Great little place to go. The food is good. The restaurant is clean. The servers are friendly. The best part is the Jazz sessions in the basement on Wednesday nights. It is packed with young people, mostly students from Cal Poly State University. read more

Jazz night on Wednesday nights! Grabbed a couple drinks upstairs before heading down for the music around 8:30. Bartenders upstairs were great and made great drinks. Sitting at the bar is a great choice for prompt service. Also a great bartenders roulette creation! Jazz night fills up QUICKLY. Music starts at 8:30 and almost every seat was taken already. Mostly a young crowd but all ages showed up and showed out. read more

Sidecar - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

We had an amazing time at Sidecar! We were looking for what to do in SLO and saw online that they turn into a live jazz bar every so often. We arrived a little early so the downstairs was not open yet but we were able to sit upstairs to order some drinks and food. It is all Christmas themed right now so it is incredibly cute and festive. For drinks, we ordered the Let it Snow and the Sidecar. I thought the drinks were nice but pricey at ~$17-18 per. The Kush Burger was where it was at though. Great cook on the meat with goat cheese and potato chips. It was an uncommon pairing but it was phenomenal. The live jazz was great too. They were engaging with the audience and had such a fun, upbeat energy. I highly recommend going on their jazz nights! read more

Sidecar - Holiday Menu - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Worst food, got food poisoning and ended up the hospital... really short waitress tried stealing my boyfriend.

The bouncer in the front was inappropriate with my date and really made the experience undesirable. Would not recommend this place.

I was denied entry solely because I have a service dog, which is discrimination under the ADA. This is the second incident with this establishment where they have discriminated against me (I want to mention my prior experience my service dog came with me and was under control at all times and we were never asked to leave, so there was no prior incident for us). On arrival, my service dog was heeling calmly and under full control while the bouncer spoke with us. Despite this, I was told I could not enter because the establishment downstairs had previously had "an incident" with a different service animal. Denying access based on a past experience with another dog is not lawful. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals may only be excluded if that specific animal is out of control or not housebroken--neither of which applied here. My dog was behaving impeccably and performing their trained tasks. Loudness, past incidents, or personal assumptions are not valid reasons to refuse a service animal. This was not a misunderstanding--it was a refusal of access based on disability. I hope management educates their staff on ADA compliance so future disabled patrons are not treated this way. I will not be spending my money here and urge others to do the same based on their discriminatory behavior. read more

All decked out for Christmas and our table overlooked the creek. Our drinks were quickly served by friendly staff. The holiday drink menu was inventive and served in festive holiday glassware. read more

Sidecar - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Drinks, food and service were terrible. Beautiful view of the river from the patio. I asked for a whisky sour and I got almost water. Food was salty and bland. read more

Long overdue but this review isn't for the restaurant, but the connected bar downstairs. My girls and I came on a Friday evening around 11:30pm and waited in a long line which took about 20 minutes till we got to the front. When we got to the front with the bouncer, a group of 3 men cut us with no context or acknowledgment. This was my bachelorette weekend so we were just trying to get some drinks and chill.. My friend asked the guys who were cutting what they were doing very politely for literal context and the guys were smirking, giggling, and said something along the lines of "yeah we are cutting, what are you going to do about it?" We asked the bouncer what that was about very politely because again, as we had no context and why would anyone be okay with people getting special treatment when we've all waited in line? They could have easily said "Hi girls, we will go ahead of you because we know the workers, etc". The bouncer then with hostility also gave the "what are you going to do about it" mentality because apparently the guys knew the owner or a worker inside? Like how are we supposed to know that? The bouncer also could have initiated the convo by acknowledging we got cut and appreciated our patience or anything but was rude and aggressive. We ultimately ended up leaving, not going in, which was a total waste of time. Obviously we were not going to spend or waste money on an establishment that 1) encourages and associates with entitled men in their 30s who can't communicate and have some sort of superior complex and 2) employs a bouncer that hates their job where he feels the need to be hostile to a group of girls for asking a question. Will never be back nor recommend this place to anyone. This establishment as a whole needs to do better. read more

I ordered the " Scrip Reads Me" It was a good drink. It is has a heavy coconut flavor. Great location with outside seating on the creek bank. Server friendly and helpful. Happy that they give you a bottle of water for the table. Limited food selection. Service was slow read more

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We only had martinis and fries but everything was pretty good. Service was a little slow but they were busy so that's to be expected. Cute place to sit and enjoy! read more

Fantastic drinks, good bar seating and very friendly staff. A good cocktail menu with drinks named after famous movie lines-- I went with "chlorophyll, more like boro-phyll." Also had some bites, including the super simple veggie dumplings. Solid spot read more

Sidecar - Bar area - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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This review is for their tiki bar downstairs. The tiki bar was...not at all what I expected it to be. I've been to many tiki bars and they were fantastic - very well decorated, fit the vibe, and had really cool variety of cocktails. This one was very little and one could say, effortlessly decorated. They had some colorful lights on top of the bar and a straw shirt laid out on one wall and then a second room across that looks like a storage room turned into another space for people to socialize in. The drinks were also very pricey for the amount that you get. I honestly wouldn't recommend it but glad I was able to feed my curiosity. read more

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The FILTHIEST and most disgusting kitchen setting I have ever seen in over 20 years in the business. Disgraceful and utter incompetence from top to bottom from the owners to the workers. I'd almost feel bad for them if they weren't completely complicit in the happenings. Bar Rescue/Kitchen NIghtmares would have their must explosive non-successful episode ever if they took a glance. read more

I've been here before and absolutely loved it, but I have to recommend it again. I knew Sidecar had a rotating menu but I had no idea to what extent. On this visit their cocktail menu was inspired by an old "Mario the idea vs Mario the man" meme. It was hilarious, and on this occasion we tried the "why are we saying this?" And it was super good. I didn't try any of their rotating beers on this occasion as I am not a huge IPA drinker, but the Chinese takeout menu was killer, and the walnut shrimp was some of the best I've had. We also had the fried rice which was solid. Sidecar is always super chill as a bar, never quite reaching the same raucous volume of many other bars, which is one of my favorite things about it. Their staff always makes great recommendations. Sitting outside overlooking the river and having a few drinks is something I always have to do in SLO and I recommend you try the same! read more

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Strange vibe. we walked in to go downstairs and they told us to wait, sent like 10 people back upstairs after saying they were open. Doesn't seem like they know what they're doing if they're turning away multiple customers on a saturday night. read more

Sidecar Cocktail Co. was the perfect place for us to host our welcome party before our wedding and each one of our guests agreed - spacious, elevated and fun! Everyone in attendance was raving about the space, the food, the drinks and the staff all night long, and into the next day. They were able to accommodate our every need when planning our welcome party. The food and drinks were delicious, starting our weekend off on the perfect note. The downstairs space provided the perfect vibe and was exactly what we were looking for when planning our event. We can't wait to come back to Sidecar every time we visit SLO and would highly recommend working with them for any event! read more

Great spot to grab drinks, really GOOD drinks and enjoy friend/family time. Audrey took care of us and was wonderful.

Great drinks and great service. Went above and beyond to tell us about the downstairs and their weekly events. Great classy atmosphere upstairs and vibes atmosphere downstairs. 100/10 recommend! read more

The food, drinks and overall experience were fabulous! There aren't many wedge Salads on the menus here in SLO. I was excited to see it and it proved to be worth it! Thanks server recommendation! I'd probably ask for the dressing on the side next time but I'm a light dressing gal. Definitely coming back to sit out and watch the creek flow. read more

I've been here a few times on different occasions and both the cocktails and the service never disappoint. They changed their menu from the last time I came and it was an interesting yet funny menu. The philosophy essay that inspired this cocktail menu was hilarious and fun to read. I got the midterm 101. It was very flavorful and had an intriguing mix of flavors- guava and curry syrup. I'd recommend trying it if you're adventurous with your cocktails. Great cocktail bar with quick service! read more

Sidecar - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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I've been here several times for drinks and have always thought the little speakeasy type vibe they have downstairs vs the more restaurant /bar upstairs is awesome. They recently switched their food menu to primarily Asian food which is my favorite and I'd already tried their fries with the wasabi and furikake, this was their plate of the day and it was phenomenal!! The pork dumplings were also really tasty and I'm just really impressed overall with the food and service here each time I've gone. read more

Sidecar - Bang bang shrimp and fried rice - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Fantastic evening at Sidecar. Terrific drinks. Drew (our bartender) & the other excellent folks who worked there made it a cozy place to enjoy the night. read more

Got lucky because we got seated on the back patio with the view of the creek! But don't be too daring and put your phone out too far to take a picture, as it would be sad to see the phone accidentally tumble down! The drink I got was called "It's a Fire" and it was nice and refreshing. We also ordered escargot. It is nice that they served that over 3 slices of a baguette, which saves us less work on dipping. read more

Sidecar - It's a Fire (name of drink) - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Great drinks and friendly staff, too bad the food was cold. We've been here a few times and it's hit or miss. Tonight was a miss.

This place knows how to keep things interesting! We sat outside and enjoyed a lovely view of the creek that runs through the downtown SLO area. Reading the drink menu made us giggle with all of the movie references, and they have whiskey and tequila flights! Something my husband and I had never seen before. My husband happily ordered the whiskey flight and enjoyed it. We would definitely go back! read more

Sidecar - Whiskey flight - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

I have been eyeing this place for awhile and finally decided to go on a Friday night. I got there around 7 and parked a block away -- free parking downtown after 6PM, the meters are closed. My party of 3 was able to get seated within 10 minutes and they have a convenient text message system to inform you when your table is ready. We got a table outside facing the creek. It was honestly more like a counter. It was weird because we weren't able to really look at each other since we were sitting in a row, but it was fine I guess. I came here with the knowledge that it is more of a cocktail lounge compared to a restaurant. I ordered the Triple Big Timer which included notes of lime, passionfruit syrup, and was based off light rum. It was enjoyable and not strong at all (I felt nothing). The drink was nice, but $15 for a cocktail is definitely on the pricey side. I couldn't see myself ordering more than one drink when there are plenty of other options downtown. We ordered the brussel sprouts and the fiesta fries as our server recommended these two apps. We ordered the brussel sprouts ($14) with parmesan instead of blue cheese because not the biggest fan. I'm not the biggest fan of brussel sprouts either (LOL) but it was really good and they give you a good amount. The fiesta fries ($14)....OMG...I'm in love! This dish has to be a winner. All the ingredients blend so well with the fries. The fries itself are nothing special but the cotija cheese, hint of lime seriously hit the spot. The best part was the pico de gallo and the pickled onion that somehow went SO good with the fries. At the bottom, they have a chipotle crema that is DELISH. If you come to sidecar, you have to try these fries! It's more about the whole dish than the fry itself. My boyfriend and I also shared a burger ($19) and it was extremely mid. It was a classic American cheeseburger and it was lacking a lot of flavor. I would rather get In-n-Out for like 1/5 of the price and for better taste. Our food came out extremely quickly, but the service was super slow at the end to the point where my boyfriend got up to find our server and hand him the check. Service was friendly overall. Our total bill ended up to be ~$115 for the three of us. I would definitely come back to try another drink and get the fiesta fries as a snack or after dinner. But not come here for dinner. read more

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Went here on a Friday night, it was pretty busy but my party of 3 got seated within 10 minutes. We got seated outside facing a small stream that runs along side downtown SLO. The view was very peaceful and made for a great lookout point. The appetizers were both phenomenal we ordered the brussel sprouts which came out fresh out of the oven and was delicious. Normally the order comes with blue cheese but my table opted for parmesan instead. Super cripsy and well seasoned would recommend. We also ordered the Fiesta fries which was surprising really good. I did not expect the fries to have so much flavor but they delivered. Especially loved the pickled onions on top of the fries was a nice relief.The fish tacos were nothing special. The two drinks we got were pretty tasty. Shes already decided came in a wine glass and was a pretty big portion at $15. Whereas the Triple-Big-Timer was relatively smaller but sweeter. Also coming in at $15. I would come here again for drinks and some tapas but would skip on the entrees. Beautifully decorated interior and nice place to get a drink with some friends. read more

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My group of 5 came in, we come over and always make a point to stop in at Sidecar. We all sat around the bar and had good service from the bartender, we order 3 burgers (delicious) and 2 had chicken tenders...disappointed to say the least, these were not handmade, pressed processed nuggets for $20 per plate! The WORST part was two of our friends came in so we stood to hug them and immediately were told by a tall male host/server for the patio, "there's no standing, you're either sitting or you're leaving". We had been standing for less than 1 minute, clearly greeting people. After buying 5 meals and 10 cocktails we were so disrespected by this server. So much that all 5 of us will NEVER return, such a disappointing way to be treated. To be clear: we were not being loud, crude, nor were we in the way. read more

We hired Sidecar bartending services for our recent wedding in San Luis Obispo. Their professionalism and attentiveness throughout the event was amazing, and they made the planning process very easy for us. The custom cocktails they designed for us were incredibly creative - they added such a unique and memorable touch that our guests are still talking about a month later! We're really happy with our decision on hiring them for our wedding and would definitely recommend to others! read more

Cool basement vibe. DJ spun sick tunes, nothing commercial, very indie sound. Cozy seating, nice lights. Met interesting folks! Exactly what the doctor ordered. Worth a try, I was happy, gf was happy read more

Sidecar - Spent my 30th here - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Second visit here, first was before the remodel so my expectations we're different. For me if the place changed to keep with the times I feel left behind. It used to be a classier location which has good food and cocktails. Now it has a dive bar atmosphere maximizing the amount of people they can fit. Service was good, the staff friendly and the tables were mostly clean. The cocktails weren't balanced well and tended to trend towards acidic. The glassware style missed the mark on showcasing the cocktails as well, I know it's a nit but presentation is a part of the drink. The menus are a complete other story, they seem to moonlight as cocktail napkins and were filthy. These should have either been fully replaced or given a thorough wipe down. If the goal was to be more of a cocktail lounge that was missed. The goal of making the place feel like a great dive bar was exceeded, which isn't a bad thing. read more

Sidecar is such a cute and late Ernst I've speakeasy restaurant. We stopped in for brunch on Sunday and the restaurant is so calm and the ambiance is great! Breakfast was good overall, no brunch cocktails were ordered unfortunately :( We got the chicken and waffle Benedict and Hawaiian breakfast bowl! (Sorry about the picture, boyfriend couldn't wait to dig into the bowl.) the Hawaiian sweet pork was DELICIOUS. Everything about the bowl was perfect: size, taste, presentation, flavor. The Benedict waffles could have been better. The waffle was severely over cooked and cracked when I cut into it, but I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt that it was on off chance thing for the chef. Flavor was there, just beeded some more salt. Chicken was soooo tender. Hollandaise sauce on point as well. Coffee was great too! No flavored creamer or syrups though. We will be back to try their endless menu of cocktails. Heard their happy hour is 8.50 cocktails and you can just go straight to the bar and don't have to wait to be seated! Summary: ORDER THE BREAKFAST BOWLS!!! read more

Sidecar - Chicken and waffle Benedict - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

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Came for their Wednesday happy hour and it did not disappoint! We got their fiesta fries and soft pretzels as well as a daiquiri. At first I was a bit shocked by the price of the apps but that plate of fries was STACKED and the toppings were A+. I'm usually not one for cheese on my pretzels but this cheese dip was delicious! The daiquiri was also really good, it was strong but not too strong! The ambiance and vibes were super cute as well. I'm definitely going to have to come back! read more

Sidecar - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

Holy Toledo. EVERYTHING was delicious. 10/10 and thats a rating I very rarely ever give! These are the best tostadas I've ever had. Perfect flavors, total umami, reached every part of my palate! Drinks were on point perfected blended with exceptional choice liquors. Fries were even delicious. I am impressed and that is a hard feat to do. I definitely will be back. My compliments to the chef. And the downstairs speakeasy was lit too. And Bobbie was great :). Thank you for a wonderful Friday night. read more

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What a cool joint! The speakeasy downstairs has great ambience and the bartenders were super friendly with a fun attitude. Love the seating areas and the great music! Will be back. read more

Finally, some inventive/creative craft cocktails! We were nuts for the Papa's Gun and I Don't Read Scrip rum cocktails. The setting is gorgeous along the creek, they've put such attention into their branding. Everything is so beautiful! Our waitress, while I forget her name, was such a gem! read more

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There was never an intention to return to this place but after the owner responded with aggressive messages instead of acknowledging that his staff messed up, it should send the signal to others reading these reviews to actively avoid this place as well. The arrogant owner of Sidecar would rather fight back against negative reviews and play victim under the COVID excuse, as if we all haven't suffered through the same pandemic. Go ahead and blame others for your incompetence rather than face the fact the service was unapologetically abysmal. Sounds like a recipe for success and great reviews to me! It's no wonder the hostess was as useless as she was given the antics of the owner. Service can suck--it happens. It can be appreciated and completely excused when there's genuine concern and someone pretends to at least remotely care and acknowledge it. When service sucks and you blame the patrons and use COVID as an excuse, well that's just pathetic. Avoid this place! Check out Novo, the rooftop of the SLO hotel or any one of the other places around that have a clue how to manage a business. If you do decide to support this place and its poor, victimized owner, be careful not to leave a negative review. You might hurt his feelings. Not all clowns work in the circus, apparently. read more

Sidecar - Owner's Super Professional Response to Our Negative Review - New American Near Me - San Luis Obispo, California

STEPH JUDGMENT: Sophisticated cocktails and ambience with a lovely creekside view. We were in downtown San Luis Obispo looking for a place to wet our whistle when we spotted this place. I'd been to this location years (decades?) ago when it was another restaurant and I remembered their patio had that cool view of the creek. It was very busy, so we left our number with the hostess and went for a walk on the creekside path, which was a great way to pass the time. When we were called for our table, we were glad to see we'd sitting at the counter on the patio overlooking the creek. It was a cool night but ceiling heaters kept us nice and toasty. I started out with their Walk On Home Boy (bourbon, mezcal, lemon, pineapple gomme, vanilla, Lefty Bitters backwoods bitters) and the hubby had the I Don't Read Scrip, Scrip Reads Me! (dry rum, blanco tequila, crème de banane, clement coco mahina coconut liqueur, lime, coconut cream, orange blossom water)--both excellent. We weren't particularly hungry but thought we should have something, so we just shared a Waldorf Salad (little gem lettuces, pecans, honey crisp apples, aged white cheddar, herb-yogurt dressing), which was also great. We ordered one more cocktail each: I got The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire (sidecar pimms - ford's gin infused with fruit & botanicals, benchmark bourbon, grapefruit, cinnamon syrup, lime, soda), which was light and refreshing, and came with a lit cinnamon stick that looked like a cigar (or something). The hubby got Vibes (blanco tequila, pineapple-fresno chile liquer, lime, velvet falernum, tajin rim), another lighter cocktail. Overall, we preferred our first round, but it was good to be able to sample more of their menu. Our server was a friendly, energetic young man who seemed a bit overwhelmed at times, but did all right. We had a great time and wouldn't hesitate to visit again. read more

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Tried to get a drink with a couple people and the host turned us away saying they were closing but then while we were waiting outside (deciding where to go next) allowed 3 young women in with no issues. That sends a clear a message and I'll be sure to avoid this place. Normally it's great but after that terrible experience we'll pass every time. Super lame and disappointed. read more