FEELING SOCIAL TONIGHT? A NEW PLACE TO MEET AND EAT IN VALENCIA.Byline: Larry Lipson Restaurant Critic WITH ITS windowed Win´dowed a. 1. Having windows or openings. storefront facade, the Social in Valencia gives passers-by a view of its bar and dining room social activity, thus living up to its name. Naturally, there seems to be more socializing in the bar than in the dining room, although the latter often appears to have separate dining parties that know each other. Obviously, the Social is a true neighborhood gathering place. It's an open, comfortable and attractive setting featuring a number of martini-themed artworks on one dining room wall and some clever copper-on-stainless-steel hanging dividers separating the kitchen from diners on the opposite side of the same room. Booths and banquettes add to the comfort, and there's a semi-private enclosure for larger parties. A contemporary American menu of popular and familiar items is priced in a medium-to-moderate range that results in a couple spending from $40 to $50 per person for most three-course meals with a bottle of wine. Splurgers can spend more by ordering market-priced entrees of Maine lobster or a lobster tail and steak combo. From a list of beginnings that includes bacon-wrapped scallops ($12), coconut chicken brochettes ($10) and bruschetta bruschetta Noun an Italian open sandwich of toasted bread topped with olive oil and tomatoes, olives, etc [Italian] ($6), the kitchen produces a couple of well-crafted Southwestern-style crab cakes ($10), slightly spiced and thankfully not overloaded with bread filler, and miniature slices of seared sear 1 v. seared, sear·ing, sears v.tr. 1. To char, scorch, or burn the surface of with or as if with a hot instrument. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. , pepper-crusted ahi tuna ($12) served with a small spinach salad. The Caesar ($9) here is a fair rendition of romaine leaves with diced tomatoes In the simplest definition, diced tomatoes are just that, tomatoes that have been diced. In the United States retail environment, however, the term refers to a relatively recent arrival in the processed tomato market, generally consisting of canned chunks of plum tomatoes in tomato , anchovies anchovies a cause of diarrhea, vomiting, salivation, lacrimation, depression, miosis, polypnea, tachycardia, hypothermia in cats. and Parmesan crisps. Untried pastas range from fettuccine Alfredo ($13) to penne tossed with a jambalaya-type mix of chicken, scallops, salmon, prawns and andouille an·dou·ille n. A spicy smoked sausage made with pork and garlic, used especially in Cajun cooking. [French, from Old French andoille, from Medieval Latin *inductilia, sausage ($19). A nice serving of angel hair arrives with chicken scaloppine sca·lop·pi·ne also sca·lop·pi·ni n. Small, thinly sliced pieces of meat, especially veal, dredged in flour, sautéed, and served in a sauce. [Italian, pl. ($17) in a mushroom-marsala sauce, although the chicken meat could be a trifle softer. Certainly soft is the Social's filet mignon ($29), delivered hot and minus the promised bearnaise sauce, accompanied by rustic skin-on roasted potatoes, sauteed carrots and zucchini. Sliced duck breast in a rich port and sherry reduction ($24) is one of the better main courses here, though its presentation is pretty standard and a dollop of cool mashed potatoes had to be sent back for a quick heating-up. Five small, crusted chops, tasty and moist, make up the house rack of lamb Noun 1. rack of lamb - a roast of the rib section of lamb crown roast rack - rib section of a forequarter of veal or pork or especially lamb or mutton lamb roast, roast lamb - a cut of lamb suitable for roasting plate ($29) with the mustard and herb-flavored chops strewn strew tr.v. strewed, strewn or strewed, strew·ing, strews 1. To spread here and there; scatter: strewing flowers down the aisle. 2. over a mound of rice and flanked by baby carrots and little zucchini strips. Satisfaction for the palate but lacking modern plate artistry. Sweet endings here ($8 each) are presented on a dessert display tray and feature several attractive offerings baked by outside purveyors. A large wedge of moist carrot cake provided a gratifying grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. finale. Big enough, perhaps, for a small social gathering. Larry Lipson, (818) 713-3668 larry.lipson(at)dailynews.com THE SOCIAL Food: Two stars - Service: Three stars - Wine: Two and one half Where: 23329 W. Lyons Ave., Valencia. Phone: (661) 799-9157. Meals/hours: Open for dinner only from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly except Monday, until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Food type:American. Cost: Starters from $5 to $12, pastas and entrees from $13 to $29, desserts $8 each. Credit cards: All major. Patio dining: Yes. Three tables; seats 12. Parking/valet: Free and ample self-parking in large shopping center lot. Full bar: Yes. Wine/corkage: Two-page list of some 70 labels, without vintage dates, priced from $21 to $190. Commendable number of 37 wines by the glass ($7 to $14). Corkage cork·age n. A charge exacted at a restaurant for every bottle of liquor served that was not bought on the premises. corkage Noun a charge made at a restaurant for serving wine bought elsewhere : $12. Music/entertainment: No. Takeout/delivery: Takeout only. Reservations: Helpful. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Offerings at the Social include, clockwise from left, pepper-encrusted ahi tuna, filet mignon and bacon-wrapped scallops. (2) The Social's martini theme is reflected in the artwork on the comfortable dining room's walls. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion