Side Bar and Restaurant
10 E Gay St, West Chester, PA, 19380
Side Bar and Restaurant Menu
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Address :
10 E Gay St
West Chester, PA, 19380 - Phone (610) 429-8297
- Website https://sidebarandrestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kelly F.
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.
(4)Jandi L.
Side Bar is great! My husband and I ordered the Japanese beef skewers and caesar side salads. 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). Instead, our orders came out in their own really nice square dishes. The portions are perfectly sized; big but not too big. This is definitely not your average bar food. Their draft list was impressive, as well. Great beer, great food. If you go, try to get the booth right in front, by the wall of windows (NE corner.. by the entrance). It was GREAT for people watching on a Friday night. We had a fun time and definitely will be back!
(5)Allison B.
As for the bar part, I liked it. 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. They had a special on three-dollar drafts of Sam Adams' Grumpy Monk. They were smaller glasses -- I couldn't tell if it was a 10 ounce or 12, but sufficient. They ran out of that by around 9:30 but they put Pretty Things Jack D'or on as a follow-up. 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. 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. 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. Inside the restaurant, there are two bars and then several high-top tables -- I don't know if there is additional space upstairs/downstairs. 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. Another plus is that the bar didn't smell like a bar -- it smelled like nothing -- perfect. 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.
(4)Mackenzie E.
Everything I've tried here was absolutely delicious! I love the chicken and hummus salad...it's my fav! Definitely a must stop if you're in the West Chester area!
(5)Savannah L.
The beer selection is awesome.. hummus plate, awesome. Hamburger, awesome. Chicken and shrimp entree, awesome. Love this place!
(5)Stephen W.
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.
(4)Angie R.
Went there twice, once for dinner and once for a night out. The food was mediocre, but I'm a vegan so my choices are limited. The dance floor kinda sucked which was a combo of shit people--really obnoxious drunk guys who kept spilling our drinks and knocking into people--and shit music.
(3)Mike S.
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. DJ Wub Dan C was spinning the hits! Overall a great time with great friends!
(4)L B.
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.
(3)Kristina M.
Great food and service. Had the pumpkin fettucini. Delicious. Others at my table got the tuna with a pomegranate rum. Wonderful! The snapper entree was wonderful too. All of our meal were on the special list. :)
(5)Eric E.
Best burger I have ever had. The jalapeño burger was insane. Stuffed with jalapeños and covered with a hot chipotle sauce .
(5)Sarah B.
Gourmet bar food at it's best :-)
(5)Matthew B.
Food is predictable bar fare and drinks are made by part-time college students following a recipe. I guess you might enjoy if you're a 25yr old, but plenty of better choices in WC.
(2)Kelly H.
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!
(4)Caitlin F.
Awesome!! The only reason I'm not giving five stars is because their menu is a tad limited. But this is my go to for burgers and pub fare. It's always delicious and the service is great. They have a ton of craft beers on draft and will let you sample them before you buy. The atmosphere is really cool and more geared towards the late 20 something crowd. Great place for a date or to meet up with friends.
(4)Bob B.
Yelp reviews pretty spot on for this place. Ate Sunday brunch here, enticed in by a large outdoor seating section. No seats outside, so we ate at one of the 2 first floor bars. Lively crowd, quick and friendly service. Breakfast special baked French toast with chorizo and smoked Gouda, very good. Bloody Mary not their best offering, tepid. They need to spice up and thicken the mix. That said, the bartender was such a nice guy - who cares. Great fresh rich coffee. My liver thanked me. Good prices.
(3)Tom W.
This was a pit stop on the way to Philly. The tap beer selection is awesome! My wife had a Lost Abbey and I had a Stillwater Folklore. We started with plantain chips. 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. I had the chicken and andouille burrito. 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". She was a great server.
(3)Autumn E.
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.
(5)Scott F.
I was here for a Victory Beer dinner. The atmosphere was pretty standard (but nice) for a pub restaurant. What was most notable was the obvious love given to the place by its owners and staff. The chef prepared a special menu for the dinner, which was 6 courses, each paired with a Victory brew. The chef's work was incredible. 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. 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. 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. We look forward to heading back to the Side Bar on a regular evening.
(5)Charlotte M.
Terribly over-rated, mediocre beer selection, mediocre food.
(2)Caesar A.
Love Side Bar! Amazing food, great selection of beer and their staff is the friendliest! Go to Side bar!!
(5)Shayne T.
Pleasantly surprised! I went here for a bite to eat, expecting the food to be as bland as the decor and atmosphere and was pleasantly surprised. 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. They offered us a table outside, always a plus. I ordered the Chicken Piri-Piri with a side salad. The sandwich was served on a pretzel roll, something new to me. The meal was delicious, and the service was excellent. I would recommend anyone try it out.
(4)Chelsea F.
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.
(3)Kelly G.
I went on a Saturday night with a group of 10 people. I was pleased fo find out they took reservations for such a large group on a Saturday. The menu has some fun twists on traditional bar food (think sweet potato tots!). Good wine and beer list too. It was a little loud, even for a bar. But everyone loved their food and the price was right.
(4)Jeff C.
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. 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.
(3)Gwen M.
I wanted to love this place. I really did. I live about 45 minutes away and had to run an errand in West Chester. I did a search for restaurants with free WiFi. I was amazed at the large number of options. Maybe I shouldn't have been considering this is a college town. Since the Side Bar seemed to come so recommended, I decided to have a late lunch/early dinner while taking care of some emails. I ordered the arugula salad and was shocked that in late August the tomatoes were orange and tasteless. I asked where they buy their tomatoes and found out this shipment wasn't from their regular, local vendor. The salad dressing seemed homemade and it was very good. The amount of bacon was light, but the salad wasn't overly expensive at $5.95. The amount of arugula was generous. I then ordered the sausage pizza, because the herb pizza appeared to have tomatoes and I didn't think they would improve on pizza. I was so bummed it was undercooked. I like a crisp crust and this was chewy. So disappointing! It was hot, but definitely needed more time. And they didn't seem overly busy to justify the gaff. The beer selection looks impressive and I found the wine list decent. My server was cordial, but didn't seem to really want to be there. I would be tempted to try this place again, but would definitely order something different. If I were with friends into beer, this stop would be on our list.
(2)Courtney T.
Average college town bar. $4 well drinks. Smells strongly of bleach upstairs. DJ plays a mix of typical crap pop/hip-hop and dubstep. Lots of fat white girls embarrassing themselves on the dance floor.
(3)Melissa A.
I'm from Dc . I have tried the other bars in west Chester and the Djs are terrible!!! .. They play backstreet boys, come on we are in 2015!! And this is a college town .. When I came to this bar, the Dj was an old man and he was really good!!!. He played good music no backstreet boys or spice girls like Barnabys and kildares
(5)Kyle M.
Tried it after hearing a few friends going nuts over it. Yep I'm kinda doing the same thing now. Outstanding food,stellar beer list and a great staff. Kinda loud downstairs at times but it was a weekend and not to mention you can head upstairs for a more laid back time if you want.
(4)Jerome L.
I had the salad with talapia for lunch. Good quality lettuce and a generous amount of fish for a very reasonable price. Good service, sat outside.
(4)Capt K.
I found this place a charming bar/restaurant. They have decent food, but I enjoyed the coziness. They have bands playing in regular basis.
(4)Mike R.
Ok, this review is based on one beer; stopped in during a bachelor party pub crawl and had a Pumpkin Spice Ale. Not sure of the brewer but wow that was good, it really stood out for the night. Plan on returning for food etc.
(4)Kaitlin W.
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. 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. 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!
(4)Frank H.
Great spot for Craft Beers, and the Sunday Brunch is excellant. They have great staff that is very friendly and is easy to become a regular quickly.
(5)Sara G.
We've been here for dinner a number of times and tried their Sunday brunch this past weekend. The hush puppies are a great appetizer and not something we've readily found in other restaurants in the area. They have changed their dinner menu since we last went, but I've had the duck cannelloni a couple times which was excellent. I've also had the seafood risotto which was very disappointing. I've also tried a few of their nightly specials which are usually pretty unique. As for brunch last weekend, my husband and I both had the eggs benedict with crab cake. The crab cake was large and tasty! And the home fries were perfect with onions and peppers.
(4)Scott F.
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.
(1)Zoe S.
My family, friends and I all love the Side Bar. The servers there are very friendly and the drinks are reasonably priced. The menu offers a couple of great burgers (the Inferno Burger is a standout), and the plantain chips never disappoint. My dad always loves their sandwiches. The only thing on the menu that has been a little underwhelming is the crabcake sandwich. There are a few other places in town that offer better. If you're there for drinks, order a Long Island Iced Tea- they know how to make them.
(4)Aaron C.
Food was excellent, beer list is extensive and atmosphere is good. Can be loud inside, so not sure if this is the best spot if you're looking for a quite dining experience. The swordfish was outstanding, definitely recommend it.
(4)Jamie F.
awesome brunch! We all loved our food: french toast, banana chocolate chip pancakes, omelet, steak & eggs...all really tasty! sat outside...had Mimosa's...great start to the day!
(4)Rachel P.
This is a great place - a huge and awesome beer list, and interesting food choices that do not disappoint. The buffalo burger is TASTY! 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. And good service!
(4)Jessica P R.
loved the side bar. they are totally true to their website description - excellent and affordable food and spirits. the food was quite gourmet and absolutely delicious. our waiter was really good too, great at explaining the unique specials, very attentive, and polite. i'll definitely return!
(5)Eric F.
Good beer selection.They have a very legit selection of beers but it is a little on the expense side . They do get some very hard to get beers which is awesome . The bar staff is attentive but the bar does get really packed and its hard for the staff to keep up once it gets to busy. I recommend going sunday to Thursday
(4)Megan M.
Great selection of beers, competitively priced. Friendly and accommodating servers. Get the hummus to share with a group... the plate is HUGE and full of accompaniments like feta, roasted red peppers, pita, and cucumbers. I loved the sourdough on my BLT, but the house smoked bacon left a little to be desired. Just a personal preference, but I like my bacon crispier. It was very thick (yum!) but pretty limp and there was a bit too much fat on it. Don't leave without trying the sweet potato tater tots!
(4)Tony S.
Breakfast was ok. Eggs were a little over cooked (I asked for over easy and got over medium) and potatoes were way too salty.
(3)Pam S.
Food was just okay. Got the shrimp and chicken entree and it was pretty bland. Not worth the price. Service was good enough and drinks were good. Wouldn't come here for dinner again, but seems like a fun place for drinks.
(3)S B.
I really enjoy the food and service here. Best blueberry pancakes I've ever had. I love the dinner menu and the specials are always killer. The atmosphere is really nice, simple and clean. You won't make a wrong choice coming here. Great for hanging with friends, a nice dinner, or sitting at the bar for a casual date.
(5)Melissa A.
I'm from Dc . I have tried the other bars in west Chester and the Djs are terrible!!! .. They play backstreet boys, come on we are in 2015!! And this is a college town .. When I came to this bar, the Dj was an old man and he was really good!!!. He played good music no backstreet boys or spice girls like Barnabys and kildares
(5)Jim D.
Had a great dinner. Fun outside seating.
(5)Tony S.
Breakfast was ok. Eggs were a little over cooked (I asked for over easy and got over medium) and potatoes were way too salty.
(3)Pam S.
Food was just okay. Got the shrimp and chicken entree and it was pretty bland. Not worth the price. Service was good enough and drinks were good. Wouldn't come here for dinner again, but seems like a fun place for drinks.
(3)Jill N.
First time having Side Bar Brunch and it was great! There brunch specials are awesome and everything is reasonably priced, including the drinks! They had this one drink called the Rik Mosa which is the combination of a mimosa and GM aka Grand Marnier! Great combo! I had the veggie omelet special with goat cheese... So good! Tons of fresh veggies, like onions, yellow and green peppers, broccoli, spinach and zucchini! Everything comes with choice of toast, home fries and fresh fruit. I would def come back here again for brunch, I still need to try their lunch and dinner menu.
(4)Jim J.
Let me start off my saying that the food and atmosphere are always great. A buddy and I sat outside and had a few beers along with a roast pork sandwich and the swordfish wrap (more like a burrito). However our waitress (Nicole) really put a damper on the experience. She rarely came to the table to see how things were and most of the times she couldn't be found for awhile. We finished eating and waited about 25 minutes for her to even approach the table. We had our payments ready we a he dropped the check and without question, she walked away without even acknowledging the credit card. Good food, good atmosphere, just hope to have a different server than Nicole...
(2)Cas M.
I actually really love coming to Side Bar for dinner. It's a cute little place with spacious room for a big party or seclusion for an intimate dinner for two. The fireplace upstairs is lovely, but wasn't working the last time I visited. The food is excellent. Still some of the best wings in the area! I have to say it's a tad pricey, but definitely high quality as well. I had the most delicious shredded meat sandwich. I think it was warm sliced steak with bleu cheese and onions. I can't remember specifically what it was called, but it was outstanding. The menu provided on Yelp is much larger than the menu provided on site. I felt as though there wasn't much to choose from, but I didn't mind too much. Sometimes a larger menu is too overwhelming, anyway. I do remember their burgers also being delicious. Their drinks are far too pricey for my liking, though; especially because there are so many other places to grab a cheap drink in the area. The server was really nice, as well, and gave us tons of free goodies for my friend's birthday. Another pleasant experience! I'm sure I will be back again.
(4)AJ P.
I've been to Side Bar myriad times, and every single time there is always mouthwatering dishes on the specials menu. The regular menu is great, and you can tell cooking is a passion in this kitchen. The craft beer selection is always packed with something for everyone. Many drink choices, and the staff is up on their knowledge of what's yummy.
(4)Jack N.
The place for craft beer in West Chester! They have a most impressive beer list that any beer would be proud to have. Many options on local, east coast as well as national craft brews. The bartenders are very knowledgable and can assist you if you feel in the mood to try something new. The place also has an upstairs along with music on the weekend. Finally, it is owned by former bartenders that no how to treat their customers.
(4)Megan M.
Great selection of beers, competitively priced. Friendly and accommodating servers. Get the hummus to share with a group... the plate is HUGE and full of accompaniments like feta, roasted red peppers, pita, and cucumbers. I loved the sourdough on my BLT, but the house smoked bacon left a little to be desired. Just a personal preference, but I like my bacon crispier. It was very thick (yum!) but pretty limp and there was a bit too much fat on it. Don't leave without trying the sweet potato tater tots!
(4)Jim J.
Let me start off my saying that the food and atmosphere are always great. A buddy and I sat outside and had a few beers along with a roast pork sandwich and the swordfish wrap (more like a burrito). However our waitress (Nicole) really put a damper on the experience. She rarely came to the table to see how things were and most of the times she couldn't be found for awhile. We finished eating and waited about 25 minutes for her to even approach the table. We had our payments ready we a he dropped the check and without question, she walked away without even acknowledging the credit card. Good food, good atmosphere, just hope to have a different server than Nicole...
(2)Danielle B.
Being our first time in West Chester, My husband and came to Side Bar for a late lunch. The beer selection was fantastic, we got lost in the selection but the waitress was knowledgeable and helped us out by giving us a few taste. The hummus platter was surely a delightful surprise, with a good heap of fresh hummus and enough pita to go around. It also came with fresh feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes and roasted peppers all which was properly seasoned and freshly cut. We also shared the portabella sandwich which was equally as good, it was topped with spinach and smoked mozzarella. We would def come back here for lunch again.
(4)Poe A.
Great atmosphere and service. Perfect place for happy hour, casual eats, or date night. The place is consistent which is very important.
(4)Michael C.
I've been going to Sidebar a few times a month for the past couple of years. Their beer selection is phenomenal and they always have a great beer on special for $3 on Thursdays. I usually don't get food, but every time that I have it has been delicious.
(5)Jaime L.
If you're looking for an incredible craft beer selection, look no further than Side Bar and Restaurant. The beers on tap are always being updated and they have a huge selection of bottles as well. I also can't recommend their Sunday brunch highly enough. The eggs Benedict are perfect every time, not to mention they always have new specials! Their regular menu has some classics on it as well, try the piri piri chicken and you will find yourself coming back! One of my favorite bars in West Chester!
(5)Poe A.
Great atmosphere and service. Perfect place for happy hour, casual eats, or date night. The place is consistent which is very important.
(4)Michael C.
I've been going to Sidebar a few times a month for the past couple of years. Their beer selection is phenomenal and they always have a great beer on special for $3 on Thursdays. I usually don't get food, but every time that I have it has been delicious.
(5)Jaime L.
If you're looking for an incredible craft beer selection, look no further than Side Bar and Restaurant. The beers on tap are always being updated and they have a huge selection of bottles as well. I also can't recommend their Sunday brunch highly enough. The eggs Benedict are perfect every time, not to mention they always have new specials! Their regular menu has some classics on it as well, try the piri piri chicken and you will find yourself coming back! One of my favorite bars in West Chester!
(5)Alyssa N.
Beer selection is good, food is good. Sometimes gets a little too packed with college students on the weekend but it could be worse. The bartenders aren't always in the best of spirits or super attentive. I once got flagged for spilling my drink and they wouldn't serve me anymore- it was my first drink of the night there but the bartender thought I was too drunk. I wasn't. Just spilled my drink.
(4)Amanda V.
Never had a disappointing experience here. Their brunch is amazing especially their potatoes. It's a great place to get a reasonable priced meal which is yummy. I have also eaten their for dinner. Their salad was a large portion and filled you up. It's a great place to take the dog and sit outside on a nice day.
(4)Rick M.
Another spectacular beer list today. Great service outside right along Gay Street. Pepperoni pizza burger was delicous. Fresh patty not frozen. Crunchy fries. Totally delightful. Looking forward to next week.
(4)Chris B.
Awesome beerlist, and the food is very diverse. Relaxed place.
(5)Laura K.
Best beer selection in West Chester. They also have events from time to time featuring specialty beers that you won't find in other bars. Food is always consistent and does not disappoint.
(5)Raven P.
Pretty okay place. It gets pretty party hardy at night on any day of the week so if you're into that that's cool. Food is good but pricey. Recently I had the seared salmon, which I was expecting to be a little rarer than it ended up being, but it was really delicious, and very tender. Rice underneath it was good and the lemongrass creamed corn with lump crab meat was sublime. Beer selection is great, never been disappointed. There's an adorable fireplace on the first floor that is really nice to sit next to, and the second floor has a dance area on certain nights.
(4)Alyssa N.
Beer selection is good, food is good. Sometimes gets a little too packed with college students on the weekend but it could be worse. The bartenders aren't always in the best of spirits or super attentive. I once got flagged for spilling my drink and they wouldn't serve me anymore- it was my first drink of the night there but the bartender thought I was too drunk. I wasn't. Just spilled my drink.
(4)Amanda V.
Never had a disappointing experience here. Their brunch is amazing especially their potatoes. It's a great place to get a reasonable priced meal which is yummy. I have also eaten their for dinner. Their salad was a large portion and filled you up. It's a great place to take the dog and sit outside on a nice day.
(4)Rick M.
Another spectacular beer list today. Great service outside right along Gay Street. Pepperoni pizza burger was delicous. Fresh patty not frozen. Crunchy fries. Totally delightful. Looking forward to next week.
(4)Chris B.
Awesome beerlist, and the food is very diverse. Relaxed place.
(5)Laura K.
Best beer selection in West Chester. They also have events from time to time featuring specialty beers that you won't find in other bars. Food is always consistent and does not disappoint.
(5)Raven P.
Pretty okay place. It gets pretty party hardy at night on any day of the week so if you're into that that's cool. Food is good but pricey. Recently I had the seared salmon, which I was expecting to be a little rarer than it ended up being, but it was really delicious, and very tender. Rice underneath it was good and the lemongrass creamed corn with lump crab meat was sublime. Beer selection is great, never been disappointed. There's an adorable fireplace on the first floor that is really nice to sit next to, and the second floor has a dance area on certain nights.
(4)Jim D.
Had a great dinner. Fun outside seating.
(5)Jan F.
The food here was average. I had a pork with broccoli rabe sandwich. It was okay. My mom had a hamburger that was large and overcooked. The average food was far overshadowed by the poor service. Although it wasnt crowded it took forever to get drinks, food and check. One saving grace is the outdoor seating.
(2)Lisa Q.
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
(2)Ally O.
Last night my friends and I went to Side Bar for their 5-7 happy hour and some dinner. We stood at the first bar to the right when you first walk in, and grabbed some beers while they were $2.50-$3.00. It was 6:50, so we were trying to get in a few beers before 7pm came around. Our bartender was snotty, rude, and taking forever - clearly trying to make some of the beers get rung in at 7 or later, when apparently "the computer changes and you can no longer get a discounted beer". I work in the restaurant industry too, and we understand how tips work. But for gods sake, just say "yes of course" when someone orders a beer before 7pm, don't take 5 minutes to pour the beer from the tap and then ring it in last, so that its 6:59-7pm when it gets rung in. She also overcharged our friend an extra beer, which we politely brought to her attention. She got snappy, then went and did dishes and other things for 5 minutes before she printed a new, correct receipt for us. Luckily a manager, Ryan, came around and heard our story, and gave us all a round on the restaurant, which made us stay for the dinner - as we were in the middle of contemplating just leaving and going elsewhere.
(3)Michael K.
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!
(1)Elizabeth K.
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.
(4)Charlie B.
Had a fantastic dinner here tonight. 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. The appetizers were great. I had the grilled calamari appetizer, which was a real treat from the boring old fried calamari served in most places. It was served over some lettuce with Greek olives, tomatoes, and a very light Italian style dressing. My wife's sweet potato perogies were delicious as well. The real treat came when my entree arrived. I ordered the special, which was a flank steak with blue cheese chunks over bacon grits with some vegetables. The flank steak was tender and delicious and the grits and blue cheese went perfectly with it. My wife's crab cake entree was unbelievable. It was giant and had a higher crab content than any crab cake I have ever seen. It was pan fried with delicious crispy edges over a creamed corn variant. The Side Bar is now my favorite restaurant in West Chester. I highly recommend it.
(5)Jill N.
First time having Side Bar Brunch and it was great! There brunch specials are awesome and everything is reasonably priced, including the drinks! They had this one drink called the Rik Mosa which is the combination of a mimosa and GM aka Grand Marnier! Great combo! I had the veggie omelet special with goat cheese... So good! Tons of fresh veggies, like onions, yellow and green peppers, broccoli, spinach and zucchini! Everything comes with choice of toast, home fries and fresh fruit. I would def come back here again for brunch, I still need to try their lunch and dinner menu.
(4)Elijah T.
Best mimosa specials in WC! Cheap beer, cheap martinis, good breakfast items. The food is beyond decent, I love the crab dip and spinach omelet. I went around 11am and the wait was little to none. The waitress was very quick and attentive. If you're looking for a quiet, low key spot to enjoy the last moments of the weekend, this is the spot.
(5)S B.
I really enjoy the food and service here. Best blueberry pancakes I've ever had. I love the dinner menu and the specials are always killer. The atmosphere is really nice, simple and clean. You won't make a wrong choice coming here. Great for hanging with friends, a nice dinner, or sitting at the bar for a casual date.
(5)Cas M.
I actually really love coming to Side Bar for dinner. It's a cute little place with spacious room for a big party or seclusion for an intimate dinner for two. The fireplace upstairs is lovely, but wasn't working the last time I visited. The food is excellent. Still some of the best wings in the area! I have to say it's a tad pricey, but definitely high quality as well. I had the most delicious shredded meat sandwich. I think it was warm sliced steak with bleu cheese and onions. I can't remember specifically what it was called, but it was outstanding. The menu provided on Yelp is much larger than the menu provided on site. I felt as though there wasn't much to choose from, but I didn't mind too much. Sometimes a larger menu is too overwhelming, anyway. I do remember their burgers also being delicious. Their drinks are far too pricey for my liking, though; especially because there are so many other places to grab a cheap drink in the area. The server was really nice, as well, and gave us tons of free goodies for my friend's birthday. Another pleasant experience! I'm sure I will be back again.
(4)Eric F.
Good beer selection.They have a very legit selection of beers but it is a little on the expense side . They do get some very hard to get beers which is awesome . The bar staff is attentive but the bar does get really packed and its hard for the staff to keep up once it gets to busy. I recommend going sunday to Thursday
(4)AJ P.
I've been to Side Bar myriad times, and every single time there is always mouthwatering dishes on the specials menu. The regular menu is great, and you can tell cooking is a passion in this kitchen. The craft beer selection is always packed with something for everyone. Many drink choices, and the staff is up on their knowledge of what's yummy.
(4)Danielle B.
Being our first time in West Chester, My husband and came to Side Bar for a late lunch. The beer selection was fantastic, we got lost in the selection but the waitress was knowledgeable and helped us out by giving us a few taste. The hummus platter was surely a delightful surprise, with a good heap of fresh hummus and enough pita to go around. It also came with fresh feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes and roasted peppers all which was properly seasoned and freshly cut. We also shared the portabella sandwich which was equally as good, it was topped with spinach and smoked mozzarella. We would def come back here for lunch again.
(4)Jack N.
The place for craft beer in West Chester! They have a most impressive beer list that any beer would be proud to have. Many options on local, east coast as well as national craft brews. The bartenders are very knowledgable and can assist you if you feel in the mood to try something new. The place also has an upstairs along with music on the weekend. Finally, it is owned by former bartenders that no how to treat their customers.
(4)Allison B.
As for the bar part, I liked it. 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. They had a special on three-dollar drafts of Sam Adams' Grumpy Monk. They were smaller glasses -- I couldn't tell if it was a 10 ounce or 12, but sufficient. They ran out of that by around 9:30 but they put Pretty Things Jack D'or on as a follow-up. 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. 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. 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. Inside the restaurant, there are two bars and then several high-top tables -- I don't know if there is additional space upstairs/downstairs. 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. Another plus is that the bar didn't smell like a bar -- it smelled like nothing -- perfect. 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.
(4)Mackenzie E.
Everything I've tried here was absolutely delicious! I love the chicken and hummus salad...it's my fav! Definitely a must stop if you're in the West Chester area!
(5)Savannah L.
The beer selection is awesome.. hummus plate, awesome. Hamburger, awesome. Chicken and shrimp entree, awesome. Love this place!
(5)Stephen W.
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.
(4)Jan F.
The food here was average. I had a pork with broccoli rabe sandwich. It was okay. My mom had a hamburger that was large and overcooked. The average food was far overshadowed by the poor service. Although it wasnt crowded it took forever to get drinks, food and check. One saving grace is the outdoor seating.
(2)Elijah T.
Best mimosa specials in WC! Cheap beer, cheap martinis, good breakfast items. The food is beyond decent, I love the crab dip and spinach omelet. I went around 11am and the wait was little to none. The waitress was very quick and attentive. If you're looking for a quiet, low key spot to enjoy the last moments of the weekend, this is the spot.
(5)Kate D.
There are too many other better restaurants in WC and ChesCo to return to Side Bar. I was underwhelmed by the menu, and my hubby and I were not impressed with the food that we ordered. West Chester is a nice little culinary destination for the suburbs, but Side Bar needs to step it up with food and service, especially considering its prime real estate. I have to add: the sweet potato pierogies have SO MUCH potential, but they failed to deliver...
(2)Marcy L.
Foods good, nice locale!
(4)Jennifer R.
Food was good, but not great. We ordered the wings as an appetizer and some salads. The wings were small although described as "jumbo" or something to that effect on the menu. Salads were nothing special, but the staff was very professional, not very personable though. Price point wasn't bad.
(3)Sean D.
The hostess tried first to seat us in a table in a totally dark corner - the lightbulbs in the sconce were burned out... when I asked for a new table I got the always lovely eye roll. Ahhhh.... college kids have the life! As an aside, the upstiars room could really use an update on the lighting. The waitress was uncertain of the menu (had to disappear for over 5 minutes in order to find the bar's bourbons, couldn't answer questions on meals), and disappeared for long sections of our meal (which means we missed a round of cocktails, for example). She was quick to collect our card when we paid our bill, so that was a plus. I give her kudos for steering me away from the pork belly reuben - she warned me it was incredibly fatty, and confirmed for me that none of the fat was rendered out while cooking. The food we ordered (one special and one regular menu item) was lacking for the price point. The dishes lacked either enough savory, or various textures, and both lacked enough seasoning (esp. the sides). They were good - don't get me wrong. They weren't enough to make me want to explore the menu, though. 2.5 stars, overall, and rounding down for the ambience and service.
(2)Stephen S.
Sidebar has a killer beer selection, extremely knowledgable and friendly staff, and tasty food.
(5)Kate D.
There are too many other better restaurants in WC and ChesCo to return to Side Bar. I was underwhelmed by the menu, and my hubby and I were not impressed with the food that we ordered. West Chester is a nice little culinary destination for the suburbs, but Side Bar needs to step it up with food and service, especially considering its prime real estate. I have to add: the sweet potato pierogies have SO MUCH potential, but they failed to deliver...
(2)Marcy L.
Foods good, nice locale!
(4)Jennifer R.
Food was good, but not great. We ordered the wings as an appetizer and some salads. The wings were small although described as "jumbo" or something to that effect on the menu. Salads were nothing special, but the staff was very professional, not very personable though. Price point wasn't bad.
(3)Sean D.
The hostess tried first to seat us in a table in a totally dark corner - the lightbulbs in the sconce were burned out... when I asked for a new table I got the always lovely eye roll. Ahhhh.... college kids have the life! As an aside, the upstiars room could really use an update on the lighting. The waitress was uncertain of the menu (had to disappear for over 5 minutes in order to find the bar's bourbons, couldn't answer questions on meals), and disappeared for long sections of our meal (which means we missed a round of cocktails, for example). She was quick to collect our card when we paid our bill, so that was a plus. I give her kudos for steering me away from the pork belly reuben - she warned me it was incredibly fatty, and confirmed for me that none of the fat was rendered out while cooking. The food we ordered (one special and one regular menu item) was lacking for the price point. The dishes lacked either enough savory, or various textures, and both lacked enough seasoning (esp. the sides). They were good - don't get me wrong. They weren't enough to make me want to explore the menu, though. 2.5 stars, overall, and rounding down for the ambience and service.
(2)Stephen S.
Sidebar has a killer beer selection, extremely knowledgable and friendly staff, and tasty food.
(5)David B.
Side Bar has the set up to be a really fun location for the mid 20's to 30's crowd--lots of potential for the young professional crowd. The dance floor is usually well occupied and the lights can add (unless you're epileptic) to the fun. I think my only beef with the place is the house DJ, DJ Dan, who shamelessly promotes himself, has little fading, blending, or technical skill, and has been playing the same setlist for 7 years.
(3)Henry P.
5 Stars go out to the selection of craft brews and the inferno burger only. The aforementioned are the only 5 star items on the menu that I know of.
(5)Scott F.
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.
(1)Zoe S.
My family, friends and I all love the Side Bar. The servers there are very friendly and the drinks are reasonably priced. The menu offers a couple of great burgers (the Inferno Burger is a standout), and the plantain chips never disappoint. My dad always loves their sandwiches. The only thing on the menu that has been a little underwhelming is the crabcake sandwich. There are a few other places in town that offer better. If you're there for drinks, order a Long Island Iced Tea- they know how to make them.
(4)Aaron C.
Food was excellent, beer list is extensive and atmosphere is good. Can be loud inside, so not sure if this is the best spot if you're looking for a quite dining experience. The swordfish was outstanding, definitely recommend it.
(4)Jamie F.
awesome brunch! We all loved our food: french toast, banana chocolate chip pancakes, omelet, steak & eggs...all really tasty! sat outside...had Mimosa's...great start to the day!
(4)Angie R.
Went there twice, once for dinner and once for a night out. The food was mediocre, but I'm a vegan so my choices are limited. The dance floor kinda sucked which was a combo of shit people--really obnoxious drunk guys who kept spilling our drinks and knocking into people--and shit music.
(3)Mike S.
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. DJ Wub Dan C was spinning the hits! Overall a great time with great friends!
(4)David B.
Side Bar has the set up to be a really fun location for the mid 20's to 30's crowd--lots of potential for the young professional crowd. The dance floor is usually well occupied and the lights can add (unless you're epileptic) to the fun. I think my only beef with the place is the house DJ, DJ Dan, who shamelessly promotes himself, has little fading, blending, or technical skill, and has been playing the same setlist for 7 years.
(3)Henry P.
5 Stars go out to the selection of craft brews and the inferno burger only. The aforementioned are the only 5 star items on the menu that I know of.
(5)L B.
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.
(3)Kristina M.
Great food and service. Had the pumpkin fettucini. Delicious. Others at my table got the tuna with a pomegranate rum. Wonderful! The snapper entree was wonderful too. All of our meal were on the special list. :)
(5)Eric E.
Best burger I have ever had. The jalapeño burger was insane. Stuffed with jalapeños and covered with a hot chipotle sauce .
(5)Sarah B.
Gourmet bar food at it's best :-)
(5)Matthew B.
Food is predictable bar fare and drinks are made by part-time college students following a recipe. I guess you might enjoy if you're a 25yr old, but plenty of better choices in WC.
(2)Kelly H.
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!
(4)Caitlin F.
Awesome!! The only reason I'm not giving five stars is because their menu is a tad limited. But this is my go to for burgers and pub fare. It's always delicious and the service is great. They have a ton of craft beers on draft and will let you sample them before you buy. The atmosphere is really cool and more geared towards the late 20 something crowd. Great place for a date or to meet up with friends.
(4)Bob B.
Yelp reviews pretty spot on for this place. Ate Sunday brunch here, enticed in by a large outdoor seating section. No seats outside, so we ate at one of the 2 first floor bars. Lively crowd, quick and friendly service. Breakfast special baked French toast with chorizo and smoked Gouda, very good. Bloody Mary not their best offering, tepid. They need to spice up and thicken the mix. That said, the bartender was such a nice guy - who cares. Great fresh rich coffee. My liver thanked me. Good prices.
(3)Tom W.
This was a pit stop on the way to Philly. The tap beer selection is awesome! My wife had a Lost Abbey and I had a Stillwater Folklore. We started with plantain chips. 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. I had the chicken and andouille burrito. 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". She was a great server.
(3)Gwen M.
I wanted to love this place. I really did. I live about 45 minutes away and had to run an errand in West Chester. I did a search for restaurants with free WiFi. I was amazed at the large number of options. Maybe I shouldn't have been considering this is a college town. Since the Side Bar seemed to come so recommended, I decided to have a late lunch/early dinner while taking care of some emails. I ordered the arugula salad and was shocked that in late August the tomatoes were orange and tasteless. I asked where they buy their tomatoes and found out this shipment wasn't from their regular, local vendor. The salad dressing seemed homemade and it was very good. The amount of bacon was light, but the salad wasn't overly expensive at $5.95. The amount of arugula was generous. I then ordered the sausage pizza, because the herb pizza appeared to have tomatoes and I didn't think they would improve on pizza. I was so bummed it was undercooked. I like a crisp crust and this was chewy. So disappointing! It was hot, but definitely needed more time. And they didn't seem overly busy to justify the gaff. The beer selection looks impressive and I found the wine list decent. My server was cordial, but didn't seem to really want to be there. I would be tempted to try this place again, but would definitely order something different. If I were with friends into beer, this stop would be on our list.
(2)Courtney T.
Average college town bar. $4 well drinks. Smells strongly of bleach upstairs. DJ plays a mix of typical crap pop/hip-hop and dubstep. Lots of fat white girls embarrassing themselves on the dance floor.
(3)Kelly F.
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.
(4)Jandi L.
Side Bar is great! My husband and I ordered the Japanese beef skewers and caesar side salads. 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). Instead, our orders came out in their own really nice square dishes. The portions are perfectly sized; big but not too big. This is definitely not your average bar food. Their draft list was impressive, as well. Great beer, great food. If you go, try to get the booth right in front, by the wall of windows (NE corner.. by the entrance). It was GREAT for people watching on a Friday night. We had a fun time and definitely will be back!
(5)Chelsea F.
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.
(3)Kelly G.
I went on a Saturday night with a group of 10 people. I was pleased fo find out they took reservations for such a large group on a Saturday. The menu has some fun twists on traditional bar food (think sweet potato tots!). Good wine and beer list too. It was a little loud, even for a bar. But everyone loved their food and the price was right.
(4)Autumn E.
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.
(5)Scott F.
I was here for a Victory Beer dinner. The atmosphere was pretty standard (but nice) for a pub restaurant. What was most notable was the obvious love given to the place by its owners and staff. The chef prepared a special menu for the dinner, which was 6 courses, each paired with a Victory brew. The chef's work was incredible. 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. 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. 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. We look forward to heading back to the Side Bar on a regular evening.
(5)Charlotte M.
Terribly over-rated, mediocre beer selection, mediocre food.
(2)Caesar A.
Love Side Bar! Amazing food, great selection of beer and their staff is the friendliest! Go to Side bar!!
(5)Shayne T.
Pleasantly surprised! I went here for a bite to eat, expecting the food to be as bland as the decor and atmosphere and was pleasantly surprised. 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. They offered us a table outside, always a plus. I ordered the Chicken Piri-Piri with a side salad. The sandwich was served on a pretzel roll, something new to me. The meal was delicious, and the service was excellent. I would recommend anyone try it out.
(4)Jeff C.
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. 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.
(3)Kaitlin W.
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. 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. 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!
(4)Frank H.
Great spot for Craft Beers, and the Sunday Brunch is excellant. They have great staff that is very friendly and is easy to become a regular quickly.
(5)Kyle M.
Tried it after hearing a few friends going nuts over it. Yep I'm kinda doing the same thing now. Outstanding food,stellar beer list and a great staff. Kinda loud downstairs at times but it was a weekend and not to mention you can head upstairs for a more laid back time if you want.
(4)Jerome L.
I had the salad with talapia for lunch. Good quality lettuce and a generous amount of fish for a very reasonable price. Good service, sat outside.
(4)Capt K.
I found this place a charming bar/restaurant. They have decent food, but I enjoyed the coziness. They have bands playing in regular basis.
(4)Mike R.
Ok, this review is based on one beer; stopped in during a bachelor party pub crawl and had a Pumpkin Spice Ale. Not sure of the brewer but wow that was good, it really stood out for the night. Plan on returning for food etc.
(4)Sara G.
We've been here for dinner a number of times and tried their Sunday brunch this past weekend. The hush puppies are a great appetizer and not something we've readily found in other restaurants in the area. They have changed their dinner menu since we last went, but I've had the duck cannelloni a couple times which was excellent. I've also had the seafood risotto which was very disappointing. I've also tried a few of their nightly specials which are usually pretty unique. As for brunch last weekend, my husband and I both had the eggs benedict with crab cake. The crab cake was large and tasty! And the home fries were perfect with onions and peppers.
(4)Lisa Q.
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
(2)Rachel P.
This is a great place - a huge and awesome beer list, and interesting food choices that do not disappoint. The buffalo burger is TASTY! 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. And good service!
(4)Jessica P R.
loved the side bar. they are totally true to their website description - excellent and affordable food and spirits. the food was quite gourmet and absolutely delicious. our waiter was really good too, great at explaining the unique specials, very attentive, and polite. i'll definitely return!
(5)Ally O.
Last night my friends and I went to Side Bar for their 5-7 happy hour and some dinner. We stood at the first bar to the right when you first walk in, and grabbed some beers while they were $2.50-$3.00. It was 6:50, so we were trying to get in a few beers before 7pm came around. Our bartender was snotty, rude, and taking forever - clearly trying to make some of the beers get rung in at 7 or later, when apparently "the computer changes and you can no longer get a discounted beer". I work in the restaurant industry too, and we understand how tips work. But for gods sake, just say "yes of course" when someone orders a beer before 7pm, don't take 5 minutes to pour the beer from the tap and then ring it in last, so that its 6:59-7pm when it gets rung in. She also overcharged our friend an extra beer, which we politely brought to her attention. She got snappy, then went and did dishes and other things for 5 minutes before she printed a new, correct receipt for us. Luckily a manager, Ryan, came around and heard our story, and gave us all a round on the restaurant, which made us stay for the dinner - as we were in the middle of contemplating just leaving and going elsewhere.
(3)Michael K.
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!
(1)Elizabeth K.
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.
(4)Charlie B.
Had a fantastic dinner here tonight. 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. The appetizers were great. I had the grilled calamari appetizer, which was a real treat from the boring old fried calamari served in most places. It was served over some lettuce with Greek olives, tomatoes, and a very light Italian style dressing. My wife's sweet potato perogies were delicious as well. The real treat came when my entree arrived. I ordered the special, which was a flank steak with blue cheese chunks over bacon grits with some vegetables. The flank steak was tender and delicious and the grits and blue cheese went perfectly with it. My wife's crab cake entree was unbelievable. It was giant and had a higher crab content than any crab cake I have ever seen. It was pan fried with delicious crispy edges over a creamed corn variant. The Side Bar is now my favorite restaurant in West Chester. I highly recommend it.
(5)