Sideward Brewing Co. — Restaurant in Orlando

Visited Sideward 2 weeks apart.

The first visit (3/16/25), I left saying it’s hands-down Orlando’s best brewery. They had sold out of the breakfast burrito that I was excited to try before I got there, but the other food we had was good. I had multiple styles of beer from their house lager to their DIPA, all were superior examples of their respective style. The staff were friendly and engaging. While I didn’t leave a 5-star review on Google, I did tell multiple groups of friends that they needed to go check out Sideward if they hadn’t been lately.

Went back today (3/30/25) and arrived earlier to ensure I got to try their TikTok-famous breakfast burrito. Ordered the burrito and a beer off their draft list. Was surprised to see the bartender pouring my beer into a glass from a can. I asked why it wasn’t from the tap and she said they didn’t have it on tap. I pointed to the menu where it said ‘Draft List’ and explained I would have ordered something else had I known the beer on the draft list wasn’t available on draft. To her credit, she offered me something else but she’d already poured the beer so I just drank it.

If you haven’t seen the TikTok, some girl posted a video talking about how she’s from California and knows a good breakfast burrito. She claimed Sideward had one of the best breakfast burritos she’s ever had. There’s no way she had the same one I did. Everything in the burrito was either cold or room temperature. The shredded cheese inside wasn’t melted… you could pull the individual shreds of cheese out of the burrito. I approached the guy running the food and showed him. I thought maybe these burritos were pre-made and then heated when ordered and they just forgot to heat mine. He assured me they were made to order and not pre-made.

5 star first visit, 1 star second visit, so 3 star average. Maybe today was an off-day.

Beer: A+ (I’d say best in Orlando) Food: C (hit or miss) Atmosphere: C (crowded and could use more tables, slow-moving line to order beer/food,...

It’s great to have so many craft breweries with food. Usually, it is in the form of independent food trucks and trailers in the parking lot, but in some instances the brewery is also a full-service restaurant. And in rare cases, they do exceedingly well at both.

Like Sideward Brewing on Orlando’s east side. It’s a place we keep coming back to.

I started with a flight of five. Actually, they don’t do flights in the traditional sense. Instead, they’ll pour as many five-ounce glasses as you like. You just don’t get a fancy holder for all of your glasses. I went with short pours of Moon Boots (7% ABV, and a longtime fave), Voidless (6.6% ABV and an IPA brewed with—among others—the Nectarine hop varietal everyone is talking about), Goat Snacks (5.7% ABV, a Weizenbock with hints of banana and bubblegum—no kidding), Words + Images (5.6%, a Winter Lager), and Brap! Brap! (6.6% ABV, a hazy IPA brewed with “experimental hops”).

Of these five, I loved the three IPAs. The Winter Lager is a tasty seasonal (that’s code for “one and done”), while the Goat Snacks is—well—perhaps best left for the goats. Not a fan. Sorry. We also ordered what turned out to be one of the best brewpub pretzels we have ever eaten. Sides of beer cheese, spicy mustard, and pimiento cheese provided a variety of dippings. This is almost a meal in itself. But we saved ourselves for a main course, which was the vegan Tempeh Rueben (Marinated local tempeh, kraut, house 1000 island, vegan swiss on sourdough) for step-daughter and me, and a Caesar Wrap (House Caesar, roasted chicken, romaine, croutons & parm) for my wife. She was in love at first bite, and we already knew from prior visits what to expect with the Reubens. Sideward often has tight parking, since it is a shared structure with other businesses and a restaurant. Come early, or be prepared to park a block away and walk. But it’s well worth it. Besides, you’ll burn a few...

Sideward Brewing Company is an absolute gem! With over 20 different beverages to choose from, including beers, ciders, cold brew coffee, and more, there's something for everyone. I highly recommend trying the "Punks" and "Gunner" beers—they're fantastic!

The food is equally impressive, with a variety of mouth-watering options. The large hot pretzels with hot cheese are a must-try, and their selection of sandwiches, including pulled pork, roast beef, BLT, turkey, and muffaletta, all look delicious. The sides, like hummus, boiled peanuts, coleslaw, cucumber salad, and mac & cheese, complement the meal perfectly.

The service is top-notch, even though it's counter service. You order at the counter, and the friendly staff, like Tim, will bring your food to your table. Tim was especially helpful and added to the great experience.

The ambiance is relaxed and inviting, with both indoor and outdoor seating options. The indoor area is comfortably air-conditioned, while the outdoor seating is nicely shaded—perfect for a casual, enjoyable meal.

Overall, Sideward Brewing Company is an excellent spot to unwind with great beer and food. Whether you're stopping by for a relaxed afternoon or an evening meal, you're in...