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Came here for dinner with some friends and were treated to some yummy seafood dishes. We found it easier to order a bunch of small plates and share th…
Cris
Eastside Social
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I live in the area, and have heard this place was amazing for a long time, and we often go to their sister restaurant, The Thirsty Duck. Finally, we d…
Mara Cole
Eastside Social
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Tuesday, wet, rainy. Seemed a perfect day to head east to Leslieville and dinner at Eastside Social with my partner and our good friend Brian. 'A Tues…
Gregory George
Eastside Social
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Eastside Social is open for Casual Dining. Eastside Social serves Seafood dishes. Incorrect or missing information? Make a report, or claim the restaurant if you own it!Details
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7 Reviews on “Eastside Social”
Came here for dinner with some friends and were treated to some yummy seafood dishes. We found it easier to order a bunch of small plates and share them as we would get to try a larger variety. The food was delicious! The back patio is very comfortable and the wait staff were very friendly and attentive.
I live in the area, and have heard this place was amazing for a long time, and we often go to their sister restaurant, The Thirsty Duck. Finally, we decided to come here tonight. Th main restaurant was booked and I didn’t make a reservation (make a note for next time), but we sat at the bar and had a blast. First, the staff here are amazing. All of them. We had a clear view of the kitchen and those guys were working hard as a team, but also enjoying themselves. Wonderful vibe here, too. Great food, but casual, so if, like us, you decide at the end of a hard day you deserve a break and are in your yoga pants? No problem! Now. The food. Really great. Loved their oysters. My husband had the clam chowder and OH MY, good. The bread you can order as an appetizer was BEYOND HEAVEN. My downfall for sure. My husband’s pasta of the day and my mussels were both solid. The cocktails are expertly mixed, and the wine list is good as well. We had such a good time, on a cold, dark night. And for sure we will be back!
Tuesday, wet, rainy. Seemed a perfect day to head east to Leslieville and dinner at Eastside Social with my partner and our good friend Brian. ‘A Tuesday in July, shouldn’t be a problem getting a table’ says Brian and indeed it wasn’t as we sauntered in to a virtually empty room, and grabbed a table for 3, of our choice. (Eastside Social has a very odd and complicated reservation policy that starts with a minimum of 8 people, on certain days and at certain hours).I had heard some good things about the restaurant and specifically it’s Ruby Watchco pedigree and indeed felt warm and welcomed in a Maritime kind of way to it’s split bar and dining room but felt a certain dread as we moved across the bar and into the main room with only two other diners in the entire place when we arrived just after 7 pm.Wine list and menus thumbed, our first choice of vino is not available. Hmmm. We taste the second choice and agree on a very serviceable Chardonnay for summer sipping. We are having food decision issues but finally food decisions are made and Brian opts for a starter of Sushi Grade Salmon Tartar served with Cucumber, Avocado,Creme Fraiche , Soy and Lime Vinaigrette, withArtichoke Chips. This was perhaps the best dish of the wet evening; the Salmon just perfect, buttery light and fresh, complimented by the fleshy avocado and hints of the soy/lime vinaigrette. After much deliberation, I decide on the Hot Smoked Mackeral. ‘Sorry, that’s not available this evening.’ Hmmmmmmm. I hesitate. Then in a rush, order the Salt Cod Balls with a (supposed) Green Salsa and perched on a swash of Chipotle Romesco. Well. First of all, deep fried. I’m fine with that. I actually like deep fried. Perhaps too much. The Balls are beautifully presented, but heavy, lumpy and salty. I had read a previous post where the reviewer was thrilled to find some of the menu’s squid in the dense balls: I would not have been quite as thrilled as I have a shell fish allergy and this was clearly stated to our server. All I discovered was Cod and Potato. And heavy. And salty. As for that Green Salsa? Not on my plate. I ate 2 of the 4 balls. John, our token vegetarian, chooses the Very Devilled Eggs. Again, nicely presented but average, pedestrian.Brian and I move onto the Fish Tacos: they arrive with two slight, slices of lime to spritz and again, while serviceable, the soft-shell tacos too wet to hold the deep fried fish, falling apart as we move them to our hungry mouths. The tasteless apple and cabbage slaw only adding to the sloppy mess. Have had better deep fried fish tacos at the Firkin Chain.John’s veg option is the Kale Salad. Ok. Kale Salad? Kinda last year. Don’t get me wrong. I love a good Kale Salad and pull a mean Tuscan Kale Caesar together myself but don’t expect to (still) see it on a menu by the good and progressive food folks who brought us Ruby Watcho. The salad, again, beautifully presented, is completely overly dressed with the buttermilk poppy seed dressing, the Kale chiffonade still too raw to be truely enjoyed. The Cumin & Chive Cracker was good and was a good counter to the wet salad which John dosen’t finish. We aren’t feeling terribly Social.We had all been out for seperate lunches that day, each having a bottle of wine and two courses and we compare the experiences, price point, service and value for our dollar. Dinner for the 3 of us, with wine, was $150+ dollars not including tip. Our combined, split lunches, $30 with wine, then tip added on. Service, while jovial and funny, was slap-dash, unorganized and unknowledgeable. Our server spent more time with the later arrival table of four when they all discovered their shared Irish connections and geography.We all agreed that lunch was perhaps the better deal. Based on service, food and value, unfortunately, followsummer rates Eastside Social a 2 out of 5. Too bad. Was totally looking forward to some good ‘ole ‘Coastal Fare & Bevies’.Perhaps next time when we are in Halifax. The true EASTside will be a bit more sociable. followsummer.net
Came here on a food tour. Awesome cod balls!! The sauce was a perfect complement to the fish and there was a piece of squid in the fried ball as well! it’s like biting into surprises. Great atmosphere, and extremely friendly staff.
This place should hire a couple of servers … Two is not enough. We had our beer order double checked and they still brought the wrong beer and then put an extra one on our bill. Also my trout was supposed to be served with seasonal vegetables and came only with a weak salad. Food was average – I don’t like paying for bread however and I hate waiting 20 minutes after being done be to have my dishes cleared. We were brought the bill without being asked if we wanted coffee or dessert. Obviously first time restaurateurs. Very nice decorating though.
Delicious food and very friendly staff. After some confusion at the door (you have to walk through the bar to get to the host stand and dining room), the owner Joey went out of his way to make things right and make us feel welcome. Great menu, plates made for sharing. We loved everything we ate. Time between courses was a little long (20-30 min) but they were busy and as a new restaurant they’re likely still getting used to the flow. We’ll definitely be back again.
Quite friendly service. Impossibly loud ambience. Underwhelming food overpriced for its value.