So far 2026 seems to be the year of our having the remarkable ability to pick places for revisits at exactly the same time of year as our first visit and not realizing it until we sit down and pull up the old review.

Tonight’s example: our last (and only) visit to the Hillside Tavern was on March 26, 2019. And it’s now March 18, 2026.

Ok then. 

Seven years ago Hillside earned a place in our hearts for the amazing mini corn dog apps and a lovely beer special that brought us 34 oz domestic beers for only $5. We were not as crazy about the nachos made with some unidentifiable yellow cheese sauce and wings that sounds good on the menu but arrived much less appealing. Oh and servers who tended to forget we existed while they served the regulars. I mean, I know the beers are large and all, but clearly they underestimated our ability to still down them quickly.

This time around the service immediately seemed faster and friendlier, so that’s a plus. Our server came over quickly with menus in hand and left with our drink order. They still had Irish red on tap from St Patrick’s Day which made Ted happy. Shane and I both ordered tall tequila sodas, which still come in regular sized drinking glasses.

Shut up liver, you’re fine.

Ted heeded the rave reviews of the mini corn dogs from the last visit and decided he had to have them again.

He also got the perch dinner for his meal.

Shane was debating either the ribs or the wings – because clearly he missed me saying we didn’t like the wings that much the last time – so he asked our server which she preferred. She said she had never tried the ribs herself but that people come in for them specifically.

Sold. He got the full rack with a side of fries.

Both Shane’s and Ted’s meals came with salads. When our server came to deliver them she put one in front of me – the only person at the table who didn’t order one. But nice that she assumed the only girl at the table should be eating the salad. 

I ordered a burger, and was told when I ordered that it was burger night. Do I win a prize for ordering the special of the day when it hasn’t been disclosed in advance? Kind of like being the 10,000th shopper?

Sadly no. I also didn’t get told what the burger night special actually was, except that it meant the fries don’t come with the burger and you have to order them separate on burger night. This seems like more of a deterrent than a special, no?

But I was told I could add on a basket for $2. I asked if I could get tater tots instead of fries and the server shrugged and said sure, why not?

Remember that last paragraph, folks, because we’ll circle back to that in a bit.

Shane and I also got breaded mushrooms as an app because clearly there we hate empty space on tables.

Shane was very impressed with the ribs. The meat was falling off of the bone and the sauce was very good. The only complaint was probably the amount of extra time they took to be prepared. Ted and I were more than halfway through our meals by the time Shane’s ribs finally arrived – and while he said they were well worth the wait, we do all remember that Shane never arrives on Wednesdays NOT starving so as you can imagine that wait was a bit of personal torture.

Side note, Shane liked the ribs so much that he eventually influenced another table near us to order them when that person was also stuck in the wings vs ribs dilemma. That guy ended up ordering a half rack AND wings, which is probably a smart choice when indecisive. And also could earn him a spot in our crew of people who like to order two full meals for one sitting.

Although he later reported as he was leaving that he was full after the wings and had to take the ribs home, which immediately expelled him. The guys don’t like quitters.

Ted said the fish was a little dry. It had good flavor, but just was maybe cooked a touch too long. And there was a lot of rice, which hindered his ability to finish his whole meal comfortably.

My burger was good. They don’t ask how you want it cooked which we all know usually means we’re going to be disappointed with an overdone patty, but I was pleasantly surprised. While there was seasoning on the patty I’m also glad I opted to add mushrooms and Swiss to it for the extra flavor.

Now let’s talk about the bill. Remember when the server said I could add on fries for $2 ans I asked if I could do tater tot’s instead? And she shrugged and said sure? Apparently that meant yes, I COULD get tater tots instead but what she failed to say was that that they would NOT be $2, because on the bill they were the full cost of $7.95. What a night to leave my shrug decoder ring at home. Dammit.

I also had ordered a short drink on my last round but we were charged for four talls. I mean, $6.00 for a tequila soda wasn’t terrible in any form so we didn’t complain, but I guess I should’ve just gotten the extra liquid in that last one. And she also didn’t charge me for the added cheese and mushrooms that they’re supposed to on the burger special, which kind of puts us within a few dollars of evening out on the extra charge for the tater tots I guess?

I was a journalism major, folks. Special menu word problem math is hard.

Overall still a solid pick with decent menu options and service that has improved over the years. There are still a good number of regulars that seem to take over the bar area but even at a table on the other side of the room this time around we didn’t feel like we were ignored or left with empty glasses for too long.

Picked by: Steph