I'd been wanting to check out SoBro's Social Cantina for quite awhile, however, my schedule lately has been a bit bonkers and it's just far enough out of my way that I simply haven't made it. I'd taken the day off of work today. With a couple hours for lunch between obligations, I decided to finally stop in. This location of Social Cantina is at 46th and College on the Southeast corner in what used to be Gallery Pastry Shop (and before that it was the restaurant owned by Kimbal Musk - the slightly more normal Musk brother, though that's admittedly a low bar). Social Cantina is a Mexican joint that serves up tacos, classic entrees, lots of margaritas, and a few other items. They have daily specials including weekday lunch specials. They have their own parking lot with a couple accessible spots. In an extreme rarity, they have automatic doors (this is a leftover from Musk's place, though I like that they've kept it - I will say the first of two doors acted a little wonky today). They have a 1,000-square foot outdoor patio that is dog-friendly. Part of it is covered. I arrived around noon on a Monday for lunch. As I've nearly always seen people here when driving by, I was surprised to be the only customer. It stayed this way the entire time I was present. The atmosphere is contemporary, and the background music definitely leaned into American pop/rock/alt. I thought the music was a wee bit loud, but it wasn't overly bothersome. I ordered a chicken tinga quesadilla which included a large flour tortilla stuffed with mixed cheese and tinga marinated chicken served with chopped romaine, pico de gallo, roasted red salsa, and tomatillo crema. I ordered my usual iced tea. The bill came in about $21 - I should note that the quesadilla is an entree, and it's one of the higher priced items. However, it's completely worth it. It was delicious. I did get my always desired iced tea refill. Given the lightness of the crowd, the energy was light. There was one employee up front (I'm guessing manager), though he was joined by another one before I'd left. Of course, there were folks in the back. Social Cantina was founded in 2018. It's part of the Finney Hospitality Group that includes The Tap, Smokeworks, Yogis, and Kind Car Wash. I enjoyed my visit and would easily return. The menu, which also includes Cantina Bowls, isn't quite as extensive as some Mexican joints. However, I enjoyed it quite a bit and I really want to visit when it's hopping a bit more. I would note that nearly every business on this corner is territorial about parking. Signage indicates that. Social Cantina has a decent-sized parking lot, and there's street parking around it. Plus, it's directly on the red line with a stop practically right next to it. I also found the restrooms, which are single-user and unisex, pretty wheelchair friendly (though there were some chairs somewhat blocking the aisle - I was able to make it work). I'll for sure be back. read more

Social Cantina - Dining Room - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Visited for Mother's Day with family. The atmosphere was nice and the service was good, which made for a pleasant experience overall. The food was a bit mixed for me. I tried the carnitas taco, shrimp taco, and pork belly taco. The carnitas taco was very dry at first, although one bite later had more flavor (and quite a bit of fat). The shrimp taco tasted undercooked to me and was also pretty bland. The pork belly pieces were actually delicious and flavorful, but the taco included jalapeños, which made it difficult for me to enjoy since I'm sensitive to spice. So I couldn't enjoy that. On the positive side, I tasted my daughter's birria tacos and thought they were delicious. We also had chips and esquites. The chips were flavorful, and while the esquites itself had good flavor, I'm not sure it really worked as a dip for me personally. Overall, I think some of this came down to personal taste and menu choices. My tacos weren't quite what I had hoped for on a special Mother's Day outing, but I would likely come back to try the birria tacos after tasting those. read more

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one of my favorite solo lunch date spots that a girlfriend of mine introduced me to it :) i won't lie, i get the same thing everytime and it brings me great joy - Korean Fried Chicken Cantina Bowl and a N/A Blood Orange Fizz (bring ID cause it's still non-alcoholic alcohol) love to sit at the bar, bartender is always attentive and kind. ready to try out the patio with the weather getting warmer :) read more

Social Cantina - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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We stooped in on a Friday night and it was very busy. They were short staffed due to thinking the evening would not be busy. Every table was taken and it took about 20 min to be seated. The pitcher of margaritas are a little pricey ($45-$50). There's a great Happy Hour special for $25 pitchers. My bowl was delicious and the guacamole was a perfect appetizer. Very fresh!! read more

Social Cantina - Happy Hour menu - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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This is a great new addition to the SoBro dining scene. My kiddo and I got in on a preview night right as they were opening and were really happy with everything we sampled. I'm just now getting around to catching up on my reviews..... The vibe is colorful, loud and fun, equally appropriate for dining with kids, dinner for two or a girls night out. LOVED my passion fruit margarita (options let you choose different flavors and juices) and the salsa flight - your choice of four dips with a sheet pan full of fresh chips. Yum. At the server's suggestion, I tried the hot honey fried chicken taco and the Korean pork belly taco (my fave of the two). The arroz con pollo my daughter got was delish as well, crispy battered boneless chicken breast with a creamy cilantro rice (and she doesn't even like cilantro.) We would definitely come back. read more

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I'm glad there's somewhere to get margaritas and tacos within walking distance! Great addition to the SoBro neighborhood. Our server was very attentive and service was quick. Mixed drinks (Palomas) were better than the margaritas which surprised me a bit. Food was decent and there was a good selection of things to choose from on the menu. Fun atmosphere. Looking forward to warmer weather to enjoy their patio and give the margaritas a second try . read more

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I love Social Cantina's addition to SoBro and I hope they continue to thrive as they have in other locations throughout Indianapolis and surrounding suburbs. We went here with our toddler and the server was so accommodating, even bringing out his food earlier than the rest of the meal so he didn't have to wait. In the past I've gone for just nachos to share and a spicy margarita, which are both excellent! But their quesadilla and enchiladas were standout for me too this time. read more

I normally don't time staff in a restaurant, but I knew in my gut that this is going to be a bad experience. Taco Tuesday 7:00pm and 78 degrees. We sat at the bar for 7 minutes before anyone got behind the bar. One bartender/waitress only and she was making all the drinks and also waiting tables. -menus delivered at 15 mins -water at 18 mins - Queso delivered at 20 minutes and chips spilled on the bar. -Margaritas were delivered at 28 minutes -Food order was delivered 42 minutes after we sat down. There were only 24 people at 7 tables in the restaurant and 20+ outside. 6 wait staff on the clock. How can you have only 1 bartender on your busy weeknight that also waits on tables? I had hoped that they would survive in the neighborhood. I wanted a company with good financial backing to make this location work. The bartender did the best they could, but had to cover way too much real estate. I can't believe I'm saying this... Bring some staff from Carmel/Downtown to train and work at this location. read more

Social Cantina - Staff not waiting on customers. - Mexican Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Look forward to coming back again to try other things, but for my first foray, I went with tacos. Also shared guac and chips- thought it was a bit expensive for how much you got, but it was tasty, and I loved the spice they put on the tortilla chips. Tried the monthly special beef taco- quite tasty! A shrimp taco, which was really good, and mushroom taco, which was breaded and fried, so that was my least fave due to preparation. Also loved that they had so many alcohol free options- I got one of their N Sync drinks that are like an Italian soda- so so good. Hubs loved the bowl he got, but don't recall which it was read more

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Came here for their very first brunch service with my little foodie group. And loved it, except for the restaurant being quite chilly and the music being rather loud. The new decor is a bit minimalistic, but very nice. And the patio is also inviting. For most of our brunch we were the only folks in the restaurant, which was fine with us. Guess word hasn't gotten out yet. Since it was so cold in the restaurant a lot of us ordered coffee, which was surprisingly good. However, you can either have French vanilla creamer or milk, regular creamer is not available. We started our meals with orders of guac & chips and another order of queso & chips. Both were delicious and plentiful. The guac was freshly made and impressed even me which means something as I am a guac snob. I opted for the shrimp and grits, which is a bit on the spicy side with chorizo and jalapeno grits. The chorizo gives it a bit of a grease ring around the grits, but it's not overwhelming. I did enjoy this dish also. The bowls and tacos were deemed yummy by my guests. The breakfast burrito received high praise from one of my guests. We also ordered the churros for dessert and they came with 2 dipping sauces as well as whipped cream and fresh strawberries. What more could you ask for. Kamila was our server and she spoiled us with frequent coffee refills and tending to all of our requests and needs. Quite a chore when you have a group of seven. So Kudos to her. Also take a peak at the outside mural on the north side of the building. It is stunning. read more

Horrible experience...Food greasy, and when brought to waiter's attention he said that's the way they were supposed to be. They were tacos! No lettuce or cheese served with, just rice! Nothing else! $21 for 3. The bowl I got was watery and lukewarm. They didn't clear away dishes or fill waters which are the simplest of tasks. Probably one of the worst dining experiences we have had in years. Save your money! read more

I have been to the Bloomington location once and the downtown Indy location a few times for lunch and the food was delicious. We were meeting friends for dinner before a show at Butler and I was excited to try the new location in SoBro. They did get rid of the really cool tree that was in the center when it was Gallery Pastry Shop, but the bar is really cool and overall decor is nice. They do have a really great outdoor seating area with heaters and a large glass door that opens between the patio and inside. It was a warmer afternoon in February, maybe low 50s, so the doors were open. It was uncomfortably cold inside once the sun went down. Our waiter was friendly. The service was okay. I had the skinny margarita. It was larger than expected and tasted sweeter than I prefer. The chips and 3 salsas came with an enormous tray of chips, and the salsas were good. The tacos at the downtown location have been great, so I was disappointed when the quality at this location was poor. I had a carne asada taco and 2 shrimp fiesta tacos. The steak was tough, dry, and chewy. the shrimp tacos seemed to have a large amount of arugula and tropical pico, but lacked in shrimp, flavor, and sauce. I didn't realize there could be such variation between locations. I'm hopeful the kitchen was just having an off night or they are still working out some of the kinks being new. I like a more booze forward low sugar margarita. The menu seemed to weigh heavy on fruity and sweet versions. So, if I go back I will probably try one of the other cocktails and maybe a different dinner item. read more

Our foodie group came to the new Social Catina Broad Ripple location for brunch one Sunday and it was a delightful experience. The new location has a beautiful ambiance with a excellent bar area, and it is very attractive looking with nice decor all over the restaurant. Our server was excellent and was on top of everything. She was very professional and friendly and was attentive to our needs throughout the dining experience. The food at Social Catina was very good. I ordered the shrimp & Chorizo Grits and the presentation was very nice. It tasted different, but in a good way. There was a lot of oil on the plate, which made the dish not so desirable, but I did enjoy it with the unique taste and flavors. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and the chorizo was a very nice touch on the palate. All in all, I did enjoy it, but not what I have been used to from other restaurants where I had shrimp and grits. The nachos with guac and queso was excellent and the churros with dipping sauce were amazing and very fresh! I enjoyed this Social Catina Broad Ripple location, just like I enjoy the Social Catina Carmel location. This is a great place for Mexican food, and the cocktails are superb as always. I do hope this Social Catina location lasts a long time because it is a great addition to Broad Ripple. Everything is worth the price! read more

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Came with friends and we enjoyed everything! Service, good atmosphere, food was awesome. My friend didn't love the brown sugar peach margarita; she said it was too syrupy sweet and felt like she was drinking a candle lol. Besides that we all loved our food which is rare, will definitely be back! read more

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I was very excited to try this restaurant and brought my daughter and two grandchildren. Right off the bat, we were told there was no lemonade or juice for the kids. Our only option were cans of Coke type products or water. There's a children's menu so I know they're welcome and it's a neighborhood place and there were lots of families there. We saw some friends and they were talking about the same thing. I ordered the stuffed avocado and the tuna was very fishy. My daughter's tacos were delicious and I do appreciate the children's menu. I'm kind of on the fence about whether I will go back again. read more

Abi made the day!!!!!! I'm telling you, good service is hard to find. Smiling people are hard to find. People who act like they care are hard to find. Abi is killing the game! And she said she is kind of new to bartending which was super surprising because she seems like a natural. Awesome energy, attentive, good memory and has a good personality. Social cantina better give this woman a raise before I hire her for my bar in Cali! Also, food is pretty awesome. Mushroom tacos, shrimp and corn tacos, chicken tacos, quesadillas and nachos were amazing. Definitely check out this spot. Reminds me of quality flavors in LA. read more

Bad tacos, bad margaritas, cool location, sad. It's not that hard but everything is over fried or tasteless.

This is about three steps above Taco Bell. The service was outstanding. The drinks were mediocre at best, and the tacos were better than I expected however, the sides which were rise and the end or end, perhaps an oven improve container, which was not much bigger than a large shot glass and they were not even hot. It seemed like they had made a big batch and kept them ""warm." will try it again as the menu was a slight bit extensive. Cheap and cheerful... Yes. read more

The Ambiance was not great. We sat at the East end of the bar, by the entrance to the kitchen. The front of house music was loud, and the music from the kitchen was louder. We asked if the kitchen could turn it down. They did so, but maybe two notches. It was still like we were listening to two competing types of music with both at high volumes. The service was ok. Beers were tasty. The food was mediocre at best. I had the carne asada burrito and it didn't have much flavor. The peppers and onions were basically raw. The Carne Asade was overcooked and tough. My wife had a couple of tacos and she said they were "fine". The lettuce was not fresh. Had brown edges. I hope this place improves. I want to like it. If they get the kitchen music under control so that the dining room doesn't have to listen to it and the house music at the same time, that would be a big start to good ambiance. Food wise, if they would focus on the basics of cooking to make the ingredients taste like they should, it would be a big improvement. The menu is interesting but the carne asada I had, and the chicken my wife had were both over done and bland. Just cook them properly and serve them fresh. read more

It's ok. Nothing to really write home about. The place is nice and clean. Bathroom was spotless. The service was ok, kind of slow for it not being busy. This is a RARE Mexican restaurant that doesn't have complimentary chips and salsa. We ordered the chips and queso. It's ok. There was a dinner plate full of chips and a small/medium ramekin of queso. NOT worth $13. The main entrees seemed high. We had the street tacos. Both were good and full of flavor. Another thumbs down is that they don't have soda on tap--so cans it is. No refills without a cost. I expect this in Europe, but not here. I hope they make it, but probably not. To much nickel and dime charges. Tried once, probably won't go back. Better economical options available. read more

Food was absolutely delicious! Atmosphere was amazing! Bought a gift card for a relative who lives there in hopes that they love it too

We've eaten here twice now and had great experiences both times. The chicken enchiladas are excellent. Our servers were both friendly, attentive, and efficient. The only thing that would make it better is fountain Diet Coke to go with the chips and salsa. Welcome to the neighborhood! read more

Cool atmosphere but the food was bland. Pretty, nice presentation but sort of like flavorless chipotle on nice plates