I like this spot for the beer and convenience to my apartment. Â I could take or leave the food.
If you go during brunch or on a weekend night, expect it to be packed. Â I love the addition of the upstairs, which allows for more wiggle room when trying to get to the bar. Â
Their beer selection is awesome - lots of craft beers, which I appreciate, especially since Philly has made me somewhat of a beer snob (I cringe when my Ohio friends order Miller Lite's). Â
I've eaten here a few times and while the food is good, it doesn't stand out as something you can't get anywhere else. Â Then again, I've never been for brunch, which is supposedly the meal everyone raves about here, so I'll have to try it one of these weekends when the weather gets bearable enough to stand outside and wait!
We had a server, Bill i think his name was. He was very rude to my friends and I. Every month me and my friends from school get together and go out for some food and drinks, and that night we went to sidecar, but i guarantee you we wont go again. We started out with just four of us at a table, but as the night went on our party grew and grew and it was about 10 of us sharing two tables, but every time someone new came in and sat with us Bill would give us attitude and say "just HOW many more people exactly are coming? you can't all sit together." i mean seriously...what, you DON'T want more service aka more drinks aka more money for your bar aka more tip for you? Very rude. And when he asked just ONE of our friends if he wanted anything else my friend said not right now, so what does Bill do? He goes back and brings us our check! Practically kicking us out. It's not like we were being obnoxious or getting crazy, we just had a lot of people. So we left and went to Resurrection Ale House where we were greeted with the kindest server who at first said we couldn't sit down if we weren't eating, but then proceeded to clear out the front four tables for us, push the tables together for us, and welcome any newcomer by rushing to get more seats anytime another one of our friends came. SO if you're thinking about going to this bar DON'T. The food isn't too special either and Resurrection is right around the corner!
Review Source:We had company in town last weekend, and they arrived late, so since this restaurant is close, nice and has pretty good food, we all went out to dinner. Â Before my husband and I arrived, they ordered the "Appetizer formally known as". Â I had told them that this was a popular dish, quite good, and they wouldn't be disappointed. Â However, this order was totally over seasoned. Â Yes, it is usually spicy, but this was outrageous, and we couldn't even eat it. Â We told the waiter about the issue, and took the full plate back into the kitchen. Â When the bill arrived, the appetizer was on the bill. Â I casually indicated that we were charged for the dish, and he responded that just because it wasn't made to our liking, he couldn't take it off the bill. Â After a few more exchanges, Â I asked to speak to the manager, but instead he brought out a revised check. Â While we have experienced mediocre service in our previous meals here, it had always been okay, and since we live so close I really want to like this restaurant!!! Â However, this exchange indicated to us the minimal emphasis that they put on service and ensuring that their patrons receive a great experience.
Review Source:Every time I go to Sidecar, I leave happier than the last visit! Â The servers and bartenders are quick to offer suggestions about the 12 microbrews that change almost every day. Â The menu provides a great spread and excellent choices for all palates. Â Personal favorite is the Kinky Burger. Â Love that perfectly cooked fried poached egg with Gruyere cheese! Â Their specials are always seasonal and fresh, cooked to perfection. Â I couldn't have asked to live near a better bar & grille!
Review Source:I came here for brunch with two friends on a Saturday afternoon at 1pm. There was no wait to get a table for us and the servers were quite pleasant to talk to while waiting for our other friend to join us.
I wanted to balance the sweet and savory for my meal so I ordered a lot of side-dishes - a few slices of thick french toast, home fries, and a side of eggs. I expected to get a little bit of each and was quite surprised at the tremendous amount of food I got. The home fries could have been made from two entire potatoes and the "two scrambled eggs" were probably more like four. The four thick pieces of french toast were well worth it to balance out the savory taste.
It was a great meal and sufficed to say I did not eat anything else that day.
Sidecar used to be our favorite...one of the best burgers we've ever had. But recently, our meals haven't been so good. I don't know what happened, but the burger just doesn't taste the same. It hasn't had much flavor the last two times. And another of our favorites, the wings, were taken off the menu. The last time I went I got the fried goat cheese salad, which was tasty, but way too much greens and not enough other ingredients to complement them. I'm sure we will go back at some point, but after a few bad meals, we might have to search for a new neighborhood go-to...
Review Source:I'm lucky to call this place my neighborhood bar- the food and beer selection never disappoint. Â When friends come to visit this is my go-to spot since there is something for everyone. LOVE the pulled pork, pretzel chicken fingers and black bean burger. Â I also roll out on bed for weekend brunch just to get a bloody mary!
Review Source:Finally went to the Sidecar after its been listed on my "bookmarks" for months. Honestly, the icing in the cake that pushed me to sidecar faster than usual was due to the Diners Drive ins and Dives TV show, I saw an episode a few weeks ago with the Sidecar. Â
I ordered the New England clam chowder gnocchi, which was the feature dish on DDD. Amazing! Just like Guy said :-) I also had a single car nitas which was presented beautifully on a small plate with spring mix lettuce, lime wedge, pickled onions, and crumbled cheese (goat?) loved every bite!
Beer selection was ok today, but I know they rotate daily and the selection on tap for 2 days from now was killer dynamite compared to today. So catch it on a good day. They also do beer events, so check the website for that.
Lastly, the staff are sooo incredibly friendly!! We were greeted immediately upon arrival , sat at the bar, and was greeted again by the sweetest nicest bartender ever. She was great! Â And very knowledgeable about the beer menu. Even the kitchen staff who served us our food were very sweet and totally accommodating when we asked them questions.
Can't wait to come back! Â I need to try mushroom dip sandwich, the zucchini, and the flatbread! Menu was insanely impressive. See you soon Sidecar! Â Huge fan.
1. Get yourself seated
2. Order a bloody Mary with house vodka
3. Don't even look at the menu
4. Order the black bean breakfast burrito
  - It's huge. I oftentimes split this meal and it is the perfect amount.
5. Order a side of biscuits (buttery fluffy biscuits) and a side of fruit if you're feeling extra splurge worthy.
6. Sign a breath of relief in knowing that you just ordered the most amazing meal on the planet.
I really like this place, I just can't say I like the food. My boyfriend and I sat upstairs for a late dinner. The place was hopping on a Thursday night, and the atmosphere was great. They have a good beer selection, and I was really happy with my drink, but when the food came, we were a little disappointed. We split the crab fries and margherita pizza. The crab fries were smothered in this gravy-like sauce that didn't seem to have much crabmeat in it. We both found them pretty gross, and as people around us placed orders for the fries (the tables are pretty close together so you can hear what's going on at the tables next to you), we were almost inclined to interrupt and tell them -- "don't do it!" The pizza was ok, but it had a very thin, crackery crust. Overall, we had a nice time here, but next time we'll just stick to the drinks.
Review Source:Sidecar has a great beer list, and service that makes you feel welcome. It's a quizzo location (Monday nights!), which is awesome, but I didn't feel the sense of camaraderie I've felt at other places (albeit, outside of Philadelphia and back in my shore area home town). The food did not stand out to me, so I might only recommend Sidecar if you're looking for a bar and already ate. The outdoor seating is great on a sunny day (dogs are welcome!).
Review Source:I went with a group of 6 and after about a half hour wait (during prime brunch hours on a Sunday) we were attended to by a happy hiptser waiter. Â On a cautionary note - I'm pretty much the worst person to go to brunch with because I do not eat eggs, so with a few options on the menu I went with the turkey club. It was mehh - big. Too big and just not that impressive. I so wish I enjoyed bloody marys because they looked awesome! Â I did have a few mimosas and no complaints there (can you really mess up a mimosa though?). Hip atmosphere, decent service, overall a solid brunch spot. I'd like to check out the place for happy hour. Going with 4 stars because I can't fault a restaurant on my pickiness and everyone in my group was a fan.
Review Source:I've been wanting to go to Sidecar for quite some time now and was definitely not disappointed when I finally made it there! The restaurant hadn't even opened yet and there was already a line waiting to get in! I ordered the short stack of french toast and it was delicious and only $4! My friend ordered the the potato burrito and loved it! The portion size was giant! The service was fast and everything was great! I will definitely be back!
Review Source:I love Sidecar- it might be due to the close proximity of my house, or the fact it actually has some pretty good food and beer selections.
We went last night for a late dinner- I got the Kinky Burger- which was DELICIOUS! I love the fact you can order a combination of salad and fries as your side option, vs one or the other. Even better- they actually give you an ample amount of both.
My husband ordered the Special, which was a Spicy Short Rib Pita, which semi fell short for both of us. It was somewhat dry- lacking on the sauce it was supposed to have on it (we looked for it, and it was barely on it) we asked for an extra side of it to add to the pita, and when we got the bill, they charged us 50 cents for it. The dish was lacking "something" even with the added sauce.
Overall, I'm a huge fan- especially for brunch!
Sidecar offers top notch brunch fare with a bar setting. Think Sabrina's meets Raven Lounge.
Heuvos Rancheros and the Breakfast Burrito were all top notch. Home fries were INSIDE the burrito --- which is the BEST way to eat it.
Great beer list as well. Outside seating was a nice gem. Get there early to avoid the lines.
Sidecar's got a killer brunch in the G-Ho area, but arrive early to get the best service.
We sat at the bar and our bartender did a great job of taking care of us. He spent a decent amount of time discerning my taste in beer by offering generous free samples and selecting a great brew from the well-curated tap list based on my reactions. He also guided my vegetarian dining companion through the menu well, and talked shop with me about beer for quite some time. Kudos to him for awesome service.
I opted for the biscuits and chorizo gravy, my companion went with the rice and bean breakfast enchiladas. The biscuits were fluffy and crispy, eggs perfectly cooked, and the gravy was flavorful without excessive richness. I couldn't really taste the chorizo, but the flavors and portion were on point and I'd gladly get it again. The enchiladas were also great, the ratio of sauce:tortilla:filling was ideal and the mole, though a bit one dimensional, was tasty enough. Again, the portion and flavors were quite good.
The place started to get swamped around 11:30, and our original bartender went elsewhere, so it unfortunately took ~15 minutes to get our check. Definitely get here early if possible. Otherwise, Sidecar offers food comparable to dedicated bruncheries with decidedly better service and booze. Undoubtedly worth a brunch trip if you're around G-Ho.
i was surprised to see this listed as veg friendly. Â or more specifically that "vegetarians go nuts for this spot." Â maybeeee vegetarians... but there is pretty much nothing on the menu that is vegan and interesting. Â (there are the normal - french fries, salad, grilled veg side, veggie burger which im not even sure is vegan.) and i live two blocks away from sidecar and go here often just as a place to go too. Â
its basic bar food and nothing about sidecar sticks out to me at all.
infact i think sowe is significantly better menu and drink wise anyway.
vegetarians- please let me know what i'm missing out on!!!
great neighborhood bar and restaurant where there aren't a ton of options around. Solid beers on tap, fair prices, and a solid happy hour. The staff is warm and friendly and the place is always full of people, an obvious good sign.
I recommend all the appetizers on the menu, and the burger was really good. Absoluetly worth a try if you live nearby!
Update: After my raving review of Sidecar, my fav neighborhood bar... I feel obligated to make a new comment: Â Where the hell did the Crabby Benny go?! Â I crave this brunch dish like crazy and was SO upset to come to Sidecar as my #1 choice after running in Broad St. to find it was taken off the menu. Â WTF?! Â
I was also super disappointed when I watched Sidecar on Triple D only to see that I had never heard of the "Clam Chowder" on the menu before... although I saw they just added it to the regular dinner menu. Â Boo.
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I can't believe I didn't write a review about Sidecar yet!!!!!!!!!!
Sidecar is my neighborhood bar. Â It's my favorite. Â Well, at least one of them. Â Highlights and things you need to know or try:
Beer- Sidecar has my absolute favorite beer list in the city. Â They have I think 12 different beers on draft at all times, and they are CONSTANTLY changing. Â This of course can be frustrating when you find a really amazing beer that you love... but it's awesome to get to try different beers all the time. Â They are typically $5-$6 which I think is just great.
Happy Hour Food- Get the Nachos. Â With Chorizo. Â OMG. Â They aren't ordinary nachos with Wiz and some salsa. Â Everything is fresh, HOT, and delicious. Â The jalapenos are fresh and spicy so make sure you ask for EXTRAAAAAAA!
Service- Super hipster. Â With that being said, as long as you don't mind lots of tattoos and piercings... you will love the servers here. Â They are all SO nice and outgoing (will always say "cheers") and are seriously knowledgeable about the beer every single time. Â
Brunch- Tied with Sabrina's as my favorite brunch in the city. Â Everything I've ever tried here has been beyond delicious. Â My favorite thing to order is the "Crabby Benny"- two crab cakes topped with a poached egg and hollandaise sauce. Â It's just the best thing ever. Â I also have tried egg white omelettes, a bite of a friend's Biscuit & Gravy (omg) and the burritos (which are huge). Â Coffee comes with a little cookie biscuit which is just adorable. Â SO GOOD!
The only downside: Â Sidecar brunch is crazy packed and you should expect a wait unless you get there when they open at 10:30. Â It's also really dark in there. Â I'm sure it gets a little nicer in the summer when its light out at night. Â However- totally not enough negatives to take this review down to 4 stars. Â LOVE Sidecar.
I come here pretty regularly with some people from my softball team and have always tried very hard to like this place but found it just 3 stars. The service is pretty speedy and we can always get a seat which is nice. I think there food is a bit pricey but they do have really good deals on pork dishes on Sundays and their Happy Hour specials are really good as well. I recommend checking this place out on a Sunday and trying their pork tacos. They are small so order 3 or 4 if you are looking for a meal. During Happy Hour I usually go for their pretzel crusted chicken fingers. Their beer menu is excellent and they change it up quite often. I would like to come by here for brunch or Quizzo- I've heard good things about both.
Review Source:I'm trying something totally different here and reviewing something I didn't eat. The SAUSAGE FLATBREAD.
The sausage flatbread that haunts my dreams like that perfect girl in the red dress at the train station that you just couldn't muster the guts to approach.
First off, we pulled up to Sidecar just before their Saturday evening rush, but had no trouble ever getting friendly, informative service from the bartenders, who made some great beer suggestions (try the Smuttynose) that were all top-notch. We ordered dinner, and although my date told me they had excellent sausage flatbread here, I went with the oven-roasted chicken. Don't get me wrong, it was very good oven-roasted chicken and truffle mashed potatoes. I got exactly what I wanted.
But the guy next to me had the good sense to order the sausage flatbread. It was gigantic and every inch was covered in pure succulence. As a west-coast resident, I may never get the chance to sample this wondrous concoction myself, and I'll always wonder what might have been.
This review is pretty much an open apology to that guy for drooling on his food.
Sidecar gets my first review, with good reason.
My boyfriend loves this place for the beer. Â We usually get a few flights and I sit and smile politely while the knowledgeable (and all around amiable) servers chit chat with my guy about the different brews and it's all very nice and keeps us coming back. Â This past Sunday was something else.
We decided to try Sidecar for a boozy brunch, knowing we already love the food served at night time (margherita flatbread and carnitas, soooo good). Â As far as waits go for on a Sunday morning in philly, this one was quick. So quarters are a little cramped but they pack a crowd and don't keep anyone waiting long. Â Anyway, we notice after a mimosa that the couple next to us, who sat down after us, were already getting their entrees. Â Figuring my eggs benedict takes a little longer than their simpler french toast meals, we shrug it off and order another drink. Â Mischa, our server, informs us that something went wrong and they had to resend our ticket and offered an apology as well as a free mimosa. Â His sincere attitude and the free booze made us feel really taken care of and we were all smiles with fresh drinks waiting a little longer, but then here comes another server (who also patiently steers clueless new arrivals wandering upstairs through the bar to the waiting area without losing her smile as I would have after 5 minutes) with a free bowl of delicious fresh fruit and whipped cream. Â Now, we always have a great time at night with the servers and bartenders, who never hesitate to pour a few samples of vaguely named drafts, and I love how they have a knack for helping me choose the perfect beer for my mood. They're hanging out with you and really tuned in to what they're serving. Â But on this morning, it was a different example of their amazing customer service and sort of a peek into the kind of team they are there and how they make hectic days like Sunday brunches work, even when something goes wrong. Â Yes, of course the food was amazing as always but not the only thing to return for!
Thanks Sidecar! See you Sunday!
Sidecar, you have yet to disappoint me!
I've been here for drinks, brunch, lunch and late evenings-- Â it is always a great choice! The bartenders and servers are positively dazzling. My last brunch experience was elevated to a level of superiority simply by the waiter. I was accompanied by 8 other friends and let's just say, we're a unique group of social individuals. Not one drink was left empty, and the food arrived in no-time.
Sidecar is well-known for their scrumptious huevos rancheros, but also feature a full menu of other fantastic options. Choosing a dish here is always a challenging task. Last time I came for brunch, I ordered the chicken enchilada special with over easy eggs. Others at my table that day, tried the chicken fried chicken, quiche, and eggs benedict. Every plate was left clean. The food was fantastic. Also, they have one of THE best bloody mary's I've ever had in this city! If you're not in the breakfast mood, I recommend are the wings, pretzel encrusted chicken fingers, and carnitas.
There are still many items I have to try on their menu, so I will be venturing here again very soon. Keep it up, Sidecar! You're doin' it right, my friends!
Kudos to agreeing to modify the eggs benny to accomodate my wheat sensitivity by laying the eggs and bacon over potatoes (as I requested), but the presentation was rather thoughtless. It was served on an oversized plate covered in a boulder field of home fries with the eggs and bacon sadly marooned in the middle. I'm no culinary artists. Hey, I'm not an artist of any kind, but even I could tell it would have made more sense to have presented it on a normal sized plate with the standard mini salad parked on the side, like a... let me think. Oh yes, like a side car.
Some other unexpected dissapointments:
Presentation aside, the eggs benny was tasteless. Properly done, the combination of bacon and hollandaise should never need salt or pepper. In my long-life of benedicting, I have had bad hollandaise (too acidic or sour), but I have never had bland hollandaise. It was like the sauce was afraid of itself. Could the Pope's notice have something to do with this? (Tell me you saw what I did there.)
To get some green in me, l asked for a side salad (for which I was not not charged, rightfully), but their dressing, which I always look forward to, was salty. Between this and the eggs benny and the Russian meteorite of last week, the only plausible explanation for all of this is that the usual kitchen folks were abducted by aliens.
Sadly, service was sorely lacking today too. Sitting at the bar in front of where thirsty customers waiting for tables order their drinks, my server stood over my empty coffee cup for 15 minutes after I asked for a refill, handling drink orders and passing them right over my shoulder, my empty coffee cup side shoulder.
SIde Car, what has happened to you?
I've been to sidecar many times seeing as how I live across the street, and more often than not the services sucks. Â I continue to go back only because it is close and the food is good, but after my experience the other night I probably won't be back...especially now that SOWE opened up at 22nd and Carpenter which is awesome.
The male staff at sidecar is almost always stuck up rude. Â I once had a member of my party have to stand because we had 3 people and they refused to give us a table for 4 and then wouldnt give us a chair for 3. Â This past week I went there and the waiter scoleded me and my friend for just ordering drinks and not wanting food. Â We were told that next time we should say something so that we wouldnt waste the silverware. Â Then the drink specials that were posted on the board and were verbally given to us were not given to us and the waiter again scoled us telling us that we were wrong and the drinks we purchased were not what he had said....despite it being what was on the board. Â
This is just 2 of the many ridiculous ways my friends and I have been treated here. Â It's a real shame though because there food is amazing, especially the mushroom dip. Â The female waitstaff has always been attentive and friendly though.
Came here with a group of friends for brunch and we all really enjoyed our meals. I went with the bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit which came with a side of breakfast potatoes. It was a decently sized meal but I feel like it could have been a couple dollars cheaper.
My girlfriend's raspberry champagne French toast was a special for the day, and I really liked that, too.
I'll definitely be back again soon!
Brunch review only - but dinner review most likely coming very soon!
This place is awesome - nice casual hangout, pretty upstairs area and a solid, solid brunch. I don't know about you, but I am not a fan of the dainty brunch - if it's Sunday, I am most likely hurting / exhausted and I just want some solid eggs, biscuits and strong coffee. The Sidecar definitely delivers on brunch! The holy chorizo burrito was super good, as was the breakfast sandwich. Everything looked super good, and I can't wait to return and try their carbonara mac+cheese.
My cousin lives really close to Sidecar and I've been here a few times and they never disappoint. Â This past weekend, I was craving a burger but didn't feel like dining in, so I just ordered it for pickup. Â They were super courteous over the phone and even offered me the option of having half fries and half salad. Â It's the little things in life that make me happy. Â When I went to pick up my meal, the great service continued. Â I was even helped by a waiter who was off the clock (and very excited about it) yet was willing to help me out. Â
Every time I've been there the service is fast and pleasant and the atmosphere is always vibrant with young Philadelphians (is that a word?) My burger was seasoned to perfection and delicious. This is a great little neighborhood bar.
Sidecar has left me satisfied every single time. (Four times to be exact)
My first trip here was the night my boyfriend and I moved in together.
We asked the extremely attentive, and friendly server what he'd suggest- and he said the burger. Usually I'm hesitant because a good burger is life changing and a bad burger makes me yelp mean things. I am so glad that it's what I went with though.
Our meal started with one of their incredible beer selections, and the wings. The wings were ok. I figured they weren't going to be Moriartys so it didn't even really matter. We wanted food immediately.
They were tasty and came out fast!
The burger was perfect. Juicy and perfectly seasoned, the cheddar was flavorful, the bun was soft but could stand up to the meat for certain.
Outstanding.
Brunches have all been solid too. Also, when you order coffee they give you a tiny cookie. Any place that pays attention to that kind of detail wins my heart and my stomach.
I've checked Sidecar out for both brunch and dinner and it is a decent little hangout. Â They have a nice selection of drafts most of the time.
I find their food to be really overpriced for what it is and the place can get really crowded. Â They also have a tendency to play entire albums of things and last time I was there it was Mars Volta and there is a "song" that's just horrible screechy noise for what felt like eternity. Â I never thought something that was supposed to be background noise could ruin an experience so tremendously....thanks, Mars Volta.
I don't make it to Southwest Center City very often. And by very often, I mean never. So, when the opportunity presented itself while venturing back from western PA, I decided Sidecar would be my first stop to grab some Sunday brunch.
Most of the indoor and outdoor tables were occupied but there were a few open seats at the bar as football played out of the overhead flat screen. I looked at the brunch menu and decided to build my own omelet with bacon, cheddar, mushrooms and caramelized onions. It also came with a side of hash brown potatoes and salad, of all things. I complimented the meal with something a little different; a Nectar Ales Red Nectar. The omelet was a great choice; huge, tasty and delicious. I would've preferred regular hash browns, but the potatoes were good. The salad...eh.
During my meal, I overheard a heated discussion between a patron and one of the waiters over an apparent issue with their "$10 minimum credit card" rule, which apparently was not discussed prior to her ordering a coffee. But the manager on duty patiently and professionally took care of the issue without incident.
Although I didn't get to see the upstairs part of the bar or try any of their other craft beers, I was very happy with my first experience at Sidecar. I can see why so many of my fellow Yelpers are regulars here.
While I was sitting eating dinner last night at the bar with my roommate she turned to me and said, "I'm SO GLAD this is our neighborhood bar" and it occurred to me that I am absolutely in love with this place. Here are a few reasons why:
- I have never had a single bad food item at this place. In fact everything I eat here (which is most likely the entire menu by this point) is good to outstanding.
- The staff is awesome, super duper attentive, easy to get along with and after being somewhat of a "regular" here (ok maybe more than somewhat) I know them on first name basis and have actually made friends with one or two of them. Real life friends. Made of bartenders. Gotta love it.
- They are the only place I know of in the neighborhood (and really most of the city) that keeps their kitchen open till 1:30 every single night. Â A lot of places SAY they do this, but when you walk in and no one is in there, they are all like "oh the kitchen closed because no one was here yadayadada"
- That brings me to the next point, there is a good crowd there EVERY night! I kid you not, come on Wednesday night at 12:30am, there will be a crowd and it will be happy. This is just a sign of a great place that everyone wants to be at.
- They have specials. Almost every night. Bitter Monday. Tight Lipped Tuesday. Pork me Sunday (I didn't make this up I swear thats what it's actually called).
- If you are a beer connoisseur (snob) this place hits up some really unique, sometimes rare, and always quality breweries. Check out High Gravity once a month on Wednesday night for their high ABV beer selection. And plan on walking home.
- There are now two floors and both have unique vibes but great atmospheres.
- Happy hour. Happy hour. Happy hour! Brunch, brunch brunch!
I wanna hug and kiss this place and give it a friendship bracelet or something.
I've been here twice, once for drinks and once for brunch. It's pretty average for a hipstery bar/restaurant in Philly. I was neither blown away nor disappointed by anything either time.
We stopped by on a weekday evening for drinks. It wasn't immediately clear if the outdoor tables were self-seating or not, so we had to look around for a couple of minutes to find a server and ask. The servers all seem a little overwhelmed, but very friendly and helpful.
They don't appear to have draught lists for the outdoor tables, which is kind of annoying. Our server was nice and rattled off the list for us - I don't remember the specifics (and was impressed that he did), but it was a good selection.
My weekend brunch experience was...forgettable. It was later on a Saturday, so it wasn't horribly crowded like some other places have become. I had crabby benedict or something, which was neither great nor terrible. My friend had a greasy sausag-y bacon-y breakfast burrito, which was gargantuan. It looked pretty good! But I don't eat meat, so I didn't try it.
Basically, good beer, friendly servers, decent happy hour specials, better-than-diner-and-not-too-overpriced noms. There's just nothing that seems to set this place apart. I'd probably come here often if I lived in the area, but it's not worth a trip to South Philly on its own.
Might as well start my reviewing career off on a high note and review an establishment that I am most familiar with. It's in my hood, so why not.
First off, I've probably ate here close to 50 times and each time it's been a mirror image of the time before. Consistency is major part of running a successful restaurant and they have it down to a science. The other thing they have down to a science is the ever-changing beer selection. Words may not do the beer selection justice, if your nervous, just ask, they'll help you figure out which one you'll like. It's just a beer list, relax.
Appetizers are always the perfect start to a great meal and Sidecar knows what's up. The pretzel-crusted chicken fingers are an aged version of what you were used to as a kid, the accompanying honey mustard is a great compliment to the tender little fingers. The mussels in BACON broth is ridiculously good, they serve a spoon on the side of the bowl for a reason-might as well be a straw too. The "appetizer formally known as" is a little messy but full of flavor, loaded with god-knows-what and a whole bunch of crab meat on top of a plate of fries. They used to have mac and cheese fritters aka mac and cheese balls, deep-fried goodness with a side of crab compote, it was replaced by some sort of carbonara that I haven't tried yet; still disappointed they got rid of the former. The wings are almost perfect, too.
The mains range from a vegetarian black bean burger to a bbq pulled pork dish served on jalapeño cornbread. The latter is a perfectly slow cooked pork shoulder, slathered in a carolina style bbq sauce, served on a piece of moist jalapeño corn bread and next to a fresh bowl of slaw. Pulled pork is one of my favorite dishes on the planet and I didn't think anyone did it like my mom, well, they do and maybe better. Sorry Mom. The black bean burger is very simple, but filled with flavor. The spicy mayo and the fresh salsa are proper additions that any vegetarian will appreciate.
This is obviously a terse write up of a place that is deserving of a headline. The burger is awesome. The fish sandwich needs a better name to go with the flavor. Any dish either comes with fries or a salad or "a little of both". The specials are a kaleidoscope of fresh and unique dishes that give the Sidecar a reason to keep an eye on.
In addition to great dinner, they also have a bangin' saturday and sunday brunch. From biscuits and gravy to build-your-own omelets and a bloody mary that will make the night before just a tad more tolerable.
I didn't mention anything bad about service, don't worry about that, it's great.
Try it. You'll thank me.
I got a lot of things from my Dad - his sense of humor, his eyebrows (ew) and his love of appetizers and beer, so when he wants to dinner with me in the city, it's code for "Let's find a new bar where we can drink...and oh yeah, order some crafty food, too." In celebration of the nice weather this week, we decided to check out Sidecar, and I gotta say, it did me a solid.
My date (ugh, ok, my father) was running late so I waited at the bar and had a beer while he was stuck in traffic on 76. Nice bar, nice service, excellent beer selection - both on tap and in bottles. There's a slight hipster vibe going on, but there was also a great mix of people eating - families, couples, dudes in suits, me wearing God knows what. Really good atmosphere. The bartender was a little more interested in chatting with her friend than making sure I was doing okay, but it wasn't too serious. People have friends, I get it.
Eventually Dad arrived and we were quickly seated outside, which always makes things better. Really attentive service out there, from both our waitress and the busboys - my glass was never empty, which was great, considering I wasn't picking up the tab. As far as the food goes, it was right up our alley (get it...car...alley...crickets). We ordered some sort of Mexican-y salad to start, the veggie Shepherd's pie, and the fish tacos - and honestly, all were awesome. Salad had the perfect amount of dressing, the sweet potato crust on the pie was creepily good, and the tacos were fresh and well, just really good. Again, I'm always on the lookout for places that don't make vegetarians/pescatarians feel like boring plant eaters or weirdos, and Sidecar definitely achieved the goal.
Sidecar, I'll be back. Don't imagine me saying that like Arnold - I meant it more like "I love to drink and eat and I like this place and I'll definitely return, woo!"
I wandered over to sidecar on a gorgeous Sunday evening  for some apps and drinks and scored a table outside. What impressed me right away was how attentive and chill the servers were despite being severely understaffed for such a big crowd (inside tables were full too).  Our table was wobbly and our server fixed it before we could even bring it to her attention. She then recommended a few apps and beers and gave us some time to review the eclectic menu.  It was "Pork Me Sunday" so all pork dishes were half off. We decided to try the Braised Pork Nachos and the "Appetizer Formerly Known As" which was essentially "Crab meat in a spicy imperial sauce over fries". I was in the mood for something summery so I ordered a margarita which was delicious and made with fresh squeezed lime juice. My boy ordered a wheat beer which was recommended by our server.
The nachos weren't your typical nachos and should have had more pork on them as it was "Pork Me Sunday". The fries were yummy but I think I ate too many because my tummy wasn't feeling so hot after we left. Â Overall I would certainly come back and try their dinner options and I've heard Sidecar does a mean brunch.
Also, I did check out the inside and was very impressed by the vibes I got...especially with the upstairs. Definitely a great spot to meet friends for a drink! Their beer selection was impressive and there is something for everyone.
On our latest trek to Sidecar Bar we drank and dined upstairs for the first time... Nice atmosphere, I wanna tell you. Comfortable banquettes, a huge picture window framing the city skyline. Yeah man, let's do that again.
And then yez were playing lotsa Talking Heads and solo David Byrne songs too?! Did you know that all I want to do is be his pal and ride bikes around with him all while having preciously bizarre conversations about the mundane things of life... "all the little details... I notice the way the sky looks. The color of white paper. The way people walk. Doorknobs. Everything," and such.
Servers have always been really sweet to us- shout out to the funny chick who made it her mission to keep our water glasses full, as we are some thirsty suckas! Bartenders have been friendly and extremely beer knowledgeable (I think she said her name is Sam- very cool & helpful!)
My husband said that his burger was the mooove (with 3 o's), cooked perfectly medium rare. It's cool that Sidecar lets you do the gimmick where you can have fries, or salad, or a little of both with you sandwich. It's a good plan, and as it is not typically our way to make even the smallest of healthy attempts...we can act like we're doin something kinda good.
Sidecar Bar is 20 blocks from my house. So, most often, as any professional health-kick-saboteur would do, we take this Westerly stroll just ever so conveniently timed so that we'll happen upon this spot during happy hour...happy hours, really. 3-7PM Monday through Friday (and then again Midnight - 2AM)!
It is there that I reward my minimal efforts with an excellent array of dollar-off craft beers on draft, and half-priced hills of porky nachos (with extra pineapple salsa)... or tasty half-priced carnitas...or half-priced pretzel coated chicken fingers, while saying, "Whatever man, I mean, we hafta walk 20 blocks back."
Always worth the trip.
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