The Camden Social — Restaurant in Minneapolis

I'll start by saying, I've been to this establishment on 4 occasions. I'll be back, but I hope to see some improvements, specifically with respect to Consistency. Consistency is the cornerstone of great eating and it seems to be lacking in some respect. I'm somewhat conflicted to write a review like this, because I've come to think of this place as a nice local gem, but my recent experience is worth noting for any who are dining here in the near future. (Again, I'm hoping things will improve over time - and I can rewrite this to be a much more favorable review.)

Before I get into detail, it's worth noting that I'm lactose intolerant and also have an extreme aversion to the flavor of cheese. Any cheese, all cheese - Judge me if you will, but I don't like cheese and avoid it at all costs. The last two times I came here, I ordered the Shrimp & Chicken Etouffee. The first time I ordered this, I thoroughly enjoyed my dish (which didn't have any cheese), and noted that the shrimp was served with the tail shell on. I don't mind pulling off the shell and while I thought it would have been nice to serve this with the tail removed, I didn't think much of it at the time. When I recently returned, I ordered the same dish. This time, however, there were two key differences from my first experience. The tail shells were removed, and there was cheese over the top of the dish. When I was served the dish, as the conflict-avoiding person that I am, I said it looks fine. As she left, I proceeded to pick the cheese off my dish. When the bartender came back to check on me, I asked if I had missed something on the menu where it says this dish includes cheese. The bartender confirmed that cheese is not stated on the menu and suggested she would comp the order. It's fine; I can pick off most the cheese anyway, I was getting hungry, and I had no intent of causing a stir. While eating my meal, I told the bartender that without the cheese, the food was still very good. Fast forward to the end of the meal, and the tab is dropped off in front of me. Instead of comping the meal; instead, I found that my beer was comp'd instead. When they returned to take my card, I asked to clarify if it was always the plan to comp the beer instead of the meal. Mind you - I'm not looking for a hand-out.. I'm more than willing to pay for what is owed. I'm just looking to understand more about the situation (since, at this point, I was very certain that I'd be leaving a review of my experience). The bartender quickly took my card and the check and started tapping away at the POS. She returned my card, said she took 50% off the meal, and mentioned something about me not wanting a remake and that the ingredient should have been listed on the menu, as if to imply (and I don't know) that this dish really is to be served with cheese over the top. Prior to the last mini-confrontation, I was thinking my review would still be around 3.5 stars.. but after seeing the lack of consistency from both the front and back of the house, I really have to lower the score. Again, not that I'm looking for a handout.. but, if someone says a dish will be comp'd to reconcile the unexpected ingredient, that's what I expect to happen. I left a generous tip, as if to confirm that I really wasn't looking for a free meal, and made my way out the door.

Here's my bottom-line folks: It's a charming place, it has a nice atmosphere, the dishes are pretty good, and the service hasn't truly let me down either. All this aside, I can't give a favorable review to an establishment which can't offer me a consistent experience. I've worked years in restaurants, myself. I know that at any of my prior employers, we would never add unlisted ingredients to a menu item without request; and we would honor any resolution that we offered a customer if a mistake occurred (It happens, I get it). Had I been told up-front that they would comp my beer instead of my meal, this probably would be a better review. Had they never put cheese on the dish to begin with, we could have avoided the...

Camden Social: A Taste of Twin Cities Charm

Bottom line up front? If you like a heaping portion of jazz with a generous side of soul food in a charming and laid back locale that oozes with a sort of nonchalant come as you are charm, then you will find yourself pleasantly surprised.

When you first enter, you're greeted by a smiling face and given the opportunity to wait in a spacious and well-appointed lounge, where you get a front-row seat to the house band. Not only is this a pleasant departure from the norm of joining your fellow diners as you herd together, but it also helps prepare you for the laid-back atmosphere and raffinement décontracté to come. It took the wait, something which I have normally come to dread, into a part of the experience. Watching the band set up, catching bits of their conversation while waiting with your party, and just soaking in the atmosphere is a refreshing change of pace.

The decor is perfectly low-key. From the dark and cool Caribbean greenish-blue hue of the walls to the minimalist furniture with little pops and flairs like the upholstery on the bar stools, The Camden Social clearly takes a less is more approach and it pays off by creating an unpretentious atmosphere that doesn't try too hard, or perhaps at all, to impress and instead relies on a sort of confident self-awareness in its own charm.

Of course, the experience is only as good as the accoutrements, and all this atmosphere and the dulcet tones of the band would be mere window dressing were the food and drink not up to par. I can happily confirm, at least for me and my party, that the food is nothing short of satisfying. I went with a rich and saucy order of shrimp and grits with two eggs over easy on the side and a Bloody Mary that came to my surprise and delight accompanied by a chicken wing. This paired well with the rich and savory grits and the plump braised shrimp. The others in my party opted for the French toast which came complete with a berry compote and looked nothing short of opulent. The portions were so generous that I could not possibly have entertained eating the entirety of my plate, though my dining companions seemed to have no such compunctions.

The food and drink did arrive somewhat slow, but to that, I shrug and have to remind myself that there was only one waitress in our section and that the kitchen, which I could see intermittently through the swinging door by the bar, was staffed by two gentlemen who seemed as if they were in perpetual motion. We in America have come to expect inordinately, perhaps even impossibly fast service, and I was enjoying my libation and the conversation too much to possibly care about the inconvenience of a little wait when weighed against what came at the end of that period of time. I did overhear one couple happily tittering about the mimosa flight, which I will certainly have to place on my bucket list the next time I arrive.

All in all, I would say that one would be hard-pressed to find such a repast anywhere else in the Metro, and that The Camden Social's mix of welcoming charm, relaxed atmosphere, and mouthwatering fare make it a definite must for anyone looking to get a taste of the Twin Cities. It won me over with its come as you are vibe and the soothing tones, which might as well have been the very heartbeat of the...

This place has the right vibe. The food is good, and the atmosphere inside is lovely. I love that they have live music, making it a perfect spot for relaxing with friends. Businesses aim to scale, so my review is based on the intention of this establishment reaching the next level. To achieve this, they will need to hire more staff.

For starters, my husband and I visited for brunch one hour after the restaurant opened, and it wasn't busy. We were immediately seated and ordered drinks and food. The food arrived within 30 minutes (yes, I was timing). The food was delicious—very well-seasoned, and the portions were generous. About 10 minutes prior to finishing my food, the host/waitress informed me that the bartender was "topping off my drinks." I told her not to worry about it as I was just about finished with my food. Waiting over 45 minutes for drinks is simply unacceptable, even if the restaurant were busy.

We noticed that the bartender was rarely behind the bar; she was busy delivering plates to tables. We also observed a group of ladies waited about 10 minutes before the hostess could greet them because she was serving tables. The host's primary role should be greeting customers and seating them. The bartender should stay behind the bar and ensure drinks are served to tables within 5-7 minutes. People are more likely to spend money when they are drinking.

Finally, please wear gloves when handling food. The green garnishes were touched barehanded by the owner when he placed them on customers' plates. The bartender also handled the drink garnishes with her bare hands, all while multitasking and performing several jobs.

Again, my review aims to encourage the owners to consider scaling up. You have an excellent product with no real competition, as other eateries in the area cannot compare to your elegance. The staff members are all charming, but to grow, you will need to increase your staffing levels. It would also be beneficial to put your current staff in uniforms so they can better...