The Hampton Social — Restaurant in Barrington Township

Just because you pretend to be fancy, doesn't mean that you are. Don't waste your time at this place. They're so busy trying to be this trendy NYC hipster place with their booming base music that they forgot to be a decent restaurant first. We went there for the first time before seeing a movie the other night. The menu looked decent enough online, so we gave it a shot. The interior is this weird Red-Lobster, nautical vibe. You can tell they're trying to pull off this chic atmosphere with the loud club style music they're playing, but it's huge clash with the pallets installed as a celling and ropes hanging from the rafters. It looks less 'chic club' and more 'Seafood Nicks meets Applebees'. I tried to order a beer. They only had 7 on the menu and 3 of them were sold out. What kind of place with a full bar only has 7 beers on the menu? And how do you let yourself run out of half of your offering on a Saturday night? They said that their "specialty" is Rose? I guess if fermented Kool Aide is your thing, then this is your place. Not for me thanks.

My wife and I both ordered the lobster roll. We were told Market Price was $35 each. A bit high, but we're in South Barrington, so whatever. Then they add a $4 surcharge to my wife's to swab fries for the standard 'house chips'. Nit-picky, but OK. Now normally lobster rolls are over flowing with Lobster, where it cascades over the bread, like a volcano spewing tender lobster. Theirs was the skimpy-est portion of lobster I've ever seen. About 7-8 tiny pieces tucked neatly between two pieces of bread. Seriously??? The taste of it was fine, but far from memorable. We were running close to our movie time so we got our check. They don't bring it to your table but instead ask you to scan a QR code and pay with your phone. OK, whatever. I look at the detailed bill and they add a 3% surcharge due to increasing food costs. Seriously? Just up your prices! But no, clearly they'd prefer to keep their advertised prices as is and charge you arbitrary add'l costs once you're in and have already had your meal. No advanced notice of this mind you. They just tack on a few extra bucks to your check for good measure. Poor form in my opinion. Then when you get to the end of the phone check out process they tack on ANOTHER 3% 'digital fee' for the "convenience" of using their QR code check out process that you have to use! WTF? Talk about nickel and diming. If you want to be a fancy expensive place in Barrington, just charge it.

So I guess if you want to eat over priced, forgettable food, and getting nickel-and-dimed while drinking alcoholic Welch's in a wanna-be trendy atmosphere, then this is the place for you. And based on the number of 5 star reviews, I guess there are plenty in South Barrington that are into that. But if you want to have a decent meal and an enjoyable evening out, try instead one of the dozens of other restaurants...

This has nothing to do with the usual aspects of things that people normally put their two cents on. BUT i am absolutely disgusted and I would like everyone who would like to try them to first know the very principle this restaurant apparently is driven by. My son's girlfriend applied to be a food server today at the Hampton Social at the Arboretum in South Barrington. Two men interviewed her. And although some of the questions they asked were standard, these guys' glaring questions were absolutely unnecessary and racist. My son's girlfriend is Asian. They asked her why she wanted to work at Hampton's when there was a "Chinese Place" nearby that was hiring. They literally listed down "other Asian places" and even mentioned "Mago's which is also hiring now". The interviewer could have simply said they were looking for something else, but they went out of their way profiling and labeling her. They also, by the way, seeing that she had previously worked at an Japanese Place, wanted to know why "they hand out hot towels to costumers". At this point they stood up and turned away from her and had a not so private conversation in front of her. Seeing that the interview was not formally ended yet, she stood right where they left her. They then turned to her and said "did you forget something? The door is right there, pointing at the door. He then said that "Hampton Social is high end and her work experience is not high end enough". Needless to say, this has angered not only us but so many of our Asian friends. She is an Asian girl who intends to work in the medical field someday. She was simply looking for work while she was studying. To be profiled and labeled is absolutely unnecessary and cruel. I would like to actually sit down and discuss this further. But for now, i hope all my friends will read this and feel exactly the same...

Even though food is good, the atmosphere was horrible and management not helpful. The place is extremely loud because they have more than 20 speakers hanging down from the ceiling, almost one over every table, and music is blasting. I was there for lunch with two other people at a table for 4, and had to scream over the sound to hear one another. Our waiter also mentioned that it was too loud and he could hardly hear our order, but was not able to do anything. I called over one of the managers and told them if they could turn the music down a little. She said no because the sound and it's level was intentional and they wanted to create an atmosphere. It created an atmosphere for sure. One that made us rush and get out of there. I looked at every table and everyone was leaning forward to talk and hear. I asked if they could seat us somewhere less noisy. She said no because the level of music is the same everywhere. Who would do this? I expect noise in a bar, but go to a restaurant with a group to socialize and not be bombarded with noise. Furthermore what is the point of having managers come to the table and ask how is everything if they are not going to accommodate the customers. At any case it was like having lunch in the front row of a heavy metal concert. If you decide to go there, bring ear plugs. When managers come to the table and ask how is everything, remember they are only looking for you to tell them how great they are doing and they are not there to help. Management should listen to customers and not try to force their vision of right atmosphere on them. There should be areas in the large hall to accommodate needs and wishes of different groups of customers. BTW, I have been to their other locations and they are...