The location and patio are pretty great for a Back Bay local spot. A trendy steakhouse vibe. Service is very good. My personal suggestion: Take advantage of their $1 oysters and try to snag a spot on their patio...also, the pickled Bloody Mary with house-infused spicy vodka is a definite. The steak tartare and tuna poke are below par. I would shy away from both. read more

Finally! We have been in Boston for 5 months. Until now we have been sorely lamenting about the fact that we had only had an average experience with the city's food. Last night though we had the chicken and waffles at Back Bay Social. Bernardo assured us we would not be disappointed. He was right! A simple chicken and waffles plate was by far the best food experience we've had since being in the city. The service by Bernado and Angel was on point and also the best we've experienced here. We'll be back again to try the rest of the menu! read more

Bad service and mean staff. So I came to Back Bay Social on Tuesday evening around 6. I noticed one bartender and one server working, and the server brought me glass of water. Immediately, I felt the water glass was sticky, and I saw it had a lipstick stain on it. I didn't want to complain so I wiped the lipstick with a napkin, and ordered a drink instead. It was a rye manhattan. But guess what, the drink I ordered came fully surrounded with lipstick again. I couldn't even wipe it off because it was stained, and dried completely. I wanted to tell my server but she was just gone for a while. The restaurant was completely empty. After trying to get the bartender's attention a couple of times, the bartender came to me clearly annoyed. I told him what happened, and asked him to just change my glass without dumping the drink. But he was so upset and without apologizing or trying to explain anything he took the rye manhattan from my hand with no word and walked away. I started wearing my jacket because I felt uncomfortable and I felt bad. When I was walking out the door bartender was yelling at me why? what's wrong? why are you leaving? JUST BECAUSE THE GLASSES HAD STAINS ON THEM?? It was scary honestly, the bartender was mean and rude, and the server was slow and ignorant. The entire restaurant had 3 customers including me. The bartender was dancing behind the bar. Why don't you just wipe your glasses when you had nothing else to do? And it's a COVID time. How are you serving drinks in unwashed dirty glasses and getting away with it? I'm sure that I'm never coming back to this place. PS: Earls restaurant is right across the street in Prudential. Phenomenal service and delicious food. They know how to serve water at least. read more

Stopped in for brunch today. The food and service were excellent ! The tables are surrounded by planter boxes and give you a private feeling. Even on Boylston st. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. The burgers and eggs Benedict were scrumptious. We will return for sure on our next trip Into the city. Ps. The espresso martini and mimosa were spot on. read more

I LOVE this place.. I travel to Boston 4-5 times a year. I am a 'foodie' and have sought out delicious clam chowder in the city... So far, (trust me, I've tried dozens of places, even several on the 'top in the city' lists and the 'the best' lists) this place's clam chowder is top on my list! The chowder is cream based, with rich and savory but balanced flavors. The key to any excellent soup/chowder is the base or broth + fresh ingredients- Although seemingly simplistic, the heartiness of this chowder is also excellent.. lots of clams and potatoes, topped with a few oversized chunky oyster crackers- a unique and special touch (verses the typical small bag you add yourself, served on the side!) A bowl of chowder and a beer is an excellent combination OR just add on a cup with any dish for lunch or dinner - any time of year, always a great option (and a taste of New England if you're visiting from afar)! I visit this place every time I'm in the city. Even before they now have grown to know my face, I've had excellent servers... Ben, Michelle and most recently, Nick has won my heart! Very friendly, attentive to me, but their other guests as well... there is definitely an atmosphere of a staff, working hard together to serve customers well. There are many more great things to say, sometimes places are more than just about the food and drinks, which make them stand above rest and this is that kind of place: the ambiance is great, a great place to meet with friends, business associates and/or colleagues ; large projector screen in basement level bar area, an excellent way to watch a game; occasional live music and other special event nights, worthy of a visit by guests of Boston and locals (Important note as well: clean bathrooms, fully stocked w/ tp! Always appreciated and critical in these settings!!!) Everywhere I travel and in my hometown of Tampa, I love to find local businesses to support and promote- this one is a GEM in this innovative yet historic city- put it on your list!! Shout out to management- Chris, the result I experience must represent what you and others have invested in leadership and training! read more

Back Bay Social - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Back Bay Social Club's Social Burger is divine. As someone who samples cheeseburgers almost everywhere I go, I am always skeptical that one burger will be drastically better than the last 500 burgers I've had. This one was.. The waiter said what makes this burger so special is that it's half ground beef, half ground short rib (or maybe spare rib.. Some kind of rib). The meat was super flavorful and I loved that it held its shape and didn't crumble like so many "juicy burgers" tend to do. The only reason I give 4 and not 5 starts is the price. Rib meat or not, $23 is still an awful lot to pay for a cheeseburger. I'll definitely be back, but only right after payday! read more

Back Bay Social - Social Burger and fries... worth the 23 bucks! - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I used to really hate this place, especially when I was in my mid-20's. I thought it was really snooty and bougie. Now that I'm almost 30, I have come to appreciate this place... Pros: -It's usually QUIET! Even on New Years Eve at 5pm, we could sit at the bar and have a conversation! -Better craft beer options than neighboring bars. I love that they often have Nightshift beer. -Great location, nice outdoor patio. -Good bartenders who know how to make a decent cocktail. Cons: -It's a bit more pricey compared to neighboring bars, but that's because it's catering to a different type of person. -As mentioned, some people might not appreciate the atmosphere. read more

Upon arriving during what I would consider a New England monsoon I was welcomed with open arms. The management and staff was so friendly I immediately felt at home. The bartender Tyler was fantastic and exceeded all preceded hospitality expectations and set a new standard high. I'd recommend back bay social club to anyone. I look forward to coming back with friends and family and anyone who would like to enhance what they think is a welcoming atmosphere of the industry. I wish I could name the entire staff by name but givin the exceptional service by my bartender /server (during pandemic Massachusetts) I've never felt more safe and taken care of by the gentleman going by Tyler. 10:10 read more

You do the math. BURP BURP. 1st Time there. Went for World Cup Games. Big sign outside said half price apps and 25% off all food. When check was given to me there was no discount. Bartender should have noticed. Gave check back. It was returned with the 25% off the entree but chick wings app not discounted. Gave check back to bartender. She returned it with 25% off the wings - not the 1/2 off as advertised. I figured after 3 tries, give up and get out. Wings had been grilled on same place as they grilled bacon. Could only taste bacon, no chicken flavor. It was 1:30 in the afternoon and I was charged a dinner price on the entree. Now 5:30 in the evening and burping sour burps. With the exception of the patio, the place was empty. My mistake. Should have taken the hint. Bostonians have done their math. read more

Back Bay Social - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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My parents, my husband, my two year old niece and I enjoyed our meal here. We sat outside because the indoors was much to noisy, and that's really the only reason I'm knocking off a star. If it had been raining or cold this restaurant wouldn't have been an option for us since that is one of my personal pet peeves. I go out to eat to socialize, and if I can't hear what people are saying, then what's the point. That being said, the food was excellent! My husband had the pork lettuce wraps, which he devoured. I had the mussels, which were nice, but I wish they came with bread instead of fries. My niece had the mac and cheese side, which was so delicious we ordered one more for the table. I'm not a mac and cheese person, but dang! That's some good stuff right there. My father had a crab cake sandwich, which was up to par. I'm sorry to say I forget what my mom ordered, but I think she also chose a sandwich. She enjoyed her sandwich, and loved the margarita! I ordered the spiced sangria, which was my first time trying one. I'm a big fan of red sangria on a nice day, but the spiced sangria was not my thing. Mom tried a sip and really liked it so if it sounds like something you'd like, I wouldn't let my disappointment sway you from ordering it. But what was the best part of our dining experience was the waitstaff. We had a two year old with us, and they were so very accommodating. They went above and beyond to make us comfortable in a restaurant that isn't really set up for small kids. That being said, it'd be nice if the owners put in a changing table in the bathrooms and had a few plastic cups on hand for the little ones. It can be tough finding a place to eat in the city with kiddos. Overall, a nice dining experience. I'll return someday to try some other items on the menu! read more

Disclaimer: I've only visited BBSC for brunch. This is one of my fave brunch places in the $$$ Back Bay/Copley area. It's a casual restaurant where you can just walk-in, there's never a wait, and you don't need to fork over big bills for simple and delicious brunch fare. Don't get me wrong, I love me a fancy brunch at Abe & Louie's or Mistral, but BBSC is just more satisfying at times and way less stuffy. "The Treatment" for $22 is by far the best deal on the brunch menu for its quality and quantity (basically feeds two). It includes fried chicken n' waffles, two eggs, choice of breakfast meat, home fries (the best around!) and wheat toast - totally satisfies your sweet and savory cravings. I usually share this with a girl friend and we still cannot finish this massive plate of food. One gripe is that they charge $1 for maple syrup when it should come with it in the first place. Southwest Scramble and the chocolate chip pancake are also fave brunch items. They also have $1 oysters during weekend brunch. Note: they do not have French toast on the menu :( read more

Came in for a friend's bday brunch. Took a few tries to get her order personal right, BUT it was all saved by our sweet waitress Nicole and amazing manger Antonio. They checked in multiple times to make sure we were okay and had such great personalities that outshined and made for a great experience regardless. Definitely will come back for the tater tots and their service read more

Place opens at 11:30am for lunch. Door was locked at 11:32am. Fine, you need a couple more minutes. We made eye contact with the hostess while we stood in the rain outside waiting to be let in. Only about 5 minutes later did she open the door to tell us they weren't opening for another 15 minutes. I mean just let us sit at the bar to get out of the rain, we will wait. Handle the situation any other way than you did. We had a nice lunch at Rochambeau across the street. I recommend it. You don't need to go to Back Bay Social to stand in the rain; that can be done at home. read more

I was there for brunch with some of my friends. The place wasn't busy and we got to sit at the back of the indoor room so it was very quiet. I had a cappucino which was okay and a May Flowers, a cokctail which turned out the be blue and quite bubbly, prepared with "crème de violet". I'm not going to lie, it was pretty good! The banana bread they gave us as an app was exquisite. I ordered the daily omelette (salmon and asparagus) with homefries, two (overly buttery) toasts and a plate of cheese. Everything was very good and we didn't have to wait long for the food even though there was quite a quite on such a sunny day. The food was good, this a plus for the raisin bread which came with the cheese. Our waitress was nice but I often had to ask her to refill my glass of water as she wouldn't do it on her own. Yet, she checked on us often. She did forget my cocktail at the beginning and I had to ask again for it. My dessert took some time to arrive but when it did, it was worth it. I had the Chocolate Truffle tart with berries (milk and white chocolates). I found the dessert a bit pricey but the rest was okay. All the other girls loved their cocktails and the Eggs Benedict looked delicious. I would totally recommend this place for a brunch with girlfriends! read more

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This place is always one of my go-to's for brunch! It's great for big groups, and we always have about 9 or 10 people when my parents are in town. I love the spicy bloody Mary! Its a must! As well as the peanut butter Oreo pie! They were kind enough to bring a piece out with a candle for my boyfriend's birthday. The only bad thing was that the lobster Benedict, which we order 2 of, came on completely cold. Other than that the rest fo the food was amazing. read more

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Back Bay Social Club- the name conjures images of upper middle class white guys sucking on cigars, sipping over-hyped, over-priced, underwhelming scotch while loosely knotted tied drape lazily over the excess fabric of their shirts. Standing outside staring at the sign, I could already hear the conversations that must take place behind those walls. Conversations that center around the Redsox, Bruins, Patriots, the occasional dip into drunken politics and economics. My stomach churned. My heart raced. I opened the door. I braced for impact. I slid past the hostess trying not to make contact with anyone. I entered the downstairs. I perused them menu. I ordered a cocktail. I took a sip. I. . . I kinda like this place. And then the alcohol started kicking in. It started in on me slowly, but five minutes after completion of one drink, I knew I was done. So I sat, staring longingly into my martini glass, pondering the universe. I stuck my tongue in my cheek, scrunched my brow, and nodded . . . It's not that I stood corrected, I was so enamored with my beverage that the president himself could have sat next to me and I wouldn't have noticed. But my drink, and overall drink menu were so good that I just didn't notice. read more

Ambience is good. Service was good. Really I'd have no complaints, but my burger (medium rare) was essentially uncooked. Not worth making a fuss about, ate half of it, then got to thinking if they can't even cook a burger.... It's worth a visit, but they have a lot of volume. Order thoughtfully if it's busy. read more

I'll be honest, it took me awhile to get behind Team Back Bay Social Club. I've been here a ton and never quite got the hype. That's because I was doing it wrong and approaching it from entirely the wrong angle. It took a killer hangover and a two mile walk to Boylston street for me to finally be hungry and desperate enough to understand the error of my ways and start living life in a whole new light. Take it from me-at a place offering such dishes as The Treatment (chicken, waffles, bacon, eggs), The Donut Sandwich (fried eggs, bacon, and cheddar between TWO DONUTS) and MEAT CANDY (I'll leave this to your imagination), please avoid the egg white spinach scramble or granola and yogurt and go straight for the Big Guy... The Social Burger. Served on a wooden platter with a dish of fantastic fries and tangy house made mustard sauce, this burger was cooked (or not cooked) to a beautiful, bloody, medium rare perfection. It's completely no frills with only a little bit of cheddar and grilled onions decorating it, but that is completely fine because the real star here is that glorious grass fed beef. I've always been impressed with their cocktail and Bloody Mary menu but as Jimmy Buffett once said, such a beast can only be appropriately accompanied with a cold draft beer (and their draft list is great too). You can also get the "other burger" (zzz lettuce tomato, weak) but that will clearly make you..lesser than. The staff, from the hostess to the waiters to the busboys, are extremely attentive, fun, and inexplicably dressed as lumberjacks. However, I must assure you the possibly suggestive comment coming from me when the meal was over clearly only referred to my one true love, the social burger. "I'd just love to take this big, beautiful, guy home with me!" I did. (and it was every bit as fantastic three hours later) read more

Any place where I can order fried chicken and waffles for dinner is a winner in my book. My, I-love-to-be-a-fat-ass-on-vacation, book. On our first night in Boston we ended up at Back Bay Social Club and what a great place to kick-off a fantastic week off! Their delicious food and well-crafted drinks were just what the Dr. ordered after a 6 hour plane ride from SF. In the heart of the Back Bay (shocking, given its name, I know), it's a must-try if you're in the area. Hip, open and relaxing yet packed with a great scene, you really can't go wrong (especially if you order the chicken and waffles) here. read more

I used to work around the corner and would come here for after work drinks and always got great service. It's really nice inside they have 2 floors and the ambiance is romantic/ casual. I think the only thing I ate here was the clam chowder and it was delicious. The only downside of this place is they use pourers which I hate but it does make every drink taste the same :) read more

I guess you can call this place The Cougar Club as well! There were many cougars on the prowl the night we dinned...esp in the lower floor. Started off with the waygu meatloaf sliders and the meat candy. The sliders was very good. We were surprised that the cherry compote was a great compliment to the waygu. And now the meat candy. If you have no idea what the hell meat candy is, you must order it for the curiosity. It is a great treat every time you take a bite. It was delicious. We came here with another couple and we both ordered the same items: Chicken & waffles and the The Social Burger. Holly molly...the chicken and waffles knocked my panties off! Crispy, moist, sweet, and salty...one of the best dishes I have ever tasted without thinking of ordering. And as for the the burger, I was simple and huge. Yummy with the sharp cheddar and onions. We all had a great experience here that night and looking fwd to going back. read more

Went here for a family reunion and they managed to ruin it. They sat a group of over 12 in the bar area so people were standing around us and bumping into our chairs constantly. The service was terrible. Our waitress forgot about or drink orders, we had to keep asking about them and about the appetizers that never came. Worst of all, she was vegan and couldn't tell us how anything on the menu tasted. She had tried NOTHING on the menu. Our question of whether the famous dish of chicken and waffles was good was met with a tepid "people seem to like it." Way to not sell it lady. Nor did she know what each dish was comprised of, which is just amateur. Why would you hire someone who cant personally recommend anything or knows how anything tastes or is prepared? The ribeye that was ordered rare came out medium well done. The chicken and waffles were way too sweet and not worth it. I didnt think any of the appetizers were great. I wish I had been here before I took my family there. No one really loved their meal, I felt embarrassed, the seating made it hard to hear each other but easy to hear loud drunk people yell at each other. The place did not represent the culinary greatness that our city possesses. read more

I had to write an update for this place because after my second experience here, I have definitely become a big big fan of this place!! Sometimes restaurants have off nights, so I am going to say that my first time here was one of those nights, because the food I had this time around was so so so much better! We started off with what we were told was the male and female drink versions of the Harvey Wallbanger and they were both pretty tasty. We next moved onto their only Malbec and their only Pinot Grigio, but both of those wines were also really good, especially for it being their only option! We ended our meal drink wise on their house specialty cocktail, a mini white russian, the specialty part being a little club soda added in to make it like champagne a little bit. For me, I would have preferred a normal white russian, but it was a unique take at least. Food wise, we ate WAY WAY more food than we needed too which meant Matt J. and I strolled all the way back to the Arlington T stop rather than Hynes just to stretch out our tummies a bit ha. We again had their in-house made chicken liver mousse and pate which were still amazing in addition to that house made duck pastrami as well. Their fritto misto appetizer is scallops and calamari in this sweet but tangy sauce with peppers which I wish was a little spicier, but definitely a rich dish that will please almost anyone who likes seafood. But the winner of the appetizer battle?? THEIR OYSTERS. My god were they perfect. I haven't had a better oyster. They were so fresh, and pretty much euphoric. I only wish they didn't disappear so quickly! For dinner we got their lamb and their cod. We wished the lamb had been cooked a little less since that's how we like our meat, and the scalloped potatoes definitely needed some pepper/salt, but overall a very good dish. My cod was better than the lamb paired with this celery puree that was just awesome. Their cauliflower was like their free starter garlic bread and just tasted way too much like butter for me, even though I do love butter. Who doesn't? We ended on their house sticky toffee bread pudding which is SO SO rich but SO SO tasty. More than two people should split this a) because of the butter again and b) because it is so rich, but it is definitely worth it! We also got the beignets with a chocolate sauce and I think they were a hair overcooked--I like mine a little undercooked, but that chocolate sauce definitely and purposely made it onto my fingers! Really a 4.5 star review, but that butter made me round down...As much as I love it...I shouldn't think the free bread is movie theater popcorn at a classy place like Back Bay Social Club. I will definitely be back though!!! So glad I went again!!! read more

Fun brunch spot! Cinnamon Toast Crunch drink was delicious. They also have a Bloody Mary bar and a good expresso martini. I recommend the buffalo cauliflower! Good service, fun atmosphere read more

Back Bay Social - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Less than stellar service. We sat and waited while we watched a neighboring table drink two rounds of beer while our waitress hadn't even brought us out first. read more

So I went to Back Bay Social Club because I was in the area last night and read the favorable reviews in publications such at the Improper. The atmosphere upstairs captures the of the moment bistro vibe (charcuterie plate) well. The checkered tile downstairs is less appealing. A couple downfalls of service were lack of menu knowledge (ie not knowing if something was available or not) and a fifteen plus minute wait for desert. Service also had to forage for a bottle of wine. The beet salad was plated beautiful and tasted nice. Pork belly lacked a crispy skin and I felt like I was eating the fat off of a rib. Leg of lamb was seasoned well but came out well done when asked for medium rare. The butter roasted cod was pretty bland and had too much cilantro for my taste. Its just a garnish, right? Additionally, this was the end of September and official Autumn but there were summer items on the menu including some with 'summer' in the name or description. As Andrea S. said Back Bay Social Club really does remind me of Eastern Standard, I compared the two for my rating, but next time I'll just go to Eastern Standard or find a better bistro-type option. I am more likely to come back here for a drink than a meal. Then again I don't live in the Back Bay so I may never be back. read more

Loved this place! At first I was nervous about this location because I had heard not so good things. But being in town for a conference and wanting to be close to my sessions and other activities I decided to give it a try. I am someone who thinks that you should take sometimes what folks say with a grain of salt. So some colleagues and I decided to give it a try and we were amazed at how delicious everything was. I tried the buffalo chicken pizza which came with actual chunks of buffalo chicken and lots of blue cheese dressing and I can taste the caramelized onions underneath all the dressing but the flavors went really well together and I was extremely pleased with my meal. I also ordered the Frozen rose drink and it was pretty good as well. I will say it was about average price for a meal in Boston Entre was about $15 drink with about 8 or so and my ticket came out to roughly $30 so if you aren't careful it can cost you quite a bit depending on what you choose it is definitely not a restaurants to consider when wanting to be frugal with funds. However, my colleagues got the dine out Boston week special which included a starter soup or salad and entree and a dessert for $38. They both got the surf and turf a soup a salad and cheesecake which was a really good deal but they also didn't get alcohol. So think about that as your processing your options. Our waiter Andrew made the experience even better by being very attentive to our table given that he had other tables. He also offered honest feedback on selections and help us decide what we wanted. The environment is very welcoming and I felt comfortable there as a queer person of color so that's always important to me especially being from out of town. Andrew also helped us figure out best places to travel to next which I always value when dealing with a person in service because they don't have to do that extra step and giving you additional suggestions but he had no problem doing so. I will definitely be back to this place on my next visit! read more

Back Bay Social - Buffalo Chicken Pizza - New American Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I'm sorry BBSC, you once wooed me with your meat candy and fun atmosphere, but now I'm not convinced. We came here at 9:30 for dinner on a Friday night. Surprisingly, there were quite a few tables open and there were not as many people as I expected at the bar. It was about 5 minutes before we were poured water, and 10 minutes before our server came to greet us. When my boyfriend ordered a drink, it was delivered to two different tables before he was asked if it was his drink. We ordered dinner, the boyfriend from the restaurant week menu and me from the regular menu. The shrimp on his salad was pretty overcooked, but was otherwise good. His entree was good and he praised the carrots. I ordered their social burger as its reputation has been well touted. I ordered the burger medium, and it was pretty good, although in my opinion nothing special enough to be $9 more than the other burger, that does not have smothered onions and cheddar cheese. The fries were limp and not crisp as I remember them previously. Perhaps the worst of the night though was the boyfriend's creme brulee. The sugar was completely too thick and over torched to caramelize, and the entire shell was bitter and we had to abandon it. The service throughout the night was slow and unimpressive. Not only was the drink delivered to the wrong table, our bread plate was wandered around also. Our entrees were not delivered for over 20 minutes after my boyfriend's salad was cleared, and the table next to us that was seated during our first course received their entrees well before we did. The tables next to us were all delivered a bottle of water, and we had to ask for one, after our glasses went empty for a while. Our server did apologize for the dessert and offered another one, but we were already full and had been in the restaurant for nearly two hours already. Overall, it was a pretty disappointing showing on a not that busy night. I hope it was just a fluke and this place doesn't continue to disappoint. read more

Came here on a Friday night and was surprised to see how busy this place was. Even so, we only waited about 20mins to be seated, which gave us enough time to get a drink at the bar. We went downstairs and the first thing we noted was holy sh*t this place is dark! As in, I had trouble reading the menu. Got served right away at the bar. Drinks were decently priced, wine averaged $9-10 a glass, but the selection was pretty good. We got seated shortly after and ordered our food. My friend had the butternut squash ravioli and she said it was pretty good. I on the other hand, being a major carnivore, decided to get the social burger since I heard it was good. WTF are you people on? At $22 I was expecting this thing to be phenomenal but no. It was totally underwhelming. And it didn't even come with bacon! Just cheese and caramelized onions. I wish it had said that on the menu. It was paired with greasy fries to top it off. So needless to say I was pissed. Their menu isn't that extensive and it's pretty pricey for what it is. It's a nice place to grab a drink, but if you're looking for food don't waste your time. read more

My grandparents were visiting and I wanted to think of someplace they would like, after much deliberation I picked the Back Bay Social Club. Wow. This place went down the proverbial chute. First, they changed a very successful menu. They still have old menu items, like the chicken and waffles, as periodic specials. Unfortunately, the chef seems to not only struggle with the new items, but also the old standby items too. For the starter I ordered the heirloom tomato and grilled olives with naan. Naan should be spongy, buttery and moist but this naan was dry and charred (and don't even get me started on the two miniscule triangles that I got). The heirloom tomatoes would have been OK ... if the cores had been removed. On the entrees, everyone had the same complaint: All the proteins that hit the table were dry. Pity we weren't. They had the doors open on a 90-degree day with 98% humidity, overwhelming the HVAC's ability to cool and dehumidify the restaurant. The music was cranked, rendering any dinner conversation impossible (note: if it isn't Friday, you don't need the Friday volume). On a relatively slow Monday night our entrees took an hour. Saving grace: the waiter was far more patient than he should ever have been. My grandparents and aunt ran the waiter into the weeds and he was so helpful. Because of that, the BBSC gets to retain one more star -- I was tempted to downgrade to one. All and all, I'm really afraid this place has jumped the shark in a way so epic it makes Cousin Oliver and everyone on Roseanne's a lesbian seem like cause for optimism. I hope they turn it around, but maybe it's time to put this place in a snow globe and call it quits? read more

This is really a 3.5 star review rounded up for bailing me out of a couple jams. I needed last minute dinner reservations for a party of five at 7pm on New Years Eve, and Back Bay Social Club came through, just as they had previously for brunch. The restaurant is so large, it's an ideal place for groups looking to have a nice sit down meal. The food is uniformly solid, although nothing has left me clamoring for another bite. Portions are massive, which you will rarely find me complaining about. For the best example of this, ask for The Treatment at brunch. An artery clogging combination of chicken and waffles, eggs, home fries, your choice of breakfast meat and toast will leave you fat and happy for the rest of the day. The Social Burger, which I remembered being featured on The Phantom Gourmet a few years back, was definitely good, but a little lackluster for the $23 price tag. I'm all about gourmet burgers (R.I.P. Radius), but if I'm going to pay an entree price, it better blow my socks off. read more

Love the atmosphere and ambiance. Don't love the food (except maybe the meat candy). I think it's best described as Boston-flavored Cheesecake Factory that serves Wendy's food, charging hotel prices. I've become a regular here because it has a nice casual feel to it, and stays open LATE LATE, even if the food is just above tolerant. Consider this my food booty call. read more

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to submit for the record that the Rhode Island Style Frito Misto is the greatest appetizer--NAY!--the greatest dish I have EVER had in Boston. It is calamari and scallops cooked in this sweet and spicy peppadew pepper, garlic butter sauce, on top of a crispy and delicious piece of garlic bread. It changed my life. If there is anyone that does not find this dish absolutely incredible, I will punch a kitten in the face and throw it in a trash can... read more

3 visits with wildly different impressions. The decor is nice, the booths are comfy, and I appreciate the uniforms. Those are concretes that are not changing. Visit 1: I had an adorable spectacled mustachioed barkeep fix me a delicious and well balanced Final Ward while I played Wing-Lady to my already plastered friend. Started off with very high marks Visit 2: St. Patrick's Day. I don't like to judge on overwhelmingly busy days, but it was not the crowd or the slow service that irked me. We ordered 2 drinks that came to $14, handed the lady barkeep a $20 and watched her drop our change into the tip jar without hesitation. Maybe that stuff flies with drunken frat boys, but my paramour and I left. Visit 3: We finally sat for dinner. There were some order snafus that were handled brilliantly. The meatloaf sliders were good, the cheese plate is nice with a great honey, drinks were great. I tried the fabled burger and thought it was more like a meatloaf than a burger. I only ate half and it sat heavy in my stomach like a brick, so much so that I did not take home the remaining portion. It was accompanied by pretty sad fries as well. I think I'd try it again because the menu looks promising, and I want to find my adorable male barkeep again so I can savor a great green drink. read more

Worst front of house ever, ill informed hostesses will lie to you time and time again. A 20 minute wait turns into 80 minutes and a $120.00 bar tab, miserably rude and amateur hostess and management staff. Stay away... read more

File Back Bay Social Club under my current obsession. What an ideal place for anything. After work summer drinks with friends? Sip a Bubbly Wine Cooler on the patio. Business dinner? Impress your guests with divine Meat Candy and Peppadews to start and order the lamb or pork. First date? Slip on downstairs to the bottom for some privacy and share a plate of benyas. Book club with the girls? Chow down on a divine brunch. Boy's night out? Mingle upstairs while enjoying White Russians with house made coffee liquer - the Dude would totally approve. Whatever it is, Back Bay Social Club has you covered. With a staff of pros (whom mostly came over from Sonsie not so far away), you're sure to feel the friendly presence. Whether manager Johnna is recommending tasty treats to try upstairs, or Ian is wheeling bartender stories for you to laugh over downstairs, or marketing manager Meghan is taking superb care of you and your guests for your event, everyone here just gets it, without taking themselves too seriously. They appreciate good food, good drinks and good company. And with a swanky appearance (checkered floor, dark wood bar, red leather seating) without the attitude, Back Bay Social Club is definitely a great go-to spot, whatever you're mood (and taste buds) might crave. read more

Yes, the $21 burger is sooo worth it. The bloody marys were delicious. I was so full from the amazing pickle garnishes alone! The menu is different and offers more than more Boylston digs. So good. Just get the burger and a cocktail and shut up and enjoy. read more

2 stars for atmosphere. Although the downstairs still looks like Vinny T's. Looks great. Everything else needs work. A lot of work. Had 2 specialty cocktails both over sweet and not balanced. Ordered a manhattan and it came with luxardo cherries, which are hard to find at most bars and delicious!!! Only problem was that my manhattan was shaken! Bubbles and froth everywhere! Ugh! It does effect the taste and it's not the proper way to serve a manhattan. So drinks ehhh. Stick to wine and beer. The list for both looked promising. The bartender was friendly and seemed experienced. Got the shakes old man? Food. Well, the Lyons group has done it again. All fluff no substance. They should have stuck to nightclubs. $21 for a burger? Give me a break! I didn't order it because I'm not stupid but have heard it's bland. Tried the Monday night special of Chicken and Waffles, smothered with a gross, sweet barbecue sauce. Not good. My friend got a pasta dish that was trying to be al dente but ended up being just plain undercooked. All in all, blah drinks and bad food. Won't be coming back anytime soon. read more

I'm not surprised the reviews for Back Bay Social Club are all over the place, because the restaurant is kind of all over the place. The hostess was super awkward and flustered tonight. She had no idea how to seat reservations and didn't seem to know what tables were available. The atmosphere was mostly nice, save for the wall with French advertisements as decor, it just didn't make sense with the rest of the decor. The televisions over the bar also didn't fit with the vibe. I liked the waitstaff uniforms, but I didn't understand how they fit with the overly formal management cocktail attire. Our waitress was five star. She was really nice and very good at her job. The bread was throw away. If you aren't going to do bread well, just don't do bread. The Wagyu Meatloaf sliders with bacon jam were amazing. I could have eaten many more of them. The entrees: I had the chicken with red beans and rice with a side of Brussels Sprouts. The Brussels were the best part of the entree, the chicken was flavorful but kind of dry. The rice and beans were good. Andy had the steak frittes which was very good, if not a bit rare in the middle. What really brings down this review is the lackluster finish. Not only did dessert take forever, but it was mediocre at best. If it hadn't been redacted from the bill due to how long it took, I would have been actually angry about the dessert. We ordered the family sized apple ice cream sundae because quite frankly, it was the only dessert that sounded interesting beside the immense carrot cake. We assumed we wouldn't be able to finish it, but who would want to? It was gimmicky to the tune of a chain restaurant dessert with low quality ice cream, some boring cookie balls, low quality caramel sauce, and some apple slices. I'd rather pay $14 for a single scoop of super premium ice cream with a ginger cookie with some flavor, and good quality caramel sauce than a half gallon of supermarket brand ice cream. Quality over quantity any day of the week. read more

Back Bay Social Club? I thought it would be the type of place where I'd have to call people "Buffy" and "Chad" and wear my polo collar turned up. But it's actually a crowded loud restobar where the young and hip come to meet up. Also, it would seem according to the name that they would have New England or Boston food. You know, clam chowder, lobster, baked beans, something like that. But you'll actually find a soul food fusion menu. Waffles and chicken? Grits? Blackened something or other? The crowd's average age had a bimodal peak: 21-25 and 38 and up, with a gap for those with small children, who don't go to such places. The service was spotty, but they were apologetic. Great people watching, too. Little packs of girls and guys on the prowl - I alwasy enjoy that. A decent experience for a rare night out. read more