Social Lounge

I just had the best wings of my life. I'm not kidding. I don't know who's in the kitchen today, but please tell them thank you! I love this space so much.

We were visiting Asheville for the weekend and decided to stop in for dinner. We started off getting an Italian soda and the house white wined of the night. We ordered a ceasar salad and calamari for appetizers. The drinks and appetizers were great and we were super excited for the rest of the meal. For entrees, I ordered the duck and my partner ordered the seafood pasta. It took about 45 minutes after we finished our appetizers for our mains to come out. We were very disappointed with the quantity of the entrees. I had ordered the duck medium rare- as all duck should be served- but it came out more on the rare/raw side. I asked our server to have the kitchen cook it a little bit more and when it was brought back it was obvious that it had been microwaved. The fat from the duck had spread to the other parts of the dish. The texture was tough and taste of the duck was entirely different. My partner’s pasta dish was advertised as a fettuccini, but the pasta served was about the thickness of a pappardelle. The seafood was not bad, but the pasta was disappointing. Overall the service and atmosphere were top tier. Our server was very attentive and music very much fit the vibe of the space. However, the food was not with the $120 we paid for it. They also add in an optional kitchen appreciation fee of 4%, which seems crazy considering the price of the food.

Not a full outdoor patio with a view but a nice place to enjoy the outdoors, a breeze and some great food. Service was fantastic, as was the grilled ravioli. Menu/food is an extension of Strada.

Very cool place! Nice atmosphere and great service. Caleb was awesome! We had the spaghetti dish and it was delicious! We loved that they make most of the pastas on the menu. We sat in the covered rooftop section and it was very nice.

Food was so good as always! 1st time brunch, host was on tip of game today. He was pleasant and quick. Waitress was very detailed and just awesome. Food was tasty and filling. Great location and just cozy cute spot.

Had the most incredible ravioli here!! Beautiful presentation, and tasted even better than it looks, believe it or not! Everyone was kind and attentive to our group! 10/10 recommend and will be back on our next visit to town! Thank you!!

I wanted to update my original review as I had previously rated it 2 stars and was contacted from management asking us to come back and give them another chance. It took about half a year before we circled back and gave it a second chance. This time was a much different experience that was pleasantly surprising. The server was attentive and timely. The food came out very quickly, and this time was actually *hot. The meal was delicious and flavorful this go around. We got the breakfast poutine which was waffle fries smothered in a delicious gravy sauce. The eggs Benedict were delicious and eggs poached to perfection. We were so stuffed we didn’t have the capacity to eat the ricotta pancakes that we inevitably took home to snack on later. The manager was coming by tables and making sure they were being attended to. Overall I’m very pleased with the experience and would recommend. I actually never make reviews ever. I consider myself a food lover and go out to local restaurants all the time. This is the only experience that made me want to leave a review due to how spectacularly mediocre the entire experience was through and through. The only reason we tried the Social Lounge was because it was on my air pass (coupon book for local restaurants). I love supporting local businesses so My girlfriend and I made a reservation and there were tons of spots available. It took a long time to be served once we were sat and then longer for my latte (10 min) and even longer for the food (40 min). The food was Luke warm at best. We got the Benedict and prosciutto fig omelette. The omelette was downright cold and prosciutto chewy and inedible. The highlight was the grits with added feta. It’s unfair to say it was the worst experience since the server was kind but inattentive. What is absolutely baffling is that it wasn’t busy whatsoever so I’m not sure why everything took so long or why the food was cold. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt it was an off day but any dinner place with weekend brunch is bound to be trouble. For my locals, skip it.

12/01/2018 - Check out the updated late night menu pictures! **Late night menu photo added** Check out these raviolis along with some arugula! The bar is the greatest and has some of the best bartenders and service industry peeps in town! The pizzas are awesome too. Roasted Caesar salad is something you have to try. It can possibly change your entire day. Also the figs, oh my goodness!

This restaurant has become a favorite of mine since I discovered it last year. The star dish for me is the eggplant Parmesan. It is really the best I've ever had. I also recently tried the meatballs, which were absolutely delicious. The pizza is good and although not my all-time favorite, it is still tasty enough to enjoy every bite. The staff and service are consistently great. All my visits have been very pleasant experiences. I highly recommend giving this place a try!

The Social Lounge is next door to Strada and both restaurants share the same menu. I was able to score a table without a reservation, but not any table. They put me in a cozy table near the front window that was very relaxing and casual. Melissa was my fabulous waitress and was on top of everything and very attentive. I ordered the Carly Marie pizza and that was very good and one I haven't had before. The Social Lounge is a good choice if looking for somewhere to eat in Asheville.

It's a rainy, cold, blustery day in Asheville, and we were searching for a quick drink and snack near the art museum. This oracle of an app led us to Social Lounge (Strada Italiano), a hidden treetop bar above a classic Italian restaurant. The air is chill, with Garden State-like jams pumping into the pleasantly hazy atmosphere. We grabbed our traditional old fashioneds (w Woodford this time) and cracked into some decadent and savory figs before some light and crispy arancini dipping its frittered toes in some tangy marinara. Our mixologist was lovely and whipped us up perfect cocktails to vibe the peacefully dreary blues away.

Came here on a whim after an afternoon at the Asheville Art Museum nearby, but stayed for the delightful service and atmosphere paired with delicious cocktails and gluten free food (from Strada). Their Old Fashioned is on point. We got the Tuscan Stuffed Figs and Arancini to snack on, if we had more time I could have devoured the entire menu. The music and bar were fantastic for todays rainy vibe.

We came to Strada for dinner and ended up sitting over here in the lounge. Smaller place but cool vibe and friendly staff with a nice selection of beer, wine and cocktails.

We were drunk, stumbling back towards the center of Asheville, following a whiskey-soaked evening, which continued at the Social House. Fortunately, while I enjoy a whiskey there, I additionally enjoyed food before they closed the kitchen. The Arancini, meatballs, and Tre Formaggio were delicious, only further enhanced by our drunken state of spiritual oneness. The interior was also super cool, really had this vintage vibe of a French cafe with framed paintings and posters, cool red booths, and a nice bar counter area that had a solid spirit selection if I don't mind saying so myself. Located on Broadway, Social Lounge is an easy walk to all points downtown in Asheville. When I am back in the area, this will be one of my go-to's to visit.

This place had some interesting menu items, but unfortunately it kind of ends there. The grits were undercooked as the were crunchy. The eggs benedict, while a unique flavor, were poached hard and the biscuits were flat and dry. The fig and goat cheese omelette was overcooked, dry, and consisted of very little goat cheese. I would describe this place as clunky and awkward, having to mention to the server we would like to place a food order after receiving our brunch drinks. This place has potential but I think management needs a closer look at the quality of the foods going out the door.

Battle Thermopylae, aperol spritz, all is dust, and 44 AD all great cocktails. We sat at the upstairs bar and drinks came out at different times. Decided to opt for elsewhere for food, but the menu looked good too.

Social Lounge is in Strada Italiana. Menu boring. Aperol Spritz tastes like a foot. Wasn't busy at all and server was non-attentive. Convenient location to have a quick drink and go to another bar.

Ok it's not the best rooftop view, but the service was impeccable and the small plates were delicious. It may seem a little stuffy at first, but the rooftop is chill and lovely.

Stop whatever you're doing right now and make a brunch reservation for the social. Like for seriously, do it. It's been 5 days since we enjoyed our meal here and I still cant stop thinking about it. We didnt know reservations were a thing and got really lucky with a seat at the bar, my prefered seating for a quick meal, but I honestly would have loved to sit on the outside deck up stairs. Not to fret, I know my honey enjoyed it as much as I did so we'll be back soon. We each started with one of the specialty bloody marys, his with the fancy pepper vodka, mine with out because I don't like toooo spicy. It's served with mulled basil and while he didnt prefer it, we both agreed it was a nice touch and something different. For brunch we ordered the donut breakfast sandwich with maple waffle fries... I loved the fries but couldn't finish them because it was a bit too much sweetness for me. Babe LOVED the donut sammie. That is right up his alley. I thought it was more of a pancake but I'm not hatin. Then we shared the shrimp and grits. HOLY MOLY MISS MOLLY! I've eaten a lot of shrimp and grits in my day... this is definitely top 5. Possibly even top 3... I kid you not. The shrimp were cooked perfectly. Not too chewy, tender and a pretty decent size. The grits, oh man. I could eat those every day! What really tied everything together for me was the tomato gravy, it's not sauce ya'll. I love tomatoes and tomato gravy is like, one of my favorite things ever. I don't find it often so when I do, a part of me jumps for joy inside. Especially when it's done right, they got it down pat here. Perfectly blended with pieces of tomato and bacon, wasnt over cooked. Just the right amount of spices. It will be hard to try something new next time. We enjoyed chatting with the bartender. He was pretty busy but never gave off unfriendly vibes. I always appreciate when the staff takes a moment to acknowledge you aside from your order. Will be back soon to try more of their cocktails and enjoy the upstairs deck!

This place was ok. Good service and nice ambiance. Drinks were just ok. Overall would consider it average.

Friends visiting from out of town met us here for lunch and we were blown away! Great vibes here and the burgers were outstanding!! I would once a week if I lived closer! Check it out! We visited during football season. Service was quick and on point, great server who remembered our friends names and what they drank when the were there previously. All in all , super for burgers and sides.

Fantastic service, quality drinks, great prices and a chill and relaxing environment. Roof top bar available and a modern but historic design. Open late as well compared to many other restaurants/ bars downtown. Thanks for a fantastic appetizer and drinks!

Had a fantastic experience with David as our bartender! Drinks were amazing and our food came out super fast. Would definitely recommend and we will be coming back.

We stopped here for brunch during our recent visit to Asheville. Service was pretty decent and food was meh. Although the food "looked" good, we were bummed because we expected the food to be amazing.

This place is fabulous! The hostess has to be the only hostess in the history of hostesses to be good enough to mention. We actually came back tonight because of how nice she was last night when we stopped by to inquire about getting in. Service is good. Food is WONDERFUL. Drinks are unusual, cool, and delicious. Don't overthink this. Just....go!

On a trip to Asheville, we made plans for pre-dinner drinks at Social Lounge, due to its great rooftop seating. The rooftop was great and even on a warm day, the breeze and drinks kept us cool. It was the perfect place to unwind with a drink in-hand. For my poison, I went with the aperol spritz. The drink was delightful. While we were only there for drinks we decided to order a couple appetizers, the stuffed figs and one other. After a weird communication debacle, there must have been some miscommunication as only one of the appetizers was brough, the figs. While they tasted great, it was a very small portion. As we were only staying for a drink, we decided not to make a fuss about the the second appetizer. The prices were high, but about what I would expect for somewhere upscale like this. I'd love to try more of the menu and sit on this great rooftop patio again.

Came for a Bachelorette Brunch and had the best experience! Our servers name was Scott and he was so accommodating. The food was awesome, the drinks were incredible and everything was so reasonably priced. 10/10 experience!!

Fidel was so amazing!! thank you for being such a fantastic bartender and being the absolute best! The ambiance is wonderful! Our martinis were so delicious and we had a phenomenal time!!! GIVE HIM A RAISE OR ELSE I WILL CRY!!!! I LOVE THIS MAN, THE BEST EVER!! smart too

A big heartfelt thank you to the lovely ladies at Social Lounge!! They overheard my husband and I say "happy anniversary" to each other and treated us to a delicious portion of their Tiramisu! We walked in for a late night snack and drinks and they did not disappoint. My husband ordered the Chicken Lounge Melt and I had the flatbread and olives (very generous serving of warm, seasoned olives). I ordered the Wondermint cocktail. Delicious!!! We're definitely coming back to the rooftop bar when it's warmer and we're back in town!!

The drink The Melpemone is the cocktail-god's gift to mankind. Tequila, apple, lemon, ginger and jalapeño. One of my favorite cocktails ever and I'm a bourbon girl so that says something. The Social Lounge is a great space too! The floor where you enter has big spacious booths and a large bar but the magic really happens once you go upstairs. The bar area is quite small but there is a huge open air rooftop seating area. One of the few in downtown Asheville. It would be silly to not go enjoy a cocktail on the roof... Especially in the warm months. Their Old Fashioned is pretty awesome too. Hello luxardo cherries.

What a great experience for Sunday Brunch! It was cold outside but we sat in the sealed rooftop patio. The service was excellent and friendly, and the guy playing flamenco guitar made for a memorable ambience. The food was delicious and well proportioned. Kudos to this restaurant! Definitely will go back.

New visit- walked in and sat upstairs on the patio. Nice job adding the cover for bad weather. There were two other tables with people drinking and getting SERVICE. 10 minutes we sat, with nobody coming out to take care of us. I walked in and there were 2 people at the upstairs bar waiting on 4 people. I asked if there was outdoor service. She assured me she would take care of us. I went back outside, she showed up with menus, and then disappeared. This was now a challenge: Waited 10 more minutes. No sign of her. Nothing. Nada. In the mean time, another couple came out. They were seated and a male waiter came out, took their order, walked right past us without a word.. Now, time to go. Went to Pisano and had great drinks and great service.

Sat at the bar for a cocktail and decided to have a few appetizers. Great service, good food and would recommend to anyone looking for Italian in Asheville!

Stopped in and ordered an Old Fashioned. I noted that the price for the bourbon I ordered was $14..Steep maybe, but reasonable. The bartender was talking w/another patron, and asked what I wanted in my Manhattan. Reminded him, and he poured it down the drain. Final bill for the one drink was over $20!! So...$6 labor to mix it?! Nah.

My friends & I found this little spot while spending some time in downtown Asheville and we were very impressed! The inside is quaint and trendy and wasn't too loud for us to comfortably talk with each other. They have a full bar so have something for everyone and the specialty cocktails listed in their menu are very unique! I tried the Buttercup which consisted of vanilla vodka, pineapple, lemon, rosemary & cinnamon sprinkled on top. It was a very delicious drink that was smooth & tasted like a dessert. I would definitely get it again! The service was also great & we enjoyed chatting for about an hour while enjoying very high quality drinks!

This was an absolute dumpster fire dining experience for brunch. We've eaten at Strada Italiano a couple times and had excellent experiences, so we figured this would be a good brunch spot to try. On paper, the menu looked solid. After we got seated, It took 20 minutes to get someone to take our drink order. We had to flag down another server to take our order. My wife ordered the poutine. The fries weren't cooked, unseasoned, and floppy. The cold and clumpy gravy took me into the bellows of culinary hell. Under normal circumstances, I would've just eaten her food in addition to my food. This was not the case. We sent it back and thankfully got refunded. That's not all, let me tell you about a below average shrimp n grits dish. The shrimp could've used more spice or seasoning, the grits weren't anything special. There was supposed to be bacon in there, which is what attracted me to this particular item. No bacon was spotted in the sea of tomato gravy. I will say the tomato gravy had decent flavor, but that was the only selling point of this dish. I was tempted to send it back, but I was hungry and knew that it would take forever to make it right. We told the manager about our issues, and I hope that feedback was relayed to the kitchen staff. I understand if service and preparation of food is terrible when a place is busy and understaffed. This place wasn't busy at all, so no excuses.

Excellent food & drinks. Very reasonably priced. Super friendly staff. We had the mussels and they were excellent. Highly recommend the Royal Blush, to drink.

Great two story bar with comfortable seating, decent service and yummy cocktails. The upstairs rooftop bar is always busy, so if you don't want to wait, you can grab your drink downstairs and walk up to get a seat outside. This is also a great spot to come during the week to enjoy the view when it's less busy.

The food looks really good, but can best be described as bland. The highlights of the brunch I had Saturday was the orange juice, while the rest of the food could be best avoided.

The Social Lounge (formerly Sazerac) may have one of the best patios in all of Asheville. If you're looking for a great place to sip on a well crafted drink, this may be your spot. Located on the roof of the bar, the Social's patio is secluded enough to provide comfort, but offers a solid view of downtown and who doesn't love fresh air? This bar was one of the first to experiment with craft cocktails downtown. Their cocktail list is very accessible, there's not a ton of amaros/apertifs in their concoctions which are commonplace in most other mixologist centered bars. Don't get me wrong, I like a bit of anise now and then, but it's really pleasant to find a menu that offers an alternative. The Social also recently received a well done facelift. High back leather chesterfield booths welcome you once you walk in. The bar has been dramatically shortened (which is quite nice) and a beautiful wooden overhead lamp... thing... hovers above it. I walked in during the daytime, so I haven't been able to see what the ambiance is like here during the evening. Regardless, it feels more sophisticated. It wasn't until my most recent visit that I've been impressed by the Social Lounge. I don't know if it was the remodel, or the general happiness of the servers... but I walked out happier than I have ever before, and I look forward to my next visit.

We were in town and were told to visit 5 Walnut wine bar. As we began walking, we realized that it was TOO DAMN COLD to go any further, so we happened to walk in to Social Lounge to keep warm and enjoy a drink. Well, we LOVED our time there. We came on a Friday night around 11pm. It wasn't too crowded when we got there, but it sure did get crowded. Despite the crowd, we were promptly served and the bartender did a great job making our drinks. I got a classic g&t, but my boyfriend got a couple of their cocktails. The drinks were poured with a heavy hand if you know what I mean, so we had a good time :) Prices were reasonable, think my G&T was only $8ish a pop. The ambiance is great if you're stopping by with friends or a date. We actually preferred this spot to other bars in the area because it was very casual. That said, while our bartender was very friendly, I got the sense that others were not so. They ignored us for a good 10 minutes before the nice bartender came over to assist. We were actually going to leave before this gentleman approached us to take our order. So, your mileage may vary.

I had originally reviewed this as Strada Restaurant, since other reviewers had talked about the rooftop dining, but apparently I was at Social Lounge and Tapas, which is next door. Perhaps they share a kitchen because even though this place advertises itself as "Tapas," the menu was heavy on Italian cuisine. And the Mediterranean platter was an embarrassment to the Mediterranean. In any event, it doesn't really matter the quality of the food at this point., since 90 minutes after sitting down we were still waiting for entrees. And we didn't order appetizers. When the food arrived, the risotto was dry and veg undercooked. Flat bread was burned. Also be aware that the rooftop dining is a heavy smoking area. Our server was apologetic and upset with the kitchen. Took one dish off the bill so some credit there.

Came in here on an afternoon to check out the rooftop, and it was great! I ordered the Erato which was a mixture of house-infused tangerine vodka, pomegranate reduction, lime, cinnamon, orange flower water. It was definitely fragrant and not too sweet either. My friend had the Cucumber Royale which was very light and refreshing. There were alot of other cocktails I wanted to try on their menu too! I'll definitely be coming back. The outdoor seating on the roof is nice, but it doesn't have the best views. It's a limited space and definitely obstructed by some of the building. Still a fun time. I would highly recommend!

Maybe this was a bad night...since the other reviews were pretty good. We walked into the bar with the intent on enjoying the rooftop bar all night, but that didn't happen. The first measure of how short the night was going to be was the lack of a greeting by the downstairs bartender. There was one person at the bar, and my small group came in with the obvious looks of tourists who had never visited before. We ventured to the rear staircase that led to the rooftop. Upon arrive up top, we heard no music (except from a bar across the street) and there were only a few seats available, as a large bachelorette party was occupying most of the space. Some good people allowed us to borrow chairs so we could all sit together. We waited for about 10 minutes and realized the server was not going to take drink orders from us anytime soon. So we headed to the line at the bar. With only 1 bartender the drink making process was taking forever, then another bartender arrived to our relief. I ordered a Moscow mule. My favorite bar drink...I've had it many different ways depending on the bartender's style. When he began to grate the ginger, pour infused premade concoctions, and craft my drink in a copper mug, thought I was in for a treat; however, I was handed a soda-ed down version. I tasted my drink at the bar and could only taste ginger with soda (he finished the drink in the end with a hefty amount). So I requested an additional amount of vodka. He says there would be an additional cost and I agreed. He turned up a bottle of Kettle One to pour, but only about .2 ounce came out (the volume change of the drink wasn't noticeable) and he threw the bottle in the trash. I waited, anticipating the rest of the pour coming from another bottle, but he moved on to the next order. I was flabbergasted! After inquiring he said he poured me a shot... even the guy beside me said, "that was no shot." So, instead of contesting I went back to my friends. I realized none of us were satisfied with our drinks. We went back to close our tabs after that one drink. The bartender overcharged all of us by 1 or 2 dollars. Even after showing him the prices in the menu he did nothing to remedy or explain. Then I saw the charge for the shot for my drink...almost as much as the drink was supposed to have been in the first place! Wow... just not cool. We paid and left. I will not return. The only reason this place gets any stars - the view. It was nice to sit outside and enjoy Asheville.

We came here for drinks and sat up in the rooftop bar area. Very cool vibe. Would have been much nicer if the bachelorette party wasn't so rowdy. We got a pomegranate martini and an old fashioned. Would recommend.

This is one of my favorite cocktail bars in town. They have a wide variety of drink options, which typically include fresh ingredients. The bartenders have always been knowledgeable and great at making me the perfect drink! They definitely take the time and effort into making you a unique and delicious option. Drink of choice: Thalia Their upstairs and outdoor area offer an open and relaxed environment. They often have a DJ outside for people who enjoy to dance or listen to music in the evening. The ambiance is great for dates and grabbing a drink with friends. You can grab a bite downstairs if you get hungry, or there are a number of great food options nearby. They're located right in the center of downtown, making it the perfect stop-in spot for a cocktail.

I stopped by here on a Wednesday night, got a drink at the bar, and proceeded with some friends up to the rooftop bar. The downstairs bartender was spunky and fun, and we had a good time chatting with her while getting our drinks. I was very surprised that for a Wednesday night they had a DJ playing up on the roof and the tunes were popping. I'm sure a full on dance party would have been set off if more people had been there. Note that Wednesday is "Wine Wednesday" with discounts on glasses and bottles. Overall I was impressed with this place and would check it out again the next time I'm in the area.

This place has a great vibe. Delicious drinks, awesome lighting, friendly staff. Great for a quick cocktail or to spend a few hours. I had the Blood and Sand-- perfect.

Not my fave place, not even close to my top 20 places. Drinks are measured pours and staff isn't friendly. Weak drinks and bad staff equal, going elsewhere. I wouldn't suggest the social lounge to locals or visitors from out of town.

Best margarita and the food was amazing! I'm still dreaming about the red sauce. Stop in if you're in the area!

Had brunch here with my husband. The food was great, service fantastic and the atmosphere was cool. Definitely will return.

Given the choice between Olive Garden and this place I would be more excited for Olive Garden. We would give this place 1 star but they tried to redeem themselves and our waitress was great. We were there for 3 hours in total, we waited for over 1.5 hours for our very simple, mediocre, small portioned meal. They did come out and apologize without us throwing a fit but we were very close to leaving before receiving our meal.

Rooftop bar/patio, great views and located centrally downtown Very good drinks Good service

Out-of-towners visiting for the weekend: We originally went to Strada but the wait was longer than we had anticipated and were told we could go next door to Social Lounge and be able to order from their menu. I am so glad we did! Best Italian food we've had in a long time. We had the burrata antipasto, the bolognese, the Florentine ravioli, the children's pasta primavera, and the tiramisu. Every single plate was absolutely delicious!!!

Cocktails were great and staff was very nice. My only complaint would be the disparity in outward appearance of the bar and the ambience contained within. The screamers should go to the sports bar, let me pretend to be cool and debonair in peace!!

Homemade heaven, honestly the best meal in so long, we went 2 nights in a row, it was amazing the service was outstanding, our server explained the dishes I was interested in, it's not a large place or fancy but very warm and cozy. My husband eats very little outside his small likes but he loved the pizza, I know it's gourmet Italian food but he's a pizza lover and he actually said best pizza he ever had that's a win win for me , I'm going to add pictures of my meal from one night , the second night I was so anxious to eat it I forgot. Truly a little piece of heaven

Although the food was great and this is in no way a complaint about the restaurant itself. With that being said, our waitress who was also the bartender was not in any way friendly. She made everyone in our party (6 people) uncomfortable and afraid to ask for something that might set her off. Everyone in our group received there meals in a timely manner except for one person, which they had forgot about (not a big deal) but when we asked to just cancel the missing meal after waiting 30 extra minutes the waitress said (well do you want it or not?) as if we were being difficult. We also noticed other guests uncomfortable with her service. Great restaurant but needs to make some changes with some of its staff.