The Side Lot — Restaurant in Wauconda

Prior to the day of my reservation, I went on the website to make a reservation. It says if there is going to be more then 6 people, send an email to the restaurant. I did this. No one answered my email so I called and explained I was going to have 9 people, the lady told me to book online regardless of my party size. So at this point I had sent a special email directly to the restaurant (that went unanswered), called the restaurant, and booked online. My family of 9 showed up and we had this tiny couch that didnt accommodate my family, we had to pull up extra chairs. Then we were in an extremely sunny spot and asked to open the umbrella, which offered no shade and was cooking my family. We had a liquor and food menu at the couch seating area but no beer menu. I asked the waitress to see thr beer menu and that was a QR code... if you order a beer from there, it closes out your tab after the transaction.... less then convenient. For being a brewery, why cant I see a printed list of beers on the patio? We had a liquor list outside... but not a beer list at a brewery. The waitress didnt come back frequently and never brought water to the table for my family that is baking in the sun. We got up and left. I walked next door to Slyce and they immediately accommodated my family on a Saturday afternoon around 4. We had an outdoor table, they accommodated 3 children, 6 adults, and a dog. We ordered drinks, food, alcohol and spent over $200... For being a small local brewery in a 1 horse town of Wauconda, I expected way better service from Side Lot, considering I went through all the guidline steps to ensure the restaurant could...

this place has a great vibe, friendly staff and i really admire the owner for his frankness and how he handles covid! (i wish more business owners were like him.) the patio is really nice and inside, there’s a nice little view of the lake.

however, the reason i can’t give 5 stars is the beer. i’ve been to almost every brewery in lake county and there’s just something about sidelot that hits my palate in a funny way each time and my husband feels the same way. i’ve gone a few times over the past year or so and each time, ive gotten a beer with a certain funk… i don’t know how to describe it, but it’s almost like a soapy, musty taste. my husband couldn’t finish his beer last time and we’re too nice to complain to the bartender.

the first time (over a year ago), i thought i got a bad batch or something wasn’t rinsed out good. but i’ve gone back at least two more times since (most recently about a week ago), and the beer had the same weirdness. i assume it’s just something that is in their brewing process or the types of grain used to brew, but it is not enjoyable for me. the only beer that i’ve had that doesn’t taste this way is bix don’t kill my vibe (at a steep $16 for a tall can.. but it’s boozy and barrel aged.. seasonal availability) and their stouts. almost all ales that i’ve had from sidelot have this weird taste.

i had a cocktail though and that was good. their new food smelled divine too, but we didn’t try anything. it is a little pricey as well, but is more artisan/ gourmet gastropub food.

i just can’t get...

What a find!! This is not your local joint on the corner even though it has all the wonderful qualities of the local joint on the corner. The place has character, characters, and a northern Wisconsin resort atmosphere. When I googled restaurants in Wauconda, the menu immediately intrigued me. My wife wanted to try a different restaurant and fortunately for us, they were closed with heat issues (hopefully resolved). Read the menu, pick out what strikes you as unusual and order it - it will be great! We had the loaded tots, the most incredible pot stickers and interesting sandwiches. The tots themselves are a meal for two, we took most of them home and got to enjoy them a second time. Order the pot stickers - the drizzled sauce on top of the plump, perfectly cooked crescents of flavor was an incredible compliment. The bed of spinach and other sprinkled-in treats served as the base for this must-try, will-enjoy offering. On to the sandwiches. The grilled cheese with candied bacon - generous, restrained so as not to be cloying or a gimmick. Very well prepared. I had the B.E.S.T. with a hamburger patty. One of the eggs was not fully cooked, but that half went home with us and cooked the egg white in the microwave in the morning. Great flavor, generous in portion - the patty was not needed but I will order it again that way. Never had a reason to see Wauconda as a destination, we do now. Can't wait to try the Side Lot's other offerings!! ...