The Sidecar Restaurant

This restaurant was fun, when it was open.
As of Tuesday, May 14, 2013 the owners have closed down operations at this location. Reportedly, they are looking for another location.

In spite of everything, I needed go back out on the scene and try again. If i had to sum up this date, it would include three cliches.
When I finally woke up the courage to ask this beautiful girl, Jade, out on a date, i was more than surprised that she accepted (or did she relent?). When I picked her up in her gaited community, I felt sorely out of place. I wondered if she was ok with me driving my small economy sized sedan as her luxury SUV sat in the garage. The shrinking view of it in my rearview mirrored my slowly shrinking confidence.
Never judge a book by its cover, they say. Underneath the demure of her brighter than the sky blue eyes and hair that flowed forever, was someone that strangely had strong convictions. We had the same morales and values.
We came up to The Sidecar and the outside looked quaint and welcoming. We walked inside and I was pleasantly surprised by the 5 star atmosphere. The candle lighting, superb tablecloths and musical ambiance was impressive. I almost choked up a bit as i’d try to calculate the bill’s total in my head.
«Oh my God, i love this place, it’s so cute,» she blurted out as we sat down. Imagine the most valley-​girl, air headed tone, and you would be halfway accurate of how she really sounded. Usually I would be turned off by this, but for some reason I was enamored and intrigued. i think I have just been out of the game for so long that I was just happy to have someone;anyone. You always miss the shots you don’t take.
Another pleasant surprise came when we looked at the menu. It was simple but complex at the same time. Burgers with prime chuck, decadent grilled cheese sandwiches and fried brussel sprouts. It was like being a kid, but with more refined tastes. We decided to order different things so we could try each other’s food.
As the night went on, I slowly started to realize we were not compatible at all. Her dreams consisted of marrying rich, cranking out babies and spending her days at the country club. I don’t think she’s ever left the bubble of Ventura County. I needed someone willing to go on an adventure with me. I had no dreams of being a millionaire.
When our food came, I was able to drown out the disappointment and inevitably of what was to come. The bacon aioli that came with the brussel sprouts was to die for. As Jade droned on and on about exotic cars and golf, I smiled and basked in the glory that was the perfectly crunchy fries and flavor explosion of my prime chuck sidecar burger.
I actually couldn’t wait until the dinner was over. I sighed, but was proud that I dusted myself off and put myself out there again. I dropped her off after a wonderful ice cream dessert at McConnell’s (a story for a different day). A quick smooch on the cheek made me even more confused. Why did I have butterflies? This was clearly a bad idea; we aren’t compatible at all. I couldn’t financially support her desired lifestyle. I wasn’t physically her type. But in the end, we just used each other solve our mutual loneliness for just one night.
It made me want to take up smoking again.

Amazing staff and a Chef with tasty ideas. We were able to join a Grilled Cheese and Jazz fundraiser for Baby Rose and thrilled to find such a great place with amazing food and excellent service. Disappointed to find out they’re ending the run here soon but truly want to follow this group to their next successful location.
Go now while you have a chance and keep your ears open for the next chapter…

I’ve been here quite a few times and have never been disappointed. Always great service and great food. The drinks are delicious as well. Grilled cheese and jazz night is playful and fun, and their lunch menu is simple and affordable. They use fresh and local ingredients, and their menu is always changing. I’ll be sad to see them go. If you haven’t done so yet, check them out before they’re gone!

Chef Tim is awesome, I love his food. Me and my wife had another amazing experience, best braised short ribs ever!

Best blood orange martini I have ever had! Braised short ribs were really tasty!

I have dined at The Sidecar for both brunch and dinner more than 10 times over the last 2 ½ years and my 5 star rating is due the overall consistency of good service and cuisine. The atmosphere has a pleasant historical feel and there is always live music in the bar on the weekend. I especially love their seasonal entrees prepared with local ingredients and the unusual cocktail list. The menu changes a lot which is why we have not been bored coming back here because each time there is something new on the menu for my husband and I to try.

I made reservations at The Sidecar Restaurant for Valentine’s Day and it was really good. They were serving a 3 course set menu and there were quite a few items to choose from. I got a pork terrine pâté of some sort garnished with spiced mustard, fresh bagel chips and it was pretty good. For the main course I ordered the lamb tenderloin and it was delicious, it came with fried kale on a bed of crème’d yams. So good! For dessert, chocolate of some sort. My GF got a beet salad, a fish dish (nice large serving), and a dessert as well. All of it delicious. This is our second time here, our first time for brunch on Sunday. Definitely becoming a fan of the restaurant, chef, and fresh ingredients.

Cannot say enough good things! Sunday brunch is always amazing. The lavender french toast is the die for and the staff are always so polite and attentive. Tried to go to grilled cheese night but found out it was booked and we needed reservations which was a bummer but Im sure that only means more good things and good food. I rarely see it very crowded which is strange because I would easily consider this one of the better restaurants in Ventura. I would recommend eating here highly.

The food was good! The place had a great atmosphere! It was clean and the servers were wonderful. It wasnt busy so we didn’t have to wait long for anything as. Of course our server was attentive. I would say their wedge salad was not worth the money they charge and although my filet mignon was perfect! I could have got perfect prime rib at wood ranch for less and with a better salad. They didn’t have any specials and they didn’t have any
Chocolate desserts to offer. Major problem with me as I am a desert fiend and especially, chocolate. We will try it again… Possibly seek out some coupons or specials first… But over all… Good! And happy!

First time visit on New Years Eve, and The Sidecar Restaurant did not disappoint. We reserved a table on the open table site. We arrived a few minutes early and ordered drinks at the bar, and just as our drinks were made, we were whisked to our table. I had a strawberry lavender margarita (amazing) and my husband had a local beer on tap.
Our waitress was on point. She was busy (I think they were booked up) yet she took the time to talk to us since it was our first time and we never felt rushed. There was a three course special menu and all of it was divine. Fresh and perfect portions. I had the special salad, sea bass (so tasty) and finished it off with the bread pudding (drool). My husband had the brussels sprouts, duck, and chocolate mousse. He loved it all as well, although he was envious of the bread pudding even though he’s not normally a fan of bread pudding, but one bite and the look on his eyes I knew he thought he should’ve ordered it as well. The atmosphere was great, big enough to not feel cramped but small enough to be able to have good conversation between the ooh’s and mmm’s. We even heard a couple next to us raving about the food in the same manner, haha.
We will be back, especially for grilled cheese and jazz night on Tuesdays as well as Sunday brunch.

Unilocal readers steered me to this classic restaurant, and I was not disappointed. Sure a little fancy, but not snobby feeling, and my casual attired (jeans) was not frowned upon on a weeknight. I enjoyed the farm fresh local greens salad followed by a pretty awesome pepper crusted filet with potatoes and some very green kale. It was also nice to see that they carried Ventura’s Surf Brewey beers on tap and in bottles. way to support the local businesses. I wouldn’t mind coming back to try some of the other dishes when working in the area again.

First it’s decorated like an old sidecar, how cool is that? Secondly you actually feel as if you’ve stepped back in time, way back in time. Then there is the food. I had the filet and it was quite possibly the BEST filet I have ever had in my entire life. The flavor was superb and the mashed potatoes and spinach were amazing! The service was amazing as well. Our waiter was friendly and wanted to make sure we had the best service possible. My boyfriend had the burger and said it was the BEST burger he has ever had (and he’s eaten a lot of burgers). Yes it’s not cheap but I think it’s worth every single penny. I can’t wait to come back to the area and eat here again!!!

The Sidecar is a tasty bit of Ventura history.
When my mom was a little girl, she remembers seeing the Sidecar from the window of the car as her dad drove by. Over time, she remembers the Sidecar becoming a fancier place to eat. All that time, she wanted to stop in but never did.
Local produce in Ventura is as tasty as it has always been. Rather than shipping in unripe food from far away, restaurants like the Sidecar have access to fresh, ripe, local ingredients. At the Sidecar, they treat these ingredients with care, honoring their integrity.
Mom and I stop here to treat ourselves every so often. The grilled cheese night here is fantastic.
Recently we stopped her for a relaxing Sunday brunch. As usual, the food was fresh and carefully prepared. The omelette was creamy. The wedge salad was crisp and refreshing. The bleu cheese fries were crispy/​creamy and they spared to expense with the bleu cheese. Even the bloody mary was made from fresh produce.
Stop by for a fresh meal, friendly service, and a step back in time. You can choose to eat in the actual side car that has served as a restaurant in Ventura for decades.

$ 7.99 is the most expensive price for a carton of dozen eggs that I know of. That is 12 chicken eggs grown with care, fed with organic feeds, regular visits to the chicken therapist, working out with the top chicken physical trainers and plenty of free range area for the hens to get their chicken on. Now why in the world would anyone spend $ 12 for 3 egg omelet? For any reason if you decide to spend the money, then you should expect the following:
1. Are the egg fresh and of high quality (you can tell it by the bright yellow (almost orange) color of the yolk.
2. When preparing the eggs, has the Chef mixed the eggs where the fats from the yolks has been completely homogenized with the egg whites while mixing in enough air into the mixture to give it a thick custard like consistency?
3. Has that custard mixtures been cooked in a way where it is neither runny nor rubbery but creamy in texture resulting the omelet to melt in your mouth?
At The Sidecar Restaurant, the answer is a resounding HELL YES. I also ordered blue cheese fries (property cooked with insane amount of blue cheese crumbles), iceberg lettuce wedge salad (topped with diced heirloom tomatoes (wasn’t stated but I know), bacon, onions and homemade blue cheese dressing). Oh yeah I washed it down with a Bloody Mary (stiff and spicy).
Fantastic place for a fantastic town. — Go try them out.*
Happy eating — R
*My review is only for their brunch service. When I was there, there were only 4 other tables (10 — 12 covers tops) and one waiter was working the floor. Service was prompt and friendly.

Another great dinner. It was «beer and Bacon» night, don’t need to add much more other than to say the bacon corn-​dog appetizer were out of this world. I had the wedge salad, filet and an extra helping of creamed spinach. It was a great meal. The
Service was great also.

Every time I cruise into Ventura to visit a friend who lives here, I stop in at the Sidecar as it is one of her favorite places. She is an über foodie and loves this place. She is drawn to the Sidecar for their quality, fresh ingredients. I try new things every time I come. I have never been disappointed in my experience but I have never been super ‘wowed’ either.
On my last visit I have to say I was in a bit of shock to find out the place was totally out of beer. Not a drop in the house?! I had been traveling for seven hours on the road from Sacramento… no beer… I was not happy. I have grown accustomed to their interesting selections from visits past. The waitress explained to me that they had had a very busy night the night before and had run completely out. We were there for lunch and one of two parties in the entire place at 1:00 on a Wednesday afternoon???
Among our group, we ordered a Nicoise Salad, Grilled Lemon Chicken Sandwich and I had the Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Tomato Soup. My fellow diners were oohing and awhing over their lunches — they loved their food. I on the other hand, was disappointed in the Grilled Cheese part of my lunch, it was boring but the Tomato Soup was delicious. The menu stated that the bread for the Grilled Cheese was homemade. Maybe they ran out and sent someone to the store after my disappointment about not having beer? The bread tasted like plain, old grocery store bread to me.
I will definitely be back because the venue is so unique and my friend loves this place and wants to help keep it alive. Next time I think I will try the Nicoise Salad, that looked really amazing.

I rated this once upon a time as one of the best restaurants in west Ventura County. Thanksgiving dinner there this year has changed my mind.
As before, the atmosphere was nice, and the waiting staff good. However, I was told that they had «sold out» of New York steak, and I needed to change entrée. I chose the pork, only to be told later that they had «found» some steak.
For $ 149 for two we received:
— bread (not good)
— butternut squash soup (not very tasty, bland, with no spice)
— steak with no sides (only on a «bed» of mashed potatoes)
— 3 scallops
— two desserts: the bread pudding was good, but the pumpkin pie was
very cold, and tasteless. I asked for them to microwave it. But they
don’t own a microwave.
— wine at $ 12 per glass was good.
The final straw was a 20% mandatory service charge «for your convenience».
My convenience is to go to the Holiday Inn next year.

I can’t believe this place only has 3.5 stars, really people?
What a grand historic, and amazing restaurant. I had a VERY attentive waitress in fact so attentive that I still remember her name after four months! Lisa! She was so well rounded with personality, poise, and provided excellent, genuine service and knowledge from wine to the meal itself.
The Sidecar Restaurant offers pictures from when they first opened, the food is very high quality, and I do consider this to be «fine dining», I don’t recall what exactly I got but it was phenomenal, I can’t believe it took me this long to review.
I know good food, I’ve been to very upscale restaurants, to yummy gems aka hole in the walls to the best dives known and not, and I honestly don’t see again how this place has the 3.5 stars it has. Please try it out, besides you’re literally eating in a fucking sidecar. Who can complain?

Don’t let the outside décor of this place turn you away. I honestly feel they have some of the best food in this part of VC. Though I do find the inside to be a bit depressing a dark. Regardless of esthetics, this place offers a higher level of sustainable food, that I think Ventura cuisine overlooks. I love that they buy locally and they buy sustainable meat and fish. This is the only place in VC that has grass fed beef. And if we remember back to our early grade school education, what are cows supposed to eat? Grass. Not corn. Corn fed beef is the worst on the cow and us. Its goes against God’s will. Cows should eat grass. Kudos to Tim and sidecar for bringing this to our
«in the box» Ventura foodies.
Here’s the lowdown…
Happy hour is the way to go. $ 5 cheese plate. Offering wonderful artisan cheese with seasonal fruit and nuts. They once had a diver scallop appetizer that was better than Geoffreys in Malibu. It was TDF! But the best ever is their filet mignon. Better than Maestros in Beverly Hills, better than Ruth Criss, better than Wolfgang Pucks. And my husband and I frequent them all. This is above and be all the best. And its grass fed beef. Happier cow makes better meat for you and I. If they have it it, get the seasonal berry cobbler. Its cherries and raspberries, MOUTHGASM! I’m in love.
Sidecar is a gem. Its stands tall and strong in their dogma for sustainability and local farmers. Got to support that.