My girlfriends organised my hen party lunch here last weekend. We had the bottomless lunch. The service was fantastic, the wine and sangria was kept topped up at all times. Our waiter was attentive and helpful. Couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon �
Such a fun afternoon doing the bottomless rosè lunch. We were a group of 17 and felt really well looked after ! I think it would be nice to have at least 2 taco’s instead of 1 and substitute the jerk salad or the ceviche. Aside from that we all loved it �
Friday night's are the best!) The DJ is awesome and the cocktails are to die for especially the Margaritas and the staff are so nice.
Today I had the most amazing experience. This is the first time I have had a restaurant be so caring about my bad allergy. Thank you to all your staff and the chef's for caring so much!!!!!
Mariana Araujo Laureano
+5
Awesome place, amazing food, very good cocktails, friendly staffs and excelent customer service.
Ps. the best falafel I have ever had:)))
Fantastic vibe, great food, friendly staff and good service .. A great place to go and have with a group of friends or a couple looking for not just a meal but some atmosphere! I'll be back very soon!
The best joint in neutral bay! Friendly staff and awesome management!
Very well priced on a Tuesday night and the food was great along with the wine
Went to SoCal for a family birthday lunch. We all had a really great day. Yummy food which was beautifully presented... we went for the banquet....and wonderful service provided by a team of very friendly and helpful staff. Great experience. Thanks guys.
Great food, great spot! Even though there are plenty of food options around, So Cal have carved out a niche for those who want it.
Appropriate for dates and/or friendly catch-ups. The pink lighting outside is fun, but not good for those who like taking photos of their food for Instagram.
Will definitely go back!
Great staff and great food. Had my birthday dinner and the guy and girl who waited on us were so amazing!!! definitely will go back.
Always a fun place to start or start and stay. Great staff, great cocktails and, of course,really great atmosphere! A go to for us!!!
such accomodating staff and the food is incredible. always make it a point to drop in when i'm in the area
It’s Neutral Bay’s newest series of monthly comedy event nights. The Funny Flamingo launched 29th July in partnership with LaughMob. Edge 96.1 alum, Sean Michaels was MC for the night with a line up of comedy star power:. Harry Jun (Sydney Fringe). Jake Howie (NZ/ UK). Nat Demeana (Comedy Zone/ Triple j)
The service was friendly and efficient, and the food came out quickly despite the place being packed.
The tacos and quesadilla we ordered were delicious, especially the fish taco! We also ordered the Helado Domingo dessert of the month, which was definitely the highlight!!! Absolutely must try before it goes away.
Definitely on my list of one of the top Mexican joints in Sydney.
The ppl were very friendly. They mentioned that the food are generally all for share and 3 dishes are sufficient for two people. Their black corn chips was delicious. And we also enjoyed beef briskets, wings and tacos. Their Hawaiian beer was my favourite-tasted very special and fruity!
It’s too dark so I wasn’t able to take pictures of the nice food. I recommend this restaurant.
It takes a lot to get me over the Bridge. Actually, I lie. The promise of fun, colourful cocktails and yummy food, and I’m there. SoCal has all this in spades, and very much worth a jaunt to the North Shore.
First time dining here, food was delicious. The kingfish ceviche was amazing as was the broccolini with miso. Cocktails equally as good. Gets very busy so best book.
The chairs are a little uncomfortable, the blue ones feel like you are sitting in a high chair. Service friendly and attentive.
Good Mexican place to go to with your friends. A little bit on the expensive side but the food is pretty good. Cocktails are quality too, definitely give it a go.
Go for the margaritas and also try the beef cheek donut it is beyond amazing! Service is always great and the menu changes often to suit the season.
Socal ticks all the boxes. The venue is beautiful, great menu, food is so tasty, cocktails are amazing and the vibe is great. But the MAIN reason we go back every time is for the exceptional service. Upon arrival, we are greeted by the biggest smile and treated like VIP's by Cocheene and all the staff. Our favourite table is made available for us and we are waited on with class and sophistication every time, we are spoiled with menu suggestions and fast service. We just love it and can't wait for our next visit everytime. Safe to say, we highly recommend Socal.
Been here many times now and can report the food and service has been consistently good. A fun place to come after a long day at the office, for date night or just to hang out with friends. Can get a little loud inside but can usually be heard out the back on the rooftop terrace. A cool Southern Californian vibe with many popular dishes such as snapper ceviche, jerk chicken, slow cooked lamb, smoked pork belly, tacos and quesadillas. So fun; you'll want to come back again and again. Big on cocktails too!
Follow my insta @burgersnbikinis for more food pics!
Super trendy bar and eatery serving up delicious Mexican fare. Has a cool outdoor terrace too, a trendy place a drink and feed.
Had the guac and chips. The crispy pork belly in a lovely purée topped with caramelised Brussel sprouts. And an amazing chicken quesadilla.
Great food and good vibes here.
Awesome place for dinner. Menu had so many tasty options for gluten free people, very helpful if you're Coeliac. The aesthetic of the place is amazing, and the customer service was some of the best I've ever had. The tapioca cheese bread was so good, especially for someone who's used to eating poorly made gluten free bread at restaurants. Also highly recommend the spicy chicken wings & the margaritas.
Great place for a chilled out Sunday session with friends. Lots of share plate options to nibble on whilst drinking. Our group had croquettes (very tasty but you only get 4 for the price), jerk banana prawns (loved the refreshing mango avocado salad it was served with), enchilada (good but nothing special), smoked brisket (a little on dry side), corn chips with guacamole and salsa (liked the chips they used, crunchier than usual Dorito type chips).
SoCal is a super hip venue, with some funky beats in the background and very cool staff. Food is awesome and super tasty, with loads of herbs and seasoning to pack in some flavour. Service of drinks is super efficient, the service of food can be a little slow.
Coffeebrunchanddinner
+4.5
Cocktails, tacos and share plates - socal is perfect. The vibe is bright and airy and the menu has an awesome selection of Mexican and share plates including sweet potato fries, sautée prawns, soft shell crab and spicy wings to name a few. You cannot come here without ordering a cocktail with tequila in it. Go for the spicy senorita. Most certainly coming back to visit this gem of a bar in neutral bay.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
LOVED the ambience, and staff were extremely attentive from the moment we entered, giving a little intro about the place and explaining the menu. Throughout the meal it did get a bit too much but nonetheless friendly staff.
They have both an indoors and “outdoors” area, and if there are seats available I recommend trying to sit out the back. Set up to give off great vibes with awesome music, it makes for an all round enjoyable meal.
Corn chips to start are great, comes with guac and salsa, and all in decent servings. Then I highly recommend the California roll slider because it’s amazing. Regret not ordering another one. Made up of prawn, crab, cucumber, wasabi avocado, seaweed mayo, although I didn’t really notice the crab, the wasabi makes all the difference as it was refreshing and added a needed kick. Fish tacos were also enjoyed but it could have done with more of the salsa as it was barely noticeable. I preferred the slider.
The tofu mushrooms salad turned out to be a great choice as it was light but still satisfying with juicy mushrooms and plenty of lentils. Have to add the tofu was too salty though. Brisket took a while to come out and finally came when we were pretty much done with everything else. It was dry and slightly overcooked but the slaw, pickles, and house-made BBQ sauce made up for it.
Great atmosphere, good food. Our favorites were the soft shell crab salad and the chicken chipotle taco. We also tried a couple of dishes that we were not impressed by: pan fried snapper and the fish taco. Overall, we had a good experience
SoCal s tucked away on Young Street, just off Military Road in Neutral Bay. The interior is incredibly vibrant, lively yet casual, with a variety of seating on offer. It's undoubtedly a popular spot and it's easy to see why - accessible and palatable drinks, solid food options and a festive atmosphere. The smoked old fashioned is a must, the espresso martinis are a popular choice and you can't go wrong with a classic margarita.The service, while friendly, is perhaps not as attentive as what it could be. After waiting a considerable amount of time to order more food and cocktails, we eventually gave up and left. While SoCal has a lot of character, it lacks some of the charm and warmth of other small bars.
Found the food to be quite clean & not heavy. The salted caramel martini is a must try. Can get very busy on the weekend but luckily scored a table quite quickly in their walk in section.
A cool spot in Neutral Bay, an upstairs indoor/outdoor restaurant. Service was fantastic, with some great recommendations from the staff. Thoroughly enjoyable! Brisket was a standout, melt in your mouth amazingness.
Alex our server was awesome, we had a great time, the food was wonderful and the prices were reasonable, we will definitely return. We ordered the Roulette Baja Fish Tacos, chips with salsa and margaritas
A cool spot in Neutral Bay, an upstairs indoor/outdoor restaurant. Service was fantastic, with some great recommendations from the staff. Thoroughly enjoyable! Brisket was a standout, melt in your mouth amazingness.
You can walk past this place and not even know it's there.... and packed! It's one of those hidden gems on the lower north shore and is a great spot to catch up with friends after work / on the weekend. As the name suggests, their menu is pretty emblematic of what you'd find all over Southern California. There's a little Mexican feel but nothing over the top. They also smoke their own meat which is always a plus! Great staff and service and I'm always wanting to go back!
Long time coming getting to SoCal despite living within walking distance for a few years awhile back.
Warm Sunday afternoon was always going to suit the mood, particularly when supplemented with a couple of Corona's.
Dishes of choice for this first visit were the lamb salad, sweet potato chips and fish skewers. I'm not big on fish when eating out but no level of disappointment with this plate. I guess it's hard to mess up the chips but it is still managed often enough to create doubt and go the plain fried option; no such issue here, and my oh my, the lamb salad. Very tempted to order it again straight away it was that good. Slow roasted with a smokey crust it was cooked to perfection and seriously delicious. One of those for sure next time. SoCal has a great outdoor rooftop space that adds to the casual and relaxed vibe with staff in a similar mood. Pretty ideal combination for a Sydney summer eatery.
So Cal, as the name suggests, offer a little of Southern California on Sydney's north shore. The venue is buzzing with an outdoor courtyard packed with diners on a warm summer's night. After trying out their signature cocktails, we started on the scallop ceviche. I love a good ceviche and this was no different - fresh and zesty, though the flavours were a little muted.
As soon as you enter you will feel so welcome, you just don't want to leave. The food is well presented and the ceviche and tacos we ordered were delicious! Will be going again for sure!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
If it's Friday or Saturday definitely call ahead, I called on a Monday for a Friday booking at 6:30 and they couldn't fit us in until 7:45. The girls at the door (top of the stairs) were fantastic, they were very excited, complimenting and attentive. She walked us to our table and the first thing I noticed was that it is virtually impossible to read the menu, whoever thought that dim lighting and an ocean blue menu with black writing on it was a good idea needs to goooo. I had to get my phone light out to read the menu. The waitress said they were getting new menus soon, haven't been back in a while so not sure if this has happened yet. We ordered cocktails and guacamole for our table. The Rumdog Millionaire and Morgan Freemans last wish cocktails were amazing. The array of cocktails is ridiculous so many to choose from and they were all very nice. It's a great venue for a girls night after work on a Friday, some cocktails and snacks and music you can't really go wrong. The only downside apart from the 'make me feel blind menu' was that our waitress would come over every 20 minutes MAX and ask us how our cocktails were or how the food is going, when we are still on the same drinks and half of us had our mouth full. It was quite intrusive at times having to tell them everything was fine when I had guacamole and corn chips stuffed in my face.
Here's a tip; if you are worried about parking just drive into the carpark under the nearby Coles; it was free to midnight on a Saturday, which I thought was a good deal.
SoCal was packed and buzzing at 8pm so it was just as well we booked a table. First up, full marks to the staff for cheerful and attentive service; nothing was too much trouble and everything was prompt despite the packed tables all around.
Mains are around $20 or a little more and are meant to be shared. Our group of four included one who was on a vegan diet for a month so we ordered a few more salads that I might normally eat, plus pork and beef tacos and a pulled chicken salad. The drinks menu was extensive and I enjoyed a gin and watermelon cocktail plus a red wine or two.
Food was enjoyable without a wow factor but at a tad over $50 a head we were happy with the value to quality ratio.
Another tip; call in to the Oaks for a cleansing ale before you go home.
Amys_food_adventures
+3.5
Cool little Mexican joint off the main road in Neutral Bay. Go up some dark stairs and it opens up into the restaurant with an outdoor area that feels like summer.
Pretty nifty cockails including a salted caramel espresso martini.
There are a lot of options to choose from the food menu and it took us a while to decide. I ordered the Baja fish tacos and decided with a friend who ordered the Steak tacos that we would swap 2 so we could get a variety. $20 for 4 tacos. Taste wise it was ok. I preferred the steak more. Also got to try the brisket and it was tasty but a bit dry.
I noticed a few other people got the ribs and they looked pretty good but messy! Huh!
Dessert was ordered and we tried the churros with chocolate dipping sauce - Churros was nice and warm with lots of sugar but not at all sweet which is a good thing the sauce was there.
Overall, ok first time visit.
SoCal is the one of the rare few late night venues in the North Shore (that make a good drink!) Make a booking if you are going as it can get pretty packed and crazy. Sometimes if you are lucky you can grab a table if you wait at the bar. The food is pretty good. My favourite Tuna dish was taken off the menu ages ago :( The steak is delish with Chimmichurri as is the snapper ceviche. And you can't go wrong with the guacamole and corn chips. Definitely worth a visit. Just be mindful service can be a bit slow.
The steak tacos are great and the corn is amazing. Wasn't a fan of the ribs, corn chips or hot wings so felt it was a bit hit and miss.
Great vibe, awesome attentive staff, fab cocktail menu. It's got more hits than misses. I'll be back
I had no idea this place existed so close to where I live. A great upstairs hideaway with good ambience & nice outdoor area. We went on a Wednesday night and the main floor area was fully booked but we still managed a seat. Food was great particularly the prawns. Only critique is you don't get enough guacamole with the corn chips. Looking forward to returning.
Slightly more refined Mexican food to go with the cocktail bar. On offer is some delicious wings and stacks of Mexican favourites like empanadas etc. the Espresso Martini is also a highlight, topped of with honeycomb
The staff were friendly, great place for dinner and drinks with a group of friends in a lively atmosphere. I've been many times and haven't been disappointed yet!
Great spot, perfect for a quickly before the city! Awesome atmosphere and super drinks. Loving the Mexican vibe, wicked beats and tasty tapas!
Sensational cocktails, cool bar staff, Great service, DJ's on weekends & a menu that fits the SoCal name. Easy place to hang out for a few beers that turns into many.
On practically every table, the service staff placed a large bowl of corn chips with generous sides of dip. Gourmet Gumbo thought this was an incredible way to start the festivities as she is a huge fan of all things avocado. This guacamole was sublime as the chefs chopped up little bits of red onion into the avocado dip, usually these flavours are only prominent in the tomato salsa. This innovative touch deserves two thumbs up!
From the team behind The Botanist in Kirribilli and Bondi Hardware comes SoCal, short for “So California”. So it should be no surprise that the menu is a mixture of Mexican and American classics like Mac & Cheese. There’s also a very tempting cocktail menu and we succumbed. Its a pleasant bar space, but there is also a fun outdoor beachy white balcony, which would be great to cordon off for a party. How would I describe our night here? Relaxed, and casual, a place where you can have a few drinks, chill with friends, and snack have or a full meal. The food is overall enjoyable, but not necessarily of the innovative/blow your mind variety. Sharing with a few friends, you can eat more than your fair share for $30-$40 per head, and I think that is about the right price point for the standard. The staff were really warm and enthusiastic, and keen to get our feedback on dishes. We start off with some guacamole and salsa, and a side of Tater Tots. The guac I’d say is just standard, but com
SoCal Neutral Bay launches with a great evening of drinks and canapes and showcases the intimate and fun vibe that goes with its “southern california” beach bar theme. Hamish and Ben (them of The Botanist Kirribilli and Bondi Hardware) created this beach/surf themed bar with a nice leafy outdoor complete with plastic flamingos, colourful shack lights and a pacifico mural. We dug the botanist and its no surprise then that we dig SoCal. Ben and Hamish from Applejack at the launch of their latest venture. SOCAL REPUBLIC. Bit of a grungey mural, loads vibey A look at their bar. The fitout here is designed by Luchetti Krelle (Seiobo, Ananas, HinkyDinks, Sake) Their bar book. The inside tables have a tiled top and is quite sturdy which if you scroll down….. The outside courtyard is open air, gets ample daylight and a suitably beachy in feel when the sun is up. Very bright and airy. Loads of greens and patrons today Nothing mo californian than plastic flamingos On the street side, you have se
Sir And Mlady Dine Out
+4
SoCal is the relaxed Southern Californian surf influenced place that has rapidly become very popular in Neutral Bay. If you like comfort food in laid back surroundings with subdued lighting and great music playing then head up the staircase!
Great venue, good times!. Ive been going to SoCal for a few months now ever since a friend of mine took me there. I love the food, the awesome cocktails and the staff are so welcoming and friendly, they really make an effort. The only time i ever had a slightly bad time was when i had to wait a little bit to get a table but they were busy and when we sat down the incredibly tasty Steak Taco's and top notch Frozen Margaritas put a big smile on all our faces. I recommend it to anyone looking for some good times, great food, amazing cocktails.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
A Mexican-type place in Neutral Bay that is actually OPEN!. Discovered this place after trying to eat at Mexicano around the corner. Mexicano doesn't open until 6pm and we weren't interested in waiting around for an hour. The we saw the SoCal sign. Walking up a seriously steep set of stairs, what a brilliant surprise. Great, lively decor that was quite reminsiscent of LA or San Diego. Great back open-air patio. We were seated immediately without reservation. Steep prices on Margaritas, too, taking out the ice you get about 120 ml of "drink" But the jalapeño margarita is delicious, although you only get three sips. The food is another story, though. Reasonably priced but GENEROUS. We ordered just three share plates: shrimp and crab puffs, deep fried calamari special and an enchilda special. Lots of puffs, great squid and huge enchilada dish. We were STUFFED after the enchiladas. Beautiful flavours. It gets quite loud as various over-dressed real-estate types flood in after work, so an early weekend reservation is advisable. We were so happy Mexicano was closed and we discovered this gem.
Ordered 5 things and 4 were OUTSTANDING!. BBQ Corn - Brilliant!
Corn Chips - yummy yummy yummy - great portion size
SLOW ROAST LAMB SHOULDER - drool-worthy! incredible
SPICY WINGS - nom nom nom nom, spicy, crispy, so tasty
Baja Fish Tacos - so ordinary, very unappealing
Staff were 5/10 - no urgency, not polite
Atmosphere 9/10 - really great feel
Sweet place, sweet vibe, had a great night here last week as part of a slightly larger group with no booking and we're tended to brilliantly by a male waiter and male manager. Made us feel very welcome and the food was great, the BBQ ribs are some of the best I've ever had. We were the last table in the place! They just couldn't get rid of us!! Be back for sure!
Great Place. Love this place has a great atmosphere, tasty food and delicious cocktails :)
So Cool. Thanks for a top night! Staff, service, food were all off the charts. This is a common theme for the boys of Bondi Hardware and The Botanist. Make sure you get to this restaurant before it has a waiting list! Yew!
YES. One word guys..yes! Ticks all my boxes. Food, cocktails, pretty ladies and handsome men. I would write an essay on this place but I will leave it simply by saying 'yes'. Keep it up SoCal you have my tick of approval
How great that a place like this has finally opened like this over this side of the bridge. Staff were friendly, food really tasty and just a nice feel to the place.. See you again soon SoCal
Awesome experience, we sat in the sunny courtyard, loved it. Food, drinks, staff and venue amazing. Recommend it to all.
Surprised. I've been to Neutral Bay a few times and hated it. There's been very little in the way of interesting places to go. Got dragged back over the weekend to SoCal and was pleasantly surprised.
Garden courtyard, good food and a few cocktails made for a great Sunday.
Staff are friendly too which helps.
We checked this place out on Sunday and loved it! Such a cool fit out and great vibe... Going again for sure..
My wife and I went to socal on Friday night and were surprised at the size of the venue!. The neautral bay area has a winner here!. The fit out is a very cool. A dj playing some nice house music which isn't too loud so you can't have a conversation. The cocktails are very good. We also enjoyed some potato tots with chipotle mayonnaise and pork quesadillas which were great!. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu.The floor and bar staff were all busy being the opening night but the service was prompt and friendly!.
Ambience of this new funky fresh restaurant is awesome. I felt so welcome due to the attentive floor staff and managers.
The bar tenders are always up for small talk and always have a smile upon their faces. The cocktail list is innovative and tastes amazing.
The food has a twist of Mexican on "SoCal" (Southern California) food. I love the way the mini hotdogs are served, they look like typical cliché dogs. So Cute! The raw section is phenomenal, it's so fresh and vibrant. My favourite is the Fish Tacos. So simple yet so flavoursome. Snapper was definitely a great choice.
Overall, I think this new north shore small bar and restaurant will be incredibly successful. A huge congratulations to the owners, you've done well!!
Absolute delight. My Mexican wife is always a bit skeptical about places serving tacos while being American themed. But we had no bad surprises with the excellent food. Before we ventured into cocktail heaven and simply enjoyed being. Relaxed atmosphere, great decor, friendly service - 100% recommended.
So much to love about this place. Staff are amazing. Attentive, there when you need them and always with just the perfect attitude. Vibe is spot on. Lots of energy but you can still hear each other talk. And best fish taco I have ever eaten. Can't believe I hadn't been here sooner.
Great place to experience some Californian style Mexican cuisine. Service is quick and friendly, quick to make you feel cosy and at home.
While the interior really felt like sol cal, it was the outdoor courtyard that really made our experience awesome.
Food is classic Sol Cal food with favourites like Fish Tacos, but i reccomend trying other stuff like their wings. Wings had the right sense if crispness and the queso sauce hit the nail on the head. Had a Mezcal Margherita, which really complimented the seafood tacos.
Our server, the girl with the pigtails wearing the blues shirt was really attentive. Really good staff member and deserves some sort of bonus.
Price was reasonable and would come here again. Bookings recommended as this place was packed.
Dined here a few times but tried the new menu this week and it was incredible. Beef Short Rib, artichoke taco & the whole Snapper were the winners! The staff are amazing and cant do enough for you. The vibe was cosy and lively! We can't wait to go back and try even more of the delicious cocktails.
The extended family had a great time celebrating three birthdays at SoCal for lunch on Sunday.
The service was fantastic being very friendly and helpful. They managed to fit all 14 of us on a long table on the terrace outside and under cover.
Our casual meal was great with either the fish taco or jerk chicken getting the vote for best dish.
The bottomless Rose lunch was so so delicious, we enjoyed everything that was brought out and the rose sangria was amazing. The service was by far the best, our sangria jug got refilled before we would think to ask and the staff were flexible with dietary requirements etc. There was no pressure to leave either, we ended up staying for more food and drinks. Great atmosphere, great food and great staff. Thank you!
Fresh food, Excellent service. A nice place to hang out.
The jerk chicken and the fish tacos hit the spot!
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes