Elm City Social

Great cocktails, only thing I would change is the location. The rooftop catches the cigar smell from the Owl Shop next door. Not necessarily a terrible thing but when you are eating the smell can be a bit overwhelming…

I hope I am not jinxing it, but the other businesses that set up in this venue were very short lived. I am really hoping that Elm City breaks this cycle and is here to stay. I was here for happy hour with friends. I definitely did not regret our choice. The drinks are $ 7 instead of $ 10, which I know how that sounds, being a girl who loves a cheap, but good beer normally for happy hour, but it is worth it. The drinks are fantastic. They are creative and go down a little bit too easy. I had their signature Rubber Ducky first, but just couldn’t stop. I also had a Miami Vice and then Flippin’ the Beer’d, which was a beer cocktail made with a stout. Fantastic. We had a basket of their house made chips, but other than that did not really get to properly explore the menu. They had some fantastic looking croquettes on the happy hour menu, but unfortunately the last order was claimed right before we got there. We got to talk to one of the bartenders, Conrad, who was nice and super funny. He even let us «baldify» him with some crazy, weird app my friend has. He told us about a drink/​bartending competition they were holding, which was actually this past Wednesday. He described it as the Cocktail version of Chopped. It sounded pretty amazing, but I, unfortunately, was unable to make it. I was still impressed and excited just to hear about it though. I am hoping that having this place around will only further raise the «bar» for drinks and happy hours in New Haven, where I have already had some of my «happiest» hours. Cheers!

Nestled between the ever-​popular Owl Shop and the newly popular College Street Music Hall (despite me having never heard of half those bands), Elm City Social rose from the ashes of Briq, which rose from the ashes of Bespoke which… well… you get the idea.
I never frequented Bespoke, but I bought enough $ 8.50 vodka sodas at Briq to know what it was about: poor service, an inconsistent menu, overpriced drinks, and a rooftop bar which canceled that all out anyway.
Enter Elm City Social, the newest incarnation of the three-​story bar (and basement!). Much like Ordinary, Elm City Social goes for a pre-​prohibition vibe. I’m pretty sure I’ve even heard a jazz cover of «Straight Up» by Paula Abdul. Whether that’s a good thing or not is… entirely up to the listener.
First, I’d like to point out that the service and bar experience is significantly improved from Briq. Everybody I’ve dealt with has been incredibly friendly and the service has generally been excellent. They’re almost too nice.
In fact, one bartender spent a surprising amount of time discussing how this one virgin cocktail a friend ordered (don’t ask) is really too tart in the recipe but don’t worry, he knows just how to fix it cause he’s got a PhD in Cocktailology. Why they didn’t make it that way the first time is just a mystery of the universe.
Still, they get the drinks out fairly quickly, the waiters and waitresses have all been pretty awesome, so that’s a big plus from Briq. And honestly a bit of a rarity in New Haven.
They also have a small, but effective beer list. I’ve seen them with Stone Arrogant Bastard and a few Black Hog brews on there. They definitely make their taps count.
The food, however, was a little more hit-​and-​miss.
I was with two friends and we ordered a little bit of everything: zucchini chips (with aioli sauce), baked brie, duck sliders, and even some pumpkin & cheddar perogis.
Given such interesting menu items, I expected some pretty impressive tastes. But I found myself constantly underwhelmed. Except for the duck sliders. It almost makes you forget that they were once cute little ducks.
(Which Elm City Social makes difficult by having little rubber duckies everywhere).
Those things were awesome. I’m just gonna say it. If you’re here and you only order one thing, I’d give the duck sliders a shot. I found them perfectly savory and the accompanying fries were good, too, though they could use a bit more crispiness.
However, everything else? Not bad, not great. The fried zucchini chips were pretty bland. The baked brie somehow was even more forgettable. I have no idea how you bake cheese in such a way but it just wasn’t doing it for me. The pumpkin and cheddar perogis were definitely interesting, if not entirely pleasant.
Which is not to say that it was bad — it wasn’t. It just wasn’t great, which was surprising because the menu is really creative and interesting, but I guess when you take so many chances with flavors, some are bound to hit and some are bound to miss.
The overall atmosphere is pretty hip, but not in a fancy, 116 Crown kind of way. It’s a bit more down-​to-​Earth. It’s chill. Some people were dressed pretty well, but others were definitely super casual.
The music is pretty eclectic and I heard a ton of jazz if you’re into that kind of thing.
The bathrooms remain a total mystery. I guess they’re unisex? It’s unclear which one I’m supposed to be using, and I still have this weird fear that I’m going to accidentally wash someone else’s hands in the shared, under-​the-​mirror sink.
That might be worth it alone.
Still, I think it’s definitely an improvement and the service was really good, which is important — especially important when those summer months come around and everybody wants to hang out on the rooftop deck.
I look forward to coming back, but I may eschew the food and stick to cocktails (but not too tart!) in the future. And the duck sliders.
All the duck sliders.
Reposted from

I came here with my wife initially for Restaurant Week. We went with the fixed price menu and explored the different offerings. I was particularly impressed with the fully loaded sweet potato for the starter — that was a full on sweet potato, not just a half, so I was surprised by the generous serving size. I powered through and polished off the Pan Roasted Chicken main course next. The succotash was an awesome compliment as you don’t run into that often. I finished off my meal with apple pie egg rolls. It hit the spot and was a great finish to a filling and delicious dinner. The drinks were enjoyable as well. My wife got the obligatory gin fizz and I had the Miami Vice #2.
We came back here with friends recently and had a good time all over again. They were playing 1920’s style remixes of current hits which was really fun to listen to and the drinks were spot on again. Great place to hang out and enjoy some good vibes, food, and drinks.

Went here a few weeks ago, so good! Had a small group and definitely needed the reservations we had made b/​c it was packed. Our waitress was super nice and even comped us a round of drinks b/​c she thought we had waited to long for our food! The food was delicious and the DRINKS were amazing, get the Jb for sure!!! even though it was really busy we
We ordered a bunch of the apps but my favorite was the chicken and waffles, YUM! We will be back for sure

Sooo, again I am impressed with the culinary strides my little town has made! EVERYTHING we had was AMAZEBALLS! I almost got off my stool laid down and died over the Brussels sprouts. (I know Brussels sprouts!) We also had the kale Caesar salad, the little cheeseburgers were sublime… a moment of silence for the tuna tacos… they were divine, just spicy enough to kiss you in the mouth, it slips you the tongue but doesn’t slob you down with the spiciness. in other words. It was perfect.
Bartenders…deserved there own paragraph. They are doing wonderful things here people! They are skilled, these aren’t just nice looking folks showing a little skin to make a buck. They are skilled. I mean cmon, they have a drink on the menu that takes like 10 minutes to shake, it was like watching an episode of bill nye the science guy, or for us old heads, mr. wizard!
Anyway, go there, eat, drink, and be merry, for a reasonable price!

So apparently this is THE place to be on a Wednesday night in New Haven. I met a group of girlfriends here for happy hour after work and the bar was already getting packed. After having a couple of drinks and apps, I can totally understand why.
I can’t speak to the entrees (which seemed on the pricey side), but the appetizers we shared (Deviled Eggs and Sweet Potato Pancakes) were really good. Drinks were also tasty. I had the Miami Vice #2 which I wished was a little spicier, but was still pleased with. Friends had the Rubber Ducky which made me wish I liked gin since the rubber ducky in the glass is so cute! Service was also good and our waitress was on top of everything even with a full bar.
I’m hoping to try Elm City Social for dinner next time in town. It’s definitely a great addition to the New Haven restaurant scene.

Came here with a huge party. We were seated in the back of the restaurant. The front was completely full. Loved the décor, very cool. Bathroom especially. The menu was one of the most diverse ones I’ve ever seen. A lot of typical items with enormous twists. Some of the party ordered the Mac and cheese, chicken and waffles, mini cheeseburgers, fish tacos. Only heard good things. I ordered the pumpkin pierogis. They were cooked perfectly and came with a nice sauce and sautéed onions. Flavor was good with cinnamon & etc. The only unfortuate thing was that I received my dish after essentially my whole party was done eating– understandable because of the size of us but overall a really great experience. Would suggest & come back

I just went here for the first time on Valentine’s Day with my friend and boyfriend. I love it here! Everyone working the bar was really nice. I got a drink with Fernet and Founder’s Breakfast Stout in it (two of my FAVORITE THINGS COMBINED! Magical). My homegirl got a Rubber Ducky with gin and a little rubber ducky floating in it, which was delicious, and my boyfriend got something I forget because I was already 2 beers deep when we arrived and 2 beers and a cocktail deep when we left. On Valentine’s Day they had a secret drink menu which was fun and they were playing this really cool Pandora station that was covers of current hits in a lounge-​y style which was a great background. Plus their staff were (some of them) dressed and made up like zombies which was cool. I would EASILY come here again next time I’m in New Haven and next time I want to try the food!

We went for their ZomBe my Valentine special. We thought that would be something different for Valentine’s Day. I realized once we were in the restaurant that it used to be Briq… which I had had a less than stellar experience at. Elm city social is very cute, has that hipster vibe going, enjoyable. My issue was we were seated by a door in FREEZING weather. It was pretty much our own fault for not asking to be moved sooner, but when we did ask to be moved out of the bar they were a bit full in the back room and our food had just come out, we didn’t want to make a big fuss so we stayed in our seats. They ended up coming us some free warm hot cocktails, which was very sweet. The food was decent, but my ankles were so cold I couldn’t decide is I liked it. I will need to go back on a different day in warmer weather to make a full decision.

I love coming to this restaurant. I got Winter Burrata, Louisiana Crabcakes and jerk chicken tacos today. Crabcakes were soooo good. It came with a supple side of beans which was seasoned to perfection. Winter Burrata presented an amazing combination of texture and flavors. It is definitely worth eating cheese even without my lactaid pills! I have no regrets.

My wife and I dined here for dinner on her birthday and before a show at the Shubert. We had to sit at the bar bc we did not make a reservation. Although the seating area was tight, it was comfortable. The waiter was busy but attentive. The atmosphere was a bit loud as is to be expected sitting at the bar. The music was excellent.
We chose to try the small plates. The chicken and waffles were the hit. Next time we are each going to an order for ourselves. I got the deviled eggs and I can honestly say they were the best I’ve ever had. I simply cannot explain the huge flavor of these eggs.
The mixed drinks were excellent and they take them VERY seriously. Their «old fashion» was tremendous.
We highly recommend this place, especially before a show at the Shubert or College Street.

It is pretty obvious that this is the first successful establishment to occupy this space. Having been around the NH bar scene for longer than I care to admit, its previous occupants (Bespoke, Gilt and most recent, Briq) were all short lived. Walking into Elm City Social for the first time, I could tell there was already a positive buzz inside this place that will surely equal long term success.
So far, I have come for happy hour at the bar, brunch in the dining room and dinner at a table in the bar area. I was pleased with each of my visits, from the food to the drink to the service. The menu has a unique variety and creativity that will appeal to the masses. The happy hour deal is awesome ($ 3 selection of apps and half off a few of their cocktails – works for me).
I can only surmise that the rooftop patio will be even more of a draw here in the warm weather months. Its one of the few, if not the only, in New Haven, so be sure to check it out.

Other than a quick tour of Yale, this may be the only spot I’d recommend in New Haven.
I’m only in the Northeast for the occasional work trip and I’ve noticed the craft cocktail thing appears to be a hot trend.
These guys nailed it.
Their extensive list was both seasonal and diverse. The staff was friendly and knowledgable about the area and the drinks!
Great spot.

Trendy spot to catch up with friends over food and a drink. Or just a drink. Or a few drinks.
The space itself is quite large, with two floors in addition to a rooftop. Prior to this dinner, I’d also been to a mixer that was held on the rooftop of Elm City Social. A+ environment.
Excellent service. A group of 7 of us showed up without a reservation on a Friday night around 8:30 PM. They were incredibly accommodating and seated us upstairs within 10 minutes. I cannot rave enough about our server, Kat. Incredibly attentive without being overbearing. Seemingly effortlessly excellent. From demystifying the extensive food/​drink menu to splitting the check for our group without us even asking, Kat was an absolute angel. Clearly, we adored her.
Unique and inventive drinks. Their drink menu is quite extensive, ranging from wines and beer to craft cocktails, and should please even the most finicky. I had the famed Rubber Ducky ($ 10) which is a gin based mixed cocktail with grapefruit, lemon, sparkling water, and a hint of basil (apparently if you come earlier in the week before supplies are depleted, it actually comes with a little rubber duck that you get to keep). Perfect amount of fizz. Others at the table tried the rosé ($ 8) and sparkling wine ($ 9). I’d recommend getting a cocktail over the wines/​beers because of how unique they are.
Food here has a lot of potential. I ordered the Chicken and Waffles ($ 14), which was ok, but not magical. The outside of the fried chicken could be crispier, the inside more moist, and overall just needs a bit more flavor and pizazz. The waffle could be more crispy and complement the chicken more. Other dishes represented at the table included the Elm City Burger ($ 15), the Grilled Flat Bread ($ 9), and the Tuna Tacos ($ 15). While not to-​die-​for this time around, the food was certainly convincing and inventive enough to warrant another visit. Looking forward to trying other items on the menu (and coming back for brunch) in the future!
Overall, a wonderful dining experience, due in large part to the service and drinks. I’d definitely recommend it for your next date night/​girls’ night/​bar hop experience!

I love this place! It’s a fun and much needed additional to the New Haven bar scene. I only went for drinks so I can’t comment on the food but it was a great experience. The menu and whole vibe is a nod to 1920s-​esque speakeasy but with a bit of a modern flare. The drink menu is huge so you’ll definitely find something you like. The bartenders are knowledgeable and put tons of TLC in every cocktail. The drinks are a little on the pricier side but it’s worth it for the amount of effort put into making it. I can’t wait to go back here during my next night out in the elm city!

Atmosphere. I love it. It has a prohibition/​industrial feel.
Food. 5 out of 5. I had the hanger steak mid rare with rosemary fries, arugula salad, and a Chared tomato. It was perfect and the berblanc sauce was spot on.
Drinks. Why oh why are drinks so expensive in CT do you guys have some weird alcohol tax I don’t know about. I swear prices are on point wirh Chicago and New York and I don’t know why. 15 $ for a Hendricks martini. This same martini in other markets would cost 10 – 12
I asked for a gin martini dry. It was garnished with an orange wheel. I have no idea why because gin should never be garnished wirh an orange wheel. Especially not a gin with strong notes of elder flower it does not work. So you may want to specify your garnish.
Server. My server was attentive and nice and checked several times if I needed anything.
Return. I would rate this a 4 out of 5. Parking is crap in this area which leads to the difficulty of do I want to mess with it again. If I was here I would come again.

I’ve heard a lot of buzz about Elm City Social, so a couple of my friends and I stopped in for Sunday brunch. I’m a fan! I love the vibe of the place and the food was fantastic.
We got seated promptly which was a huge plus. The service was pretty good, though it peeved me a little that we had to keep asking for refills and wasn’t more proactive.
The décor and vibe of Elm City Social is very cool. I imagine this would be a great place to get drinks.
My favorite thing about Elm City Social, I have to say, is the extensive and innovative menu. The executing was also on point, as I was so impressed by the food!

Miami Vice! Not the show. The drink. Delicious! I’ve never been until yesterday and can’t wait to go back. Perfect layout for intimate conversation or group dining. Comfy seating and café tables. The bar is long and inviting. Super nice staff. You can start a tab which is useful. I love a staff that pays attention and can be busy at the same time.
Didn’t dine in but I have heard great things about the menu so that’s next. The roof top is probably the prize spot for being seen. The bathrooms as you’ve read elsewhere are roomy. That is a plus for me as a woman of 5’8″. Friends coming to town? Bring them here. Long day of shopping? Eat here. Want to show staff your appreciation? Bring them here. Just go!

Cool atmosphere, ideal location and fresh, inventive cocktails– this place is a slam dunk for a night bar hopping in New Haven.
Went for my second time this Thursday. Had the Rubber Ducky, a citrus gin and basil concoction with just the right about of fizz. The old fashioned was a big favorite among my friends. Sampled a new invention which didn’t have a name yet– a rich rum combination with a lingering hint of maple.
As for the food, I can’t say much except I’ll be back to try more, and I regret not eating when I was there. My friend ordered the duck sliders which looked amazing. He shared a plate of deviled eggs, which were exactly the way I like them, smooth with a savory kick.
The atmosphere is a blend of rustic charm and 1920’s class with a sleek modern edge. The staff was approachable and fun. The bartenders know their craft and are fun to watch and talk to. I took a small peek into the dining room and it was lovely. I also found it really progressive that the bathrooms were unisex.
The location is perfect. Near the Shubert, great restaurants, the Crown St bar scene and plenty of parking. Right next door is the Owl Shop for all the tobacco lovers out there. You really can’t go wrong.