We found this nice little bar next to the Embassy suites hotel in Tuscaloosa. We were able to get a nice seat at the bar. The people watching was perfect. The only problem was they did not have enough help to get you a drink....We waited 10 minutes to be told that will be with you shortly. We left 🤷♂️More
We both ordered the mushroom carbonara. It included porcini and smoked gouda bechamel, Forrest mushrooms, cured bacon, and cavatappi pasta. Overall, this was an excellent pasta dish! However we would have liked to see a side of bread or a side salad included. Not pictured...(we couldn’t wait): we split a homemade strawberry cheesecake by their own @chefjkwarren ! It was rich, creamy and had a great soft crust! Go check out her work! Overall, we rate Side by Side a 5 out of 5! The food was great, the only downfall was no inclusion of bread or side salad.More
This is a relatively pricey restaurant for the area, so we expected good service and good food. We really wanted to sit outside and noted that on our reservation. There was nothing available when we arrived, and I asked if we could get a drink...and wait, but the hostess cut me off and said your table is ready now, pointing to a table. Fine. We sat. We ordered drinks and dinner. The waitress brought my husband the wrong meal. We nicely said i5 was not what he ordered, hoping she just grabbed the wrong plate. She apologized, and asked if he wanted it or wanted the original meal, which would take 15 minutes or so. Not wanting to sit there as ate, or let our food get cold while we waited for his, he took the dinner. He and my daughter both said their dinners were too salty to finish, and mine was mediocre. The fourth said his was ok. The manager came over, we said the server was pleasant but told her about the mix up, which she credited. I hate to have to ask! Another manager was running around w his mask on his chin. Not cool. So many local options, Side by Side needs to step up their game.More
Inside of the Embassy suites. I wanted to try the restaurant in the hotel. After a long day of touring the university I was tired and excited to try French/southern cuisine. I read the reviews on Yelp. The food was good however, when we asked...for bread, we were given a head shake “No”. The mushroom carbonara, fried okra and petit filet was good. The burger was not. It has a weird melted cheese on it. After seeing a menu in the lobby we inquired about an entree that was on it. We were promptly told “no, that’s not available “. I was in service for a decade, ask the chef before telling the customer no. So, honestly I can say the service was “eh”. I really don’t know if I will come back.More
For the last week I have been staying at the Embassy Suites Tuscaloosa which Side by Side is connected to. I have to say this is one of the best hotel restaurants I have had the pleasure dinning at. I travel for work and it’s...not always convenient to leave the property for dinner so having a location that provides great food consistently, the pork chop is the best, and remembers my name and what I like to drink makes the experience that much better. I give the entire team at Side by Side a big thank you for making me feel welcome every time I stopped in.More
The manager at this restaurant, “Angel,” yelled at me and my children when there was live music. Will not be returning
Rather a restaurant have few things that they do well, and they really did a good job. I'd recommend they add maybe 1-2 more entrees and 1 more appetizer
Very nice restaurant without a long wait. My son enjoyed the rabbit dish. I had the special of the night (redfish) with roasted vegetables. We also had a brussel sprout salad. Pianist on site who played beautifully. We really enjoyed the meal and it sure...beat the 2 hour wait time at DePalma's.More
First visit to this establishment. Although recommended by friends, was skeptical because most Embassy Suites restaurants are "cookie cutter" types. Was I wrong! Very nice decor, promptly seated and attended to by a very nice server (sorry didn't get name). Menu, although limited, would appeal...to most everyone. Generous martini, one of the best Caesar Salads I've had in a while (very chilled) and great main courses of grouper and salmon. Only minus was the autistics; slightly loud (live piano). Will return to try out the rest of the menu.More
Here is a honest review of my experience here. For graduation day at UA dec 14th 2019, my daughter in law schedule the private room for 6 people. This required us to limit our choices to three entries ( one seafood, chkn and beef). Overall...the food was good but not great. I like to believe I could have had a better choice if allowed to order off the main menu. Service was very good. Here was the major problem... upon checking out I see the Overall gratuity that was automatically applied. A 25% gratuity was added and charged without anybody telling me this would be applied. I understand automatic gratuity but typically those are between 18 and 20%. I went to the manager to explain I thought this was high and she got extremely mad and put out by my complaint. After she said” forget it... I will refund you the entire amount of the gratuity .. “ I said no that’s not what I want at all. I would rather over pay the gratuity than stiff my wait staff who took care of us. Regardless ... she kept ignoring me and working towards the refund. Finally I had to just leave and refuse to take the refund. First time ever I have had to deal with an “insulted “ manager about gratuity. I mean she was definitely aggressive with her attitude towards my complaint about the excessive gratuity. I was very nice in saying just let it go and We left without any additional comments. She didn’t say a word. Lesson learned here... never do the private party reservation with this place. Menu is extremely limited and the manager is very unprofessional.More
Worst experience ever. I wish I could give a separate rating just for the food because it was wonderful. However, the service was horrible. Our waitress completely ignored our requests. As a vegetarian I asked if I could just order a few sides. I was...told there is a vegetarian plate she can do for me. That is not at all what I asked for. She was rude and very unhelpful. When I ordered a salad as an appetizer and asked which dressing she recommended I was told it’s whatever I prefer. When I’m paying $15 for a appetizer salad and I ask the waitress opinion on dressings, I accept to be told a few options. When my vegetarian meal arrived, the cornbread that was promised with it was replaced by a side salad due to having bacon in it that night. Very annoying as I had just had a side salad for an appetizer. It would have been nice if the waitress would have come over before bringing out our meal to inform us of this, because my husband would have loved to eat the cornbread. The manager must have noticed our annoyances so she politely came over to ask us about our evening. After telling her of the issues, she apologized with no offerings to make up for the terrible service. Our waitress quickly brought the check without asking us if we wanted to look at a dessert menu and without asking if we want to box up our leftovers. Both of which we wanted. She was terrible at her job and made our 2 year anniversary dinner pathetic. We ended up waking over to Chuck’s for dessert and had a wonderful experience!! If you are trying to decide where to go tonight, skip side by side and hit up Chucks. Or better yet, just head over to Mcdonalds, you’re sure to have a better experience.More
Celebrated my birthday with lunch at Side by Side with two friends. Huge portions on on the Cobb Salad and Roasted Seasonal vegetables. My friend is raved about the tilapia. The warm chocolate souffle as my birthday treat was like diving into molten chocolate. So...yummy. The veggies were even great as left overs the next day. Logan was very attentive and helpful waiting on us. He even rearranged furniture to get our picture! Thoroughly enjoyable!More
Basically the best thing about this place is that they take reservations. Otherwise it is overpriced mediocre food. Our server was super nice but ordered second round of drinks when salads came and they did not arrive until more than half way through our meal....Over $150 before tip for 4 people, two of whom had salads as entrees. Four glasses of wine, no desserts, no apps. Really not sure how but ok. Would not return or recommend.More
Started the meal with a lovely heirloom tomato pie - basil cream on the side. The wine was a light perky white -2nd course was a shimmery spring time asparagus salad with frisée and pickled green strawberries. My favorite was the 63 degree egg on...top. All went together to please every single taste bud. Again the wine picked complimented it beautifully. 3rd course! A perfectly cooked grilled lamb sirloin. So delicious! And the couscous was combined with dates,feta, white raisins and almonds. Being GF I did not eat that but it looked amazing. The sorrel pesto resting underneath the lamb was delicious and perfect with the lamb. This was paired with a very good red wine. All the wines were Italian btw. Dessert was a gorgeous broiled classic poundcake. Again I had to pass on that but my husband who doesn’t eat desserts couldn’t resist and declared it very good. There were picked peaches and a delicious lemon creamer fraiche which I did enjoy. This restaurant is well worth the time and money. A bit pricier than average but the food is so far above average that it is worth it. The wine pairing dinner was a very good price. I would not hesitate to go to another!More
We usually go to Side by Side for drinks and apps but decided to eat here with our family, a party of 10. Not one of us had a good meal. My husbands short rib was brought out cold, my fish was crunchy, just an...overall terrible experience. I can’t believe Chris Hastings has his name associated with this restaurant. It’s a large, pretty restaurant but we will not be returning.More
