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| - I've been hearing about Social House Seven for weeks..months, even. I was so excited to try it out. We figured that a Tuesday evening would be a great date night. Unfortunately this fortune cookie has crumbled.
In pictures and walking by, this place looks like a trendy, upscale restaurant for the theatre crowd looking to get a bite before a show or a night out downtown. It has all the makings of a great restaurant. From the moment you walk in, you are greeted by a coy pond underneath your feet and Asian decor that leaves no detail left behind.
But what was left behind was the fish in my sushi. Never before have I eaten a roll that was 80/90% rice. The sushi wasn't the only thing that was bland. The entrees, though clever, were also a bit bland and certainly overpriced. We tried the pork dumplings, spicy tuna roll, coconut fried rice, hamachi robata, and chicken with hidden dragon sauce. As we took bites of everything, we expected an explosion of flavor and exotic pairings on traditional classics. Unfortunately, all I can remember is a vaguely ginger protein dish--where everything tasted basically the same.
I know that the restaurant is trying for a dim sum or tapas vibe, but then you need to commit to smaller (cheaper) portions and punch up the flavor profile of each serving.
The restaurant is still an interesting place to visit, especially where Asian restaurants are already lacking downtown. However, I would only come back to visit it as more of a cocktail spot rather than commit to a full dinner.
Looking back at the reviews...Huyen really hit the review on the head here!
If you're downtown and looking for an Asian meal, it could be worth checking out.
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