There are meals that satisfy, and then there are meals that define an evening. My recent birthday dinner at Sidebar Columbus fell squarely -- and triumphantly -- into the latter category. From the moment we arrived, the service set the tone for what would become an unforgettable dining experience. Our server, Lacey delivered hospitality with the kind of effortless grace that can't be taught. She anticipated needs before they were spoken, guided us through the menu with confidence, and maintained a warmth that made our table feel like the only one in the room. Wine & Cocktails: A Study in Balance and Craft The wine selection was superb -- thoughtfully curated, expressive, and perfectly paired with the richness of the evening's dishes. The cocktails were equally impressive, crafted with precision and a clear respect for balance. Each sip felt intentional, layered, and celebratory. The Paella: A Showstopper But the true star of the night was the paella -- a dish so masterfully executed it deserves its own ovation. The rice was tender yet structured, infused with deep saffron warmth and kissed with just enough socarrat to make any purist smile. The seafood was impeccably fresh, each component cooked to its ideal texture. It was the kind of paella that silences a table, not out of politeness, but out of reverence. When the chef personally came out to greet us, it only reinforced what the dish had already made clear: this is a kitchen led by someone who cooks with both technique and heart. A Birthday Elevated My husband orchestrated the evening beautifully, and Sidebar rose to meet the moment with finesse. Our guests were genuinely impressed -- not just by the food, but by the seamless choreography of service, ambiance, and attention to detail. It felt less like a dinner and more like a curated celebration Final Thoughts Sidebar Columbus delivers the rare combination of exceptional cuisine, polished service, and heartfelt hospitality. The paella alone is worth crossing the city for, but the entire experience -- from Laceys attentive care to the chef's personal touch -- transforms a simple night out into something memorable. For anyone seeking a dining experience that feels both elevated and warmly personal, Sidebar stands confidently at the top. read more

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Very slow service without it being busy! We had a group of five but our server rarely returned and we waited 15 minutes just for our check!

Had a really good time at sidebar the other night. We came here before a show. And it was packed on a Tuesday! They have happy hour from 4-6 pm sharp. We got the beef empanadas, shrimp ceviche, and the cilantro hummus. We got the chicken skewers too and they were very well seasoned. It was all delicious and sooo fresh wow!!! I want to come back for more read more

Sidebar Columbus - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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We made it for happy hour before the show at the Ohio Theatre. We grabbed a two-top in the bar. We had one cocktail each and 3 starters. Great food and awesome service from the staff in the bar. My Old Fashioned hit the spot. The Spicy Potatoes are amazing, as is the Caprese Salad and Grilled Chicken Jalapeno pizza. Tip: they have resumed Tapas Tuesdays and it will be great if I can make it there. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Happy hour - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We sat at the bar at Sidebar to order a drink and an appetizer and it was wonderful! We had a great bartender and so much to look at coming out of the kitchen. We ordered the beef empanadas...maybe the best I have ever had...and the chicken skewers...really good. The ambience was great and the atmosphere was perfect for a quick stop in our night. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This is a fun restaurant, both the staff and the customer environment. The tapas menu is huge, and all of the food is delicious. Service was terrific and i highly recommend. read more

Another great tapas restaurant right in downtown Columbus, Sidebar is a hit! It's South American/Spanish style dishes are excellent and it's a great spot for a date! There's so many delicious dishes to choose from! The cocktails are fun and very refreshing and the service is excellent - definitely come check this place out! read more

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We got three tapas plates and a dessert. None of them delivered a wow moment and the atmosphere and service were about on par. For dinner it was fried plantains with queso and guava. The guava came in a gel form and was very cold like it had just come out of a freezer. I didn't like the contrast in temperature with hot plantain and the guava flavor mostly got lost. The queso was also incredibly mild and brought nothing to the party. I love a fried plantain, so I didn't hate this dish, but I wouldn't order again. Next, we got the spicy potatoes. There wasn't anything spicy about them. This dish is basic fried potato chunks covered in a mayo and hot-sauce combination that was nicely creamy, but in no way hot. The potato texture was fantastic and we did enjoy the dish, but it was a disappointment based on the menu description. Our main was chicken marsala and it was the low point. The chicken was prepared nicely, but the sauce, again, had no flavor. It was served with linguine which makes total sense for this dish, but not really as tapas. Linguine is hard to portion out for sharing. This was an absolute miss for me and I would heartily recommend you avoid it. Dessert was the Chocolate Maddness cake and it was good. The mousse was velvety smooth and I liked the restrained amount of raspberry sauce that they added to the plate. We had three or four different servers over the course of the night. Service responsibility is shared, so you can order from any of them which I thought was kind of cool. They were definitely around, but my water went empty for a long time without being refilled until I finally asked. Prices are steep. I expected this to be my biggest gripe going in, but I think the portion sizes were respectable at those rates. Had the restaurant delivered better food, I probably would have given it a much better rating. read more

We have driven by this restaurant for 2 years and meant to stop in. Saw a piece on NBC 4 and finally made it. What a wonderful place! Great people, food, and atmosphere. Our waiter, Tanner, was such a great resource for ordering. Good happy hour! We will most definitely be back! Don't just drive by it...drive TO it! read more

Sidebar Columbus - Spicy Potatoes - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This place is great! I would highly recommend visiting. If you enjoy tapas, this is the spot! Service could be better, but not a huge complaint. This will definitely be our regular place to visit. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Garlic shrimp, calamari, empanadas - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I don't eat here often enough and if you get a chance, I absolutely recommend Sidebar. Really nice for sharing plates with a date, a friend, or going out with a group. The atmosphere and dishes offer an intimate and relaxed environment even with a crowd around. There is just something about it. Service can be kind of slow like this last time but it's still good service. This visit we enjoyed the: -Beef Empanadas -Spicy Potatoes -Chicken Skewers -Beef Fillet Skewers I recommend all these options! For reservations go to sidebarcolumbus.com or directly via TouchBistro at www.tbdine.com/book/restaurant/sidebar-columbus. read more

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The food, ambiance, and service continue to be outstanding at Sidebar. Our most recent visit was after a couple of year's gap, but Sidebar delivers as it always did. - The cocktails are fabulous. - The beef meatball tapas is one of the best in the business - I loved the eggplant Parmesan tapas. - The mussels were excellent as well -- very fresh - The calamari was wonderful -- not deep fried and in a delicious sauce. Great service -- very friendly server. Even the owner was super friendly and after the meal introduced herself with us. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

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Great tapas bar on the south side of downtown Columbus. Could easily be missed if you're just driving through, especially since downtown tends to be quiet. The hostess, bartenders, and servers were all nice and helpful. We sat at the bar for happy hour and were given menus and explanations of various offerings. I got sangria, which was really good and had very fresh, sweet berries (even in the winter). We also shared a few dishes which were the cilantro hummus, beef empanadas, and ceviche. I love cilantro and thought the hummus was great, very herbal and punchy. The beef empanadas were also tasty and came with a sauce that, personally, could have used more spice. The ceviche wasn't super impressive to me, could have used more salt and maybe more of a vessel to eat with it. I will say, cost wise, its a bit on the higher end, even for happy hour but food and drink were mostly worth the price. Definitely a tucked away bar worth checking out! read more

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Poor service, mediocre food. Disheartingto watch wait staff converse with customers who were friends for an extended time while we waited to be greeted and given water. read more

Our favorite meal is when we get to try a number of different things. Even better when each one of them is amazing! The restaurant has a light and bright area up front and a cozy area in the back. We had a table in the back. We had the most amazing waitress. I wished I remembered her name, but she was 5 foot zero inches and a massive smile. She was so friendly and recommended a couple cocktails for us. LAWD JEZUS, they are good and strong! We had three sections of the menu to choose from and our waitress again helped us pick out five different items. My my my, I'm convinced that everything on the menu must be amazing. It was such a unique and lovely experience and any time I'm back in Columbus, I'm be stopping in here and bringing everyone I can! Thank you! read more

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We stopped by for happy hour and I can safely say we will be back on the near future. The bar and immediate dining area are a bit snug, but I believe there is additional seating for more formal dinner around the corner of the bar in the rear of the restaurant. If it's your first time visiting, the entrance is located on the side of the building near the alley. The ambiance is elevated and we felt as though we were no longer in Columbus. Now, for the food. The beef empanadas were tasty, well-seasoned, and fairly substantial, but the dipping sauce could have had more of a kick. Ask for hot sauce or bring your own, perhaps. The cilantro hummus was refreshing and my personal favorite of the night. You receive a generous helping of pita bread to go along with it. We also had the white fish ceviche (not pictured), which was again very fresh and a bit buttery. All of the above would work great as tapas or appetizers for a small group. The Moscow mule was pretty strong for a happy hour special as well. Their happy hour menu is included below as of December 2023. Overall, I had a great experience and will be visiting again soon! read more

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This was a great place for family dinner and celebration! They were also very nice and accommodating to fit our 4 month old and stroller at our table. Parking can be tricky as it is downtown but there are lots nearby. We enjoyed a mezcal cocktail, goat cheese and tomato dip, eggplant parmesan, Caprese salad and guava cheese plantains. All were shareable and delicious. We did order 2 eggplants Parms for 6 of us since the portions are tapas style. read more

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Still one of the best happy hours in the city. It might be under the radar, as it was not as busy as I would have expected on a recent Friday night. Lots of menu items (and drinks) under $10 during HH and there is not a bad dish in the bunch. Have sincerely enjoyed every food item and cocktail I have tried. The standouts are the chicken croquettes and the beef empanadas. read more

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This was our first (and probably last) visit to Sidebar. The decision not to return is solely based on the added convenience fee of 3.5%. This is a BS charge, and if customers give into it, it will only grow (along with the menu prices) and lead to other BS fees. Yes, I know that credit cards cost a vendor, but so do napkins and ketchup and plates. And I do not feel this fee was adequately disclosed on the menu, table or otherwise. The food was very good, and we remarked that we would order all of the selections again if we decided to return. The service was pleasant, and our server made great suggestions. (Thank you, Camily!) The drinks were well-made and generous. These "convenience" fees--much like force-imposed resort fees at hotels--are just another way to fleece customers. Lemme know when you come to your senses and we'll be back. read more

Sidebar Columbus - So-called convenience fee passed on to customers. The convenience is from the credit card company to a business. No convenience to me! - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We were a party of 8 and decided to have dinner at Sidebar before going to see Frozen at the Ohio Theater. We did have a reservation and as soon as we arrived we were seated right away. Our server was very friendly, took our orders and gave recommendations. For the amount of food that we ordered, the food came our pretty quickly. We ordered beef empanadas, cheese empanadas, chicken croquettes, plantains, queso and guava, chicken skewers, shrimp with garlic sauce, calamari tapa, coco flan, and Tres leches cake. Everything was excellent. However, the chicken croquettes and the plantains were my favorites. The coco flan was my least favorite, but it was still very good. All the other items we had tasted great, every single one of them. The portions were good size, easily can be shareable Definitely recommend this place and can't wait to go back again. read more

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Sidebar survived COVID and it's as good as ever. The food and service are always amazing. The Pisco sour is not on the menu but you can order it. It's my favorite drink there. Order the potatoes brava because they are the best side dish. We usually order tapas style because it's the best way to try a variety. The owner is super nice and makes an effort to check in with customers. read more

Sidebar Columbus - House salad - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This is my third time at Sidebar and it is still as lovely as ever! The service is very friendly and the food comes out FAST. Highlight of the meal was the Lobster Ravioli and the Ceviche. Both delicious, the Ceviche was very fresh. The Mushrooms and Garlic severely needed salt. Meatball was good as well, we needed more bread to get all of that delicious sauce! read more

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I hadn't been to sidebar in awhile so we decided to check it out on Friday evening. To start I ordered a wine from the list, and when I drank it it tasted like it was from a bottle that had been opened for awhile. Not a great start. I let the waitress know that I'm pescatarian and gluten intolerant to get her advice on what I could order, there aren't a lot of options for both of those lifestyles combined and I get that it's hard, but she didn't seem to really know how to help me. We ordered the manchengo cheese and olives to start, as well as the spicy potatoes. Those are a much have! We wanted more food but our waitress wasn't coming around much so we had to wait awhile, for tapas style I expected her to come around more. We ordered the scallops, one of my favorite foods, and went they came and we tried them, they were just not good at all. Had a weird taste- something was off. We also ordered a side of veggies which were lovely and bright, but needed seasoning. But again, our waitress wasn't coming around so I couldn't ask for salt and pepper. Overall, it was fine, but definitely not great and I'm not sure I'll bother coming back with so many other great options in town. The inside is looking a bit shabby too and could use a facelift I think. read more

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We were going to catch a show at the Ohio Theater with a group of 8 people, and after debating on various dining options in the area, we settled on Sidebar. And it was the best decision. The restaurant's reservation system does not allow party size of 8 or more - however, this was easily resolved with a simple text on the reservation site, which Sidebar accommodated immediately. We had a one-hour window before our show, and it was as if the staff at Sidebar is trained to deal with patrons in a hurry. Upon arrival, our group was quickly seated, and orders taken promptly. Sidebar has a great happy hour menu, and our group ordered several tapas to share. All the dishes (there were 12 separate tapas) arrived hot, fresh, and most importantly - on time. We were impressed at the kitchen and service staff's pace and accuracy. The food was good too! Our table ordered the beef empanadas, the cheese empanadas, the chicken croquettes, the plantains, queso and guava, the chicken skewers, the shrimp with garlic sauce, and the calamari tapas. Everything was excellent; however, the chicken croquettes and the plantains were my favorites. Several people in our group also ordered dessert (the coco flan, and the Tres leches cake) and coffee (espresso and regular black coffee), which everyone enjoyed. The food portions were also just the right size to not make one uncomfortably full before a show. Overall, I highly recommend Sidebar for how efficiently they serve up a huge variety of tasty dishes. We will definitely be back! read more

Sidebar Columbus - Beef empanadas. - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Food was good. Cocktails yum and waitstaff was nice and knowledgeable. The place has a fun vibe. Would definitely go back.

I had a great dinner at Sidebar last week with a friend. I happen to love tapas, and don't go enough. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere - dimly lit and not too quiet, but also not so loud that you can't hear your companions. We started with a couple of cocktails - Four Steps for me and an Old Fashioned for my friend. The Four Steps was fruity and sweet enough without being too sweet. I really enjoyed it. The drinks were a nice size and we had time to enjoy before our food started coming. Like most tapas restaurants, the dishes come out as they're ready. For dinner, we had the: Cilantro hummus, which was a nice fresh tasting twist on traditional hummus served with pita wedges for dipping. Garlic Shrimp - garlic shrimp are one of my favorite tapas and I enjoyed Sidebar's take on it. The garlic sauce is creamy and garlicky, with plump shrimp and some toast to soak up the sauce. Scallops parmesan - This is the dish that brought us out. Really big scallops covered in broiled cheese. It's a little heavy, but really tasty. Octopus - grilled octopus in a mildly spicy red sauce. The octopus was nicely cooked - not tough at all, and the flavor was great. The sauce had a smokey flavor that really made it great. Spicy potatoes - OK, I loved these. Roasted potatoes in a spicy garlic sauce with onions. The flavor profile was similar to the octopus, without the smoke and the potatoes were roasted soft to soak up the sauce. Steamed vegetables - I ordered this from the sides menu to round out our meal since tapas don't come with "sides". They were just solid, fresh veggies, in a big portion (probably 3-4 servings in there). I had the Tres Leches cake for dessert and it was lovely. Plenty of creamy drizzle over the soaked sponge cake. We had another round of cocktails - a Rose Dawson for me and my friend had chose another bourbon cocktail. He preferred the Old Fashioned and our server whisked away the second tier cocktail and brought another Old Fashioned as soon as he ventured an opinion between the two. We thought that was really kind of the restaurant. They look to have a pretty nice selection of liquors, but I'm a cocktail kind of gal. I don't care a lot for bourbon, and they have a really nice selection of non-bourbon cocktails, which I appreciated and enjoyed. read more

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Truly one of Columbus's best restaurants. The happy hour menu is top-notch, and the staff members are very attentive. This is an upscale restaurant but it's also very casual. Service is always quick. The food is delicious and you will want to come back for more. We need more restaurants like this in Columbus! read more

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One of the best quality happy hours I have ever stumbled upon! Let me first say there wasn't much in walking distance (winter weather) in this area of downtown Columbus. SO glad I found this place. Came in right before 6 PM and found a spot at the bar. I don't expect much these days with establishments and their HH but Sidebar had quite the variety. Handcrafted cocktails, wine, beer, tapas- it was all on happy hour. I enjoyed what I had so much I debated staying for a few hours until I got hungry again for dinner. I love a gem where you can literally taste the quality & love put into the food and drinks. I ordered the "four step" cocktail- super refreshing and not too sweet or tart. I also tried the tomato goat cheese dip that came with pita bread. To be honest, I ate it like soup & no regrets. I debated on something else when the bartender recommended the blackened tilapia wrap. Let me be clear: AMAZING. So much flavor. Exceeded all expectations and between the size/quality/price you really can't beat it! Already planning my next work trip for this blackened tilapia wrap alone. The bar service was great. Definitely recommend it. Also this place filled up fast after 7 PM on a Monday night so maybe make reservations if coming on the weekend?! read more

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Tonight was a dinner program for work, and it was my first time dining at Sidebar. Overall the meal was good. I filled up on the empanadas, which I shouldn't have. They were delicious by the way. I also got a wedge salad. It was so crisp and fresh. So good! My main coarse was a tenderloin pasta of some sort. It was also tasty. The service was that great but the food was good. I'm not sure this would be a place I would make a trek back. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Visited on a Friday for their happy hour. The restaurant was big, and wasn't packed so it was easy to find a seat. The HH is throughout the place, not just the bar, so that was nice! The tapas were good, but definitely small portions. The prices add up when you need to order 4+ tapas for two people, so it defeated the purpose of saving money on the happy hour. We loved the cilantro hummus! Super refreshing. We asked for a side of cucumbers to finish it off. The place had about 8 mini slices. That was fine - but we were charged $4 for them. So don't ask for cucumbers! The seafood dish with shrimp, mussels, and calamari was phenomenal. The sauce it was in was so rich and creamy. We really loved this one. The tuna tartar was good. Wish we had more crackers/cucumber again. We thought the pork was just okay. It was cooked pretty well done and was dry because of that. All in all, I'm not sure if I would come back to Sidebar. It wasn't very memorable. read more

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Yum and more flavor! Love this place so very much! On a work trip, this is highly recommended! Kind people and great service! read more

Sidebar Columbus - Lemon drop martini and be sure to request the Lobster Bisque! - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

A friend recommended Sidebar's tapas as the place to try and she wasn't wrong. After two nights of eating prime beef, I was ready for something wow. Ordered their beef empanadas, plantain quest guava, mushrooms & garlic, calamari a la sarten, and the scallops parmesan. Oh was my pallet treated to a delight. Every dish was a savory taste. Service was attentive for the most part except for refilling our water glasses. Loved the ambiance but make sure you have a reservation. We were lucky to get a tabletop in the bar. read more

This is our go to spot for any special events or just date night. Drinks always good. No other place serves a whiskey sour with egg whites. It is amazing drink. Their sidecar is also a fabulous drink. Tapas are so good! You can't go wrong with any choice. We usually get the mussels and we always ask for extra bread to dip into the broth. You can't leave without eating their tres leche dessert. It's soooo good. Make sure you reserve early or you will not get a table. We normally sit at the bar. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Sidecar - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This is a bold statement...but dinner tonight was a top 5 meal for me here in Columbus. South American food meets tapas. The menu was kinda Cheesecake Factory-esque with sooo many options, which honestly made me nervous. But wow this place over delivered on all expectations. Staff was SO nice, food was delicious (the most unique eggplant parm I've ever had... get ready to be mindblown bc it's not like the Italian kind you'd expect at all) and the patio is lovely... even on this gray evening. It's dog friendly too!! Value was also one of the best. So much food (ie the eggplant parm was essentially a full entree with a ton of side veggies). Loved everything (ceviche, caprese salad, beef meatball) but I'd say definitely try the eggplant parm and the spicy potatoes. My cocktail was also great... called "la danza de los diablos" and had mezcal, rum, falernum, grapefruit, tiki bitters. Was smoky, sweet, tropical. This is definitely on the short list to return asap. And need to come for happy hour too! read more

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Second time here. Came for the bartender. Who we met at another restaurant. We got just about every appetizer. It's a great neighborhood spot downtown! We got a pizza, brussels, calamari, salad, some pasta.. and literally ALL THE DRINKS. We couldn't keep up. I don't know them, he just kept bringing them. Wine and cocktails. He made a special jalapeño drink.. it was really good. So talented. Go on a Saturday night before rush. Sit at the bar. Enjoy. read more

It's a cute and chic. They got some very good menu options and a pretty decent happy hour with a lot of vegan and vegetarian options. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Menu - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Enjoyed our tapas very much. I must admit I was a little hesitant to eat here. I've lived in Columbus all my adult life and never heard much about sidebar. I was pleasantly surprised. Service was friendly, attentive but. It intrusive. Food was delicious. They do offer a seafood paella that looked amazing but you must call and order it in advance. The fresh seafood in that dish again looked amazing. read more

Went for happy hour, sat at the bar and had Ana amazing time! Bartender was amazing and knowledgeable! Had the red sangria and it was amazing. We also enjoyed the beef empanada, spicy potatoes and other happy hour items! Highly recommend for a happy hour or date night! read more

LOVE sidebar. The staff is always so friendly. They have a very inventive menu. The tapas are phenomenal.

Back for the umpteenth time and they NEVER disappoint! They had an updated menu. I got the shrimp pasta entree. Honestly, probably the best shrimp pasta I've ever had. It had the perfect amount of spice and an amazing flavor! And lots of big shrimp! It was so good, you HAVE TO TRY IT! Also has the Right hand Man! Fabulous! The presentation and the flavor. You can taste the alcohol but it's not too strong. Overall very pleased once again. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! read more

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