Sideshow Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Town of New Paltz

First and foremost, this review has nothing to do with the food on the menu, only drinks, atmosphere, and service. Our party did not order any food.

Second, it was really nice to come across a restaurant in New Paltz that is slightly more elevated than the rest of the typical college town bars. Sideshow is a great complement for the Parents of students looking to grab some food & drink without having to deal with the usual sticky floors, excessive noise, or cramped spaces that most other dives in the area are known for. The outdoor patio will be absolutely gorgeous during the warmer months, but the inside is clean and spacious too. As for the Sideshow theme, I don't think they're quite there yet. There are some circus-named menu items, but that's kind of where the theme ends. The interior of the building is more of an industrial-clean feel, which I honestly prefer, but don't come here for the theming.

While we didn't order any food, we did order a beer, a wine, a mocktail, and a cocktail to get a better idea of the drink menu. Although Sideshow is relatively new, the ownership is not new to restaurant management, so I was a little disappointed with the lack of beer options on tap and just went with a simple Guinness. There are so many microbreweries in the area that it was a little odd how few and how generic the pours were. The wine was just as basic as any other college bar would have, which wasn't unexpected, but also not a great look. The Honey Lavender mocktail wasn't bad, but it was poorly balanced. Lavender is a very subtle flavor and the Honey in this VASTLY overpowered it. The Campfire Mule was probably the most unique of our drinks, and while I did enjoy it and would maybe even order it again, I don't think it was mind blowing- which is fine. The toasted marshmallows are a touch that I wish they'd consider doing more of with their other food & drink options.

Service was a little strange. Everyone was nice, but despite sitting at a table, the bartender took our orders. We did mention to the hostess that we'd only be getting drinks, so perhaps that's why she put us in direct contact with Bartender, but after serving us our drinks, she essentially forgot about us for quite some time, until we had to go up to the bar to get our check.

Overall I'd probably say Sideshow isn't quite there yet, but I'd give it a 2nd shot. It's still a cleaner restaurant than most in town, but I don't expected anything to be mind blowing here. An average rating here, but certainly nothing overwhelmingly negative. I just need to see a bit more out of Sideshow first, before...

There’s something sacred about a place that knows exactly what it is and doesn’t give a damn if you get it or not. Side Show in New Paltz isn’t trying to redefine barbecue, tacos, or comfort food, they’re throwing it all in a ring under a neon-lit tent and letting the brisket speak for itself. It speaks fluently in smoke and fat.

First act: the brisket tacos. Two flour tortillas barely holding together a heap of shredded brisket that’s been cooked low, slow, and with a level of reverence reserved for gospel. Pickled onions cut through the richness. A swipe of sauce, between mayo and chipotle that ties the whole thing together.

Next up: the loaded brisket fries. Forget balance or restraint. These steak-cut potatoes are buried under brisket so tender it borders on emotional. Slathered in what might be Carolina Gold’s misbehaving cousin, topped with slaw that is unapologetically creamy, crunchy, and a bit chaotic in the best way. It’s like if a roadside pitmaster fell in love with a stoner chef and they decided to raise a dish together.

And then because you’re already in too deep to turn back, the featured star this week, is a brisket sandwich. A soft, herb-dusted focaccia bun trying to hold back a riot of brisket, greens, grilled onions, and some house dressing you’d bottle and keep on hand indefinitely. It’s hearty, it’s herby, it’s got soul. Served with a side salad like a wink and a nudge.

Side Show isn’t delicate. It’s beautifully designed with each amenity built in. This is the kind of food that laughs in the face of calorie counters and whispers dirty secrets to your inner carnivore. If Bourdain were here, he’d grab a stool, sip a pint, nod once, and say, “Yeah… these people get it.”

The same folks behind McGillicuddy’s, this new addition to the community beckons to be frequented for the...

The food was delicious. Meats were tender and flavorful, chickpea wrap was fresh and well-seasoned. The selection of sauces were were solid.

We also ordered the tuna nachos, which was slightly over-dressed with sauce (read: gets soggy quickly), and the fish was clumsily cut (read: can look like chewed food), but the meat tasted clean and the components were otherwise well balanced.

The mocktails tasted decent but did not match the descriptions. That being said, it can be hard to mix quality drinks if you're not hiding behind alcohol. It takes guts not to stick to NA beers. Keep trying.

The service was frustrating. A staff collected at the host podium with visitors who weren't even dining to chat about how one "dude" had gotten drunk and fell. Normally I don't care, but we were hour 4 into a 6 hour drive and had stopped to break things up. At this point in the meal, we were waiting for our check, and this guy's story was keeping our waiter from finishing up with our check.

To finish off on a high note, these are minor issues. Go there when you have time to spare and order from the tap unless you plan on keeping an open mind.

The food is great. Portions are appropriate to cost and quality. The restaurant is clean and the staff is polite. The patio looks like a great dining space (it was too hot when we went), and indoor dining was nice and cool. I would go again and I would recommend...