Department of the Interiors: Sidecar

[Metro Jacksonville]

Department of the Interiors: Sidecar



Jacksonville's most anticipated cocktail lounge opened it's doors to the public on May 29th. Situated in what will soon become the newest urban core epicenter of retail activity, Sidecar has sidled up in symbiotic relationship to V Pizza on the southwest corner of Hendricks and Nyra.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-may-department-of-the-interiors-sidecar

[coredumped]

We stopped by last night (and had the pizza). The pizza was good but the loud techno music on the restaurant side was a bit weird. Maybe I'm getting old, but I prefer volstead to sidecar. It's more laid back and a lot quieter inside.

[Chaz1969]

Home of the $10 cocktail!  A couple of my friends have gone over the last 2 nights and each thought the cocktails were so-so compared to g&g and onyx especially considering the cost. 

[BridgeTroll]

Happy Hour?

[ben says]

I think $10 is norm for a hand-crafted cocktail.

Not to mention only 4 of their 15 hand-crafted drinks are $10.

With some pretty good happy hour deals...

[joshuataylor]

y'know guys, this nitpicking on every business article about prices is really starting to make us look like a backwater hick town... mcdonalds and orsay both make hamburgers, and the only difference between the two is your personal knowledge about quality and craftsmanship. and if you're really that destitute, ingredients can always be purchased for home consumption.

[Chaz1969]

To be clear, I'm fine with spending $10 (or $20 as some places in NYC or Miami may charge) for a drink if it's worth it.  And whether a drink is worth it depends upon the service, ambience, the drink itself and a number of other factors.  I discussed those considerations with my friends last night at length.  Both persons went on different nights (Th & Fri) and with groups of people.  Both are well-educated, affluent individuals who were born elsewhere and who moved to Jax in the last 15 years.  Despite that, their comments that price seemed high are just destitute, backwater nitpicking?       

[southsider1015]

y'know guys, this nitpicking on every business article about prices is really starting to make us look like a backwater hick town... mcdonalds and orsay both make hamburgers, and the only difference between the two is your personal knowledge about quality and craftsmanship. and if you're really that destitute, ingredients can always be purchased for home consumption.

Exactly.  The "cheapness" culture that is Jacksonville is so pathetic these days.  I could only imagine trying to start a restaurant in this city.

[Chaz1969]

Thanks, Stephen.  My friends liked the bar's appearance and were very pleased with the service and, most importantly, both said they would go back (prices aside).  I'm looking forward to checking out the place myself.  I think places like this, the restaurant next door, Panera and Aardwolf are a great example of the sorts of in-fill projects this city needs to see more of.  I wish the Sidecar success.   

[strider]

Sometimes I think we feel that since Jacksonville on the whole seems to be so bloomin' backward in so many ways that prices, all else being equal and even with more up to date cities, should be equally backward; that we somehow expect the lower expectation we must endure everyday in life here should translate into lower prices and when it does not, we complain.

Still, I think mixed reviews in the first few days of operation is a positive as teething problems can be disastrous.  Sidecar appears to be a place worth checking out.

[IrvAdams]

Sometimes I think we feel that since Jacksonville on the whole seems to be so bloomin' backward in so many ways that prices, all else being equal and even with more up to date cities, should be equally backward; that we somehow expect the lower expectation we must endure everyday in life here should translate into lower prices and when it does not, we complain.

Still, I think mixed reviews in the first few days of operation is a positive as teething problems can be disastrous.  Sidecar appears to be a place worth checking out.

As an official born n' bred local who is now a high-tech redneck in the software development biz, I would love to check this place out. Thanks for all the honest evaluations provided here!

[David]

I went to high school with Kurt, he's a cool kat. Glad to see him branching out on his own and doing well.  Places like Sidecar, Volstead etc are places to go when you want to enjoy and savor a drink, not pound 4 of them quickly which you can do in plenty of the dives around town.

Jacksonville's booze palate is maturing, I can't speak to how things were 15 years ago but the social scene does seem to be evolving. It's taken a while, but it's happening.

[IrvAdams]

I went to high school with Kurt, he's a cool kat. Glad to see him branching out on his own and doing well.  Places like Sidecar, Volstead etc are places to go when you want to enjoy and savor a drink, not pound 4 of them quickly which you can do in plenty of the dives around town.

Jacksonville's booze pallet is maturing, I can't speak to how things were 15 years ago but the social scene does seem to be evolving. It's taken a while, but it's happening.

You're right, it's about quality, not quantity. Like a good wine tasting. The object is not to get smashed, but just mellow and enjoy the variety.

I would say that beer and booze seem to be more popular lately (socially) than wine, but for myself a good white is a pleasant experience, especially Chardonnay.