Social Society — Restaurant in Sydney

These days, Kurt and I don’t generally book somewhere to go on Valentines Day. We go out to dinner often anyway and we aren’t fans of the exorbitant prices that appear out of nowhere on the “day of love”, which in our opinion should be everyday. When I saw a competition running on the IG for new restaurant Social Society, I entered and hoped for the best! We were so excited to hear we were the winners to a 3 course dinner they had on for Valentines Day. We headed to the restaurant, which is in an excellent location at the junction of Bourke St and Botany Road in Zetland, only a few steps from Green Square Station in a new food precinct surrounded by architecturally futuristic buildings. The restaurant can be spotted from afar with its pink and white framed chairs out the front of the venue. As you enter, you’ll find this colour palette has perfectly been used throughout the space. With its pink bench seating and curtain feature wall highlighting some white neon signs behind, its outfitting is eye catching and inviting. We love the custom designed marble coffee tables and bench tops, it also works well mixed with the white and pink coffee machine. They are currently a breakfast and brunch spot with drool worthy meals to suit any diner; from eggs to pancakes and power bowls. Keep an eye out for their dinners coming soon. We can attest to the quality dinner meals being served, for our special Valentines Dinner was remarkable. The three course dinner began with a glass of bubbles and a choice of two entrees. We ordered a different one each so we could share. The Hiramasa Kingfish Carpacchio was arranged on the plate with grated egg yolk, pickled radish, coffee veloute and decorated with avocado purée and served with potato crisps. The fish was lovely and the flavour combinations worked well together. The foraged mushroom risotto with hazelnut praline was excellent. It also had grana padano, roasted golden beets, carpaccio of truffle and the waitress sprayed it on arrival with a truffle scent. The super generous portion was beautifully presented and equally tasty, which is not always the case when it comes to risotto, the death dish from Master Chef. The chef here can indeed cook a good risotto. The chef's skills were again made evident with the mains that followed. We loved the Wagyu marble score + 5 New York Striploin, with roasted golden eschallots, black garlic purée, duck fat confit potatoes and a bordelaise sauce! An incredible dish, steak perfectly cooked, great technique shown and amazing flavour enhanced by that beautiful sauce! We will most certainly return for this. The salmon was also a very generous portion. It was a lovely piece, again perfectly cooked and it rested atop a large piece of maple sweet potato. The Tasmanian Salmon came with radicchio, fragrant dill and fennel oil. It rested on some roasted sesame tahini which combined well with a powerful prawn and lemon marmalade which added a unique tangy edge to the dish. We were so full and opted to share the dessert. It was incredibly good. A crisp pastry tart filled with a duo chocolate olive oil mousse and raspberry as well as a pistachio praline, with tempered chocolate flakes and some gold dust to top it off. This dessert was a labour of love, very decadent and fitting to share with the one you love on Valentines Day. The staff were great. Food was served promptly, the service was friendly and efficient. We also met the lovely owner Perry who is so passionate about his business, and this is so great to see. A lot of care and hard work has gone into creating a great place. We are blessed to win the competition and grateful for the...

I passed by this cafe and saw a small table with 2 seats. I was glad as I'm only one person during lunch hour, which was busy, although there were three 4 seaters available. I went in and the cashier politely mention yes there's table service so I can just find a seat and a staff will attend to me. As I was about to go take the 2 seater, the manager suddenly swooped in and asked me how many person, and upon learning I'm just one, he curtly insist I must select the 2 seater outside (which I am going to anyway as I know occupying a table of four for just one person is rude). The service staffs were all polite, although when I asked for a regular coffee, I got a large cup instead. When the large coffee appears I blamed myself for not saying I wanted a small coffee instead. I thought perhaps I assumed incorrectly that regular means small. However, a table next to me also ordered regular for their coffee and they got the small coffee I wanted, which was disappointing. I ordered a main meal - the congee, which was okay, I feel they made effort to include as much textures, colours and flavour, and the 'charsu' and egg were very quite tasty, however overall the dish has too much oil and whilst it is spectacular when the dish comes to the table, the overall experience seems lacking. In saying that, I would come back again as I can always order other dishes and I don't expect them to get everything perfect, if not for the managers' attitude and service. Wrong order coffee aside, the table of four besides me, 2 of them were empty the whole time I dined there, and one of them had two customers who ordered 2 small coffees, whilst I was given a large coffee and I ordered a main. And those two customers must've known the manager as they were happily chatting, during a busy time. I started to notice his professionalism can be different, depending on what type of customers. Perhaps his friends or regulars or people that 'fits' his liking will get a better service. I saw some person standing in entry for a while with no attention from him, but a customer turns up and she was offered a seat quickly. That particular customer was, perhaps, someone that 'fits' his view of who should be the patrons of this cafe. I feel perhaps I was thinking too much and maybe he didn't see the person standing there (which is really obvious though). But from my observations it feels there are different levels of service. I don't expect to be treated differently just because my bill was more than the table of 2 small coffees, but I was hoping for a consistent service, the manager's attitude put me off coming to this place. Otherwise the food was okay and the other service...

I've been looking for a nice cup of espresso next to the green square station. And I was always disappointed, usually you will see expensive and bad espressos.

Today, I decided to give a try on Social Society. A place that I wouldn't probably go by myself. Are those classic brunch places where young couples and girlfriends go for instagramming.

So, my expectations were low, but I'm willing to try.

I arrived and the staff was very friendly, the place is table service. No ordering at the counter.

I ordered a double espresso, and I've noticed the source of beans. They are reformatory beans. I'm not sure if it was that one they used in my coffee, but that shows me the barista knows what is good.

The coffee arrived with sparkling water, a proper cup for a double, and a small biscuit on the side.

The coffee was very well executed, the crema was great and the right temperature. The coffee was for the bitter/sour range. It's not my favourite, personal preference l, but the biscuit brought another layer for the flavour of the coffee. It was paired well.

So, for me, it is the best coffee around Green Square. The price is fair. Complements to the barista!

I haven't...