Social Restaurant + Lounge

My boyfriend and I decided to visit this restaurant for a date night last week, as we hadn’t seen any negative reviews recently. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed with the experience.

Upon arrival, we were seated in what seemed to be the lounge area at a small table, away from the main dining room. This seemed to result in a lack of attention from the servers throughout the evening.

We started with the scallop and boar belly fritter appetizer. It consisted of three scallops and two very small pieces of boar, something I didn’t expect as it was called a fritter. After waiting quite some time, our mains finally arrived. We knew it had been way too long and so did the servers since they apologized when handing it to us.

I ordered the chicken ballotine, which was drenched in sauce and unlike any ballotine I’ve seen before. The sides of spinach and mushrooms were excessively salted, making that part completely inedible. My boyfriend ordered the pork tomahawk. While the meat itself was cooked properly, nothing on the plate was hot—not the pork, the potatoes, or the carrots. Ironically, the plate itself was hot, but the food wasn’t. The ramp pomme purée was bland, and although the chutney was good, there was very little of it. Overall, the presentation was messy and unappealing.

My boyfriend works as a chef at a fine dining restaurant, so we fully understand that quality dining often comes with smaller portions and higher prices. However, the quality and execution here did not justify the cost. To make matters worse, the service was inattentive. We were never asked if our food was satisfactory, and there were no check-ins throughout the meal.

For over $120, this dinner was a disappointment from start to finish. Unfortunately, we won’t be returning.

Hands down the best meal out I’ve had in a long time! The duck breast and pork tomahawk we ordered were both perfectly prepared and absolutely delicious. The service was outstanding; the entire team worked seamlessly together to serve our group of six. Kieran was fantastic from the moment I called to make the reservation through to serving us at our table. Truly impressive hospitality, food and ambience. Highly recommend.

Recently visited for a dinner. The atmosphere was nice. Table set up was fast. The food was really good. I had tomato salad with burrata cheese and salmon for main course.
The taste better than expected.
I am tricky eater but this time I really enjoyed the food. Worth the money.

We had an incredible experience at The Social in Ottawa. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was warm, stylish, and inviting — perfect for a night out. The cocktails were absolutely top-notch, balanced with creativity and flavor that made each one feel like its own little masterpiece.
The food was just as impressive. Every dish was beautifully plated and bursting with flavor — you can tell there’s a real attention to detail in both presentation and taste. The service was attentive without being overbearing, and the staff made us feel genuinely welcome.
If you’re looking for a spot in Ottawa that nails the mix of great food, excellent cocktails, and a lively yet comfortable vibe, The Social is definitely it. We’ll absolutely be back!

Arrived 30 min before their lunch rush, which was very heavy so in this regard we consider ourselves lucky as they got slammed right at 12. We had a lovely host, then a sweet waitress, our food came out quickly and was plentiful , well plated and delicious! I had their special ginger beef ( a throw back to a childhood favourite). It wasn’t as crunchy as I’d known the dish to be , but was quite good with a depth of flavour. Could have been slightly a bit more sticky and sweet… my partner’s beef jus sandwich, fully loaded, along with a horseradish spread, was amazing served with a hearty Caesar salad.
Had we been there right at the rush hour, I might expect our experience might have been different? Just a heads up. I’d go back in a heartbeat though…