Social House Hits the Mark

by Steven Doyle           photos by Robert Bostick

Finding a really well crafted cocktail in Addison can be a bit precarious at best. There are a few hidden labyrinths for drinks including either of the Richard Chamberlain restaurants on Belt Line and now, as it would seem, Social House.

Checking in to check out Social House just a few months after opening we found a pretty damned good chicken fried steak. So good we included it on our list of top favorites in the city. But a more recent visit we enjoyed much more.     

There are plenty of imaginative appetizers that may sooth your inner savage beast looking for a nibble between Manhattans or one of their huge selections of beers, fifty to be exact. We tried both the Tomato Bruschetta with Arugula Pesto ($6.95) and their Buffalo Fried Calamari Fries ($9.95), both were top notch. The calamari was especially appealing. Not your typical limp loops, but instead large, thick planks of calamari steak given the Buffalo treatment.

Looking for something a bit more substantial we tried our hand at Social House’s dinner menu. The full name is actually Social House A Supper Pub, so it only seemed right to put the word supper to the test.

We spied what we heard was a really fine burger and first ordered the Social House Sink Burger ($13.95) which is a beef burger with American, white cheddar and Swiss cheese, pulled pork and fried onion strings. It is a massive concoction that was both moist and tender, if not a little hard to handle. Great smoky flavor with a lot going on.

There are plenty of hearty dishes served at this gastro-pub including Guinness Braised Beef Short Ribs ($18.95) and a Blackened Mahi-Mahi ($18.95). In addition, they offer mesquite wood-fired pizzas with some very unusual toppings such as Three Cheese Shrimp Florentine and Barbacoa Pizza ($9.95). You may still order a traditional pie with pepperoni and Italian sausage, but the more obscure pizza is the way to run here. The pizzas are whisper thin and very crisp.

Social Hour is the best time to check out the pub, this is from 4pm to 6:30pm each weekday where you will find half price pizzas, specialty cocktails and appetizers, and a buck off each beer. We now have a great new option on that long row of restaurants in Addison.