They are slipping on their takeout service. Food soggy and luke warm. It used to be better. At $23 for a prime rib sandwich, expectations are higher, but not met. read more

Yummy food..great service...great drinks! Highly recommend for date night..or just any occasion!

Loved this place next to Five Crown. They don't take reservations, but were really efficient. There were only 2 parties ahead of us when we arrived around 7pm on a Saturday night. Food and drinks were good. It's a small English pub good for parties of 2-4 patrons comfortably. The back room seemed more quiet for talking. We may ask for the front next time. It appeared more scenic with a fireplace and ?window. We got the Prime rib sandwich and Fish and Chips. Fries were great, but upgrade to prime rib chili fries if you want to indulge. You can also substitute with any of the sides like creamed spinach, etc. They didn't have the unicorn drink for the holidays. The gin based drink, Blitzen's Regret was good for the ladies. My husband enjoyed the old fashioned since it was strong and not sweet. You can really taste the orange flavor from the rind. Cozy and quaint restaurant with beautiful holiday decor during Christmas time. Don't forget to check out the carolers singing in the waiting room. It's on the way to the ladies restroom, located on the Five Crowns side. There is a valet parking lot across to the restaurant. We were lucky enough to have found street parking on pch. Street was not too full for prime dinner time on a Saturday. It was a short walk and very doable in boots ladies :) We will definitely come back since the menu changes often to try other dishes and drinks. read more

This place is fantastic. My review is overdue. Our friend Kat L. is the one who told us about SideDoor and her invite is the reason for my review. The service here is delightful. I enjoy it when the waiters and servers know the menu and are charming and helpful. At a place like this there is often wait time. How handy that SideDoor has a pub style bar that you can wait at and from which you can order drinks. This makes for a pleasant wait. The dinner is worth waiting for, in my opinion. Our plentiful order can be summarized as: Fish and Chips (excellent), meat and cheese plate (so good), macaroni and cheese (sumptuous, made with gorgonzola cheese), prime rib chili cheese fries (delicious) and various drinks (lemonade, water, Guinness). When you are being served by a waiter who is able to tell you about the menu items and expertly answer questions about the menu, it is fantastic. My description of our ample order might be missing some items; I really have to review restaurants quickly after I try them. I am looking forward to Tom T and Kat L's reviews on this restaurant - I know their reviews are going to shed more light on the entire experience. A message to my friend who accompanies me to some of the restaurants I Yelp including this one: please join Yelp soon! I want to read your reviews, especially on this one. I want to know what you think about the experience. In closing, I recommend this gastropub. They have valet parking for a reasonable price and street parking as well. read more

A Solid 4.5 Stars! Here's a list of all the dishes we shared Tapas style... Avocado Mash (RECOMMENDED!) Fish & Chips (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) Chicken Pot Pie (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) Chicken Strips (NOT RECOMMENDED!) Prime Rib Sandwich (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) Feta & Hummus Sandwich (RECOMMENDED!) La Quercia Prosciutto (RECOMMENDED, BUT IT IS SALTY!) Prime Rib Chili Cheese Fries (NOT RECOMMENDED!) Other Notes: Service was great--Our server was attentive without being annoying or interrupting us during our dining. The place was packed by 6pm, so if you want to avoid the wait, try for 5pm. Valet parking is only $4--not bad at all for CDM. Warning: If you are claustrophobic, this place is not for you! THANKS FOR READING! read more

SideDoor - Outside! - British Near Me - Corona del Mar, California

Cool lil pub in CdM. The boy brought me here for dinner one night, and I was rather impressed. It's a small hole-in-the-wall with dark lighting, and rustic decor. Parking was pretty easy on a weeknight, and the streets were surprisingly empty. The cheese, fruit, nut plate was pretty good, it was always nice to be able to choose 3 from a list. Mac and cheese was pretty tasty too even tho I'm not a big fan of carb dishes. Service was sweet, friendly, although a bit spotty at times. I do love the ambience of the restaurant. read more

5-Star fit and finish at a 3-Star price. SideDoor has become my go-to place for any and/or all occasions. Whether it be dinner with friends, gf, or business gatherings; It's a special place to share in the homey environment, the fun music (Mondays), the eclectic libations, and the comforting food. SideDoor is home..... I highly recommend to anyone reading this review who is interested in visiting SideDoor to go Monday nights for the one-man-footstomping-guitar-harmonica-singing-band. I believe his name is Corey. He provides that missing element of "liveliness" that SideDoor was lacking. He resembles a hipster Johny Depp from an English Sweeney Todd era singing Ziggy Stardust, Twist and Shout, Cat Stevens, etc.... A must see. New recent tastes: **Scallops** --Cumin infused mashed carrots and wild nettle pesto. Three scallops dusted in cumin and seared perfectly to create an english/indian menage a deux of harmonious flavors. **Brussels Sprouts w/ Chestnuts** --Steamed in brown butter. One of the best "non-fried" Brussels sprouts I've had. **La Quercia sandwich** --Prosciutto, Bufala Mozzarella, Pesto. The light creaminess of fresh mozzarella mixed with the saltiness of the prosciutto is amazing. Add a little herbiness of basil and you got yourself a winner. **Stuffed Prunes** --Feta stuffed wrapped in picante prosciutto. Good dish but too wedding horsdevours for me. Nothing new. Libations **Shipyard XXXX IPA** --Citrus nose with a hopy pine finish. Very good! In Summary, the entree/dishes/small plates which are a must get... Beet Salad, Scallops, La Quercia sandwich, Brussels Sprouts w/ Chestnuts, Fromage/Charcuterie station (Tete de Moine and any Cypress Grove goat cheese). Highly recommended! read more

SideDoor - Sooo Gooood! - British Near Me - Corona del Mar, California

Hidden behind the ubiquitous bling of 14 karat blondes, chromed-out Escalades, and Snookified spray tans is a REAL GEM of Orange County. Nestled amongst the flashy insincerity of nouveau riche aesthetics is a place that offers solid, down-to-earth, and hearty fare in a setting that is quite literally out of the pages of a Dickens novel. And that gem is SideDoor, a traditional English-style gastropub that has the potential to put that other cougar den of a gastropub in Corona del Mar to shame. At first blush, one might scratch one's head at the idea of opening such a novel eatery in the decidedly traditional Five Crowns, which Diana H. quite fittingly calls an "old school ... hot spot for the Bingo crowd." But then again, what better place to house a gastropub of English proportions than a house of English proportions? With its large wooden communal benches and upholstered high back chairs, not to mention the stone fireplace, it's just the kind of place to meet the lads (or the lasses) for a pint ... or three. Feeling a bit peckish, we ordered a few dishes, which our server Ben was so kind enough to pair with a craft beer sampler. Avocado Mash with Sesame Pita Chips: Simple and relatively unadorned, this appetizer was outstanding. The avocado was lightly seasoned with citrus and chives and the pita chips were house-made and fresh. Very nicely paired with The Bruery Hottenroth Berliner Weisse, a tart wheat beer that cut through some of the creamy richness of the avocado. Roast Beef Cuban with Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese: Not exactly traditional, but still very good. Thinly-sliced beef topped with a mildly-spiced cheese. This was paired with the AleSmith Nautical Nut Brown Ale, which by itself was excellent but really needed a spicier sandwich to offset the sweeter toffee notes in the ale. Prime Rib Chili Cheese Fries: The chili by itself is enough to make you sing "God Save the Queen," but the addition of fries certainly did not hurt. I would have preferred a crispier fry (see my review for Pink's) but the overall gestalt of this dish was very shovel worthy. Perfectly paired with the Lost Abbey Lost and Found Ale. SideDoor just may be my new favorite watering hole in South OC. The rich and the aimless can have the ersatz exoticism of AnQi and the unctuous douchebaggery of Hush, but give me the modesty and authenticity of SideDoor any day of the week. 4 1/2 STARS P.S. The entrance to SideDoor is actually on Poppy Avenue, which is the (you got it) side door to Five Crowns. Just look for the large red key hanging above the door. read more

SideDoor - British Near Me - Corona del Mar, California

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A fun spot, good drinks, quality beers on tap, good cheese selection. If you're looking for an after work or night time spot to hang out with your friends and grab some quality eats in CDM, then hit up SideDoor, which is the casual side of Five Crowns (both under Lawry's ownership). I have been here both at night and for brunch. Brunch = 3 Stars Happy Hour or Night Time = 4 Stars Recently I came for brunch (menu changes daily) and it didn't impress. It seemed hit or miss with flashes of good. Chicken and Waffles with Apple Butter - The fried chicken, partially deboned, was light and flaky with good seasoning. It's a good portion size with four pieces of chicken and four waffle triangles. The waffle triangles were the puzzling part. My friend kept saying, "It would be better if the waffle was crisp." I was thinking, she must love it hard and crusty because mine were perfect. We each got to our second pieces and she said the same thing. I swapped waffles with her. Hers was soggy and depressed without any crunch. Was it a big waffle that was cut into four pieces? Why was half soggy and half perfect crunchiness? Was that an interstellar transmission? Geico we may never know. As for the chicken, it was really good. Chicken Pot Pie - Light, flaky crust, not bready at all. Chicken and veggies were tender and immersed in vegetable stock gravy. The pot pie was good. If you prefer your chicken pot pies with a thick and creamy gravy, then this is not that type of chicken pot pie because the sauce isn't creamy at all. Potato Chips with Stilton and Prosciutto - This was a disappointing dish, thanks to my imagination getting the best of me. I imagined fresh fried potato chips tossed or sprinkled with Stilton Bleu Cheese and topped with shreds of crispy fried prosciutto. It was more like potato chip nachos. The chips were fresh cut and fresh fried, but it was overwhelmed by the melted bleu cheese that was smothering every dry chip, converting it to sogginess. Bleu cheese is pungent and more so when heated up. The good thing, if you see it that way, is that they didn't skimp on the cheese. But too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing. Gobs of bleu cheese dripping off every chip. Can you handle it? I couldn't. And the prosciutto? It was sprinkled on like very small bacon bits that wasn't eveny the equivalent of half a slice of prosciutto. Why ruin a good thing? Pan fry a piece of prosciutto to a thin crisp and serve it whole on top. Now that would have been something. As for portion size, this dish is huge. So brunch wasn't the best ever. But our server Benjamin was friendly and they do have a DJ spinning R&B and Pop on Sunday mornings which is a nice touch. Come for the beer. Come for the cheese. Come for the prime rib. But come at night, it's just better then. read more

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There is nothing I dislike about SideDoor except maybe the fact that it is so difficult to get a table on Fridays and Saturdays. The beers are awesome and the charcuterie platters are always unique and interesting. The food is very gastropub-y and offers up an array of choices that will please everyone. I love the avocado mash, their version of guacamole and also the Stilton cheese potato chips! To die for! Fish n chips is always a good choice, so is Prime Rib Plate. I always ask if I can get some of the Yorkshire pudding as a substitute for the fries. Always a good time! read more

This is my third time here... 'But my actual first time eating here, let me explain. 1st Time: Closed; opens @ 4pm (Arrived @ 2pm - Thank you for playing, try again...) 2nd Time: Arrived after 4pm; closed due to a private event ('Maybe it just wasn't in the cards.) 3rd Time: 08/31/14 Open & no private party! ("HOORAY! It's about f*k'n time!" HA!) 'And it was absolutely, completely, middle-of-the road... It was "okay."8| The gentleman that greeted us was friendly & cordial, he informed VH, (one of my SoCal co-foodies & adventurer), & I that there were two groups in ahead of us and it would be about 15 minutes... 'At which time he handed us a menu to look over. Perfect, it gave me time to cross reference the yelp* recommendations and strategize our order. The final decision mostly based on the yelp* recommendations: The Prime Rib Sandwich, Avocado Mash, and Prime Rib Chili Cheese Fries. We arrived around 7:15pm on a Sunday evening & the SideDoor was packed. The bar area was full, toned butt-to-flat gut with the beautiful people of Orange County. So, if there was any space, I would've pulled up a seat and joined 'em... ('After all, there needs to be a bit of ugly to balance things out.) The ladies in their gala, open-back dresses, 5" heels, the guys in their designer brand skinny jeans, and Toni & Guy haircuts... 'And me right there in the mix with my SPAM T-Shirt, Kirkland Jeans, and slippahs. (It was perfect!) After all, I'm here for the food, not to shoot an episode of "The Housewives of Orange County." Great, dinner & a show! The ambiance was great, it was as if you were transported to a small pub somewhere in the UK. The themed decor, low-lighting, moodiness, some real good stuff... However, the dim lighting seemed substantially lower @ certain tables which made going over the menu a bit challenging. (There was a table seated just behind us where I overheard similar comments in regard to seeing the menu.) 'Not a big deal, rather more of an annoyance really... 'Our waitress, Sarah N., was nice & the service, average. The clientele was as previously mentioned, "Fancy." I felt like the kid from public school walking into a private one... I was like the new kid. "Awesome!" Our Order: Mother's Lemonade ($13): "M'eh..."; tiny libation for the $; poor value Long Island Ice Tea ($10): Okay; standard Avocado Mash ($7): Very good; tasty Prime Rib Sandwich ($17): Okay Prime Rib Chili Cheese Fries ($11): "Eh..."; prime rib bits; poor value Total: $62.64 (Incl. tax) The Mother's Lemonade was laughable for the $13 price tag... 'A very, small, jelly jar, it looked more like an oversized shot glass. If you go, the Mother's Lemonade is very passable. Half of the sampler sized cup is filled with ice, giving you about 2-3 good sips then done. HAHA! Sh*t. 8/ 'For the money, the Long Island Ice Tea was a better value... The item that both VH and I really enjoyed was the Avocado Mash... It's SideDoor's take on guacamole. It was fresh, flavorful and very enjoyable... However, everything else was average. The Prime Rib Sandwich was alright, I've had better... 'But really Lawrys? The SideDoor shares the same kitchen as Five Crowns and this is supposed to be the sandwich everyone is talking about? Did we order the wrong one?...(Sigh) VH, who has eaten @ the Five Crowns a number of times said that she was somewhat disappointed as well, it was mediocre... 'Especially for the reputation Five Crown has. Disappointing. The Prime Rib Sandwich should've been the Holy Grail of the evening and not the guacamole. 8/ (Sigh) Oh well. The Prime Rib Chili Cheese Fries sounded good too... So, that was a must try as well. Again, just okay. I expected nice, generous chunks of prime rib... (Insert "buzzer" sound here.) I know bacon bits but prim rib bits?... 'Ugh. 8/ It had good flavor but the prime rib chili to fries ratio, fail. I was sooo' looking forward to trying the SideDoor, more so after two thwarted attempts... 'But it seemed to be more reputation/hype & ambiance rather than amazing food. The food wasn't horrible it was just okay... I just expected more thank just "alright." I may pop in and visit the SideDoor when I'm back in the area, sample a few more things, but maybe next time I'll dress up, leave the flip-flops @ home and wear my velcro strapped tennis shoes... 'Or maybe I should've just taken the universe's hint in my initial two, unsuccessful attempts @ eating here. (However, I'm not that bright.) 'And the 3rd time's a charm!... 'What a bunch of crap. 8) HAHA! Five Crowns: However on that note, I still need to make it over next door to Five Crowns, it's on "My List." Chuck Jones, Warner Bros. legend, animator/director & personal mentor, told me that he loved their meatloaf. (Chuck lived in Corona Del Mar & used to frequent the Five Crowns regularly.) So, I'll be back... 'And for all things, the meatloaf!! - Big Aloha! Food: 3+ (Avocado Mash!) Ambiance: 4 Service: 3 Value: 2+ (Mother's Lemonade: PASS) read more

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What a nightcap. If you're sick of bars with beat up stools with no back slats, then come here, and lounge away on comfy sofas and love seats, or a big round table with groove-for-the-butt seats if you're with a group. The cocktails? The beer? The tapas? The desserts? All first-class gastropub stuff. Mellow vibes. Chatting away. Not plastered but placid. Sinking in. I feel good. "SideDoor" is the attachment to "Five Crowns." I mean, "SideDoor" is supposed to be the lounge den of "Five Crowns." I dunno, "SideDoor," "Five Crowns," same difference. It's all good. Get together with three of your best friends, and find four others of the opposite sex at the room corner opposite you. #sincerity read more

SideDoor - Lemon Steam Cake - British Near Me - Corona del Mar, California

I've been to this place probably 10 times in the past two years, shamelessly consuming the fruits of their labor without bothering to make an account and review them. SideDoor is a cozy little gastropub with a dozy ambiance. It's a sister restaurant to Five Crowns but the patrons are generally much younger. The main seating room is called the "Shakespeare Room" and has a tiny fireplace in the back along with walls adorned with caricatures, portraits, etc. The bar is the type of setup that ultimately I'd want my in-home bar to look like...if I had the dough to ever build such a thing..well I can dream. Even though SideDoor is the restaurant/pub equivalent of kicking down a wall to your house and adding another room, it still manages to feel fairly spacious. I've never had to wait an appreciably long time here even on weekends, and you can (gasp!) actually hear your friends speak. If you're looking for a party, don't come here. You won't see anyone carrying around pitchers of Jack D. and coke or dropping terrible pickup lines. On any given day they'll have 12 beers on tap. The only beer on tap that's available every day is Old Speckled Hen. They change the menu every day for drinks. They'll offer about half a dozen specialty cocktails every day as well, and a wider selection of limited availability bottled beers (usually another dozen or so in addition to what's on tap). The beer selection tends to bias towards more hoppy and stout beers. The food menu also changes daily. They design the menu primarily with small plates, sides, and delectable foods to share with others in your ingesting and imbibing. When you order food, each plate will come out as its ready, so if you want to design your meal in courses so to speak, it's fairly easy to do so. If you aren't one to share, don't expect everyone to get their food at once. Of the things that are consistent, make sure to try the prime rib chili, prime rib sandwich (SideDoor is owned by Lawry's, so this is a staple), beef fat fries (seriously though, I think I'd eat about anything fried in animal fat, I don't know if I can go back after this and duck fat fries), avocado mash, and fish and chips. Any new diner also absolutely must get a cheese and charcuterie plate. SideDoor offers a selection of 5 different cured meats (usually 3 prosciutto style and 2 salami style meats), and 10-12 or so cheeses (usually 5 cow, then the remainder some combination of goat, sheep, and bleu cheese). I myself only vaguely know what I like in cheese and charcuterie, but just ask their servers and give them some general idea of what you like (spreadable/soft cheeses, sharper, etc.) and they'll take care of it. Whenever they have the rosette de lyon salami definitely try that though, it's a cured pork sausage with a little bit of spicy kick to it. Other random advice: - They have valet parking if you're one for convenience. It's $4. If you're not in a hurry though, I'd recommend just driving up side streets and walking. Street parking in Corona del Mar isn't the frustrating adventure it is in other beach cities. - Individual items on the menu aren't really super pricey ($5 to $15). You can rack up a major bill really fast if you're like me though, because I like little tasty plates and this place feeds my habits like an unabashed junkie. I once came here and participated in a bill of $200 for three people (admittedly there was a lot of drinking involved in this)...you've been warned! read more

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A couple of years ago, the Five Crowns lounge went through a makeover and became a standalone gastropub called the Sidedoor. Although you can pass through the main lobby of the Five Crowns, enter from the "side" to get the full effect of entering an English pub greeted by any of the congenial staff. I had openly wondered if my friends and I were making a mistake foregoing our dinner reservations on the other side in the Lawry's linen-draped dining room and accepting an open table in the back of the more casual (and reading between the lines cheaper) gastropub, but my concerns were mostly unfounded as I had heard good things about this side... If I had gone to Five Crowns, I would have undoubtedly ordered a cut of the Prime Rib. Not to be left out, the Sidedoor offers a dish called the Prime RIb Plate. The 8oz cut is actually slightly larger than the Cal cut offered next door and you still get a choice of one of the sides that is normally offered. I have to say that the mashed potatoes and gravy would be a splendid choice. My medium rare cut was color temperature perfect and tender, the outer ribeye crown was just so delicious. I finished everything on my plate and still could have had a second helping, that's how good it was. Offering it at a discounted price was just the proverbial gravy. Huzzah!... The Jidori Chicken Pot Pie had a wonderful rustic looking crust that was well browned and flaky. The meat was pulled or shredded as opposed to being cubed which gave it a more rustic texture. The gravy was only a little thinner than I preferred but along with the peas and other vegetables had a fresh vibrancy to them as opposed to tasting like they were overcooked. Most commercial Marie Calandars pot pies are creamier but also saltier by comparison... I thought the sides and appetizers were just ok. They weren't flawed, it's just that they didn't have very much oompf to them either. The Avocado Mash looked wonderful but the pita was a little thick and hard, picking up the avocado wasn't easy as the mash didn't seem to want to adhere to the pita very easily and wound up be pushed around on the plate. I was excited to try the Tempura Squash Blossoms because they're usually more seasonal, but they wound up being a little flat as I didn't think the tempura batter was very airy at all, instead of being full of crispy texture, the coating would be smooth and would have a more greasy coating. I'm not usually a fan of sweet potatoes or yams so I wasn't drawn to them when we ordered them. I could just tell that the rest of the group wasn't attacking them with very much fervor... Something unusual during the whole dining experience was that we got the prime rib plates first before the appetizers which also had the effect of throwing everything a little off. The Lemon Steam Cake we shared for dessert at the end was enjoyed by all however and helped to end the meal on a bright note... I wouldn't say that the experience was bad; on the contrary, I wholeheartedly enjoyed my prime rib plate and our waitress was doing a great job all night. I guess I might have only been in the mood for just the one item on this particular evening. I would say that the menu is interesting enough that I wouldn't mind coming back to try the other items, the charcuterie and cheese for example and the cheeseburger around me seemed enticing enough that they might lure me back for another try, perhaps for lunch instead... read more

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Service at SideDoor was atrocious. There was no shortage of staff. They were all incompetent. The hostess was rude, unprofessional, and blatantly lied to our party of four. She gave preferential treatment to others who arrived after us and made us wait excessively for our table. Waiter service was equally bad. The waiter didn't pay attention to us and we had to constantly ask for drink refills. read more

SideDoor - British Near Me - Corona del Mar, California

I have had SideDoor bookmarked for years. Literally. I just never got around to forcing myself to drive all the way to Corona Del Mar to go to a British pub. Given, it's not like I'd be traveling to England but it's still pretty freaking far. Fortunately, SideDoor was quite a find. A cozy pub sans overly obnoxious drunks and questionable sanitation levels? Ah yes, it was something reallll special. Entering through the fairly secluded "sidedoor" of the pub led the bf and I through a narrow hallway. First image in sight was the bar which immediately followed by the charcuterie and cheese station. The smiling hostess instantly welcomes us and gave us the estimated wait time for that Saturday evening: 25 minutes. Not fully recovered from our foodie adventures from earlier that day, we had no problem waiting. I must say, the hostess was really on top of things. Consistently keeping us posted on what was happening with tables opening up and where we are on the list. We ended up waiting a few minutes longer due to the high level of campers that night but being well-informed really helped the process. Once we were led to our table, the hostess informed us that they would be comping any appetizer or side of our choice as a way of making it up to us for the longer wait. WOW, we really only waited a few minutes longer and were not upset at all but this just shows how great their service was. Our server was great as well. He made many many suggestions and knew the menu well (although it changes daily). Refills and check-ups were done promptly and there was a good steady flow of teamwork that is clearly displayed through the employees. We began with the Chef's Plate: A choice of 3 items from the listed cheeses and meats. Our plate included the Mimolette L'Echiquier, Prosciutto Di Parma, & some type of Salami.. I forget the name. Honestly, I have had my share of eats but the only verbage I understood on the cheese/charcuterie menu was prosciutto. Our server really guided me through the rest. Anyhow, the chef's plate also included slices of bread, walnuts, jam, mustard, and balsamic. Let me tell you, there are very few things in this world that can make me as happy as this board of cheesy, meaty goodness. We also had the StilCheddar Mac & Cheese that was perfectly done with a nice crust on top and filled with a great consistency. The prime rib dip was AWESOME. The carnivorous bf could not have enough of it. I personally don't like any steak cooked under m/w but I must confess, I inhaled my half of this medrare sandwich. Although, the horseradish could've been stronger. Then, for the finale, there was no skipping out on a Panna Cotta as that would be criminal. The panna cotta was done well although I could've done without the passion fruit seeds (very bitter). Let me just say it: I LOOOOOOOVE SIDEDOOR! LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. From the warm, inviting, and unique british pub feel to the wonderful staff and the quality dishes.. 5 stars hands down!! read more

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#85 on OC Weekly bloggers 100 Fave Dishes: BEEF FAT FRIES! It just so happened that it was Game 7 and SideDoor was a perfect place to grub and watch the game. Me and Marcus L. ordered the Beef Fat Fries, Prime Rib Chili, Veal Schnitzel, a tomato/feta sandwich, and the Summer Pudding. Beef Fat Fries are apparently fried in leftover prime rib drippings. The flavor on these babies are wonderful. Mmm. The aioli accompaniment was another layer of fatty goodness. Prime rib chili was yummy. Tender meat, just the right amount of spices. Veal schnitzel was sooo good! The bread was hard but the meat was so tender and perfectly fried. The grain mustard they pair with it is great. Tomato sammie was yummy. Feta gave it the right amount of saltiness. Finished up the meal and Game 7 with the summer pudding. It was like a piece of bread that enveloped berries. It was good but not that great. Overall, a great spot for food. The crowd is on the older side so don't come here to snag a hottie. Unless you like that.....I don't judge :P read more

After a Saturday hike in Crystal Cove with the guys, my starving friends and I decided to skip the wait at the Beachcomber and head up the coast to the SideDoor before one of us passed out from hunger. It was perfect because we came right when the SideDoor opened so there was no wait at all. That being said though, I don't know if I would want to wait an hour to be seated here during a dinner rush hour. I keep hearing that this place feels very "English", and it ambience really does feel like that. It feels really cozy and intimate: some of the tables and seats were really close together so I don't know how ideal this place would be for a large group, but it's perfect for a small group or a date. We got an order of shishito peppers (hmm...random little Japanese addition) to share which was pretty tasty. Sandwiches and burger is also really good. And they have an excellent wine and beer selection. Variety is always good! read more

I arrived home from work expecting the boyfriend to ask me where I'd like to go out to eat, since I'm the foodie/Yelp-a-holic in the relationship. Much to the contrary, he was sitting on the couch with a cat-who-ate-the-canary smirk on his face. "What did you do." I stated more than asked. "I picked a restaurant for us" He declared proudly. "open your Yelp! I bet you don't have it bookmarked!" I wish I hadn't had SideDoor bookmarked (psh, of course I did) because he was SO excited thinking he found me a foodie gem all on his own. Precious boy. I'm sure he saw the words "Prime Rib Fries" and made his decision immediately, ha! If my bud Aaron E. gives a place five stars I know it's legit with a capital "L" so we headed out to Corona del Mar. Parking was a breeze in the lot adjacent, $4 valet required. It was refreshing not to be price gouged at this point. It seems as though Five Crowns and SideDoor are popular enough to command whatever they want to charge for parking, especially with such limited street parking. The place is pretty small and being a Saturday night around 7:30, it was PACKED. The roaming hostess took our names and quoted a 45 minute wait. It might have been 30 minutes and we were seated. The menu isn't huge, but has a few solid options in each category. Of course the boyfriend immediately jumps on the Prime Rib Fries appetizer. This was a case of expectation exceeding what was delivered...they were good, but after reading Aaron E's review of them I expected heaven on a plate. 4/5, they were missing seasoning. We decided to split the Prime Rib French Dip sandwich, but before we ordered that, I wrestled with the should-I or shouldn't-I on the French Onion soup. I didn't want a whole bowl, which would have filled me up too much, but it was the only option given on the menu. I asked the server (who shall remain nameless and genderless to protect our little secret) if they could possibly do a cup of French Onion. Said server returned a few minutes later with a coffee cup, a wink and a "eat it quick". I wasn't even looking for a freebie but BONUS! And let me tell you, that little coffee cup of stealth French Onion was DELICIOUS. I can't wait to drown in a whole bowl of it my next visit. I will preface my next item by saying I wasn't sure I would ever fall out of love with the Prime Rib French dip sandwich at White Chocolate Grill (Naperville, IL). SideDoor, you may have toppled the pedestal that WCG's sandwich has been perched on for years. The French Dip we shared was delectable. Pillow-soft French bread, melt-in-your-mouth shaved beef (perfect med-rare) and spicy horseradish cream. It's the stuff dreams are made of. Overall the experience was a 4.5 out of 5...but I never round up on a fifth star ;) I'll look forward to another visit and maybe they'll earn the extra half. read more

SideDoor - Prime rib fries! - British Near Me - Corona del Mar, California

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I want to eat here everyday. I want to move in to the cheese station. I want lay out on apple slices and swim in the orange/fig marmalade they serve along side the delicious cheese choices. I have never been so overwhelmed with delicious sounding menu choices. I wanted so many things it was very difficult to narrow things down to these choices... -3 cheese plate -mac n cheese -beef fat fries -prime rib sandwich -chicken pot pie -chocolate peanut butter cupcake And I mean it when I say this....everything was really tasty. I think I would fore-go the prime rib sandwich and fries next time just to be more adventurous. I really, really like the Side Door. The whole restaurant screams cozy and casual. I felt like I had a long lost British family that was inviting me to beers and a bite to eat. I am just a lil obsessed with them. And my best friend, Lisa and boyfriend were just as impressed. I had to tell my boyfriend to stop talking about it, I don't want everyone to know our secret place. Needless to say I cannot wait to go back. read more

i heard good things about this place... however it kinda feel short of my expectations. since i recently broke out of my AA meeting, i had to get my drink on. so i ordered a glass of moylans tipperary for about $5. it was an excellent beer... (thank you server for recommending it to me) we also got the Crispy rock shrimp as our appetizer... when it came out, it looked like something i could have gone home and cooked in my microwave. it was puny and not too great. however, the Chicken fried steak made up for it... i don't remember the details, since this review has been siting in my queue for the past 6 months, but i know it was good. they have a separate parking lot that might require $$ to park at, but when i went it was completely free. the interior decor reminded me of abe Lincoln cabin.. it has a rustic feeling to it. my friend ended up getting the Short rib, i think both the fried steak and the short ribs were excellent choices. i may come back to sip on more beer and talk politics. ok, i lie, i don't know anything about politics. i'd just vote for the man or women who would and could lower my taxes. read more

Entering SideDoor feels a lot like a speakeasy. It has an underground, secret society feel. Arrive early on a weekend to avoid the crowds. We ordered a cheese plate which was nicely appointed with bread and honey to accompany the 3 selections. The waiter was very knowledgeable on all matters of cheese. The Brussels sprouts were good but the portion was tiny for the price so skip these ubiquitous morsels. The beef fat fries were just OK but the garlic aoili made them soar. The standout for me was the chicken pot pie. Flaky crust with a thin, soup-like filling chock full of chicken, peas, carrots. Dessert was vanilla ice cream with hot fudge and peanuts though the hot fudge was more chocolate syrup like. Great meal but heavy on the waistline. read more

Located on the corner of PCH and Hazel. You can't miss it, it's a cute little cottage with red telephone booths located on the outside. I came here for dinner with some friends. We ordered the SideDoor Avocado Mash, the SideDoor Burger, the Prime Rib Chili Cheese Fries and a cheese plate (3 cheeses). First off, the SideDoor Avocado smash was so good. It came with fried pita chips too! The avocado or I guess, guacamole? was pretty tasty. Salty and lots of lime flavor. The SideDoor Burger was HUGE! It's made out of Kobe beef and it came with manchego cheese, bacon, and russian dressing. I ordered it medium rare and it was just perfect. Super flavorful and juicy. I didn't care for the Prime Rib Chili Cheese Fries. The chili overpowered the prime rib. I definitely recommend ordering a cheese plate. There's an option of ordering a plate of 3 types or 5 types of cheese. It came with a side of bread and when you finish, feel free to ask for more. It was SOOOO GOOOOOOOD. Wow and the servers are amazing here! We wanted directions to the nearest grocery store and our server generously took her time to write out directions for me and my friends. The ambiance here is very intimate. It's a pub but a lot of the guests were couples so it gave a very romantic setting. The seating arrangements are also really cool. There are areas with mini coffee tables that I guess parties can enjoy if they are looking for just wine and cheese and the company of others. For the most part, decor here is really adorable and the restaurant is dimly lit. Very high end gastropub that I have ever been to. read more

SideDoor - Cheese and Avocado with pita chips - British Near Me - Corona del Mar, California

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I love the decor and environment, do make reservations!!! Small place. We ordered: Salami and cheese plate - they asked what we prefer and if we wanted a strong cheese or meat. Salmon tartare - nothing specials Chicken pot pie - great pastry top, but I wasn't a fan of the cream sauce Prime rib fries -pretty good! You should try this House chips Prime rib sandwich - NOT a fan. Heard a lot about this but it's literally just a prime rib in baguette .... Nothing special Mac and cheese - nothing special also To be honest I was disappointed with the food. But our server was amazing!! Thanks Michelle! She was very informative and took care of us well. read more

Service: (5/5) The waitresses were quick to seat us and even went out of the way to move our table because ours was too low. They were very kind and generous. The Asian waitress is great! Food/cocktails: (5/5) Mac and cheese: (5/5) The best I've ever had. The pasta wasn't the ugly elbow macaronis, but nice spirals. The cheese is plentiful and just... it's great. Chicken Pot Pie: (4/5) The crust is made of puff pastry, so it's very flaky, buttery, and tasty. The innards were tasty as well, the only thing was that the chicken was all trapped in the corner... so I didn't find any chicken until halfway through, but honestly, I didn't really care. Prof. Plum cocktail: (5/5) Served in an adorable jar container! The presentation was great and it really packed a punch. This is a good drink for those who want something sweeter. Environment: (5/5) Adorable!! The place is filled with lots of wooden chairs and tables that were all different from one another. A real "movie like" feel. The only thing is that some tables are uncomfortably short to eat from. read more

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Pliny the Elder on tap. French dip was ok, not spectacular. I think I will try the cheese plate if we go back. Prime rib is their thing, but not mine. The broccolini was good. Great ambiance with fire place. read more

Service spotty 8:30 on a weekday... took more than 10 minutes to even acknowledge were there and then find us some paper menus (selections change weekly or more often). Each request, including water, was like I needed a translator, and then the dance at the end of the night to try to get the check was unnecessary. She kept saying she didn't know certain things and apologizing and she'd ask someone else, but honestly this mostly even stuff we cared about. I saw other patrons by the entrance waiting uncomfortably for someone to come back when we sat down, which should have been a sign. When you walk in there are a few normal sized tables for 4, a few kiddie size lounge tables, a full sized bar, and 2 bar tables. Then the chef's station across from the end of the bar so they don't have to go to the kitchen for quick menu items. It's sort of English pub lounge chic, minus most of the chic. If you've been to Five Crowns you've gotten the full country cottage prime rib setting, this is not much different just dressed down. There's also a back room with more normal sized tables and a couple of larger ones for groups. This is probably the best seating area. The full wine and cheese board was delicious, you choose 2 meats and 3 cheeses, and also comes with the usual bread and a little smattering of nuts, mustards, jam, etc. I think it was $26 but most of the portions besides the bread (had to ask for more... hello it's a FULL board not the little 3 cheese one, and we're starving after waiting forevah) were A-OK. As far as the rest of the menu didn't try much else, I'm sure most dishes are tasty but everything on the menu that wasn't french fries with aioli ($4) was slightly overpriced. If it had an ocean view, maybe. Food was tasty overall and had lots of comfort options. Beer and wine are a step up from a normal pub but you also have to be careful because the prices are extremely upscale. Still, found something to drink without completely breaking the bank but this isn't exactly a white table, white glove experience. It's a pub with a food menu. You can get a less pricey glass of tasty red or white just about anywhere else, including Flemings or Paul Martin. And I still love 5 Crowns just didn't manage to love this concept. Including the 2 TV's showing old black and white movies with the sound off, and the slow 80's UK pop music.... I'm an 80's fan and still was feeling depressed, All in all the check came to $56 with tip for 1 1/2 drinks (I purposely ordered half a glass of wine as driver), meat and cheese plate, thin cut french fries, and tip. Bit too much for what we had honestly. Place is almost 3 $'s. There's a lot of comfort food around with a better atmosphere, view, and/or service that will also serve you a decent drink. But if it floats your boat... read more

This is one of the best gastropubs I have been to. I went with a group of about 20, which they graciously worked with. They gave us separate checks which was really wonderful. The food was outstanding. The roasted beet salad had lots of flavor with cheese, pomegranates and nuts. I think a good third of the group ordered it after seeing it. I also ordered the sea scallops - well done with unique sides. The dishes were really creative, not at all greasy, and everything tasted fresh. Nice beer selection and the waiter was really willing to suggest ones which coordinated with your food selection and taste. read more

SideDoor - Sea Scallops - British Near Me - Corona del Mar, California

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I love this place. Period. I want to come here every Sunday and sit at the end of the bar and enjoy delicious food and great beers and chit chat with all the staff. They make you feel at home here. The Prime Rib Chili Cheese Fries hit the spot and were huge this time. The fiance and I had no problem finishing them off. The fries are not greasy, just crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The chili is out of this world and is begging to be put on an Angus Beef hot dog. YUM! We opted for the brunch menu this time and we were not disappointed. What better to go with my Old Speckled Hen than a Leek and Potato Frittata with a goat cheese sauce. The frittata had such great flavor and not too overdone. I am not a fan of goat cheese, but this sauce was so creamy and smooth and not too goat cheesy strong. I had to smear every bite with more sauce. Fiance got the Buttermilk Wafle with Pecan Butter and Tangerine Syrup. Delish! I don't normally put butter on my waffles, but this butter tasted like Pecan Praline ice cream, so I had to smear my bite with it. The waffle was cooked perfectly and the syrup just pulled it all together. The awesome bartender Noah has left the building and moved on and we had Michelle as our fabulous Bartender on Sunday. She is just as knowledable and made you feel like you have known her forever. She recommended a beer flight for the Fiance and I think he fell in love with her since everything she picked was right up his alley. I am a Side Door fan! read more

SideDoor - Prime Rib Chili Cheese Fries... a must have! - British Near Me - Corona del Mar, California

When I can drink a beer right next to a cheesemaking station, it makes my experience that much more pleasant. One of my clients and I came here for drinks and dinner. We showed up separately and I was greeted by the super friendly maitre d. I chose a seat right next to the girl who was making all the cheese and charcuterie plates. My client and I were like, we need one of those (contraptions that makes carnation-like cheese flowers). We started with a couple pints of the North Coast Acme Pale Ale as well as the Side Door Sampler. Our choices of 5 items on the sampler included a Tete de Moine cow cheese from Switzerland, Manchego Artisano sheep cheese from Spain, and Coach Farm Triple from New York. My client chose the Jamon Serrano from Spain as well as the Cacciatorini, Salumeria Biellese from New Jersey. Of all this I loved the Tete de Moine cheese, which was served with a lavender honey, and the Cacciatorini which was both sweet and spicy to me. With the raisin bread, it was fantastico. We then ordered a couple bowls of the Mushroom Bisque...very yummy, followed by the Prime Rib Chili Fries and the Curry Roasted Beets with Cara Cara Oranges with Chevre. We weren't so impressed by the fries...they were so so, but we loved the beets. And I don't eat beets but with the oranges and chevre, they were surprisingly very tasty. We ended our meal with a Chambord and Chocolate Mousse Parfait, Farmer's German Apple Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream, and a couple snifters of the B & B I noticed tucked behind the bar. This was a great call for an after work dinner on a week night. The place feels homey and relaxing. The prices of the menu items are right on with their value. There's a variety of seating you can choose if you can get it...by the fire, high up, or on the bar. In my venturing out in to the O.C., I might have found a must-go-to. read more

My favorite restaurant for an intimate dinner with delicious drinks and food. The prime rib sandwich is so freaking good-get a side of real horseradish to give it an extra kick of flavor. Also the charcuterie boards are so unique and tasty. Can't say enough good things about this place. read more

Amazing spot for cocktails or a filling prime rib dinner. My husband and I wandered in on our anniversary and were so pleasantly surprised. The ambiance is cozy and the food, so great. They specialize in custom charcuterie and prime rib, so what's not to love? Finally a special shout out to our server, Jack. He was welcoming, knowledgeable, and attentive. We will be back for sure! Thanks for making our anniversary so special. read more

I came on a Friday night and it was really packed! The place is also very small and not too well-ventilated so having to wait around for 45 minutes was a bit of a challenge- we were always in the way of some server. From what I can remember: - Beers: $6-$12 - Wine: $9-$18 and up *beers and wines have an option of ordering in flights with 2oz. glasses - Cocktails: $10 (sangria) and up The booths were all reserved so the three of us ended up sitting at a small side table. Because our table was so small, we couldn't do our full order and only had enough space for our charcuterie board and the Prime Rib Chili Cheese fries. However, despite the hectic environment, the servers were still fairly attentive and our orders came in a timely manner. Definitely does not compare to Bachi Burger's Oxtail Chili Cheese fries but I did thoroughly enjoy these! The fries were perfectly crispy and there was a decent amount of Prime Rib. I'm not sure if I would necessarily come here for a full relaxing sit-down dinner. I was much rather impressed by the charcuterie board! My friends and I split the 5-option one and got three meats and two cheeses. They were all great quality with rich flavor and I loved the accompanying black currant jelly and classic apricot marmalade. The mustard seeds also added a great tangy flavor to the cheeses and it went great with red wine. It's definitely on the more pricey side but the food was overall very good. Next time I come I definitely want to try the chicken pot pie or the Prime Rib Sandwich! read more

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The food was great! We got complimentary champagne for our anniversary. Service was helpful and fast. And and, the carrot sauce on top of the lamb was just SO GOOD (highlight of the night!!) read more

Was a really great place to eat at. Part of five crowns but a more relaxed atmosphere. Took the family out with teens and they all enjoyed the dinner and the desserts were very good as well. We will definitely be coming back again. read more

Had a wait for a restuarant across the street and slid in here for a couple of cocktails. Sat at the bar and met Jason the bartender. Preserved a Stone Hazy since my only problem is they call themselves a British Pub. But how in the world do you give yourself that title if you don't carry Bass Ale to make a proper British Black and Tan? However, one taste of their house old fashion and all was quickly forgiven. Loves the vibe and all was good. Thanks Jason for being a overall nice guy and letting me enjoy an hour escape from reality read more

My favorite. The kind of place you want to linger with friends, drinking and talking and grazing on delicious food. The vibe is steakhouse + British pub + craft cocktails. This is the more relaxed half of the restaurant, with eclectic seating in cozy groupings, and it feels like being in the kitchen of some British lord's country estate. The food is delicious, with both classic pub comfort food and steakhouse dishes (the whole menu is available), but also modern sensibility & twists. Amazing cocktails. read more

Simply put: quaint. This place may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's definitely a recommended "must-try" at least once. It was sure a pleasant surprise for me when I first discovered this place a while back. Brownie Point #1: SideDoor is literally down the street (Poppy Street) from one of my favorite beaches in the entire world; literally. Brownie Point#2: As far as gastropubs go, this is by far one of the most all-around delicious and comfortable pubs to be in, in the entire Southern California region. Not only are the food and drinks delicious beyond contestation, but the ambiance is akin to a trendy, but homely establishment. Brownie Point#3: As mentioned before, the food is delicious. I'd be hard-pressed to say that they have an item on the menu that is even slightly distasteful; aside from some of the cheese selections, but that's more judgment from personal taste and not reflective of quality. On a few different occasions I have had: fish n' chips, prime rib sandwich, prime rib chili with onions, beef/pork sliders, the cheese sampler, and much more. Not once have I been remotely disappointed or dissatisfied. The service is always great and experience is always fun! Awesome for a first-date or a small group of friends. So far, everyone that I have introduced SideDoor to has become fans! It's definitely a must-try for the SideDoor virgins! A hint: they don't take reservations -- show-up early before 6PM on any given day and expect at least a 15 minute wait; otherwise, you'll be looking at a 2hr wait with an indefinite time on seating. SideDoor is a gem of a restaurant. The British pub-themed decor complete with the partially exposed ceiling joist, wood flooring, wood tables, comfortable cushioned arm chairs and couches, and much more, just give this restaurant a homely feeling that makes you want to hang out for hours. Everything from the food and drinks, to the service and ambiance; you couldn't ask for more, really. I simply love this place! read more

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What a great place to go for dinner and/or late night drinks! Never been in Corona Del Mary before and I must say I really like it. I had no idea how huge this place really was until I walked to the bathroom. This place can probably accommodate over 300 people! Unfortunately for me, I already had dinner but I ordered some of their fabulous and silky prosciutto and two different types of cheese and chili cheese fries. I can't go wait to go back and try the dinner menu. What a fabulous place! read more

SideDoor - Presciutto and 2 types of cheese - British Near Me - Corona del Mar, California

I've been wanting to try SideDoor for some time now... I finally got the chance recently and it was a somewhat underwhelming experience. First off I was super confused at the entry way because the entrance is to both the SideDoor bar and a fancier restaurant next-door. The crowd was literally polar opposites and a lot older in my opinion. SideDoor was busy, but we luckily snagged the last table before the dinner crowd started rolling in. We ordered two dishes to share: [1] Prime Rib Chili Cheese Fries - it sounds delicious doesn't it? Yeah I thought it would be too... the prime rib was well done, not very tender. The fries were great, but I would have preferred them without the chili and cheese on top. Sad face. [2] Duck-Fat Fries - I've had duck-fat fries at countless gastropubs, this one really did not stand out to me. The food was alright, but I would say it was really our server that saved the night. Despite how busy the restaurant was, she was very attentive and seemed to pop-in to check on us at all the right moments, so kudos to her! Otherwise, I probably won't be back anytime soon, but if I do come back I will try the charcuterie plate. read more

SideDoor - Prime Rib Chili Cheese Fries - British Near Me - Corona del Mar, California