Originally Posted by
JBord
My wife recently met a friend for dinner and, while waiting, ordered a vodka (don't blame me) martini from the bar. She received the martini and a side...kind of like you get a small beer back with a bloody mary. Thinking it odd, but assuming it was the vermouth so she could stir in her own level of "wet", she asked the bartender, who informed her they don't carry vermouth and their "martinis" are just vodka. So she received a glass of vodka - with olives - and a side of vodka. Personally, if I were there, I would have then asked for a glass of club soda and a lime on the house!
The "side" might be their effort at making a martini "club style" which is where a bit under half of the martini is served in a small glass itself on crushed ice in order to stay cool while the guest drinks the first bit. It's 30-40 years out of fashion, but you still see it occasionally.