Point Reyes Insider

SIDE STREET KITCHEN

Point Reyes Station
Restaurant: Lunch , Dinner , Weekend Brunch
Beer & Wine

Let’s start with the newest addition to the local food scene. Have you heard of Side Street? It’s just across the street from Cowgirl Creamery, and I’m amazed how many visitors completely miss this little gem.

Go here for slow cooked meats, classic roast chicken, whole roasted trout. The food is satisfying, well executed and clean. Enjoy your meal with wine, beer or an excellent French press coffee. Don’t miss the apple fritters!

The restaurant is bright and welcoming, with a charming Retro West Marin meets Neighborhood Paris Bistro feel. The service is consistently excellent.

During the warmer months, grab a seat outside at one of the pet-friendly tables on the patio.

While calling this place “fast food” would be so wrong, considering what that’s come to mean, let me just say that food comes out pretty quickly. Which makes this a great place to get truly fabulous food, to go. You might not look at this place and think, “Here’s a place to grab a quick meal.” But it is.

It’s one of my go-tos to quickly put together a really nice picnic hamper, or pick up a family-size roast chicken and potatoes dinner for short-notice guests. (speaking of kids, even picky ones get quiet and chow down on chicken and potatoes)

If you’ve rented a cottage and want to grab a nice dinner to bring home and eat in front of the fire or on the deck after a day spent hiking or kayaking, go here. Order your meat, some sides and get some wine. Fast, easy, and when you get home and tuck in, you’ll be happy.

“It’s a trek for me to make it out to West Marin on a weekly basis, but if I could I would for the pork belly Benedict brunch special with poached egg and arugula. Also served on the BLTs, the meaty slab atop sliced sourdough softened by creamy hollandaise is worth a journey.”

-Leanne Battelle, Marin Independent Journal

What’s Good

So, I’m with Leanne on the subject of the pork belly. Whether it’s in a sandwich or holding up poached eggs smothered in Hollandaise, I’d go for it (and have done!).

The rotisserie chicken is outstanding, with crisp skin and well seasoned with herbs. And while the locally sourced, high quality meat is definitely the star, the vegetable sides aren’t merely a way to round out your meal. They are fantastic, in their own right, and even eaten entirely on their own with some bread and a nice glass of wine.

My favorite autumn and winter vegetable dishes here are the crispy Brussels sprouts, buttery broccolini and the roasted spaghetti squash with hazelnuts, brown butter and pomegranate molasses. In summer it’s got to be salads and their epic creamed corn.

Even though the focus is on meat here, you can see why my vegetarian friends are always able to find something to love when we come here. They also rave about the vegetarian cassoulet, which is an entrée.

The rotisserie trifecta here is tri tip, pork belly and chicken. I have nothing but praise for each, and it’s often hard to choose, even though I live here and can come often.

The tri tip sandwich is a must-try. The luscious slabs of slow cooked beef are paired with feta, red-onion jam and smoked Portobello mushroom, all just barely tucked into a pillowy soft ciabatta—you can see why choosing is sometimes a challenge.

(415)663-0303

Side Street Kitchen website