I had never honestly heard of this place before yesterday. Went here for Mother's Day with the family and had a great time!
They serve complimentary cilantro hummus and pita, which is really amazing...probably the best hummus I've ever had. We ordered a few tapas to share...pork skewers, mussels, and shrimp in garlic sauce. They did not disappoint! The garlic sauce the shrimp came in? WOW! We had to ask our waitress for more pita so we could dunk it in and not waste that wonderful sauce.
No complaints from anyone about their meals. I ordered the shrimp pasta, which was great, and was able to save half of it to take home. The waitress brought out a complimentary Mother's Day dessert, which was a gelatin with a sugar (?) flower inside. Now, I'm not a fan of jello, but this was actually tasty! Props to the pastry chef for the beautiful and delicious dessert.
I didn't have any drinks, but they do serve New Age, which is my favorite wine.
Prices aren't outrageous, but they're not cheap either. Â The food is definitely worth what they charge. Will be back again one day for a special occasion!
My family came here to celebrate my sister graduating from THE Ohio State University and it was the perfect place to do so!
DRINKS -- very good, and so CHEAP compared to Manhattan cocktail prices; they have a very extensive drink menu with lots of different cocktails, craft beers, and wine to choose from. I enjoyed my Pisco Sour and my mom loved the Moscow Mule (town fave of the place). They even give you a little glass for the extra the bartender made -- unheard of in NYC. So everyone complaining of $10 drinks being too expensive.... you've got it good -- TRUST ME.
FOOD -- get some tapas to start; loved the talapia fritters and the complimentary pesto cilantro hummus and pita chips they provide; chicken croquettes were a little gooey and I couldn't really tell there was any meat :/ For mains, we all loved our dishes -- I got the steak and my other family members ordered fish dishes. Everyone was very very pleased with both the protein AND sides. No complaints!
I highly recommend Sidebar 122 as a place to celebrate a graduation, anniversary (like the table next to us) or just a nice date!
Looking for a smashing good time in a classy place? This is the perfect spot.
Sidebar gives that great feeling of being in an upscale place, but one that's not to pretentious. You can go here and have a relaxed good time with your friends, or have a great night with that special someone.
The atmosphere is very clean, classy and classic.
The drinks brought me in, with tales of classic cocktails done very well, and they are brilliant. You'll usually find me with a dark and stormy, but it's always a tough choice when I look at the drink menu.
The food is spectacular, everything I've had to eat there has been awesome. And it's no typical bar/restaraunt food, we're the dishes are as fancy as the cocktails, with highlights like lobster ravioli, veal shank, paella, and ceviche.
Super bonus: Tuesday happy hour (5-7) They stuff you full of free tapas while you drink. This is possibly the best deal I've ever seen.
But wait! Theres more!
There are also a basement and 2'nd floor that may be open for certain occasions, which means you may get some live tunes, or be able to host your own event here!
Umm came for Sunday brunch around 11:20am and they were closed???????? Huh? Explain this: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsidebar122.com%2Fmenu%2Fsunday-brunch%2F&s=a9a93d6e40af0d0dcfad6fb7597532e0f1c2562fac8a353891dbb5f92bcdd240" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://sidebar122.com/me…</a>
Review Source:My second coming, and It's all about the cocktails. Â Marshall is the current craftsman behind the bar, and he is meticulously mixing up any of your classics that might miss the menu along with enthusiastically offer up one of his unique creations for those who appreciate the craft . Â
The downtown location is the curse for this fantastic bar/restaurant as it is isolated from any foot traffic; Â I'd really hate to see this venue fail because it. Â The owner should really consider buying the China Bar location for sale at the intersection of High and Buttles so I can walk there a couple times a week; Â I don't know how a place like this would fail in the Short North. Â
All of the "small" plate appetizers we ordered were fantastic. Â The plantains paired with the queso fresco and guava were a definite repeat along with the juicy pork skewers. Â I also can not fail to mention the gratis bacon at the bar that stole my heart.
Sidebar move to the Short North NOW! Â I'll pay rent for my own barstool. Â The lost craft of cocktails has left me thirsty for more.
We stopped in for drinks and tapas last night and wasn't disappointed from the ravings that my friend had gone on about from her previous visits. Located on a corner on Main Street in the downtown area, Sidebar is a cozy little bar upon entering that just kept unfolding during the night.
The complimentary bacon served in a drinking glass was just adorbs. I think my party ordered everything on the drinks menu to start, or so it's seems. We definitely put our bartender, Marshall, to work. He entertained us pleasantly, while our tipsy party kept him on his toes with questions about the menu and history of the building.
The South American theme was definite throughout the mixed drinks and tapas that we ordered. There were homemade aromatic bitters that were shaken into our drinks were unique and I doubt can be replicated. The kitchen menu was designed by the head chef, who is also the owner. We had ordered tapas-sized empanadas, calamari, ceviche, quinoa & salmon. Definitely not bar food. I really can't tell if this is a kitchen built around a bar or a bar built around a kitchen. Both aspects complimented each other completely.
On top of stellar food and drinks, the owners girlfriend and hostess gave us a tour of the building and its 4 floors. Enough room for event space, private parties, and a cute little supposedly haunted elevator. What's not to love about this place?
Sidebar 122. Â Quite a fitting name for this joint. Â The staff seems to TAKE a sidebar between getting your order and bringing your food. Â And while the 122 indicates the location's address, it also seems to signify (in minutes) the average wait time to receive anything. Â I've been to this place twice now and while they say that the third time's the charm, I don't think I'll go back again to find out.
Review Source:I nearly forgot to write this review... Â Oops.
We stopped into Sidebar 122 for dinner a while ago. Â The restaurant is cozy and intimate, though the sound does carry. Â The server was very friendly, even though one of her coworkers had called off and they had to cover extra tables. Â
We had the ceviche which was very nice, with big chunks of fresh-tasting shrimp and tilapia. Â We then followed that with a the lamb shank which was served with a rich red wine sauce. Â Both of these were excellent.
I'm kicking myself for not remembering what I had to drink. Â That, I'm guessing, is a good sign. Â I'm going to have to go back to see if I can jog my memory!
I really like this place. It would be a regular spot for me if I lived in area and money grew on trees. The service at the bar can be a little slow when busy, but its because the bartenders are usually mixing up some specialty cocktails, which they do a really great job on. Also, I'm not sure if this is normal, but there were bacon strips in glasses around the bar the last time I was there. Awesome! It beats pretzels and chex mix!
Go for the Moscow Mule, its made with Tito's Vodka and comes in a copper mug. Its delicious.
I went here with my family for brunch on a Sunday morning. It was almost completely empty. Maybe they are busy later - and during the week? It was weirdly empty.
My biggest complaint was that the music was too loud for an empty restaurant on a Sunday morning.
The food was excellent, and I really liked the coffee. Good coffee is a huge plus considering how many otherwise nice  restaurants  serve godawful coffee.
Our waiter was nice and very knowledgeable about the menu, but he didn't hover.
Next time, I'll go at night - even if the brunch menu was wonderful.
This seems to be a nice upscale bar. It is a bit out of place so it is more of a destination spot. The food was decent. I had the Tilapia Fritters, fried fish nuggets with a bed of spinach. Since I was there for a special event they had a limited food and drink menu. I enjoyed the overall atmosphere as far as decor and lighting was concerned. There was no music playing in the background which I found kind of odd. It would be a nice place to host a private intimate event or have an intimate one on one drink. It would not work for a one park multiple venue type of evening. FYI - the meters on 4th, just around the corner are free after 6pm. Don't pay for parking!
Review Source:Went to sidebar 122 last weekend for a date night and was really happy with my experience. The food was really great. I had the seafood opera, and it was pretty awesome. Their red sauce is great! My husband had parm crusted scallops, and he thought they were delicious. Their menu is interesting and inventive. They also brought out cilantro hummus as a complementary starter. So Good! Service was very good as well. Our server was very knowledgable about the menu.
Review Source:So I guess they are now under new ownership starting two or three weeks ago... The menu slightly changed. May have gone up a dollar or two. I think the pizza is probably my favorite.
My biggest annoyance is that the wine I had, Casarillo Del Diablo which is about 10 dollars a bottle is also 12 dollars a glass... thats right a glass. I then had a Malbec, was not good at all. I think they drink menu needs a lot of help. And the ambience is more of a swanking drinks and dinner place in my mind. Maybe I was happier in August because it was my birthday, but I remember it not being as over priced. Cute place, hopefully just some growing pains. Â
For two glasses of wine and my pizza it was 57 dollars.
I thought the food here was fine. Â Everything was really expensive and I do not believe the food was worth the price. Â The alcoholic beverages were also expensive and the servings were not very plentiful.
The ambience was nice. Â I like the look of the restaurant and staff members were really nice and accommodating. Â There is street parking as well as complimentary valet (at least there was on the Saturday night we went...)
Yet another B.Higgins run restaurant with great cocktails and a stellar staff. Too bad he didn't learn from his mistakes in Dayton and start paying his taxes. They're closed today for not paying their state taxes. Soon the staff will go unpaid, the vendors will get bad checks, the landlord will have to sue for rent and SB122 will vanish leaving only hurt feelings and bad debts just like SB410 did.
Review Source:This is a comfortable restaurant with a very good drink menu and respectable dinner menu. My vegetarian flatbread was fine, but nothing special. I took two guests here, both of whom ate meat dishes and had a Moscow Mule and seemed to enjoy themselves. I would easily return for a drink or dinner.
Review Source:I love the whole ambience of the place. Our waiter was extremely helpful in explaining the pre-prohibition cocktails that are hand made and how they use fresh ingredients. I told him I liked fruity drinks and he suggested the 4-step (which wasn't on the menu). It's a spin off of the 2-step. I was very satisfied. I got the Chicken and Shrimp skewers, which came with roasted potatoes. It was very good. I liked that they offered complimentary hummus and fried pita... I was a happy customer :)
I will return but not too often, the prices are not for those on a budget.
I was looking to go somewhere for live jazz and was DELIGHTED by my experience at Sidebar 122. Â Started off with a mojito in the upstairs bar. Â If you can made a great mojito, I'm hooked. Â It was. Â The upstairs bar is beautiful and busy, yet not too noisy. Â The bartop is lighted and the stock area is designed with lots of wood. Â Gorgeous. Â I ordered the grilled marinated chicken (kabobs) with potatos which were terrific and very reasonably priced. Â
I then ventured to the basement where the Kate Ross Quintet took the stage and entertained a packed house that included none other than Central Ohio attorney Byron L. Potts (there's no case too big or too small!). Â The basement is again beautiful with lots of black furniture and hardwood. Â The band played VERY well and Kate was a wonderful entertainer walking around dancing with patrons and telling a few stories in between songs. Â I snagged a business card ;).
Get to Sidebar 122 soon. Â Don't wait. Â Do it now!
A friend decided to try this place out because of all the good reviews, and I must say that I'm glad we went last night!
Service was a bit slow but I guess you must not rush greatness lol. The tuscan salad was delicious and flavorful. Actually, EVERYTHING I tried was delicious! I ordered the marinated grilled chicken skewers which was awesome with the vegetables and roasted potatoes. My boyfriend ordered the seared salmon. I forgot what my sister and her friend ordered but we all tried eachother's food and it was definitely not a disappointment. Everything was yummy and FRESH.
The only thing I don't like about the place is that the portions are kinda small. It's enough to fill me up but I don't think this is a place for a hungry man lol.
Went to Sidebar on a Saturday prior to going to a nearby event. Â I enjoyed a light supper. Â Based on some the the yelpers here, I had the Shrimp and Tilapia Cebiche w/a Moscow Mule cocktail. Â I can truly say, I've never tasted anything quite like either of these. Â They complimented each other well. Â Great, ginger-y summer fare!
Great feel at the bar and the staff was friendly. Â Wonderful place to dine. Â Hope to go there and check out the piano bar.
Sidebar 122 is one of the best places to eat in Central Ohio! It's a unique mix of South American and Mediterranean cuisine. And the bar, led by Josh, is out of this world. Themed as a "per-prohibition" designer cocktail bar, the drink menu (and talent) is something you would expect in the Waldorf-Astoria! Everything is handmade down to all the syrups and bitters. The Moscow Mule is my favorite. Honestly, let Josh wow you with the history of cocktails and wine and he will blow you away!
Ralph is the matradee and makes you feel like a million bucks when you walk in the door.
Jennifer is the manager is not only the most professional restaurant owner I've met, but is a very warm and kind person. She's a sweetheart. The staff is top rate!
One of the other things I should mention is the extensive wine list. Most restaurants in Columbus (you know who you are) rape customers on wine prices by tripling the retail price or more. Sidebar 122 prices their bottles of wine at just a little above retail. This is truly unbelievably generous and shows that the staff cares more about respect and quality above making a profit and robbing customers on wine.
For a truly out-of-Columbus experience, come have dinner and drinks at Sidebar 122 where everything from the food to the drinks show hard work and attention to detail. Everything is handcrafted! The Pizza Del-Mare (with scallops, shrimp, goat cheese and asparagus) is one of my favorites.
If I could give seven stars I would!
(Disclaimer: I live next door at the Hartman Building, so I might be a little biased. Although given the proximity to my condo, I've tried all most everything on the menu. So maybe, I'm not biased at all; just "seasoned").
Might just be me, but this place just kind of rubs me the wrong way. Don't get me wrong, the cocktails taste great, and there's an insane amount of prep they do (squeeze their own juices, make their own syrups and have some ridiculous ice machine that makes perfect clear ice), but there's no price difference between a plain old drink, versus a complex artisan cocktail.
$9.25 for hendrick's gin and tonic is a bit steep. And the tonic water lost all it's carbonation from the "pour your own tonic water from a little cruet" gimmick.
After being sticker shocked by the drink price at the bar, I was not really in the mood to try the food. I hear it's fantastic, but I'll save up and prepare for the price before I try it again.
Order a cocktail. Any hand-crafted cocktail will do. And sit at the bar, too. While I'm sure dining in the dining room is nice, the bar is where it's at.
There's been an influx of similarly-themed restaurants opening in Columbus this year, and while I dig 'em, where's that extra something?! Sidebar is one of those old familiar faces, BUT set themselves apart with hand-crafted, fancy cocktails and menu items like Scallops Parmesan (my fave but realllllly heavy),Shrimp and Tilapia Cebiche (perfect for the hot summer weather), and Eggplant Marinara, which was the highlight of my week awhile back paired with an amazing bold red suggested by the bartender.
What really sets Sidebar a part from the rest is the piano bar downstairs. I haven't been yet (soon, soon, don't worry) I've heard a lot of great things. Good piano bars in dinner establishments don't seem to last too long 'round here so it's nice to see what a newcomer brings to the table. I'm looking forward to it.
While I can't afford coming here on regular ol' occasions, I can scrape up enough to come in for at least a cocktail and an appetizer while noshin on the complimentary bacon at the bar. Join me won't you? If not for me, for the bacon?
I LOVED this place. As soon as I walked in the door I knew it would be a great place to go with friends! I started with a Two-Step Cocktail that was delicious! The bartender, Shawn, was delightful and informative. We stayed at the bar and enjoyed the Beef Tenderloin Empanadas & Shrimp and Garlic. This was the most enjoyable place to drink, eat and social in a long time! I have found my new favorite place! Â :-)
Review Source:Get a second job, sell your shit on Craigslist, or do something even seedier to make some extra money. You're going to need every cent to spend at your new favorite spot - Sidebar 122.
Seriously, it's that good.
Three of us went for the first time on a friday night, and we had one of the best dining (and drinking!) experiences in a really long time. Here's what we loved:
^ATMOSPHERE
Swanky, yet casual. Upscale, but decidedly low-key. Sidebar 122 is a beautiful downtown spot where you'll see all types of people having a great time - from neighborhood folks in shorts and flip flops to people gussied-up for a night on the town.
^SERVICE
From the hostess to the guys bringing water, everyone at Sidebar 122 was lovely. No one was pretentious, and everyone seemed to truly enjoy working there. The real stars, though, were the servers. Our server (what was her name?!) was one of the best servers I've had in Columbus. She was attentive, sweet, funny, and sincere - the perfect addition to our fun dinner date.
^DRINKS
These are some amazingly-crafted old-school cocktails. Think Mouton. I had a sidecar, and one friend had a fresh strawberry gimlet. They were both beyond fantastic. And the Mister had wine (Malbec), which he declared "amazing!".
^FOOD
A lot of the menu is tapas, so we just ordered a bunch of items and shared among the table. This proved to be a fantastic way to try out a new restaurant! Everything was fresh, delicious, and four or five star-worthy. Here's the rundown:
* Goat cheese salad with raspberry vinaigrette - My favorite dish of the night!
* Ceviche - I don't eat seafood, but both of my dining partners thought this dish was really good. The chunks of fish and shrimp were very big, unlike any ceviche they'd had before. This wasn't a bad thing - just different.
* Chicken croquettes - Everyone loved these little fried balls of chicken heaven and both dipping sauces.
* Caprese salad - This was very good, and I'm certain that Sidebar 122 will start using local tomatoes as soon as they can.
* Beef tenderloin skewers - Cooked to perfection with an amazing side of risotto.
* Tres leches cake - Normally I pass up dessert to go to Jeni's instead, but we just couldn't turn down dessert at Sidebar. Everything looked so tempting! We decided on a tres leches cake that was light, fluffy, and not-too-sweet.
^PRICE
All this food and drinks cost just under $100. While that's not cheap, it was well worth every penny - because this dining experience made us feel like a million bucks!
^TIPS
* They take reservations with Open Table!
* They have valet parking, but there are lots of credit card meters on nearby streets.
* They serve brunch!
^BOTTOM LINE
Go here. Now. This is definitely my new Cbus favorite, and I'll be going back as often as I can!
I am not entirely sure what I think yet, but so far, so good.
Sidebar takes the space of the late Brownstone on Main Street downtown- and with Dirty Frank's and the Little Palace right around the corner, we have a happening block going on! Yes, there is actually something going downtown between German Village and Gay Street after 6pm now.
I went for a happy hour turned dinner with some girl friends last week. I was surprised at how small the bar area seemed. It bottlenecks a bit upfront and is slightly disconcerting. They kept the exposed brick, the lights are dim and the bar area retains a certain swankiness without going completely over the top. The dinner area was much larger, but almost too dark. The mayor was there. Hi, Mayor Coleman... he knows where all the cool kids hang out.
Though a bit fancier than my preferred drinking establishments, I really like prohibition era vibe... it even extended to our wonderfully attentive and funny bartender/waiter, who had this 1920s hipster look going on, complete with vest and eccentric facial hair.
They have Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, which always gets me in trouble, but at $6.00 was a much better investment than $10.00 per cocktail my companions had, which were spot on, but $10.00... did I say that already?
Dinner was fantastic. Had the salmon... couldn't have been better. Oh and they have bacon as a snack on the bar. All those inclined to eat it, said it was spectacular.
I will likely be back, maybe with clients or fancy people. The cost (it was almost $40.00 with tip for dinner and 2 drinks) will probably keep me from frequenting this place or a regular basis. I am excited about another little gem popping up downtown.
My one-and-only visit so far was to the bar for some cocktails before an event elsewhere. I can't wait to go here again, and I look forward to watching this establishment evolve and mature in this location-- settle into its foundation, so to speak.
Sitting at the bar was great. Not only did I enjoy the jerky-style bacon placed out for barflys to snack on, but I just loved watching the bartender prepare the drinks. It appeared as though each cocktail is served in its historically accurate and appropriate vessel.
Although cocktails are a bit pricey, I'm willing to pay more for the artistry that goes into crafting each drink. And, in my old(er) age, Â I prefer slow sipping a masterpiece.
I hear rumors of a piano bar in the basement, and the fact that there are multiple rooms yet to be opened. That's what I mean about being excited to see this place grow and evolve: it seems self-aware about its potential. Kudos to the owners for letting the joint grow slowly with their clientele ("in this economy...!").
As others have mentioned, Sidebar is in a somewhat awkward downtown location, making it difficult to go other places on foot before or after. I agree to an extent-- but it's really not as far from the Ohio Theater and the Columbus Commons as you might think (espcially in nice weather). If you want some more "efficient" drinking, the Little Palace/Dirty Frank's combo isn't too far, neither is the Jury Room. Again, if Sidebar can stick it out in this location, I think the southern end of downtown is slowly becoming more happenin'.
I look forward to going back again and again, and updating this review. The fact that Sidebar is on my way home doesn't hurt, either. I may even scope it out for hosting some events!
The ambiance, the service, the drinks and the food were all great. I came here for my birthday dinner on a Thursday, and I am glad that I did. The free pita chips and hummus were delicious and unexpected both in flavor and in general.
I tried the Moscow Mule, which was so good! My friend had the Prada, which was the best drink I have ever had in my life. If you've read any of my reviews, you know that I have had a lot of drinks. This one wins. It is described as a rum drink: Pitu Cachaca, Egg White, Lime, Pimento Dram. The Pitu Cachaca tastes more like a mild, amazing tequila. it is sweet, but not too sweet, bright and frothy.
I split the goat cheese salad, which was simple and delicious. I had the Seafood Opera for my main and I was pleased. It needed salt, but there was none. The seafood was good for the most part, although a couple clams and mussels were salty or soggy.
We shared the Bruselina, but I wish I had gone for the Tres Leches. It was ok, but I would really only recommend it if you love almonds.
This was definitely a fun place for a special occasion or a date as it is dark, romantic and trendy.
My wife and I went to Sidebar on a tuesday night, no wait  and getting there was not a problem.  The atmosphere was great, dim lighting but only dark enough to give it a great ambiance. Â
Drinks, the drinks were great, best moscow Mule I have had here in Columbus, also one of the more exspensive I have had in town. Â I was ok with that beacsue it was sooo tasty!
Food- I think that they are still trying to figure the menu out, for what you get I don't this this is a great value. We had the Chicken croquetts, but there was barely any chicen in them and quite frankley too much sauce. Â The quionoa was prepared great as were the meat skewers that came with them, but for $12 it was a little reaching. Â Lastly the Cebiche...a favorite of mine when my mother from Peru makes it, not so much from Sidebar... I should never have to cut my ceviche with a knife nor should it come out ice cold. Â some traditional cooking should be left traditional. Â I wll definatly go back for a cocktail and wine, or to have the delicious pita and hummus, But will wait a good while to see if the menu matures a bit before dinning.
Just as a side not (no pun intended)- Â The wait staff was terrific
This review is only for the bars as I have yet to eat here. Â The biggest attraction here was the speakeasy type lounge in the basement. Â I'm not sure if they perform here often, but the jazz trio that was there on the Friday that I was here was great! Â Also, the cocktails were delicious. Â The ambiance was great...it was dark, with candles on the wall...great for a romantic date or a fun night with some friends.
I came back a week later, and enjoyed some more great drinks at the bar on the first floor. Â Had a great time here too.
Sidebar is a welcome edition to downtown dining especially after the closing of the former restaurant named Brownstone in the same location. The food is a unique Mediterranean mixed with South American flair which leads to some delightful menu options.
We ordered the humus and pita starter plate which was average at best for hummus. I ordered the Salmon and it was cooked exactly as I ordered it. The garnish was not overbearing the side of hand mashed potatoes showed this dish was perfectly paired.
I enjoyed a few drinks including the El Diablo and the Sidebar Sidecar which is where my review takes off. A lot of places like to charge a high amount for their drinks without putting any thought or care into the art of making the drink. There is definitely something to be said for a hand crafted drink with fresh mixers, and individual poured liquors.
My only reasoning for not giving 5 stars lies in functionality. I felt that the front tables are speakeasy sized which means made more for drinking than eating. The plates that both of our entrees arrived on were small for the mountain of food piled upon them. It made eating the dish difficult and many times I spilled my entree on the table due to this. I'll be visiting Sidebar 122 again once their music bar opens downstairs and I hope you do too!
Three things struck me about Sidebar:
1) Cocktails: strong, without being overpowering. They are, in a word, perfection. I thoroughly enjoyed the Moscow Mule (a vodka-based).
2) Menu: I love that it's completely flexible! You can order anything in full portions, or tapas-style. We ordered the chicken croquettes, tilapia fritters and pork filets tapas-style to split. I was a fan of everything except the chicken croquettes (the chicken was a bit lost amongst a sea of creamy filling... especially when accompanied by the aioli it was served with).
3) Atmosphere: fabulous decor, exposed brick and lighting... I just wish it was a bit more open of a floor plan.
Oh, and complimentary valet on the weekends? Cheers to that! Highly recommended. I'll be back for sure!
I think Sidebar is a really neat place, but there are enough reasons that would keep me from coming here again.
First the good: Sidebar has really neat atmospheres. I say atmospheres because the establishment is split into two halves each with their own character - on one side you have the bar (sidebar, get it?) and on the other you have the restaurant. The restaurant side is laid back and darkly lit - for all you romantics - while the bar, though still darkly lit, had a little more energy and flair to it. The restaurant section was not at all busy on the Tuesday I went, which was not surprising given it was a weekday and Sidebar hasn't really been advertising yet, while the bar was pretty much full.
The not-so-good: Sidebar is definitely upscale and fairly pricey. Pricey isn't bad if you get what you pay for, but I think $18-ish for a mediocre pizza just barely enough for 2 people (the Be'Naye) isn't okay for me. Don't get me wrong, the pizza had its moments, but not worth $18. We also got a salad (Goat Cheese salad), and, again, nothing really to write home about.
The also not-so-good: Sidebar is located downtown not near a whole lot. It's neat to see a business setting up there, but this isn't a place you'd really leave from to go somewhere else nearby. This isn't a drawback exclusive to Sidebar of course.
Also note if you're going to the bar section: don't stare directly into the LED lights emanating from the bar table. In fact, get an extra menu to cover them up if you think you're going to be sitting at the bar. Can you guys turn those down at all? Holy cats.
All in all, it was a little too rich for my blood with not enough to justify it.
I wish I discovered this place earlier when I was staying at the Westin and jonesing for a nice, nearby bar...but given how new this place is, I guess it is entirely possible that it wasn't open yet! :p
As others have mentioned, Sidebar is a lovely addition to Columbus. It's comfy yet classy. I got a fresh fruit (strawberry) gimlet and an amaretto fizz...the fizz was SOO good!!! or... so I think because the bartenders at Sidebar pour with a heavy hand... :) I might be biased coming from the likes of DC/NY, but for drinks at $9 a pop, this place is a pretty good deal for the quality of the alki and the drinks they make :)
This place should be the tits when they get it all up and running, currently just one or two of the rooms are open on any given night but there is to be a cigar lounge on the second floor and a few other areas that should be opening soon. Â I stopped in late on a unassuming weekday night last week and was pleasanty surprised.
The "pre-prohibition" drink concept is kinda cool - they put so much more thought into a Manhatten than you are going to find with 99% of the other suds tossers out there. Â I always prefer my Manhattens on the rocks but after a 5 min convo with the bar owner Brian and I was sipping one served up and couldn't have been happier about it. Â These guys know their bourbon and how to serve it. Â The house-made bitters is to die for - adds that special splash of unexpected to an already great cocktail. Â There are some Foo-Foo drinks and Vodka mixers on the menu but this place is all about the whickey and bourbon, and they do it right.
This place is a new Columbus gem. I went there last night. Â It has been open for a only a week. Â Has a bar area and separate restaurant area. It is in the spot former known as "The Brownstone". Â There are multiple levels (Other levels not yet open), but the staff informed us that one floor will have live music. Old speak-easy style gathering place (though, with modern design: in-bar lighting, dark, rich woods and colors and soft lighting) was said to be an influence on the decor. There is a VERY succesful Dayton, OH restaurant by the same owner (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsidebar410.com%2F&s=17aded95a4bbe2f9b0d5d31e51624335cc20cfe42bc28f3662e1e2d8348441e3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://sidebar410.com/</a>). Â Great cocktails, hand made cocktail infusions, happy hour specials, and a full menu (BEST hummus I've ever had!)
There is valet parking. Â They are still staffing and training and we were told that they would begin advertising soon. Â Not open for lunch yet but we were told that, eventually, they would be serving the lunch crowd. Â They do take (and prefer reservations) for dining.
Update: OK...The Columbus location is SideBar 122 ( I put that in the original post - dont know why it was edited). Â The Dayton location was referenced, and the link provided, to give the Columbus readers an idea of the type of vibe, attention to ambience, and energy the owner put into an enticing local menu.
Remember: SideBar 122 for a great Columbus alternative
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