Social Bar & Grill: Three-Floor Venue, Amazing Cocktail List

The Theatre District in New York City can be extremely overwhelming for natives and tourists alike. I typically avoid it at all costs, but there are some unexpected, tucked away gems there, like Social Bar & Grill.

Men in suits and women in business casual swarm this place for happy hour. If you didn't know what time it was, by the looks of this scene you'd think it was 11:30 on a Saturday evening.

But it's almost a crime not to go to Social for happy hour, because from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday through Friday, every drink on their specialty drinks menu (created by bartender Frank) is $5. The menu has some really innovative combinations, and some of the highlights that we sampled were the mango margarita, a refreshing blend of mango puree, Herradura Silver Tequila, and Cointreau, and the "Dread Head," a drink that packs quite a punch, made with Captain Morgan Parrot Bay Rum, 99 Bananas, fresh pineapple juice, melon liqueur, and sloe gin. My personal favorite was the coconut mojito, a mix of Bacardi Coconut, top soda, and fresh mint that was perfectly cool, light, and a little sweet.

A staple to their drink menu is the sweet but tangy Pomegranate Lemondrop Martini made with Stoli Citron, fresh lemon juice, and pomegranate juice. The glass was rimmed in sugar and bruleed in a special process by bartender Frank. While it's known more for its drinks, Social's food was pretty delicious as well. The Dubliner burger was done well, topped with bacon and Cheddar and finished with a great sauce. The Brie, mango, and avocado grilled cheese was just the right amount of crazy to be delicious, and it really stood out. Their drinks and food are different than what other places are doing, and with a three-floor venue, nothing in the area really compares.