After temporarily closing Social House in Soulard during the pandemic and an extensive remodeling process, the Trupiano family has rebooted the space as Social Bar & Grill Soulard (1551 S. Seventh), emulating the family-friendly Social Bar & Grill concept in Lemay, which is going on its fifth year.
The Background
Find the best food in St. Louis
Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene.
The decision to launch a second Social Bar & Grill location in Soulard came with the observation of an evolving landscape in the neighborhood. “We know the neighborhood is changing and has typically been known as a bar scene,” says co-owner Aprille Trupiano, who co-owns the restaurant alongside siblings Josie, Mike, Tony, and Nick. “We wanted to bring something with a more upscale feel to it.”
The Soulard location opened in late December and recently hosted an event with Shaquille O’Neal handling DJ duties. The grand opening is March 26.
The Atmosphere
The expansive dining room walks a fine line between casual family restaurant and sports pub. There are multiple dining sections with custom-made booths and tables, as well as two full-service bars on a custom-made, hand-poured floor. Televisions line the wall, with a wide range of sports memorabilia filling the spaces in between.
“One of the things that my brothers [Mike, Tony, and Nick] are very good at is the interior design piece,” says Aprille. “They come in. They look at a space. They know what to move and where to put it. They know how to decorate it and how to design it.”
The Menu
The food begins with inspirations from the Trupianos’ Sicilian family background and expands from there. Among the pasta, for example, you’ll find Mrs. Trupiano’s Spaghetti and Meatballs, a homegrown recipe from the mother of the owners, Marlene Trupiano. Co-owner Nick Trupiano created the pizza, brought over from his previous restaurant, Il Posto Pizzeria. The menu also includes a range of appetizers (bacon-wrapped, stuffed jalapeños; goat cheese dip served with crostinis, and chicken wings that can be served with a choice of house-made sauces), as well as burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and a number of other entrées, such as shrimp and grits. The location also features Lenten specials, such as fish and chips, fish tacos, and calamari.
One particularly noteworthy dish is the Sicilian chicken breast dusted with bread crumbs, created by the aforementioned Mrs. Trupiano. “One of our secrets is my mother’s breadcrumbs,” says Aprille Trupiano. “They’re a generations-old recipe from my grandmother. My mother comes in every week to make them fresh.”
Social Bar & Grill Soulard is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m.–1:30 a.m. and Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m.–3 a.m.
