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Sidecar
Categories: Restaurants Modern European Restaurants Canadian (New) Modern European, Canadian (New) [Edit]
577 College StToronto, ON M6G 1B2
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy, Palmerston, Bickford Park
(416) 536-7000
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
75 reviews for Sidecar
Review Highlights
"I ate the steak frites and loved it."
(in 29 reviews)
"Flourless chocolate cake is to die for."
(in 11 reviews)
"the prix fixe is an amazing deal."
(in 22 reviews)
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75 reviews in English
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Review from Anthony L.
1/30/2012
2 years of visiting my wife in toronto & trying to find the perfect spot & this place hit the ball out of the park on every level. this review basically rates both sidecar & the upstairs "private" bar, the toronto temperance society. robin, the bartender, is likely the greatest mixologist i've ever met, & hey, i work in the service industry in new york city, so that's saying something. every drink was well thought out, creative, delicious, wonderfully balanced, & tailored directly to the individual's tastes (we went 3 times, first time with a party of 4). along with his artistry in drinks, he was helpful, informative, accommodating, & friendly. the perfect bartender.
even aside from my bar snobbery, the food was terrific. we sampled most of the appetizers in our handful of visits, each one refreshing, piquing our taste buds for the main event yet leaving plenty of room for what was to come. i found myself returning to the beautifully seasoned & cooked steak frites. decor & atmosphere were on par with the quality of the service & food / drinks. low-key but tasteful, & they had a pretty killer soul music playlist going the last time i was there.
overall, a real treasure. a sparkling gem of toronto night life. -
Review from M P.
Toronto, ON
1/17/2012
After consulted YELP, I was super hyped up about going to Sidecar. Alas, I walked out a little disappointed.
Food:
- Bread would have been better if they were warm
- Poutine with beef and duck gravy was good, but a little salty
- Beer and cheddar soup was thicker than usual and again too salty
- Steak frites was good. The steak was tender.
- Beet risotto was delicious but a little too heavy on the sauce
Service:
- Waitress was friendly but the busboy was a not the brightest
Ambiance:
- Looked better from the outside than it actually is. The candlelights and all were cute bu once entered, the noise level was quite high and the tables are so close to one another. I literally could hear the convos of the couples that were sitting 3-4 tables away from us and they werent even that loud (sorry!!) That sucked!! -
Review from Bri C.
Toronto, ON
12/28/2011
This place is fantastic. I've been numerous times and am consistently impressed by both the service and food. The glorious food starts right from the homemade bread, which would eventually have me question why Woodlot's bread was so popular. Sidecar's homemade bread offerings were buttery and delicious with a perfect texture.
The cocktails on their own are worth phoning home about. I would highly recommend the "Kick in the Pants" for an after-a-long-work-day starter beverage.
For apps the buffalo mozzerella, a fairly typically dish, is stand-out delicious and amazingly fresh. The oysters have also been top notch.
As for mains, I've had the tagliatelle (stand out dish), chicken, salmon and haddock and would recommend all of them thoroughly and in that order.
The best part about this place is that it is light on the wallet. You come out feeling satisfied and that you've somehow gotten the deal of the century given the amazing dining experience. -
Review from Natalie B.
Toronto, ON
2/11/2012
Consistently good. Good atmosphere. Good food. Good drinks. Good value. Good location. Go!
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Review from Tony C.
Richmond Hill, ON
1/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
One of the best restaurants in town for drinks and dinner. Both times I was there I had the risotto, amazing creamy risotto. A few of us ordered that and when it was all said and done there wasn't a spec of risotto left on our plates. The drinks are strong and flavourful. My favourite is their Jerry sour. Amazing service from the wait staff. On my list of restaurants I would take my out-of-town friends to. I wish it was in my neck of the woods, I would go there every week.
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Review from Tina H.
Updated - 12/4/2011 9 photos
This place is delicious. I've been here a couple of times already and loved it. They change their menu since I last went (which was a long time ago) so some things I got that loved weren't on it but that's ok because they had other good things.
Unfortunately, I hadn't planned to go here (but to some pub nearby based on a friend's suggestion), so I had eaten beforehand. Had I known I'd be eating here instead I would've starved myself till dinner! I ate a cheese plate only but that was delicious.
Their cocktails are delicious! I love the giant ice cube. I haven't been able to stop thinking about the Vieux Carré cocktail. At $13 a cocktail better be amazing, and it was.
The fries that came with the steak frites also came with black garlic aioli or something like that, and it was delicious.
Can't wait to go back, but hungry this time so I can actually eat a proper meal.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/2/2010
This place was great. The sidecar cocktail was too sour though, other than that, awesome! Great… Read more »
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Review from Maheen M.
10/15/2011
My date and I checked out Sidecar last night for a night out in Little Italy. I was craving some serious carbs to prep for my upcoming half marathon this weekend. I made reservations through the web for 9pm. We arrived a wee bit early for our reservations and the server said that our table would be ready shortly.
We were directed to hang out at the bar for a bit and to take a look at their menu.
Drinks
Sidecar - did you know that the restaurant is actually named after a cocktail, so this was a must try drink. It was good but strong, something with the cognac in it.
Cave Springs Reising (sp?) - My date wanted a light yet sweet white wine and the bartender recommended this wine. It was lovely. I think I might actually search it out at the LCBO.
Food
Fresh Oysters - we got some oysters to start and they were delish! So smooth and flavourful. A great appetizer to begin the meal
Wild Shrimp Risotto - quite yummy, great creamy texture, descent size shrimp portions
Sockeye Salmon - crispy skin, perfectly cooked and seasoned. Only downside was the greens in the plate were not cut to an edible size to eat.
Service
Wonderful and attentive. Bread was brought out promptly - which was tasty and fresh. Our water was refilled a few times which was unexpected.
Atmosphere
Romantic, dimly lit and cozy.
I would recommend Side Car for a date night out or just even dinner in the little Italy area! -
Review from Lauren M.
9/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Sidecar is a great little place, solid 4.5 star (just didn't quite have the WOW factor for a full 5).
They have a really beautiful patio out back which is a perfect place to dine, weather permitting. Otherwise the interior looked ok but not a lot of seating. Book in advance.
I had the daily soup to start, which was tomato that day. This was quite delicious and full of flavour.
I was feeling quite boring and unadventurous so I went ahead and ordered chicken for my main. It was nice and crispy and served over some sauteed green beans. This was a tasty dish but not very creative. Then again, chicken is usually the "safe" dish on the menu for picky eaters, so I shouldn't have expected something too unique.
The dessert that night was sticky toffee pudding. Again, this one was really good. The sauce was buttery and sickly sweet. It tasted heavenly.
Service was excellent here and the waiter was quite helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. Good wine list and some great sounding (albeit pricey) cocktails. -
Review from Julia L.
Toronto, ON
12/16/2011
I really enjoyed my meal at Sidecar. From the bread basket with housemade whipped butter to my main, everything was wonderful. I can't remember exactly what I ordered (I think it was some sort of gnocchi dish), but I remember asking if it could be made meatless and my request was accommodated graciously. The food came out hot and delicious and the serving size was just right. The service was impeccable - water glasses continuously topped up, more bread offered when our basket was done, quick, kind and completely courteous. The space inside was dimly lit and quite romantic, a lovely spot for a date. I would most definitely return and pay full price, but am completely tempted by the $25 prix fixe dinner option...plus, as an added bonus, I love the ease of being able to make a reservation online!
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Review from Daphne S.
North York, ON
11/14/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
My husband and I were looking for a new place to try out for our 1st year wedding anniversary and stumbled onto the reviews for Sidecar. We were intrigued, went ahead and made reservations directly through Yelp and Open Table. That was pretty easy, even on my iPhone which was great.
It wasn't hard to find, street parking was easy to find as well. Our coats were taken for us which was wonderful and we were given two tables to choose from. Hoping for some romantical privacy, we choose the table right by the window. Only issue I had with that was the rest of restaurant was dimly lit and had little tabletop tealight candles but the lighting over our table was too bright and took away from the ambiance.
We were given our bread and butter, which was DELISH and asked for seconds. We did order from the prix fixe menu and both got the steak frites. We are SOOO adventurous. No regrets and all we kept saying was "Mmm.." The steak nice and tender, the fries were crunchy and delish. Our desert was really great too, a touch too sweet for my liking but I've never had much of a sweet tooth anyways.
I wanted to get a drink and asked for suggestions from our very nice waitress and ended up with the Badass Mojito from her suggestions. Could be that I rarely drink but I found mine to be very strong and lit up like a christmas tree due to my silly Asian genes that turn me red from any amount of alcohol. Despite being a little embarrassed about that, it was a wonderful treat to go out and enjoy ourselves.
Only complaint I have was that it started to get pretty noisy in the restaurant, of course I know that such a thing is out of the restaurant's control. I just had the impression that it was a quiet and intimate restaurant.
We would def go back again!! -
Review from Alicia T.
Toronto, ON
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a great meal in the bar upstairs. Ask the bartender for a basil smash. If it's the guy who made me one, you're in for a treat. I ate the steak frites and loved it.
My second meal was a mediocre experience on the patio but I'm still pretending that didn't happen so I'm sticking with my 5 star. -
Review from Ksenja T.
10/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Having gone to Carpano recently, I knew I had to check out Sidecar, but i DIDN'T know they had a Prix Fixe $25 from Sunday-Wednesday. Now that's a steal.
For a Tuesday night, it was packed. Every single table. We were able to get a late reservation at 9 pm and we were seated immediately. The host was incredibly nice and so was our waiter. I wasn't expecting the decor to be so nice (is that rude to say?) but the backsplash on the bar was so nice! Loved the stone detailing.
From the prix fixe, I got the sidecar salad which was great and for my main I got the roasted chicken. I WOULD have gone for the steak frites, but I resisted. The chicken was great, very crispy skin. The dessert for the night was a sticky toffee pudding and I found that to be too dry even with the sauce on top.
This place is also known for its cocktails so i tried the "El Bueno" which was indeed very bueno and my bf had the BADASS Mojito...with a name like that, I was hoping it'd be badass having bacardi 151 rum, but apparently it wasn't that strong....the "painless brazilian" cocktail though was amazing from the few sips I had.
Would come back for the prix fixe. -
Review from Reynold P.
Toronto, ON
9/13/2011
I remember Sidecar as the restaurant that served the best steak dinner I had. I'm not a big steak connoisseur so I haven't frequented many steak restaurants yet, but I am a big fan of steak sandwiches.
Sidecar had a great ambiance and class. The food prices were fair and the drink list was large but pricey. I had the Negroni with my steak dinner and it was a great natural pairing. On top of the tender and juicy steak, the accompanying fries were fantastic as well. When dipped in the garlic herbed mayo, your mouth experiences magic beyond that of David Blaine's career.
Overall, I felt important at Sidecar. It's a place for the business crowd and popular as an after work hang-out spot. It's relaxing, calm and an intimate restaurant. -
Review from Isaac E.
North York, ON
9/26/2011
I loved it here. If you are looking for a classy place to take a date then this is the place to do it. I've only been for drinks and it definitely not your average bar menu.
I would like to note that the place can be VERY steep but its worthwhile once in a while. -
Review from Brandon D.
10/3/2011
Ate here for the first time a few weeks ago and I was really impressed. We arrived without a reservation on a busy night, but they were able to accommodate us after a 15-20 minute wait at the bar. We didn't mind--sipped a primitivo while we waited, which was great. I was so happy to see one on the menu and ordered a bottle once we sat down.
Our server knew his shit and was just the right amount of attentive.
We had PEI oysters to start, which were delicious. Come to think of it, everything I tasted that night was delicious (the duck, steak frites, gnocchi).
And then there's the prices. This is one of the most reasonably priced restaurants I've been to in Toronto for what you get. And we didn't even do the prix fixe menu.
Looking forward to going back. -
Review from Yvonne T.
Upon entering Sidecar my first thought was that its layout resembled a tram car with its oblong layout. The staff (predominantly male), were dressed in a fashion that resembled the staff aboard the Titanic. The restaurant was cozy and intimate and I loved the decor.At first I thought Sidecar was referencing a train car of some sort, but through research I discovered that it is actually named after a cocktail, traditionally made with Cognac, orange liqueur (Cointreau, Grand Marnier or another triple sec), and lemon juice. [1]
So how does this all fit in together? Sidecar is in a joint venture with the Toronto Temperance Society, a members-only club with a $285 membership fee which promises you access to "...the finest selection of spirits and alcoholic minglings in Toronto." [2] It is located on the upper level of Sidecar. It should also be noted that Carpano - its sister restaurant is just down the street.
We were promptly seated and brought menus. The menu is not extensive but we managed to find our heart's desire. After having had a whole week of lavish dinners, I decided to opt for an appetizer instead as I wasn't that hungry to begin with. In the end we opted for Poutine and Seared Scallop & Duck Confit.But before we get to all the exciting food, I should give their bread basket an honourable mention. All their breads are baked daily, in-house. I was enamoured by their Ciabatta which had a nice crust to it. They also served up a Chive & Sour Cream Ale Loaf with subtle accents of dill, which I was expecting to be better than the plain-looking Ciabatta but don't let appearances fool you! The ale loaf was denser, but was not crusty at all. The spreadable butter and Ciabatta make a calorie-conscious gal like me forget all about it!
The Scallop & Duck Confit was served with pea shoots and semi-dried Ontario peaches. I have never ate pea shoots in a non-Chinese restaurant before, but this dish was delectable! It made me rekindle my romance with pea shoots. I dare say that it was better prepared and tasting than any Chinese restaurant I've dined at. It was cooked, but still had a fresh crunch to it. Nicely done Sidecar! The scallop without a doubt pushed my daily sodium intake over the edge as I got hit with more than just a grain of salt. However, it was perfectly seared and with the pea shoots, sweet peaches and tender duck confit - was a sublime combination.
French fries + cheese curds + duck gravy? You had me at poutine! This dish, again was heavy on the sodium, but what poutine isn't? It is served with a house made beef pepperoni, and Monforte's cheese curds. The gold standard for poutine was Au Pied de Cochon's version at Martin Picard's restaurant in Montréal. Now if only we could substitute Sidecar's beef pepperoni with Martin's foie gras; that would be a match made in heaven! For me, the beef pepperoni didn't add anything to the dish. In fact, I would've much preferred it with just the Monforte cheese curds and rich duck gravy.
Verdict:
I am so happy that I finally got to experience a meal at Sidecar. It has definitely made its way into my stomach and Top 5 list of places to eat in Toronto alongside Black Hoof and Woodlot. Many patrons rave about their Steak Frites. As we were leaving, we saw 3 of 4 in a family of 4 with steak frites at the table. If my suspicions are correct the frites would be the same as the ones used to craft their poutine. If the food I experienced was any indication of the rest of Sidecar's dishes, I will become a VIP diner sometime in the near future. You can bet your bottom dollar I will be having a cocktail or two when I revisit Sidecar now that I know of its connection with the Toronto Temperance Society. This is a restaurant that every Torontonian should try!
[1] Wikipedia
[2] Toronto Temperance Society -
Review from andrew a.
11/29/2011 Seated via OpenTable
This week it seems like a Ton of places were closed for Reno. So I had to go down my to do list and try side car. And boy am I happy I did. The patio was awesome, service was attentive , and even though they were busy the dishes came out fast. Tried the Ceviche that was on special( tuna , salmon and shramp) it was good. Had the duck, it was wicked. Added the optional foie GRAS which was dizzzzope. Drinks were really good( I suggest the mojito). I even manage to score a drink from the special members only bar upstairs, that was awesome. Service was impeccable and it was great to eat on the patio (note: i started this review in august and just realize di hadnt published it).
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Review from Happybadfish S.
Toronto, ON
8/28/2011
This was our first and only time eating dinner at Sidecar. The service was perfectly fine, no problems in that respect.
The food was so bland and boring. I was part of a group of 4 people, we all ordered something different and not one meal stood out as anything special.
They sat us on the back patio. The only lighting was individual candles on the tables. We couldn't see our food at all. We asked for another candle and still, it was way to dark out to see what you were cutting and eating.
There are way to many choices in this city, why eat here? -
Review from Chris M.
5/14/2011
This was a really enjoyable meal in a nice space. We were seated upstairs in the "Temperance Society" bar, but had full access to the Sidecar menu as well. The service was friendly and informative. Many inventive cocktails appeared on the drinks list... I was very impressed by the refreshing and spicy Mezcal Muddle that I ordered, though at $12 for just the drink it was a little on the expensive side.
The menu is fairly small, though well-priced given its quality. Quite a few of the mains are available as Prix Fixe selections, which really makes for a tasty bargain ($25 for salad/daily soup, main and dessert) if you come by on the right days.
I had the steak frites, which came cooked right to order at medium rare. The steak was juicy and flavourful, served with crispy herbed frites that weren't greasy (but maybe a little over-salted.) I didn't hear any complaints from my companions about the salmon, mushroom risotto or veal ravioli.
For dessert we tried the flourless chocolate cake, which came in a small but very rich serving and was almost fudge-like in its texture and concentration of potent chocolate flavour. Even the coffee was tasty and freshly brewed in an individual French press.
I'd certainly come back and eat here again. The atmosphere and look of the place is nice too, whether in the more modern downstairs or vintage speakeasy-inspired digs upstairs. -
Review from Sahra G.
1/31/2011
Price Fixe menu at Sidecar is bang for your buck. For $25 you can have a salad, entree and dessert which is a deal and a half for their food which is excellent. If you ever want to know what a perfectly cooked piece of fish or steak tastes like go here. I also suggest making reservations.
My only real complaint was the fact that I was seated near the window on a -20c day and spent the whole meal in my coat as I was uncomfortably cold even with a heater beside me... the heater was no match for the ice sheet forming on the inside of the window.
Flourless chocolate cake is to die for. Well done Sidecar. I'll be back often. -
Review from Lynn C.
3/9/2011 1 photo
Wow.
I had no idea the dinner I would have here would be this delicious when I walked in.
My friend had found this place on Google and said it has potential, so we trekked here in the cold with a reservation on a Sunday night. Apparently you really should reserve in this not that tiny place because they do get busy and full. Luckily, their private dining area upstairs were not booked, so they made room for us. They led us back outside the front door, went to the staircase next door and entered a beautiful seating area complete with a fullbar and we were seated at a booth.
They have a very tiny menu and most of their entrees are $18. We had the Open shrimp ravioli and steak frites. Honestly, I can't describe this ravioli..it was more like large pieces of flat noodle with shrimp on top. The pasta was SO fresh cooked perfectly del dente and shrimp and sauce was absolutely mouthwatering. The steak was juicy and seasoned perfectly and cooked to order. The fries that came with steak was seasoned well and it also came with a special mayo that was a perfect complement.
For dessert we had their maple creme brulee, which was actually kind of disappointing. But I can't knock off a star for this because the entrees were THAT good.
Oh, let me not forget about the bread with the best crust i've ever eaten (i normally hate eating crust) that came with garlic butter. I had four pieces. I never eat bread.
We also ordered a bottle of Chianti, but unfortunately they were out and gave us something that was similar (forgot what). The wine, as recommended, was great. Our service was average, although I feel like it would have been better if our server wasn't the only person up in the private dining area who also tended the bar.
I hope to come back more often!Listed in: GTA Five Stars
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Review from Keeley-Ann H.
Mississauga, ON
2/5/2011
We came here for a friends birthday dinner. The place is very small and intimate which was nice because I didn't have yo shout across the table of the group of 10 or so we were with. The service was really good. The food was vent better. A bit pricey but well made. I ordered salmon for $18 bucks. I was expecting like a side of rice or something but it came with just a slab of salmon lol. Normally in this situation i would be a little pissed off, but the salmon was very large and the sauce that was on it and all over my plate was sooooo good I would have got a second! everyones food came out good. Most people got steak and frites which looked equally as delish! The wine was really good, I had some red (cant remember which) but it was smooth.
The atmosphere was really neat. They have stone walls in a portion of the restaurant which really gives it that authentic feel. Like this place has history and isnt some manufactured restaurant. It has feeeeel to it which I found very calming. It has that "you can relax here" vibe which is something i really appreciate restaurants take into consideration in there design.
I would go back again for sure! -
Review from Jon O.
Toronto, ON
9/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
If you're looking to spend a little extra on dinner without blowing your food budget, Sidecar is a great option.
On my recent visit I had the Atlantic Salmon with swiss chard, honey mustard glaze, and butter sauce. The portion-size was ideal (I'm not one for typical North American feasts), the fish was cooked to perfection, and the glaze was subtle and delicious. If you're not a fan of sweet accents, I would suggest the steak frites, which I can guarantee is the most-ordered menu item.
Apart from the food, Sidecar is a cocktail connoisseur's wet dream. The bartender is a mixology expert and has put together a cocktail menu that will make your head spin (especially after you've had 3 or 4). On my last two visits I've had The Saratoga, served with an ice cube that's about 50% the volume of the glass. My nerdy friend explained why :
Larger ice cube = Less surface area = Doesn't melt as quickly
They think of everything, don't they?
As long as it's not the dead of winter, make sure you get a seat on the back patio. It's a quiet, garden patio with cedar tables and chairs. Heat lamps are turned on during cool nights and blankets are available upon request.
Note 1: The prix fixe is a great price ($25) and includes the steak frites option as a main, but is only available Sunday through Wednesday -
Review from Jill H.
9/14/2011
A great date place....romantic, warm, lovely.....this is the place where my hubby and I ended up "meeting"....the food was really good, although there was nothing that was very memorable that meant that we'd *have* to go back...but it is a lovely ambiance for a romantic dinner.
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Review from Tony F.
5/5/2011
Some of my favourite moments in life are when you're immersed in deep meaningful conversation. Whether its philosophical about the meaning of life, what it means to be a speck in this world or maybe something more trivial like which part of the planet to explore next and why, you get zoned in with your conversational partner and everything around you just darkens and there's only one focus.... Until some well intentioned young seemingly inexperienced waiter interrupts over and over again at the most in opportune times.
As my lovely French companion tells me the about approaching a critical fork in the road in her life path and weighing the pros and cons of staying in Canada or returning to her small town in the south of France seemingly just about to reach the climax to her decision, the pimpled face barely over reaching his puberty server pops over my should with a smile, "Can I bring you some more water?". "That'd be lovely" I'd respond.
Seemingly returning back to reality, my friend goes back to realizing such a decision on her future maybe should be delayed and maybe not made over an overly cooked fairly chewy fairly flavourless "medium-rare" steak frites. The reality that was our steak was a bit more than disappointing as our expectations of Sidecar was maybe a tad high. Accommodating as they were, allowing the both of us to have a half order of salad and half order of fries, which was a genius suggestion to wit has never crossed my mind, there was something unexplainable that was missing.
Like having to get a motor restarted, we move on in our conversation, about life's regrets and the hardships we've encountered along the way, such as the steak we were chewing on much akin to jerky like that of which is our lives, the moment is ruined again when the waiter jumps in asking to take our butter knife away. Was that really necessary? Or the times he'd come in to ask to remove the side plates. Or to take away our wine glasses when it was obviously not empty. Or to ask how the wine was. Or to then return to ask yet again if he could take away our wine glass. Or to take away the bread dish. Or to fill our water when it was still half full. Or to ask how the how the steak was. Or to bring us more bread. Or to fill our water glass yet again. Or to bring us our dessert menu only to return to what seemed like seconds later to ask what we'd like before we had even opened the menu to look. Or to ask us again how we were. Or to ask if we were ready. I appreciate the attention, however we were exhausted in starting and restarting our conversational motors.
We spent more time asking "Where were we?" "What were you saying again?" "Why the heck is this kid back again?!?!" Like a well caring mother, it was extremely difficult in getting angry with our server, as he was only doing his job, and not only that, probably thinking to himself that he was going above the call of duty, to which it was like a warfare to our conversation. Maybe he really was trying to impress us, but more likely he was there to impress the French girl with some battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud.
The dessert was not memorable, as several days later now, I struggle to remember what two was even ordered and shared.
At the end of the day, there are no real complaints, and I can understand the legions of fans who love Sidecar, but on this night...
"Seriously dude.. are you still standing over my shoulder? No.. I DO NOT need more water! No you can not take away any more plates. Dude... you're in my house. No.. you can't go get my pants for me. Back rub? Ok sure.. just this one time, then you have to go back to Sidecar ok?"Listed in: Meh!
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Review from Kevin L.
4/13/2010
I think that if Toronto's Sidecar and DC's Cedar had a love child, it might just be the kind of place that I'd need a 12 step program to quit. Where Sidecar's cocktails rival those of Cedar's, their sit-down dinner dominates, while Cedar's inexpensive and delicious bar bites please the palate (and the tummy!).
In a city dominated by vodka and bottle service, Sidecar offers a true cocktail experience with the ingredients and the mixologists to craft them together in a way that demands respect, admiration, and no small amount of awe.
Pair that up with a generous three course $25 prix fixed menu, each dish being a veritable meal in itself, and you're looking at a mighty fine (and dangerously boozy) perfect dinner out on the town. That's not even touching upon how polite and professional all of the staff here are. Or the fact that I had to pack up half my entree and all of my dessert. So much food I could only eat one and a half courses out of three!
My favorite part of the evening might have actually been sitting at the bar and shooting the shit (read: hearing all about the phenomenal mixology bars around NYC that I haven't had a chance to try yet) with Scott, the bartender on duty this evening. Apparently he'd just gotten back from a huge cocktail tour of New York, and educated me a bit on some joints I hadn't been to yet. Now I'm even more excited to go scope them out!
This is truly a local gem that's worth the visit. Honestly, just go. -
Review from Taylor O.
5/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Of course, this place shine's like my shoes in the cocktail selection, my area of focus being the whisky friends Millionaire (40 creek whisky, grenadine, orange bitters, egg white) and the Kick in the Pants (redbreast irish whisky, johnny walker black, lemon, oregat, plum bitters). My dinner was the lamb sirloin which was good but the memories were the drinks. Gotta love nice window people watching in Little Italy and I'm pondering a Temperance Society membership upstairs... wondering what the admission requirements are besides the fee?
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Review from Mike B.
Toronto, ON
4/28/2010
Let's be clear: you go to Sidecar for the cocktails.
The food is all around good, with several strong showings on the menu, especially in the soups and seafood categories. Steak frites are a dependable winner, as are the soups.
But let's not mince words: you go to Sidecar for the cocktails. They are incredible, and made with care and love. Ice is shaped appropriately for the glass. The list is misleading - the barmen will make what you want. I recommend the Sazerac, The Old Fashioned, and oh my, the Bad Ass Mojito. I recommend finding something interesting and expanding your horizons.
You go to Sidecar for the cocktails. -
Review from susan c.
1/29/2010
Sidecar is primarily a restaurant[1] but even Mormons will be hard pressed to ignore the liquid portion of the menu. Whoever is creating the drinks has put exquisite care into selecting the best ingredients--in the right proportions--taking the time to infuse mixers and make garnishes in house. Even their choices of glassware, stemware and often-overlooked minutiae like a cocktail pick reveal the kind of OCD that elevates a drink from good to extraordinary.
The Manhattan ($10) is served in a massive old-fashioned glass over a chunk of ice the size of a Rubik's cube, keeping the drink chilled without diluting the flavor too quickly. The combination of rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters went down smoothly and better than most boyfriends I've had. This is easily the best Manhattan in all of Toronto (even better than the one at The Black Hoof) and in serious competition for the best Manhattan I've ever had anywhere. It's garnished with Sidecar's own macerated black cherry, foregoing the usual sickly-sweet maraschino cherry that so often ruins the cocktail for me.
I sampled some of the other cocktails, too. The Painless Brazilian is a pink confection of strawberry cachaca blended with lime and coronated with a frothy egg-white crown. The dainty Champagne coupe it comes in evokes a demure past era even as the name reminds me of horrific lady business. I normally don't like frou-frou girly drinks, but this is the rare one that didn't induce a diabetic coma.
The Vesper, on the other hand, is a serious drinker's drink. There's nothing to mask the potent combination of Lillet, gin, vodka; just a fresh lemon spiral in the stemmed glass that will transport you to a lemon grove with one whiff.
So impressed was I by the cocktails that when the mixologist behind the bar came over to deliver another drink, I felt compelled to lead our table of 12 Yelpers (or was it 14?) in a round of applause. Yes, they were THAT good.
Tipples in this town are expensive, so I appreciate that the cocktails at Sidecar have been crafted with respect for the ingredients and respect for the drinker. I'll be back.
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[1] I have yet to try the food so this review is just for the drinks. -
Review from Kat F.
Updated - 1/3/2010 7 Check-ins Here
Have been back several times now, to hang out with my pal Ufco behind the bar and also to gorge on the wonderful Sidecar Salad, and my experience holds strong at five stars!
I've gone for the $24 Prix Fixe, and while I fell in love with the Sidecar Salad, I didn't love the salmon entree. The portion is far too hefty to finish but it was undercooked, and as a new fish eater that sort of freaked me out. If I go back for it, I'll ask for it more well done.
OK, the salad: I don't even really like salad, but this one swept me off my feet! It has fresh corn kernels cut straight off the cob, cubed cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese and firm lettuce in a creamy oregano dressing. This is more of a "wet"/saturated salad, just as an FYI. I crave it often and don't hesitate to pop in to order it at the bar for $10.Listed in: List Of Things For New Yorkers…, The Art Of Mixology &…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/26/2009
Oh hello, newly discovered favourite place to have cocktails in Toronto! What's that, you say?… Read more »
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Review from Angela L.
6/16/2009 ROTD 9/22/2009
It was going to be a 30-35 minute wait for the long rumoured beautiful back patio, so we happily settled for a cozy little two-top. At 8:00pm on a Monday night, the long room was packed and boy, was I glad that my dinner date had had the foresight to make reservations.
To start, the classic gin martini ($12) and whisky cocktail ($10) came highly recommended and beautifully presented. From the three course prix fixe menu ($24): the decadently thick mushroom soup was highlighted with hints of black pepper, the generous piece of salmon grilled to medium-rare (on request) perfection sat atop of a lemony hollandaise-like sauce, and the flourless chocolate cake was more like a perfectly sweetened creamy mousse. Our server who only caught bits and pieces of our conversation must've thought that we'd been chanting "Wow, this is sooo good!" all night.
The service was friendly and efficient from the moment I hungrily walked in the door to when we satisfyingly left. The warm lighting and steady conversational buzz from our dining neighbours made for a casually intimate atmosphere. -
Review from Eleni D.
Toronto, ON
6/7/2011
I tried the"Badass Mojito" - good, but overpriced at $13. The prix fix menu at $25 dollars for the Sidecar Salad, Steak Frites and Flourless chocolate cake (more like a small brownie cut into triangles) was tasty, but average; portion sizes were on the small side, but to be expected for the low price. Overall, good value for money, left satisfied. Dining on the patio was the best part - it is well taken care of, and a nice place to unwind after a long days work. Staff were attentive and friendly.
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Review from edwin h.
Scarborough, ON
7/2/2009
Sidecar is a lovely, cozy little place on College St ("Little Italy" although we know that's a bit of a misnomer).
The menu, while not extensive is very good value. They serve up casual bistro fare done very well indeed.
We opted for the prix fixe menu ($24) and found everything to be of fine quality indeed. Two of us had chicken (rarely ordered by us) and it was quite delish! The salmon was perfectly tender and done to medium perfection as was the steak frites. The steak was a tender, delicious and a perfect medium rare. While not the best frites I've ever had, they were still yummy.
The salads were good but nothing to write home about.
Minor quibble - the service was adequate at best.
Food - ****
Price $$
Ambience ****
Service ** -
Review from Deanna W.
11/27/2008
Sidecar is swoonworthy and a gal's best friend.
Came in a cold winter night when Caplansky's was out of meat again (again!?) and needed some gastronomical pampering after a yucky day. I had passed by many times but unfortunately my smoked meat fix always kicked in. Well this was not the case tonight and although the place looked full I walked in and was greeted right away by the bartender who promied to take good care of me.
Started off with a blueberry gin and tonic which hit the spot and went down smooth. Let me say a thing about the drinks here: the owners are bartenders who have worked in the industry for many years and definitely know how to make a drink; especially one where you can't taste the alcohol. Drinks are inventive here and come with cute names like 'badass mojito'!
I had their $22 prix fixe dinner which runs from Sun-Wed and you get a choice of appy, main and chef's choice of dessert. Pretty fab! The sidecar salad came up first and this was a nice play on a chopped salad with the creamy dressing and chunks of feta-good flavors throughout. My main was the steak frites and it didn't disappoint. The steak was a nice tender cut, grilled to perfection and seasoned well throughout-I was surprised at how well the steak turned out considering it's prix fix! Frites were thin and crispy and came with a nice smoked pepper aioli. OH that reminds me, I forgot to mention the bread-bread is good here in that in comes with a roasted garlic butter, had to refrain from nibbling away at the whole basket!! With my main I had the thai ginger lemonade which was light and refreshing.
The dessert was flourless espresso chocolate cake with whipping cream-not too big and very delectible. Just a small hit of sweetness.
This really made my night. Thanks guys, came in feeling in the dumps this place seemed to revive my spirits with simple well-prepared bistro food and sincere, professional service.
This place would be great for dates, get-togethers with friends and the value is outstanding even if you're not ordering from the prix fix menu. You definitely won't feel like you're getting fleeced here. They do fill up quickly here (I was lucky squeeze in by myself when the place was booked for a party) so I would recommend reservations.Listed in: Bistro's R US: Toronto's…
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Review from Denise S.
5/11/2010
Great place all around! I came with a friend for dinner on Friday. When I phoned to make a reservation they informed me that there was another reservation for our table in 2 hours and asked if it was okay. I appreciated them letting me know up front, so it wouldn't be like they were kicking us out.
The room is simple and cozy. It's a classy restaurant but they didn't give us attitude for looking young and student-y. (In fact, they offered to store my friend's huge backpack in the wardrobe at the front).
We started with cocktails. I had the Mayweather (gin, cava, blueberry puree). Amazing.
Next, we both had the tomato soup, which was pretty damn good too! My friend was raving about it for the rest of the night. For the main course, I had the mushroom risotto which was rich and creamy.
This is a great place to enjoy good food with friends.
The only awkward part was when the young couple sitting next to us started taking tons of photos. Now, I'm known to take a food photo once in a while too (so I can post them on yelp!), but they were taking several photos of the restaurant, many of which I think I ended up being in:S The flash was really distracting, but mostly it was just funny!! Obviously they liked Sidecar too.Listed in: La Dolce Vita, Not your average EtOH
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Review from Neil T.
Toronto, ON
10/8/2009
Disclaimer: I had the prix fixe...it was decent, but I'd love to go and order from the regular menu.
+++PROS+++
1. Simple reservation system through Open Table (online)
2. Good value. Can't beat a $24 prix fixe (afterall, Asians are cheap, aren't we?).
3. Excellent service, I didn't find them to be too attentive
4. Clean bathrooms, definitely 'deuceable'
5. The sidecar is quite a fantastic drink, even for quasi non-drinkers like me. I assume their other cocktails are equally as impressive.
6. Good place to bring a date
7. Decent portion sizes.
---CONS---
1. Cramped seating
2. Food was only so-so. I had the steak frites, which was a sirloin. Even cooked rare, it was pretty chewy. Well, I guess it was a sirloin afterall. Fries were nice.
3. Chef's choice of dessert I wasn't feeling too much. They called it 'cake', but it was more like a couple of uber-rich pieces of fudge.
4. It is busy, even on a Wednesday night at 8pm.
That's all I got. Would definitely go back. Brap brap! -
Review from Soukia S.
Toronto, ON
2/11/2010
Sidecar is everything Toronto to me from the waiters to the clientele to the clean decor. When our bill came and the drink bill was on par with the food bill, I nodded my head and thought, "I feel a great balance here". Dinner for two with the fixed price menu and two drinks apiece came to $120 or so.
Let's talk about their cocktails. Yum! Their cocktails were yum! Their Badass Mojito was mixed together with raspberries and though fruity; had a delicious sourness to it. And the Manhattan was, as Susan C. put it, "better than most boyfriends I've had".
From Sunday to Wednesday they offer a fixed price menu of appetizer, main course, and dessert. The food was tasty and well-prepared and normally I'm not a dessert person but I could not leave a crumb of my flourless chocolate cake on my plate. So I succumbed to its flourless-chocolateness (that's a mouthful) and licked my plate clean despite my opposing full stomach. I would definitely go back! -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
4/26/2010
IF I had anything bad to say about this place, it would have been erased by the efforts to redeem themselves and the proactiveness to correct their errors.
For a Sunday night dinner, this place seems to have their tables filled whenever it became available, good thing my friend made reservations.
As we dug into the bread, the waiter took our Prix Fixe orders. Soup of the Day was Mushroom Soup Puree which was HOT in a good way, with great consistency through-out and flavoured to perfection with what I believe to be a drizzle of Truffle Oil and topped with Fresh CRACKED peppers. The BLACK pepper was so fresh that at first I thought I was biting into Chili Pepper because I couldn't see much in the dim mood-lighting.
The Entree took a little bit longer than the Appetizer but that is because all the plates were served simultaneously as we looked at the Steak Frites, Fettuccini, Atlantic Salmon, Roasted Chicken.
My Fettucini had the nicest PORTION of Black Tiger Shrimp I've ever seen while the non-commercialized pasta itself was al dente and a good pasta selection to absorb the Tarragon Shrimp Broth Sauce. I really liked the Tarragon flavour in the sauce.
The Chocolate Torte was a RICH Chocolate Ganache with a drizzle of Raspberry Coulis on the side however it is the Whip Cream that mades the better accompaniement. I had a taste of the Peanut Butter Creme Brulee too but not a big fan of the overwhelming Peanut Butter taste, but that's my personal preference.
The waiter must have topped our WATER 20+ times during our 2 hour stay. That service in itself is pretty unique to speak of. As for the Prix Fixe dessert, if you ask NICELY you might get a secondary choice to choose from.Listed in: 4+ ****Stars****, Sì Sì Spaghettìnì
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Review from Tanya N.
11/1/2009 2 photos
To add to Steven N.'s review (yes, I was the friend that ordered the shrimp fettuccine), my dish was "off tasting" in the sense that it had a raw-shrimp flavour to it. I usually try to finish my plate but I had to pass on this one.
The chocolate torte was decadent - it was a cross between fudge and mousse chocolate. The blueberry garnish on it was a nice touch to balance the sweetness.Listed in: Buon Appetito!
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Review from ritchie c.
Toronto, ON
6/16/2010
I pass by this place every day and it was only a matter of time before I gave it a go. Was really looking forward to it due to the tremendous support they get from yelp.
The beef carpaccio was delicious, except I couldn't really taste it as it was drowning in olive oil. With a little less oil, and a bit more parm, this would've been fantastic.
The cured atlantic salmon tasted of lemon zest, horse radish but little else. Where'd the salmon flavour go?! The rosti was well made and I enjoyed eating that more than the salmon.
Mushroom risotto was in-fucking-credible! Delicious, buttery smoothness, enough melty-gooey cheese to make your soul melt upon ingestion. Seriously, I sighed after each bite.
Cauliflower risotto was good as well, but completely overshadowed by its mushroom counterpart. Lacked innovation or uniqueness to make it memorable.
The 2 pieces of roasted chicken I had were polar opposites. The white meat was incredibly dry, and bland tasting. The dark meat was fatty, juicy and delicious. The cripsy skin was great on both, but I really didn't enjoy eating the breast. If you get the chicken, see if they'll give you 2 pieces of dark meat.. it's a world of difference.
The pan seared sea bass was very standard, tasteless and boring, it made me sadder with each chew until I was frowning.
Service was great and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Our waiter misheard our order and ended up bringing us the wrong risotto. No prob, they let us eat that and promptly brought us out another one within minutes.
Prices are pretty reasonable too. $180'sh for 2 with a bottle of wine. Not too shabby.
I think I have to give it another try. Was informed that they have weekend BBQ's in the back patio with a menu that sounds amazing. For now, 3 stars is all I can give.
