Robilio’s Sidecar Cafe has reopened
Robilio’s Sidecar Cafe is back. The beloved restaurant reopened March 13.
The restaurant has been closed since its original owner Michael Robilio died unexpectedly in September.
Robilio’s Sidecar Cafe, which will turn 20 this year, is next door to the Bumpus Harley-davidson showroom.
Tandem Restaurant Partners, which includes restaurateurs Tony and Stephanie Westmoreland and chef Cullen Kent, reopened the restaurant. The group currently includes restaurants Cafe Society, Growlers, Zinnie’s, Strano By Chef Josh and the soon-to-open Downtown eatery Ben Yay’s.
“I got to know Michael about five years ago when I was doing some work with Harley-davidson,” Tony Westmoreland said. “We would stop in for lunch every day while I was working on that project.” Over the years, Westmoreland would stop in occasionally for a meal.
After Robilio’s death, he got a call from a friend at Lit Restaurant Supply telling him to look at the restaurant. Soon after, he purchased the restaurant from Robilio’s sister.
What to expect
Longtime patrons will be happy to hear that Westmoreland has tried to keep the 140-seat restaurant just like Robilio left it.
Most of the menu is the same. Favorites like Big Mike’s Cheeseburger Quesadilla are still on the menu. Look for some fun new items like a Country-fried Burger. This Tandem Restaurant Partners original is a battered and deepfried burger smothered with gravy.
Also new to the menu is a barbecue and smoked meats section. The restaurant now has a competition smoker for items like this, as well as burgers and smoked hot wings.
The only change to the dining room was the addition of larger TVS for watching sports.
“It’s all about good food and fun times,” Westmoreland said.
As when Robilio ran the restaurant, Sidecar Cafe will have themed nights. Tuesday is Bingo Night, Wednesday is Bike Night, and Thursday is “Cruise-in” Night for classic and souped-up cars. There will be live music every Friday and Saturday night.
“We will have crawfish every Sunday through the season,” Westmoreland said.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com