Kitchen Social — Restaurant in Orange

What a disaster, and with waiter hitting on my date too!! Very average food, despite reviews claiming great food. They did biscuits ok, that is faint praise. Bob Evans could do same. The chicken and salmon salads were very average and overpriced. I didn't bother finishing the chicken salad. But the service was a disaster for me. As a man, I was basically ignored by the waiter, who decided to focus on my female date in a way that was extremely uncomfortable. He kept hovering over her, asking personal questions about her, suggesting recipes at home, and going on and on about his bartending experience. The outfits of the waiters look like normal clothes from the back, so when I arrived at the table where my date was, he was leaning over her and it looked like he was trying to pick her up. When I arrived at the table, he would not move to let me sit down, and I nearly had to shove him out of the way to sit with my date. I made my frustration very clear, and he simply ignored me. I was 10 seconds from walking out, which on reflection- is exactly what I should have done. Even at 3 pm, the music was too loud,, and that was for a place with basically open space for walls. I asked for music to be turned down, which didn't happen until I complained to an assistant manager. The next day I called the manager ti complain about the behavior of the waiter. He left me on hold for 10 minutes. Then the manager proceeded to rudely and loudly gaslight me and told me that everything that I experienced didn't actually happen that it was all my imagination. Now he wasn't there and he couldn't possibly know.. The manager also pretended not to know who the waiter was but immediately he was able to jump to his defense and say that the waiter was only "engaging" with my date. In most places, a waiter "engaging" like that with someone else's date, would find the tip to be the least of his problems. But that is "normal" here at the Kitchen Social in Pinecrest; go figure. So guys if you want to overprice for average food, while the waiter hits on your date a little bit, then this is the place for you. I wish someone had told me! I only give. It one star because I can't give it zero or...

We are from Pittsburgh. We discovered Kitchen Social in Polaris on a weekend trip to Columbus in December 2021. It was awesome. We loved it! So we looked forward to the Cleveland opening for months, and we were there the first weekend it was open last July. Food, energy, and owner attention to detail were all top notch. We vowed to make a trip back again for a special occasion. Fast forward to Valentine’s Day 2023: I made a reservation and my wife and I made the two hour drive for dinner. First impression - wow, half empty on V-Day? Then the music chosen by a 20-year-old - felt like I was in the mall. The vibe was a bit off to say the least. Appetizer (Thai shrimp) was tasty and probably the highlight of the meal. Biscuits were the same taste as before but very greasy — not buttery greasy but just greasy — you know and remember that taste and smell. My wife’s entree was okay (veggie pasta) but nothing special. My fish and chips were grossly overcooked in the fryer and the fries were too salty. It was V-Day with the wife so didn’t want to cast a pall over the meal by sending it back. Service was fine. We were very disappointed but at least we had a nice day in Cleveland beforehand. But we will certainly not make a drive back to Cleveland for Kitchen Social. There’s something really odd going on because the Columbus location was vastly better, as was this restaurant on opening weekend. What happened?

Edited to downgrade to 1 star. This experience was so disappointing and frankly I’m still mad about it. Drove all the way from Pittsburgh for this?! Also, a note about the environs: parking deck had strong smell of weed. My wife used the public bathroom right outside the garage and a man walked and said something to her. Frankly I wonder if this is...

FIRST OF ALL… I want you to understand WHY I am taking the time out to write this review and I am hoping that you find this review useful and that you find it very helpful in your future dining experience with Kitchen Social. My first experience here was UNBELIEVABLY satisfying to my soul! My entire visit besides eating their wonderfully made dishes, was that I couldn’t take my eyes off the movement of its employees!

I have NEVER been to any restaurant in Ohio and seen “so much teamwork” in my entire! Every worker was “on beat” … and let’s keep it real: these people were (hand in hand) assisting each other with smiles! (you don’t see that too often). They didn’t appear to be stressed, and the energy displayed showed me that they were happy to be there… and with that said; everything about that touched me in every way, and that amazing in itself!

My second, third, fourth and fifth visit was remarkably the same! All of this took place in (one month’s) time; so as you can see I enjoy dining here! Last but not least: MR. DEREK! YOU ARE FAR BEYOND THE MOST PERSONAL, UNDERSTANDING, and FRESHEST MANAGER OF ALL TIME! The reason I say “freshest” is because my conversation with you was so smooth and your delivery was of no other I’ve experienced in the food industry! You are doing great at keeping your employees on point with customer satisfaction! 💯

To have a passion such as yours in the food business is everything to me! You hold such an amazing energy and that needs to be shared and acknowledged! To all the employees at KITCHEN SOCIAL… thank you for your continued commitment in serving your customers nothing but the best! Enjoy the drink photos … “the food is in my stomach” so you know it was good! 😉 And it was an honor to share my experience with the public!...