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    SoCal Kitchen + Bar

    4.1 (382 reviews)
    Special Hours 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order SoCal Kitchen + Bar Takeout or Delivery

    SoCal Kitchen + Bar Photos

    SOCAL KITCHEN + BAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - SoCal Kitchen + Bar

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    Ashton E.

    My fiancé and I wanted a nicer dinner before heading to a sporting event at Ohio State, so we decided on SoCal Kitchen! The vibes are amazing. Whoever decorated this restaurant knows what's trendy. The clientele was younger and very, very well dressed. I got an espresso martini and it was excellent but wow... it was strong with both espresso and vodka! For appetizers we got the sushi with shrimp (I forget what it was exactly called) and it was super tasty and the we got the edamame dumplings, those were okay, probably wouldn't get again. For dinner I had the chopped salad. It was incredible except for their being tomatoes and the menu didn't say there were I picked around them, so I was fine, but would have enjoyed the salad even more if I could worry less about picking them out! My fiancé got the Thai peanut bowl (or something like that). He said it was good but the peanut was rather overpowering... but it was good! Overall, we do highly recommend! Our "negatives" were personal preference things! The food was great!

    - Crispy Rice - Oysters - Taquitos
    Nick S.

    SoCal dropped a new menu this past April, and it is fantastic! SoCal is already my favorite seafood restaurant in Columbus, and these new menu items only make it better!! The Crispy Rice is awesome and perfect for sharing! The Wok Fried Shrimp is soooo yummy! They have delicious sushi & the Yuzu Avocado Roll is a great switch up from other items I've had in the past! Stop on by!

    Menu
    Sravani D.

    SoCal has a great vibe--perfect for an after-work get-together. I went with colleagues, and we thoroughly enjoyed the lively atmosphere, the food, drinks and the service. The portion size was a little tricky--I ordered a salad expecting a full entrée, but it came more like a side. That said, both the salad and the chicken were absolutely delicious. My colleagues loved their dishes as well, and the bread was a big hit--so fresh and tasty. Overall, SoCal is a great spot for an after-work dinner in downtown Columbus.

    Stuffed Garlic Bread
    Nick M.

    Great time here. Stopped in for dinner a few weeks back. Easy to get a reservation and the ambiance in the interior was very upbeat. Strongly recommend the stuffed garlic bread it has Asiago and spinach inside of it, one of the best breads that I've ever had at a restaurant. It's fresh-baked by their in house baker per our waitress. I have the crispy rockfish for dinner, which was delicious as well, highly recommend. Our server MJ was very friendly and knew the menu well. Overall another perfect experience for a Cameron Mitchell establishment!

    The French rose-nice and dry
    Donnelly N.

    This was a really cute restaurant in a charming part of Columbus. We had a large group and our server was very friendly, attentive, and made great recommendations. All of the food was very tasty and our entire group was pleased. I would definitely recommend and go back next time I'm in Columbus.

    Katy W.

    If I was writing this review on the oysters alone I would have given it a 2, but the service and atmosphere would have been a 4. I came here specially for the Monday oyster deal and was incredibly disappointed. The presentation was great but the oysters were so bad. They were unbelievably small, grainy, and did not taste super fresh. I would definitely give this place another chance if I was in the area because the bartenders were great and the atmosphere is fun and based on the reviews I'm sure the other food is much better but if I'm ever craving oysters again, I won't be coming here.

    Bar area
    Juliana S.

    Tried SoCal Kitchen for the first time on a Monday during their happy hour, and wow, what a hidden gem. We ordered two rolls and the shrimp dish, and all three were absolutely delicious. Fresh, flavorful, and beautifully plated. The cocktails were also a standout. Balanced, well-made, and just the right strength. The space itself is stunning. The interior design is modern yet warm, with thoughtful details that make it feel both upscale and inviting. You can tell care was put into creating an experience, not just a meal. Service was seamless. Friendly, fast, and attentive without feeling rushed. Our drinks came out quickly, followed by our food at a perfect pace. I'm honestly surprised I don't hear more buzz about this place, it's the kind of spot you want to keep in your back pocket but can't help recommending. We'll definitely be back.

    French Dip Grilled Cheese
    Xenia M.

    Recently came here for dinner with a friend. There's nice indoor outdoor seating options. While our server was friendly and the vibe was cool, I wasn't blown away with the food. Perhaps it was what I ordered or the kitchen had a bad day. Would probably come here again for just drinks.

    Simone W.

    A Southern California style restaurant in Ohio? Sign me up! I went with a party of 4 on a Thursday night and we made reservations ahead of time so I'm not sure their walk in policy. Our server Ethan was super kind, attentive and knowledgeable on the menu. We shared the stuffed garlic bread which I highly recommend as well as some sushi. We each got a different entree which were all yummy, fresh ingredients and perfect portions. I won't lie when I first saw my pasta portion I was nervous it wouldn't be enough food but it definitely got the job done as I was stuffed. The lychee martini was soooooo good. It was a great place to unwind and catch a good meal with friends. Some food tastes good but doesn't leave you feeling good after. Not the case here! At SoCal the food was good and I felt good after eating it. I would definitely return if I'm ever in the area.

    Saphace A.

    I made a reservation for brunch but they weren't super packed. I liked the vibe. Great decor and furniture with mirrors on one side of the wall, interesting light fixtures, and beautiful tiles on the floor and at the bar. It's got a classy feel without feeling too formal. My friend and I shared a couple entrees: the burger (we added an egg to it) and the smoked chicken hash. The burger was good. Seasoned and paired well with the truffle fries. The chicken hash was okay. Underwhelming and had a similar flavor to something else I've had before. My friend got a Bloody Mary while I tried the For the Win cocktail as recommended by our server. It's a cute place! I'd come back again as the menu had a whole mix of different things to try.

    Chicken Taquitos
    Deena S.

    Went for a Birthday dinner Saturday and the service was so good, our waiter Ethan was super kind & understanding. We came a little bit late and we stayed over a little over 10 & we still able to enjoy our dinner. The food was also really good!

    Guacamole, chicken taquitos, roll
    Tatianna S.

    SoCal has an unbeatable happy hour. They redid the menu for it so now it's all apps, sushi, and cocktails. Before it was select items on a special menu. Happy hour is throughout the whole restaurant, which is hard to find but is great for large groups. It also is on Sunday 3-5. We did their chips and guac, a roll, and taquitos. All were so good. Their guacamole is amazing. I would come back just for that. I didn't eat the sushi but my boyfriend loved it. The taquitos were good, but on the smaller side. We sat and the bar and had friendly, quick service. We will definitely be back

    MaDonna W.

    Yum! We made a reservation, early. This restaurant is very popular. They're very diverse on their menu. Hi energy , great music. It has a super fun weekend vibe. Casual dress . Street parking. Great food and a super delicious decadent, dark chocolate cake Thank you SoCal. We will be back .

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    Ask the Community - SoCal Kitchen + Bar

    Is there a rooftop bar?

    There is not, but there is a rooftop bar next door called Lincoln Social. Very fun especially for a summer evening while the sun is setting!

    Just curious if they have vegan options? If so, what are they?

    Since their focus is seafood, there are limited vegan options. The chips and guacamole would be a good appetizer. The roasted shishito peppers, kale and roasted vegetables, and the black bean burger without the cheese would be good choices.

    Is happy hour at the bar only?

    No.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Service was excellent! Server was on top of the drinks making sure everything was checked on…read more Ambiance is cute, it probably time for an update but cute for a seafood place. Food was good, my only complaint was the amount of sauce, they held back on the sauce I could've boughten the extra sauce but wasn't looking for it to be drenched, but looking for alittle more love in the boil, especially since it was a lot of food and I had to take some home and reheat it. Other than that a great place, nice people good food!

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    My friend held an event here and the event itself was very nice. The Buckeye Hall is spacious and…read moreyou had enough space between tables to move freely. They have decorated the lounge area nicely for the holidays to give a warm feeling. My issue is with whoever was managing the kitchen that day. The event had chicken tenders and fries which were served for the kids, but they had run out. There was no sign that this option is for kids only, so unsurprisingly adults had taken these food items as well. Some of the kids do not eat anything else, so a few moms had asked if these items were going to be refilled. One of the staff members was really nice and said he would check, which then brought the chef out himself to say there were actually no more to be served, but he would fry a few for us. That was very kind of him, so we waited near the table for him. Ten minutes later we are approached by a man saying "sorry, no more food will be coming out." It had no context, so we said yes, we are aware, but a chef said he would bring a few out for us, to which he replied "listen, this was a freebie itself, there was only tenders for a 20 kid count... the buffet has already been discounted...it's in the contract... etc." I was like taken aback... 1) I'm not the host of the event, so I have no idea why a contract is being brought up to me who is just a guest attending, it was super unprofessional and unnecessary, 2) I did not demand any more food to be brought out, it was offered to us, and 3) I did not need this condescending attitude from this man, all he had to say is "I know the chef said he would make a few, but we are not able to offer more tenders." That right there would have been perfectly fine and that is no problem, because if you can't, you can't. He definitely put a negative vibe over something so simplistic just by the way of his attitude during a beautiful event. Shame!

    Barcelona - Paella Barcelona - Regular

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    Immediately after being greeted I knew I had made the right choice in making a reservation for my…read moreboyfriend's birthday celebration. The staff made us feel right at home and were very attentive. Our server, Sammy was very sweet and fun! My favorite touch was their pre-printed birthday menus. They definitely know how to make someone feel special. We ordered a bottle for the table to pair with our tapas. We tried the churassco, wine braised chorizo, and ordered a paella de marisco. The tapas portions are enough to have as a meal or 2 to be really stuffed. The paella portions are huge and are enough to serve about 2-3 people. I was pleasantly surprised how good the paella turned out since moving from Miami I have been very skeptical of any Latin or seafood in Columbus (sorry...) but the flavors were delicious!! They also gave us a free dessert for my boyfriend's birthday and it was also sooo delicious. I would definitely return, especially after finding out about their happy hour. It's a great little spot for a date or a celebration of any kind but make sure to let them know ahead of time so they can make your night special.

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    Top 5 restaurant in central Ohio. Well deserved. Nice menu, but your choices are limited. I was…read moresurprised, of the five entree choices, two were pork (we don't eat pork) and no chicken option. We settled on the steak and black cod, although we really did not want red meat. Our server Kelcie, who was 5* by the way, helped us in navigating all the intricacies to the ingredients. Lots of nuance to the menu. Our choices: lamb appetizer, black cod, sirloin, and chocolate mousse; each were tasty, presented well, and excellent dishes. The potato cake on the steak was very different and well done. Our Old Fashion had a nice taste. The place is very small and reservations are a must. The GM Michael came by and chatted us up...to thank us for coming, and glad they were able to accommodate our food needs. Nice touch. Excellent bathrooms. Thanks for that. Be prepared to spend $100 per person. Welcome to the Columbus culinary scene.

    Was in town for a mom's weekend away and decided after talking to our hotel bartender, Neil that we…read morewanted to visit Gene's. We were nervous at first because no one we talked to knew what Gene's was BUT we are SO SO SO glad we went! From the moment you step onto their property it was such an incredible experience. Who knew such a cute and quaint little restaurant could pack so much flavor and art into their food and such a personalized dining experience. While we had a reservation at 8:45, we decided to eat in at the bar after having the most incredible espresso martini of our lives and talking to John. My sister and I opted to share multiple courses - each of which was better than the last. It was an amazing experience and we were lucky enough to compliment and thank the executive chef in person. We left full and satisfied but not stuffed which is exactly what we were looking for! HIGHLY recommend Gene's if you're looking for an elevated dining experience and great service while in Dublin, Ohio!

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