Can GOOD Beer Come in a Can?

The simple answer is..... YES! Baxter Brewing Co. from Lewiston, Maine is redefining canned beer with their craft selections. We are carrying their Stowaway I.P.A. on tap and their Pamola Xtra Pale Ale in the can. Both have been a huge hit. Baxter is just another Maine brewing company that is putting our state's beer on the map. Maine is currently #59 on the list of the best beer in the WORLD thanks to brewing companies like this.

Also on our tap lineup is Peak Organic IPA from Portland. By far the most popular draft choice by our customers and staff. John Cadoux, Peak's owner swung by our restaurant to check out the renovations and chat. It's great to meet the hardworking people who create the yummy local things that we sell.

Happy Hour is from 4-6 at the bar where you can get any of our draft beers for $3, Glasses of house wine for $3, Domestics for $2.50, And signature cocktails for $5.50.

One of our favorite customers recently requested that we bring back our old margarita recipe (created by Marcus Kenney) which featured a scoop of citrus sorbet from MDI Ice Cream shaken in. We just may have to do that Dale! Thanks for the feedback :)

In the Groove

We are very sad to announce that Side Street Cafe will be closing our doors. After an exciting and challenging journey we have decided that there is just too much stress involved in running this business.

Did I get you? Even just for a second? It's 10:30 at night on April 1st, and I realized that I hadn't played an April Fool's joke ALL day, so this was really my only opportunity. We are FAR from closing the doors at Side Street. In fact, we just reopened them this afternoon after 3 weeks of renovation, expansion, creative thinking, problem solving, cleaning, sanding, painting, wiring, installing, repairing and so much more. I couldn't be more thrilled with how it all turned out. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but we now have a kitchen twice the size of the old one and a new dining room in the back of the building which has a more intimate and cozy feel.

BEFORE

AFTER

The angle is a bit different, so it's hard to capture the big change, but your best bet is just to come in to see for yourself!

Below is our kitchen and walkway into the back dining room.

And the new back dining room! This stencil on the wall was painted by Megan, one of our talented staff members.

I must say that the most rewarding part about the process has been the past week. Not just because that's when it all finally came together but also because we had the entire (very committed) staff there to help us put the pieces back together. Seeing their excitement over the new updates made me even more pumped to reopen. I love that everyone who works for us feels a sense of ownership over what Side Street has become. We are VERY lucky to have some great people working for us and with us.

From Left: Megan, Abby, Heidi, Adam, Jonathan, and Kris.

(Not pictured: Brandon, Stacey, Shannon and Amy)

Big shout out to MR Electric, A-Team Painting, Coastal Energy, Pine Tree Equipment and Harold Lynk Plumbing and Heating for bringing out the big guns and doing all of the REAL work. Oh yeah, and this guy Jeff from Young's Building Contractors did some work there too I think, but he usually showed up late and left early. Just Kidding! Thank you Jeff for busting your butt for 25 days straight to make it all look perfect and by our deadline! Even if you weren't my husband I would have hired you because you are just THAT good.

My husband Jeff and daughter Lexi hard at work. This is a rare sight on both accounts. KIDDING!.... sorta.

Annie Menzietti Palmer, Johnnie Garcia, and Russel Snyder performed as "Hamilton Station" for our opening and brought in a huge crowd of fun locals. Talk about talented musicians! We're looking forward to having them back again on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend (May 29th.) Such a fun night and a great way to get back into the groove.

A few of those "fun locals" that I was referring to....