Above: Tuna tartar, shrimp tacos and the lobster roll are some house favorites. All go perfectly with a glass of wine or one of the several specialty cocktails.
As we’re opening our menus for dinner on a Thursday night at this pub-like restaurant, I hear a guy from the bar call out “Hey, Norm!” to his friend walking into the place. From his bar stool he’s laughing at his own joking reference to the classic TV show Cheers. In fact, the bar is fairly full, mostly with thirty- and forty-something guys, some commuters, at this spot that used to be the Cheers of Old Greenwich (it was Mackenzie’s for so many years and Tracks before that). In spite of a somewhat bumpy start and former regulars missing the old staff, the Old Greenwich Social Club is settling in as the social hub that its name promises.
With cornhole boards out on the sidewalk, a game corner with floor-to-ceiling shelves stocked with classic board games and toys for younger kids, checkers/chess boards painted onto some of the tables and a trivia night on Tuesdays, OG Social invites people to hang out and play. In fact, there’s a full lineup of happenings that encourage different groups to unplug and engage in some real face time (see “What’s Happening”). Everything from parenting groups to karaoke take place in the space, similar to the old Mackenzie’s but with darker wood and lighter walls displaying local art such as the saltwater fish rubbings by Joanne Gray. On any given night there’s sports viewing on multiple screens—football and a U.S. Open match were being watched simultaneously on the night we went—keeping guests occupied with more than food and drink.
About the food: It was better on my recent second visit when Chef Daniel Namzoff had taken over in the kitchen. Daniel, who was a chef at the popular Moderne Barn in Armonk, injects a bit of Southern flair into a menu of American comfort foods, such as buttermilk fried chicken, pulled pork, guava-chile-glazed shrimp with green papaya. The best dishes happened to be specials for the night, though the burger was also satisfying. A seasonal watermelon gazpacho was refreshing with mint and a hint of chile. We also enjoyed the shrimp po boy, lightly breaded, not too greasy with a spicy remoulade; “it loses structural integrity easily,” my sister noted with a smile (aka it’s messy, but what po’ boy isn’t?). The Pat LaFrieda burger was juicy and substantial with melted cheddar on brioche; however, the accompanying fries needed work—not crispy, they seemed undercooked.
A pan-seared trout special with a tomato-based sauce, orzo and asparagus was pleasing. Tacos are always on the menu here, and I tried the nightly steak version with queso blanco. They’re served in a metal accordion dish, but the portion seemed more like an appetizer and the flavor somewhat bland in spite of cherry peppers. Dinner ended on an up note with our dessert choice of frozen cheesecake pops dipped in chocolate and nuts, sweet treats that seem fitting at a place focused on fun.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
MONDAY
Kids sing-along class with Joannas ‘n Bananas: musical story time, puppets, bubbles and more for babies and toddlers at 4 p.m. Taco Night with discounted tacos and Mexican Drinks
TRIVIA TUESDAY
Bar-rated trivia with giveaways for winners, starting at 7:30 p.m.
WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS
Bottles of wine are half- price all day
PINT AND RUM NIGHT THURSDAY
All pints $5 and discounted rum drinks
KARAOKE FRIDAY
Get your groove on starting at 10 p.m.
SATURDAY
Live music starts at 10 p.m.
SUNDAY FUNDAY
Football watching with specials on ribs and wings
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Parenting groups meet every week, with different groups for parents of different age kids; check online for the schedule. Brunch with bottomless mimosas and bloody Mary’s for $14.95 for two hours—clock starts with your first order.
Photographs: Julie Bidwell
OG SOCIAL CLUB
Lunch
Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Dinner
Sunday–Wednesday 4–10 p.m.; Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 4–11 p.m.
Brunch
Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
148 Sound Beach Ave. Old Greenwich, 203-990-3033; ogsocial.com