SideBern's

02/13/2008 Posted by allsaint

Being from Chicago, I may have too high of a standard, but sideberns, which came highly recommended, is overrated. First, the staff seemed quite arrogant, from time of presentation to seating to ordering. The appetizer (foie gras) was expensive and rather poor quality although the reduction was pretty good. Ordering of a entree was a fiasco. My wife and I ordered, 10 minutes later the waiter came back to say they were out of the item, I ordered a different item, 10 minutes later the waiter came back stating that item was no longer available. The staff was rather unapolegetic and our waiter seemed to avoid us by walking the "long" way around. Wine by the glass selection was good. overall the food would be decent for a low-end restaurant but certainly not worth the high prices. Go to Ceviche instead for good food. If this restaurant was opened in chicago, it would last about 1 week.

Pros: location, wine selection

Cons: bad service, mediocre food, high prices

05/04/2007 Posted by bigfoodie

Sidebern's seems to me to be the kind of place that should be alot better than it actually is. The food is good and the service excellent, but I wasn't "wowed" like colleagues told me I would be. I was most disappointed in the dim sum. These appetizers/amuses bouches were a let down - tiny crab rangoons tasted more like crispy cream cheese more than anything else. I wondered what chef in their right mind would ruin high-quality Kumamoto oysters by frying them. The dinner menu is an interesting read, as you are bombarded with all sorts of exotic ingredients and combinations. Some of them just don't work. A powerful spice like fresh-ground cumin and chorizo sausage shouldn't go anywhere near rare ahi. I imagine the kitchen to be some sort of mad scientist's lab, but perhaps the culinary staff should go back to chemistry 101. Very good wine list, which also includes sake - a personal fave (a little more variety in that area would be a great idea). The server was very knowledgeable about every ingredient - these kids must have to study like they're taking the MCAT to work in a place like this. He was also attentative without being annoying or obtrusive - heavy kudos for that. Overall a decent dining experience, something worth doing again. My advice: If a dish sounds too complicated, then it probably is. You might be turned off by it. Stick with what you know, not what the restaurant wants you to.

Pros: Ingredients, Service, Wine List

Cons: Too much fusion = confusion

11/10/2006 Posted by twm01

Food was great, on the avant garde side, but that is a nice change once in a while. Portions are fine, not huge. Price is on the more expensive side, but nowhere near it's big brother, Bern's. Overall - recommended,

09/29/2006 Posted by spikester

Very disappointing in many ways. Food was lacking. My wife's duck breast was tough. My fish was under cooked. Service was very slow on Saturday night. We waited 90 minutes for our entrees. Waitress was average at best, but she did apologize many times for the delay. Decor is without style. And, it is loud...very loud....definitely not romantic and not fun. In addition, this place is unrealistically expensive. You could have an excellent dinner at a nice restaurant in DC or New York City for less money than what you will pay at this place. It is a pretentious little restaurant with high prices, poor service, and below average food. We had looked forward to having dinner here, but all four of us regretted our choice, and paid a lot of money for an unpleasant experience.

Pros: None

Cons: Poor and slow service. Below average food at very high prices. Pretentious place.

02/15/2006 Posted by asm775

Sidebern's is an amazing restaurant. The food is some of the best that my husband and I have ever had. After moving here from Midtown Atlanta, we have high standards and are quite difficult to please. This restaurant could do no wrong! The restaurant was easily wheelchair accessible and the staff didn't seem to notice my husband's disability but they were very attentive to his needs. Reservations are a must (and weeks in advance) and it's quite pricey, but I believe it's worth every penny. If you want to impress your wife or fiance, this is the place!

Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Atmosphere

02/06/2006 Posted by mariag124

This place is simply fabulous. My husband and I had martinis at the bar as we waited for the rest of our party and they were absolutely flawless. I can't tell you what a difference it makes to have a bartender that doesn't have to be walked through the process! Seating was a quick and pleasant since we made reservations, and I can't say enough about our server, Marc. Not only did he recommend exquisite dishes, but he was very knowledgable and helpful when it came to wine selection. From start to finish, all of the staff were pros and every aspect of our experience was just perfect. I would highly recommend Side Berns for out of towners who want to experience a unique and superb piece of Tampa, and of course, if you live here, go as often as you can afford. It won't disappoint.

Pros: Ambiance, Expert staff, Food & drink

Cons: Pricey

10/06/2005 Posted by hemtiwari

Wife & I were down for weekend from Boston. Called Friday for Sat reservations none avail. until 9:30 Told if I came at 6 wouldn't "have problem being seated." Arrived 6 "no tables available." Ate at the bar. Skeptical I'd find good asian-fusion in Tampa. Food & service was fantastic! Crab rangoon (crispy outside tender inside) & dim sum oysters for appetizer (wife loved both, particularly crab rangoon). Followed by lump crab salad. Crab was fresh, pairing with avocado was perfect. Dinner: rack of lamb & grouper. Lamb was tender, cooked & flavorful. Grouper a little salty but perfectly cooked (not overdone) as many places like to overcook fish. Desert: shared the chocolate cake. Drinks a little pricey, coming from Boston didn't notice the difference. Bar waiter(s) were attentive & friendly. Would recommend restaurant for anyone considering it. Next time in Tampa will call in advance to make a reservation.

Pros: Food, Service, Value

Cons: Noise level, Drink Prices

07/19/2004 Posted by nicole50

Having dined at SideBern's for many occasions I can say that it consistently lives up to it's fine well deserved reputation as a top notch restaurant with food that remains memorable long after the meal has ended.

Pros: Atmosphere, Eclectic Food, Location

07/07/2004 Posted by kemartin

After asking a very hip gay man what his favorite restaurant was, we took his advice and tried SideBerns. Our 26 year old son and his girlfriend were visiting from San Diego and we wanted them to see Tampa's finest. We were not disappointed. The food, service and style of this restaurant were top notch, LA, New York style. Not one disappointment with any of our meals and the service was superb. Drinks were great and the people watching was fun.

Pros: classy, sophisticated, chic

03/06/2004 Posted by skating11

Unbelievable! Tampa has so few restaurants that successfully blend high dining, ambience, and service and are actually worthy of the high price tags assigned. What a wonderful experience. The food is the best of fresh and innovative East meets West. Service is friendly, charming and when appropiate, invisible. I liked noticing that they worked as teams and didn't mind servicing other people's tables. One the best restaurants in Tampa I've found and will return to again and again. My only gripe is the insanely priced wine list. Very difficult to find anything under 50 dollars. Stick to the very good Spanish and Chilean wines which are good values at 30 dollars. All the other French, Italian and Californian wines are at least 50+, most of which are around 80 dollars. When the food is around 25-30 for entree, I can't see paying 80 dollars for a wine bottle as reasonable.

Pros: FOOD!!!!, Service, Ambiance