Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Elm City Social

    4.0 (558 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Elm City Social Photos

    ELM CITY SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Elm City Social

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tarun B.

    I was on Google Maps looking for a fun place to eat in New Haven. This place had great reviews for food choices like fried chicken and waffles. That got me interested and wanted to check it out. I saw they had a huge duck sign outside which was even more intriguing. I came in for lunch and the waitress guided me to the back. There is a wonderful dining room in the back to relax in. They have the IG section where you could take pictures in. They had wings on one side and funny neon signs on the other. There is a comic strip with a duck in the prohibition era and bringing alcohol to New Haven which was very clever. I liked the silliness vibe of the restaurant. This place must be a hit during the weekends. The waitress came by and gave me the local tips on what everything was about. There is a lot of history to this place. To order of course I got the fried chicken and waffle bites. It was $15 for two pieces. I didn't want a big meal so this did the job. To drink they had a large menu of beverages with funny names. I loved the "Unusual Ducks-pect" or the "Mango Noir." I needed something nonalcoholic for the lunch hour. There was a drink called Dubai Dusk which intrigued me. It had fresh espresso, pistachio syrup, chocolate syrup, strawberry puree, and milk. I did not know if these things would all go together but it was wonderful. It had the right mix of sweetness and caffine. It also was a good mix with the chicken and waffles. I had a great meal here and will definitely come back again when I am in New Haven!

    Cinnamon waffle
    Selenia M.

    I stopped in for a birthday brunch experience. I was seated immediately. The restaurant has a great ambience with beautiful artwork displayed throughout . We sat toward the back and there was a little section for private parties with a privacy curtain. I ordered a cinnamon waffle with the side of bacon. The waffle was delicious. The bacon was good as well, they provided several strips. I don't know why I didn't order a mimosa, I was feeling adventurous and ordered some bourbon cherry cocktail. Not my favorite, but then again I'm not big on brown liquor. Not quite sure why I ordered it. But if you enjoy Bourbon and whiskey, it might be your thing. I'm used to larger portions when visiting restaurants, but the portions weren't very big here but no complaints. Just an FYI. I wouldn't mind visiting again just to try their standard menu outside of brunch.

    Ali R.

    This has to be one of my favorite spots in New Haven. Since the moment it opened up and even till now, when I'm in the area I try to make an effort to stop in for the delicious food, tasty drinks. I had a fun brunch earlier this year with friends and it reminded me of why of love this place so much. Staff is always great, aesthetically everything one would want from an American Cuisine spot with a twist.

    Rosalenny V.

    Made a quick stop by at 8pm hoping to get a quick bite before taking off again and that is exactly what I got. The service was quick and the waitress was very sweet and knowledgeable on the menu. The kitchen closed at 8:30pm so I definitely recommend coming much earlier than I did however we were attend to and overall really enjoyed the food. I had the chicken and waffles bites w/ truffles fries I would rate my meal an overall 7/10. Aside from that the restaurant itself is very aesthetically pleasing, the rubber ducks theme really sold me!

    Enxhi B.

    Just realizing I had been here 4 years ago as well, haha! Stopped for a drink this summer with a friend and we sat at the bar. The drinks were good, it's a nice spot to come and socialize.

    Crispy shrooms.  Chicken and waffle bits.  Mimosa flight.
    Shellene O.

    Another great experience at Elm City. We had family in from out of town and it was a great spot for them to meet up with some friends from NYC. We didn't have a reservation (definitely recommend making one if you can) but we were there not long after opening and they got us seated quickly. The cocktails are super fun and delicious whether you get a rubber ducky or not. I recommend the Nutty by Nature martini. We had the crispy shrooms and chicken waffle bites as an appetizer and both were delicious! I had the breakfast burger, always love an egg on my burger. Delicious good and drinks, we'll be back when we are in the area again.

    Happy Hour Ducky!
    Shannon R.

    The food was so much better than I ever expected! This isn't your typical bar fare... the sliders were exceptionally flavorful and perfectly cooked. The chicken was my personal favorite; I was so tempted to order more of those but I knew I had to save myself for the tacos which were tasty as well. Good drink specials during happy hour...check it out!

    Brittany C.

    A group of friends stopped in after the St. Pattys Day parade on Sunday. The bar was CROWDED, but we got right in for a quieter setting in back, which was pretty empty. We started with a classic flight. *The Rubber ducky (hop infused gin, grapefruit, basil and lemon) *Rocket queen (pomegranate vodka, pomegranate hibiscus and bitters) *The Stunna (cucumber tequila,blackberry, lemon, agave) *El pastor (tequila, ancho reyes verde, charred pineapple, agave, cilantro). My absolute favorite was El pastor. It was just the right amount of kick. Rubber ducky comes in second. Rocket queen was a little too bitter, the stunna was a tad too sweet. We got the sriracha buffalo lollipop chicken wings. They came with a side of carrots and celery, but sliced thin with ranch, almost like a little salad rather than the traditional ranch and veggies. We also go the Cool ranch crispy chicken sliders. Fried chicken, ranch seasoning, pickles, creamy slaw, truffle ranch on a potato roll. I cannot believe how DELICIOUS this chicken was. It was so juicy, savory, finger licking good. Our server was simply amazing. As BUSY as the place was, she kicked a** as busting tablets by herself!

    Elm City Burger
    Jacquelyn A.

    Stopped in for lunch and got the Elm City Burger. Atmosphere, service, and food was all excellent. The burger had the perfect meat to bread ratio- the English muffin was a great idea as opposed to a traditional bun. The onion jam on the burger was really good!

    Kathleen S.

    Great drinks and food at this cute restaurant. The service was quick and staff was friendly. Food was delicious and prices were fair.

    Shark Attack drink
    Amy W.

    The summer pop up bar theme was so fun! Really cleaver beach themed drinks. Cute space up on the roof.

    Yummo!
    Jenni F.

    I have only visited for drinks. Have yet to dine in. My two times having cocktails there were both excellent. The first time was up on the roof. The second time was in the downstairs bar. My favorite drink was a cucumber infused tequila drink. It was a really different blend of flavors! This is a very busy and loud bar. If you're looking for an energetic spot where the music is bumping, try this place. I found the service to be friendly and prompt. I think you'll have a good time!

    Second floor balcony event area
    Catherine B.

    I booked an event here for my birthday and it was such an easy process. Brittney was wonderful to work with, the prices were great, and the event area was perfect. I had never been to the second floor balcony before but it was a great area. Our bartender Halley was lovely, the food and drinks were great. I will definitely be coming back!!

    Mocktail!

    See all

    29 days ago

    My boyfriend and I had brunch here and it was delicious. Our server was Diana and she was super friendly and efficient. Great place!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark N.
    0
    80
    137

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ali R.
    353
    237
    1665

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy W.
    0
    23
    3

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenni F.
    221
    255
    684

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ron A.
    4
    26
    17

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Food was very good with a variety of choices on the menu. Service by Server was excellent although the salmon was not cooked to order.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 3

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brad M.
    107
    483
    1532

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kyle S.
    39
    28
    50

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of John B.

    John B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 14

    Elm City Social Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Elm City Social

    What's the parking situation?

    I just use the parking garage.

    Is brunch available on Saturdays?

    Yes!

    View All 3 Questions

    You might also consider

    80 Proof American Kitchen & Bar

    80 Proof American Kitchen & Bar

    4.0
    (181 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Another great happy hour at 80 Proof!! The wings, spinach artichoke dip, Barracuda Mac & Cheese,…read moreNachos, short rib tacos, and chicken tacos were all great, as usual!! Sonia knows how to pick top notch staff!! We were happy to see Keith, the host with the most, back for a cameo!! He's only back for the next three weekends, so get there soon before he heads back to Europe. When you go, ask for Carissa as she's the best!! She waitresses and bartends, so either way, she takes care of you with exceptional service!! The restaurant can get extremely busy and vibrant on the weekend, so it's best to make a reservation.

    My husband and I ate here before a show at the Shubert Theater down the street - bring your…read moretickets, as the restaurant offers discounts! Overall, a solid choice. The food was excellent. We especially loved the Habanero Mango Shrimp and the Burger on Fire. The restaurant was clean and the staff is quite friendly. The only issue we had were the wait times and pacing. When we arrived, there weren't many people there (it was 4:00pm). We both ordered Woodford Reserve on the rocks and the drinks took 20 minutes to come out. Pouring bourbon into a glass over ice doesn't take any real time, so at most the wait should have been 5-10 minutes. The food also came out at weird times. We ordered the shrimp as an appetizer, and my husband's side salad that came with his steak came out first...which was fine. The shrimp should have come out with that. However, the shrimp and our meals all came out at the same time...so it was like BAM, FOOD! That was a little much. We did enjoy everything and had a nice dinner, but our one suggestion to the restaurant would be to work on timing. It can make or break a restaurant experience.

    Photos
    The bar area
    The bar area
    Explore our amazing array of dinner salads
    Explore our amazing array of dinner salads
    Rose, Marry Me

    See all

    Rose, Marry Me
    BAR

    BAR

    3.9
    (1.5k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Pizza is decent, just dont try to modify it. Asked and paid for extra cheese and pepperoni on a…read moretake out pie. Got home no extra cheese or pepperoni. Paid for the extra toppings in good faith that I would not get ripped off, and... got ripped off. Expect to do the staffs job and verify you got what you paid for.

    Between Frank Pepe's and BAR, my friend, a Yale student, prefers the latter, and as a mere tourist,…read moreI deferred the decision to her. Man, so glad I did. We arrived on a Monday around peak dinner time, but there was essentially no wait (apparently uncommon according to my friend -- just a delightful consequence of dining at a college town during the summer). We split a medium pizza (1/2 elote mexican street corn and 1/2 bbq brisket), proving to be more than enough for two plus a more than ample amount of leftovers. Recently, I've gravitated toward thinner pizzas, a far cry from the typical Detroit (foccacia-esque) style pizzas I used to prefer, and BAR's pizza is akin to a flatbread yet very thin, another fallen angel to the GLP's. The undercarriage boasts a brilliant crust, almost cracker-like. However, it should be noted that the pizza is indulgent all the same. The elote pizza is quite possibly the most memorable, unique pizza I've ever had; it arrives almost crimson-red with a generous layer of corn and takis atop. It's still incredibly well balanced despite the hodgepodge of varied toppings. It's hard to pick a favorite between this and the bbq brisket though; while one is incredibly unique the other is simply sumptuous, nothing pedestrian about either of the two. The service is also impeccable, almost rivaling that of southern hospitality. I always thought Californians were friendly but something is in the air every time I visit New Haven. Incredible!

    Photos
    Back bar
    Back bar
    BAR
    32 oz can (very silly looking)

    See all

    32 oz can (very silly looking)

    Elm City Social - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...