Posted March 5, 2015
By MELISSA RAE OSTROFF
The experience that American Social offers is brunch, lunch, happy hour or dinner against the backdrop of the Miami River and the buildings of Brickell. Easily accessible via the Metrorail and Metro Mover, this ritzy sports bar is a great place to relax with a group of friends on a weekend afternoon or grab dinner and drinks with a date.
The all-American theme of American Social stands out in Brickell, which has predominantly Latin restaurants and bars. American Social opened its doors in December 2014 and since then has become a welcomed addition to the Miami gastro pub trend.
Another great aspect of American Social is that it has a wide range of hours. Opening at 11:30 a.m. every day for brunch, it stays open until 1 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday nights, 2 a.m. on Thursday nights and until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
American Social targets college students and young professionals in two ways: it’s a place to go out at night for dinner and drinks and it’s also a great place to have brunch the next morning when they are trying to fight off a hangover.
No need to dress beyond casual here; it’s all about relaxation. With couches and pillows decked out in red, white, and blue, the theme is patriotic with a mix of rustic luxury. The décor within the restaurant is a mix of vintage pieces, such as bricks from old walls in Chicago to art created by artists in Miami.
The food is not cheap, but considering the quality, it is not overpriced either. An average entree will be between $14 and $20.
Although they do serve dinner, what they are known for is their fantastic brunch menu, which includes food such as mac and cheese made from white Vermont cheddar and chicken and waffles.
Instead of putting out ordinary bread and butter on the table as a complimentary appetizer, American Social steps it up a few notches. The waitress laid out a beautiful spread of two plain and one chocolate croissant, which had the perfect combination of soft and doughy on the inside but crispy on the outside. The butter, which was flavored honey-maple, was to die for.
One highlight on the menu is the AMSO omelette, which comes with ham and tomatoes. On the side, there is a wonderful mix of grilled potatoes and onions. Also be sure to try the chicken and waffles with bourbon-infused maple, a brunch classic. The breading of the chicken was especially good, with a crispy and slightly spicy aroma.
Another great addition to the menu is the Fried Chicken B.L.A.T., which is so big that it may be difficult to finish in one sitting, despite how good it is. Piled high with crispy chicken, bacon, onions, tomato, guacamole and a seasoned bun, this burger is a must-try. The fries were also excellent.
Some other menu highlights include: pecan French toast, steak benedict, peekytoe crab scramble and duck confit hash. This is not a place to go if healthy eating is a priority; all the food is fried, but the chefs will grill most of the entrees, if specially requested.
Some of the popular appetizers on the dinner menu include: pretzel bites with Dijon mustard dipping sauce and a slider trio, which includes a beef slider, wild boar sloppy Joe, and a winey goat slider. Notable dinner entrees include the shorty flatbread, which is a beef short rib with mushrooms, and chicken under a brick, which is a poulet rouge chicken with potatoes on the side.
In addition to the food, American Social is also known for its wide array of draft beers, with more than 50 varieties on tap. They also have a variety of unique cocktails, including a dragon fruit margarita, lavender mojito, spiced pear flip and watermelon flame; just to name a few. They also offer many different wines by the glass. During happy hour, they sometimes have live music and sports games on flat screen TVs.
The service here was also very good. Although it did take a few extra minutes to be seated on the waterfront patio, the waitress took food orders right away and the food arrived very quickly. In addition, a few other servers asked how the food and service was as they walked past, which was considerate and helpful.
American Social is a great place to go out to brunch, dinner or drinks with a group of friends. The service and food are both good quality, and the prices are not unreasonable. With great views from the patio in a location that is easy to get to, American Social is here to stay.
- American Social (http://www.amsobar.com)
- High-end sports bar and restaurant
- Price: $$
- Hours: Sundays-Wednesdays (11:30 a.m. – 1 a.m.), Thursdays (11:30 a.m. – 2 a.m.), Fridays- Saturdays (11:30 a.m. – 3 a.m.)
- Cuisine: American
- Rating: 5/5
- Parking: valet or street
- Phone: 786-801-2466
- Address: 690 SW 1st Ct., Miami, Fla. 33130 (Brickell)