I find this the best selection a craft beers in WC. Not the quantity, but their careful curation, and rotating the wide tap list.
Also, my favorite burger in town - the Inferno, with jalapeño and cheese stuffing. Take the first bite right over your plate, as the cheese and juices come out volcanically.
Interesting sides and appetizers like sweet potato pirogues. Nice seafood options, loved the scallops in bacon cream sauce (how could you not?)
Noisy when school is in session. Sit upstairs by the window where it is quieter, and watch the people on the street.
Yelp reviews pretty spot on for this place. Â Ate Sunday brunch here, enticed in by a large outdoor seating section. Â No seats outside, so we ate at one of the 2 first floor bars. Â Lively crowd, quick and friendly service. Â Breakfast special baked French toast with chorizo and smoked Gouda, very good. Â Bloody Mary not their best offering, tepid. Â They need to spice up and thicken the mix. Â That said, the bartender was such a nice guy - who cares. Â Great fresh rich coffee. Â My liver thanked me. Good prices.
Review Source:Came here for brunch with two friends and the joint seemed pretty busy as it took about 10 minutes for us to even get acknowledged by the staff who were running around like mad. Once seated, our waitress came right over and took our orders:
I ordered the $4 mimosa and a smoked mozzarella, sausage and spinach omelet. My "frugal" friend remarked that $4 was a great price for a mimosa, to which I replied "well it's definitely not gonna come in a pint glass"...the $4 must be per ounce because there couldn't have been any more than that in the large stemmed white wine glass they brought it over in. Granted, it was mostly champagne with a splash of OJ it would better if you served that portion size in snifters - looks less scant that way.
The omelet arrived with a small side of home fries and tasted pretty good. Friends got the breakfast risotto and another omelet - both gave their dishes thumbs up.
The beer menu is pretty impressive and the prices aren't bad at all but for those who don't know (my friend didn't) I think the beers that are over 7 or 7.5% ABV are served in snifters. Anything with a lower ABV will be in a pint glass.
Some many beers to chose from! Went here for my buddy's birthday celebration. Thought that it would be mainly a college crowd. Boy were we wrong! There were a lot of cougars on the prowl at this place! Dancing it up like it was 1999. Â DJ Wub Dan C was spinning the hits! Overall a great time with great friends!
Review Source:I visited Side Bar both at night and during the day for brunch a couple of weekends ago and I was not disappointed. At night this place turns into a lively, bar that is filled with people of all ages. The bartenders were super friendly and the drinks were a pretty good price. Their brunch was pretty impressive and the menu almost had me drooling in my barstool. There are tons of TVs making it a great place to have a mimosa and watch Sunday football. My bartender during brunch not only was able to explain the different tones and contents of each craft beer on tap but he also was randomly knowledgeable in pretty much everything. I'd definitely recommend for a great time in West Chester.
Review Source:Have been here twice for lunch. Friendly staff, good drink selection, and decent food. Our waiter was very friendly and the prices were decent.
Only complaint is how they lay out the menus... Confusing. One for food, one for beer, one for wine, one for specials... I came with 2 other people so we had to keep picking up each menu and checking to see which was which because they all look exactly the same on the outside. Simplicity is key!
Side Bar is great! Â My husband and I ordered the Japanese beef skewers and caesar side salads. Â We were both quite surprised by the fanciness of our meals (we were expecting the skewers stacked up with a handful of caesar on the side). Â Instead, our orders came out in their own really nice square dishes. Â The portions are perfectly sized; big but not too big. This is definitely not your average bar food. Â Their draft list was impressive, as well. Â Great beer, great food. Â If you go, try to get the booth right in front, by the wall of windows (NE corner.. by the entrance). Â It was GREAT for people watching on a Friday night. Â We had a fun time and definitely will be back!
Review Source:As for the bar part, I liked it. Â I didn't have any of their food so I can't comment on that but the Side Bar, even on a Wednesday evening, had a decent crowd. Â They had a special on three-dollar drafts of Sam Adams' Grumpy Monk. Â They were smaller glasses -- I couldn't tell if it was a 10 ounce or 12, but sufficient. Â They ran out of that by around 9:30 but they put Pretty Things Jack D'or on as a follow-up. Â Overall I would say their draft list was fairly extensive, most certainly more than ample (anyone could find something they'd like), but not mind blowing as far as rare things go. Â I was pleased with the price of the special and also thought the rest of the pricing was fair.
As for the place itself, it was better than what I was expecting for what seems like a college bar in a college town. Â They had plenty of outdoor seating and a wide enough walkway near that seating so that people passing by wouldn't be all up in your dinner. Â Inside the restaurant, there are two bars and then several high-top tables -- I don't know if there is additional space upstairs/downstairs. Â There are windows at the Side Bar which is a definite plus for me ... as much as I like to feel like I'm trapped in a cavern when I'm having a beer. Â Another plus is that the bar didn't smell like a bar -- it smelled like nothing -- perfect. Â Sometimes you'll go to a college bar that smells like beer has been spilled on every surface and promptly ignored for all eternity -- this is not the case at the Side Bar.
I would like to go back on a weekend night -- the atmosphere seemed fairly chill when I was there, but I would bet it could get packed on a Friday or Saturday late at night.
Phenom beer list. . .I've never seen better. Â And it's always changing so extra incentive to keep coming back. Â The owners obviously take great pride in their beer menu and cultivate it much like a sommelier with their wine cellar. Â
The food at Side Bar is generally good though the menu is kind of limited. Â I suspect this is because their building is pretty old and they may not have a large kitchen. Â Sunday brunch was a pleasant surprise - not the widest of selections but what I ordered was quite good. Â It's nearly impossible to get a seat at the bar after 6pm on weekends despite the fact that they have three of them. Â The menu was better before a major overhaul last Fall.
Side Bar does seem a tad confused about which constituency they're trying to serve. Â many of their craft beers are north of $6 a pint, and yet their upstairs bar turns into a twenty-something grope-fest-on-the-dance-floor on weekends. Â I wonder how many drunk people fall down those dark, steep stairs after last call? Â
Quality of service is hit or miss. Â Some of the guys and gals behind the bar are simply outstanding - but a couple of others are horrendous (ignore you while texting on their phones, snotty, even disrespectful). Â No place for that with front-line personnel. The owners however, are pretty hands-on, visible, and receptive to feedback. Â
One other gripe: I don't recommend Side Bar if you want to watch a Philly sports team play on Comcast-Sportsnet. Â The bar apparently cannot get a cable or FIOS run into the building, so they stream CSN to their TV's via a Slingbox from a nearby apartment. Â Consequently, the picture quality can be choppy and blurry. Â All's well if the game you're watching is a national broadcast since they apparently do have a satellite dish.
This is a great bar for grabbing a beer with friends. The beer selection is very good and the atmosphere is friendly. The service has always been good. The food is above average, not great but good. Â I have never had a bad experience at Side Bar. Bottom line- I would and do return and would recommend it to friends for a good place to grab a drink and a bite to eat.
Review Source:This was a pit stop on the way to Philly. Â The tap beer selection is awesome! Â My wife had a Lost Abbey and I had a Stillwater Folklore. Â
We started with plantain chips. Â These were very good and the portion size is enough for 2-3 people, easily.
Wife had a hummus salad, again a very large portion. Â I had the chicken and andouille burrito. Â This was somewhat of a let down.
I would have easily given the Side Bar a 4 star but the burrito just wasn't good.
According to the receipt, our server's name was "Nugget". Â She was a great server.
Had a fantastic dinner here tonight. Â I was first impressed with their beer selection and more impressed with the waiter's knowledge of all of the beers while he helped me select one. Â The appetizers were great. Â I had the grilled calamari appetizer, which was a real treat from the boring old fried calamari served in most places. Â It was served over some lettuce with Greek olives, tomatoes, and a very light Italian style dressing. Â My wife's sweet potato perogies were delicious as well. Â The real treat came when my entree arrived. Â I ordered the special, which was a flank steak with blue cheese chunks over bacon grits with some vegetables. Â The flank steak was tender and delicious and the grits and blue cheese went perfectly with it. Â My wife's crab cake entree was unbelievable. Â It was giant and had a higher crab content than any crab cake I have ever seen. Â It was pan fried with delicious crispy edges over a creamed corn variant. Â The Side Bar is now my favorite restaurant in West Chester. Â I highly recommend it.
Review Source:I was here for a Victory Beer dinner. Â The atmosphere was pretty standard (but nice) for a pub restaurant. Â What was most notable was the obvious love given to the place by its owners and staff. Â
The chef prepared a special menu for the dinner, which was 6 courses, each paired with a Victory brew. Â The chef's work was incredible. Â I am a relatively picky eater, so when a saw a menu with bone marrow, ceviche, cherry and goat cheese grits, octopus, and cranberry bleu cheese creme brulee, I was a little worried. Â But when I approached each dish with an open mind, I was truly stunned by the quality of the craftsmanship and the beer complements of each dish. Every one of them was excellent.
Afterwards (as if we hadn't had enough beer) we went to the bar on the first floor. Â We enjoyed friendly service and an exceptionally strong beer.
Our occasion was a special one, but it demonstrated the impressive skill of the head chef. Â We look forward to heading back to the Side Bar on a regular evening.
I love this bar. And I hate bars.
I went here for a Victory Beer Dinner, where they seated us upstairs for private dining and private service, and we soon found ourselves sharing a table with the locals, who could tell us all about this gem.
Named after their previous jobs, 5 folks got together after saving up their money working as side bar bartenders down the street and bought a place to make their own bar. They cleaned it up with personal labor, and those folks are still the people you run into at the bar each night, remembering your name.
I heard this is a place to come to drink, not to eat, but that they have some killer fries with jalepeno dip. But the chef is really a master of art. He created a special menu for the night, and it blew me away. This guy is a genius. My boyfriend that doesn't eat anything not meat and potatoes ate everything, from the scallop ceviche to the cranberry goat cheese grits, bone marrow on crostini, and potatoes baked in tomato and octopus. Topped it all off with cranberry creme brulee.
On top of it all, to kill the hour before the next train we stopped downstairs to share a drink, because The Side Bar has a pretty cool selection on both tap and bottle, that changes frequently. And by ood selection, I mean cool, interesting beer that seduces non-beer-drinkers. We nabbed a Russian River (for 12.50, eek), and enjoyed a pub atmosphere with good music.
I want to go back here for food, even if it is an hour and a half commute.
My family, friends and I all love the Side Bar. Â The servers there are very friendly and the drinks are reasonably priced. Â The menu offers a couple of great burgers (the Inferno Burger is a standout), and the plantain chips never disappoint. Â My dad always loves their sandwiches. Â The only thing on the menu that has been a little underwhelming is the crabcake sandwich. Â There are a few other places in town that offer better. Â If you're there for drinks, order a Long Island Iced Tea- they know how to make them.
Review Source:I have never gone to a restaurant and been let down by all three courses before. Between my girlfriend and I we ordered apps, entrees and dessert and all were terrible. I got a lobster salad sandwich that may have been the worst thing I have ever had. The Twinkie dessert was also horrible.... if they just heated them up it would have at least been passable. Either way, don't bother here.
Review Source:Love the atmosphere, it's laid back and easy to get seated for food. When the chef 'Big Dave' is in the kitchen the food can't be beaten. I had the calamari and the wings which both had a unique flavor. I went back for the calamari another time when Dave wasn't in the kitchen and was told that it wasn't available. I tried another dish and the food was still ok, however definitely not the quality that i experienced the first time. I will be back.
Review Source:Disclaimer- Went here for brunch.
Atmosphere- It was weird to eat brunch in a bar. I'm not really sold on the atmosphere.
Food- My friend couldn't stop talking about her eggs benedict all day, so I assume it was good :). My challah french toast was very tasty, but nothing I haven't had before.
Price- Yeah... slightly pricely. I guess it's not really too bad for the area, but it was brunch in a bar, not tea at the Lincoln.
Overall- I've heard their dinner menu is delicious, so I'd like to try that, but I don't think I'll be back for brunch.
Pleasantly surprised! Â I went here for a bite to eat, expecting the food to be as bland as the decor and atmosphere and was pleasantly surprised. Â I had been in for drinks when they first opened, and I found it to be a disappointing replacement for Vincent's.
I decided to give the food a chance, so I went back. Â They offered us a table outside, always a plus. Â I ordered the Chicken Piri-Piri with a side salad. Â The sandwich was served on a pretzel roll, something new to me. Â The meal was delicious, and the service was excellent.
I would recommend anyone try it out.
This is a great place - a huge and awesome beer list, and interesting food choices that do not disappoint. Â The buffalo burger is TASTY! Â My friend had a regular burger, which was less impressive...stick with the interesting menu choices and you'll be happy. Not a bad place to watch a game, there are plenty of tvs. Â And good service!
Review Source:We received a gift certificate  to the Side Bar from a family member for Christmas and thought we'd give it a try. I was somewhat concerned about the place after reading the reviews on here, but I thought it was worth a shot and.....
We really liked it! The prices were reasonable and the food was really good. We had the jumbo wings were which coated in a spicy chili sauce that was incredible, my boyfriend had the prosciutto wrapped filet which was cooked exactly to his specifications, and I had a plain old cheeseburger that was delicious. Also - they have a very good beer selection!
The wait staff was very friendly and helpful. Â Our only *minimal* complaint was that our service was a little slow - but I think that had more to do with it being a Saturday night than anything else.
I think that we'll definitely be going back again. Â We really enjoyed ourselves and think that the Side Bar will only get better with age. Don't let some of the other reviews deter you - if you're looking for a low key evening with great food, then give the Side Bar a shot!
You gotta give props to the Side Bar for being one of the few restaurants to troop through and stay open during all those awful winter storms we had. We attended a private birthday party for one of the first storms, and we had quite a nice time at the upstairs bar, and the food was well-presented.
I did try it again during the daylight hours, when I took my friend and our kids for lunch. I was a little worried that they may not be kid-friendly, but they certainly were inviting, and have a KIDS menu with great choices. They even have "Mocktails" for the kids, if you're into that sort of thing.
Our food came out in good time, and I had the Fresh Roasted Turkey Sandwich (romaine hearts, apple wood bacon, grilled asian pear, brie, cranberry spread, ). Something seemed "off" - maybe the turkey? - so I only ate half. Everyone else enjoyed their meals.
I'd give it one more chance - it's nice to see a non-franchise in a small town with good drink choices and also kid-friendly!
It's always fun to try new restaurants before all the food critics poison an establishment. My wife and I met another couple at The Side Bar on an early Saturday night without a reservation. We walked into the restaurant and noticed almost half the tables were vacant, yet we were told there was a one hour wait! We weren't in any rush and decided to proceed to the upstairs bar and have an appetizer while waiting. About 25 minutes later we were told a table was available and we could finish our appetizers and proceed downstairs to our waiting table. We finished our appetizers and paid our tab. We went downstairs and the hostess gave our table to someone else! Now we were told it was going to be another 45 minutes for another table! We were looking around and there were still other available tables, yet they didn't put us at those tables due to other reservations! To make amends to their snafu, they gave us a round of drinks to placate us. We were able to finally get a table and order after waiting close to 1 1/2 hours after walking into the joint! We weren't in a rush, but that's ridiculous. I understand a restaurant's makes a huge margin on alcohol sales, but give me a break!
Out of the four meals ordered, only two dinner entries were edible. The chicken special I had was way over cooked. The chicken was so tough that I thought I had bitten into a slab of beef jerky!
This place has some service and menu issues to rectify or they won't be in business long.
PS- A bird in hand is worth two in the bush!
Curiosity always niggles when a new restaurant opens in the small borough of West Chester, especially when it opens within a space that was previously occupied by one of my favorite cool-blue jazzy spots in town, Vincent's. Boyfriend Mike and I watched with increasing interest as the renovations went on, and finally decided to mosey on over the other night...
Well, it was one of the most disappointing dinners I've had in recent memory, almost verging into 'Kitchen Nightmares' territory. It pains me to see such a great space wasted on such an inadequate enterprise. Upon perusing the menu, we settled on burgers, because...well... who can resist ordering something called an Inferno Burger? For variety's sake, I got the Bison Au Poivre burger (13 dollars). Coupl'a apps (mussels and lobster mac & cheese) to round out the order.
The wait, for there being two other occupied tables in the upstairs dining area, was pretty arduous, especially considering that they seemed to have the sound-system set loudly on some all-Dave Matthews, all the time channel. The appetizers were fine...the mussels were decent and the mac and cheese creamy and generously sized.... it was more flavored with the essence of lobster rather than teeming with meaty bits of it, though. However, the burgers were a supreme disappointment for many reasons: In fact, I'm not really sure what the worst offence to taste and decency was, there were so many.
*A shred of wax paper stuck to the bottom of the dry, dense bun on Mike's burger (!!!).
*The fact that he specifically asked for the lettuce, tomato and onion not to appear on the burger....and lo & behold there arrived a heaping pile of anemic iceburg ribbons, a watery tomato slice and onions on the top bun. ("Oh yeah, I *asked* him to take them off, sorry", the waitress said later. Darling dear, then why did you originally present the food as it was, and then scurry off? Silly waitress.)
*We had to wait for 5 minutes or so to entice Chatty Cathy* away from the table across the way she was jabbering on with, just to ask for catsup.
*The burgers themselves were mediocre at best. I sort of liked the peppery charred outer "crust" of sorts on mine, but the meat inside was drier than I would've expected. Let's put it this way: it was NOT worthy of it's 13 dollar pricetag. But my boyfriend got the worse plate of food...the consistency of the burger was that of your worst TJI-Applebees-Ruby Tuesday's fare. A charred-black outer crust enclosed dismayingly dry, flavorless meat. Even stuffed with cheese, it couldn't muster up even the hint of moisture.
The only saving grace is that Side Bar has (for West Chester) a decent selection of drafts and bottles, as well as a goodly number of drink specials throughout the week. If only we had just come for drinks...! sigh.
*not her real name
loved the side bar. Â they are totally true to their website description - excellent and affordable food and spirits. Â the food was quite gourmet and absolutely delicious. Â our waiter was really good too, great at explaining the unique specials, very attentive, and polite. Â i'll definitely return!
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