Social - Ottawa

Name: Social - Ottawa
Address: 537 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1N 6Z6
Telephone: (613) 789-7355
Price range: CAN$31 to CAN$50
Rating: 4.5

4.5

864 Reviews

CAN$31 to CAN$50

Bistro

Top tags:

Opened in the summer of 1999, SOCIAL was received as the perfect blend of restaurant and bar. It was envisioned as a place where guests could enjoy an evening drink without feeling obligated to order dinner too, but where a sizzling menu meant that food was always an excellent option.

20 years later, SOCIAL continues to deliver. Known in the capital city for its ambiant and modern vibe, fifteen-foot ceilings, its secluded and beautiful courtyard patio, and gorgeous stone walls inside + out-- SOCIAL offers an unparalleled atmosphere for a sit-down dinner or some after-work cocktails. Guests can expect high-quality professional service and a menu to match, proving that SOCIAL is truly a downtown destination that has it all.

Come enjoy the culinary experience given by our Head Chef Peter Schulz and his team.
We do not have any live entertainment at the moment, but we hope to bring this concept back in the future!

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 29, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 p.m.

Booked 16 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(613) 789-7355

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Bistro, French / Canadian
Hours of Operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:45 am–3:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(613) 789-7355
Website
http://www.social.ca/
Payment Options
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Dress Code
Business Casual
Executive Chef
Dave Godsoe
Private party facilities
SOCIAL has a variety of private and semi private dining rooms and lounges to suit your event needs. We have dining rooms that are a perfect choice for small weddings, rehearsal dinners, client appreciation dinners, pharmaceutical presentations, special family occasions, networking events and more. These bookings are currently unavailable due to COVID regulations in place.
Private party contact
Brittany Weston: (855) 805-9231

Location
537 Sussex Drive Ottawa, ON K1N 6Z6
Neighbourhood
ByWard Market
Cross Street
George / York
Parking Details
We are located between George St. and York St. on Sussex Drive. You can find meter parking and 2 parking garages on York Street. Parking is also available across the street at 700 Sussex Drive and around the market area.Courtyard accessible by way of George and York St.
Public Transit
There are public transit stops on Rideau street and at the Rideau Center (which is within walking distance).
Entertainment
Live music can be heard every Wednesday night in the summer on the Courtyard - a mix of jazz, acid jazz and blues. An assortment of DJs are spinning on Friday and Saturday nights all year round.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Popular dishes

Basket of Bread$3.00
herb-infused olive oil + whipped salted butter
Oysters
fresh horseradish + house hot sauce + mignonette + citrus
- 6 for$20.00
- 12 for$38.00
Squash Fritters$14.00
5 fried squash fritters + chipotle tzatziki
Daily Soup$10.00
chef's daily creation with locally sourced ingredients
Chef's Board$30.00
chef's selection of 3 meats + 3 artisanal cheeses + preserves + nuts + crostini
Compressed Melon & Beet$17.00
lemon basil ricotta + roasted beets + salted pistachio + honey melon dressing + arugula + apple chip
Arcadian Greens$13.00
lemon buckwheat honey dressing + mixed greens + local vegetable + crispy chickpeas
Crispy Squid$16.00
preserved lemon aioli + pickled fennel
Scallop Crudo$19.00
triple citrus marinade + cucumber + radish + avocado purée + squid ink tuile + cilantro
Steak Tartare$19.00
traditional tartare seasonings + 64° yolk + crostini
Parm Fries$9.00
garlic aioli + chive
Mariposa Duck Confit$32.00
pesto spätzle + charred onion soubise + wilted greens + Le Coprin mushrooms
BC Salmon$34.00
green pea risotto + shaved asparagus salad + bitter greens + pickled pearl onion + lemon vinaigrette + parmigiano
Ontario Pork Tenderloin$30.00
fresh herb sous vide + braised fennel + pearl couscous + apple agro dolce + swiss chard
Roasted Chicken Supreme$34.00
warm potato salad + black olive gremolata + paprika oil + confit tomato + mint tzatziki
Daily Pasta$28.00
chef's daily creation made with fresh pasta and locally sourced ingredients
Steak Frites$42.00
striploin + herb house frites + broccolini + demi-glace
Ribeye$52.00
kale + crispy potato + shallot demi
Social Burger$22.00
aged cheddar or stilton cheese + double-smoked bacon + chipotle aioli + truffle butter bun + bibb lettuce + tomato + pickled onion + served with house fries or salad
Cauliflower Steak$24.00
turmeric pickled cauliflower + grain salad + cashew cheese + fine herbs

Dessert

White Chocolate Pot au Crème$12.00
passion fruit + pistachio brittle
Seasonal Brûlée$12.00
chef's choice + biscotti
Sous-Vide Cheesecake$12.00
almond sponge cake + almond crumble + mandarin sorbet + candied zest + mint

Social Hour

Daily 3:00-5:00

Draft Beer$6.00
House Red and White Wine$6.00
Oysters
minimum order of 6
- e$2.00
Bowl of Fries$6.00
Squash Fritters (3)$6.00
Crispy Squid$6.00
Steak Tartare Sliders (2)$6.00
Chef's Board (2/2)$19.00

What 864 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Ottawa
Lunch
Ottawa
Most Booked
Ottawa
Lunch
Ottawa
Most Booked

Sort by

Filters

A
Andrew
Ottawa
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall4food4service5ambience5
Great spot for a business lunch. Good service and nice room.
EO
EatinginOttawa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food, good wine, fun cocktails, great decor and perfect atmosphere/ambience! Great evening!
AW
AdrianW
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We all had an excellent time, assisted by a brilliant server , Chris who was new to this sort of work , but was really excellent
S
Susan5
Toronto
15 reviews
3.0
15 reviews
Dined on May 18, 2022
overall3food5service2ambience4
the food was excellent. The service was poor. not attentive in that they didn't offer us the opportunity to have a second glass of wine when we ran out during dinner. the worst was when the waitress started to clear our plates even though one person in our party was still eating. Wait staff should know better.
M
Merci
Orlando
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Comme le restaurant n’était pas très occupé ce soir-là, le niveau sonore était très acceptable.
B
Brunchlover
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on May 15, 2022
overall2food2service2ambience3
I always like Social and enjoy the service and food. This was our first time going during Brunch and it was the first time we were disappointed with our experience. It took a long time to be served (even though not many people were there). The coffee was cold to luke warm. The order was wrong. I always recommend Social but maybe not for Brunch.
PB
PatriciaB
Montreal
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience5
Great cocktails. Fantastic food. Friendly service. Good wine selection.
MG
MzGemz
Toronto
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Lovely! Great food amd scene
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience3
Location is great.m (patio). Food was ok, definitely not good value but the prices reflect the location. Spotty service, plastic glasses for water, paper napkins give away this place’s cheap underbelly.
LB
LucB
Montreal
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2022
overall2food2service4ambience4
Some confusion at our arrival with regards to the reservation and outside seating. Issue was resolved .............Food was fair Service was good.
MK
MalcolmK
Saskatoon
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
It was a great meal, outdoors on a warm summery evening in mid-May! Wine selection was good. A great place to spend two very pleasant hours.
JD
JeffD
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent menu; well prepared food; friendly professional service. Have been a longtime customer - always a great place to take guests. First time back post-COVID and their standards remain high.
BG
BrendaG
Ottawa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always consistently good food and service. On a sunny day the outside courtyard is lovely.
AB
AustinB
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 9, 2022
overall3food5service2ambience3
Good was great, drinks were slow, service was meh.
RA
RobertA
Montreal
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 9, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience4
It was quite busy, and we were by the door, so ambiance a little sub-par bur still very acceptable. service a little slow for same reasons. but again very good overall
G
Gashy
Montreal
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall3food3service4ambience5
Settings and services were amazing; but expected more about food ( a little bit too salty for our part and food took longer cause they forgot to start our order in time so had to wait longer).
OT
OpenTable Diner
Ottawa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Talhia took amazing care of us … my mother and sister had a great Mother’s Day
ML
MoniqueL
Ottawa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service, delicious meal! Thank you!
CW
ChrisW
New York Area
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Reservations easy to make with OpenTable and when we arrived the table was ready and we didn’t have to wait at all. The service was fantastic and the steaks were out of this world.
DM
DwightM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience4
Food was delicious. Very well served by friendly staff. Portion size was good - not too large, Suitable for business luncheon. Only down side is that the chicken on the cobb salads was dry.
SW
SusanW
Saskatoon
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were a group of 4 adults who had a fabulous meal. There was variety to the menu to suit all of us. The service was exceptional.
MS
MarjorieS
Vancouver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Girls night out
l
lucky91
Montreal
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on April 28, 2022
overall2food2service2ambience3
We were very excited to try out Social for the first time, the host was great and prompt and our appetizers (bread basket & scallops) were absolutely delicious. However, we didn't find our server to be welcoming or attentive, and our mains (soup of the day and the duck) weren't very good. We felt like an inconvenience to our server and were never offered a refill on our waters (which were empty for more than half of the dinner service). As for the duck dish, while the duck itself was okay, the plate itself ate very oily because the sides were all dressed in a heavy hand of oil. Overall, the atmosphere is really unique and fun, and we would go again for drinks and appetizers, but likely wouldn't come back for a dinner service.
LA
LucieA
Ottawa
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 28, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience2
Le repas était adéquat sans plus. Pain sec pour le club au poulet Poulet sec aussi, les frites étaient délicieuses.
J
Jeff
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 27, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience3
Food was VERY very good and service was excellent.
DF
DoctorFine
Toronto
19 reviews
4.0
19 reviews
Dined on April 27, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Upscale restaurant in nice area of Ottawa (near Byward Market). Great varied menu options. We were at the restaurant during the 3:00-5:00 time slot when it was quiet - looks to be a restaurant with a great vibe during dinner hours! Would certainly return!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Ottawa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Only went here for drinks but it was lovely, looking forward to going back for dinner soon!
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall4food5service2ambience5
Great food. Wine list wasn’t great and service was not great but the food was awesome
V
Victoria
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautfiully decorated restaurant with some delicious food options. The service was outstanding. Would recommend.
DO
DOMENICS
Las Vegas
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 20, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
The restaurant is close to the Chateau Laurier and offers a good range of options of tasty food and drinks. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and the service.
AA
AnjanaA
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Loved everything!! Will come back for sure!!!!!!!!
LP
LizP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything we ate was delicious and the service was awesome. Worth the money!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Toronto
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food, beautiful restaurant and very friendly staff!
C
Caroline
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience5
Honestly great place, good mix of classy and chill. First date material for sure. But also a good place for family dinner. Nice
PL
PierreL
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 16, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience5
After we had dined beautifully, the Maitre D., came by to thanks us for choosing their establishment, making sure everything was to our satisfaction, and taking the time to let us know their menu was going change for the next season, but maintaining the "nothing frozen" and local when available. Great & thoughtful experience.
CD
CarriganD
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food here is delicious, they make a mean whiskey sour as well!!! !! Great atmosphere and the staff was so friendly!! Will definitely be going back!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Loooove social. Can’t wait to go back ❤️
CM
ClareM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server was lovely and knew how to describe the food menu and drinks menu perfectly. Would definitely come again. Thankyou for making our girls/moms evening perfect. One thing you need is your drinks menu to be larger font. Way too small
JP
JanP
Montreal
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Dinner was excellent. Ben, the server was awesome and made us feel special. Great attention to detail and highlighted my husband's birthday. A must in the Ottawa Byward market.
ST
SylvieT
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 5, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Excellent service en français. Ambiance agréable. Nous avons passé une excellente soirée.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitising
- Surfaces sanitised between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitised menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Contact tracing information collected

FAQs

Social - Ottawa offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (613) 789-7355.

Social - Ottawa is rated 4.5 stars by 864 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 29, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 p.m.

Booked 16 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(613) 789-7355

537 Sussex Drive Ottawa, ON K1N 6Z6

Additional information

Cross Street
George / York
Neighbourhood
ByWard Market
Hours of Operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:45 am–3:00 pm Happy Hour Daily 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Cuisines
Bistro, French / Canadian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress Code
Business Casual
Parking Details
We are located between George St. and York St. on Sussex Drive. You can find meter parking and 2 parking garages on York Street. Parking is also available across the street at 700 Sussex Drive and around the market area.Courtyard accessible by way of George and York St.
Public Transit
There are public transit stops on Rideau street and at the Rideau Center (which is within walking distance).
Payment Options
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Executive Chef
Dave Godsoe
Entertainment
Live music can be heard every Wednesday night in the summer on the Courtyard - a mix of jazz, acid jazz and blues. An assortment of DJs are spinning on Friday and Saturday nights all year round.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wine

Website
http://www.social.ca/
Phone number
(613) 789-7355
Private party facilities
SOCIAL has a variety of private and semi private dining rooms and lounges to suit your event needs. We have dining rooms that are a perfect choice for small weddings, rehearsal dinners, client appreciation dinners, pharmaceutical presentations, special family occasions, networking events and more. These bookings are currently unavailable due to COVID regulations in place.
Private party contact
Brittany Weston: (855) 805-9231

Social - Ottawa

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Private dining

Additional information

BC Salmon

Oysters

Mariposa Duck Confit

Main

Basket of Bread$3.00

Oysters

Squash Fritters$14.00

Daily Soup$10.00

Chef's Board$30.00

Compressed Melon & Beet$17.00

Arcadian Greens$13.00

Crispy Squid$16.00

Scallop Crudo$19.00

Steak Tartare$19.00

Parm Fries$9.00

Mariposa Duck Confit$32.00

BC Salmon$34.00

Ontario Pork Tenderloin$30.00

Roasted Chicken Supreme$34.00

Daily Pasta$28.00

Steak Frites$42.00

Ribeye$52.00

Social Burger$22.00

Cauliflower Steak$24.00

Dessert

White Chocolate Pot au Crème$12.00

Seasonal Brûlée$12.00

Sous-Vide Cheesecake$12.00

Social Hour

Draft Beer$6.00

House Red and White Wine$6.00

Oysters

Bowl of Fries$6.00

Squash Fritters (3)$6.00

Crispy Squid$6.00

Steak Tartare Sliders (2)$6.00

Chef's Board (2/2)$19.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitising

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does Social - Ottawa offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Social - Ottawa restaurant rated?

Is Social - Ottawa currently accepting bookings?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information