SideDoor used to be the Five Crown’s restaurant lounge and waiting area. Then, 6 years ago it was turned into a gastropub, serving a lighter fare and cocktails to draw a younger crowd. Recently, the OC Register said Five Crowns is going to do a makeover, emphasize on a major makeover to be completed by mid-June.
Stephen and I decided to have dinner here, before the new make over. The SideDoor really is a small, compact area with a packed bar, and tables scattered thoughout the side area. The area was first come, first serve, but apparently you still had to track down the hostess to be seated. We were 3rd in line, and the wait was about 20 minutes, and we were seated on a cozy bench/ coffee table near the fireplace.
The menu had a potpourri of everything, from snacks to sandwiches to dinner plates to charcuterie platters. It took a while to narrow down our order, but Stephen and I decided on:
- The Prime Rib chili with onions, served 3 ways. It was almost a thick stew. It was a genuine chili as it was served with no beans, and 3 types of onions: fried, green and white. $9.
- The Prime Rib sandwich, which is what the restaurant was known for. I ordered mine medium rare and asked for fries instead of chips. Served with horseradish and au jus. $18
- Lastly we decided to share a 5 item charcuterie platter with 2 types of meats (a prosciutto and a Speck from Iowa) and 3 types of cheese (Whiskey Cheddar from Ireland, a Sawtooth from Washington, and a Ossau-Iraty from France). $24
Chili
Prime Rib sand
The meal was wonderful, and even though we had to awkwardly eat side-by-side at the coffee table, it was cozy. What was even better was I had a $25 credit on my Lawry’s VIP rewards account, so the charcuterie was pretty much free.
I’m glad we came, and I’m also looking forward to the new make over.
