Side by Side Kitchen & Cocktails

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#29 of 326 Restaurants in Tuscaloosa$$$$, French, American, Vegetarian friendly

+1 205-561-5500+ Add website

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Hours

Sun

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Mon

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Tue

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Wed

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Thu

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Fri

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Sat

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

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What is Travelers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Ratings and reviews

4.0

157 reviews

#29 of 326 Restaurants in Tuscaloosa

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Details

Someone from this business manages this listing.

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CUISINES

French, American, Southwestern, Bar

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly

Meals

Dinner, Drinks

features

Location and contact

2410 University Blvd Embassy Suites by Hilton Tuscaloosa Downtown, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401-1772

+1 205-561-5500

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Does this restaurant specialize in Southwestern style food?

Yes

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About

We offer southern creole comfort food with an enhanced flair. Relaxed elegant dining room with a large wrap around bar. Generous happy hour with outdoor seating with two patios available. We also offer private dining venues for groups of up to 50 people..

CUISINES

French, American, Southwestern, Bar

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly

Meals

Dinner, Drinks

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Free off-street parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service

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4.0

157 reviews

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Average

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brian h

1 contribution

Wonderful Experience

Mar 2021 • none

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.

Written March 11, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tracie1963

Natick219 contributions

Mediocre, but they do take reservations

Sep 2021 • couples

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.

Written September 26, 2021

T-Town Food Reviews

Tuscaloosa39 contributions

Decent Dining Option

Mar 2021 • none

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.

Written February 4, 2022

T H

1 contribution

Overcooked filet

Jan 2024 • friends

I dined at Side by Side last night and thought the menu looked great! I decided to order the 6 oz filet cooked medium. What I received looked like a 4 oz filet that was well done. Some of it was so charred that I couldn't cut it. I mentioned that it was overcooked to the waitress and she just said, "I'm sorry". I got the small, overcooked filet, 2 pieces of broccolini and mashed potatoes for $44. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. It won't happen again!

Written January 28, 2024

be400cpt

85 contributions

Surprisingly Good

Jan 2020 • none

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.

Written January 25, 2020

Candice B

Southside101 contributions

Wonderful atmosphere

Feb 2020 • none

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.

Written February 24, 2020

Chris H

Litchfield297 contributions

Looking for a drink

Aug 2022 • couples

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 🤷‍♂️

Written August 14, 2022

Niyah J

1 contribution

Thieves

Feb 2024 • couples

First off I wanna say that this is a beautiful restaurant! The service is terrible. The waiter never asked what I wanted to drink! He just gave us water! Our reservation were made for 8pm but we didn’t get sat until about 8:30/8:45. We waited a very long time for our food and we could see it sitting on the back counter and our waiter kept looking at it passing it by! Another waiter was bringing our food to the table. I’d like to think money was stolen from my card because my receipt said a whole other price then what was drafted from my account! I’ve called and been up there multiple times for a refund and to watch cameras but the “Manager” has no access to cameras. He also said he had no access to looking at the transactions from the night before! Which is crazy to me if you’re a “manager/ supervisor.” Luckily I work at a credit union so I know how to handle the situation! Charges will be pressed against them!!! Please watch your bank account when dining there!

Written March 6, 2024

kimmy b

New Brunswick32 contributions

A little let down

May 2021 • family

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.

Written May 25, 2021

Sarah H

1 contribution

Manager is a JERK

Dec 2020 • family

The manager at this restaurant, “Angel,” yelled at me and my children when there was live music. Will not be returning

Written December 14, 2020

J E

Mobile39 contributions

Limited menu, but everything we had was delicious

Aug 2020 • none

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

Written August 16, 2020

rfcann

Huntsville5 contributions

Here is a honest review of

Dec 2019 • none

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.

Written December 16, 2019

Abby Green

1 contribution

McDonald’s has better servers than this place!!

Nov 2019 • couples

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.

Written November 19, 2019

Klfrombama

Tuscaloosa66 contributions

Terrific lunch

Nov 2019 • none

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!

Written November 12, 2019

grits_are_good

Atlanta948 contributions

Well, they take reservations that’s about it

Oct 2019 • family

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.

Written October 25, 2019

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