SIDECAR — Restaurant in Greater Kailash II

UPDATE: MY RESPONSE TO SIDECAR'S REPLY: Sidecar is lying. They're pretending they thought the insta account was a spam page. It was a new account with 15 DETAILED reels (including DETAILED captions); thousands of views; and NOT "0 followers" (total lie)— NOBODY could have actually thought it's a spam page. Blatant (and really low-IQ) lies. They’re also lying about the timeline (I took it down 2 days after the block—there’s no point posting when places just censor). And the deletion didn’t influence the block; it happened after. And dismissing a detailed review because the Google Reviews account has “only 2 reviews” is bizarre. By that logic, all new customers with few reviews must be bots? Your damage control is as incompetent and disrespectful as your service. And of course you've totally dodged all criticisms regarding your service.

MAIN REVIEW: INNOVATIVE COCKTAILS TAINTED BY INSUFFERABLE ARROGANCE

Let's begin with the most telling detail about Sidecar's character: they block anyone on Instagram who dares combine praise with constructive criticism. A recent comment acknowledging their "incredibly innovative new cocktail menu" while noting their terrible service resulted in an immediate block. This isn't confidence—it's pure cowardice masquerading as brand management. When a bar can't handle honest feedback that actually compliments their core product, you know you're dealing with fragile egos running the show.

Credit where it's due: Sidecar's new cocktail menu is genuinely innovative. Of course, the bartenders generally themselves deserve zero credit for this transformation—they're simply following recipes handed down to them by someone who actually knows what they're doing.

The service remains absolutely horrific. These bartenders (most, not all) and servers are hired for their Instagram-ready aesthetics rather than any actual hospitality skills. Try to engage them about what kind of drink you're looking for, and you'll be met with blank stares and that peculiar head movement that suggests they've completely short-circuited. You're left standing there with no idea where you stand, whether they understood a word you said, or if they're even present mentally.

The incompetence would be forgivable if they weren't also glacially slow, inexplicably rude, and dripping with unearned smugness. They move through their shifts like they're doing you a favor by acknowledging your existence, all while delivering service that wouldn't pass muster at a chain restaurant. This smugness permeates the entire establishment—with the notable exception a couple of folks in senior management who actually understands hospitality. The rest of the operation radiates an arrogance that's completely divorced from reality. Sure, they've won awards in the past, but that was pure marketing magic despite their previously average cocktail menu. Most recently, they lost the top spot in India to Lair—a humiliation that finally forced them to upgrade their drinks. But they've learned nothing about the other half of the equation: treating customers like human beings.

The tragedy is that Sidecar's smugness far exceeds what they actually deliver. Yes, the cocktails are (now) exceptional, but everything else ranges from mediocre to insulting. They're so busy congratulating themselves on recipes they didn't even create that they've forgotten the most basic principle of hospitality: competent, respectful service.

This is precisely why Lair snatched their crown while Sidecar remains stuck in their own inflated self-perception. Great cocktails mean nothing when they're served by staff who act like they're bestowing royal favors rather than doing their jobs, and who can't even hold a basic conversation about what you want to drink.

Sidecar could reclaim their position if they channeled half the energy they spend on censoring critics into training their staff to function like actual hospitality professionals. Instead, they've chosen to block feedback, maintain their bubble of false superiority, and wonder why their...

Sidecar , the Numero Uno cocktail bar of India and a winner of numerous prestigious awards aswell as being featured in the Top 50 Asia Cocktail Bar list , is one of my regular spots and I realised that I hadn't reviewed them though I have tried their entire and ever-changing cocktail menu over the years. Definitely they deserve all the accolades as they do make some of the best cocktails in India and even on the world wide level. Most places in India don't really do justice to a cocktail and the art of making it. It's just mostly just a mix of alcohol with some colouring agents and that's what most people call a cocktail , just a way to get drunk. But not here , at sidecar the drinks don't just hit hard but they look beautiful aswell. The bartenders work very hard to make the cocktails and the amalgamation of drinks and mixers is just on a whole different level. I wish that other bars and bartenders also learn from Sidecar and can challenge other internationally fames bars.

Though sidecar is one of the best place for drinks not everything is perfect in my personal opinion. The Drinks and their Masala Peanuts are absolutely fantastic but the other food items aren't anything great. The only really good item is the Pigs in a Blanket which they make really well. The juice sausage with a snap to it and the smokey tasty bacon combine very well with their Mayo and BBQ Sauce. Now the other problem would be their ambience and service - ambience in the first floor is great very cosy and comfy but on the second floor it's a bit too trashy and the sound from music can be overwhelming aswell. Service can also be improved as eventhough we visit regularly and spend alot of money , they don't fully remember us which is acceptable aswell but the worst part is they would be partial to those who would tip them or are their regular customers (which we are aswell) . Once they made us stand at the bar for 40 minutes while those who ordered much after us were served within 10 (they were foreigners), so one can feel a bit off because of such incidents. But apart from such incidents which don't happen very regularly ther service is fine . They take time and put in a lot of efforts to make the drinks so it's understandable and in general the service is smiling and positive. They always put a gone for smoking tag at the table where one is sitting. The terrace is very chill for drinks and smoke. Sadly they don't serve alcohol or food upstairs but you are allowed to bring your drinks once you are served downstairs.

But all in all their drinks are absolutely smashing and absolutely unique. Sharing some personal recommendations of mine - Flora Spritzer , Cacao , Larkins G&T , Season Whisky Sour , Connaught , Sadar Bazaar , Scotch Sour. Realistically all their cocktails are amazing and they do make a means Sidecar aswell , just depends on personal preference , taste and mood one is in . Some drinks are more beautiful than the others so if you are into beautiful looking drinks you have alot of options for that aswell.

In general Sidecar has amazing cocktails and always has a standard for them , they never message things up in this department and one can enjoy a decent meal side by side aswell. But the ambience and service could be better in my opinion eventhough most people do enjoy a more chill basic place for sure. Their bar area is actually the best place to sit as you can see the bartenders at work , have some conversations with them and also get drinks faster. Service in general is very nice. But one thing to remember it's an expensive Bar for sure. The drinks in general cost a minimum 1200 per drink so keep that in mind before visiting and they can be very enjoyable so one may not realise and the bill can rack up very easily. For the price I am giving this place a 4/5 rating as it could be more luxurious, better service and better food but in the end it's generally about the drinks and Sidecar definitely has some of the...

I had a lot of expectations from this place but they literally need to work on their hospitality and over all vibe that they offer to the customer . I had to ask for the menu thrice and I was attended after more than half an hour of waiting with the menu. they also expect us to wear our ID around our neck and walk around , the first time I went there they served us everything but this time around I think they were going through a shitty day of their own and took it out on the customer . The waitress working there has no voice of her own , but had an unwanted unwelcoming attitude . She ignored us on multiple accounts , (that women who is apparently set to sever the table near the library )very unprofessional ruined our entire day

I wonder who hires people like that ,she brought out the manager totally felt like an intervention planned on us ( I personally felt like it was super racist of them or I don’t see any reason as we showed them our id as well and we are all of legal age)

the way the manger spoke to us with her little attitude where is your professional ethics women ? Totally disrespectful! Like a bouncer she came towards us !! Who do u think u are speaking to ? She needs to be reminded that we are there to pay and eat and not that she is paying for us .

This place needs to be humbled for real the employees are very unwelcoming with their lousy and wanna be attitude . Anybody reading this just make sure u tag your ID around your neck before u enter or u lick their ass to be treated nice there .

If the owner is viewing this I think u need to work on hiring a better set of employees the ones u have right now are just bringing the place down and I’m not the first one to complain

Honestly I’m glad we walked out reading others reviews on how the place seems to be infested with roches and employees that is worst than the roches

Bonus tip :educate them around racism and how that affects people until that is the agenda u yourself support

Reply: first off we had no issue sharing our ID and let me be clear we had been there before and we had no issue but it is the attitude of your employees (specifically the two I mentioned) that I’m pointing out and the word like “racist” had to come out because it actually felt like it again we did show our ID and if there was any issue with it we would’ve appreciated a polite way of your employees explaining the policy . If u want more proof about how the situation was handled I urge u to check your cctv footage and just observe the body language of your staff it will be very clear to you. U can keep taking pride on your employees but we surely know what a joke they actually are and even after the feedback if u want to act defensive instead of looking into the actual issue it’s your call , you are not the only bar in Delhi serving alcohol infact the worst one we have stepped into (that’s our...