Frank Talk

WE’RE GETTING READY to open a new restaurant we think you’ll enjoy tremendously. It’s called SideDoor, an English-style neighborhood gastropub. SideDoor is something new and different, yet very much in keeping with our concept of providing exceptional food, drink, and hospitality in a unique way. It will be a restaurant within a restaurant, sharing the Five Crowns’ building in Corona del Mar, CA.

good food, libations and friendly company

At SideDoor, you’ll find a friendly, fun atmosphere reminiscent of an authentic English pub—but with far better food (hence the term “gastropub”). We’ve designed it to be a relaxing place, where you can drop in for an hour or an evening, meet new people and enjoy yourself in the company of friends and neighbors. Come as you are; casual attire is welcomed. No reservations are needed; you can just show up and have a good time.

Like just about everything we do at Lawry’s, SideDoor sprang from carefully observing our guests and wanting to accommodate your changing preferences. We’ve been paying close attention to your growing affection for high-quality, yet less expensive, casual dining and knew we could do a great job of providing that.

Come as you are; casual attire is welcomed

The idea of reinventing the neighborhood pub with a fresh, upscale spin seemed like the perfect direction and sparked our imagination.

We realized we already had the ideal setting, our existing Five Crowns restaurant, with its English country inn atmosphere and tradition of extraordinary food. We decided to reconfigure the bar—a cozy area along the right side of the restaurant with its own entrance via a side door—into a great new kind of pub with a difference, and viola!…SideDoor.

For most of this year, I, my son Richard (Lawry’s CEO-president), my grandson Ryan (executive chef at Tam O’Shanter), my daughter Susie (who is responsible for the new restaurant’s decor), Five Crowns’ executive chef Dennis Brask and other key Lawry’s co-workers have been working together to create SideDoor.

We’ve had a great time planning, taste-testing foods, and craft beers and engaging in spirited debates about every aspect of the new restaurant (sometimes they even let the old man win). Our goal, as with all of our restaurants, is to ensure that you’ll be delighted by what you’ll experience when you visit.

Building off the strength of Five Crowns’ culinary talent, SideDoor’s menu fits right in with its atmosphere of getting together with new and old friends. The restaurant’s centerpiece cheese and charcuterie bar is something exciting and new. We think you’ll relish its wide selection of artisan cheeses, smoked meats, and sausages, perfect for grazing.

We’ll also offer an ever-changing selection of unique and delicious “small plates” to mix, match and share. And, of course, we’ll serve an excellent prime rib sandwich. No matter how often you visit, there will always be something new and interesting to taste.

We’ve got great drink in store for you: We’ll feature a terrific assortment of artisan beers, both on tap and bottled, and SideDoor will share the Five Crowns’ extensive, award-winning wine cellar. We’ve had a lot of fun creating signature cocktails like “Squeaky Hinge,” “Trap Door” and “The Knocker,” using interesting new spirits to play off SideDoor’s name.

We expect to open soon; please check our website for updates. We’re looking forward to welcoming you. Look for the red key, and don’t forget to use the side door!

From the desk of Richard N. Frank