This bi-level sports-bar-style gastropub, located on East 57th Street, brings an exciting potpourri of international flavors to NYC. Side Door serves an impressive variety of intercontinental delicacies inspired by Israeli, Vietnamese, European, and Romanian cuisines.
Located just a stone’s throw from Bloomingdale’s, it sits in the very heart of New York’s most cherished shopping district. Side Door is an excellent place for a quick snack and a beer as it serves a genius assortment of delectable burgers, hotdogs, and sandwiches. But at the same time, it has the potential of becoming one of midtown’s top go-to restaurants for a weekend brunch or even for a celebratory dinner party.
Ambiance
The 2,200 square foot space, which comfortably accommodates 96 seats, is tastefully decorated with rustic barrels, indoor plants, fireplaces, mood lighting with the hues of red, and glass chandeliers. Eight television screens adorn the bar area, and there are several unique sports packages on offer.
The vibe of the place is that of a laid-back, British-style retro bar on most days of the week. However, when a game is on, Side Door turns itself into a bustling playfield with enthusiastic fans cheering for their favorite teams or favorite players with a lot of fervor and passion. A separate mezzanine area is also available for private dining.
Since this restaurant serves delicacies from all around the world, the pieces of art you’ll find here are also gathered from different parts of the world, especially Romania and Eastern Europe, since the owner, Istvan Nagy, is a Romanian native.
Food & Drinks
Executive Chef Dan Nistrorescu has created an incredible menu with masterpieces like – ‘The Underdog,’ a hot dog prepared with skinny kielbasa, house kraut, and mustard. Another crowd favorite, ‘Mici Sliders’, comprises homemade Romanian beef and lamb garlicky skinless sausage, brown mustard, and pickled vegetables
There are various salads, sandwiches, burgers, appetizers, flatbreads, and mains on the menu for you to choose from. Their Mac n Cheese comes with the option of add ons such as extra chicken, shrimp, bacon, or lobster. Gigi’s Feta Fries and Korean or Buffalo Wings are also pretty popular.
Brunch is served on the weekends between 12 pm to 5 pm. We expressly encourage you to explore the Brunch Menu’s’ ‘Eggs n Such’ section. Last time, we ordered Mushroom & Bacon Crepes, Shakshouka, and The Other Benedicts. All three dishes were absolutely on-point!
Like the food, Side Door’s beverages are also inspired by international flavors. You can order Romanian ‘Moonshine’ or Siberian vodka. Their list of wines, beers, spirits, and cocktails is designed to complement the food they serve effortlessly. Happy Hour is from 5 pm to 8 pm.
They have five exciting options for desserts – churros, creme brulee cheesecake, homemade bread pudding, and Hungarian-style crepes in two flavors (Nutella and apricot).
What Else?
Did we mention why this place is called Side Door? It’s because the restaurant’s main entrance is indented from the sidewalk!
This place is Istvan Nagy’s second establishment in New York. In 2017, he opened his first restaurant, One Lenox, located at 61st Street and 1st Avenue junction. Side Door is a very new establishment comparatively. It was started in 2020 amidst the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, this place has already made a fantastic impression in the minds of Midtowners.
Website: https://www.sidedoornyc.com/
