Sidelines Sports Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Salem

Congratulations sidelines. You were the first establishment to make me go out and write a review for the first time. And it’s not a positive one. Was there recently and had the absolute WORST customer service I’ve ever had anywhere. Went there with a friend (I was actually the one that suggested we go there) and we grabbed two seats at the bar. Wasn’t really that busy of a night compared to other nights. We eventually got served by a bartender, older woman out of the bunch, didn’t get her name. I could already tell from the get-go she was miserable and didn’t want to be there. Served our drinks and never bothered to come back and ask us if we wanted menus. We had to flag her down. Came back and gives us two menus. She takes my friends order which was a pizza and asked if they could make the crust a little thinner. She goes yeah. Left and didn’t even bother to take me order. I give her the benefit of the doubt that she just had to do something really quick and would come back to take mine. I still blatantly had the menu with me. Never even bothers to come back to our section of the bar. The other bar tenders that weren’t even originally serving us was nice enough to ask us if we wanted another drink. I didn’t ask her about ordering food because I wanted to see if the original woman would eventually come back to take my order. 20 minutes later...NOPE! My friend gets frustrated and flags her down saying she never took my order. She doesn’t even bother to apologize or was surprised that she forgot about me or anything. The only thing she says was “it’s gonna take a while to make the pizza I can still put the order in.” At this point I tell her forget about it I’m not even hungry anymore. Still, no simple apology from her. And of course literally 2 minutes later the pizza comes out. I guess the pizza never took that long. From this whole night all I wanted was a simple apology from her and this would have diffused how aggravated I was that evening. I’ve worked in retail and sales for 14 years dealing with customer service and this was embarrassing to the restaurants. To top it off we finish and get the bill. The pizza was 2 bucks more than it was advertised on the menu because according to the bill the pizza was stretched. Of course the bartender didn’t even give us the courtesy of telling us there was a small extra charge to stretch the pizza to make it thinner. Needless to say I got food somewhere else after we left and will not be coming here ever again. Every time sidelines has come up I’ve brought up this story. This place used to be good before they changed everything. They need to stress out the basic fundamentals of customer service like a normal establishment. I don’t care how good the food is, if the customer service is horrible it doesn’t matter. I’d much rather go to a mediocre place with awesome customer service. Sidelines strikes...

Sidelines Pub, nestled on the vibrant North Shore, boasts a reputation for serving the best wings in town alongside refreshing pitchers of beer. The aroma of sizzling chicken permeates the air, creating an enticing atmosphere for wing enthusiasts.

The star of the show is undoubtedly Sidelines' wings. Crispy on the outside, succulent on the inside, they redefine what it means to have the perfect wing. The variety of sauces, from classic buffalo to innovative honey sriracha, cater to diverse taste buds. Each bite is a flavorful journey, leaving you craving more.

However, the same cannot be said for the pizza. While the menu promises a delightful experience, the reality falls short, especially in the dough department. The crust leans towards the doughy side, lacking the ideal balance between chewy and crispy. It's a disappointment for those seeking a well-executed pizza to accompany their wings.

Now, let's talk about the ambiance. Sidelines Pub has a lively and laid-back vibe, making it a go-to spot for gatherings with friends. The pitchers of beer add to the communal spirit, making it an ideal place to unwind after a long day. The pub is often brimming with laughter and animated conversations, creating a welcoming environment for patrons.

Unfortunately, the positive vibes take a hit when it comes to the service. The waitresses, though presumably young, veer into the territory of rudeness and immaturity. While a casual atmosphere is expected, a level of professionalism is still crucial in the service industry. Some may find the brash attitudes off-putting, detracting from the overall dining experience.

On a brighter note, the management seems to have a grip on the kitchen operations. The memo, a popular choice among regulars, showcases the culinary prowess of the chefs. Its harmonious blend of flavors and textures proves that Sidelines Pub can excel in the food department when the execution aligns with expectations.

In conclusion, Sidelines Pub is a mixed bag of delights and letdowns. The wings and communal atmosphere make it a must-visit for those seeking a casual, flavor-packed evening. However, the inconsistent quality of the pizza, coupled with the brusque demeanor of the waitstaff, may leave some patrons questioning whether the overall experience is worth the occasional bumps...

About a month ago, Sidelines hosted my boyfriend's 40th Birthday party on their patio with the fire pits, heaters and TV's. I submitted an event request on their website and Kelly reached out to help me organize it. She so graciously answered my 1000 questions, was so welcoming for me to come down and visit to see the patio, sent me pictures and videos of the space and made sure we had everything we needed. I planned well in advance so we were able to put a pre-order of food together so the kitchen could prep accordingly. She worked with the chef on quantity of food to accommodate our number of people (just under 30 people). We ordered so many different things - nachos, potato skins, fried pickles, homemade eggrolls (my favorite), mozzarella sticks, sliders (cheeseburger and fried chicken), wings with honey bbq, salem sauce, sweet chili sauce, wild buffalo, ranch, blue cheese, and honey mustard, cheese pizzas and pepperoni pizzas. The patio is such a cool space; several fire pits surrounded by a table so you can comfortably eat around the fire, it's a covered/closed in patio with heaters but can also be opened with nice weather, TV's with sound, tables and chairs, and outdoor couches and benches. They let us decorate before the party and the only thing off limits if we wanted to use the fire pits was helium which was a reasonable limitation and we didn't even need to use helium anyways. As long as we used painters tape to not damage the wood, we were able to put up anything we wanted.

The team at Sidelines was amazing. Kelly was wonderful in helping to reserve and plan everything. Elena, Avirie, and Kristiana took care of us and they were so great. They handled our large group with lots of drinks flawlessly. All of the food that came out was executed perfectly. Everyone really enjoyed all of the drinks and food. They have a full bar but their drink menu is so cool; lots of creative and delicious drinks. They even said they would store the cake and cupcakes for us until we were ready for dessert.

Yes it's a sports bar, but it's very clean, well run, the team was on top of anything and everything and so nice, the food was not greasy at all, and what a great value everything is. We will...