Danforth Sidebar in Toronto

161 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N2, Canada

★★★★☆
(338 reviews)
Categories: Gastropub Bar

About

Delicious modern American cuisine located right beside The Danforth Music Hall

Website
danforthsidebar.com
Address
161 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N2, Canada
Plus Code
MJGV+H6 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Time Zone
America/Toronto

Business Hours

Sunday
Closed
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
5 PM–1 AM
Saturday
5 PM–1 AM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating Takeaway Dine-in Delivery
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Food Food at bar Late-night food Small plates Spirits Wine
Dining options
Brunch Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Groups
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Parking
Paid street parking

Photos

Reviews

4.3
★★★★☆
338 reviews

Most Mentioned

door (15) dinner (15) concert (14) chicken sandwich (8) brunch (7) waffle fries (6) onion rings (6) oysters (6) addition (6) poutine (5)
5 stars
216
4 stars
66
3 stars
27
2 stars
14
1 stars
15
★★★★
December 17, 2024

Brownie and poutine? 5 stars. I did order a lemon drop martini and the bartender didn’t put a sugar rim which is kinda a big part of that drink. But I also understand that it’s not a cocktail bar or anything fancy. Either way, I enjoyed myself

★★★★★
November 20, 2024

Really awesome set of drinks and tasty pub grub. Perfect place to stop by before a concert at The Danforth Music Hall next door. I got the crispy chicken sandwich with fries and a couple glasses of their on tap raspberry sour.

★★★★★
July 16, 2024

I popped in here before a show at the Danforth Music Hall. They had the set times posted for the show and they were playing great music, including songs by the artist I was about to see. Ordered nachos with chicken and extra cheese and they were so well done - so many places are lazy with their nachos (naked chips, lack of ingredients) but not here - these were perfect. There were only 2 people in front of house and they held it down well - friendly and pretty fast. Cocktails were also good and they made me drinks that were not on the menu which was appreciated. Wheelchair accessible (except the bathrooms which are downstairs)

★★★
December 10, 2023

I hate to stereotype, but who else finds restaurants located close to live performance venues meh? Their strength is their location, while the food is merely decent and service passable. Dine along the strip of King West where the Princess of Wales Theatre, Roy Thompson Hall, and TIFF reside, and you’ll know what I mean. Sadly, Danforth Sidebar fits the stereotype… being close to the Danforth Music Hall has its downfalls. Perhaps the dish that best showcases my point is the pan seared scallops ($23). The dish’s presentation was pretty but look closely at the scallops and they are unevenly done. Ultimately, they are a tad overcooked, but tastes good. Yet, good luck trying to add another scallop onto the dish if you arrive as a table of five. The answer is simply, “no”. At first, I thought it was a joke, but it’s sadly not - the reason being the dish hasn’t been priced out per piece. Perhaps it’s my finance background, but can’t the equation be simply solved as $5.75 each ($23 divided by 4)? Rather, the answer is no as Danforth Sidebar doesn’t care to keep guests happy or increase their bill totals. Their menu’s naming convention could also use some work. It lists the cauliflower cotija ($17) as “corn puree, pickled cactus leaf, jalapenos, cotija cheese, hot honey, warm corn tortilla”. Sounds like an incredible vegetable packed queso dip, sign me up! What arrives is a skillet of watery stir-fried vegetables sprinkled with cheese… what? Why was this not listed as ‘cauliflower tacos’ when there’s a similar item called ‘barbacoa tacos’ on the menu? It’s in fact tacos and not a dip. If that weren’t bad enough, the cauliflower was too mushy and for something listing corn as the first ingredient there wasn’t much of it in the dish. Once I got past the queso disappointment I found it made an okay taco - at least it had nice flavours from the pickled cactus leaf and hot honey. The short rib poutine ($21) had the makings of a great dish with a large slab of tender short rib, thin potato fries, large chunks of cheese curds, and a beefy gravy. The beef just wasn’t seasoned enough so the poutine didn’t elicit that sinful richness you normally find in the dish. Under seasoning was a similar sentiment for the striploin in their salad. Thinking a 5oz steak was too small for a main, we added on more steak (another 4oz) to the steak salad (total cost of $27 with the addition). Steak salad plus steak was a great hack as the kitchen ended up substituting the hanger steak (what normally comes with the steak salad) for a full striploin instead. And the steak could have been delicious if it just arrived saltier and hotter. The salad itself was delicious combining cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, avocado chunks, and a creamy dressing. With a full steak, the kitchen should have plated it on a larger dish as the tiny side plate made it difficult to cut the meat. Also, having the cold salad on one side and the striploin on the other would also mean the meat wouldn’t cool down as quickly. One draw to Danforth Sidebar is their reasonably priced wine – a bottle of prosecco was only $36!

★★★★
July 20, 2023

Sidebar is a cozy feel and it’s much bigger than it looks from the outside. It’s a great place to stop for a drink or some bar food. I got the crispy chicken sandwich with waffle fries and it was delicious and filling! I found the waffle fries were seasoned perfectly and the crispy chicken sandwich didn’t feel heavy, the bun was lighter too. I asked for mayo on the side and wasn’t charged extra. My friend got the nachos and they do come in a tower, they were delicious. I really like how the staff kept switching out the water on the table for cold/fresh stuff even if there was water left over in the bottle. The only critique I have is the music was loud so it’s hard to talk/hear but that’s normal in a lot of bars.

★★★★★
January 9, 2023

Great food and atmosphere! Located beside The Danforth Music Hall, Sidebar has lots of good food and drinks for your pre-show dinner. One of the standout features of the restaurant was the display of set times for concerts (at Danforth Music Hall) at the entrance. This made it easy to plan our evening and know when to expect certain bands to take the stage. In terms of ambiance, Danforth Sidebar has a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The decor is stylish and the lighting is low and warm, creating a relaxing and intimate setting with music playing in the background. The service was also great, with friendly and attentive staff who ensured our dining experience was enjoyable. From the menu, we have tried the pepperoni pizza, deluxe pizza, steak salad, and tiramisu. All of them were very delicious! Portion sizes are a bit small for the steak salad. However, the pizza was delicious, from the crust to the toppings; it was very filling. The tiramisu was the perfect end to our meal as well! Also, we ordered some of their music-centric beverages. Do note, they take reservations and have limited amounts of walk-in availabilities. If you can, they will give you a table and let you know when you need to be done by for their reservation. Additionally, bathrooms are located in the basement with stairs and four individual bathrooms. Also, the ATM is located in the basement as well.

★★★
November 21, 2022

Great spot for drinks and food before a concert. Really enjoyed the poutine, lamb meatballs were served cold and the pepperoni pizza was yummy. I found it easy to grab my waitresses attention and she was very attentive with refilling the mass amounts of water I was drinking. Lol. It did get quite loud so if you like a bustling atmosphere - this would be a good spot.

★★★★★
March 20, 2018

This place is great! We took our food to go and it was still good 30 minutes later. The burger is extremely juicy and flavourful. The fried chicken was killer. Perfectly crispy and juicy. This place has great seating, somewhat small. The staff is amazing. Would definitely return.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

Great place for food before a show next door.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 8, 2024

Excellent cosy bar/restaurant on the Danforth near Broadview. Service is top notch, the ambiance is friendly and the food was wonderful. Great find.

Local Guide
December 8, 2024

The food was poor quality, they got our drinks order wrong several times, forgot the food order and had to come back, and they ding you $2 for a tiny pot of sauce. Plus whacked on auto gratuity for a table of 6 when 1 person only had a soft drink. Boooooooo

★★★
September 22, 2024

Food was okay but it was served cold. Servers were indifferent. Convenient location as it s right beside DMH. Won t be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Friendly staff, fabulous food and drinks, and lovely location on the Danforth!

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Great lively bar with cocktails and small plates. A perfect date night or pre dinner before a show at Danforth music hall.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

I love the picnic tables out front in the summer

July 22, 2024

You shouldn t be going there if you want to have a good time

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

We had our wedding at Sidebar and it was absolutely outstanding! This place will always have a piece of our hearts. From planning to execution, our wedding ceremony and reception was executed Flawlessly. The evening was simply magical. The food during the cocktail hour, dinner and late night snacks were all superb and the service was impeccable. Lindsay was incredibly accommodating, friendly and professional. She was there for us every step of the way. She truly went above and beyond to make our day special. She is amazing at what she does and I could not have pictured the day without all her help. Our guests were raving about the food and we received so many compliments on the level of service from herself, the kitchen and the bar staff. Chef Ben was also fantastic. He thoroughly went through the menu and customized it perfectly taking into consideration food preferences and food allergies. We wanted Filipino inspired dishes and Ben did such an amazing job. We absolutely LOVE this place and we are looking forward to celebrating our wedding anniversary at Sidebar for years to come. If you are looking for an intimate wedding venue than Sidebar is the place to have it. They deserve 10 stars for everything (Service, Food, Drinks), they have it all. They deserve 10s across the board. Thank you so much for making our special day perfect!

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

It is a great place to go for a beer or a drink before a concert at the Danforth Music Hall. I went there on July 4th to see WWEs Sammy Zayns Comedy show. We at the outside bar having a great time as people walked by. e had great service with a wonderful choice of beer and wine plus a number of appetizers to select from. I highly recommend the sidebar and I will definitely go back.

★★★★
June 22, 2024

I had 2 beers for about 20CAD, that day there was a punk rock show next door, so the atmosphere was influenced by that. Everyone was friendly

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Service and food fantastic. Great selection of drinks and beers

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Always a great time here, the staff are super nice and remember me every time I come in. The food and drinks are high quality at a reasonable price. Its a great spot for high-end food and drinks with a speakeasy kind of vibe. Love it thanks for being great guys!

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Went the other week, had Charles as my server. Wonderful and attendant young man. Definitely will be returning soon.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Had a great experience at Sidebar. Our server Charles was excellent. He recommended the chicken sandwich and fries, with the jalapeño aioli on the side. Food was excellent, and drinks were great. Great atmosphere too.

★★
April 22, 2024

Good food. Music is like a rave party loud. Dont come if you want to have a conversation with someone as cannot hear anything over the blasting music

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Lovely pub with a great atmosphere. Excellent service, very good food and reasonable price.

March 22, 2024

The host is very rude and grumpy should not be in the service industry. Maybe become a security guard on a graveyard shift so she doesnt see anyone. Service

★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Cocktail and Oysters were good. Little bit small place.

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

blair, cam, and evan are awesome!! especially Blair though!!!!

★★★★★
January 22, 2024

I had such an amazing experience with my friend last night at Sidebar. We each had a tasty vegetarian meal and the Happy Hour drinks that night were just as delicious, especially their shooters options. My friend and I really had fun with those mini drinks. Best believe we will return in the new year! Vegetarian options: Healthy portion sizes

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Loved that they have the setlist times at the front door. So smart.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Only rich snobs rate this place lower than 5 stars. Rich snobs - the other customers - are also the worst part of coming here. Great food, attentive service, good music & decore. A bit expensive but easily worth it.

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Long wait but the food was tasty.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Not open past 1 am despite their hours listed. Went by tonight at 1 am, they had a patron at the bar but doors were locked. Disappointing

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Dropped in for a drink and an appetizer after a long walk. The sliders were amazing and honestly a generous portion that was perfect for 2 of us. Great cocktails, nice atmosphere, and quite central (music venue next door and plenty of cute shops along Danforth).

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Everything we had was great. Definitely pop by here for dinner before your show

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Came here for dinner before a concert next door. I had the fried chicken sandwich with waffle fries and a few beers. They have a great selection of craft beers on tap. Back to the sandwich crispy, juicy and ever so tasty. You know that when the juices start dripping down your fingers and hands, you re eating a delicious sandwich! The waffles fries were great too. Definitely the perfect spot to grab a bite and a drink before the show. Make reservations!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Pizza was greasy, the chicken sandwich had more mayo and bread then chicken.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

the staff were a tad slow with service. my friend got the duck croquettes, i got the steak sliders. she didnt adore the croquettes, fairly bland. my sliders were 4 still attached buns which were basically assembled as one sandwich so everything sorta falls apart when you try to eat them individually. i found the meat very dry. drinks were great tho! cocktails were fantastic.

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Food poisoning and too loud

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We were here two nights in a row. The first night because we got the dates of our gig next door wrong (oooops...) in the cold this place was close and warm. Ambience was great, the staff was warm and nice.The first night we had the signature cocktails - lemon meringue martini and the red raider. The signature cocktails were amazing and super yummy. We ordered the scallops as I had never tried scallops before so this place made me feel like they might do a good job, courtesy the staff and the ambience, but I was disappointed. Not sure whether that was because of the prep or scallops in general. Day two happened because the gig started much later than planned. We ordered the veggie burger - this was really yummy thanks to the toasted quinoa and everything in it, although the bun was cold and not toasted which was a disappointment. I got the Bolognese fettuccine and the old fashioned - the pasta was just salty and tasted funky. The pasta was thick and the sauce was watery and salty. It did not stick to the pasta and was just a big disappointment. I did not go in expecting to be wowed, but not that I can do a better job. My recommendation - go in if you are in the area just for the signature cocktails and then hop over somewhere else to fill your tum tum

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We arrived for our reserved table to be met with, I quote scan for menu . I said sorry? He pointed at the bar code on the desk and repeated scan for menu then casually pointed us to our table. Honestly one of the worst greetings ever. Food was good but marred by the reception . Won t be back nor recommend I m afraid.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Highly recommend the Nacho Tower! And the Lemon Meringe Martini

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Went here after the venue at Danforth music hall, asked some locals to recommend a good place for a great atmosphere and exquisite food. Sidebar did not disapoint. Staff was a blast, service was impeccable and I d surely be back for the food!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Service was amazing! We were in a rush and everyone was on top of it. Also the short rib poutine was insane!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Had a great time, food was great! Lindsay was on point! Thank you!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great rock and roll pub next to Danforth Music Hall. Ambience, tunes food and service all on point! Perfect spot to hit before a show!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Must try!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Lovely staff and delicious cocktails. Great for a visit after a show at the Danforth Music Hall!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

short ribs poutine is goooood!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

What an amazing evening. Great cocktails, great atmosphere and attentive staff. Cant wait to come back for another espresso martini.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great food great service. I guess that s why its so busy. They ve always been able to squeeze us in. Try the oyster special on Wed. Buck a Shuck! If you re heading to the show next door after allow enough time as it does get extra busy.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great spot on the Danforth with lots of people and action.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I ll star with the good , the cocktails were great! And the place was overall cool clean and nice looking . Only thing is , my buddy ordered food , it was good he said , I ordered food it just .. never came , until I ordered the bill. Then they remembered I ordered something and gave a whack excuse blaming the kitchen. Lol I ve worked many kitchens , worked with many servers , they just forgot, it happens , but be honest and at minimum comp one of my drinks??? Service is a huge part of a restaurant/bar/cocktail lounge , and they ve got a bit of work to do forsure on that end. Would have loved to have tried the food.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Ordered the steak and fries. Server asked how I liked the steak and requested medium rare, but came out pretty cooked - its a thin cut so it might be difficult to manage, I assume. Seasoning wasnt bad though! Garlic/lemon aioli was yummy, had to ask for extra, but gravy that came with it was a bit mild in flavour. Fries were thin and seasoned nice. The server, busser and bar staff were great. Decently-sized local beer selection, ordered a Ronin (Japanese Rice) which tastes like a typical lager. Guests who accompanied me liked their short rib poutine, and their deluxe pizza (if you like a crust with more body, I suggest you ask them to leave it in the oven for a bit longer). Parking: Green P a short walk away - LOT 78 (if you cant find parking directly on the danforth) Wheelchair accessibility: Theres a short ramp and a door button!

★★
December 22, 2023

I feel kinda bad leaving this review, but I mean there was a huge soggy napkin in my coleslaw. Like soaked in there to the point I thought it was part of the meal (I ate some of it by accident). And this was after they had initially brought me someone elses food before I reminded them that I ordered the fried chicken. They were nice enough to not charge me though. I think they probably were going through a management change or something so I guess accidents are bound to happen, but the napkin was just really gross.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Overpriced

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Great food, friendly staff, hung out before the concert next door.

★★★
December 22, 2023

Friendly staff but food is quite pricey!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We have been a couple of times and really enjoyed ourselves. Food is always fresh and tasty. We have a show coming up at the Danforth Music Hall and will be returning for dinner then.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

On a fairly hot summer day, we were here for the Taste of the Danforth. After some walking and snacking, we were looking for a nice, clean, modern bar to sit down. Sidebar offered exactly and more than that. Sidebar is chic, offering a variety but not too much of things on the menu. However, I was a tad surprised that their wines came from the tap instead of a pour but after sampling it was a go. Not a huge deal. We chose to sit at the bar to be in the middle of the establishment. A young gentleman walked by with a large bucket of oysters and started cracking them at the bar, it was then we found out that they also offer oysters! He then kindly offered us some oysters on the house and they were fresh! Yum! Who doesnt like some free oysters and also generous hospitality? Thank you! We left Sidebar feeling joyful :)

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We had a great pre-concert meal at Danforth Sidebar. The atmosphere was energetic, and our server was exceptionally friendly. My friend loved her margarita, and the nachos and tacos were delicious. We left room for the tiramisu that everyone raved about - highly recommend

★★
December 22, 2023

The placer is well decorated, the food is ok just comfort food but the SERVICE was terrible.. The server took away my plate even if I havent finish. DO Not PUSH to consume ! I know this is North America but I wasnt looking to eat at a McDonalds 5mins & Im done. I went there to catch up with my friends that I havent seen and they destroyed the experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Very tasty food and great service. Recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Atmosphere is a vibe. Right beside Danforth music hall. My son and I stopped in before a concert. The fried chicken sandwich with seasoned waffle fries with both hot sauce and Gaelic aoli on the side were delish. Would come again for sure for a comfort meal.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Absolutely great experience....food, service,

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We were here for a birthday party and our group had the best time! The team working there were incredible, the food was amazing, and the music was the best. I cant say enough good things about it. Thank you all for a great night. The next time Im in town I will definitely be back!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Nice vibes. Excellent service

★★
December 22, 2023

The service was so slow and food was very underwhelming. Got the smash burger and they didn t even bother to toast the bun and used chunks of romain lettuce. Burger tasted cold and portions are tiny.

★★★
December 22, 2023

Food was delicious. Atmosphere is a vibe. I felt super judged by the waiter because I m weird so that sucked

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great spot in the neighborhood for drinks, burgers & fries and fun with your +1 or friends. 5 stars for the atmosphere and value. Would like a bit more choice of wine by the glass but great selection of beers and classic cocktails.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Sidebar was super fun! We made a reservation, and were glad that we did because it was packed! Our waitress was super helpful and attentive. I asked if the spicy chicken sandwich was very spicy, and she let me know that it was, which helped me make my choice. I got the burger, which was fine, wasnt blown away, but was very happy with it. The burger sauce they had on it was super tasty and the pickles were a good addition to it. The fries however, were amazing! The restaurant was a little loud but that was likely because we were eating when there was a show going on at the music hall next door so they were pretty flooded. Overall, I would (and probably will) come back to try other dishes and for buck a shuck Wednesdays!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Excellent.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

The food was great as was the service and the overall atmosphere. I will be going back!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Stopped by on a Saturday night to try out their famous fried chicken. It was worth the hype! Chicken was cooked to perfection so it was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and waffle fries were crispy with just the right amount of salt. Kimchi fries were really good was well. Their negroni was perfectly made. Great service. Would recommend getting there early or making a reservation because it fills up fast!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Perfect place to chill with friends after a concert or when visiting the Danforth area. Awesome and friendly staff!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great place to stop by before a show at the music hall. Staff were very friendly and attentive. Theyve got some really nice window seats. Drinks were good, we tried 4 cocktails and liked all of them. Didnt try the food. It does get crowded very quickly so I would recommend going closer to opening.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The drinks are on point and the food seemed amazing. They gluten free pretty easily, but I only had the kimchi fries which were great.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Had the burger. Great bun, but the beef was a little underseasoned, and the whole burger really lost me at the sweet pickles. I mean at least mention that theyre sweet pickles on your menu plz. The waffle fries were the highlight of the meal.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

This is a great place for a cocktail or a beer. Great selection, decent price and friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Ive had the food only once, usually our group has only drinks, but the time I tried it - it was pretty decent. Your regular bar food, nothing to write home about, but going well with a beer or a cocktail.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Chill spot, good drinks and atmosphere. Went here after a show at Danforth Music Hall.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The most memorable thing is their kimchi dries and it was awesome. Portion is really big- the pizza and the fries. Probably 3 to 4 people can share the food.

★★
December 22, 2022

Spent a lot of time here one night - wasnt busy and no one was waiting for our table. We were a quiet party of 2 enjoying buckashuck oysters and the $1/oz wine. Service wasnt good, one of the servers perhaps was new, but really didnt hit the mark in any way shape or form (absent, unable to answer questions, brought us only half the wine we asked for etc.). We ordered a variety of food. Steer clear of the zucchini flowers, they were awful. Pizza was tasty. Sliders alright but came out room temperature and slightly soggy. The fun part of the evening came after. We paid our bill and my minimum tip for a mediocre (at best) type service is to match the taxes (13%) - in my eyes this covers any house tip out and compensates the server for still doing the job, even if I personally believe it wasnt a job well done. Another server who largely took over our table nearing the end of our visit, approached us and essentially asked us why we tipped so little. I think her words were something along the lines of well below average. Let me say, there appeared to be no intent of apology or means to learn from mistakes and it was simply to insult us. I was dumbfounded by the abrasiveness of the server and caught off-guard so I was less than eloquent with my words or explanation, but my word I nearly wanted to take the entire tip back at that point. We didnt even finish our glass of wine we were so uncomfortable we had to leave. My friend and I have both worked in the service industry and know how decimated the industry has been due to COVID, but were so disappointed the way the night ended. The only reason I would go back is for the oysters.

December 22, 2022

DO NOT come here on a concert night. I genuinely ONLY tipped because I m Canadian. Waiting 10+ minutes to be acknowledged at our table, and 30 more for a basic wine and oyster order is painful. Wouldn t come here ever for an enjoyable/relaxing night out, it s simply just a messy pre bar for concerts. If a date took me here I d have to leave before the mains came, it was way too unpleasant and annoying to be sitting there.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Amazing food and service. Josh was an amazing bartender and the pork belly is top notch

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Such a good pre-show dinner at the sidebar. The waffle fries were to die for, and the cocktails were delicious.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

The proximity to the Danforth Music Hall is perfect for grabbing a drink or a bite before a show. The open windows and sleek modern aesthetic make up for the narrowness of the space. Our server was a bit slow and drunk the night she served us. The second night we had a different, more attentive server/bartender. Overall, a nice, clean casual spot in the east-end to enjoy some drinks with good company.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Good place to grab food and drinks before a show at the Danforth Music Hall next door.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great spot for a quick bite or drink. Heads up kitchen closes for dinner at 11! Only desserts afterwards.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

I ordered a peperoni pizza. They gave me a cheese pizza, a pepperoni pizza to take home, and I didn t have to pay for either

★★★
December 22, 2022

A generally good experience with some disappointments. Like my hot appetizer arrived at the same time as my hot meal or when my wife nearly swallowed chunk of cork at the bottom of her wine glass. All that said, the food was well prepared and tasty.

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Best kimchi fries ever!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Great food great cocktails servers are great aswell literally dont have anything bad to say about this establishment if youre walking by it, DONT.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Location is great for preparing for a concert, love that the set times are listed by the door. Servers were decent, IF you got their attention. I was sitting at a table and felt like I had to physically grab a server anytime I wanted food or drinks. All that and then expect a minimum 18% tip? Sorry, no.

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Nice place, great staff. Just stay away from the poutine

December 22, 2022

Pretentious and aggressive towards patrons. Parking: None Wheelchair accessibility: not friendly

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2022

Chill bar, professional staff and great pisco sour!

★★★★★
December 22, 2022

Dope food and staff

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Update: Mar 2021, love Side Bar and cant wait for them to reopen. Great selection of food and drinks (especially wine by the ounce). Their southern fried chicken with waffle cut fries is AMAZING! Weve ordered the family style version (serves 4) for take out a few times and have never been disappointed. We dont live too far but it travels and is packaged for take out very well. The fries and chicken stays perfectly crispy. The chicken is so succulent and well seasoned and the sides stand up very well in their own right. Im salivating just writing this. They also have a single dinner portion as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Its always a delight to visit Danforth Sidebar, especially for their AMAZING Southern Fried Chicken, which comes with a tangy dipping sauce, waffle fries that are golden crisp and nicely chewy, and finally a good portion crunchy coleslaw infused with fresh dill. Wow! Highly recommended. (See takeout photo below.) Apparently, when things finally open up (hopefully soon) there will be the option to enjoy their food and beverages on their expanded patio. I discovered this place, including the sidewalk patio, with my friends last summer. Were so looking forward to coming back in the summer of 2021!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

With staff that are keen to make this a great experience and delicious food, Sidebar is a big hit in our neighbourhood! We ate at the picnic tables last night, just outside and with the bonus of umbrellas over every table, enjoyed a very pleasant dining experience!

★★★★
December 22, 2021

Good food at reasonable prices. The fried chicken and the burger are favorites.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Great prices, great fried chicken. The Southern Chicken Family Meal was top notch, highly recommend.

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

The first time at Sidebar on the Danforth. The customer service was AMAZING. Tyler, Evan and Lauren were stellar. The buck a shuck oysters were fantastic ( Raspberry Point from PEI) . Thank you Josh MacDonald for shucking, and letting us experience such a lovely dinner out. Well be back. Thanks for your hospitality.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Solid drink selection, good food and great service from the staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

The waiters here are the best!! And the drinks have the PERFECT amount of alcohol! Order a margarita and a blueberry seltzer uff the best!!

Local Guide
December 22, 2021

An interesting INHOSPITABLE experience. Made a reservation yesterday for 4:30pm today actually talking to a live person. My friend arrived a few minutes earlier, and walk inside the reservation looking for me. He was told the restaurant was not opened till 4pm. So, he wonder out on this huge patio with all sorts of empty seats, sat there waiting for me. HE WAS PROMPTLY TOLD THAT HE WAS NOT WELCOME TO SIT THERE EVEN IF HE WAS WAITING FOR ME. He arrived at 4:28. I arrived at 4:29 because he text me as I saw him texting the message in his phone. Being a restaurateur for most of my life, one golden advise to the owner of this restaurant, I know you are hot and busy at my stomping Ground. I guarantee if you dont train your staff the meaning of HOSPITALITY, despite your current success. It will NOT sustain!

★★★★★
December 22, 2021

Will definitely visit again! Great ambience, food is good also!

★★
December 22, 2021

Hamburger was nothing special for the price. Not a fan of quineo gave a strange crunch to the salad. Way over priced.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Great pub style food and beer at reasonable prices.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

The paper planes are really good

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Decent selection for late night drinks Staff is awesome here

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

I had the burger which was excellent. I would go back again

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2021

Loved the ambience, prices are fair

★★★★
December 22, 2020

Great atmosphere, drinks, and food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Friendly service. Great beer. Enjoyed the cauliflower. Very nice during the summer.

★★
December 22, 2020

The burger was smaller than a happy meal and the service was subpar.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Great location, nice to sit by the sidewalk in the summer. Brunch is pretty good, one of the better options in the neighborhood. They make an awesome paper plane and old fashioned, but the cocktail list is oddly short and stagnant. Don t think it s changed since they opened years ago.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Hidden gem on the Danforth! Great drinks, great pizza, and amazing vibe!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Had a business meeting/dinner here. Great atmosphere, even better food, and wait staff are attentive but not intrusive. Would highly recommend.

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Awesome food and they make one of the best tequila sunrises Ive ever had! Our waitress was outstanding!

★★★★★
December 22, 2020

Food was delicious and service was great!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Great staff. Very accommodating. Lovely place to stop for a drink at any time. Didnt have a chance to try the food .

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

I really like the Danforth and visit that area often when in Toronto, Sidbar is next door to the Danforth Music Hall and serves mostly clients of the theater for drinks and snacks before shows and more drinks after. The food is solid, service is great and overall the vibe is comfortable and chill. The food is great, in particular their fried chicken, burgers, steak frites & pizza are my faves. The interior design is really nice, feels like youre in a Montreal style french bistro, but more relaxed, like youre in someones home, very comfortable seating and there are tvs for sports when you sit at the bar. Great spot.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

I ordered the fried chicken meal for takeout and was absolutely blown away. The chicken has that crispy goodness, it was flavourful and it also comes with this great hot sauce. City Fried Chicken has been my favourite place for fried chicken on the Danforth, but I think Sidebar may have taken my top spot. Give the fried chicken here a shot and I look forward to going back and trying another dish on the menu!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

My family and I went for the take away Fried Chicken family meal and it was awesome! The service on the phone and questions answered about peanut allergies was on point. Excellent friendly service!!! Their covid19 window set up is fantastic. Great job and we look forward to another take out session soon. Thank you team!!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

The service is..a bit slow during this time, but their food is amazing

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Loved the chicken sandwich (hotter than expected, but excellent heat). Josh took great care of us, and suggested an absolute stunner of a beer (Left Field Brewerys Squeeze Play).

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

The interior design is beautiful, which is what drew me here. But, the food was a 2/5 at best. I ordered the burger and fries. Be warned: the burger is a slider! You can eat it in 2 bites. The fries were decent, but I wasnt a fan of the dill they put on top of them. That meal cost $15 + tax. This place is definitely just for drinks. Dont waste your money on the food!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Food was yummy. Enjoyed the burger. Standard bistro-pub menu.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2020

Great beer, nice place!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Delicious food, friendly staff, great relaxed atmosphere. Definitely a place Ill return to.

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

The service was polite and friendly. We waited only a few minutes for the food. I had a Caesar salad that was outstanding followed by one of the best margarita pizzas I have ever had. Terrific place and extremely convenient.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Great place. A little too loud for conversation. Excellent southern fried boneless chicken thighs, onion rings, ground chuck burger and coleslaw. I love buying my wine by the ounce.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Way better than I expected! Excellent value and great service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Friendly staff and great service. Its kept very clean and presentable. Their weekend brunches are underrated on the Danforth! I love this place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

A little on the loud side ambience wise. Food though, So Good!!! Drinks are good too. I recommend the sea bass for food and paper plane for drink. The pepperoni pizza is also good. The portions are great too.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Definitely one of the more impressive cozy bars I ve been to in Toronto. Friendly waiters, a lack of obnoxiously loud music, and a good menu selection with reasonable prices and great food/drinks make this is a must try if you re able to grab a spot.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Intensely attentive staff!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

I came with my 4 yo son and 2 friends for Saturday brunch. Service = Adequate. They were slow to do/get things. We waited a long time for our brunch. No apologies or check-ins. Took a long time for them to check in on us. Even for the bill. Food quality = Good. Things tasted good. Probably the best tater tots Ive ever had. Steak was done properly to my request. Food value = Terrible. All the dishes were tiny. The only person that got full of their order was my tiny son. Even a skinny average heighted woman with a small appetite wasnt full. They took so long with our food, we couldnt afford the time to get another order in. The menu/restaurant should offer these as regular portions, with the opportunity to upsize to large (by that, I mean regular) for $x. Instead, Im just frustrated and angry over being fed like a child. I would not return based on the value problem.

Local Guide
December 22, 2019

What a rude waiter there. Absolutely no training nor manner. We asked for a different table than we were originally offered. And the waiter was refusing the change it. Shame on him. So we had just drinks and left to have dinner somewhere else.

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

One of my favourite neighbourhood places- Food was great and our server was awesome

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Danforth Sidebar on (unsurprisingly) Danforth, not far from Greek Town, offers a consistent table and bar service with summer patio options at front of house. Interesting menu options, everything you would expect from a well stocked bar, and a clean disposition all add up to a pleasant experience on Danforth Avenue.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Amazing food, amazing atmosphere and amazing service! I highly recommend!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Enjoyed the burger and fries.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

What a great experience this establishment is. We were served by Damien, who is a very attentive, and knowledgable bartender, and mixologist. The place has a great vibe, and can be very energetic. Its also very bright, and refreshing. The cocktails were classic, and curated. And the food was outstanding. Cant wait to find an excuse to go back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Staff are the best, always so accommodating.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

The food was delicious! Saturday morning was really busy and I waited 25 minutes for my food to arrive. I wish there was a gluten free toast option.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Happened upon it during Taste of the Danforth and were really pleasantly surprised. We just stopped in for late night drinks but enjoyed the open front window and the ambiance of the interior. Would try again for the food!

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Laughable portion sizes. Went for brunch and their side salad was literally two baby leaves. Their bacon was one rasher cut up into pieces. So disappointing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

If youre looking for somewhere to eat and drink before or after a show at the Danforth Music Hall, this is your place. Food was amazing, service was excellent...will definitely be back!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

I finally made my way to Sidebar during Thrill of the Grill this year. Naturally they were bursting at the seams, but the food, drinks and atmosphere were still amazing. I cant wait to come back when there isnt a festival on the Danforth.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Great food, carefully portioned, clean place and lovely hostess. Highly recommend the place

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Negroni was great, tiramisu was awful.

December 22, 2019

What a bad welcome !!

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Food and service was amazing!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

A great addition to the neighbourhood Sidebar definitely provides a fun atmosphere with great menu selections.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Great bar - clean, well decorated and great atmosphere. The TVs were showing the news at the time (around 11:00), but Im told they will switch it over if a game is on. The staff were really friendly and helpful and the food was great. Ill visit again if I have time on this trip!

★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2019

Very slow service, food was lukewarm. Nice atmosphere.

Local Guide
December 22, 2019

If you want to wait an hour for pizza burnt to a crisp and have nonexistent service, Ive got great news, youll love this place!

★★★
December 22, 2019

Food and drinks were well done but service is lacking.

★★★★★
December 22, 2019

Best service and delicious dishes!

December 22, 2019

Had a really unpleasant experience here in general, but lets focus on the food. The portions sizes were laughable - I got the veggie burger and it came on a big plate, half the plate was oversalted fries, three quarters of the other side was empty, with a tiny burger in the corner taking up maybe 1/8th of the plate. It was actually shocking when they brought it to the table. It looked like it belonged in a cocktail party or sampler platter. I also had to drown the fries in ketchup, which I dont even usually use, to balance out the excessive salt. The others I was eating felt the same. Service was only OK, would not go back. There are so many better options on Danforth.