Keeping up with my food blog can be a lot of work and I often find myself making special trips to check out a new hot spot in Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill. But over the past year or two, I find myself pointing my smartphone map to Cary! Previously known for its chain restaurants and relocated Yankees, new restaurant and food activity in downtown Cary has spun up a lot of excitement for this family-friendly city. And now Cary can also claim a great cocktail bar, the new SideBar on E. Chatham Street. So of course I had to stop in to see what the place was all about…
If you’re looking for SideBar, just head on over to the new building next to Bond Brothers Beer. SideBar is located next to one of my pizza faves, Pizzeria Faulisi so now you’ve got THREE good reasons to visit this neighborhood (beer, pizza and cocktails)! And even though Sidebar has only been open for a week or so, the place is buzzing with activity and customers. The decor at SideBar is retro and modern at the same time. Up front and to the right you’ll find a small table and lounge area while to the left, you’ll find a beautiful leather couch wrapping around the corner. Thick, jewel-cut glass lamps sit up above the L-shaped bar while interesting leather and wood Captain’s chairs provide seating. The side-windows at SideBar open to a small courtyard area where you can observe all the action at Bond Brothers Beer.
I’ve had the chance to drop into SideBar for a couple of visits and work through the cocktail menu a bit. There are about 20 or so house and classic cocktails to choose from in the $9 to $12 range. Given the warming weather, I tried two of their lighter drinks: a SideBar Rickey and Pimm’s Cup. Loved the Rickey, it was light on the tongue with a lot of citrus and Kaffir lime. The Pimm’s Cupp was equally well done and served in a tall glass, making for some great sipping!
Sitting at the bar, I get to chat with Matthew Bettinger, one of the co-owners of SideBar. I’ve known Matt for years from his days at C. Grace. Matt takes cocktails and mixology pretty seriously which is why I have faith that SideBar will become a Cary favorite, soon enough. Along with his partner Jeff and wife, Catherine, SideBar has been a personal vision come to fruition over the past 12 months. And I can tell you it was worth the wait, Cary. Well-made cocktails in a cool and mod setting works well for me and I’m pretty sure you’ll love SideBar!
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