not allow us to sit down at any of the tables, despite the fact that we were a group of about 6 people, and there were about 5 table/booth areas free, supposedly being kept open for people who were planning on ordering food. Those people never arrived. We arrived at around 10:30 p.m. and there was no one sitting at the two tables near the windows. We were there for about 2 hours and no one on one arrived that sat at that table. Meanwhile, our group was forced to hover around a few random bar stools, and were treated in such a way as to make sure that we knew we were not welcome by the staff. The most offensive part of the evening came when I asked one of the bartenders for the name of the humorless, unkind and frustratingly rude manager. I was first blown off by the Latino gentleman at the bar, and then told by the bartender that the "kid" that I was trying to speak to didn't understand how anything worked and that I should leave him alone. I find it patronizing and disgusting that a young white bartender should refer to this Latino staffer as a "kid" -- he is clearly over 18 and deserves the respect that any adult would receive. My husband and I live a few blocks a way and have loved this place, but we intend not to come back. We felt disrespected, and our friends from out of town were not impressed.
I hope that the owners will receive this review and understand why I have written it. I am so disappointed and wish that I had had a better experience. I will not be back - there are so many better places that have better food that actually appreciate your business in the neighborhood. -
Review from Anthony L.
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
1/30/2012
sidecar specializes in what i like to call gourmet casual. everything i've had here has been a knock-out -- the neighborhood famous fried chicken, the delectable gumbo, the brandade, even the budget-priced sidecar club is a favorite of mine. my only issue is that, on the whole, the cocktails leave something to be desired. they're not terrible but i've never been impressed with any of their house concoctions, & for the prices, i should definitely be impressed. they did have a pumpkin-infused rye manhattan (i'm obsessed with anything pumpkin flavored & a rye manhattan is one of my favorite cocktails) that was pretty delicious, but other than that, i've never been wowed. still, one of my go-to neighborhood eateries.
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Review from Susan L.
Brooklyn, NY
11/5/2011
Alright, so the food is good! I went once late night and sat at the "counter" and ate oysters. I was drunk, it was a scene, and it was fun!
Today I went for brunch for the second time. the vibe is just eh...everyone who works there just makes you feel like they are a little cooler than you, and everything takes a long time for seemingly no reason. No to mention it was freezing in there. Drafty and dark and tho I enjoy the food, I think its over priced. They really hit you for the drinks. Yummy little things but LITTLE. One slurp and I'm like guess I'll have another, cha ching, cha, ching, it adds up quick. The drinks also take too long, I remember that from last time too. -
Review from Erica D.
Brooklyn, NY
10/16/2011
First time at Sidecar, last Saturday night. Not sure why we waited so long! The atmosphere is fun, loud, dim, great music.
We had dinner - crabcakes for the BF and veggie tacos for me. WIN on both accounts. The veggie tacos were not your generic tacos - they were layered, red peppers, chayote squash, corn... terrific. BF just commented that he wished the crabcakes were bigger.
The namesake drink was great, too. Will definitely be back. -
Review from Michelle S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/13/2011 1 photo
My big 3-0 was last weekend and i was going out to different dinners all over the place. One of the places i did go was Sidecar with my awesome sister. I was in the mood for FRIED CHICKEN and Park Slope didn't have a Popeyes close by so we opted for Sidecar.
When we first got there it wasn't packed at all, it was pretty early and it was a Tuesday. We got seated in their booth and ordered. The waitress was really nice. It did take a while for our food to come but I always enjoy spending time with my sis.
The food came and it was hot (literally). The chicken came with mashed potatoes and some greens. They were both really delicious. Now if you don't know anything about me, know this... I LOVE FRIED CHICKEN!! So my expectations are pretty high. I took a bite into the chicken and DAMN!! it was so juicy, the skin was crispy and flavorful. What more can you ask for in Chicken???
Unfortunately, my sis didn't have the same enjoyment as I did. She ordered the burger and it was a little undercooked. She did order medium rare but that was really not cooked at all... It was slightly scary but the french fries were ON POINT!!!
Since it was my bday i had to have a lil dessert to go with my meal and I chose the Chocolate creme brule. UMMM... It was like liquid chocolate. AMAZING!! i didn't know what to expect but it was ridic.
so if you want to go to this place check out the fried chicken and the creme brule.. you won't go wrong -
Review from Charles F.
Brooklyn, NY
9/5/2011 18 Check-ins Here
Sidecar is a cheeky bastard of a place. There are so many reasons to knock more than a solitary star of this place, yet I'm giving them the solid 4. Why? Break it down...
The Bottom
-The prices. Completely and utterly divorced from reality. You're a bar with really good pub grub (or a diner with damn good cocktails, I've never been able to decide). This is South Park Slope too, not Brooklyn Heights. What in the name of holiest fuck are you doing charging $18 for fried chicken?! Why is there a salmon dish for $20?! Crab Cakes are $24?! I get that South Slope has no restaurants, and the other options are limited to pizza or dogfood, but Christ on a bike, this is unethical! The food is good in most cases, but can be very hit or miss, and at these prices, you better bring it consistently.
-Sidecar has a bit of an identity crisis in the sense that it's not sure if it's a bar with food or a restaurant with drinks. This schizophrenia can get irritating when layout of the space is considered. $18 fried chicken is that little bit harder to swallow when you get wedged into an elbow banging convention at the bar on a busy night. Want to have a few cocktails at a table but not eat? The staff can be very ambivalent about the idea of giving you one of the precious booths for the sole purpose of drinking if they sense some clown may be a block away with a hankering for $24 crab cakes.
The Middle
-The food at Sidecar is rarely spectacular, and usually the only part of the meal that knocks you off your seat is the check. Having said that, it's usually satisfactory and often good and really comforting.
-Service, like the food, is a mixed bag. The A team is an A team, the B team can be a C minus. One of the dudes behind the bar here is probably the best bartender in Park Slope, but some of the servers are pretty typical of aloof, douchey slope style service.
-Brunch has gotten babied out to hell recently. I overheard a mummy one morning rhetorically ask (with no discernible trace of irony). 'ugh, why can't they have stroller valet?' Because the whole world isn't lining up to highfive you for procreating? Because despite you being so entitled, the world has decided not to bend and shape itself around your fantasy of bourgeois-bohemian motherhood? Aside from this, the brunch plates are decidedly mediocre (however the bloody shall deliver us from every evil and grant us peace in our day).
The Top
-Cocktails. Damn. I'm so glad that there's a cool, delicious cocktail spot in the neighbourhood. These guys do it right, and have some of the best (if not the best) bar staff in the hood. Their horseradish infused bloody has to be in the top 3 in Brooklyn, it's like a 3 course meal. The FDR pickletini, once heard it described by a fellow patron as 'everything I love about a dirty martini without everything I hate about a dirty martini', that's pretty spot on. They also switch it up seasonally, and it's pretty rare that you get a bad drink. I could go on, the Dr.Tuckers, Oaxacan Sol, The Sidecar itself. All top notch.
-The Space. If you want to see a perfect example of the dos and don'ts of using a space, look no further than Sidecar and their neighbours, The Black Horse Pub. Sidecar uses the space efficiently and tastefully. Hanging bulbs, exposed brick, a classy bar, perfect lighting. It's very well executed, and still feels very laid back, cosy and local.
-The Monday trivia is mad fun.
There really are a good many reasons to get mad at this place, but it's still a loveable little scamp. It's local and comforting and we're glad to have it. Nothing beats dinner and a drink here on a random Tuesday or Thursday after a particularly shitty day at work. As they say themselves, 'Food and drink cures all pain'.Listed in: Acceptable Manhattans
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Review from melissa b.
New York, NY
10/23/2011
came here with the BF one saturday night around 9:30 for a bite and a drink. I honestly expected this placed to be crowded, not so much we walked in and were seated right away. atmosphere was cute. I started off with one of their elixirs, yay! i decided on the DEWITT CLINTON- which i have to say was delish! perfectly made and went down quite nicely.
For dinner, I went with the Mussels and Frites. I noticed when I walked in that almost every table ordered this! the bowl was overflowing with mussels! no way could i ever polish all of those off! they were in a white wine broth with 2 crostini placed nicely on the side. the only thing that i definitely could have done without was the chipotle mayo drizzled on them. yuck! (sorry thats my own preference, if i liked mayo this might have been a different story) the fries were quite good, salty, thin, and crispy!
the bf went with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and kale with bacon. he said the fried chicken was okay, definitely not like the chicken at Blue Ribbon, the mashed potatoes were tasty and the kale and bacon was really YUMMY! (i can vouch for the Kale, I had to try a little!)
waitress was a space cadet, i tried to ask about some of the elixir drinks and their dishes. absolutely no help, couldn't describe anything! oh im sorry didnt realize you didnt work here, oh wait you do!
she was hovering over us, which absolutely drives me nuts! i know your bored but seriously let me eat and have a conversation without you in my peripheral staring at me.
All in all the place was a nice chill atmosphere, food was good, might go back to visit again, no promises. -
Review from Niel B.
Manhattan, NY
10/16/2011
Very friendly, quick service, but that's not really why you'd frequent a place like this, is it?
The food, the thing that matters, is very consistent. I really like the brandade (salted fish with mashed potatoes) as a late-night snack/meal, and also recently tried the veggie tacos which were magnificent, despite my general misgivings about vegetarian dishes. I did recently have an underwhelming breakfast dish though, the Migas (spicy scrambled eggs on corn tortillas).
The cocktails have a great reputation, but I haven't had the privilege of trying them out.
Overall: incredibly consistent quality across the menu, great staff, place itself doesn't look too bad either. -
Review from Amanda M.
Brooklyn, NY
1/22/2012
Sidecar--the drinks are awesome, but the food here is an abomination. I don't know how this place got so much buzz, I think because of the cocktail program, or maybe just because there's such a dearth of good eats in the South Slope. South Slopers, trudge on, to Thistle Hill, Stone Park or James, Sidecar is horrendous for food. Been there for dinner and for brunch -- never again. I wish they would pick a lane on the menu, if you want to do the fancy foods route, you need a kitchen as competent as Stone Park's. Pub grub, fine, stick to the staples like burgers and fish n chips. The point is, whatever you're going to do, embrace it and do it well. Small tweaks would have made all the difference here -- if the dressing hadn't been too sour, if the egg was poached right, if the sandwiches were served with fries instead of a wilted spring mix out of a bag, if anything tasted good. However, I do give props to the bar -- the cocktail menu is really well conceived and they taste excellent. Go for the drinks, just skip the food.
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Review from Ariane D.
Brooklyn, NY
12/12/2011
Given the extremely positive reviews we read on this restaurant/bar, my husband and I decided to go for his birthday dinner on Friday night. Therefore it was pretty shocking when we got there and all we could say about it is a resounding MEH! Some of the food was good, the chicken liver pate for example, but it was really nothing to write home about. Furthermore, the service was actually pretty awful. Our waitress was clearly uninterested in us and made no effort whatsoever.
I tend to write reviews only for places I can give a glowing recommendation to. But I was just so surprised by everyone else loving this place that I had to say something. Not sure if they were having an off night or what. I would say it's not worth the trouble. -
Review from Bjorn P.
New York, NY
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cool looking place and friendly staff. Good beers on draft and by bottle. Fiancé had the salmon which was excellent. The beets that came with it were really good. I had the Moules Frites. The fries were good and the muscles tasty but they did not easily come out of their shell. Will definitely come back for the fried chicken and brunch.
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Review from Nina S.
10/24/2011
I went here for dinner this past weekend and the food was pretty good. Started with some oysters and the salad. For my main course I had the burger, topped with sauteed onions and blue cheese. The burger was really moist and juicy and the onions and blue cheese were just so tasty on top.
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Review from Idle F.
New York, NY
6/14/2011
Some dishes are terrific, some are so-so. The same goes for their house cocktails. I got some really sweet, bland thing recommended by a waitress - I gave it to someone else. Another time a waiter overturned a bowl of mussels on my lap -- they comped my meal, IIRC. I'm not sure if they found the best layout for the space, which often feels awkward, although it's large. If you score one of the booths or you feel like sitting at the bar, you're good. But we often wind up in the back area by the kitchen, which has some issues (e.g. heating/cooling).
Although the food and drinks are generally good, the only reason we've been here as often as we have is location. I wouldn't make a trip for this place, though I like the idea a lot. The fried chicken is, indeed, tasty. -
Review from Tracey P.
Brooklyn, NY
3/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
How on God's green have I not written a review for this joint yet?
It has become my neighborhood haunt! I'm there once a week. You will probably have to wait a minute or 15 for a table, but in the mean time you can order a drink. I personally recommend a Manhattan, made with Bitters, always a delicious starter! The burger with blue cheese is rock solid and Oh My Gahhh the Fried Chicken will make you want to take your clothes off and high kick. Music is good, staff is friendly, and you don't feel rushed.
At first I thought it seemed a little bit pricey for bar food, but the truth is that this ISN'T just bar food. It's so much better and the price tag is warranted. Writing this makes me want to head there right now.
Hell yes. -
Review from Justin L.
Brooklyn, NY
5/22/2011
Huge
Portions,
Good cocktails,
And outdoor seats
For a few on those sunny days for brunch. -
Review from ReviewHaiku F.
Manhattan, NY
5/26/2011
Two weird bloodies in
Realized this shit was pricey
Oysters = poor.
(b) -
Review from Archie M.
Brooklyn, NY
4/20/2011
Pros: Food is good, atmosphere is nice, servers are cool
Cons: Menu/selection is too small, slightly overpriced, and the cocktails leave a lot to be desired.
Overall I would say that this place is really good but not amazing. If they expanded the menu, brought in some better bartenders to not only make but conceive their drinks, and knocked a couple dollars off the prices, this place would be a home run. As it is...it's cool. I like it. I don't LOVE it. -
Review from April Joy C.
Brooklyn, NY
6/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
With ScoutMob offering a deal of 50% I found myself having dinner here one hot summer evening. Not bad since I live in BK and have been meaning to explore the area for a bit now.
The place was smaller than I thought it would be with booths when you first enter then a bar with a couple tables on the side and a back patio with tables. Since eating inside would require a wait we opted to sit outside and enjoy the weather.
What was had:
MOULLES FRITES - I found myself almost licking the bowl that the mussels came in. So, yes, I did enjoy.
BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN - What I had ordered was good, but what my fiance ordered was even better. I found myself moving my fork over to his plate when he was and wasn't looking to get an extra piece of fried chicken goodness.
Would I be going back? Yes, but probably not any time soon. There's so much more to explore on 5th Avenue and I can't justify paying $18 for fried chicken as often as I would like to. -
Review from Greg M.
Brooklyn, NY
8/26/2011
Amazing that I've never written a review of Sidecar. I'm in here at least once a week. Their kitchen is consistently good, with a variety of unique twists on American cuisine. The kale with bacon is heavenly. This is a consistently busy place with booths to sit down in, and a large bar. My only gripe is the lack of specials lately....I've eaten everything on the menu twice.
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Review from Gloria C.
12/28/2010
One of the few places to grab some food and drinks at midnight in Brooklyn on the weekend.
It's quaint, nice and atmosphere is cool. The service staff are super nice and your food comes so quickly.
Chocolate Egg Cream is amazingly delicious - just nice and sweet and oh so bubbly.
Bread Pudding: I was lucky I had two others with me to share this since it comes out HUGE. It's this thick slab of bread that is almost the texture of a thick thick cake. Beautifully burnt on the top with nice whipped cream. Extremely good.
I munched off my friend's fries here and if that was any indication of their actual food, this place is solid. I am itching to come back here to eat an actual meal.Listed in: Getting your drink on
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Review from Tom W.
Brooklyn, NY
3/28/2011
So good! The fried chicken is what I come back for. The drinks are pretty good and reasonable for cocktails. The other items on the menu are fine, but I've only sampled what others have had. The one miss was the mussels dish they had a month or so ago. It just wasn't up to par with what I've had at other places in Brooklyn and NYC.
It's got a nice vibe, too. There is only street parking, but I've never had a trouble finding a spot. -
Review from Ryne D.
Brooklyn, NY
3/20/2011
Short version: Yet another place that looks amazing, sounds amazing, but is not amazing. overpriced food, overpriced drinks, unsatisfying on any level. Great decor/atmosphere is all that keeps this from being a one star.
Long version: I live in the neighborhood and was very excited to finally try sidecar. I was very much disappointed. Let me count the ways.
1) Pricing. This is windsor terrace, not park slope, so if your pricing is this high the food and drinks better be excellent. They were not.
2) Service/drinks: When your drink menu (and the drink prices) is ambitious, your bartenders better be up to snuff. Despite none of the drinks looking very tasty, I described what I was looking for in a drink to the bartender and asked for a recommendation. He served me a ramos fizz: plymouth gin, lemon, lime, egg white, cream & orange flower water. Oh good grief was it bad. It was both too tart and too sweet at the same time. Fail. The bartender, who saw me actively grimace after trying it, didn't offer to get me another drink, let alone comp the terrible drink he had served me.
3) Food: Despite having only eaten here last week, I cannot remember (even after looking at the menu) what I ate other than the fact that it was incredibly salty. Painfully salty, which only made the fact that I had an undrinkable drink by me. My friend's entree was slightly more edible but was, as he put it, was far less delicious and satisfying than anything we could have got at a bodega for about 15 fewer dollars.
4) The atmosphere is admittedly nice. The place has a great lay-out and has a fun classy-dive vibe to it. Despite the fact that I know the food/drinks are bad, I sometimes consider going back just because I start wondering if maybe i'm crazy and that a place that nice looking can really serve that crappy of food/drinks. But, yes, yes it can. -
Review from Greg L.
Brooklyn, NY
7/30/2011
You got a "B" on your inspection. Post it for the world to see. Embrace your "B." It's okay that you're not that clean, cause you're not that good.
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Review from Christopher R.
Philadelphia, PA
11/5/2010
Following a Halloween bash that started with PBR and ended with a couple friends & I standing around finishing off a bottle of high quality scotch, we all awoke more frightful-looking than our costumes ever intended. The only sure cure for a hangover, as we are all surely well aware, is brunch. After consulting Yelp, we made our way to Sidecar.
Integral to any brunch experience is a good cocktail. Usually this entails a Bloody Mary, but suspecting that one of my friends was still far too gone to actually drink hers after ordering it, I strategically explored another option, the Spicy Jesus. After trying this stunning combination of gin, grapefruit juice and, uh, spiciness, all I have to say is this: rock me, Spicy Jesus [1].
(Everything worked out as intended when my friend offered up her barely-imbibed Bloody Mary. Like "Hannibal" Smith, I love it when a plan comes together. This was also good and all the more delicious for being ill-gotten.)
As for solid foods, I can never resist biscuits & gravy. Sidecar's version had a decent amount of sausage and a nice (black) peppery kick, which I enjoyed. At $9 for three (house made) biscuits and a virtual sea of sausage gravy, its one of the better bargains on the brunch menu. I also sampled another friend's migas, which I liked, just not enough to go into detail.
The atmosphere is pleasant, with an open kitchen and art-for-sale adorning the walls. Service was pleasant and prompt, though the lack of any discernible wait time was probably due to the fact that we showed up close to opening. Park Slopers do love their brunch, so I would expect a different scenario if we showed up at noon.
I would definitely return here.
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Fn1: http://www.youtube.com...Listed in: Hangover Breakfasts
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Review from Nicole C.
Brooklyn, NY
6/5/2011
Once upon a time, they also had this delish Bahn Di sandwich that they served with cucumber water - I was sad to see it go!
Nice staff, awesome Bloody Mary, fantastic and spicy Hangover Soup takes care of brunch. For dinner with a friend, the go-to is beer on tap plus white bean dip with bacon and split the amazing fried chicken with root mash. The portions are big, so you still leave full. It is a little pricey, but worth it! -
Review from Lia F.
Brooklyn, NY
12/23/2010
I have been to Sidecar only for brunch and the food is good, but the cocktails are incredible. We had a French 95, which is a play on the French 75, but with bourbon. We have sampled a few of the other ones and they are equally wonderful and well balanced. It is very hard to find well balanced cocktails these days and Sidecar does a great job of that.
My only real problem with sidecar was the draft and the fried oysters. Mostly the draft made them get cold immediately and it is hard to stomach paying 17 dollars for cold fried oysters. I will say they still tasted good, but I was less than satisfied.
Other than that hiccup, we have had two lovely experiences there and we will surely be back. -
Review from Kelly S.
9/27/2010
Dearest chefs of Brooklyn, will you please put something I love as much as fried chicken on your menus? Because my waistline is not very happy with the amount of fried chicken I've been forcing it to accomodate of late. Actually, my belly is very happy...it's my clothes that are not.
So, yeah, I had the fried chicken with root mash. I also love root mash, which could be a semi-healthful accompaniment if I also did not have a torrid crush on butter. Oh, butter.
Dinner was delish, the service was delight, the company was sublime and the wine was tasty and perhaps served in quantites too large. The atmosphere was cool and chill and relaxed and chatty, which is exactly what this 30something likes in her Brooklyn bars. -
Review from Kimberly L.
New York, NY
1/16/2011 1 photo
Really nice specials for dinner last night. I went with the pork belly served over kim-chi and the arugula salad with goat cheese and beets. Yum - if you love pork belly, you would have really enjoyed this dish!
We sat at the bar over looking the kitchen which was a fun experience. Watching how each dish was prepared with all the smells, the heat and the excitement of being "in the kitchen" was neat.
The inside reminds me of Clover Club on Smith St. There were booths up front, the bar on the right and then the kitchen/bar seating towards the back. The hanging light bulbs and the intimate lighting created a warm atmosphere. I would definitely go back and try the fried chicken it looked amazing but not good for my cholesterol!
