Dining at Sidecar Bar and Grill in Toronto, ON

Restaurant Review and Where to Eat in Little Italy

Oct 15, 2009

Sidecar is located on College Street, in an area known as Little Italy. This intimate restaurant offers attentive service, a well priced menu but a very small wine list.

Toronto’s vibrant neighbourhood of Little Italy is filled with restaurants, bistros and nightclubs. Sidecar Bar and Grill is positioned in the middle of the action on the south side of College Street and is open for dinner seven nights a week.

As with most restaurant spaces in the downtown core of the city, Sidecar is long and narrow with exposed brick walls and piping. There is a small bar with limited seating to enjoy the imaginative cocktail list or grab one of the few tables on the front patio during the warm summer months.

Affordable Prix Fixe Dinner Menu

The idea of offering a three course meal for a fixed price is very popular in many Toronto restaurants and great for dinner on a budget. For $24.00 per person, the set menu at Sidecar is an affordable and satisfying meal, available Sunday through Wednesday only.

The chopped vegetable salad or the mushroom soup seems to be the best choice for the appetizer. The Caesar salad is bland with the exception of the perfectly crisp pancetta bacon served on top.

The salmon glazed with maple is delicious and plentiful. Although the menu states this dish comes with green beans it is actually served with tasty sautéed greens and onions. There is also a choice of steak frites, roasted chicken as well as a pasta dish.

While the prawns in the pasta are very large, the sauce is once again a little on the bland side but certainly filling. The dessert is the Chef’s choice and on this particular evening the choice is a rich, dark chocolate torte that goes well with espresso.

The regular menu has a variety of the usual dinner options but is not large enough to become overwhelming. Sadly the wine list is limited but it is fairly priced with a decent selection of international and local wines.

Dinner for two with a glass of wine will cost at least $65.00 at Sidecar, plus taxes and a tip. Expect to spend more if ordering off the a la carte menu.

This downtown area is eclectic and there is always something to do on College Street. During the day, shop for modern furniture, hand made hats or vintage Vespa scooters. At night the choice can be dinner and dancing or watching a live band in a club. Don’t forget to indulge in a cup of gelato or perhaps a cannoli from one of the many bakeries located along this busy street.

Although Little Italy is not actually on the subway line, the closest stop is Bathurst station. College Street is a short 15 minute walk directly south from the station or take the 511 streetcar and walk west after getting off the transit.

There are many fascinating neighbourhoods in Toronto and Little Italy is a fun place to wander and grab a bite to eat. Sidecar Bar and Grill is an affordable restaurant and a good choice for budget dining when visiting Toronto, Ontario.

The copyright of the article Dining at Sidecar Bar and Grill in Toronto, ON in North American Culinary Travel is owned by Allison Anthony. Permission to republish Dining at Sidecar Bar and Grill in Toronto, ON in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.