The Hampton Social - Review - River North - Chicago - The Infatuation

"Spending the summer in the Hamptons is a great way to live. Who doesn’t want to stay in fancy beach houses, sip rosé, and eat all of the lobster rolls? The Hamptons life is awesome. But pretending to live the Hamptons life in a Chicago restaurant is not awesome. And while The Hampton Social has a few uses, it can also be the worst place ever. They serve the kind of summery food you might expect, like a watermelon and tomato salad, New England clam chowder, lobster rolls, and crab cakes. And then some things that you probably wouldn't expect, like pizzas, some sandwiches, and a serious entree section we wouldn’t touch. None of it is very good. None of it is very bad. None of it is worth the prices. But The Hampton Social is often crowded, and it's because people like the concept. The beach and boat theme decor make Hampton Social aesthetically pleasing, and we’ll admit it’s a nice place to sit. But there’s a fine line between ironically and seriously being at Hampton Social, so here’s our advice for how to treat this place. Do get drinks at Hampton Social. Do grab brunch if you’re looking for something casual. Do go for a girls night out if the goal is to sit somewhere pretty and have fun. Do not expect great food. Do not wear your finest Hamptons outfit - no, you can't wear that sweet new fedora you bought. And please, do not take a picture in front of the “Rosé All Day” neon sign and think it’s original. Do go to the real Hamptons if you have the chance. Don’t be the *sshole who thinks hanging out at The Hampton Social makes you cool. RESERVE A TABLE WITH RESERVE A TABLE Food Rundown Brunch We're not going to do a formal rundown here because one thing is not particularly better than the other. That said, brunch is the best time to go, and lean towards something basic like an egg sandwich, waffles, or lobster roll. Dinner If you end up at dinner here keep it simple. We'd stay away from the entrees. Stick with appetizers, salads, pizzas, and maybe a sandwich or a Main-style lobster roll for dinner. Try not to get sucked into spending entirely too much money on the food." - Sam Faye