Ellis Square Social

Ate here tonight with my wife before a show at The Cabot. In short, it was a great experience and I'd recommend it to anyone. It was busy (Sat night) and we ate at the bar. There was crowd noise, but there was no problem holding a conversation. Service was prompt and very helpful (bartenders were our servers). Made a great daiquiri (off their cocktail menu) and it was served with a large ice cube. A great start. The menu offered about 7 appetizers, 4 pastas, and 6 entrees. There were also several options for wines by the glass and bottle. It’s not a huge menu, but there’s options for everyone. Plus I think it's better to do a few things well rather than lots of mediocre things. To start, we shared the oysters, which were very fresh and delicious. My wife ordered the Faroe Island salmon and I had the tenderloin. My wife is an expert in making grilled salmon at home and rarely orders it at restaurants because it doesn't usually measure up. This dish was outstanding and she loved it. My steak was a very generous portion and was cooked to perfection (medium rare). The Bernaise sauce was very well balanced and the meat was perfectly sauced (just the right amount and not drowning in it). The broccolini was also cooked expertly, with just a little "crunch". Overall the meals were excellent and the drinks were very well done. All delivered with great service by friendly, helpful servers (busy bartenders in this case). We will definitely be back. Barry Franklin

Perfection with Direction!! - Everything about my experience was exceptional. We were served by Paul whom delighted us with suggestions on Appetizer & Main Course. His advisement was spot on and historic as we gained knowledge of our chefs history and the menu. The best Medium Rare Steak on the North shore. It was absolute perfection. Additionally the drinks The Pain Killer (in photo) & Bourbon Smash were crafted in a way that guarantees constitent quality and sobriety everytime. The chocolate cake was creative and insanely good... Savory like I wanted to live in this bowl. Its like a big Warm caramello exploded on vanilla ice cream and cake. 😀😀😀😀😀👍 Will return soon!

We shall no longer call it the "New Barrel House" they have made thier own mark on cabot st! The apps are perfect for sharing, drinks are great, and entrees are masterfully prepared. Chef rocks and be sure to ask for Hannah (server) her understanding & excitement about the food is contagious and she was spot on with every suggestion!

So I’ve liked this place for takeout/delivery in the past. Food was great and always came hot. I went back to eat in with a party of 8 after their pandemic restart, hopeful for more of the same. Space was cozy and the service (Matt) was excellent. He was training a new person, who was also great, and this didn’t detract at all from our experience. Appetizers and drinks came out efficiently and with flare — a good start. Mai Tai, Smokey marg, old fashioned, and a great little green cocktail that my wife loved. For apps, the duck confit ravioli, the chopped salad, and the pork belly were all excellent…expensive maybe, but that’s more a sign of the times. And then things dropped off; most had either the burger with a side Caesar, or steak frites. Our son had the Mac, and our littlest had a Caesar with chicken. Across the board, save for the salads, the meats were way overdone and the remainder exceptionally salty. Too bad. When informed, the server apologized profusely and gave us a round of desserts. He assured us he would be following up with the kitchen. I hope he did, as the place could become a go-to for our large family. Three stars this time, and maybe one more shot in the near future hoping for a rebound.