This happened on different nights, and you have to wonder what happened. At a second visit, both the marinated ribeye and the 12-ounce New York strip were tough and flavorless. Appetizers didn't fare very well, either, mainly because someone in the kitchen had a steadily heavy hand with herbs. Shrimp and scallops baked in brandy cream and served in a pastry shell would have been better with more seafood and less shell. One night salad greens hadn't been washed thoroughly enough, but on the next visit they were fine.
Dressings are well-prepared and tasty, though a bit sweet.
On our second visit, we liked the desserts better than anything else we tried. For a restaurant that focuses on the sybaritic side of life, Side Street Grill offers a wine list that's almost ludicrously primitive. Steaks demand great, full-bodied red wines, which are woefully absent from this roster. At least great steaks demand such things, so perhaps at Side Street Grill we shouldn't worry about the wine. July 23, scored 81 out of 100 Reviewers visit the restaurant unannounced, order from the menu, eat and pay the bill without being identified.