Excellent atmosphere with excellent food to match. I've eaten here over a dozen times the past two years and each time has been wonderful. My girlfriend had her birthday in the back bar area, I've brought my parents here and I've attend a few meetups and Social Eatery has stood the test of time. I only have great things to say about my experiences and I hope they continue to impress.
(5)
Imelda M.
The disappointing experience started right upon arrival...the blonde hostess (in the turquoise top) greeted us with "do you have a reservation"...odd, no hello, good evening etc. she proceeded to guide our party of three adults and three young adults (my nephews are 15, 13 and 11) to the patio bypassing the main dining room. It was quickly evident that they did not want what they considered children in the main dining area where there were plenty of empty tables...no, we were not deemed worthy of that honor. Sadly our dinner was enjoyed (not) under a rigid awning while a pounding and loud rain made conversation very difficult and the humidity unbearable. We asked our server, a very nice young lady, why we couldn't be seated in the main dining area and she looked very uncomfortable trying to explain that there were no tables large enough, etc...we decided to stay only because my nephews started to feel they were the reason for this behavior and I certainly did not want to aggravate the situation. The food was less than mediocre and while our server was lovely and attentive it would not be enough to bring us back. Plenty of restaurants in Sarasota to enjoy, this one will not be around long. Had the same experience at Derek's a few years back...where are they now??? WARNING if you have children, stay away from Social.
(1)
Alek K.
I agree with an earlier review - 4-5 stars for atmosphere and service, but the food leaves much to be desired. That said, we came here twice we enjoyed the atmosphere and the service so much. The decor is modern and comfortable at the same time, the waitresses in their white dresses are pleasing to the eye, friendly, and professional. The cocktails were actually pretty good too. But the food is really mediocre at best. I had the rack of lamb that was supposed to be medium rare, but was well done. The risotto was watery, and even the pizzas were so-so. We'll probably still be back next vacation - hopefully they'll improve by then.
(3)
Mary W.
LOVE the atmosphere and I have always received exceptional service. The bartenders know the drink menu inside out and will help you pick the perfect drink!
(5)
Katie R.
Great Drinks. Awesome Bartender. But the food left something to be desired. I like it, but didn't love it. We had the tuna tar tar, the calamari, bruschetta, and the scallop appetizers. I liked the tuna and the calamari was good. The scallops were too salty. The food was just okay overall, will definitely come back for drinks!
(4)
Chuck L.
I found myself in Social on a musty Saturday at high noon. I had a coffee, and ordered the Cheeseburger pizza. Throw out all preconceived notions about pizza. This pizza has a cheeseburger built into it. That's right, a fuggin cheeseburger. It was delicious and filled up my belly. Most importantly the bathroom was straight gorg! I was able to relax and write this review in in. This is Chuck Longly signing off. Happy Yelping
(4)
Tina P.
I finally checked this one off the list. I love the interior. We sat at the outside bar in the back and only had cocktails. They had a unique selection of food so I'll definitely be back to try more!
(4)
Nick H.
Good drinks and better service. This place made me feel like I was at a hidden local spot in Hollywood Hills Ca. Thanks and I will be back!
(5)
Cassandra S.
Great experience having dinner here. The wine was fabulous. My boyfriend drink, a sort of grapefruit Manhattan, was out of control. The Mac and cheese blew my mind, as week a anything else we ordered. Great service also.
(5)
Mario V.
You probably shouldn't publish on your website that your open until 3:00 pm and then turn people away that show up at 2:15. People might have traveled a ways to get there & That's just bad business! Great first impression!
(1)
Kelsea K.
Good food, nice environment!
(4)
S.J. M.
As someone who frequents Social on a regular basis, I cannot express enough how much I love this restaurant! The food is perfection. The staff is warm and attentive. The ambiance is unique. Allina and her staff go above and beyond for their guests. Usually, I remember to make a reservation, but when I don't, and there's a wait, it's usually no more than 15-20 minutes, and the bar area (inside and out) is always inviting while you wait. Even out of season, Social is busy. It's perfect for a group of friends or family (make sure to call for reservations with a headcount), but also it's intimate and romantic for a date night. When you're at Social, they treat you like family and bend over backwards to meet your needs. I'll be a patron of Social for years to come.
(5)
P+K C.
Enjoying the stars eating outdoors at Social. Very trendy while casual with delicious food. The ragu bolognese with tagliatelle pasta was outstanding, as was the black grouper with al dente veggies.
(4)
Lindsay G.
Had a friend's 40th bday party on the outdoor patio here and had a great experience! The bartenders were super friendly, drinks were great (i had the Moscow mule), and the food was super tasty. We shared apps as a group so we enjoyed the calimari, cheese tray, and bruchetta. My hubs' thought the portion was a little small for the carbonara...order two if you're really hungry! :)
(5)
Romie S.
Exceptional! The food, the drinks, the service, etc. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Patty D.
Great food, Menu, and service. Unique dishes, but not weird stuff. Great vegetarian items. Love this place.
(5)
Laura F.
Had dinner at Social the other night and it was totally yum! My parents had been there a number of times, and repeatedly tried to get my husband and I to try it out, and I can't believe we put it off for so long. As good as the food and drinks were, the atmosphere was comfy, sophisticated. I just saw they have a Bloody Mary bar on Sat. This will be my new "go to place!" Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Lainchen F.
4-5 stars for atmosphere; but sadly 2 stars for food. Looking at their web site, I was really psyched to head here with a friend's parents before hitting a show in the area. I mean, her parents are in their 70s and this place is pretty hip! Loved the atmosphere. Visiting from Chicago, it's always fun to eat outside in March, and their side patio is just lovely with cool succulents and mirrors along the wall. Looks like they have a retractable roof too. And the lounge in back looked cozy and fire-pitty, perfect for late evening. Only saw the inside to use the restrooms; perhaps a little deafening, but really nice mod decor. But the food. :( Here's our summary: Drinks: a wine, a beer (both fine), a basil cosmo (not a generous pour, but decent), and a beer cocktail (beautiful presentation, tasted like watered down beer and fruit juice) Food: shared the pretzel-dusted calamari. Even though we couldn't figure out where there was pretzel dust involved at all, it was a decent pile of fried stuff with very nice presentation (considering it was a pile of fried stuff, after all). Then we shared two pizzas and two types of meatballs. Buffalo mozzarella/roasted tomato/arugula pizza was pretty terrible. The server did warn us that "the cheese was not melted on top" -- but she should have said "the whole thing is served ice cold, including the roasted tomatoes, so unless you want a salad on cold bread, order something else". They basically took a lovely Napoli-style crust and ruined it by piling a bunch of cold arugula, tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella on top. The other pizza was something with cheese, bacon and potato, which was fine but nothing remarkable. The meatballs were fine; again nothing remarkable (we ordered veggie and traditional). They come with salad or fries, which is nice for people avoiding bread or carbs (or you can order as a sandwich). But they were both pretty plain, and didn't get finished. So all in all, a really pretty place for drinks (and decent service); but carefully on the food.
(3)
Sandy W.
Great ambiance inside and a wonderful outdoor patio area as well. It's a little loud inside but I guess that's normal when the place is full. The cocktail menu is expansive. I ordered the gin and St Germain martini. It was perfect. If you like curry, I suggest the shrimp & curry small plate. The black grouper entree was served in a lemon caper sauce and small sliced carrots. It was a perfect combination. I can't wait to go again. Make a reservation, especially on the weekend because this is a popular place.
(5)
Zak J.
Definitely recommend! Our waitress was Darby, she was very knowledgable on the menu and gave great service. Food was well priced and delicious. Bartender even took time to make a drink crafted to my taste
(5)
Tod M.
Soooooo damn slow tonight... Wow waitress is not good. No bread didn't read us specials no bread plates... Drinks sit empty for close to 30 minutes... Not coming back!!
(2)
Tim R.
When a tort lawyer, a flight attendant and a ski bum decide to open a restaurant in Sarasota together, Social is the result. From this unlikely combination a carefully understated mission arose: "By...taking a creative and innovative approach to Italian-American cuisine, we hope to provide unforgettable cuisine..." "Our goal in creating such a restaurant...features this new approach to Italian comfort food, as well as incredible specialty drinks..." "Social Eatery & Bar takes an inventive and original approach to traditional Italian-American comfort food..." This story reminds me of Salvador Dali. Dali, like many artists, was only partially accepted in his lifetime. All that dreamlike surrealist imagery confronted people, offended some and downright puzzled others. The point about Dali is that as well as being visually visionary he was an accomplished draftsman, a master of perspective and quite able to draw in the traditional style. He could create crazy because he had the foundation from which to build. Social is no Dali. When you expound (at length) about your adoration of Italian food, serving a "ragù bolognese" that a fellow diner compared (unfavorably) to Chef Boyardee dings your credibility. Likewise, a salad of arugula with salmon was almost absurdly unbalanced, with a minnow-like chunk of fish perched on a gargantuan pile of green. All of our dishes had some kind of bum note. Maybe the kitchen really was aiming for Dali, but there isn't one restaurant south of the Gotthard Tunnel where you'd find such an indelicate touch. Italian food (or Italian comfort food, which varies from the other, uncomfortable version I know not how) doesn't need fixing. Or if you absolutely must charge punters for a "...creative and innovative approach..." then please find someone who knows the fundamentals of cooking, plating and serving. Social, perhaps; better called Dilettante. Worthy of two stars. One removed because the plaintiffs' bar costs us all billions.
(1)
Mare G.
I really wanted to love this place. We went for lunch and the menu was not what we were expecting from what we saw online. The venue itself is very cool but the service was terribly slow and the food was not good. I ordered the pastrami crossoint and hubby got the hamburger pizza. He had something hard in his pizza and it was just overall pretty gross. My crossoint wasn't light and fluffy and just too hot and gooey for a hot summer day. Their dinner menu looks so cool we may give that a try but unfortunately now this place will not be top of mind.
(2)
Maggie L.
I've only eaten here a few times, but have came quite a few times for drinks. Wow, this place has some great cocktails! Very good bartenders and servers. My favorite are the beer cocktails, specifically the Red Head, and the Grapefruit Old Fashioned is also very good. They also kill it with the atmosphere, great vibes and very modern but still cozy. The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is because you're pretty much forced to do valet parking (even though it's complementary, you should still tip them and I don't like anyone but me parking my car) Also because, there is no happy hour, good deals and/or specials.
(4)
Sandy D.
The layout and decor are excellent. The outdoor seating is particularly conducive to hosting a birthday party or small event. Service was on par. Our server was very attentive and discussed the menu at length with us. We ended up starting with the charcuterie -which was just "okay." The cheeses were served cold (should be served at room temp), making them difficult to cut, but the preserved meats were varied and delicious.The entrees were just "okay" really not exceptional.
(4)
Alexandra B.
My husband wanted to go here for his birthday. We invited a few friends to join us. Started at the bar. The drinks were very well crafted with fresh ingredients and nice liquors, however, they all Started at $9 which was kind of high. I ordered a glass of wine, nothing to write home about and very small for the price. We sat in the outdoor dining area which was nice even though it was a little crowded. our server may have been busy, we waited a long time to order and receive fresh drinks. Appetizers were just ok. The meat and cheese platter left a lot to be desired for $20. A few chunks of Parmesan, some brie, and a few slices of meats. The scallops and mac n cheese lacked flavor. For dinner I had the Gorgonzola pizza which was overpowering. A little Gorgonzola goes a long way. My friend got the veggie meatballs which were lost in a sauce, mushy and just tasted like ginger and carrots. The steaks the rest of the party ordered were just ok, lots and lots of sauce, so much so it was hard to see the steaks. I liked the atmosphere and even though the drinks were expensive I would go back for a cocktail at the bar. I will not sit and eat. Sorry, I hate giving a negative review but I had high hopes for this place and for what we paid it did not live up to my expectations.
(2)
Michael C.
We thought the physical plant was charming . The wait staff highly professional....but the food was average. Our ""shared"platter of calamari was greasy. My wife had a pasta dish which was O.K. My chicken was cooked to perfection....but no WOW factor. A tantalizing menu...but the implementation was short of the mark.
(3)
Joey D.
The chefs special pizza or #10 is great when it's got eggplants in it. Service & quality are reliable attributes; especially when eating late. Good food is hard to find late in sarasota.
(5)
Tim W.
Social has a great outdoor bar area but everything was overpriced. If it starts to rain, everyone runs for cover near where everyone is eating which makes it a less desirable restaurant. The crowd here seemed very pompous and the whole establishment felt out of place, and not in a good way.
(2)
bill s.
Ambiance GREAT Service Very good Bruschetta Starter - bread a little over cooked, but great flavors, toppings plentiful, nice assortment Corvina Entree - nicely done, brothy not saucy - light large portion Pizza- I am picky and this was nicely done, could have spent another minute in the oven Pricing = very fair, IMHO If you are a carnivore, don't forget to ask what the butcher table special is today.
(4)
Sara S.
Social on First is a newly-opened American/Italian restaurant and lounge bar located across from the old Ceviche on First Street. It's a solid 3 1/2 stars, but alas no half stars on yelp. The restaurant is 3 stars. The bar is 4 stars. First, it's a beautiful, stunning restaurant- very contemporary design with lots of natural wood inside and out. Attire is casual to dressy/trendy. We came for both the food and cocktails, and the group was in agreement that the food was really disappointing, but the drinks and lounge made up for it. We started inside at the restaurant and ordered a number of different plates to sample: vegetable appetizer, volcano pasta, calamari, meatballs, different salads and desserts. The vegetables had to be returned and the calamari tasted like rubber bands in over-fried bland batter. (Update: tried the calamari again tonight and it was MUCH better. There's an equal portion of veggies and shrimp in the bag.) Volcano was okay as was the meatballs, salads and desserts, so my recommendation is to order "safe/fail-proof" items like pasta and salads. The lounge is really its selling point at the moment. We left the restaurant and grabbed the remaining seats outside. What a beautiful open air bar with an unnecessary but attractive fire pit. (It's still SO hot out; it would serve the customers better to put more lounge chairs in to replace the fire pits, so patrons aren't standing around due to the limited seating.) The bartenders are really hustling, making drinks as fast as the crowd was drinking them up. They have a nice selection of craft cocktails. My favorite is the Blueberry Smash Mule, but I still prefer the Blue Mule at Pangea ... Social's drink is strikingly similar to. This one's a bit more gingery, but I still like it. I am looking forward to returning and having cocktails at the lounge on cool nights. My guess is they need to work out the kinks in the kitchen being newly opened. It would be nice to hear some down tempo music in the restaurant and lounge, but they didn't start the music till around 11 pm when we were leaving. It's definitely a beautiful restaurant with a good vibe. I look forward to giving the food another try.
(3)
Mike P.
Ok very good. Like the atmosphere whether in or outside. We had the chicken Marsala which was really light, tasty and very terrific. The server and chef very accommodating on a special request. Wine selection was good and accompanied the dinner choices well. Lily the server had a good sense of the menu and made great recommendations. I recommend.
(4)
H L.
Social has a great atmosphere inside & out. The patio area is HUGE & fantastic for nice weather. Service was great. Calamari plate was HUGE & pretty tasty. The vegetables on the plate could have been a little crisper, but they were not bad by any means. I'm not sure why they call the batter "pretzel" -- I'd say it's more of a tempura batter. Drinks were FABULOUS. And over all it was a great experience!
(4)
Asmi S.
This place is so much fun! I've been to the bar a couple times. The Moscow Mule is the best I've ever had, definitely their specialty. There is a very nice outdoor patio with sofas and fireplaces that makes it very comfortable even when it is a bit chilly outside. Very sophisticated atmosphere, with a bit of an older crowd at times during the week days.
(5)
Emilie M.
Last night was perfect for sitting outdoors, so after a symphony concert we decided to try Social, which gives a 15% discount to symphony patrons--good advertising. The hostess wasn't friendly when we showed up just as they opened, but she did give us a table. Our server eventually found us and we ordered drinks. My wine was skimpy, to say the least, but she promised they do a 5 ounce pour. Okay. After discussion we ordered, pizza for me, veggie meatballs for my husband. About 5:45--we got there at 5, our server, who was clearly slammed, stopped by to say the pizza oven had been turned off by mistake. I asked how long we would have to wait and asked her to find out. She disappeared again. We finally flagged her down again, only to find out it would be another hour before pizza was served. By then we had been there nearly an hour ourselves. Rather than leave I ordered the salmon salad. My husband pointed out that the least they could do was offer me another glass of wine. She said she would check and did return with it. The manager never showed up to apologize or see if there was anything he could do. My salad arrived. Here's what you get: A huge mound of lightly dressed arugula (the dressing is great) and a small piece of salmon complete with skin which seemed to be at best lightly seasoned--I had to ask for salt. There was maybe a teaspoon of shredded onion as garnish. All that for $15. We stopped for ice cream on the way home because, of course, there had been no bread. Just arugula and maybe 3 ounces of bland salmon. I was hungry, but I sure wasn't going to order anything else at Social. As far as what went right? The patio is lovely. Our server was very nice but much too busy. They did, after our own request, give me a glass of wine while I finished more than an hour wait for food. My husband's veggie meatballs were excellent. But will we go back? Not in this lifetime.
(2)
Lauren H.
It was my second time here and I'm not sure I would return. It's a cool atmosphere, but the food is just ok. My previous visit I had a chicken dish that was pretty good. This visit our table split a pizza app and I had the pasta and chicken parm. Nothing worth having again. An okay place if you're in town.
(3)
Stacy C.
This was my first visit. The atmosphere and amazing hand-crafted cocktails will be enough to bring me back but I will be more choosey about what I order. Nothing was bad and I had a few "YUM" moments but the few things that were unimpressive outweighted the impressive ones. Looking back now, it can't be good that the one dish I enjoyed the most was the meat and cheese tray that our table shared that involved little preparation and no cooking what-so-ever. I had the palenta with spinach and mushrooms to start. It was cooked properly but sadly flavorless all the way around. I had a similar impression of the main dish. Then dessert. Wow, I was in heaven for a moment with that chocolate sponge cake....until we dug into the top layer and discovered it tasted like a freezer. Hopefully the next time will be better because I am really loving the feel of this place!
(3)
Diana B.
Great atmosphere and great food! A fun spot to bring out of town guests or meet friends. We love their outdoor fireplace!
(5)
Reep P.
The ambiance, the food, the service, and the drinks, were amazing!
(5)
Haig P.
My wife told me we should try the Social Eatery & Bar for dinner. I read the mixed reviews and expressed some concern. Throwing caution to the wind, we made reservations on Opentable for 7:30 for Saturday. We arrived and were greeted very professionally by two women at an outside podium where you check in. There is valet parking at the front of the restaurant, which is convenient. As I approached, I was impressed with the architecture. The building is very well done and the layout inside is very appealing. We were seated immediately. Nice inside table. Very nice outside area also. The restaurant was busy and a bit noisy. I don't mind this as I like activity on a Saturday night. Server came to our table very graciously. Took our drink orders. Came back with our drink orders. Took our food orders, without writing it down. Always impresses me because I have trouble remembering where I parked the car... I ordered the Caprese Salad and the Grouper Piccata. My wife ordered the Mixed Green Salad and a Wood Fired Pizza with Burrata, Arugula and Cherry Tomatoes. She does not order pizza in a restaurant very much. I asked about it and she said I scared her with the restaurant reviews. Salads came and were very good. My Grouper Piccata was just the right size and done perfectly. It was delicious. I'm happy. My wife is not. Her Wood Fired Pizza is a pizza with cold Burrata, Arugula and Cherry Tomatoes on top. She remarked it was like someone dumped her salad on top of her pizza. We want restaurants to succeed so we decided to say something about this to the staff. We remarked to the server that the menu offered a poor explanation of this Wood Fired Pizza. She understood the issue and told us that Burrata Cheese does not do well in a hot oven. Okay, but I don't think the average customer will know that and then come to the conclusion that the pizza toppings will be cold. The floor manager came to our table and offered his apologies and offered us another pizza or entree. My wife had eaten about 25% of the pizza and her salad so she was not hungry anymore. He was very concerned about our happiness. We told him we were not interested in another meal or compensation and that our only concern was truly about the description so future customers aren't surprised. Next, the restaurant manager came to our table. Again, concern about our happiness. Offers of another meal choice or to take it off our bill. Same response from us. All three people were pitch perfect in their customer responses. All said they would speak to the owners as other people had said the same thing about this pizza choice in the past. We took the remaining pizza home with us. My wife says she will "cook" it for lunch...watch out Burrata Cheese....
(4)
Sarah S.
I have been to this place several times and I keep going back because it has a cool vibe and I keep HOPING the food will improve. Food is just sort of, ok. Biggest complaint, however, is service. All wait staff is about 19 years old and doesn't seem to have a good handle on the menu, they are easily overwhelmed and forget things (err like having to remind about a cocktail three times).
(3)
Joel L.
Excellent ambience, fantastic handcrafted cocktails, and you can make a dinner with three apps. Stay late-an incredibly vibrant bar scene at the back of the restaurant. Comfortable couches fire pits and great conversation. Valet parking of course
(4)
Frank R.
Great place excellent cocktails and the food is the bomb . Good service great good and great drinks in a true New York setting
(4)
Lowell F.
Great food, service, ambiance and value! The most pleasant new restaurant experience I've had in a very long time. The four of us sampled bruschetta, lamb meat balls, pizza and croceta (misspelled for sure! ). All were well beyond expectations. We brought our own wine, so I can't speak TPC their wine list. We all eat out at least four times a week and have eaten in many of the finest restaurants in the world. This now might be my favorite in Sarasota.
(5)
Joanne G.
I just dined at Social for the second time. The ambiance is wonderful and the service is terrific. The calamari (and other veggies) appetizer easily served all four of us. It was greaseless and contained artichoke hearts, sweet potatoes, and olives as well as calamari. Delicious. I had the beet salad and the black ink pasta, yummy. Their cheesecake with fresh berries was a perfect end to the meal. We dined in the open air as it was a beautiful evening.
(5)
Jonas A.
Genuine staff, classy but comfortable ambiance, delicious pasta, and amazing sponge cake. This is just what I needed after a very long day in a series of two weeks on the road in business away from home.
(5)
JW U.
Outstanding concepts eatery with all of the beautiful people serving you inventive cocktails and tasty small plates, with a chic and upscale feel to this trendy winner. BRAVO!
(4)
David Z.
Great atmosphere and food to suit anyone. Eclectic and modern with an indoor outdoor setting. Good service, valet parking and the filet got an excellent rating. I had the chicken parm meatballs. Will definitely return to try something else no room for dessert but they sounded great. All local ingredients with organic and free range standard. Excited to come back.
(5)
Jennifer B.
Blueberry mule was on point! I recommend the assortment of bruschetta. It was delicious!
(4)
Martha S.
Was not impressed with the environment. Don't get me wrong if you're into trendy places or a trendy person, then this is your restaurant. I did not enjoy the fact that we almost ate our food standing as one of the wonderful patrons needed her purse to have it's on seat. I guess as a New Yorker I'm spoiled when it comes to restaurants. The best part of the entire experience was the pizza, at least on our visit. Don't think I'll be coming back unless I become self centered.
(1)
DruMiguel E.
Here's my $0.02 (in €uros). Drinks were good, and they had some interesting options with some cool containers to present each cocktail. Menu looked interesting thought I did not eat there that night - I'd like to try the food and come back to hammer out this review a little more soon. Service was dismal though - two of our friends who arrived a little after we ordered our first round o' drinks had to leave because they didn't get any attention from our server, even though we all were in the same table. This was after about 30 minutes of them waiting and being ignored. We were forced to cash out and leave soon after they did.
(2)
Joseph P.
Great drinks, food, and service. We went twice in one week. On our first outing we started with a few drinks at the bar. I had a white Manhattan - excellent. My date had a blueberry mule - also tasty. For dinner we had the bruschetta - nice toasty bread, fresh tomato, onions, basil, and garlic. For dinner I had the Italian sausage meatballs and my date had the veggie "meatballs." I really enjoyed the Italian sausage - tender, a little spice, and a simple red gravy. The veggie balls, not really my thing, were actually tasty. On our second trip we brought along a friend. For drinks, my date abstained (I did not!), my friend had the blueberry mule, which she liked, and I tried the blackberry mojito... it was a tasty drink, but I liked the Manhattan better. We tried the veggie platter as an appetizer... it was different, but enjoyable. Probably wouldn't be my new favorite, but was acceptable... the girls liked it. My date ordered the salmon skewer salad which she reported as quite tasty. Our friend ordered one of the pizzas (which was huge!) and I sampled - pretty, pretty good. I tried the traditional meatballs on pasta and wasn't disappointed. Service was flawless and the staff was friendly. The interior is hard to define - slick, cool, trendy, a bar in a dojo? It can get loud inside, but it was too chilly to sit outside. This will become a regular destination for us. Give it a try!
(5)
Lynn J.
Pros 1. Nice atmosphere...reminds me of a SoBe rooftbop bar 2. Cute, attractive staff esp at the outside bar 3. Interesting drink menu Cons 1. Stuffy clientele but that's Sarasota for you... 2. It's a little too intimate...I wasn't able to have a thought provoking discussion about white patriarchy w/out having others seated across the outdoor courtyard looking on in disapproval. The drinks were strong enough to induce such talk. A discussion is between two people not the whole place. I'm mostly able to talk candidly in other establishments w/out worry of other patrons listening in.
(3)
DeAnna L.
Love their craft cocktails. It's the unofficial Vanderpump bar of Florida. I like the outdoor patio and I order the strawberry kale salad every time. Try the spiked Orangina or the Watermelon Jalepeno Margarita.
(5)
Kenny S.
So this place is actually pretty cool. The bar tenders are pretty great and a few of them have actually impressed me with their knowledge of liquor (which is not easy to do). Their drink list is really interesting and their recipes are quite good (their white manhattan was quite impressive). When I walked in... The crowd felt a bit like I was in NJ... If gold chains, hair gel and a sense of self-entitlement are your scene you'll fit right in. That being said, the pale is pretty cool weirdos aside. The food is actually pretty good too! The meatballs are delicious. The pizza is great and definitely try the pumpkin ravioli. Bottom line, this place is pretty great... Just stay away from the Jersey Shore losers.
(4)
Lauren M.
Unlike other "hip" Sarasota places, this place has a great vibe and nice people working here. I agree with other posters that they are woefully understaffed. We ordered drinks, took forever! I ended up ordering my next glass of wine when the first came. Then we ordered charcuterie and cheese for the table. Someone other than our waiter brought it out because he was too busy and they did not stick around to tell us which cheese and which meat was what. That was frustrating. Salads looked good, if overdressed. My pasta said spicy on the menu, and it lived up to that. Almost too much. I didn't pay much attention to my dining companions entrees, but they liked the lamb meatballs and someone had a pasta too, which was finished. I would certainly return if they added a couple servers. they remained pleasant even though they had too many tables. It was obvious. If you are going to sell yourself as artisanal and knowledgeable, mgmt needs to realize this takes time, and the number of tables you can effectively serve is reduced. I'm headed back to SRQ in April and will bring the family here. The pizza looked good and there's a ton of appealing food on the menu. Just get the service right! Your staff is drowning.
(4)
Erin H.
Tried the place a second time and it started off with the hostess seating us at a wet table half in the rain. Then when we requested a dry indoor table they said it was for the next party of 6. Finally we were sat and my water glass had lipstick on it (I don't wear lipstick). My seafood risotto was okay except for the rock I bit into. Had great company but doubt I'll be back.
(2)
Margarett R.
I like this place for the atmosphere. If you want to have a drink out back in the outside living room area be sure to walk up to the bar to get your drinks because they don't do a great job of coming around to get you another round. And sometimes it is hard to even get that first round going even when there is not a crowd. Not sure why that is but I am going to give this place a pass because I really like the atmosphere. The bar menu is interesting but I get tired of reading really long drink descriptions. Shorten that stuff up please. I love that I can sit there for hours and enjoy myself just visiting with a friend chatting in a relaxed comfortable upscale setting without it feeling stuffy. They also play really good music over the sound system. If you are wanting to get your drinks served more regularly, might I suggest you sit inside at the front bar and let Mark take care of you. He is obviously the most service oriented bar tender they have and very personable. This last item may sound odd but I noticed that they have the nicest disposable hand towels in the ladies room. It is just nice to be able to dry your hands with one nice soft paper hand towel instead of millions of cheap-o crappy ones. No idea if the food is good. I've been there 4 times and only had drinks but I will keep going back because it has this great feel good vibe.
(4)
Jerico B.
Great food, atmosphere, and service! Recommend the calamari and bruschetta for appetizers. Carbonara and number 5 pizza are also some favorites. Weight staff are great and will help with food and drink recommendations or information. For sure a place to eat, drink, and socialize in Downtown Sarasota!
(5)
Jeff H.
Didn't have any of the food, but the cocktails were great. Our bartender (believe his name is Luis) was especially great. We got to talking once I said I was from Philadelphia. He is (inexplicably) a Green Bay Packers fan so he jokingly said we couldn't be friends this weekend (as the Eagles were to play in GB Sunday). We got to chatting all things NFL and became total BFFs. I kid, I kid. But he made a fantastic grapefruit old fashioned and I'm not ashamed to admit that I drank three of them. I also tried the so-called "white Manhattan" on the menu that uses High West Silver Oat Bourbon. Meh. All I could say is that it was "different" and I didn't order another. That's nothing against my boy behind the bar. My date enjoyed several of the elder gin martinis, which I also found delicious. Needless to say, we stumbled back to our hotel feeling happy (and somehow singing the theme to The Neverending Story). I wanted to go back the next night but we ended up rubbing elbows down the street at the Ritz's bar. If the food is good, this place deserves five stars. Although, I did hear a bar-back discussing a recent shake-up in the management, so let's hope things don't change anything on the ol' booze menu. Well, maybe omit that white Manhattan. Drink up, chumps!
(4)
Stella M.
Went for holiday celebration - GREAT - Food unique but very palatable - everything was delicious - ample serving of delightful apps. Grouper entree well prepared and delicate. Staff professional, efficient and loved environment - very festive - hope to return soon.
(5)
Jb M.
I could see possibly giving this place a 4 star in the future, but the start was a bit rocky. Immediately when we were seated the hostess said "I just need to let you know that we have a reservation for this table at 8:30." Since we had a reservation for 7:15, we protested. She kept insisting, but soon another hostess gave over and said something to the effect that she shouldn't have said that to us, so all was well, but it made us apprehensive of what the service might be like . However, our waitstaff was very good, she did not rush us. Since we were catching up with old friends we didn't want to feel rushed, and frankly for most of the evening, particularly when we left there were empty tables. The food was 3 to 4 star. The space is 5 in my book. The outdoor feel to covered dining is great. It's definitely a place I'll try again.
(3)
Keith K.
Great Pizza and Tremendous meatballs! Nice spot for anyone looking for good food and upper-casual atmosphere. Very convenient to the Ritz.
(4)
Kim F.
Great Ambiance, cool, hip vibe. Great bartenders! Love the whole feel. It could be so much more if the food was professionally prepared. Needs better tasting food. No flavor, mismatch choices of food. All good foods items in theory, however just not hitting it right or commingling to best potential. Maybe due to being new and needs to mature. REALLY want to see this place stay around but concerned it will lose repeat customers if they don't address food issues. Tried it with friends 3 times not planning on going back to eat maybe drinks, until I hear food has improved. Armature food.
(2)
Jay C.
Did not eat here - only stopped in for a couple drinks after dinner. We enjoyed sitting outside near an outdoor fire pit. It was a bit busy and the bartender was clearly overwhelmed and could have used some help. Fun place to pop into for one or two on your tour of downtown some evening.
(3)
Vera H.
I LOVE this place! Awesome hipster atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Sarasota. The bar has amazing unique drinks with organic ingredients. Try the pear mojito, redhead beer cocktail, or white chai martini!!! The food is also phenomenal. The bruschetta is to die for as is the pizza (if you like mushrooms, #3 is your choice.) The pasta is also great, and there's a whole "meatballeria" menu. Will go back time and time again!
(5)
Todd M.
Great food and service. Excellent drink menu. This is a perfect restaurant to get a feel for the hip foodie scene in SRQ
(5)
Krista G.
really a 4.5 and only because the bartender recommended a drink for me after hearing I was interested in one of the beer cocktails but couldn't order it because it has vodka in it *and I do not drink vodka after too many vodka cranberries in college* so I ordered her recommendation & after one sip had to return it. It had nectarine vodka in it. Anyway she remade the cocktail without & it was very good, my hubby had a bramble which he said was better than State Street's. The pizza was delicious as was the volcano (meatball) appetizer. We will be back for sure.
(5)
S L.
Me and friends met on the Wed. before Thanksgiving. The place was busy. Looks like another trendy SRQ joint for a little while. The place itself is really nice, classy looking with a South Beach style. We sat outside where the sofas are by the fire. The waitress took our drink order...she literally came back in 15 minutes with something about the liquor that I asked was not available in the outside bar so apparently had to go to the inside bar to get it. Oookaaay! So, when I finally did get me drink, it was just okay lacking in liquor and no lime as I asked for. The calamari app with all the veggies were not to bad but lacked flavor or salt. After 30 min waiting for another drink the waitress was nowhere to be found. So me and my friend proceed to get a drink at the bar. Then she saw us waiting at the bar and asked if we needed anything else ( she was just standing at the side of the bar looking pretty I guess). Well, she came back to the table and took all out orders again. Btw, no napkins for any of our drinks, no hospitality like "how was everything" "would you like another drink" Nada! Very stuck-up attitude, not hospitable at all. All I can say is if they want this place to succeed, keep it real. This is not South Beach! Work on your menu for a little more flavors, hire knowledgable, interesting or at the very least a nice wait staff. I would go back and try again because it does have potential and it's new so to be fair I'd try it again.
(2)
Caroline E.
Slow service, expensive drinks, wouldn't give us an extra chair for our 5th person, and one bathroom stall with long lines. Won't come back. *update: decided to come back and give it another shot for a friends birthday (the same week). Just as you suspected, it's still the worst. Portions are way too large for one person and there is a hardly a menu to choose from. I ordered a pizza and asked for a side of ranch. There was no ranch. Our waitress was a bimbo and our service was still poor. Definitely not coming back this time.
(1)
Heather S.
Excellant service, drinks and food. We enjoyed everything about the restaurant and will definitely be coming back and recommending this to our friends. Richard, the bartender was excellent in accommodating all of our requests and even making drinks based on particular palates. Everything about this place is fresh, from the food, to the fruits that make the drinks.
(5)
Amie W.
I made a reservation through Open Table for a Saturday night at 7:30. The restaurant was full when we arrived, and we were happy to have a drink at the bar whir we waited. Forty-five minutes later, after we watched many people come in and get seated before us, I complained to the two hostesses. They told me that (1) because we booked through Open Table, we were automatically assigned to a particular table that was not yet available, and that (2) the people who had come in and been seated as we were waiting were regulars: "Oh, we know them", they said. We left and went up the street to Jack Dusty, where we had an excellent meal. I will certainly notify Open Table, and will spread the word about how disappointing this experience was for us.
(1)
Stacey M.
Awesome vibe, service and food was very good (not excellent)! Went for my fiance's bday and had 7 sitting outside on couches which is a cool place (reminds me of a hidden West Hollywood gem). Bramble was excellent, veggie balls, pizza, Grouper and Strawberry Kale salad...yum!!
(4)
Tricia F.
Bit disappointed...drinks were okay....we ordered several martinis were delicious (expresso, lemon) but I think the vodka pour must have been very low as absolutely no slight warm martini feel :-(. The appetizers need work. The calamari was greasy and a odd combination of fried zucchini, carrots, caper berries so much so it was difficult to find the small number of calamari pieces. The vegetarian meatballs were good although the cream sauce was a little greasy. On the other hand the grilled salmon salad with roasted red peppers is excellent. The restaurant is beautiful and has very young and helpful staff so I hope the kitchen will be able to step it up over the next few months.
(3)
Molly K.
Interesting drinks and cool ambience. The bramble was ok, and the grapefruit old fashioned was very strong (aka good?). Lots of options for unique cocktails. The outdoor seating was very pretty. The drinks are expensive and the service was a little snobby. A fun place to stop, but I wouldn't plan to spend the whole night there.
(3)
Eri V.
I love the ambiance at Social, especially the outdoor bar/lounge area. Staff is friendly and the craft cocktails are delicious. The bar is still in it's honeymoon phase so be prepared to wait if you go on the weekend. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Tami S.
We enjoyed our dinner so much Saturday we went back Sunday! They have a simple menu that is well thought. You can eat light or full on. They have hand crafted drinks as well. Saturday had there A team on, Sunday....B team :-/ If you go bring a jacket it is open air.
(4)
Jennifer B.
The Bramble drink and the cheese platter are excellent. The service is terrible, took me and my boyfriend 45 to get waited on.
(2)
RaChel F.
The atmosphere here is great, and the food is very good as well (get the veggie balls- whether your vegetarian or not, they are insane!!). There is a retractable roof over the outside seating area that is moved back when the weather is nice. There is a bar inside and outside, which is helpful since the drinks take quite a while to come. My only two negatives would be the service, and the drink pours/time to receive. I've had poor service every time but once that I sat at a table, however have had excellent service at the bar twice. The blueberry smash is delicious, however, they fill the smallish cup full of crushed ice, leaving no room for the drink! The same happens with others, but the best bang for your buck is the bramble. Overall I will go back, but I know what to expect before I go, and will more than likely be at the bar.
(3)
Libbie S.
Nice looking place and our waiter was great. The food has NO flavor at all. We got bruschetta and it just tasted like onions. Then I got a number 3 pizza. It tasted like nothing and it was really burnt. My mother got the ragu pasta. The worst store bought sauce tasted better than this. No salt or pepper on the table so you are stuck with expensive food that is utterly bland. Super bummer.
(1)
Lynn H.
Beautiful place.... Drinks way too pricey... Ok service
(2)
Ashley N.
Blueberry smash mule is EPIC. But the service is slow. =(
(4)
Linda S.
We found this little place through Yelp. Thanks Yelpers! Comfortable, spacious, casual. Really good pizza and a nice place to hang out.
(4)
Denise E.
Very surprised reading these ratings because everything about our experience here last night was wonderful. Excellent service, beautiful, very hip decor and vibe, killer drinks (loved the grapefruit old-fashioned) and great food (calamari and shrimp that we're not in the least greasy, quinoa and beet salad, and the fennel sausage, tomato, and mozz flat bread). We greatly enjoyed the sharing portions. We will be back. Would highly recommend because it's so "modern".
(5)
Shannon P.
I was extremely excited about going here to try it out. I was excited about seeing the building itself because of all the write ups about it. I will say it is beautiful. However, my best advice is to eat dinner at home before you go. I have never left a resturant hungry in my entire life until Saturday night. The place was busy as I expected for a Saturday night at a new resturant and we had to wait...no problem. My husband who has been in the resturant business forever went to the bar to order us drinks, no citron vodka but they could put a lemon in it and it took 2-3 bartenders to figure out how to make a bay breeze. It was obvious that they were hired to look pretty behind the bar but have no idea about basic drink recipes. When we were seated we asked our waitress what she would recommend as the wait staff usually knows the menu inside and out, especially with a new place. She recommended the pretzel dusted calamari and shrimp as well as the pizza with burrata, arugula and cherry tomatoes. Both sounded delish so we ordered both. When the calamari and shrimp came it was soooo over cooked that I might as well have been chewing on one of my car tires, the pizza had about three teaspoons of burrata on it, 4 cherry tomatoes cut in half and piled high with arugula. No dressing, no sauce, no seasoning, nada. The pizza crust was about the caliber of a premade boboli crust you can buy at the grocery store. When she came back to our table, with hardly any food eaten and we asked for our check she didn't even bother to ask if we liked it but I would think it would be obvious from our plates. We left and went to mattisons on Main Street and as always it was excellent. Maybe stop by to see the pretty place and pretty people on your way to actually eat and drink at mattisons.
(1)
Caitlyn A.
Had a great time there on Saturday. First off, the restaurant is fabulous inside and out. Food was good, drinks were creative, wine list was extensive, and service was attentive. We started with cocktails at the bar, then were seated outside--gorgeous! There was a slight chill so they had the heat lamps going. We started with the calamari appetizer and traditional meatballs on potato rolls, then we all got various entrees. I enjoyed the black pasta with shrimp and everyone enjoyed their food. After dinner we went to the lounge in the back, that place is very cool! If nothing else (or if you can't get a table) go to the lounge in the back for a drink. Overall, it was a great night out that ticked every box for a fun dinner out with friends!
(4)
Beach G.
went with a friend from work on the recommendation of a client. we walked in and I immediately love the vibe of the place. very trendy. we say at the bar and had a couple of their specialty cocktails. the basil martini was delicious and refreshing. we ordered a cheese and meat plate which was tasty. I will definitely be going back!
(4)
Mike B.
Superb service with super knowledgable server, fantastic food, great unique drinks and awesome ambiance and decor! The other unfavorable reviews must have been from the opening period. This place rocks! The lounge area is amazing. Just what Sarasota needed.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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Christopher N.
Excellent atmosphere with excellent food to match. I've eaten here over a dozen times the past two years and each time has been wonderful. My girlfriend had her birthday in the back bar area, I've brought my parents here and I've attend a few meetups and Social Eatery has stood the test of time. I only have great things to say about my experiences and I hope they continue to impress.
(5)Imelda M.
The disappointing experience started right upon arrival...the blonde hostess (in the turquoise top) greeted us with "do you have a reservation"...odd, no hello, good evening etc. she proceeded to guide our party of three adults and three young adults (my nephews are 15, 13 and 11) to the patio bypassing the main dining room. It was quickly evident that they did not want what they considered children in the main dining area where there were plenty of empty tables...no, we were not deemed worthy of that honor. Sadly our dinner was enjoyed (not) under a rigid awning while a pounding and loud rain made conversation very difficult and the humidity unbearable. We asked our server, a very nice young lady, why we couldn't be seated in the main dining area and she looked very uncomfortable trying to explain that there were no tables large enough, etc...we decided to stay only because my nephews started to feel they were the reason for this behavior and I certainly did not want to aggravate the situation. The food was less than mediocre and while our server was lovely and attentive it would not be enough to bring us back. Plenty of restaurants in Sarasota to enjoy, this one will not be around long. Had the same experience at Derek's a few years back...where are they now??? WARNING if you have children, stay away from Social.
(1)Alek K.
I agree with an earlier review - 4-5 stars for atmosphere and service, but the food leaves much to be desired. That said, we came here twice we enjoyed the atmosphere and the service so much. The decor is modern and comfortable at the same time, the waitresses in their white dresses are pleasing to the eye, friendly, and professional. The cocktails were actually pretty good too. But the food is really mediocre at best. I had the rack of lamb that was supposed to be medium rare, but was well done. The risotto was watery, and even the pizzas were so-so. We'll probably still be back next vacation - hopefully they'll improve by then.
(3)Mary W.
LOVE the atmosphere and I have always received exceptional service. The bartenders know the drink menu inside out and will help you pick the perfect drink!
(5)Katie R.
Great Drinks. Awesome Bartender. But the food left something to be desired. I like it, but didn't love it. We had the tuna tar tar, the calamari, bruschetta, and the scallop appetizers. I liked the tuna and the calamari was good. The scallops were too salty. The food was just okay overall, will definitely come back for drinks!
(4)Chuck L.
I found myself in Social on a musty Saturday at high noon. I had a coffee, and ordered the Cheeseburger pizza. Throw out all preconceived notions about pizza. This pizza has a cheeseburger built into it. That's right, a fuggin cheeseburger. It was delicious and filled up my belly. Most importantly the bathroom was straight gorg! I was able to relax and write this review in in. This is Chuck Longly signing off. Happy Yelping
(4)Tina P.
I finally checked this one off the list. I love the interior. We sat at the outside bar in the back and only had cocktails. They had a unique selection of food so I'll definitely be back to try more!
(4)Nick H.
Good drinks and better service. This place made me feel like I was at a hidden local spot in Hollywood Hills Ca. Thanks and I will be back!
(5)Cassandra S.
Great experience having dinner here. The wine was fabulous. My boyfriend drink, a sort of grapefruit Manhattan, was out of control. The Mac and cheese blew my mind, as week a anything else we ordered. Great service also.
(5)Mario V.
You probably shouldn't publish on your website that your open until 3:00 pm and then turn people away that show up at 2:15. People might have traveled a ways to get there & That's just bad business! Great first impression!
(1)Kelsea K.
Good food, nice environment!
(4)S.J. M.
As someone who frequents Social on a regular basis, I cannot express enough how much I love this restaurant! The food is perfection. The staff is warm and attentive. The ambiance is unique. Allina and her staff go above and beyond for their guests. Usually, I remember to make a reservation, but when I don't, and there's a wait, it's usually no more than 15-20 minutes, and the bar area (inside and out) is always inviting while you wait. Even out of season, Social is busy. It's perfect for a group of friends or family (make sure to call for reservations with a headcount), but also it's intimate and romantic for a date night. When you're at Social, they treat you like family and bend over backwards to meet your needs. I'll be a patron of Social for years to come.
(5)P+K C.
Enjoying the stars eating outdoors at Social. Very trendy while casual with delicious food. The ragu bolognese with tagliatelle pasta was outstanding, as was the black grouper with al dente veggies.
(4)Lindsay G.
Had a friend's 40th bday party on the outdoor patio here and had a great experience! The bartenders were super friendly, drinks were great (i had the Moscow mule), and the food was super tasty. We shared apps as a group so we enjoyed the calimari, cheese tray, and bruchetta. My hubs' thought the portion was a little small for the carbonara...order two if you're really hungry! :)
(5)Romie S.
Exceptional! The food, the drinks, the service, etc. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)Patty D.
Great food, Menu, and service. Unique dishes, but not weird stuff. Great vegetarian items. Love this place.
(5)Laura F.
Had dinner at Social the other night and it was totally yum! My parents had been there a number of times, and repeatedly tried to get my husband and I to try it out, and I can't believe we put it off for so long. As good as the food and drinks were, the atmosphere was comfy, sophisticated. I just saw they have a Bloody Mary bar on Sat. This will be my new "go to place!" Can't wait to go back!
(5)Lainchen F.
4-5 stars for atmosphere; but sadly 2 stars for food. Looking at their web site, I was really psyched to head here with a friend's parents before hitting a show in the area. I mean, her parents are in their 70s and this place is pretty hip! Loved the atmosphere. Visiting from Chicago, it's always fun to eat outside in March, and their side patio is just lovely with cool succulents and mirrors along the wall. Looks like they have a retractable roof too. And the lounge in back looked cozy and fire-pitty, perfect for late evening. Only saw the inside to use the restrooms; perhaps a little deafening, but really nice mod decor. But the food. :( Here's our summary: Drinks: a wine, a beer (both fine), a basil cosmo (not a generous pour, but decent), and a beer cocktail (beautiful presentation, tasted like watered down beer and fruit juice) Food: shared the pretzel-dusted calamari. Even though we couldn't figure out where there was pretzel dust involved at all, it was a decent pile of fried stuff with very nice presentation (considering it was a pile of fried stuff, after all). Then we shared two pizzas and two types of meatballs. Buffalo mozzarella/roasted tomato/arugula pizza was pretty terrible. The server did warn us that "the cheese was not melted on top" -- but she should have said "the whole thing is served ice cold, including the roasted tomatoes, so unless you want a salad on cold bread, order something else". They basically took a lovely Napoli-style crust and ruined it by piling a bunch of cold arugula, tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella on top. The other pizza was something with cheese, bacon and potato, which was fine but nothing remarkable. The meatballs were fine; again nothing remarkable (we ordered veggie and traditional). They come with salad or fries, which is nice for people avoiding bread or carbs (or you can order as a sandwich). But they were both pretty plain, and didn't get finished. So all in all, a really pretty place for drinks (and decent service); but carefully on the food.
(3)Sandy W.
Great ambiance inside and a wonderful outdoor patio area as well. It's a little loud inside but I guess that's normal when the place is full. The cocktail menu is expansive. I ordered the gin and St Germain martini. It was perfect. If you like curry, I suggest the shrimp & curry small plate. The black grouper entree was served in a lemon caper sauce and small sliced carrots. It was a perfect combination. I can't wait to go again. Make a reservation, especially on the weekend because this is a popular place.
(5)Zak J.
Definitely recommend! Our waitress was Darby, she was very knowledgable on the menu and gave great service. Food was well priced and delicious. Bartender even took time to make a drink crafted to my taste
(5)Tod M.
Soooooo damn slow tonight... Wow waitress is not good. No bread didn't read us specials no bread plates... Drinks sit empty for close to 30 minutes... Not coming back!!
(2)Tim R.
When a tort lawyer, a flight attendant and a ski bum decide to open a restaurant in Sarasota together, Social is the result. From this unlikely combination a carefully understated mission arose: "By...taking a creative and innovative approach to Italian-American cuisine, we hope to provide unforgettable cuisine..." "Our goal in creating such a restaurant...features this new approach to Italian comfort food, as well as incredible specialty drinks..." "Social Eatery & Bar takes an inventive and original approach to traditional Italian-American comfort food..." This story reminds me of Salvador Dali. Dali, like many artists, was only partially accepted in his lifetime. All that dreamlike surrealist imagery confronted people, offended some and downright puzzled others. The point about Dali is that as well as being visually visionary he was an accomplished draftsman, a master of perspective and quite able to draw in the traditional style. He could create crazy because he had the foundation from which to build. Social is no Dali. When you expound (at length) about your adoration of Italian food, serving a "ragù bolognese" that a fellow diner compared (unfavorably) to Chef Boyardee dings your credibility. Likewise, a salad of arugula with salmon was almost absurdly unbalanced, with a minnow-like chunk of fish perched on a gargantuan pile of green. All of our dishes had some kind of bum note. Maybe the kitchen really was aiming for Dali, but there isn't one restaurant south of the Gotthard Tunnel where you'd find such an indelicate touch. Italian food (or Italian comfort food, which varies from the other, uncomfortable version I know not how) doesn't need fixing. Or if you absolutely must charge punters for a "...creative and innovative approach..." then please find someone who knows the fundamentals of cooking, plating and serving. Social, perhaps; better called Dilettante. Worthy of two stars. One removed because the plaintiffs' bar costs us all billions.
(1)Mare G.
I really wanted to love this place. We went for lunch and the menu was not what we were expecting from what we saw online. The venue itself is very cool but the service was terribly slow and the food was not good. I ordered the pastrami crossoint and hubby got the hamburger pizza. He had something hard in his pizza and it was just overall pretty gross. My crossoint wasn't light and fluffy and just too hot and gooey for a hot summer day. Their dinner menu looks so cool we may give that a try but unfortunately now this place will not be top of mind.
(2)Maggie L.
I've only eaten here a few times, but have came quite a few times for drinks. Wow, this place has some great cocktails! Very good bartenders and servers. My favorite are the beer cocktails, specifically the Red Head, and the Grapefruit Old Fashioned is also very good. They also kill it with the atmosphere, great vibes and very modern but still cozy. The only reason this place doesn't get 5 stars is because you're pretty much forced to do valet parking (even though it's complementary, you should still tip them and I don't like anyone but me parking my car) Also because, there is no happy hour, good deals and/or specials.
(4)Sandy D.
The layout and decor are excellent. The outdoor seating is particularly conducive to hosting a birthday party or small event. Service was on par. Our server was very attentive and discussed the menu at length with us. We ended up starting with the charcuterie -which was just "okay." The cheeses were served cold (should be served at room temp), making them difficult to cut, but the preserved meats were varied and delicious.The entrees were just "okay" really not exceptional.
(4)Alexandra B.
My husband wanted to go here for his birthday. We invited a few friends to join us. Started at the bar. The drinks were very well crafted with fresh ingredients and nice liquors, however, they all Started at $9 which was kind of high. I ordered a glass of wine, nothing to write home about and very small for the price. We sat in the outdoor dining area which was nice even though it was a little crowded. our server may have been busy, we waited a long time to order and receive fresh drinks. Appetizers were just ok. The meat and cheese platter left a lot to be desired for $20. A few chunks of Parmesan, some brie, and a few slices of meats. The scallops and mac n cheese lacked flavor. For dinner I had the Gorgonzola pizza which was overpowering. A little Gorgonzola goes a long way. My friend got the veggie meatballs which were lost in a sauce, mushy and just tasted like ginger and carrots. The steaks the rest of the party ordered were just ok, lots and lots of sauce, so much so it was hard to see the steaks. I liked the atmosphere and even though the drinks were expensive I would go back for a cocktail at the bar. I will not sit and eat. Sorry, I hate giving a negative review but I had high hopes for this place and for what we paid it did not live up to my expectations.
(2)Michael C.
We thought the physical plant was charming . The wait staff highly professional....but the food was average. Our ""shared"platter of calamari was greasy. My wife had a pasta dish which was O.K. My chicken was cooked to perfection....but no WOW factor. A tantalizing menu...but the implementation was short of the mark.
(3)Joey D.
The chefs special pizza or #10 is great when it's got eggplants in it. Service & quality are reliable attributes; especially when eating late. Good food is hard to find late in sarasota.
(5)Tim W.
Social has a great outdoor bar area but everything was overpriced. If it starts to rain, everyone runs for cover near where everyone is eating which makes it a less desirable restaurant. The crowd here seemed very pompous and the whole establishment felt out of place, and not in a good way.
(2)bill s.
Ambiance GREAT Service Very good Bruschetta Starter - bread a little over cooked, but great flavors, toppings plentiful, nice assortment Corvina Entree - nicely done, brothy not saucy - light large portion Pizza- I am picky and this was nicely done, could have spent another minute in the oven Pricing = very fair, IMHO If you are a carnivore, don't forget to ask what the butcher table special is today.
(4)Sara S.
Social on First is a newly-opened American/Italian restaurant and lounge bar located across from the old Ceviche on First Street. It's a solid 3 1/2 stars, but alas no half stars on yelp. The restaurant is 3 stars. The bar is 4 stars. First, it's a beautiful, stunning restaurant- very contemporary design with lots of natural wood inside and out. Attire is casual to dressy/trendy. We came for both the food and cocktails, and the group was in agreement that the food was really disappointing, but the drinks and lounge made up for it. We started inside at the restaurant and ordered a number of different plates to sample: vegetable appetizer, volcano pasta, calamari, meatballs, different salads and desserts. The vegetables had to be returned and the calamari tasted like rubber bands in over-fried bland batter. (Update: tried the calamari again tonight and it was MUCH better. There's an equal portion of veggies and shrimp in the bag.) Volcano was okay as was the meatballs, salads and desserts, so my recommendation is to order "safe/fail-proof" items like pasta and salads. The lounge is really its selling point at the moment. We left the restaurant and grabbed the remaining seats outside. What a beautiful open air bar with an unnecessary but attractive fire pit. (It's still SO hot out; it would serve the customers better to put more lounge chairs in to replace the fire pits, so patrons aren't standing around due to the limited seating.) The bartenders are really hustling, making drinks as fast as the crowd was drinking them up. They have a nice selection of craft cocktails. My favorite is the Blueberry Smash Mule, but I still prefer the Blue Mule at Pangea ... Social's drink is strikingly similar to. This one's a bit more gingery, but I still like it. I am looking forward to returning and having cocktails at the lounge on cool nights. My guess is they need to work out the kinks in the kitchen being newly opened. It would be nice to hear some down tempo music in the restaurant and lounge, but they didn't start the music till around 11 pm when we were leaving. It's definitely a beautiful restaurant with a good vibe. I look forward to giving the food another try.
(3)Mike P.
Ok very good. Like the atmosphere whether in or outside. We had the chicken Marsala which was really light, tasty and very terrific. The server and chef very accommodating on a special request. Wine selection was good and accompanied the dinner choices well. Lily the server had a good sense of the menu and made great recommendations. I recommend.
(4)H L.
Social has a great atmosphere inside & out. The patio area is HUGE & fantastic for nice weather. Service was great. Calamari plate was HUGE & pretty tasty. The vegetables on the plate could have been a little crisper, but they were not bad by any means. I'm not sure why they call the batter "pretzel" -- I'd say it's more of a tempura batter. Drinks were FABULOUS. And over all it was a great experience!
(4)Asmi S.
This place is so much fun! I've been to the bar a couple times. The Moscow Mule is the best I've ever had, definitely their specialty. There is a very nice outdoor patio with sofas and fireplaces that makes it very comfortable even when it is a bit chilly outside. Very sophisticated atmosphere, with a bit of an older crowd at times during the week days.
(5)Emilie M.
Last night was perfect for sitting outdoors, so after a symphony concert we decided to try Social, which gives a 15% discount to symphony patrons--good advertising. The hostess wasn't friendly when we showed up just as they opened, but she did give us a table. Our server eventually found us and we ordered drinks. My wine was skimpy, to say the least, but she promised they do a 5 ounce pour. Okay. After discussion we ordered, pizza for me, veggie meatballs for my husband. About 5:45--we got there at 5, our server, who was clearly slammed, stopped by to say the pizza oven had been turned off by mistake. I asked how long we would have to wait and asked her to find out. She disappeared again. We finally flagged her down again, only to find out it would be another hour before pizza was served. By then we had been there nearly an hour ourselves. Rather than leave I ordered the salmon salad. My husband pointed out that the least they could do was offer me another glass of wine. She said she would check and did return with it. The manager never showed up to apologize or see if there was anything he could do. My salad arrived. Here's what you get: A huge mound of lightly dressed arugula (the dressing is great) and a small piece of salmon complete with skin which seemed to be at best lightly seasoned--I had to ask for salt. There was maybe a teaspoon of shredded onion as garnish. All that for $15. We stopped for ice cream on the way home because, of course, there had been no bread. Just arugula and maybe 3 ounces of bland salmon. I was hungry, but I sure wasn't going to order anything else at Social. As far as what went right? The patio is lovely. Our server was very nice but much too busy. They did, after our own request, give me a glass of wine while I finished more than an hour wait for food. My husband's veggie meatballs were excellent. But will we go back? Not in this lifetime.
(2)Lauren H.
It was my second time here and I'm not sure I would return. It's a cool atmosphere, but the food is just ok. My previous visit I had a chicken dish that was pretty good. This visit our table split a pizza app and I had the pasta and chicken parm. Nothing worth having again. An okay place if you're in town.
(3)Stacy C.
This was my first visit. The atmosphere and amazing hand-crafted cocktails will be enough to bring me back but I will be more choosey about what I order. Nothing was bad and I had a few "YUM" moments but the few things that were unimpressive outweighted the impressive ones. Looking back now, it can't be good that the one dish I enjoyed the most was the meat and cheese tray that our table shared that involved little preparation and no cooking what-so-ever. I had the palenta with spinach and mushrooms to start. It was cooked properly but sadly flavorless all the way around. I had a similar impression of the main dish. Then dessert. Wow, I was in heaven for a moment with that chocolate sponge cake....until we dug into the top layer and discovered it tasted like a freezer. Hopefully the next time will be better because I am really loving the feel of this place!
(3)Diana B.
Great atmosphere and great food! A fun spot to bring out of town guests or meet friends. We love their outdoor fireplace!
(5)Reep P.
The ambiance, the food, the service, and the drinks, were amazing!
(5)Haig P.
My wife told me we should try the Social Eatery & Bar for dinner. I read the mixed reviews and expressed some concern. Throwing caution to the wind, we made reservations on Opentable for 7:30 for Saturday. We arrived and were greeted very professionally by two women at an outside podium where you check in. There is valet parking at the front of the restaurant, which is convenient. As I approached, I was impressed with the architecture. The building is very well done and the layout inside is very appealing. We were seated immediately. Nice inside table. Very nice outside area also. The restaurant was busy and a bit noisy. I don't mind this as I like activity on a Saturday night. Server came to our table very graciously. Took our drink orders. Came back with our drink orders. Took our food orders, without writing it down. Always impresses me because I have trouble remembering where I parked the car... I ordered the Caprese Salad and the Grouper Piccata. My wife ordered the Mixed Green Salad and a Wood Fired Pizza with Burrata, Arugula and Cherry Tomatoes. She does not order pizza in a restaurant very much. I asked about it and she said I scared her with the restaurant reviews. Salads came and were very good. My Grouper Piccata was just the right size and done perfectly. It was delicious. I'm happy. My wife is not. Her Wood Fired Pizza is a pizza with cold Burrata, Arugula and Cherry Tomatoes on top. She remarked it was like someone dumped her salad on top of her pizza. We want restaurants to succeed so we decided to say something about this to the staff. We remarked to the server that the menu offered a poor explanation of this Wood Fired Pizza. She understood the issue and told us that Burrata Cheese does not do well in a hot oven. Okay, but I don't think the average customer will know that and then come to the conclusion that the pizza toppings will be cold. The floor manager came to our table and offered his apologies and offered us another pizza or entree. My wife had eaten about 25% of the pizza and her salad so she was not hungry anymore. He was very concerned about our happiness. We told him we were not interested in another meal or compensation and that our only concern was truly about the description so future customers aren't surprised. Next, the restaurant manager came to our table. Again, concern about our happiness. Offers of another meal choice or to take it off our bill. Same response from us. All three people were pitch perfect in their customer responses. All said they would speak to the owners as other people had said the same thing about this pizza choice in the past. We took the remaining pizza home with us. My wife says she will "cook" it for lunch...watch out Burrata Cheese....
(4)Sarah S.
I have been to this place several times and I keep going back because it has a cool vibe and I keep HOPING the food will improve. Food is just sort of, ok. Biggest complaint, however, is service. All wait staff is about 19 years old and doesn't seem to have a good handle on the menu, they are easily overwhelmed and forget things (err like having to remind about a cocktail three times).
(3)Joel L.
Excellent ambience, fantastic handcrafted cocktails, and you can make a dinner with three apps. Stay late-an incredibly vibrant bar scene at the back of the restaurant. Comfortable couches fire pits and great conversation. Valet parking of course
(4)Frank R.
Great place excellent cocktails and the food is the bomb . Good service great good and great drinks in a true New York setting
(4)Lowell F.
Great food, service, ambiance and value! The most pleasant new restaurant experience I've had in a very long time. The four of us sampled bruschetta, lamb meat balls, pizza and croceta (misspelled for sure! ). All were well beyond expectations. We brought our own wine, so I can't speak TPC their wine list. We all eat out at least four times a week and have eaten in many of the finest restaurants in the world. This now might be my favorite in Sarasota.
(5)Joanne G.
I just dined at Social for the second time. The ambiance is wonderful and the service is terrific. The calamari (and other veggies) appetizer easily served all four of us. It was greaseless and contained artichoke hearts, sweet potatoes, and olives as well as calamari. Delicious. I had the beet salad and the black ink pasta, yummy. Their cheesecake with fresh berries was a perfect end to the meal. We dined in the open air as it was a beautiful evening.
(5)Jonas A.
Genuine staff, classy but comfortable ambiance, delicious pasta, and amazing sponge cake. This is just what I needed after a very long day in a series of two weeks on the road in business away from home.
(5)JW U.
Outstanding concepts eatery with all of the beautiful people serving you inventive cocktails and tasty small plates, with a chic and upscale feel to this trendy winner. BRAVO!
(4)David Z.
Great atmosphere and food to suit anyone. Eclectic and modern with an indoor outdoor setting. Good service, valet parking and the filet got an excellent rating. I had the chicken parm meatballs. Will definitely return to try something else no room for dessert but they sounded great. All local ingredients with organic and free range standard. Excited to come back.
(5)Jennifer B.
Blueberry mule was on point! I recommend the assortment of bruschetta. It was delicious!
(4)Martha S.
Was not impressed with the environment. Don't get me wrong if you're into trendy places or a trendy person, then this is your restaurant. I did not enjoy the fact that we almost ate our food standing as one of the wonderful patrons needed her purse to have it's on seat. I guess as a New Yorker I'm spoiled when it comes to restaurants. The best part of the entire experience was the pizza, at least on our visit. Don't think I'll be coming back unless I become self centered.
(1)DruMiguel E.
Here's my $0.02 (in €uros). Drinks were good, and they had some interesting options with some cool containers to present each cocktail. Menu looked interesting thought I did not eat there that night - I'd like to try the food and come back to hammer out this review a little more soon. Service was dismal though - two of our friends who arrived a little after we ordered our first round o' drinks had to leave because they didn't get any attention from our server, even though we all were in the same table. This was after about 30 minutes of them waiting and being ignored. We were forced to cash out and leave soon after they did.
(2)Joseph P.
Great drinks, food, and service. We went twice in one week. On our first outing we started with a few drinks at the bar. I had a white Manhattan - excellent. My date had a blueberry mule - also tasty. For dinner we had the bruschetta - nice toasty bread, fresh tomato, onions, basil, and garlic. For dinner I had the Italian sausage meatballs and my date had the veggie "meatballs." I really enjoyed the Italian sausage - tender, a little spice, and a simple red gravy. The veggie balls, not really my thing, were actually tasty. On our second trip we brought along a friend. For drinks, my date abstained (I did not!), my friend had the blueberry mule, which she liked, and I tried the blackberry mojito... it was a tasty drink, but I liked the Manhattan better. We tried the veggie platter as an appetizer... it was different, but enjoyable. Probably wouldn't be my new favorite, but was acceptable... the girls liked it. My date ordered the salmon skewer salad which she reported as quite tasty. Our friend ordered one of the pizzas (which was huge!) and I sampled - pretty, pretty good. I tried the traditional meatballs on pasta and wasn't disappointed. Service was flawless and the staff was friendly. The interior is hard to define - slick, cool, trendy, a bar in a dojo? It can get loud inside, but it was too chilly to sit outside. This will become a regular destination for us. Give it a try!
(5)Lynn J.
Pros 1. Nice atmosphere...reminds me of a SoBe rooftbop bar 2. Cute, attractive staff esp at the outside bar 3. Interesting drink menu Cons 1. Stuffy clientele but that's Sarasota for you... 2. It's a little too intimate...I wasn't able to have a thought provoking discussion about white patriarchy w/out having others seated across the outdoor courtyard looking on in disapproval. The drinks were strong enough to induce such talk. A discussion is between two people not the whole place. I'm mostly able to talk candidly in other establishments w/out worry of other patrons listening in.
(3)DeAnna L.
Love their craft cocktails. It's the unofficial Vanderpump bar of Florida. I like the outdoor patio and I order the strawberry kale salad every time. Try the spiked Orangina or the Watermelon Jalepeno Margarita.
(5)Kenny S.
So this place is actually pretty cool. The bar tenders are pretty great and a few of them have actually impressed me with their knowledge of liquor (which is not easy to do). Their drink list is really interesting and their recipes are quite good (their white manhattan was quite impressive). When I walked in... The crowd felt a bit like I was in NJ... If gold chains, hair gel and a sense of self-entitlement are your scene you'll fit right in. That being said, the pale is pretty cool weirdos aside. The food is actually pretty good too! The meatballs are delicious. The pizza is great and definitely try the pumpkin ravioli. Bottom line, this place is pretty great... Just stay away from the Jersey Shore losers.
(4)Lauren M.
Unlike other "hip" Sarasota places, this place has a great vibe and nice people working here. I agree with other posters that they are woefully understaffed. We ordered drinks, took forever! I ended up ordering my next glass of wine when the first came. Then we ordered charcuterie and cheese for the table. Someone other than our waiter brought it out because he was too busy and they did not stick around to tell us which cheese and which meat was what. That was frustrating. Salads looked good, if overdressed. My pasta said spicy on the menu, and it lived up to that. Almost too much. I didn't pay much attention to my dining companions entrees, but they liked the lamb meatballs and someone had a pasta too, which was finished. I would certainly return if they added a couple servers. they remained pleasant even though they had too many tables. It was obvious. If you are going to sell yourself as artisanal and knowledgeable, mgmt needs to realize this takes time, and the number of tables you can effectively serve is reduced. I'm headed back to SRQ in April and will bring the family here. The pizza looked good and there's a ton of appealing food on the menu. Just get the service right! Your staff is drowning.
(4)Erin H.
Tried the place a second time and it started off with the hostess seating us at a wet table half in the rain. Then when we requested a dry indoor table they said it was for the next party of 6. Finally we were sat and my water glass had lipstick on it (I don't wear lipstick). My seafood risotto was okay except for the rock I bit into. Had great company but doubt I'll be back.
(2)Margarett R.
I like this place for the atmosphere. If you want to have a drink out back in the outside living room area be sure to walk up to the bar to get your drinks because they don't do a great job of coming around to get you another round. And sometimes it is hard to even get that first round going even when there is not a crowd. Not sure why that is but I am going to give this place a pass because I really like the atmosphere. The bar menu is interesting but I get tired of reading really long drink descriptions. Shorten that stuff up please. I love that I can sit there for hours and enjoy myself just visiting with a friend chatting in a relaxed comfortable upscale setting without it feeling stuffy. They also play really good music over the sound system. If you are wanting to get your drinks served more regularly, might I suggest you sit inside at the front bar and let Mark take care of you. He is obviously the most service oriented bar tender they have and very personable. This last item may sound odd but I noticed that they have the nicest disposable hand towels in the ladies room. It is just nice to be able to dry your hands with one nice soft paper hand towel instead of millions of cheap-o crappy ones. No idea if the food is good. I've been there 4 times and only had drinks but I will keep going back because it has this great feel good vibe.
(4)Jerico B.
Great food, atmosphere, and service! Recommend the calamari and bruschetta for appetizers. Carbonara and number 5 pizza are also some favorites. Weight staff are great and will help with food and drink recommendations or information. For sure a place to eat, drink, and socialize in Downtown Sarasota!
(5)Jeff H.
Didn't have any of the food, but the cocktails were great. Our bartender (believe his name is Luis) was especially great. We got to talking once I said I was from Philadelphia. He is (inexplicably) a Green Bay Packers fan so he jokingly said we couldn't be friends this weekend (as the Eagles were to play in GB Sunday). We got to chatting all things NFL and became total BFFs. I kid, I kid. But he made a fantastic grapefruit old fashioned and I'm not ashamed to admit that I drank three of them. I also tried the so-called "white Manhattan" on the menu that uses High West Silver Oat Bourbon. Meh. All I could say is that it was "different" and I didn't order another. That's nothing against my boy behind the bar. My date enjoyed several of the elder gin martinis, which I also found delicious. Needless to say, we stumbled back to our hotel feeling happy (and somehow singing the theme to The Neverending Story). I wanted to go back the next night but we ended up rubbing elbows down the street at the Ritz's bar. If the food is good, this place deserves five stars. Although, I did hear a bar-back discussing a recent shake-up in the management, so let's hope things don't change anything on the ol' booze menu. Well, maybe omit that white Manhattan. Drink up, chumps!
(4)Stella M.
Went for holiday celebration - GREAT - Food unique but very palatable - everything was delicious - ample serving of delightful apps. Grouper entree well prepared and delicate. Staff professional, efficient and loved environment - very festive - hope to return soon.
(5)Jb M.
I could see possibly giving this place a 4 star in the future, but the start was a bit rocky. Immediately when we were seated the hostess said "I just need to let you know that we have a reservation for this table at 8:30." Since we had a reservation for 7:15, we protested. She kept insisting, but soon another hostess gave over and said something to the effect that she shouldn't have said that to us, so all was well, but it made us apprehensive of what the service might be like . However, our waitstaff was very good, she did not rush us. Since we were catching up with old friends we didn't want to feel rushed, and frankly for most of the evening, particularly when we left there were empty tables. The food was 3 to 4 star. The space is 5 in my book. The outdoor feel to covered dining is great. It's definitely a place I'll try again.
(3)Keith K.
Great Pizza and Tremendous meatballs! Nice spot for anyone looking for good food and upper-casual atmosphere. Very convenient to the Ritz.
(4)Kim F.
Great Ambiance, cool, hip vibe. Great bartenders! Love the whole feel. It could be so much more if the food was professionally prepared. Needs better tasting food. No flavor, mismatch choices of food. All good foods items in theory, however just not hitting it right or commingling to best potential. Maybe due to being new and needs to mature. REALLY want to see this place stay around but concerned it will lose repeat customers if they don't address food issues. Tried it with friends 3 times not planning on going back to eat maybe drinks, until I hear food has improved. Armature food.
(2)Jay C.
Did not eat here - only stopped in for a couple drinks after dinner. We enjoyed sitting outside near an outdoor fire pit. It was a bit busy and the bartender was clearly overwhelmed and could have used some help. Fun place to pop into for one or two on your tour of downtown some evening.
(3)Vera H.
I LOVE this place! Awesome hipster atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Sarasota. The bar has amazing unique drinks with organic ingredients. Try the pear mojito, redhead beer cocktail, or white chai martini!!! The food is also phenomenal. The bruschetta is to die for as is the pizza (if you like mushrooms, #3 is your choice.) The pasta is also great, and there's a whole "meatballeria" menu. Will go back time and time again!
(5)Todd M.
Great food and service. Excellent drink menu. This is a perfect restaurant to get a feel for the hip foodie scene in SRQ
(5)Krista G.
really a 4.5 and only because the bartender recommended a drink for me after hearing I was interested in one of the beer cocktails but couldn't order it because it has vodka in it *and I do not drink vodka after too many vodka cranberries in college* so I ordered her recommendation & after one sip had to return it. It had nectarine vodka in it. Anyway she remade the cocktail without & it was very good, my hubby had a bramble which he said was better than State Street's. The pizza was delicious as was the volcano (meatball) appetizer. We will be back for sure.
(5)S L.
Me and friends met on the Wed. before Thanksgiving. The place was busy. Looks like another trendy SRQ joint for a little while. The place itself is really nice, classy looking with a South Beach style. We sat outside where the sofas are by the fire. The waitress took our drink order...she literally came back in 15 minutes with something about the liquor that I asked was not available in the outside bar so apparently had to go to the inside bar to get it. Oookaaay! So, when I finally did get me drink, it was just okay lacking in liquor and no lime as I asked for. The calamari app with all the veggies were not to bad but lacked flavor or salt. After 30 min waiting for another drink the waitress was nowhere to be found. So me and my friend proceed to get a drink at the bar. Then she saw us waiting at the bar and asked if we needed anything else ( she was just standing at the side of the bar looking pretty I guess). Well, she came back to the table and took all out orders again. Btw, no napkins for any of our drinks, no hospitality like "how was everything" "would you like another drink" Nada! Very stuck-up attitude, not hospitable at all. All I can say is if they want this place to succeed, keep it real. This is not South Beach! Work on your menu for a little more flavors, hire knowledgable, interesting or at the very least a nice wait staff. I would go back and try again because it does have potential and it's new so to be fair I'd try it again.
(2)Caroline E.
Slow service, expensive drinks, wouldn't give us an extra chair for our 5th person, and one bathroom stall with long lines. Won't come back. *update: decided to come back and give it another shot for a friends birthday (the same week). Just as you suspected, it's still the worst. Portions are way too large for one person and there is a hardly a menu to choose from. I ordered a pizza and asked for a side of ranch. There was no ranch. Our waitress was a bimbo and our service was still poor. Definitely not coming back this time.
(1)Heather S.
Excellant service, drinks and food. We enjoyed everything about the restaurant and will definitely be coming back and recommending this to our friends. Richard, the bartender was excellent in accommodating all of our requests and even making drinks based on particular palates. Everything about this place is fresh, from the food, to the fruits that make the drinks.
(5)Amie W.
I made a reservation through Open Table for a Saturday night at 7:30. The restaurant was full when we arrived, and we were happy to have a drink at the bar whir we waited. Forty-five minutes later, after we watched many people come in and get seated before us, I complained to the two hostesses. They told me that (1) because we booked through Open Table, we were automatically assigned to a particular table that was not yet available, and that (2) the people who had come in and been seated as we were waiting were regulars: "Oh, we know them", they said. We left and went up the street to Jack Dusty, where we had an excellent meal. I will certainly notify Open Table, and will spread the word about how disappointing this experience was for us.
(1)Stacey M.
Awesome vibe, service and food was very good (not excellent)! Went for my fiance's bday and had 7 sitting outside on couches which is a cool place (reminds me of a hidden West Hollywood gem). Bramble was excellent, veggie balls, pizza, Grouper and Strawberry Kale salad...yum!!
(4)Tricia F.
Bit disappointed...drinks were okay....we ordered several martinis were delicious (expresso, lemon) but I think the vodka pour must have been very low as absolutely no slight warm martini feel :-(. The appetizers need work. The calamari was greasy and a odd combination of fried zucchini, carrots, caper berries so much so it was difficult to find the small number of calamari pieces. The vegetarian meatballs were good although the cream sauce was a little greasy. On the other hand the grilled salmon salad with roasted red peppers is excellent. The restaurant is beautiful and has very young and helpful staff so I hope the kitchen will be able to step it up over the next few months.
(3)Molly K.
Interesting drinks and cool ambience. The bramble was ok, and the grapefruit old fashioned was very strong (aka good?). Lots of options for unique cocktails. The outdoor seating was very pretty. The drinks are expensive and the service was a little snobby. A fun place to stop, but I wouldn't plan to spend the whole night there.
(3)Eri V.
I love the ambiance at Social, especially the outdoor bar/lounge area. Staff is friendly and the craft cocktails are delicious. The bar is still in it's honeymoon phase so be prepared to wait if you go on the weekend. I will definitely be back.
(4)Tami S.
We enjoyed our dinner so much Saturday we went back Sunday! They have a simple menu that is well thought. You can eat light or full on. They have hand crafted drinks as well. Saturday had there A team on, Sunday....B team :-/ If you go bring a jacket it is open air.
(4)Jennifer B.
The Bramble drink and the cheese platter are excellent. The service is terrible, took me and my boyfriend 45 to get waited on.
(2)RaChel F.
The atmosphere here is great, and the food is very good as well (get the veggie balls- whether your vegetarian or not, they are insane!!). There is a retractable roof over the outside seating area that is moved back when the weather is nice. There is a bar inside and outside, which is helpful since the drinks take quite a while to come. My only two negatives would be the service, and the drink pours/time to receive. I've had poor service every time but once that I sat at a table, however have had excellent service at the bar twice. The blueberry smash is delicious, however, they fill the smallish cup full of crushed ice, leaving no room for the drink! The same happens with others, but the best bang for your buck is the bramble. Overall I will go back, but I know what to expect before I go, and will more than likely be at the bar.
(3)Libbie S.
Nice looking place and our waiter was great. The food has NO flavor at all. We got bruschetta and it just tasted like onions. Then I got a number 3 pizza. It tasted like nothing and it was really burnt. My mother got the ragu pasta. The worst store bought sauce tasted better than this. No salt or pepper on the table so you are stuck with expensive food that is utterly bland. Super bummer.
(1)Lynn H.
Beautiful place.... Drinks way too pricey... Ok service
(2)Ashley N.
Blueberry smash mule is EPIC. But the service is slow. =(
(4)Linda S.
We found this little place through Yelp. Thanks Yelpers! Comfortable, spacious, casual. Really good pizza and a nice place to hang out.
(4)Denise E.
Very surprised reading these ratings because everything about our experience here last night was wonderful. Excellent service, beautiful, very hip decor and vibe, killer drinks (loved the grapefruit old-fashioned) and great food (calamari and shrimp that we're not in the least greasy, quinoa and beet salad, and the fennel sausage, tomato, and mozz flat bread). We greatly enjoyed the sharing portions. We will be back. Would highly recommend because it's so "modern".
(5)Shannon P.
I was extremely excited about going here to try it out. I was excited about seeing the building itself because of all the write ups about it. I will say it is beautiful. However, my best advice is to eat dinner at home before you go. I have never left a resturant hungry in my entire life until Saturday night. The place was busy as I expected for a Saturday night at a new resturant and we had to wait...no problem. My husband who has been in the resturant business forever went to the bar to order us drinks, no citron vodka but they could put a lemon in it and it took 2-3 bartenders to figure out how to make a bay breeze. It was obvious that they were hired to look pretty behind the bar but have no idea about basic drink recipes. When we were seated we asked our waitress what she would recommend as the wait staff usually knows the menu inside and out, especially with a new place. She recommended the pretzel dusted calamari and shrimp as well as the pizza with burrata, arugula and cherry tomatoes. Both sounded delish so we ordered both. When the calamari and shrimp came it was soooo over cooked that I might as well have been chewing on one of my car tires, the pizza had about three teaspoons of burrata on it, 4 cherry tomatoes cut in half and piled high with arugula. No dressing, no sauce, no seasoning, nada. The pizza crust was about the caliber of a premade boboli crust you can buy at the grocery store. When she came back to our table, with hardly any food eaten and we asked for our check she didn't even bother to ask if we liked it but I would think it would be obvious from our plates. We left and went to mattisons on Main Street and as always it was excellent. Maybe stop by to see the pretty place and pretty people on your way to actually eat and drink at mattisons.
(1)Caitlyn A.
Had a great time there on Saturday. First off, the restaurant is fabulous inside and out. Food was good, drinks were creative, wine list was extensive, and service was attentive. We started with cocktails at the bar, then were seated outside--gorgeous! There was a slight chill so they had the heat lamps going. We started with the calamari appetizer and traditional meatballs on potato rolls, then we all got various entrees. I enjoyed the black pasta with shrimp and everyone enjoyed their food. After dinner we went to the lounge in the back, that place is very cool! If nothing else (or if you can't get a table) go to the lounge in the back for a drink. Overall, it was a great night out that ticked every box for a fun dinner out with friends!
(4)Beach G.
went with a friend from work on the recommendation of a client. we walked in and I immediately love the vibe of the place. very trendy. we say at the bar and had a couple of their specialty cocktails. the basil martini was delicious and refreshing. we ordered a cheese and meat plate which was tasty. I will definitely be going back!
(4)Mike B.
Superb service with super knowledgable server, fantastic food, great unique drinks and awesome ambiance and decor! The other unfavorable reviews must have been from the opening period. This place rocks! The lounge area is amazing. Just what Sarasota needed.
(5)