Sidewalk Cafe

UPDATE: Went to Zankou next door. THIS PLACE IS NOW CLOSED! NO SURPRISE!!! LOL
Wow I was surprised how poor this place was. Went yesterday and everything was bad and waaayyy overpriced for the quality and quantity. Definitely never again. This is my third time here and I keep going they just had a bad day. They’re all bad days here. Even the red velvet cake-​which looks good had a bland, not even tasting like cream cheese, frosting. Kidding? No. It was dried out and had this awful fluffy white sugary frosting. We all know red velvet cake has cream cheese icing otherwise it’s just red colored cake… not red velvet. Curly fries are expensive and soggy. Burgers are loaded with lettuce and a small burnt party. Just not worth it here when Zankou is right next to it (10 feet away). Oh yeah and everyone else is right, they always forget part of your order.

The worst coffee… why? Something smells soooo bad. It used to be good when they first opened and until a year ago but after they changed their COFFEE … coffee smells like… a dirty mob at least to me. However, they have a restaurant quality pasta. (its really Good. Some what better than whatever italian restaurant… and they also have pretty yumny oizza. Like ny style. I always get Margarita pizza and pesto rigatoni (original sauce they serve is with marinara sauce but I always get it with oesto) you can choose your own sauce. They also deliver which I love. Plus they are next to zanku chicken which I love too. Offers free wifi and a good place to grab lunch and hang out with friends. Just don’t get americano or coffee with milk because u will smell something funny which I think it is due to their COFFEE filter …-_​_​_​–

This business is now closed. Sidewalk Café has closed and a new business will take its place soon. Please mark it as closed.
Please remove Sidewalk café sandwich and other items from the Zankou page as they are completely separate businesses (even when it was open) so as to not create customer confusion.
For all of you that were patrons of Sidewalk Café sorry for any inconvenience. Your patience and patronage was greatly appreciated by everyone there for many years.
A new business will take its place soon.
Thank You

I’ll never eat here again even though it is so close to my home. I’d rather drive to find a better cheaper meal. My salad was a waste of every penny I spent

I ordered 3 different meals to be picked up, they told me when I arrived that they didn’t have the ingredients to make any of what I had ordered. A mess of a business. Never coming here again.

Seriously?! Something needs to be done about this place. HORRIBLE customer service… I mean, the workers are extremely rude. I placed an order for pick up today and drove from Burbank to Glendale to pick it up, paid $ 32, checked with the cashier if the order was completely correct and he said yes… so I took it, brought it home to have a nice lunch ONLY TO FIND OUT they have my order completely wrong, and the food that they did give me as sloppy and disgusting. I call back to tell them my order was wrong and they were acting as if it was my fault! This place definitely needs new management, new workers, and new food. Never will I go back.

I wish I could give Sidewalk Café a better review, I really do. However, the inconsistent service and food make it impossible for me to give them anything more than 2 stars.
I have eaten here a thousand times over the last 3 or 4 years. Lately I have come to expect problems with my order when I visit. They always tell you to sit down to await your order, but several times my order or my drink has been completely forgotten. I’ve received my order with the wrong selections (sausage instead of bacon on my breakfast sandwich) and I’ve received my order cold. One time it took them three tries to make an Iced Mocha for me. The first time there was no chocolate, the second time it was made with the wrong milk, then finally the manager had to intervene and make it for me. Now I stay by the register to make sure they make it correctly. I’ve been apologized to at this restaurant more than any other I have ever visited.
I usually come here for breakfast, and I almost always get the Breakfast Sandwich. It’s usually good and I recommend it. I wouldn’t order a coffee or coffee drink here unless you are a tolerant individual. You never know what you are going to get.
The Lunch/​Dinner Menu is ok… it really depends on what you order. The Chicken Caesar Wrap is good, the Italian Tuna is not. Actually, the Italian Tuna was so gross I couldn’t eat it… and I love Tuna.
Several times I have visited in the morning and they have had all the doors open on a very cold day. The staff is sometimes nice and sometimes apathetic, however, management has always been very attentive.
I guess I could sum this place up as hit or miss. Do you feel lucky?
Pros:
Nice and Attentive Management
Convenient Location
Serves Breakfast all day
Cons:
Inconsistent Food
Inconsistent Service
There is always a problem with my order

This place has a fantastic Cesar Wrap Sandwich, but because they tend to «over dress» the sandwich– I ask for the dressing on the side.
The curly fries are good too, but if you get delivery, they can sometimes be soggy.
Better to eat in for the best food quality, but it’s average atmosphere. Open seating, first come first serve. Sometimes you can’t find seating because they share space with another restaurant in the building, and they are always quite busy. Pricing is a little high, but you there is enough food to share if you’re so inclined.

Sidewalk Café is a spot to sit, chill, and enjoy some food. I would say the food is ok but I’m very much in love with their Caesar chicken salad wrap… i always get it with a side salad and it hits the spot… most times I share the order. Yes it is $ 10… a bit pricey but if you share it with a friend and pick up one of their yummy pastIres or candy apples to share… it’s perfect and won’t break the bank. You can get your coffee fix at Sidewalk as well.
Honestly I’ve never had a bad meal at Sidewalk… but it is infact a tad pricey and I’m sure there’s room to up the quality of their food for that price, at least.
Sidewalk Café is housed in the same building as Zanku chicken, so you definitely have your choice. Although service is always with a smile at Sidewalk which is more than I can say for this particular Zanku… and if you’re dining in Sidewalk brings out your food for you and cleans up your plates when you’re done grubbing. They offer free wi-​fi and a lively atmosphere and you can grab outdoor seating while people watching down Glenoaks Blvd.
Good times!
P.S Found a new fave… the chicken club… YUMMM

Saw this place when I went in for a yummy Shawerma from Zankou Chicken. While I was grubbing I looked over and saw the most delicious looking burger come out from behind the SideWalk Café counter. I thought for sure I must give it a try. Came back a couple weeks later with the b. f to try the burger. Came out looking just like the one i seen before… delicious. One bite and boy was i disappointed. Thebun was way to big, one giant thick slice of tomato and a salads worth of lettuce hidden under the thinnest, pretty burnt up beef patty that had no flavor. My b/​f felt the same way. Very Bland, very bleh. They had a redbull smothie available, wish i had just tried that instead. Will definately stick with Zankou next time.

Remember the episode of Seinfeld where Babu from Pakistan opens up a restaurant with cuisines from all over the world and then Jerry convinces him to go with a Paksitani menu instead? If Babu would have stuck to his plan, it would be the Sidewalk Café — burgers, pastrami, pasta, pizza, breakfast, salmon, deli, salads, etc. They even have a pastry display case — this seems to be a pre-​requisite of some sort in Glendale.
It aint bad, but is pretty pricey. My guess is the owners feel they can keep prices in line with Zankou Chicken who share the space.
If you’re not craving anything in particular, I would suggest Zankou, but if you want a chicken club, or a pastrami sandwich with fries, you could do worse.

Since Sidewalk Café has been under new ownership the last few years, quite a few improvements have been made.
The menu has many options, sandwiches, pizzas, pastas, salads, all very typical American food, they pretty much taste just as you would expect them to. You would expect to pay around $ 12-​$ 16 per person including drink and tip.
Coffee has gotten a lot better than from a few years back when it had opened up. The baristas are better trained and know how to make great lattes and cappucinos. They use Kelly’s Coffee now which is a plus because you know you’re getting great quality for the price you pay.
The café itself is open and clean. Booths now replace what used to be cheap wooden tables and chairs that you were skeptical about sitting in because you were sure they would break. There is also seating outside which is nice on a warm day.
The service has definitely improved with servers that are attentive and quick.
This place is great for lunch and dinner with family since there are many options, but the food is simple and not something you’d crave.

Once upon a time the owners of side-​walk café decided they were going to open a beautiful eatery. It would feature open architecture, domed natural lit ceilings, a sprawling floor-​plan with many nooks their clients could sit and enjoy meals with friends. Having built the café they began planning the menu. Early on they decided, no one would eat and leave paying less than $ 10., after all, they had to cover the cost for their master-​piece. However, there was a problem. The owners never considered the actual reason people would visit their location.
People don’t go to cafes only to sit (OK some do, but those come with hopes of WiFi which they won’t find here), people want something to eat. Now a greasy beef sandwich or a soggy salad are forgivable when paying $ 5 at a local cafeteria. But when they cost $ 10 and up… people begin to consider what else they can get for $ 10.
I’m one of those people. Having tried both the breakfast and the dinner here, I’m left disappointed with the quality and upset about the prices ticked higher than they should be. I’m upset because this place is so close to my home and the seating area couldn’t be better, I’d be frequenting Sidewalk Café daily if the prices were a bit lower and the food quality higher.
My suggestion to the owners, if they care at all what their customers think. Improve the dishes, cut a couple bucks off the prices, offer WiFi, stay open past mid-​night and you can be one of those great hang outs that Glendale desperately needs. Visit and copy Café Crave in Sherman Oaks! Glendale will thank you with profit!

Went there for breakfast with dad and I ordered an omelet and he got a bagel with lox. When my omelet came out it was Luke warm and was by far the worst omelet I’ve eaten. The cheese looked weird and the spinach tasted like frozen spinach. When my dads bagel came out it had cooked salmon on it and the person at the counter clearly didn’t know what lox was.
We ended up immediately leaving.

It’s a great place for a quick meal. The food is really good, lots of options and the staff is pretty flexible on substitutions. I had the veggie wrap last night which was super tasty. The salads are also very good.
Great for large groups and parties.

The boyfriend and I had actually come in to get Zankou Chicken the first time, and after I looked over the menu for Sidewalk Café I almost said, «Screw the falafel!» But we stuck with our initial dinner mission and came back to try Sidewalk Café another night.
I’m indecisive so I like menus with a variety of choices. They have a variety of pastas, salads, pizza, and sandwiches. We’re vegetarian and they were accommodating. The gentleman working knew the items well, which was helpful. We shared a pasta dish, the caprese salad, and the Farmer’s wrap. They were all really yummy in my tummy.
Even the salad dressing was good. I licked the lid.
I also tried a Napoleon for a dessert. I’ve had better but it was good and satisfied my craving.
I’d come back.

So, I’ve gone here a few more times because a friend of mine is in love with their chicken and the closest place for us to meet is here. The vibe of this place has improved and I still like their falafel. I dunno, just not a place I frequent willingly.

Due to tight lunch than expected, my co-​workers & I made a last minute switch from Carousel Mediterranean (formal sit-​down) to Zankou Chicken (casual, fastfood).
I, personally, ordered the usual — ¼ white chicken plate ($ 7.67). Haven’t been here for a few months, I noticed the portions have shrunk considerably, especially my chicken! In the past I actually had left-​overs for my afternoon «snack» whereas today, I was able to finish the chicken & side salad!
One other thing I was disappointed with was the fact that they did not include the humus that was suppose to come standard with the plate! I know I asked for extra salad but didn’t realized they were going to replace my humus with the salad! They were pretty lenient about this in my prior visits.
Quite disappointed after my meal. My co-​workers, however, did enjoy their kebob plates (one had chicken & the other had shish) & thought they were really juicy.
My other co-​worker ended up ordering his Philly Cheesesteak at Sidewalk Café (the other joint that Zankou shares ½ the space with). Didn’t look like the traditional Philly Cheesesteak we’re accustomed to seeing. It was quite small & very toasted on french bread. It also came with a plate full of salad (refer to attached picture). Although he finished it, he only thought it was just ‘ok.‘
One thing I must bring up with Sidewalk Café is that their ½ sandwich & ½ soup/​salad lunch special no longer allow you to select a sandwich of your choice! I was quite disappointed with the 3 selections I had (turkey club, cold cut & something else) & ended up ordering at Zankou instead.
As a result of today’s visit, it will take me a while before going back to Zankou/​Sidewalk Café (Glendale).
FYI — In my last visit to Sidewalk Café, I ordered their version of Pastrami Sandwich, which I didn’t like at all… it had some sort of wasabi-​tasting sauce on it that made my sandwich taste really spicy. What a strange combination! The pastrami meat itself was quite chewy & difficult to eat (refer to attached photo). I must admit, that their steak sandwich is really good though & was the reason that brought me back to try other items on their menu… I guess I should continue to stick with what I know is best.
Rosemary

I love this place.
The food is great at very reasonable prices and the free WI-​FI and plasma don’t hurt. My favorite item is the penne arrabiata pasta, spicy zesty and warm. the salads are also fantastic. Sandwiches are great if you are on the go, I would recommend the sidewalk fajita wrap or smoked turkey.
The restaurant now also shares it’s dining area with new tenant Zankou Chicken.

Round 1 — ordered a coffee and cheesecake. I should have crossed the street and eaten at 7 – 11. The coffee tasted like dirt water and the cheesecake was so stale it tasted like fridge ass.
Round 2 — ordered a coffee, passed on the dessert. My coffee tasted like battery acid.
Round 3 — i went to 7 – 11.
yes the neighborhood hoodlum armenian boys with their flashy cars and sean johns hang out in the parking lot at night. leave them alone and they leave you alone.
don’t bother studying at this café. its way too noisy to concentrate.