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49 Social
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
49 Temple Pl(between Winter Pl & Washington St)
Boston, MA 02111
Neighborhood: Downtown
(617) 338-9600
- Nearest Transit:
-
Temple Pl @ Washington St (SL5)
Downtown Crossing - To Oak Grove (Orange Line)
Downtown Crossing - To Forest Hills (Orange Line)
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Paid
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
52 reviews for 49 Social
Review Highlights
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"...Leg and Thigh, Braised Collard Greens, Truffle Mac & Cheese." In 3 reviews -
"Lobster Ravioli - incredible tasting, and very fresh." In 4 reviews -
"Tea Smoked Beef, Korean Beef Tartare, Jasmine Tea Cracker." In 4 reviews
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52 reviews in English
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Review from Lance M.
Boston, MA
4/13/2012
I have to give 49 Social 4 Great Stars because I like what they're doing. This was once a restaurant called LIMBOS. It was a musicians club and we had great audiences . That was three years ago and two establishments ago. Now it 49 Social and the musical director is once again Ron Murphy (the very deep-Barry White voice) he's there with the acts on their evenings and he'll sit in and sing with them. Oh the food.......The food is really good. the main menu is very good and different, but if you're listening to the music downstairs, you can order from the bar menu. I love the burger!! They have other items (I'm ready for them to add more to this good menu) The downstairs Jazz is one that is trying to make a comeback in the city of Boston This owner has the guts to bring back Jazz to Boston so let's offer our support and just go there for cocktails and some live music. I'll be there Nov. 12th , 2011 with my band, and I'll probably have the burger. 49 Social @49 Temple Place downtown Boston [20 sec. walk from Park Street] NO COVER.
UPDATE: They have discontinued live entertainment. -
Review from Priscilla T.
Boston, MA
3/29/2012
Brought a group of 14 here for a dinner before a black tie event and we had a great time. Playing "Would You Rather...?" over dinner probably added to the fun but the restaurant did a great job too.
The food was quite tasty and the cocktails and wine were great. Truffle mac n cheese and the cauliflower soup were my faves. I also like the decor and vibe - a little bit trendy, a little bit cozy, and wonders of wonders... you can hold a conversation without going deaf :) Service is wonderfully friendly as well. From the server to the hostess to the bartender to the owner - everyone I met was gracious and ready to go above and beyond. -
Review from Vivian C.
3/5/2012 8 photos
With the assist of a voucher, I headed over to 49 Social for a healthy sized snack sortly after work. After I cooled my heels for a long minute, I was directed to a table in the back past the relatively bright bar area.
Another party had the table in the end, but they seem to have already ordered, so I received some really good and pleasant service from what turned out to be the only server manning the shift.
I unintentionally ended with a rather high carb meal due to my selection of the following:
LOBSTER RAVIOLI $15
Poached Lobster Tail, Crispy Leeks, Saffron Lobster Cream Sauce
TRUFFLE MAC & CHEESE $7
And then my server provided me with a nice warm roll and a dish of olive oil, even though he said that they are usually only provided when entrees are ordered.
The lobster ravioli arrived 3 average sized pillows to an order, topped with a half lobster tail. The raviolis themselves ranged in stuffedness from just the rubbery bit of the claw plus a few other little tidbits to quite stuffed. The lobster, particularly the bits hidden between the pasta, was a bit tough, as if on the overcooked side of things. This I mentioned to my server with the expressed hope that he'd convey it to the kitchen so that future orders would be improved upon. He offered to get me something else, which I appreciated, but I declined. The sauce was tasty though, and I enjoyed the textural difference of the slight crispness of the leeks in conjunction with the chew of the pasta and lobster meat.
The truffle mac & cheese arrived cutely in a small cast iron covered pot. It was cheesy without being gooey and quite trufflely.
Service was a bit MIA once several parties arrived for the dinner rush in short order. My empty water glass was filled (only halfway? weird) but once, near the end of my meal. Like I said, there was but the one server manning the dining room. -
Review from Erica K.
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
The "Truffle Mushroom Flatbread" will make you overeat and give a rats ass about your weight. Just a warning... not really sure why they call it flatbread either, its straight up pizza w/o the sauce. Doughy and everything--delicious, but definitely not flatbread. The portion sizes are American too, so don't be turned off by the $14, not that that's a bad price, but its even better when you consider it feeds about 4!!! Seriously, I was being a gluttonous fat ass and ate half of the flatbread; I still had enough for lunch the next day, and an extra slice that I ate as a snack.
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Review from jesse b.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 5/14/2012
I have been to 49 Social multiple times now and each time the truffle mac and cheese, the winter veggies, and the drinks have been great. Unfortunately, at my last visit I found that they had stopped serving one of their best drinks and had completely changed the recipe for their previously amazing black forest cake. The cake was not longer good which was a huge disappointment to me and even more so to my girlfriend. Hoping they bring back the original recipe.
Listed in: i love (vegetarian) food
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/13/2011
best restaurant in Boston. hands down. this is why:
1. truffeled mac and cheese
2. black forest cake… Read more »
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Review from Elizabeth B.
Quincy, MA
2/22/2012
I love it. It's way out of my budget, but since I was dining with Manhattanites who found the $20+ entrees and $10+ appetizers to be bargain prices (ha.ha.), we ordered up a storm and had a grand old time.
Every item on the cocktail menu (I always look, because I'm a wuss when it comes to drinking like an adult) looked phenomenal. Every item, if it was on another establishment's crappy drink menu, I would've said, that's my drink! I ended up choosing the Root Beer Float, because it was called a Root Beer Float, and I didn't love it, but everyone else liked their fruity drinks or locally brewed beers, so, my bad.
Appetizers included oysters (yum, interesting mignonette) and lobster ravioli. I had the seafood pasta (spaghetti with fruit of the sea, in italiano) and it was exactly as I hoped it would be. Rave reviews around the table for the duo of chicken with truffled mac and cheese. I tried their side of brussel sprouts, and while it might actually be the first time I've tried brussel sprouts, I thought they rocked, and could've eaten the whole bowl if I was permitted (I was not).
Completely empty at 9pm on a Saturday night. Is that normal for Boston? Early crowd? Whatever. I was with a group, and we entertained ourselves thank you very much, so I did not mind being one of the few jobs of the night for our dear waitress. I do hope it was just late in the evening for them, though, because they should get business! Go forth and dine like kings, Yelpers!Listed in: Date Night
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Review from Howe L.
Cambridge, MA
3/3/2012
2 stars for the two factors I liked about this place: good atmosphere for drinks and i really liked our waitress.
But since this is yelp, I cant say I was delighted by the quality of the food - esp given the steep prices. The deconstructed tuna was bland and mush. My duo of chicken was incredibly salty (though crispy)...while the mac and cheese lacked real flavor. My favorite item on the plate were the greens :/ -
Review from Sereia C.
1/6/2012
A group of 6 of us made the mistake of booking dinner here on New Year's eve. We were seated upstairs; initially only one couple was up there and then people all around the bar downstairs. We were given the prix fixe menu. Was not impressed. The food on the regular menu looked really good...the prix fixe menu only had an option of 2 apps, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts. I don't eat meat, so that brings my options on the menu to 1. When we asked if we could order off the regular menu, the waiter told us, "the kitchen is not equipped to handle the volume of tables for tonight."
**WHAT???!!! You can't make food for the amount of tables you choose to book for in your restaurant?? Nice managing skills. We actually asked for a manager, considering there was only one other table at the time seated, to see if there was ANYTHING els we could order off the menu. She said the truffle mac and cheese. My friend ordered a side of that. It never came.
Drink time: 4 of the 6 of us ordered dirty martinis: one regular, one extra dirty and 2 hot and dirty. All 4 of them came as regular vodka martinis. A small detail about me: You mess with my martini and I duct tape you to a tree and stone you. Sorry, 49 Social, if your waiter never came back to work the next day. My doing.
The food was actually good...I had a beet salad and some fish entree. Not worth $45 though. Veeery small portions.
Then, the worst of it...the "entertainment"...one dude on a Casio keyboard, and one on an elementary electronic drum top singing middle eastern music. Ugh my bleeding ears...it's time to leave...luckily we have other plans to properly ring in the new year... -
Review from Lala I.
Malden, MA
4/30/2012
we went to 49 social for a friend's birtfuday. we seated in the basement where the live band was playing. they have a live jazz band. i thought the atmosphere was great for hosting a private party. the food was delish, but the service was extremely slow. took forever to serve, but i dont know if it's because the size of our group was too large.
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Review from Jeff J.
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
NYE... my friends and I hadn't planned out dinner and discovered most places completely booked. 49 Social was not (red flag!). The decor is confused-- it looks like it should be trendy, but it doesn't come off that way. Despite having only 3 people, we were seated at a table for 6 (we were surrounded by empty tables for 4). This was a bit confusing. The seating area is also extremely cramped, with chair backs nearly touching each other. As the evening progressed, some of the tables filled around us, and waitresses were brushing up against my head just to get through and pour water. Very uncomfortable.
We felt a little deceived that they were ONLY serving their NYE menu ($45 prix fixe). Nothing on their website indicated this was the case; a couple other tables actually got up and left when hearing this. We were also upset later in the meal when we heard a waitress offer scallops as an appetizer instead of agnolotti (which I'll get to in a bit). Our server was very nice, though we began to suspect they were understaffed in the kitchen when our server kept trying to get us to eat more bread. It took 45 minutes to get us our appetizer. To their credit, the manager noticed (probably when I was twirling my knife in frustration) and offered us drinks on the house.
My beet salad was pretty bland. And my friends' agnolotti was colorless. Their dish also had a a nugget of fried something-- maybe it was chicken? Entree came almost immediately after the appetizer was taken away. My friend's pork was slightly overdone. My striped bass was the one bright spot of the day (and likely the only reason this is a 2 star, not a 1 star review). The skin was perfectly crispy (from Top Chef episodes, we know this isn't the easiest thing to execute), and the flavors were spot on. Dessert was nothing to write home about.
Meh! -
Review from Mim V.
Concord, MA
5/4/2012
What a wonderful dinner before the ballet. Although the lighting was dim at first, they raised it to a more readable level. As I am almost 60 I needed the flashlight as well from my phone, as the menu font was small. That being said, the waiter was attentive and polite. He helped make decsions and guided us well. The salad tasted perfectly flavored. We made a few substitutions with no problems. The chicken and fish dishes came with tasty sides and just enough delicious food that we were full but not overstuffed. The bar seats were actually quite comfortable so we remained there. Lest I forget the music- brat pack genre and quite enjoyable!
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Review from Stan B.
Brookline Village, Boston, MA
3/31/2012
I attempted to dine at 49 Social on a Friday night. We had theatre tickets for 8 PM and arrived at 49 Social at 6:55 for dinner. We were seated upstairs at a table that was up against a mirrored wall and was far too small for two adult males. It took 20 minutes for my son's drink to arrive and our dinner was so slow in being served that we had to leave before it made it to our table. The restaurant was clearly understaffed and the service was chaotic at best, although it was clear that our waiter had a table of nine adjacent to us that was very difficult to handle. It was a thoroughly disagreeable experience.
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Review from Bryan F.
Peabody, MA
11/7/2011
A truly incredible evening from start to finish.
The board of a non-profit event went to have drinks and dinner after 8 months of hard work. I was not too familiar with this place, as there was not much talk about it.....but after last night, I will endorse 49 Social to the fullest extent.
I started with a Hot and Dirty Martini, which was just the right amount of spice that just hit the back of the palate rather than the whole mouth.
When all five of use moved to the table with our Bar Manager, Kim, created cocktails we quickly ordered food:
Lobster Ravioli - incredible tasting, and very fresh
Duo of Beef- some of the best tartare I have had, it was also accompanied with a quail egg and tea smoked beef...amazing!
Deconstructed Tuna Maki- excellent presentation, and a wonderful taste
I then had the Kim create a new cocktail off of their Fall/Winter menu which incorporated pear vodka, fig jam among other things.....incredible and unique.
Main course, I got the Pasta Alla Carbonara, with House-Made Black Pepper Fettuccine, Pancetta Lardon, Chanterelles, Truffle-Poached Duck Egg. One of the best carbonara's I have ever had. In one bite, you could taste every component that cam together in a mouth watering bite. The best part was having the yolk ooze from the poached egg.
We all finished the night with nutella creme brulee, and a chocolate ganache desert encapsulated in a hard chocolate covering with cherry sauce and cherry ice-cream.......need I say more.
A truly incredible experience......I cant wait to go again!! -
Review from Lisa O.
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been mulling over my 49 Social experience since Friday night and I still can't quite decide what I think. Maybe a +/- list will clear it up for me!
+ The food was really good. My tomato soup and mixed greens salad were both simple in execution but really tasty in their simplicity.
- There wasn't really anything SPECIAL about anything here. We all could have replicated our meals at almost every Boston restaurant.
- The pacing was really awkward. We received our appetizer. My brother got his salad. When he was finished, my mom got her salad. I asked for my soup and salad as an entree and got those when my mom was finished with her salad. Then my brother got his entree. My mom's entree was brought out next, then my brother's side. It was really weird and this whole process took over an hour and a half, almost making us late for an 8 PM show, despite our 6:15 reservation.
+ The cocktails are DELICIOUS and inventive. Get the Dirty Blonde or the Sugar and Spice for something a little different.
- Everything was pretty overpriced for what it was. The lobster ravioli my mom ordered came with ONE ravioli for $17. If it's going to cost almost 20 bucks, at least toss another ravioli in there!
-Despite an almost empty restaurant, we were seated right next to a table of kids. Awesome.
I don't know. I really wanted to like it here and I'm not quite sure that I don't....I'm just also not sure I'll come back. -
Review from Darren H.
Boston, MA
12/15/2011
Good for a drink, don't eat a full dinner here.
I've been meaning to try this restaurant, which replaced Ivy recently. We finally got around to doing so on Wednesday night, and were sorely disappointed. This is what I get for being adventurous! If I had only checked the Yelp reviews beforehand...
The atmosphere of the venue is quite nice actually. It's new, and nicely done, in my opinion. The interior is warm and intimate, and quite inviting. There was a function going on downstairs, and a large party in the back - both boozed up and having a great time!
However, never eat a real meal at this restaurant. They really TRY to make their food good, and do some funky/creative stuff with their arrangements. But the food sucks. The duo of beef was average, the pasta alla bolognese was watery. and while the harvest salad was good, it had to be sent back for being prepare incorrectly.
I watched the bartender create a mojito, and it made me cringe. She looked tired, and instead of shaking the mixer, which crushes the ice a little and gives mojitos a nice, shaken texture, she just jostled it a little. As a result, the concoction that she bored out had huge ice chunks in it. I watched as she used her fingers to pick off some of the larger ice chunks on top, and then topped off the glasses with soda water. I couldn't believe my eyes.
Service also left something to be desired. The hostess who seated us looked like she was having a terrible day. While not rude, I could tell that she was just dying to get home, and wanted nothing to do with anyone in the restaurant.
I really wanted to like this place, but I just can't! -
Review from Amy D.
San Jose, CA
Review is strictly for the Bar/Drink service.
Came here with a colleague during our business trip. We were looking for a place to have a drink and we came across 49 Social. Walked in and customer service was definitely missing with an additional cold shoulder from the staff. Waited for a good 10 minutes before we got our drink order in. As soon as we got our drinks, there was nowhere to sit... so we ended up downing our drinks and leaving to find another place. The crowd was absolutely rowdy, and in fact, pretty rude. If I went back to Boston, this is a place I will be sure to avoid. -
Review from Heather G.
Boston, MA
11/13/2011 Seated via OpenTable
The service is great but the lunch menu is small and boring. I should say "was", because I believe they discontinued lunch service, at least during the week. Probably for the best, because walking into the restaurant at lunch to, at most, two other tables of diners was a bit awkward. Moreso because the waitstaff obviously had little to do, and thus became a bit overbearing, a bit too attentive.
As for the food - the ever-so-popular "new American" with a small menu of shi-shi-d up versions of really plain, uninventive food can be found here. While not bad, certainly not interesting or new or even reasonably-priced.
The atmosphere is gorgeous, but in a classy-old-man sort of way rather than a young-trendy way. This place is decorated exactly how I feel the Oak Room SHOULD be decorated, and certainly exudes understated richness.
While I may return at some point, I wouldn't rush back. -
Review from Chris C.
Jamaica Plain, MA
12/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable
This place used to be "Ivy", and before that... I don't remember. But through all these incarnations it hasn't seemed to have changed much -- but that's a good thing!
First, our waitress (Emma?) was fantastic. She was on top of everything, charming, knowledgeable, great timing. Waitstaff can make up for a poor restaurant and sink a good one.
The food was excellent. I can see the point of other reviewers, that the menu is conventional, but I would disagree. Yes, there are plenty of items available at other restaurants, but that's because they're good. More often than not, "interesting" fails as food. Regardless, there were still a number of unexpected items on the menu.
We started with oysters. My partner loves them. Me, I'm generally ambivalent but these were delicious. Great flavor and mouth feel. Very fresh. I then had the braised lamb shank which literally fell of the bone and was exquisite. Portions were on the small side compared with many other restaurants, but I think they were definitely reasonable. We didn't have to run off to Burger King afterwards as we have elsewhere. (there goes any esteem for my palate, eh?)
The one thing that didn't impress me, however, was an extensive use of foams. Intriguing in concept (but also a little gross, isn't it?) but I didn't feel it added to any of the dishes. Perhaps it just wasn't done well. I can't say.
Back to the menu. They have always had interesting cocktails. Pricey at $12, but worth a try! They also have an extensive and reasonably priced wine list with glasses priced around $11.
The ambiance is great. It has a very warm, intimate (though not romantic) feel. Casual. Sometimes boisterous such as with the company event that was just ending as we sat down. -
Review from Jessie Z.
7/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very very tasty! I agree with a few other reviews on here that the bartender knows her stuff! She was fantastic. The food was excellent as well. As with any new restaurant, they need to work out the minor kinks. We had the hummus appetizer - with beef (they had run out of lamb) and it was fantastic! They brought extra chips out also and we didn't even have to ask. 2 of us ordered the burger and the other 2 ordered the veggie pizza. Both were very tasty. The burgers were extra delicious but I'm not sure why - I kinda want another one...
I'd be happy to go back here anytime. -
Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
7/27/2011
Drink review only:
The bartender here knows her shizz. I did not expect to find such interesting, unique creations at a place like this and priced so reasonably too! Maybe it's because I just got back from a whirlwind speakeasy-turned-cocktail-lounge tour of Manhattan, where drinks are $16+ for "the classics", but $12 here gets you some one-of-a-kind libations.
My rec is the Sugar & Spice, with tequila, kumquats, togarashi spice, agave nectar and citrus. Kumquats! Honest to goodness kumquats! Who makes cocktails out of these? 49 Social apparently! And it was delicious! But be prepared--the spice is really there and adds a powerful kick. Reminds me of the Watermelon Habanero cocktail at Masa.
The place is not much different from the old Ivy in terms of layout but has been updated to be more sleek and glittery and pretty. I loved the ambiance, personally. This is so the place to take friends and out-of-town guests for a drink. Or go for a classy date. -
Review from Karin T.
Boston, MA
8/3/2011
This place is a big let down. We had dinner at the bar on a Friday night. Was looking forward to trying this place out after reading such good reviews.
The menu selection is small and VERY overpriced! The entrees average about 30 dollars. Really? Who do you think you are, 49 Social? There are 3 excellent steak houses within walking distance and if we were looking to spend this much money, we would have gladly gone there for much better service and food at comparable prices!
We had ordered a flatbread and a burger.
The burger was $17 and just "okay". There are a lot of pricey burgers in this town but at least some of them live up to the price. This one did not. If a burger is going to be nearly 20 dollars, please have it blow me away and give me a good reason to talk about it.
We waited at least 45 minutes for the food and I definitely wouldn't have described this as a busy night in the restaurant. The burger came out loaded with the toppings that we specifically asked to not be on it. We had told our waiter/bartender that it would be totally fine if we could just have a replacement bun brought out that wasn't drenched in the toppings we didn't want. They insisted on bringing out a new burger which is a great offer, but when we just waited 45 minutes for the first burger that certainly didn't seem like a great option to us. We ensured them just a new bun would be fine, mostly because we were starving and just didn't want to wait any longer. I think a nice gesture would have been to give a small discount on the bill for the mistake, but that didn't happen. I don't even think there was much of an apology.
If you have to eat here for some reason, one of the flatbreads is probably the way to go. I had pear and prosciutto and it was pretty good and at least seemed more decently priced for what it was.
I will not go back here. Good luck 49 Social. In my opinion, you need it. -
Review from mike G.
8/11/2011 Seated via OpenTable
- 1 goat cheese salad w/ hardly any cheese
- 1 duo of beef: tartare didn't taste korean, 'smoked' beef gimmicky
+1 korean barkeep Kim remixed a new tartare for me...so much better
+1 duo of chicken w/ truffled (not synthetic oil) mac n' cheese
+1 grilled sirloin w/ killer horseradish pommes purée
- 1 spelled PURRE on menu
- 1 pricey -
Review from Eric F.
10/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow, talk about some exceptionally well-executed food!
Having just run out of groceries at home, my bro and I decided to swing by for some post-studying dinner and it was pretty mad delicious:
Duo of Beef - loved the creative Korean twist on classic beef tartare, reminded me of raw kalbi actually. The grinding could've been a little finer, but that's just nit picking.
Lobster Ravioli - YUM! The poached lobster tail was succulent, ravioli skin perfectly al dente and plenty of flavor from the saffron cream sauce without any excess heft.
Truffle Mac & Cheese - lightly pungent flavor from the truffle oil, creamy and not at all runny. Nicely done.
Bacon & Spring Pea Risotto - the smoky aroma from the bacon was great, though the risotto itself was a bit on the clumpy side.
Service and decor were on point and the chandeliers in the bar area were immediately eye-catching. There's both upstairs and downstairs areas as well for more intimate dining and/or private events.
We stuck with a selection of apps and side dishes to sample a variety of things without breaking the bank, but they inspired much confidence and I can safely say I'll assuredly be back to try the mains...probably for a special occasion given the price range ;) -
Review from Stefan W.
Seattle, WA
7/15/2011
Five star food, three star that I'm sure will get worked out as they mature. The food was seriously glorious. I had beef two ways for an appy (smoked beef tenderloin and korean beef tartate). The smoked beef came under a little cup which held the smoke in as they brought it to the table and was one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth (the beef, not the cup).
For mains I had pork tenderloin wrapped around with sausage and bacon inside with pea shoot risotto sides. The pork and sausage was some of the most juicy, tender and flavorful meat I've ever had - seriously stunning how they managed to not dry out the pork. Risotto was a nice complement to the meat.
Drinks were good. Service was a little off - they didn't seem to know who was serving whom - but nothing terrible - just a little green. Super nice service overall, tho.
When I'm in Boston, I'll be back! -
Review from Meg C.
Somerville, MA
2/9/2012
My colleague and I popped in for an after-work drink when we saw there were empty seats at the bar. Only a handful of guests at the bar and service was still poor- slow and uninterested. Drinks were overpriced and the water glasses had lip marks on them. Plenty of better places for an after work drink... next time Ill go to one of those!
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Review from william g.
Boston, MA
You had me at chiboust........
On a whim, got pulled into opening night at 49 Social last night by the owner, Talal Zaiter, and his lovely bar manager, (a 5 year veteran from Radius) who were outside enjoying the evening air when they caught my surprised glance at their newly logo'd front door. 'What have we here?' was written all over my face and they took pity on my curiosity.
Sat at the bar where mixologist extraordinaire Elizabeth served up a marvelous Moscow Mule made with fresh ginger which gave it a real kick. Mule...kick...he he he. :-)
(sorry)
Decided to sample a number of the small plates of their bar menu as well as a few plates off the main menu, since I was lucky enough to be there with an actual food writer who needed to scout the place and required my extra stomach space to cover all the bases. And, yes, they got covered, including a Duo of Beef which was an out of this world combo of tea smoked boneless rib eye slices as well as a Korean inspired rib eye tartar with fried quail egg with a hint of sesame, both garnished with a brushstroke of pink peppercorn powder, as attractive as it was yummy! This was fantastic.
Fries and sauces seems to be the current rage in the city, thank your finger licking Belgians for that one, but when it gets me a trio of crisp fries, each with a corresponding dipping accessory, I go into an artery hardened feeding frenzy. The pink peppercorn dusted fries were dating the lemon aioli, the Parm. truffle fries were holding hands with a saucy tarragon ranch number, and the rosemary spuds were hooked up with John Kerry's wife, a match made in Louisburg Square. It felt like prom night!
Breath in, eat out...
The Carbonara flatbread pizza was a unique take on the classic pasta dish turned finger food. Pancetta and carbonara sauce over crunchy thin crust topped with 2 runny fried eggs was just what I had hoped for. Talk about pizza for breakfast possibilities. This is one you can really enjoy the next day!
The Oyster Po Boy sliders were a great concept and truly engineered like their larger southern brethren, on perfectly warmed and dressed slices of baguette, (no brioche please) but the fried oysters themselves were a bit off I thought, not fresh and briny, just slightly fishy and too greasy. They could rework those a bit, maybe even make them open face and lighten the battering.
Another breather, another glass of pinot grigio, another notch loosend on my belt.
Out next came a perfect lobster ravioli with saffron cream sauce and a huge chunk of tail meat, very delicate and not over seasoned so the lobster flavors really popped out. (much better that the ones I make at home, I was forced to admit)
Finally, in a poultry homage to all that is sacred down south, I tried the Duo of Chicken which was made up of a duck fat confit of leg/thigh and a very moist pan roasted breast, served with collards and the absolute BEST Truffle mac and cheese I have ever had, garnished with HUGE shavings of black truffles. FYI, almost all 'truffle oil' sold is nothing more than olive oil infused with 2,4-dithiapentane, a chemical that is pretty close to the aroma of truffles, yes, even the expensive stuff, so when I saw those slabs of real black truffle, well, I was in a word, smitten!
Though the desert menu is still being worked on, the executive chef, Michael Lishchynsky, (Johnson & Wales) brought out a few things he had been experimenting with, including a bananas foster Crème Brûlée , which was to be torched at table-side in the future iteration, as well divine chocolate mousse with an impressive name that I can no longer remember due to bartender Elizabeths' constant attention. My favorite though, was a chèvre 'cheesecake' over red velvet crust that could become the hottest thing in Boston since NKOTB.
Wait, the name of the mousse was chiboust.......
And try 'em out before they get too crowded! -
Review from John P.
Cambridge, MA
7/3/2011
An excellent cocktail bar. My friends and I came in late on a Saturday (10:45ish) and the place was empty. We got a corner table to ourselves. We pitched some old school cocktails at the bartender. She fired back with either perfect executions - a very good Old Fashioned - or clever improvisations based on what ingredients she had.
For the second round, we left it more open. I asked for "something with gin." She came back with a Bombay concoction - and I don't even normally like Bombay - topped with a mist of sea salt and Peychaud bitters. Tasty and inventive.
My only fear, of course, is that 49 Social can't stay hidden forever. I don't know if I'll get that level of service or quiet privacy if I return again on a Saturday night. So get it while it's good, Yelpers. Boston has a new craft cocktail bar. -
Review from Sarah S.
Wakefield, MA
8/26/2011
First of all, the space is fantastic! Very stylish and modern, but still really inviting and comfy. I only had drinks and a few nibbles of fries (okay, and the bread...), but everything I sampled was very good! My party was the last in the restaurant at about 11:30 on a Thursday, but the staff could not have been more friendly. We weren't rushed out, and never felt pressure to vacate premises.
Additionally, the owner was SO SO nice! He kept coming over to chat with us and answer our questions, and constantly refilled the bread basket with their really yummy rolls + butter. He was a real sweetheart, which made the experience even better. The beer list could use a little improvement, since it's rather short, but is fairly well-curated.
I'll be back for food! -
Review from Linda S.
Boston, MA
1/26/2012
This restaurant looked really great - wonderful menu, and the food itself was very good. But when it took 30 minutes for our drinks to come to us (and it was literally empty in the restaurant), the meal was not off to a good start. 30 MORE minutes later, and we receive a couple of our appetizers, then 10 minutes later, the other appetizers arrived. ANOTHER 30 minutes later our entrees came out (again, one at a time with a 5 minute lag between each).
There is a reason this restaurant was empty. I will not go back and recommend no one else go either. -
Review from VJ K.
Boston, MA
8/18/2011
After spending a hefty amount here, and on a part-time intern's budget that's like donating an organ, I think I can say this is a pretty great restaurant. Especially since I haven't regretted donating the metaphorical kidney.
I went to the hospital the very next day for a COMPLETELY unrelated reason, and I can still recollect fondly my meal from the night before without feeling nauseous. In fact, I would like to go right back and have at it.
Friend and I have only one complaint, that despite having reservations it took a long time to be seated. I wanted to order the pork tenderloin off the a la carte menu because it looked that good, but the kitchen had run out by then.
Final order was two restaurant week menus, with an additional appetizer of lobster ravioli. Speaking with restaurant owners, I have got a sense that some establishments use restaurant week to make a killing. In other words, their ingredient selection and preparations are mindful of the tighter budget, and it does not adequately showcase the abilities of the chef. It just gets the folks in and profits up. That's a pretty cynical opinion as they go, but 49 social really steps up to the plate.
The menu selection was artful, well thought out, and clearly demonstrated effort on the part of the kitchen. Scallop ceviche with melon sorbet was the perfect combination, unexpectedly full-tasting and sharp but nicely rounded out by the delicate melon flavor.
For entrees, we had the quail and truffle tagliatelle. We cleaned our plates.
To apologize for our long wait, we were each given a complimentary glass of prosecco and our lobster ravioli appetizer was on the house.
Between the two of us, we guzzled our way through a 2007 bottle of Cote Du Rhones, 3 glasses of prosecco, one white wine, 2 restaurant week 3 course meals with creme brulee and strawberry shortcake (couldn't really taste the peppercorns in the icecream) for dessert, and lobster ravioli. We had not leftovers.
For a Bacchian night of excess, the weight gained and money lost came out to a perfect balance. Our server was new and very sweet, so she made up for the lack of attention at the beginning of our evening. The free drinks and appetizer helped, though it didn't really dent our bill. :) -
Review from Beantown J.
Boston, MA
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went here for dinner on Friday night, a night where they should be busy. There were only 3 tables for dinner, including ourselves. Dinner presentation was good but only tasted like something I could have cooked at home. There was nothing special about my chicken though the truffle mac & cheese side was tasty. Nothing spectactular about my experience here.
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Review from Katie D.
Boston, MA
8/27/2011
I made reservations based on the Restaurant Week menu (as they evidently didn't go with the usual RW approach to their menu) last week with an old colleague and a friend of mine, and had a case of deja vu when we walked in and realized it was the former Ivy. Still just as charming aesthetically, chic without being uninviting.
2 of us were there early, so I tried out the Sweet & Spicy, which was entirely sweet and mostly tasted of tequila -- not a bad drink, though I probably wouldn't order it from here again.
For a starter, I had intended to order the frog legs, but at the last minute ordered the scallop ceviche. There was plenty of scallop, sliced well, which I enjoyed. I did try the frog leg though, which was tasty and fried with a great crisp.
My friend and I both ordered the quail duo for our main, which was perfect. I adore quail, and this didn't disappoint. Served over corn, tomato and lima beans, it had a perfectly comforting blend of flavors.
I finished up with the strawberry shortcake with a scoop of cucumber sorbet, which was so delicious I could have gladly eaten a second (and I'm not a huge dessert person).
Overall, I think the food was much tastier and more well-thought than when it was Ivy (or so it seemed). I had an enjoyable experience, for sure -- I'm really curious to try it out on a night with live jazz soon. -
Review from Diana N.
Quincy, MA
9/4/2011
Based on the reviews of others, we decided to give 49 Social a 'go'. We were mostly lured in by the promise of good cocktails, since we've been on a bit of a mixology kick. The drinks off of their cocktail menu were indeed delicious. My husband asked for a few cocktails that were not in the menu but any good bartender should know, and we had moderate success - unfortunately they didn't carry all of the liquors needed for a couple of them.
The food was also great, I had the goat cheese and pear salad to start - which wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was a hearty serving with nice presentation. My husband had the beef duo, and he claimed that it was some of the best tartar he's ever had. For main dishes we ordered the Pork Roulade and the Cod - and we were disappointed to learn that they were unable to make the roulade that night, so we opted for the Beef Short Ribs instead. Both were amazingly tasty and fresh and we cleaned our plates.
For dessert we had the Nutella Creme Brulee, which was heavenly. It was light and creamy and in my opinion, a large portion. We spent $143 bucks on dinner and had 5 cocktails, 2 appetizers, 2 main courses, and dessert. I think that's about right for a decent meal in Boston.
We finished dinner just in time for the jazz band to get started, and the lounge was cozy and chic. The band itself was really quite good and I found myself wishing for a dance floor to groove out to the deep voice of the singer.
The waitstaff was pleasant and always available when you needed them, but we found the place to be too empty for a Saturday night. I'm hoping that business picks up for them - I'd hate to see this joint close down. -
Review from Amanda W.
Boston, MA
6/9/2011
It just opened a few weeks ago so I'm not sure if I can give a fair review...
The food wasn't the best as everything was covered in oil including the "spring vegetables." But the owner is incredibly nice and the atmosphere is great so I'd recommend it for an after work cocktail. -
Review from Sarah B.
Roslindale, MA
11/3/2011
Made the HUGE mistake of going here rather than Stoddards to celebrate my raise and promotion. The atmosphere is appalling - LOUD and continuous blues music with multiple obnoxious guitar solos - the exact opposite of relaxing or sophisticated. Our waiter was terrible, but he was obviously new, and in this economy I hope he can keep his job. With the price of the food being so high, however, I would expect nothing less than professional waitstaff. My husband and I have eaten is restaurants both humble and grand around the world, and we both expected much more from a restaurant with 4 stars on Yelp! Shame on you people! Food was mediocre at best...and we were slotted into a two-top between 2 couples despite the place being empty. Dislike!
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Review from Smiling C.
Boston, MA
12/21/2011
Everything was sub-par at this place. I ordered a margarita and it tasted like they made it with Sprite- way too sickly sweet. Also, the sauce on the short rib sliders was overly sweet, like the cheap barbecue sauce you can buy at the grocery store. We went on a Tuesday night and it was dead. They have 3 levels and the space itself is fine if uninspired. This place will probably be closed in a year if they don't make drastic improvements.
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Review from Karina M.
Lynn, MA
1/27/2012
We had a group of 6, when we arrived the place was packed which was a good sign. But for some reason it was taking forever to get our drinks altogether. It was at least a half hour wait and everyone ordered different items but the beer took the longest to receive...? Our waitress was great and friendly and shortly after we got our drinks the restaurant cleared out the early eating crowd, this was after 7pm. We sort of felt like there was only one person in the kitchen as nothing got faster. We all ordered starters and they too came in peace-mail. We received some warm bread and oil dip but I thought our starters would accompany, oysters were the last to arrive after we had eaten our starters. Then there was another long wait until our dinners came out and again, one at a time. We had to wait like 20mins for another dish to be redone but don't understand why it took so long for all to come out together. Maybe they are still ironing out their kinks or were short staffed that night.
The food was delicious but I am not sure how soon I would return having to wait as long as we did for everything. -
Review from Joanne C.
Boston, MA
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars if I could.
GREAT bar/restaurant. I love what they have done to the decor. Very classy. The cocktails are great and I love the booths at the front. Great waiter/waitress and service. The hold back for me is the food. I wouldn't recommend going for a full dinner. Very pricey and not fantastic. I've eaten there twice, with appetizers, entree and dessert. Just so-so. Great bar and good for light food. Fantastic fries, really. -
Review from Meredith G.
Manhattan, NY
8/22/2011
After reading all the great reviews, I was pretty stoked to try out 49 Social, but ended up being super disappointed with the service last Friday night. On the positive side, most of the food and cocktails were quite tasty and creative, but on the flip side, my first cocktail was super watered down... probably because it sat on the bar for half an hour before it got to me. Poor little pink thing!
It's sad when poor service gets in the way of the yum factor of a restaurant, but this time it did... even though the place was half empty. Fortunately, we had a great crew of friends and got smart - started ordering our next glass of wine before we finished the current ones and therefore we were all pretty jolly 3 hours later.
All that said, I do plan on trying 49 Social again someday in hopes of a better overall experience. -
Review from Amit A.
Jersey City, NJ
7/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Nice dark atmosphere with a friendly staff. We ordered the margaretia and wild mushroom flat breads along with the hummus. Definitely try the wild mushroom pizza, we will be trying the pomme frites next time.
