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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I love going to sidebar mainly for their happy hour. It's a nice place for tapas, and they have so many options to choose from. Prices are really good as well. This place is definitely on my happy hour rotation. I'll go here for dinner every once in a while as well, which is what I went for this last time. Had their rack of lamb, beef empanadas, scallops parmesan, and saffron risotto. If you order ONE thing from this place, it HAS to be the scallops parmesan. They are delicious! I get them every time, even when I go for their happy hour (they're not part of happy hour). The saffron risotto is just ok, but I'd order it again to accompany the rest of my meal. Didn't save the individual pictures I took of the food, so I'm using the collage I put together for it. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Great place for happy hour deals on tapas! You are able to get multiple entrees for such good prices. Highly recommend the empanadas, spicy potato's,Their Manchego is to die for with the selection of quality olives and Spanish cheeses. Great spot for vegetarians as well. There is many things that on the menu to choose from! I would make a reservation give this place fills up quickly. Overall recommend 10/10. read more

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

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Stopped in because from the outside, there were a lot of people in here and the building looked cute inside. That's where the good things stopped. There are condos on top of the building, and we could hear running back and forth nonstop the entirety of the dinner. We ordered tapas, and they came out in 5 minutes.. which was a clear tip off of being frozen. They actually came out before our drinks!! Everything tasted frozen and made us sick after eating. Will not come back after this experience. read more

I've been a fan of exceptional Tapas restaurants for years, and I wanted to give a shout-out to Sidebar, which to date serves the most exceptional Tapas I've enjoyed in Ohio! A good friend and long-time Columbus resident, knowing of my passion for Tapas suggested that we meet for dinner at Sidebar. It turned out to be quite the hidden gem, and we enjoyed a first-rate dining experience :-) It was my first visit, so I deferred to my friend, who had visited Sidebar several times. He suggested we share the ceviche. He has excellent taste - the dish was nothing short of phenomenal! They used red snapper and the cilantro, onions, and lime complimented it very well. The dried plantain "chips" added that extra flavor boost you always want in a food like this; the portion size was quite generous, but it was so good we had no trouble making it vanish quickly. We also shared the pork skewer with chimichurri sauce, and the beef empanadas with spicy rocoto. Both of these were excellent as well - the meat was well seasoned and flavorful, and the Empanadas were flaky and delicious. The atmosphere was great, the service was totally on-point, and the prices were more than reasonable given the quality of the food :-) To sum up the food from that evening, I can't imagine a better trio of dishes to have tried as a sample of the exceptional cuisine at Sidebar. I look forward to returning and checking out more of their menu options! read more

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Sidebar is still my favorite spot in Cbus for happy hour. The selection, quality, and price of the food and drinks on their happy hour menu is fantastic. Service is always very good, too. read more

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Food and service was great! Thank you! This place is probably under rated! We've had a good night out! read more

Sidebar Columbus - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Sidebar is always amazing. From the tapas to the entrees, you can't go wrong! A Columbus favorite of mine.

I am so very sorry I did not take any pics last night ... we were so much in the moment I completely forgot! I have tried to do better with posts adding pics and it's just not catching on...I'll do my best to describe this establishment: COMPLETELY THE BEST RESTAURANT in town. Reservations made online - easy. Parking - please be prepared there is a small private lot, street options, etc. We drove the motorcycle down last night which gave us more options to snag a spot. The staff - amazing. Very professional very upbeat and positive and knowledgable of their menu options including cocktails. The menus - super easy. Loved our server! All tapas are broken up in columns: veggies/seafood and meat. You won't miss anything as it's all mapped out perfectly for you. On the back, salads, pizza and entrees. Some order multiple tapas making that an entree. Others start with tapas and then go for an entree. You can't go wrong. Ladies Room was completely spotless. Social distancing and masks required as you navigate the restaurant. There is a 2 hour allowance for your dining experience - seeing this more and more as of lately. Totally get it. There was a party of three along side of us filled with mature ladies one of which was giving our server who was also hosting them a super hard time. I was embarrassed for her so ungrateful and almost abusive to him. He handled her well and with a lot of kind humor. We still don't know how he did it so flawlessly. Our spread for last night: Manchego (Spanish cheese/olives), Chile Relleno (A MUST) and Beef Empenadas. If you like a little bit of a spice kick you won't be disappointed the Empenadas had it and it was so good! Our fav for that round - Chile Relleno definitely. The BEST. Second Round: Parmesan Scallops, Smoked Salmon Bruschetta and Spicy Potatoes. All of it gone - just so good. We would and will totally go back. It was truly one of the most amazing dinner experiences we've had in a long time as we try to navigate "new" places for us to try in town. Have fun! Thanks Sidebar! read more

I came here for a private event where we had the entire second floor to ourselves with an open bar, cold tapas, and hot tapas served in a buffet style. I can't speak to the cocktails as I didn't have any, but the food and vibe was excellent. Thr spicy potatoes were so flavorful and the plantains were probably my favorite. I also tried the jellied guava and cheese pairing and was surprised by how great it was! Don't pass that up if you get the chance to try that. Our servers were also amazing. The gentleman who oversaw everything made sure to explain each food offering to us and even gave us to go boxes to take more from the buffet. read more

We had a wonderful meal at Sidebar. Tasty food, friendly and helpful service. A real treat!

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the entire city and Ive been to hundreds over the last two decades. They nail tapas. Their menu transports you to Barcelona. The staff and team are authentic to South America, Latin America, Spain or have a cultural appreciation and knowledge for the origins of the food. Its authentic. Feels familial but still top class, professional, and exciting. An awesome place for a first date to learn about the person across the table from you while understanding their courage and cultural interests. There's no dinner more human than a shared meal. read more

Tapas that are shareable and tasty. Wide variety of options and the happy can't be beat.

Sidebar is easy to forget about. It's in a pretty busy area. There's lots of hipster restaurants. It's a little walk from some favorites. Walk past those and go check out this. It's more than just a bar. It has a name like it's a bar, but they do have a good food menu. There's plenty of healthy options. It's surprising to see stuff like this in a bar. They put out some better food than somewhere that's just a restaurant. I had the Stockyard Pony. It's about $7 for happy hour. This is a lot like an old fashioned, with a big ice cube and an orange peel. I had the cilantro hummus. It's $5 at happy hour. This has a strong cilantro taste. I like cilantro and hummus. This is the best of both worlds. This is a place to get to early. It can be pretty slow. Just be patient and you will get some good stuff. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Stockyard Pony And Cilantro Hummus - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This place was SO GOOD!! My friends and I loved our drinks, tapas, and entrees. I ordered the Four Step cocktail which is perfect if you like sweet and fruity drinks. For tapas, we got the shrimp & garlic sauce, beef empanadas (these were my favorite!!) and cheese empanadas. My main course was the Blackened Ahi Tuna Steak Salad. I wanted something a little bit lighter and it was perfect. Overall, awesome service, fun energy, and great food. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Beef Empanadas Cheese Empanadas Shrimp and Garlic Sauce - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Food was delicious. Drinks were so good. Service was outstanding. Atmosphere was really chill! Loved it.

First time here and hopefully we will be back soon! The service was very prompt. I ordered a Moscow mule to drink and it was very good. Ordered the salmon quinoa salad and it was excellent very delicious. My husband had the roasted chicken and loved it. Hopefully we can go back! read more

This was a magical find for us. What a lovely little restaurant this is. The empanadas and plantains are delightful. The tomato goat cheese dip was simple but oh. So tasty. The atmosphere and staff were exceptionally pleasant and helpful. I look forward to bringing friends back here in the near future. read more

Excellent food, creative drink options. Very chill atmosphere. Service was just so-so.

Guys, what the heck?? Mad I didn't know about this place sooner. There was nothing we didn't love! Tapas are the best bc you can try a little bit of everything. My ahi tuna salad was so yum! I will say the veggies didn't seem super fresh but I still loved it? The tomato and goat cheese was perfect and all the tapas we got with pita... how do they make the pita so delish? The service was great. They moved us outside to the patio when we asked with no complaints. You could tell their staff worked very cohesively which I loved! My absolute favorite part was the New Amsterdam white blend. I don't think I've had such a flavorful white wine, at least not in awhile. I'd recommend this place to anyone. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Delicious and wonderful experience for NYE dinner!! We were seated upstairs (we had a reservation). We had two servers that tagged team and they did a nice job. The cocktail menu was large and it was neat having a bar upstairs if you wanted to watch them make your drink. We shared multiple dishes. There were 4 of us. We shared beef empanadas, chicken croquettes, marinated beets, cheesy scallops, spicy potatoes, short rib and octopus. My favorite were the spicy potato, cheesy scallops and empanadas. The short rib was also delicious. Overall, everything was fantastic and I look forward to going back! read more

Sidebar Columbus - Chicken Croquettes - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Favorite "nice" meal in Columbus. Service and food never ever disappoints. Great happy hFan for life. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

TL;DR: HH Recommendations: Risotto Caprese, Spicy Potatoes Pros: great date spot, best happy hour, excellent value, generous portion sizes Cons: a little cramped, service disappeared on us a few times Holy happy hour - I always thought that Forno in the short north had the best happy hour menu / deals but I was SO WRONG! My boyfriend and I visited on a Friday evening at 5pm - we made reservations, but there were a few empty tables so you may be able to get away with a last-minute decision to visit. The decor is very cute and reminds me of a couple bars I've been to in SoHo / Nolita in NYC! I love the big windows and the super-long bar. It was raining, but instead of making me sad it just made the bar feel retro from the lighting. Very cool. The highlight, however, is the FOOD! We ordered four tapas - Risotto Caprese, Spicy Potatoes, Mushrooms, and Crab & Artichoke dip. For two people, this was a good amount! The portions were actually much bigger than i expected. I was doing Dry January (kinda..) so it would have been even better to share over a bottle of wine and just take your sweet time socializing as the plates come out. The risotto was some of the best risotto I've had in a very long time! It's easy to overcook the rice (guilty!) but it was well-cooked and well-seasoned. The basil wasn't too much and they didn't skimp on the mozzarella. I literally died over the potatoes. End of story. If you've been to Butcher and the Brewer in Cleveland, the dish is very similar to their Patatas Bravas. I'd say nearly identical, just a whole lot more affordable. Mushrooms were excellent - it reminded me of when I used to make garlic mushrooms as a random midnight snack for my roommate in college but like, obviously better and more elevated. Crab dip was the only thing I wasn't insanely drooling over, but that's probably because it was the last thing to come out and I was full / very sad about Dry January. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Risotto Caprese, Spicy Potatoes, Mushrooms & Garlic - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I've been there a few times and it's just great every time. What we ordered today was amazingly delicious: ceviche mixto, octopus Galician and churrasco de cerdo. The drinks were pretty good too: Stack yard pony and four step. Service was also good, fast, short and polite. Glad we celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary there read more

Sidebar Columbus - Outside Four Step - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

3.5ish stars. Only major complaint is that we had a reservation for 4 people, but were seated at a very large round table meant to seat 8-10, which made the experience much less enjoyable, as we had to almost yell to be able to hear one another and reach really far to pass around shared dishes. I felt the drinks were pretty looking, but mediocre tasting, despite everything being prepared in house. They don't have much else to offer liquor wise than what is listed on their menu. The food came out SUPER fast and all at once. The tuna tartare was fabulous- so fresh! We also got the cheese and beef empanadas, the fried plantains/queso/guava, and the smoked salmon bruschetta, none of which really blew me away. The scallop dish was extremely extremely extremely (did I say extremely?) buttery and only served with 1 piece of bread for everyone to share. I think my expectations for this place were too high lol. read more

Incredible food, drinks, service, and atmosphere. This is one of my go-to spots for a laid-back evening.

You can't go wrong with this Happy Hour menu. $6, $7 & $9 Tapas and my are they really tasty. Full bar and lots of top selections on wine and bourbon. read more

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I absolutely love this restaurant! They have the best happy hour, delicious drinks, phenomenal food and a great atmosphere! All of the Tappas are amazing but my favorite things are the plantains and the mushrooms! The staff is super nice and helpful here as well. read more

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Tbh i just like that their seats are comfortable. But the drinks and the menu not my favorite and too pricy but that atmosphere is enjoyable

Was headed to a different place to notice it was closed. So we noticed Sidebar was very close. We stopped in for some food and drinks. I think it was pretty good. To top it off they brought a piece of thier Tres Leche cake. Wow it was delicious. You wouldn't have even know the plate was used. Lol will be back at some point. read more

Sidebar Columbus - Tres Leche Cake - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This is not what I expected. For years, I thought this was just another "bar downtown" without a second thought, and it was across from The Walrus, so I was expecting a similar vibe. I was really expecting bar food, or more likely, for the area, overpriced mediocrity. Holy hell, was I wrong. The girlfriend decided on this spot for a date, and even after a coworker had commented on the place, I wasn't sure what to expect - and I was blown away on all accounts. It was busy - and there is a reason for that. Make a reservation. Or get lucky with a seat at the bar. They moved fast with the tapas - even with being so busy, I was expecting to wait for food, and it was just so damn fast (on all accounts - the food, and the bartender, never left us waiting or wanting). I'll be back. read more

WHAT A HIDDEN GEM!! My boyfriend and I decided to go here for date night last Friday upon suggestions from my coworkers raving about how awesome it is. We loved every second of it. Pro tip: make a reservation or you'll be waiting a long time. This place is popular and trendy. We lucked out as two spots at the end of the bar opened up and we were able to watch them make very intricate drinks. We decided to split four tapas, which was the perfect amount of food for two people. The food came out in literally 5 minutes! It was delicious and well-prepared. I highly suggest the cilantro hummus. I am a hummus fiend and it was to die for! Next time, we will be making a reservation and trying out some of their entrees. Everything that passed us looked delicious and wonderful. This is a perfect place for those of you with a diverse taste and an ideal spot for date night as it's fairly small and romantic. We will definitely be back! read more

The lomo saltado here is just like the lomo saltado I got in Peru! The service is great, and the ambiance is nice. I'm someone who always looks for yelp reviews when trying to find a restaurant, so if you're like me, trust me on this. You should go!! I've been here twice and both times the food was exceptional. Great for date night! read more

My husband and I finally got the opportunity to visit this place last night. We shared a handful of tapas and everything was incredible. The atmosphere was quiet but not too quiet. Great for date night or a night out with friends. They have an extensive drink menu, tapas, salads, pizza and entrees. My kids would be too picky for most things they serve but maybe not some kids that aren't as picky! Definitely give them a try if you're looking for something new downtown! read more

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First of all, let me say that the food was wonderful. The service, however, was horrible. We had reservations for five people. We were put at a very small table with an extra chair. My chair almost touched the man behind me. We sat down and water was delivered immediately. We waited and waited and waited. Another group came in and received immediate attention from a server. My son, whose birthday they were celebrating, went to the hostess station to ask for a server. The hostess was very apologetic, and, finally, a server came to take our order. The food took a very, very long time to start coming out. It came out quite sporadically with no apparent rhyme or reason. One of the things my son ordered came with mashed potatoes. My granddaughter had also ordered something with mashed potatoes, and her mashed potatoes never showed up even through we had asked twice about them. Our server never showed up in all this. A young woman who apparently had trouble with English came and topped off my son's Diet Coke with water! He tried to explain. When the server finally showed up as we were finishing with the small table terribly crowded with dishes and no one taking them away, she asked if we still wanted the mashed potatoes. Of course, not. My granddaughter had some of my son's mashed potatoes and some of her mother's rice with her rack of lamb. We had to ask for a dessert menu. We were there about two hours and much of that time was just waiting for this or that to complete our meals. Of course, with wine and food and dessert, we spent quite a bit of money. I know every place has a bad night or two but there were too many mistakes this night. Had the food not been good, we would have been furious. read more

Enjoyed an evening out with friends during the December holidays and wow, this place is definitely at the top of the list to visit again in 2023! Semi-Casual, super cool & comfy atmosphere! Awesome happy hour with a variety of delightfully delicious appetizers! Wine soaked pear dessert was a tasty surprise, too! Definitely making plans for return visits! read more

Bang for your buck: 10/10 Quality: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Ambiance/Location: 7/10 Overall: 9/10 Sidebar is the perfect spot for date night! Without a reservation, you're likely to end up at the bar, but that's actually a pretty prime spot! From your view at the bar, you can watch the incredibly talented mixologists creating some pretty spectacular cocktails! I'm a beer girl, and when I'm at a cocktail forward restaurant, I tend to panic. I didn't need to fear though because I was in great hands with these talented bartenders, and I got to see what everyone else was ordering, which gave me the courage to try new things! If you're not a tapas person, then Sidebar might not be for you, but tapas are way up my alley, and Sidebar whips up some delightful dishes. I love that there are tiered price points for the tapas, and I especially love their happy hour menu. There aren't many genuine happy hour spots in Columbus, but Sidebar offers great drink and food offerings for seriously discounted prices! We had really great service and really great food! Know that parking is a little limited. Your best bet is in the pay lot of for 4th, in my opinion. Also know that the interior is small. I like it for an intimate date night, but it is also a little overwhelming being in such close quarters to other people. read more

I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone traveling thru Columbus food was good but cold. Service was friendly, yet inattentive Appetizers never arrived, one plate was brought out before other. Drinks were available in glasses with no straw's Another patron walked in sat down and received the appetizers I ordered. If that's not enough good try for yourself read more

Came for a brief happy hour after work, and i got two drinks and the shrimp and garlic sauce. I sat at the bar. Loved the vibe and the food. My order was a tad bit too spicy for me, but it had great flavor! They also have a pretty extensive happy hour menu. I just hate that it ends at 6! read more

Sidebar Columbus - Shrimp and Garlic Sauce - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Great atmosphere and friendly service. I love going for happy hour as many of the drinks and tapas are on special. The happy hour does goes a little later than most 4-7 pm which is really nice! read more

Sidebar Columbus - Lounges Near Me - Columbus, Ohio