Stopped by for happy hour after work with a friend and had a very pleasant experience. Despite not having a reservation, staff was more than happy to have us and sat us down immediately. Bar service was great and very timely. I ordered a smoked old fashion and it was delicious. We also split a few oysters and they were also delicious. The place was intimate and not too loud which I always prefer and all things considered, it was a great evening. Would come back. read more

Wow! What a gem of the city. My coworker recommended this beautiful bar and restaurant situated in the historic building above pj Clarke's. Yes - they do share a kitchen. We started off with a crispy tuna tarter tacos which were delectable and savory. The tacos were so unique, almost like Chinese fried crackers. Our waiter was wonderful, and amiable. My seafood pasta was perfectly seasoned and was better than some seafood restaurants! The bartender and manager both came over to introduce themselves - adding for a traditional, personal touch. Not only did we feel like values customers, but we felt at home and can't wait to return! What a special place! read more

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Went back to Sidecar again for lunch and had my favorite dishes, Lobster roll (CT style) and Lobster Cobb salad. Both are always perfectly prepared and this time was no exception. Highly recommended. Will definitely return! read more

I couldn't wait to tell others about this place. This place shows quality through small considerations. Staff attention to details was impressive. The portion size was good. My relatives and I will return regularly. read more

Amazing vibes and wonderful food and staff. Highly recommended. Make sure to have a cocktail!

A favorite for business type people (lunches are filled with suits). I've now had a variety of different items on their menu and I was pleased with them all. There's great service and the wait staff truly take the time to ensure your needs are met. This visit I had the oven cooked chicken breast (taking a break from steak) and it was as light as I was looking for. We also had the calamari and deviled eggs which were . read more

Sidecar - Chicken breast - American Near Me - New York, New York

This is an amazing spot! I've come here multiple times for work lunches. The lobster cobb salad is amazing! The lobster is fresh and cooked perfectly. The bacon is caramelized and delicious. The rice pudding dessert was also delicious and creamy. The service is great. My waitress was personable, friendly, and attentive. I'm overall a big fan and will be back soon! read more

I took a chance and walked in to this upstairs private restaurant above PJ Clarke's. I'm not a member and didn't have a reservation but they let me dine anyways. I was a party of one so I sat at the small bar area. Great old classic NYC decor. Service is excellent and we're very attentive. I had a filet and is was awesome. Tender, seasoned perfectly, and chased down with a couple of glasses of red wine. They have a higher end menu than downstairs but with some of the favorites. Great NYC restaurant and a must. read more

With so many staff on hand you would think they were ready to feed and serve an army. When good ol PJ's down below didn't take reservations they referred us to the above Sidecar. This jawn is totally a place you go to when the parents are in town. It has that comfy, classic, steakhouse feel and the menu offering are something that all parties can enjoy. Service was top notch. As it should be since there was more staff on hand than customers. Seriously. Our table started with the Blue Crab Cakes and what a treat they were. Totally the perfect way to kick off this meal. If oysters are your thing, they have a gorgeous raw bar that is right out in the dining area. I suggest stopping by and take a gander as it was quite the sight. I went back and forth between getting a steak but finally decided on the BBQ Braised Beef Short Ribs. I couldn't pass up the crispy mac and cheese, and fried jalapeños. To top it off, all this was served over collard greens. This dish was perfect. The BBQ sauce was just right. The short ribs were fork tender. I savored every last bite of the crispy mac and cheese squares. The collard greens were seasoned great. The only thing that would have made this dish better was a handful more of the fried jalapeños. The blueberry new york cheesecake was divine. If this is what "New York" style cheesecake is, I have been missing out all my life. Totally a gem of a spot for a mellow din with the fam. read more

Sidecar - Braised Short Ribs with Crispy Mac & Cheese over Braised Collard Greens - American Near Me - New York, New York

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i don't know why Sidecar has so few reviews, it's a great restaurant. The food is great and the service is attentive. It's a great place to bring parents or have a nice night out. It's also not crazy busy or loud which is great for a date night. read more

Came here with a group of 6 others after PJ Clarke's downstairs decided they didn't want to wait to seat us anymore (citing a canceled reservation at Sidecar). Ended up being a blessing in disguise because Sidecar was a very pleasant dining experience throughout. Wonderful waitress (Jessica), great atmosphere, lots of room between tables, and a menu where everything sounded delicious. There were some overlaps with PJ Clarke's menu, but also some divergences. Ended up getting the braised short rib with crispy mac & cheese. The mac & cheese came in chicken nugget sized breaded balls, which caught us off guard, but the short rib was a tender, delicious chunk of meat that made up for it. All the servers were great; never had an empty glass. Not the greatest beer selection on tap, but you'll probably find something acceptable to sip on. Also, there's no limit to how many credit cards they can split the bill on. Amazing! Also also, try the tater tots! read more

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Came here for lunch with my team. We had a reservation for 11:45am and were promptly seated and the place was pretty empty. We ordered the chopped salad and oysters for the table to start and share. For my meal I had the wagyu burger and fish and chips. After apps, we waited a ridiculous amount of time for our entrees to show up. By the time it did, tables around us that were empty when we sat down had filled up and were well into enjoying their entrees. When I asked the server about the delay, he gave a pretty snippy apology that was really more of an excuse. At an exclusive restaurant like this, I expect the manager to come to our table and apologize for the delay but nope. We left at 2:15pm! We definitely didn't plan to have a 2.5 hour lunch. The food was just okay and the quality and taste were that of average bar/pub food. Not bad, but not amazing and for that kind of quality, it's definitely not worth the price. The chocolate cake we got at the end was good though, but not good enough for me to recommend anyone I know to dine here. read more

3.5 Kitchen is wholly competent. Not sure the ambiance is all it is cracked up to be but it works just fine. It's pretty good, but I'm unexcited about it. Does that make sense? The french fries and onion ring things _are_ above average and worth a bit of excitement. read more

It's weird because I've been here maybe 10 times and this time really stood out! Every other time I thought it was okay but think I finally nailed what to get that wasn't on the lunch menu. Poached lobster roll with mayo/lemon/ butter. So delicious! Their tater tots and CHEESECAKE is also a must! Would have to say their cheesecake is the best I've had so far! The whole party of 4 also agreed :) What else to get? Warm lobster Cobb salad. Anyway, needless to say.. I'll be back here this time actually looking forward to it! read more

I had a five star St Patrick's Day experience here! Went to the parade on 5th Avenue then walked up the block for an Irish feast! On the menu they had corned beef specials and we ordered both the platter special and the sandwich special. Both were mouthwatering delicious and accompanied with cabbage, potatoes and Irish soda bread. We also had the crab cake which was out of this world, as well as the fish and chips and wagyu burger. The burger was ok, expected a bit more in flavor and size considering the price. Fish and chips were excellent. The clam chowder was good, a bit on the salty side. Service was great. Really enjoyed my St Patty's day here! read more

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It's a NYC staple. But, I must say it has lost a bit of its pizzazz since the ownership has changed. I like it better when it was less corporate and more old school NYC. read more

I would give this place 7 stars if possible. So, if you don't know, Sidecar is now a private dining club. The purpose of this review is to discuss my rehearsal dinner that I had there late September of 2013. First, I had great difficulty finding a place in New York City for a rehearsal dinner that could accommodate at least 75 people within a respectable price range and that would be closed to the public. After much searching, I booked Sidecar. The space: I had a total of 71 people at my dinner and we could have easily fit another 40+. The room was perfectly lit and was configured to allow separate sections for the cocktail hour and dinner. The room has a beautiful dark wooden bar and exposed brick walls which gave it a classic New Orleans vibe (for the record, I grew up around New Orleans). The tables for dinner could be arranged to fit anywhere from 6 to 14 guest. Cocktail hour drinks. The attentive staff met every guest at the door with a glass of champagne. This was a very nice touch. Every single guest I spoke to on Saturday said that their wine glass never fell below the half way point before a server appeared to top it off. Amazing!! In addition to wine, the bartenders were extremely knowledgeable and could make any drink you threw at them. I even saw some guest drinking grasshoppers. I spoke to one bartender at length and he gave me the impression that he truly loved his job. Specifically, he gave me a great education on gin and even gave me an impromptu tasting of his favorites. Cocktail hour food. Seriously, how big is the kitchen? The food for the cocktail hour never stopped. We selected six pass arounds and had a raw bar with oysters and the largest shrimp I have ever seen. The shrimp were the length of my hand. The canapes were all divine, but the lamb chops stole the show. We also had the tuna tartare, cheeseburger sliders and other items that I can't remember. One guest doesn't eat cheese so the server with the sliders ran into the kitchen and immediately came out with a new set without cheese. Dinner. Dinner in itself was amazing. We gave people the option of a salad or clam chowder. Both were fantastic. Entries included a choice the skirt steak (didn't want filet since we were serving it at the reception), pan roasted salmon, and chicken. All were cooked perfectly. The sides were family style and we choose the asparagus and mashed potatoes. Dessert was a choice between the apple crumb and the New York cheese cake. Again, during dinner, the wine glasses never made it below half way. The server at our table was asking my now wife to give him something difficult to do. This statement in itself is a testament to how well prepared Sidecar was for the rehearsal dinner. They were so prepared that nothing was difficult. Finally, the service. Lindsay, Brittney and the entire staff did a remarkable job in managing the rehearsal dinner. My wife and I were so busy planning that we gave Lindsay and Brittney free reign to handle the decorating and coordinating of the event and they did not disappoint. They also printed the escort cards and table numbers for us and even made some last minute seating arrangements one hour before the event to accommodate some last minute changes to the guest list. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about this review or are considering Sidecar for your event. I will try to post photos as soon as I receive them. read more

A man goes into a restaurant. He sits down, he's havin' a steak. He says to the waiter; "Waiter, come taste the steak." Waiter says; "Is there something wrong with the steak?" He says; "Taste the steak." He says; "Is there something wrong with the steak? Is the steak overcooked?" He says; "Will you taste the steak?", "What's wrong is the steak too rare?", "Will you just taste the steak?", "All right, I'll taste the steak. Where's the steak knife?", "Ah-ha!" read more

All i have to say is customer service is extremely important. ESPECIALLY when you are in the restaurant business. I called to make a reservation and the girl was RUDE. hung up on me and was muttering under her breath because I called at 10 am. well, I'm sorry but that's not my problem. completely turned off from this place and I won't be going back anytime soon. Food wasn't even all that great. Rude hostesses/ waitresses will not get you anywhere. put a smile on your face and be a pleasant human being. read more

The side entrance to this place is pretty cool. You walk upstairs and the room has a dark rustic feel to it. Our server was friendly and had some good recommendations for my friends. I had a hard time choosing what I wanted to eat because everything on the menu looked good. Ended up ordering a New England Clam Chowder and fried oysters for lunch. Both were delicious! The price is not bad either, so I know I will definitely come back here again. read more

This place was great, but I think the ambiance is the best part. It's all dark wood, vaulted ceiling, candlelight and intimacy - great for a (double) date, and/or a special occasion! My bf ordered a shrimp and East Coast oyster platter for the table, and everything was fresh and delicious. I had the beefsteak tomato salad, which was massive, served with yummy but a little too much gorgonzola, and red onion. Then came the steak. I have to say, I've had better steaks in NYC (Strip House comes to mind immediately) but the Sirloin in red wine sauce was great, and the Filet was definitely noteworthy. Our sides, creamed spinach and mashed potatoes, were also pretty standard, but nothing really stood out (once again, Strip House!) I should also say that our waiter was awesome - lots of personality, didn't rush us, and didn't need to be told twice that it was my cousin's birthday, bc he put a candle in her dessert without our prompting. And hooo boy - this dessert: please please please order the apple crumble. I wasn't even hungry after my HUGE sirloin, and I could not stop eating it! Probably bc it's so soft, warm and melty that I barely had to chew. Yummmmmmmmm. read more

Excellent food, steak, cheddar chicken pot pie, huge shrimp cocktail, classic wedge salad, and a fantastic Bloody Mary bigger than your head. read more

Sidecar - American Near Me - New York, New York

I was expecting more from this place after the build up on their website. I thought it was going to be an exclusive, intimate dining area but its no different to any other corporate lunch spot and didn't stand out at all. We shared the calamari to start between 3 of us which was delicious and I followed that with the house special crab cakes which were quite good, but again over-hyped just like the venue, certainly not worth $40(?!). My colleague had the fries that he said might as well have been cardboard. Note they charge $4 for refills, from the fountain, including soda water! Insanity. With so much good competition in the area for lunch, including right downstairs at P.J. Clarke's, I probably won't go back. My go-to client lunch spot in midtown remains Vitae. read more

Wow - those Gotham yelpers Are indeed tough to please. I'm a global traveler and this business lunch spot is excellent. The food was a little on the pricey side, but you are in New York and the portions are generous. Our servers were unmemorable, but it was the perfect place to have a business conversation while enjoying a hearty meal. It's walking distance to some very important businesses in the media world And the Midtown East Area. in my opinion it's everything you need for a solid meal at 1pm. read more

Had a pretty damn good dinner here. After spending most of the day on 5th Avenue, a short walk up the street brought me to the Sidecar. Service was excellent, the decor was warm and mellow. I opted for the filet and it was cooked to perfection and delicious. The mashed potatoes were fairly average, but the bread pudding for dessert was excellent as well. read more

Sidecar - bread pudding - American Near Me - New York, New York

I've come up to the Sidecar to eat on a number of occasions now, and typically solid fare. But even more important - it's a great spot to grab a drink away from the craziness (especially compared to the pub downstairs), and get some good service to boot. Get a pear Grey Goose with cranberry juice - a bartender here recommended it to me and now I find it addictive! read more

So I guess Sidecar used to be what the Polo Bar is now. Alas, anyone can get in nowadays with an opentable reservation (or even as a walk-in per some other reviews), so they let in the riffraff like me. But it was a solid experience, food-wise (service, OTOH, does not really compare to the aforementioned joint, if you can get past the dragons in front). Ribeye was really good, 20 oz for $39 with fries or a very nice arugala salad... in this city, that's a steal. Good flavor, cooked well... nice char on the steak and as ordered in the center. One point off for uninspired apps (blah calamari and afterthought tuna tacos) and please, please, get a big ice cube maker for your old-fashioned instead of watery ice chips... read more

Perfect midtown spot for a midday meal. Most of the customers are clearly there on an expense account (however the food wasn't that pricey). I had the chicken pillard (which was awesome, and super moist). The restaurant is a little sneaky to find (around the side of PJ Clarke's, you must ring a doorbell), but I liked it and wouldn't mind coming back! read more

I am a frequent visitor to NYC and can not believe that this is the first time I have been to Sidecar - it is a midtown gem! The lunch service was prompt, professional and friendly. We felt like we were dining among friends. I would recommend the homemade Parmesan crusted tater tots as a must have when dining. Absolutely amazing, melt-in-your-mouth goodness (I want some more now)! The oysters were also quite good, fresh, and artfully presented. Salads were good portions. I am also somewhat of a cheesecake snob and would have to give 2 thumbs up for the cheesecake with blueberries. I was pleasantly surprised - good texture and crust. What can I say, but thank you so much for an enjoyable afternoon. I can't wait to add Sidecar to one of my favorites when visiting NYC. read more

It goes without saying - the food at Sidecar is phenomenal but what really did it for me this time was the service. We ordered food while working late at the office and I had the pleasure of being served over the phoneby Nicky. She met all of our many special requests by creating personalized dinner "boxes" and everything came out perfectly! It was an extremely busy night for us here and she just made it so easy to accomodate a group of very particular people. read more

This place is amazing. It's a members only restaurant. Not sure who in our group was a member, but I sure am glad they are. I ordered the crab cake appetizer and the barrel-cut filet. Both were delicious. The crab cake was full of flavor and complemented well by the sauce. The restaurant offers several sauce selections for the steak; I chose the red wine bordelaise. Good choice. I could have had the sauce alone and been satisfied. As it was, the steak was well-seasoned, and perfectly cooked. I had a great scotch (Oban 14 yr) to accompany my meal. They also have a good selection of cocktails and wine. We ordered several desserts for the table. My favorite was the cobbler. The bread pudding isn't that great. I didn't try the ice cream/brownie combo, but it got mixed reviews from the rest of the table. Seeing as almost none was left, I'm going to guess the impressions were skewed in the positive direction. The service started off slowly (about half an hour to get drinks), but improved as the meal went on. The staff was friendly, but could have been more attentive. I know a few of us had to make several attempts to refresh our drinks, etc. However, we were a large party, so I know it's a bit harder to meet everyone's needs. read more

My experience at The Sidecar was a mixed bag. First, the service was good and bad. My server was excellent. She was friendly, upbeat and informative. The downfall was the manager...we ordered a seafood tower that took a CRAZY long time to get. When it came out, they ran out of shrimp and crab and no one bothered to tell us. Apparently the manager was supposed to come over and tell us but forgot. Overall the food was good. The seafood tower was unimpressive and missing 1/2 of what was supposed to be included. My entree and sides were great. I had the scallops and we all shared brussels sprouts, shoestring fries and home fries. I would definitely go back to The Sidecar, but NOT order the seafood tower. read more

Sidecar is a reliably great place for lunch. I probably come here every two months or so, and it never disappoints. My meal here a couple of days ago was no exception. Had the house special corn and scallop soup and the wagyu bacon cheddar burger. So. Damn. Good. Oh, and the fries are perfect too. Thin and crispy which is how a fry should be. It can get a little loud, but that doesn't bother me that much. Service is consistently good. read more

Had dinner this evening at "Sidecar" at PJ Clarkes on 3rd Ave in Manhattan. Sidecar is the upstairs "club" of PJ Clarkes with a limited but more ambitious menu. Service was acceptable given the fact that they had a private group in an adjacent area to serve as well as several large parties. Food was good and worth the price. Atmosphere was OK. Brick walls wood floors. Nothing "exclusive" however. One of our appetizers was the Ahi Tuna Tartar Tacos with lime, cucumber, serrano in a crisp shell with avocado creme. . The flavors in this dish were spectacularly blended. The only problem I had was the dish was that it was understandably prepared in advanced in kept in the freezer. The tuna tartar was freezing cold as were the tacos. Despite that, I liked this dish. The other appetizer was the Baby arugula with fresh goat cheese toasted almonds honey crisp apples and lemon vinaigrette. This was a fine salad. One of our entrees was the Braised beef short ribs with root vegetables, horseradish creme, red wine and crispy shallots. This was an excellent dish. Our other entree was the Chicken paillard with arugula shaved parmesan fennel virgin olive oil and lemon. The chicken had little taste. I added pepper and salt w/o any improvement. Then I realized that the salad was served on top for a reason. Eating the chicken together with the salad made a difference. It was simple and good. Dessert was the rice pudding which was fine. Prices here are reasonable given the quality. read more

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Surprisingly easy to get a reservation here for dinner, considering how PJ & Clark's is always packed; maybe because it was a Wednesday night. I've always loved speakeasies, so I was glad I got to finally check this place out. Host was really warm and welcoming but our server seems stressed and overworked (and it showed). After a while it wasn't a big deal because we were busy talking and enjoying our drinks. I chose a nice red Barbera, my husband got the Tom Collins and my friend got another cocktail which I forgot now. It's a simple one page menu, so it's easier to know what you want to eat. We got the skirt steak and the short rib which were both equally good. Orders came out fast for a semi-fancy place. It's definitely worth a visit when in the area. read more

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Lunch at Sidecar was good but sadly not exceptional. I had the New England clam chowder for the app which had lots of clam but was a bit thin and bland. It required a lot of extra fresh found pepper. For the entre I had the crab cakes. Again good with plenty of crab but a bit too much filler. I enjoyed the atmosphere with wood, brick and white table cloths. The service was quick and attentive. The downside was the price. 2 soups, 2 entres a tea and a coffee which ran about $120. read more

This place has been in the area for so many years, they gotta be doing something right. Great service, great food & desserts. I had an onion soup, chicken & apple cobbler tonight, everything was delicious. Portions enough for 2 people. Seafoods always fresh too. Be sure to call to make your ressies because they have a full house everynight. read more

My boyfriend and I really love this place. It's become our "go-to" date place when we want to splurge a little bit, but not go too over the top. The burgers are really great. A little pricey, but you get cheese, bacon, mushrooms, onions, chili, lettuce, and tomato. I'd also recommend the House Made Potato Chips with Baked Blue Cheese Dip. Wow. Super awesome and indulgent. read more

Good & tasty, but clearly old-style burger joint like. Very nice & hospitable staff. When a burger is close to $20, the expectation is high. It was almost met, but not quite. read more

We have been patrons on the original PJ Clarke's since I was a teenager, which was almost 40 years ago! We have had been celebrations there and taken many friends and family members to experience the authentic ambiance, great food and incredible service. This Saturday night we finally wanted to try Sidecar as a long awaited date night. The weather was pretty cold, so there were a good amount of tables available. We were seated in a fabulous booth, that was comfy and large and yet intimate. The ambiance at Sidecar is fabulous. We ordered Mac & Cheese and Fried Calamari to share as appetizers. Outstanding! For dinner we ordered a burger and fish. Again, outstanding. Dessert was apple pie a la mode, which we shared. Our problem was the service. OMG! Atrocious. For everything that was wonderful, this killed our experience. Our waitress started out ok. Nothing special, but nothing awful. A little too casual, but whatever, it is NYC after all. We never got an answer as to what happened, but she was late with our drinks. As in 30 minutes after we ordered and already got our appetizers. The entrees came out very long after. No plates were cleared until we asked. My husband inquired about a specific brand of whisky (which we had downstairs) and she said "we don't have that". My husband then went to the bartender to find out they do have it. We had to educate our waitress what was on the drink menu. WTF?! The pièce de ré·sis·tance was dessert. We ordered apple pie a la mode and it took over 30 minutes to arrive! During this time our waitress was no where to be found. We had to hail over the hostess and inquire why the dessert was taking so long. The reason we were given was "it comes from downstairs". Yeah, so what. At that point I was happy to go get it myself. We may give Sidecar another try in the hopes that the waitress will either be fired or learn how to do her job. But more likely, we will stick to the regular dining room and go elsewhere for fine dining. Good luck! read more