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Waterside Social

3.5 (58 reviews)
Open • 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM

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WATERSIDE SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE

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Recommended Reviews - Waterside Social

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Surf and turf
Darya G.

Nice waterfront restaurant. The decor is not anything special inside or out, but it's clean and the lake view from the terrace is the best part. The server was nice and attentive enough, but the food took a long time to come out. It was however worth the wait. I had the blackened salmon and it was delicious. Friends said the surf and turf was ok, but the beet salad got a rave review.

Restaurant
Andrea D.

Yes! The hostess surface was amazing. The food delivery was quite slow. However, the food was fantastic. The barramundi was out of this world. We were there on a night when they had a lighted boat parade. It was so much fun. The waiter was very accommodating. At the end of the night when our food came, I started to get cold outside and he moved us to the inside. I look forward to going back!

Blackened Barrimundi with rice and green beans.
William T.

In a crowded Lake Orion dining environment, Waterside Social is a bright spot. This new restaurant (2026), on the shore of Lake Orion, boasts excellent food, superb service, great ambiance, their own dock and tremendous views. Their deck and outside dining is awesome. The vibe is upscale beach bar. Gavin, our server was knowledgeable, friendly and fun. This place is ALWAYS busy so make a reservation, but it is well worth the wait, especially if you can catch the sunset on the water.

Rita G.

I don't understand the ratings here. My experience was perfect. Such a beautiful location right on the water. Food is delicious, well priced and plentiful. My steak bowl was so yummy. Our waitress was so sweet and efficient. The beet salad was fresh and super flavorful. The only suggestion I have is to add umbrellas on the lower patio. The sun was HOT!

Pasta
Ashlyn F.

Food with a view of the water... what more could you want. It makes you feel like you are on the coast. When I ate here the patio had no availability but I can't wait to go out and sit outside watching the water. The drinks are yummy, food is delicious (the pasta is my favorite) and it has the best vibes. I love this place so much it is now one of my new favorites

CJ M.

Wanted to love this place, walked away wanting more. The food was slow. The service was great with the situation they were put in. The view was amazing and made the night. The quality of food was not or miss - the steak was well done instead of medium rare. The dessert came out with a bag of sugar dumped on it. The green beans were on the raw side. The cheese curds were well done and the bread was amazing! We want to love this place as it has all the potential in the world. Just need to focus on the little details to right this ship to have us experience a 5 star experience. Hoping the best for them!

Spaghetti and meatballs
Bob B.

Location was awesome. Having a lake front location with views of the water is amazing. Staff was super friendly. Highs and lows here. Highs: Water side bread was delicious Wings were great but could have been tossed in a sauce. Pasta dishes were raved about Fries that came with the wrap were perfectly cooked and seasoned. Lows: Pizza egg rolls were served like warm. I wouldn't recommend them. Chicken wrap - I asked for dressing in the side. I'm glad I did as the dressing was quite strong. And for the first half of the sandwiches that was good. However the second half of the sandwich is where I discovered they had started to add the dressing and must have stopped. Made the last portion of my meal less enjoyable.

Shrimp fettuccine
Amy W.

We have been trying to get in here for several months. Unfortunately, they do not take reservations and this location is very small. We had a special occasion to celebrate and we were determined to get in. This has been such a warm fall so far that we wanted to take advantage of it. We arrived shortly after they opened and fortunately, we got a spot on the deck. What a view! We enjoyed a few cocktails. They change with the seasons. The food was the highlight though. Everything was absolutely amazing!! Pack your patience though. It is likely to be a wait to get in!

Caesar wrap
Rachel T.

Good service, nice ambiance, average food. Beautiful view and you can sit inside or outside. Ordered the waterside bread (a bit harder/crunchier) which tastes like garlic bread. Friend ordered Big Mac salad and a pasta. I ordered a chicken caesar wrap. The fries were good! We also got beignets which were hollow on the inside and chewier after the first crunchy bite.

French dip

Waited 20 minutes after being seated for someone to come by. Outdoor patio was extremely loud Food we were told would be 10 more minutes. It took 40 minutes to get, and was barely warm. French dip was dry. Chicken Alfredo sauce tasted like pasta water and milk, and was also not warm. We were never offered refills. We had to ask for silverware from the guy who dropped off the food. The cheese bread and pina colada were good. What an overpriced, unappetizing experience!

Fried Beignets
Hannah H.

I liked this place! Came for a birthday dinner for two coworkers and it was a pleasant experience. You can dress or be casual here which is nice. Plenty of seating and service was attentive and fast. Our waitress was friendly and patient. I got the Orange Maple Cured Faroe Salmon and it was delicious. Good portion size, not heavy on the sauce and the rice patty was a great addition. I do not like spicy and the chili sauce was good - I did not feel any heat eating it. Comes with some spinach salad too which was a good side. My coworker is gluten free and they had a lot of options for her. We also got desserts. I had the Bananas Fosters Bread Pudding and it was amazing! Good banana flavor with the addition of caramel. We also got the beignets which were delicious and was a hefty portion. I heard they make their pasta so I can't wait to come back and try it! My only "complaint" would be that it's so noisy inside. You feel like you are shouting to talk to the person sitting next to you.

Flare Night at Waterside Social

We had an awesome time at Waterside Social for Flare Night! The food was delicious, the service was incredibly fast, especially for our large group, and the atmosphere was so much fun. A huge shout-out to Alexis, Ireland, and Lauren for their friendly, attentive, and welcoming service. They helped make our night a great one. We'll definitely be back!

Chicken piccata

A little different looking from when it was the Orion Boathouse, but essentially the same bones. Pros: service is friendly and prompt. Food is tasty. Portions are not overwhelming, both times I've been here we haven't had any left over to take home. Cons: lighting is splotchy - our table was so dimly lit that my husband had to use the flashlight on his phone to see the menu. The next visit, the lighting at a different table was just fine. Another con is the plastic cups they use for water. I'm not at a tailgating party, I'm an adult, and I hate plastic cups. What a waste of money and way to add to the landfills. There is no reason to use plastic cups! The Caesar salad on our second visit was way over-dressed, and really light on the lettuce. The first time it was perfect though. Staff was friendly and efficient. We will be back, especially because there's a lot on the menu we want to try.

Beignets with mixed berry sauce.

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19 days ago

Julie did such a great job hosting and serving our event! Thanks so much for making it special!

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2 months ago

Food was fantastic. Atmosphere noisy but ok. Service ok if you have three hours to kill.

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2 months ago

The BEST!! Went last night and music was GREAT, food always AMAZING, and can't beat the atmosphere!! Also LOVE the staff- so friendly!!

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

Awesome! Outdoor patio, outdoor bar, fantastic food and drinks!!! Can't beat the view of the lake

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6 months ago

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6 months ago

The BEST homemade pasta ever!!! Holy cow! Must order! The Cajun, the fettuccine Alfredo, and the shrimp linguine are to die for!

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4 months ago

pasta, meatballs and sauce were good. Caesar salad was ok too much onion. linguini shrimp was good. nice wine selection

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Ask the Community - Waterside Social

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Vino & Vibes

Vino & Vibes

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Went here recently and the food was on point. It is small plates but has a punch of flavor with the…read moredishes that we ordered . The service was quick and I love the ambiance of this place . Very clean industry vibes . Absolutely love the decors. The drinks were very tasty also. My favorite was the pate dish. Omg it was so flavorful. I will be back for sure

Vino & Vibes absolutely lives up to the name. Can I give this place 10 stars??…read more First off, the food was amazing. Everything tasted super fresh and the menu leans more "snacky" in the best possible way -- perfect little plates that are clearly meant to pair with wine. We ordered a few things for the table and it felt like the kind of place where you just keep ordering one more thing because everything sounds good. Nothing heavy, just really well done bites that let the wine shine. Speaking of wine, the selection is awesome. It's not the usual predictable restaurant list. There are some really interesting bottles and styles on there, which makes it fun if you actually enjoy trying different wines instead of just defaulting to the same thing every time. Service was great too. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and welcoming, and you can tell the owners are really hands-on and working hard to make the place special. That always makes a difference. And the ambiance... chef's kiss. Moody lighting, cozy, stylish but not pretentious. Just good vibes all around. It's the kind of spot you want to linger at with friends and a second bottle of wine. Already planning my next visit :)

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Vino & Vibes
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Vino & Vibes - Charcuterie board.

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Charcuterie board.

The Franklin Oyster Bar and Eatery - East & West oysters

The Franklin Oyster Bar and Eatery

4.0(84 reviews)
17.8 mi

The perfect place to get away from the noise. It is small and quaint, and coming here in the summer…read moreto sit outside is easily the best experience. The oyster selection is great, and we never come without getting the seafood tower. Everything is always fresh, the ambiance is spectacular, and the staff is incredibly accommodating. It's one of those places where the atmosphere is just as much a part of the experience as the food. The only thing that can be tricky is parking, and I'd recommend checking if there's a private event happening outside before you go. They normally don't take over the entire patio, but depending on the event, it can get a little rowdy. Otherwise, such a great little spot and one I'm always happy to come back to :)

I've been to The Franklin 3 times now and it's become one of my favorite spots…read more First, the place is absolutely beautiful -- I particularly enjoy the artwork upstairs. I haven't been to the patio yet (tried a couple weeks ago but they closed it because it had rained earlier) but it looks very nice. Service is always friendly and quick, and I've spoken to the chef a couple of times and he's very friendly. As for the food, I think they have the best oysters in town, and they have a wide variety of them. The new ribs they got on the menu are delicious. I must admit I wasn't as impressed with their steak (I expected it to be more flavorful), but that's just one item I didn't enjoy as much. The rest of the food I've really enjoyed -- even the shoestring fries. Will definitely be back!

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The Franklin Oyster Bar and Eatery - Green bean tart - amazing!!!!!

Green bean tart - amazing!!!!!

The Franklin Oyster Bar and Eatery - Fried green tomatoes - wedges were interesting but just ok

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Fried green tomatoes - wedges were interesting but just ok

Waterside Social - wine_bars - Updated October 2026

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