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Foods from Social Restaurant
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Jun 16
Me and a friend visited Social for a late supper (9:30) on a Saturday night.
There was a bit of confusion as to who was going to serve us, but once they figured it out, the service was good. The server came back to check on us and was good about refilling our wine glasses.
We split a bottle of chardonnay and I ordered the calamari appetizer (well cooked, interestingly spiced with cumin, among other things) followed by the tuna main course. The tuna was a generously sized steak and was also cooked right (seared & rare). I found the sides quite good as well but there could have been more of them.
My companion ordered two small plates: the tomato salad and the charcuterie, which he said he both enjoyed.
The atmosphere was chic and loungy and I really enjoyed the music playing. It was loud but not so loud that we couldn't hear each other talk.
It's rather on the pricy side, but expected given the type of restaurant it is.
Overall, we enjoyed our experience and would go back.
There was a bit of confusion as to who was going to serve us, but once they figured it out, the service was good. The server came back to check on us and was good about refilling our wine glasses.
We split a bottle of chardonnay and I ordered the calamari appetizer (well cooked, interestingly spiced with cumin, among other things) followed by the tuna main course. The tuna was a generously sized steak and was also cooked right (seared & rare). I found the sides quite good as well but there could have been more of them.
My companion ordered two small plates: the tomato salad and the charcuterie, which he said he both enjoyed.
The atmosphere was chic and loungy and I really enjoyed the music playing. It was loud but not so loud that we couldn't hear each other talk.
It's rather on the pricy side, but expected given the type of restaurant it is.
Overall, we enjoyed our experience and would go back.
Feb 16
We had visited Social soon after it opened and weren't impressed with its pretentiousness and amateurishly overdone flavours. That was about 8 years ago though, so we were cautiously optimistic when we visited with friends last night.
Positives: Our server was professional, friendly, and pleasantly formal. Drinks were awesome! The menu highlights local ingredients, although saying "Kevin's bread" instead of Art-is-In struck me as a little too high on the foodie-insider snobbiness scale. Wifey's frites that came with her steak were possibly the best we've had anywhere (portion was tiny though). My slow-roasted crispy duck leg was extremely tasty, although too salty and others might consider it too dried out (the confit should offset that). My in-house smoked salmon appetizer was nice too, but I wasn't expecting a dryish hunk of fish. I guess it makes sense that if they're doing it in-house it would have to be hot smoked. Great flavour though! (Their online menu differs a bit, but I see they have a smoked trout that is specifically described as being "hot smoked". It's possible the salmon was also described as hot smoked, which would mean that my surprise was entirely my own fault.) And when they served our meals they didn't offer fresh ground pepper. ;-)
Negatives: Hostess was somewhat unprofessional (e.g. "You might as well follow me too" when showing two parties to their respective tables). The Art-is-In bread was sliced too thin and was dried out. They served the bread to each diner with tongs but never came back to offer more! Waters were never refilled -- a crime which the universally high salt levels made more heinous. My wife was having trouble sawing through her steak, so she asked for a steak knife. The server replied, "You already have a steak knife, but maybe this one will be better." The replacement looked exactly like its predecessor but did a far superior job of cutting the meat! WTF?? Main dishes were devoid of starch, likely to ensure that diners are hungry for dessert.
Recommendations to Social: If it isn't already done (see above), specify "hot-smoked salmon, served cool" on the menu to eliminate any confusion. When people see smoked salmon, they expect the more common cold smoked lox style stuff. Cut down on the salt a little. Offer refills of water and bread. I see Social excelling in the same arena as Metropolitain -- a trendy environment where one can enjoy a basket of awesome frites (if such a thing were offered), a nice appetizer, and some incredible drinks.
Social has a reputation for seating the most attractive clients in the front window to maintain a certain image. Needless to say, we were seated at the far rear of the restaurant against a little window on the back wall. ;-) I offered to sit next to the window because I like it cold while I eat, but it would have been intolerably chilly for most people.
We decided to skip dessert because of time constraints, so I can't comment on that.
Summary: Come for the drinks. They rival the best anywhere.
Positives: Our server was professional, friendly, and pleasantly formal. Drinks were awesome! The menu highlights local ingredients, although saying "Kevin's bread" instead of Art-is-In struck me as a little too high on the foodie-insider snobbiness scale. Wifey's frites that came with her steak were possibly the best we've had anywhere (portion was tiny though). My slow-roasted crispy duck leg was extremely tasty, although too salty and others might consider it too dried out (the confit should offset that). My in-house smoked salmon appetizer was nice too, but I wasn't expecting a dryish hunk of fish. I guess it makes sense that if they're doing it in-house it would have to be hot smoked. Great flavour though! (Their online menu differs a bit, but I see they have a smoked trout that is specifically described as being "hot smoked". It's possible the salmon was also described as hot smoked, which would mean that my surprise was entirely my own fault.) And when they served our meals they didn't offer fresh ground pepper. ;-)
Negatives: Hostess was somewhat unprofessional (e.g. "You might as well follow me too" when showing two parties to their respective tables). The Art-is-In bread was sliced too thin and was dried out. They served the bread to each diner with tongs but never came back to offer more! Waters were never refilled -- a crime which the universally high salt levels made more heinous. My wife was having trouble sawing through her steak, so she asked for a steak knife. The server replied, "You already have a steak knife, but maybe this one will be better." The replacement looked exactly like its predecessor but did a far superior job of cutting the meat! WTF?? Main dishes were devoid of starch, likely to ensure that diners are hungry for dessert.
Recommendations to Social: If it isn't already done (see above), specify "hot-smoked salmon, served cool" on the menu to eliminate any confusion. When people see smoked salmon, they expect the more common cold smoked lox style stuff. Cut down on the salt a little. Offer refills of water and bread. I see Social excelling in the same arena as Metropolitain -- a trendy environment where one can enjoy a basket of awesome frites (if such a thing were offered), a nice appetizer, and some incredible drinks.
Social has a reputation for seating the most attractive clients in the front window to maintain a certain image. Needless to say, we were seated at the far rear of the restaurant against a little window on the back wall. ;-) I offered to sit next to the window because I like it cold while I eat, but it would have been intolerably chilly for most people.
We decided to skip dessert because of time constraints, so I can't comment on that.
Summary: Come for the drinks. They rival the best anywhere.
2007 Dec 16
I had lunch here at a work function last week. I've frequented the lounge in the past because they have a great drink menu and I really dig the posh atmosphere, but the food just didn't do it for me. I hadn't eaten here for a few years so I was glad to give it another shot.
Anyhow the lunch was a set menu with soup or salad to start, the usual choices of beef/chicken/fish or a veg dish for a main, and creme brulee or a chocolate dessert. Nothing too exciting - but then again it never is at a work function where you're aiming for mass appeal.
Great soup to start, double smoked bacon and potato. Seasoned perfectly, it went down easy considering it was 20 below and snowing outside. For the main, I had the beef tenderloin medallion with roast potatoes, smoked onion chutney, and Pinot Noir reduction. The chutney was noticeably absent, but the sauce gave life to what otherwise was a bland piece of meat. Dessert - I can't ever say no to a creme brulee. Social's version is vanilla flavoured with orange fennel confit. Great end cap to the meal.
Overall a satisfying experience. Having worked in restaurants I know that group menus frequently do not give a true representation of a restaurant's offerings so I'll have to venture back again for dinner sometime...
Anyhow the lunch was a set menu with soup or salad to start, the usual choices of beef/chicken/fish or a veg dish for a main, and creme brulee or a chocolate dessert. Nothing too exciting - but then again it never is at a work function where you're aiming for mass appeal.
Great soup to start, double smoked bacon and potato. Seasoned perfectly, it went down easy considering it was 20 below and snowing outside. For the main, I had the beef tenderloin medallion with roast potatoes, smoked onion chutney, and Pinot Noir reduction. The chutney was noticeably absent, but the sauce gave life to what otherwise was a bland piece of meat. Dessert - I can't ever say no to a creme brulee. Social's version is vanilla flavoured with orange fennel confit. Great end cap to the meal.
Overall a satisfying experience. Having worked in restaurants I know that group menus frequently do not give a true representation of a restaurant's offerings so I'll have to venture back again for dinner sometime...
2007 Sep 18
Posh atmosphere and a nice bar. I haven't eaten here for quite some time, but I do remember having steak frites for lunch and it wasn't that memorable. The servers here are extremely knowledgeable and courteous. Great place for an après-work cocktail.
2007 Jan 5
I've been here twice for dinner, both times in the summer on the patio. The atmosphere both inside and out are fab, but the food is hit and miss. I've heard people I know rave about their food but both times we were there, everyone in my party was disappointed with something. Either the chicken tasted like it had a salt shaker spill open on top of it, the steak was so encrusted with pepper corns that you were choking on them, or the pasta was swimming in oil. It was disappointing especially since our meal went for almost $100 each with wine. the desserts were good and the salad was pretty tasty though. The servers were mostly attentive (although not all) and the pre-dinner drinks were lip smacking.
I am willing to try it again if someone can offer up some other redeemable qualities that I have overlooked (the bathrooms are cool too). Otherwise my money is better spent elsewhere. Too bad because I love the ultra-modern decor and they play lounge music to match.
I am willing to try it again if someone can offer up some other redeemable qualities that I have overlooked (the bathrooms are cool too). Otherwise my money is better spent elsewhere. Too bad because I love the ultra-modern decor and they play lounge music to match.
2006 Dec 11
Ate at Social last night with a friend. We had bought the "Dinner and Dance" package for the NAC. It was $100 (taxes in) for a 3 course meal at Social, plus tickets to the Nutcracker (balcony seats).
The price would be different of course based on the show/seats that you pick and there are also packages with Medithéo and Kinki which I think are also different prices.
Very cool idea and it was a great night!
Anyways - the meal was good. You had the choice between a braised lamb soup or a green salad with apples and shaved parmesan. We each got the opposite and shared. Both very good.
Our mains were the salmon and the chicken. Also both good. I had the salmon which was nice and crispy (how I like it), but the wild rice it was on was either not cooked enough or was overcooked and was really hard and crunchy.
(There were two other mains - a beef or a vegetarian portobello mushroom wellington).
Dessert was either a vanilla creme brule or a chocolate concoction. Again we each got one and shared. Both delicious.
They have a set menu for this promotion and the dinner is at 5:00pm and then you go straight over for the show which usually starts around 7:00.
The price would be different of course based on the show/seats that you pick and there are also packages with Medithéo and Kinki which I think are also different prices.
Very cool idea and it was a great night!
Anyways - the meal was good. You had the choice between a braised lamb soup or a green salad with apples and shaved parmesan. We each got the opposite and shared. Both very good.
Our mains were the salmon and the chicken. Also both good. I had the salmon which was nice and crispy (how I like it), but the wild rice it was on was either not cooked enough or was overcooked and was really hard and crunchy.
(There were two other mains - a beef or a vegetarian portobello mushroom wellington).
Dessert was either a vanilla creme brule or a chocolate concoction. Again we each got one and shared. Both delicious.
They have a set menu for this promotion and the dinner is at 5:00pm and then you go straight over for the show which usually starts around 7:00.
Mojitos [3]
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Martinis [2]
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My Mom's a Foodie
gold
Needless to say the service was less than impressive the food was ok.
I ordered the beef tenderloin that came with baby potatoes, carrots, a nice jus and blue cheese butter. All was well executed but even though I knew when I ordered it, it was pretty basic. Sometimes though you just need a big piece of beef:)
Everyone else seemed to enjoy their food although not much was said so I don't think anyone was overly impressed.
Unfortunately my plan was to order aps & desserts throughout the evening after I had a base for all of the drinks we planned to partake in but because of the slow service we went elsewhere.
I had a glass of the Seaview sparkling which is always a nice refreshing drink to start off the evening. I have in the past ordered the Cave Springs sparkling which is fantastic! I also had a nice Valpolicella from Luigi Righetti which was nice.
Unfortunately I really have nothing else wonderful to add. Didn't get to experience much because of the previously mentioned service issue.