Get Social - Eat • Drink • Play
Another dazzling destination restaurant from the La Sala Group, The Social is the place to go for live sports, great food and a side of competitive fun. Locals may remember this popular spot on the Banús roundabout as the Oak Garden & Grill, but earlier this year the Group decided to change it to The Social.
Open seven days a week, it’s the ultimate ‘social setting’, showing all the major sporting events on its many large screens. And if there’s not a game on, guests can entertain themselves with Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Pool, or simply sit in the garden with a cocktail, admiring the breathtaking La Concha mountain.
The food is very good, home cooked and hearty. It’s not fine dining (that’s what La Sala’s Puerto Banús is for). Think loaded fries, burgers, stone-baked pizzas, and tender BBQ ribs.
Being 100% meat eaters (sorry vegans) we went all-in on the night my friends and I dined, selecting our dishes on recommendation from the waiters.
To start, we had a selection of small plates, including freshly baked garlic dough balls and cheesy garlic bread - even the crust oozed with mozzarella.
We also had the sriracha beef carpaccio, served with fresh avocado, crispy onions, and cubes of mango, offering a refreshing contrast to the slightly spicy mayonnaise, and tempura prawns. Delicately fried, they came with two dipping sauces, Nam Jim, and a tamarind vinaigrette.
For our mains, we had quite the spread. The portions were much bigger than we anticipated but luckily they kindly let us take home any leftovers in a doggy bag.
First to the table was the chargrilled sirloin steak - medium rare, of course. Well seasoned, it came with a side of crispy fries, mushrooms and blistered tomatoes on the vine. It was succulent, tender. I think I ate most of this one myself.
Next, an enormous stack of BBQ pork ribs arrived, generously coated in a rich and smokey sauce. The outside was almost caramelised and the meat, melt-in-your-mouth soft. These too came with a side of hand cut fries, mushrooms and tomatoes.
Our waiter then came out with a large pepperoni pizza, dressed with a little rocket on top. One thing you can guarantee if you go to The Social is brilliant pizza. The dough is homemade and cooked to order in a fire-hot pizza oven; the base is thin and crispy, with a little semolina, creating an even crunchier texture. They also have some interesting topping choices, like hoisin chicken, pil pil prawns, kebab, and even vegan pepperoni.
If you’re looking for something a little lighter, the Thai green curry is always a good idea.
Full of veggies like courgette, baby sweetcorn, peppers, bamboo, broccoli and mushrooms, swimming in a delicately spiced, creamy coconut sauce. Keep it vegan or add in prawn or chicken too.
As a side, we also had the ‘Dirty Chips’. The restaurant’s staple hand cut fries, loaded with melted cheese, crispy bacon, sour cream and fresh chilli, topped with a little truffle oil. They were very moreish, and had just enough sauce to cover the top but not make them soggy.
As you can imagine, we were absolutely stuffed. So rather than order dessert, we grabbed a coffee then moved over to the pool table to see who was ‘all chat’, and who could actually pocket a ball. I lost three games to two.
It’s easy to miss the little quirky details of The Social if you don’t look carefully.
As I sat and wallowed in self-pity over my defeat (I always was a sore loser), I noticed the fairy lights wound around the trees and lanterns hanging from their branches, creating a relaxing evening ambiance. There were two old 1920s bikes turned into tables too, placed in corners on the terrace.
With the winter sports season looking busy, thanks to the Ryder cup, rugby, Grand Prix season, nightly footy and cricket all taking place over the next few months, it’s a good job The Social is staying open all-year-round. Monday to Friday, the doors open from 7pm - midnight, and on weekends, 1pm - midnight. During the day, the kitchen will be serving a tapas menu.
Monday to Friday: 7pm - 12am | Saturday and Sunday: 1pm - 12am
info@salasocial.com | (+34) 951 319 411
