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The fine art of the new Canadian cuisine interacting in a vibrant, comfortable setting. Featuring a restaurant & oyster bar, custom butcher shop & deli, patio, and weekend brunch.
Lunch: Monday to Friday - 11 am to 3:30 pm, Brunch: Saturday & Sunday 11:30 to 3:30pm Dinner: Monday through Saturday open at 5:30 pm
This review only applies to the butchershop/deli.
Feels odd to be reviewing a deli, but this is no ordinary deli.
The sandwiches are fantastic. I bought the large roast beef with havarti, roasted veg, lettuce and tomatoes, and it's an excellent sandwich, and big enough to feed 2-3 hungry people... a great value at $10. And the fresh made potato chips are a nice touch.
The service is about as good as you could ask from a butcher/deli counter.
Tried brunch at So.Cial recently and I had the same observation as the previous post, why was it so empty? Where are the tourists or regulars? I can't comment on lunch or dinner but the brunch was not impressive for the venue, reputation and price. My chorizo omelet was plain, the eggs weren't light nor fluffy and the potatoes with onions were served somewhat cold and for the price, a little more effort should be put into the plates. Service was ample but not friendly, just ample. The entire group of us who dined there left unimpressed and I will unlikely return. I don't hate it but I found it blah.
I just found this deli and as a sandwich lover boy am I glad. It was seriously the most delicious freshly made sandwich I have eaten in Vancouver yet! Plus it comes with free homemade potato chips, all for $6 (for a small one). The lines can be long at lunch, though. I will definitely be back. The super large one with the whole circular bread looks big and huge and delicious.
My friends and I were starved at 9 at night on Canada Day, and were planning to see the fireworks at Canada Place at 10:30. Every other restaurant in Gastown we went to basically refused to seat us. We were a bit put off by the prices at first, but I hadn't had French food in a while, and the maitresse d' was very kind, so we acceded and sat down.
None of us drank, so I can't comment on the wine list, but the food offerings looked very good. And one of the chefs was definitely a (cute) gourmand as well, so that is always a good sign. I ordered the mushroom cream soup. Wonderful. Smooth, earthy with little hints of thyme and sage. To keep my costs down, I ordered the soup and an appetizer, which together were as much as an entree, but offered me more of a variety. The appetizer was a selection of charcuterie, although not as bountiful or as varied as it might be in a real French bistro. It was nonetheless good. Two classic French dishes, a terrine of pork and pistachios and some duck confit, and one new wave item, smoked bison. Served with onion relish and cornichons, and some odd crackers. Not very French.
My partner had the duck entree, which he enjoyed, except, as with most modern restaurants, the portion was too scant for his appetite. A friend ordered the pork, but it was overdone... I know pork can be hard to get right, but that was the only thing we ordered that was disappointing.
Next time we'll try the oyster bar, as both my partner and I are big oyster fans.
We picked up some great cuts of aged beef and chicken from the deli a couple of days ago and the quality is outstanding. Butchers are very helpful and knowledgeable. The oyster last night was the complete opposite. We had a friendly bartender who did his best trying to serve us and other table while making oysters for the whole restaurant - that sucked for him. The wines seem over priced and mainly local and unusual yet not exciting wineries. The oysters were very good but once again expensive if you are not there for their happy hour. This place could offer such more more for Gastown but somehow lacks professional skills.
We hit this place Dec 28, looking for a change from Christmas fare. Good things have been happening at So.cial during recent times and this is our new favourite in town. I've always enjoyed the look of the place and finally, food and service measure up.
It's a quick walk from the sea bus and skytrain in Downtown at the western edge of Gastown. Using transit gives freedom to enjoy the bar. Our group with guests from Surrey and the North Shore appreciated that convenience.
The dinner menu is broad but they are also doing creative small plates and servers are happy to match the right glass of wine with each course. Seafood is strong whether you enjoy shellfish, sable fish, arctic char or one of the special choices. I don't know if is going to be a new regular but our entire table loved the savoury bread served after the amuse bouches. We asked for a few refills of that along with the mildly spiced butter.
Service was attentive and expert although a relatively slow night between Christmas and New Years made the server to diner ratio quite generous. Wow, what a change from last year. I hope my review from last summer helped stimulate the fine changes.
My experience at So.Cial was so bad, I don't want to waste any more time than I have to to write my review.
Tapas for 5.00 ~ embarassingly too small; need glasses to see them.
Prime Rib dinner~ asked for well done; came out rare. Server didn't bother to take it back to have chef re do. Just turned his back on me, and never came back~
Service~ Worse service I've experienced. Made me think, server had some prejudice to me. Server never bothered to serve me~ I had to ask manager for bill. However, he served tables beside me and snuffed me for some odd reason/ even when I tried to get some water.
Don't waste your money. Period.
Came here for lunch with a group of people. They charge 18% service for groups of 8 or more! the service was really really really slow, took us about 1.5 hours to get to the entrees... the food was okay nothing to rave away, nice decor and the waitresses was not really friendly... they seemed to be understaffed and rather nonchalant about their services, i guess since they were guaranteed a tip.. had lunch but didn't get to try the sandwiches from the deli/butcher which i'd heard good reviews about... will not be returning or recommending to people.
We had the $25 dine out Vancouver meal the other night and were not impressed. The ambiance was good and my girlfriend especially like the old pressed tin ceilings, but the food left much to be desired. We started with the seared tuna and goat cheese brulee which were served cold and refrigerator cold, respectively, and the tuna was served sans pumpkin seeds. I am not sure if this was their intent, but both would have been better slightly warm. We followed with the mushroom pot pie and trio of pork. The crust of the pot pie was overly dry and tasted store bought and the mushrooms were flavourless. The pork had a healthy serving size but one of the trio was incredibly salty, although the reduction was quite well done. We both had the brownie for desert which was dry and uninspired. Also, the wine list was limited and pricey and service erratic. We will not be returning any time soon.
I went to So.Cial for a special occasion dinner on a Saturday night and was surprised to find it nearly empty. The service was excellent, as was the food. The building restoration is full of period character with a great people-watching view. If it had been full, it may have been a bit noisy as the tables are quite close together.
The oysters were delicious and the Tuna appetizer was enough to share. The pork entree was juicy with excellent vegetable sides. The prices were higher than those posted on the website (closer to $30 instead of $20) and we were charged $12 more for one entree than the posted price, but the waiter cleared it up for us (suspicious though...). Dessert (goat cheesecake), wine (list could be more BC-heavy for a local-food restaurant), and coffee were very much enjoyed.
The menu is highly akin to Raincity and Ocean Six 17, as the owners or chef are from there I read somewhere, but the restaurant just didn't have the same energy. I highly recommend it anyway if you want quality food elegantly prepared and presented in a unique setting.
Had lunch here yesterday. $16 for am omelet seemed steep. My business partner had a well presented Caesar salad which he also felt was overpriced. Wine selection by the glass is pretty boring compared to Salt, Chill Winston and Wild Rice. We went back at 5 after work for some oysters downstairs - good value at $1.50 each. Go downstairs better ambiance and service than the main dining room
I had lunch last Tuesday. The mussels are one of the tasty dishes in town. They have 3 flavours and my favourite is the one with figs in a light curry sauce, which I dipped the bread into because it was delicious. For main course, I had the grilled beef striploin with a mixed greens salad. The beef was tender and every bite was to savour for. My guest had the chicken pasta and he said it was a very tasty and a good size.
I have been there many times, but it was the first time that they removed the large windows so it made it very open to the outside. They have an open patio on the sidewalk. Great place to catch the ambiance and activities of Gastown. I felt like a tourist with many tourists walking around with their cameras.
It was a cold and snowy night in December. I was in the mood for the slurp of ice cold oysters and a fish stew. I've passed So.Cial's oyster bar several times so decided to finally try it. Unfortunately, on this cold and snowy night the oyster bar wasn't open so we sauntered upstairs.
I really loved the ceiling, and the chill of the evening made the space feel gothic, though I wasn't enticed to feel comfortable. I have a feeling a fireplace near where we were sitting would've warmed my spirits and loosened my wallet a little more.
We ordered the mussels with black figs, some raw oysters and a bottle of wine. It was a very slow evening, so service was prompt, albeit slightly cold. Let's blame the snow. We were served some great warm bread with whipped butter- I can't remember if it was complimentary or if it came with the mussels. I just gobbled that up. Whipped butter is such a nice touch. The mussels were solid, but not tasty enough to ignite my palate. While the oysters were quality, the shucking was unfortunate. Hmm. Crunchy raw oysters? They came with a wedge of lemon and some very hot habanero sauce. Hot sauce from the bottle is a bit much for me. I much prefer plain ol' horseradish or cocktail sauce. Or maybe a mignonette? Anyway- I think because it was slow, the usual shucker had gone home because I saw the server hacking away at them behind the bar. Next time if the oyster bar's closed, I won't bother going upstairs expecting oyster expertise.
In summary, what I was expecting was a warm blaze but instead got cold feet. Maybe I'll go back in the summer and update my review.
As a regular customer at the Social Deli I must say they live up to the reputation as having the best sandwiches in town. Eagerly waiting in line to receive the exceptional House Roast Beef is always a delight and the new combos on offer allow you to enjoy a soup or beer to accompany the large and overflowing sandwich. The servers with great skill and flair construct the sandwich in front of you, layering it up with an abundance of meat, fresh vegetables, cheese and sauce. I highly recommend the deli for a quick and tasty lunch time meal.
I hadn't eaten in Gastown for a while and decided to give Social a try this past saturday. A friend of mine went to a Christmas party there and raved about the food and staff under the new head chef and general manager. I had to agree with her shortly after walking in.
We went in for dinner and were greeted by a very cheery hostess who took us straight to the window seat we'd asked for in the reservation.
My husband and I love our wine and were immediately thrilled at the selection. Our server recommended one of the best cabernets I've had lately for a fraction of what we usually spend on wine at dinner. I made a note of some of their other prices and they're some of the most competitive I've seen in this city. Both wine and food merit a 5 out of 5 for value and quality. I had the ravioli and my husband had the risotto. For a restaurant with a varied and expansive menu it was some of the best Italian food I've had. The portions were ideal, leaving just enough room for the elegant cheese plate we had for dessert.
The room was very comfortable. The decor is a nice balance between modern taste and the classic Gastown motif which makes for a pleasant dining ambiance . The very professional staff complemented an all around 5 star experience. I'd highly recommend Social for a well above average evening out.
We went to So.cial for dinner and ended up spending over 3 hours there. It is just the place where you want to come in for drinks and oysters, have dinner, linger over tea and desert and stay for an after- dinner drink. The decor is beautiful, the staff is attending, but not hovering, the music and lights are just right.
The food was delicious and healthy, prepared with plenty of local produce and sea food. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten more veggies in a non-vegan restaurant. The food is seasoned lightly that allowed the natural flavours go through. My only complain would be that the salmon was cooked through. The chicken entree was cooked to perfection, and the flavours were more intense. Even desert menu had healthy alternatives- flush-frozen carrot pure and yogurt -that exploded in your mouth and freshened the pallet after the dinner. O, yes, and the breads were delicious. The wine list is pretty basic, but I've heard they are extending.
As far as portion size, the small bites were small, even tiny by North American standards. The entrees were what they should be for an adult who is not engaged in a strenuous physical activity. I applaud the Chef for taking on the risk of portion minimizing in a restaurant.
A friend suggested we go to So.Cial for lunch during the week after she had been a few times and liked it very much. She noticed right away the menue had changed and we were told there was a new chef. I ordered the Polderside Chicken (from the "Mains") and my friend ordered the Albacore Tuna Roll from the ("Small Plates"). We waited for a LOONG time (like over 40 minutes) and had to ask several times when the food would be ready. When it finally came the server's excuse was the computer was broken and the orders hadn't gone thru to the kitchen. My chicken looked and tasted fine, but it came with some weird vegetable that reminded me of a half-rotten raw potato. Apparently it was something like an artichoke root or some such thing. Not good. My friend's meal consisted of a bunch of watercress still on the stems and a TINY segment of tuna roll. Like, it was about a mouthful, no joke. I had to mention it later to the server and her bitchy response was that it was after all an "appetizer". I'm sorry, but the tuna roll was $15 compared to my main course chicken which was $16 so it was kind of a rip off. The server could have said something when we ordered, like, "That's not going to be very much food", but instead she basically blamed us for ordering it! It WASN'T clearly listed as an appetizer, it was under "Small Plates", which in many restaurants means it's a smaller lunch (not a morsel). Never going back.
When we visited So.Cial, it was simply by chance. The location is quite central in Gastown, and the interior looked quite intriguing. Inside, the room was designed well and had a nice feel. When it comes to food, So.Cial delivers what it intends to do-- small bites on small plates. And yes, they are very small indeed. However, tapas are tapas, so it was expected and they did taste quite flavourful, especially the prawns.
The problem came with drinks. I had asked for a martini, and obviously the bartender had forgotten to remove the ice from the glass. The server had to take the glass back, re-strain it, and come back again. This really watered down the drink, so it wasn't as nice as it could have been.
So.Cial is acceptable as a place that you might just walk into, but until the plates become bigger with a better price point, it's not really worth reserving time to go to.
Unlike other diners.. I had a very nice experience. Great oysters (and you can't beat the price), and I enjoyed a delicious seafood stew... lots of generous pieces of fish, prawns, mussels, and the sauce was incredible... the strawberry shortcake was delicious too... Not a huge fan of their steak though... The place is very pretty - love the view from the window.. would definately come back to hang out in the lounge with some friends..
We came for Dine Out here this past weekend and from the group of 4 none of us plan on ever coming back. The restaurant decor was beautiful and probably the only reason why we sort of didn't mind waiting for over half an hour for our reservation.
For appetizer I had the goat cheese brulee, which was quite good, although it didn't quite go with the spicy crisps it came with, as the goat cheese was sweet. The bread that's served for the table was pretty good though and we had a second serving of it.
For main, I went with pork schnitzel, which was overcooked. This came with half-raw crunchy veggies finely chopped into tiny squares with an extremly salty sauce ala gravy. The veggies seemed almost as if they were just reheated from a bag of frozen veggies, lol.
For desert, I had the brownie, which wasn't very good, although better than the fruit crumble that my friends had.
I wasn't the only person at my table complaining the food was very salty, and reading some of the reviews seems I'm not the only one. We were very dissapointed and frankly felt that we didn't ever get value for the Dine Out event.
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| 4. | Al Porto Ristorante (20 m) |  |
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