-Service is always great 5/5. Don't have to ask tea to be refilled. Ambiance is good 5/5 Brisket sandwich 5/5 Sweet tea 5/5 spectacular Baked beans 5/5 Got a lil spice to em'. Fried pickles 4/5 A tad salty to me. Ribeye Sandwich 4/5 Queso Dip 4/5 Pork Sandwich 5/5 Bbq sauce 5/5 vinegary Tator Tots 5/5 Fries 3.9/5 read more

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Can get kind of loud indoors and there were a lot of bugs. Service was quick, but they seemed extremely busy and it felt a bit chaotic. The strawberry salad with lemon poppyseed dressing tasted very nice and refreshing. The fish was well cooked. Drinks were pretty good too. read more

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Going three stars on this place having been here twice to eat and I think it is WAY OVER PRICED for the quality and amount of food you get. First time we ordered the fried pickles and got a normal sized basket worth the $5 I paid, second time I got little over ¢50 worth for the $5. The brisket sandwich is very good and I can not recommend it more and that is the reason I am giving it three stars. In my opinion they are price gauging and charging way over a 3x and approaching 5 or 6x. Try it and you may or may not agree depending on how much disposable income you have. Update Last two visits have been so much better. Highly recommend the Spicy Chicken Sandwich and fries! The breading is spicy and so deep friend. Make sure yyoubAre hungry bc the chicken breast was huge. Seated outside under roof and it was very pleasant time to be outside.. staff as always was great. Only downside was they ran out of bbq but not a big deal bc the chicksand is ! read more

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Probably the best place in Sumter! The ambiance is so inviting and cozy. The staff is super friendly and attentive. The food was amazing! The wings are a must try! Smoked to perfection and the in house made sauces are delicious. They have a great bar to select from as well, with something for everyone! There is indoor and outdoor seating available but I highly recommend getting there at 5 to beat the crowd! This place is popular for a reason. read more

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Cute, rustic bar in the downtown area with great food choices! Excellent service too. Parking in the back! read more

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Nice casual unique decor with outdoor seating. Brisket smoked on site. Bradford Farms fried okra is the best I've ever had. Service is always great and staff is friendly. Very busy place so take your time and enjoy! read more

We popped in for lunch on our way to a long weekend away, and what a great idea! They have bbq, beer, burgers, and bourbon, the 4 main food groups of any good vacation! They are a busy place, so expect to wait or if you're lucky, like we were you can grab a seat at the bar! The bar has walls of top shelf liquor, nor just bourbon to pick from, and a nice list of cocktails. It took a while to get our food, but once you take a bite, the wait is immediately forgotten! I had the simple burger and the mustard bbq sauce, and husband had the brisket sandwich. Since neither came with a side, we also shared a side of fries. He had the mule, regular, but they do offer a few different flavors, and I had the ginger gin fizz,light and refreshing with a hint of ginger. This is definitely a place we will add to the When in town list! read more

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Amazing BBQ. Love the deviled eggs. Great place for a casual lunch outside. Pet friendly!

Much better than expected.. The barbecue was delicious.. It was a bar so kinda loud. But good and drinks were on point.

I'm from Charlotte but visit my hometown often, and my family and friends frequently support Sidebar. The food is always good, and we genuinely try to show love to local spots when we're in town. Unfortunately, one particular bartender consistently makes that difficult. Each time I visit, her approach is noticeably unprofessional. She is dismissive, unfriendly, and lacks basic customer service courtesy. What's most disappointing is observing how differently she interacts with other customers compared to how she engages with us. The contrast is hard to ignore. I don't like calling out people personally, but she is a full-figured redhead, and her attitude has been consistently unpleasant on multiple visits. I truly hoped it was just an off day at first, but after repeated experiences, it feels like a pattern. Customer service matters. A welcoming atmosphere matters. No one should feel uncomfortable or unwelcome when they're choosing to spend their money somewhere. This will likely be my last visit. I sincerely hope management addresses the issue, because Sidebar has potential -- but experiences like this make it hard to continue supporting the business. read more

This restaurant was a great suggestion for us while we were staying at the 1912 Bed & Breakfast around .5 miles away. It was a great suggestion! My husband and I both enjoyed our pimento BLTs, which were absolutely delicious. We both loved that the pimento was the star of the sandwich, with the bacon and Texas toast complimenting the star. Highly recommend! The fries were perfect, so this is just an all-around great dinner. Also highly recommend the spicy pineapple margarita, which was outstanding. I have high standards in a spicy pineapple margarita, and their margarita was perfect. What a great little spot! read more

Love the interior of the restaurant and the vibe is very lowkey and welcoming. There are some yummy cocktails so it was hard to choose. But I went with the Kentucky Waterfall, which was really good. I had the rib basket and my fiancé had the brisket sandwich. We both enjoyed our entree and the appetizer. The service was great. Our waiter was attentive and even helped us choose between our meal choices. When I'm in the area again, I definitely plan to go back. read more

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We had fabulous service at Sidebar! It was really busy at lunch so we know it's a popular hang out, our food and drinks were really good! read more

Sidebar On Main - Peach Margarita - Bars Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

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I had the shrimp, po'boy and it was excellent, the staff was more than accommodating. It was the first time that I went to this restaurant I tried sitting outside at first however it got too chilly and the waitress was so kind to move my seating to the inside. read more

This place is good! I went with my wife to check it out while we were in town for a wedding. I was in the mood for BBQ and showed up at brunch where there wasn't meat plates on the menu. I asked if I could just order some meat and they said they do that by the lb. I was in! They didn't have the ribs ready yet, but they had pulled pork and brisket. They were both great, with 2 different sauces on the side. Why they didn't get 5-stars: They serve brunch without coffee! They don't have any hot liquids. What? Also, we had the deviled eggs as an appetizer. The filling was delicious, nice and creamy but the eggs were a little tough for us. We're looking for something that is more delicate. The shrimp on the shrimp salad were really small and not cooked with any love. read more

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Great service! Entrance from the front and back. The back has more parking spots. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Cool location. Mannnn. I really wanted to love this place. And it does have a lot of good. The food all had good flavors. I'm accustomed to stuff asking how you want your hamburger cooked if it the normal is anything other than well done. It comes out medium. I also had the Mexican cream corn. Good flavor. Too much cream. And it tasted as though it is premade and placed in the ramekin and in the fridge. The temp was inconsistent and warm at best. Mostly just cold. I know the waitress would have taken it back. But I promise, I still had enough to eat. And they do offer a military discount! I do like supporting those that support the troops. read more

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The steak taco was $7 and it had a very thin slice of steak and some sauce on it . $7 is outrageous for that taco . The atmosphere was good . The Moscow Mule was good and price reasonably . I know inflation has hit but sidebar is overpriced . read more

This restaurant is always A++ This brisket sandwhich is probably the best I've ever had. The portion size has to be over a half a pound of delicious marbled with pink smoked rings tender and juicy brisket. I woke up the next morning still thinking about how good this sandwhich was. The service was great my food got out fast for a busy Friday night. All the waitress are nice friendly clean restaurant. Highly recommend. read more

Sidebar On Main - Brisket Sandwich with a side of coleslaw - Bars Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

Great food and service ! Enjoyed the food and atmosphere! Love downtown Sumter and the vibe read more

Love the food, atmosphere and good. I went on a Thursday night, I'll try on another day to check the vibes read more

Started my dinner with a watermelon lemon smash. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich added a lil pickle onion, enjoyed it with a side of fried okra hands down delicious! Also had the devil eggs, not sure if was too salty or had too much of a mustard taste but didn't work for me. Our server was very nice, made sure our food met our expectation, good customer service! read more

Sidebar On Main - Beef brisket sandwich on Texas toast side of pickle red onion and fried okra - Bars Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

We had some time to spend in the area during early dinner time. Based on other Yelp reviews, we picked this place. Initially we were seated outside, but it was hot, muggy and about to rain, and we asked to be seated indoors. This was our luck! Our waiter outdoors seemed out off by us, and indoors the tone changed. We had a friendly & attentive waitress. Beer was very good (Astronautsauce IPA & SOB1919), and we ordered Ribs and the Brisket Sandwich. Good was good as well. Good music playing in the background, nice ambiance and location in historic downtown Sumter. read more

Sidebar On Main - Ribs - Bars Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

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Very good! Cool space. Took a salad home with some bbq, great quality food! Coming back for sure. Thank you!

One of my favorite restaurants in South Carolina. It can be somewhat expensive for BBQ, but the quality is unmatched in the state. The service is solid and the atmosphere is relaxed. I'm from Texas and have no issues saying the brisket is on par with the best. Sumter is not close to our home in Columbia, but we'll make the hour drive to eat here. read more

Went for dinner and yuck! Ambiance: It's fine, nothing special about this place, clean and boring design. Food: Waaaaay over priced and pretty generic greasy food. Staff: Well out waitstaff was like 15 years old and clearly didn't know what she was doing and then forgot about us. Not good. I wouldn't go back here, no matter how few options there are in town, I'd skip this one. Gave 2 stars to be generous, and nothing was unclean or disgusting it was just blah. read more

Sidebar's pimento, bacon, cheeseburger is the best burger in South Carolina. Do yourself a favor and get one.

Best Brisket in SC. Have to go for Taco Tuesday! Even if you don't want BBQ they have awesome burgers, seafood, and salads.

This place is a gem. The service staff could be a little friendlier but the food makes up for it. We ordered the "Big Boy", and believe me, is big enough for two. We had the ribs and brisket with hush puppies, cole slaw and sweet potato fries. The ribs were amazing. Fell of the bones and super tasty. The brisket was tasty and tender too. The sweet potato fries were THE BEST I EVER HAD. The cole slaw was ok, it could use more flavor and color. The hush puppies were out of bounds. Overall, it was an awesome meal. Oh, almost forgot, the place is really nice inside too. A must go for BBQ if you are around Sumter. read more

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I stopped by for a relaxing lunch. The service was great and food was good. I enjoyed two pineapple mimosas, the mahi-mahi sandwich, fries and fried pickles. Everything was hot and fresh. Lets just say I took a nice long nap afterwards. There is outdoor seating available and all of the employees wear masks. read more

Sidebar On Main - Mimosa - Bars Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

They also have delicious taco Tuesday. I had the smoked brisket and ribeye tacos. It was flavorful and spicy. The Big Daddy combo plate is a lot of food. Sidebar have the best brisket. The baked bean are delicious. The blueberry margarita was yummy. read more

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Ok! So, SOM is the first restaurant we ever ate at in Sumter. The food is always hot, fresh, and delicious. I love that you can sit outside, breathe some fresh air, enjoy the flowers, and people watch. My most recent visit was our third trip. I was very disappointed in how the greeter / seater (lady with blue and green hair) treated our group. She spoke rudely and seemed just generally annoyed. Luckily our server was a different and much nicer lady -- very efficient and always checking on us. On top of that, the gentleman who collected our dirty dishes was the nicest person we interacted with the whole evening - big ole smile and just seemed ahoy to be there! My husband and I shared the brisket nachos (second time getting that) and the blue cheese salad with mahi mahi. Just as a warning: the "nachos" are more like a Mexican pizza -- thin, crispy flour tortilla circle with the cheese and toppings spread around. I had forgotten and was really looking forward not only to corn tortilla chips but also to piles of nacho toppings which is not what these are. Just FYI -- they're still tasty. The salad was TO DIE FOR and it's a salad so who says that? But that thing was delicious! I'll definitely order that one again. The toppings were all cool, crisp, and fresh and that mahi-mahi was cooked PERFECTLY. Definitely worth a visit, SOM showcases some of the SOB beers as well as a hefty selection of bourbons and other liquors to have meat or order in a unique cocktail. Cheers! read more

Sidebar On Main - The brisket nachos - Bars Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

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Great atmosphere with great service. The menu is ok for bar food. I would recommend for lunch

This place is a local treat. Owned by the same people that own Hampton's, rafters, and the brewery, Sidebar has its own vibe. Menu highlights (imo) include the strawberry spinach salad (that dressing is to die for), the brisket nacho pizza, and the sunrise burrito for Saturday brunch. I hear the burgers are good, too! They also have a delicious taco Tuesday, but show up early or be prepared to jockey for a seat! read more

When we arrived at the restaurant, it was half an hour before lunch was over and they were completely full inside. They were very accommodating and the service was excellent. We sat at a table outside in the heat and as soon as a table became available for us, they moved us inside where we enjoyed the AC. I loved my salad with a side of grilled mahi. It was delicious and I loved having bacon on my salad. The deviled eggs were good but a little bland. The fried oysters were delicious. The place has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. read more

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Had a wonderful fish sammy for lunch today, and I'm from Alaska! My friends had the smoked wings, pulled pork sandwich, brisket nachos, and chopped salad and all loved them too. One friend had the ribs and they looked amazing, but they said they were okay but nothing yo write home about today. We sat outside because it was an early lunch and it was a lovely day, so not much we can say about the indoor ambiance, but the street front patio seating was great! The service was awesome and our food and drinks were really quick. We'll definitely go back, and I would certainly recommend Sidebar to anyone looking for great food with a creative menu and flair. read more

Let me tell you...I was in town for a few days and was able to try Sidebar and was very impressed. The brisket was delicious and service was great. I will definitely be eating here more! read more

Such a cute atmosphere! We were able to snag some bar seats but the wait was a bit long otherwise so budget your time as it closes at 9. Drinks were perfect. The mahi sandwich was the best ever. Not fried fish but a huge piece of grilled, thick mahi. My husband really liked his brisket sandwich, and we are picky about our bbq. read more

First time in Sumter and decided to stop by for lunch! The layout is great but really have to give kudos to the interior design here. The wood/brick combo is warm and inviting. The wall of bourbon is one for the books and the close quarters promote dialogue and intimacy. The bathroom was clean and kept the charm of the restaurant. You see your favorites behind the bar and some gems. I ordered the brisket sandwich and fries and loved it! This was a big boy sammich! The fried okra was actually really good as I tried some of my dates. The beer tap seemed to be diverse. Walking out I didn't notice the patio was as spacious as it is. Great way to enjoy the weather. Overall, two thumbs up over here! read more

Sidebar On Main - Brisket and fries - Bars Near Me - Sumter, South Carolina

Great service and selection of food and beers. My waiter would look so much better with a killer mustache though...

Wednesday night in downtown Sumter and this place is hopping! Great atmosphere and server was great. Ordered the fried pickles and chopped wedge salad for apps. Good choice, both very good. Wings were on special, $1 off, very tasty. Not typical hot wing flavor, more smoked but yummy. Burger was inhaled before I got a taste! Beet salad delish! I must brag on the perfectly fried to perfection, okra!!!! Great evening meal. read more