So I can't say that I'm surprised in the least that Society Fair has closed. Based on my one experience with them (losing a $60 order for a take-out picnic (order was made well in advance and had a confirmed pick up time), taking 30 minutes to put it together when I went to pick it up and providing cold cooked chicken with cold barbecue sauce poured over it - not actual barbecue chicken - no plates and two sets of silverware/cups for a 4 person dinner) and the reviews of others, Society Fair would have been an excellent candidate for Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares - unorganized kitchen, inept staff, and an utter lack of focus on what the business actually should be. I just hope the people involved have learned some lessons and their next venture will be better.
Steve Helmetag
This place is no longer in business. If it had been open, I think we would have rated it highly, as it looked promising.
Daniel Hennig
Apparently they went out of business last week with very little announcement. We had a reservation for a birthday brunch and they didn't even call us to cancel. Not sure why, we liked the menu and decor, location is right in Old Town.
Frank C.
Killed by its poor service and high prices. Another one like so many others. Hey waitstaff, you're not rock stars, quit hiding in back
Raheem S.
Thank God this place closed. It was horrible when the Restaurant Eve people originally opened this place years ago and got even worse after they sold it, from what I hear from others ...also what I read online, since I never went there after the first year or so. Basically they sold the same product that was at Baldaccis except at a higher price and less quality. Service was always horrible and owner were arrogant d-bags
H N.
Have eaten here a couple times. The food is pricey but good. My partner loves coconut cake and he gave Society Fair's a thumbs up. Been trying to order a cake for his graduation/birthday party for a week and a half now. The online check out on their website doesn't work, they don't answer their phone, or email messages, or instagram messages. Super disappointed.
TM F.
Stay away!!! They do not have the staff right now!! I heard such great things about this restaurant so we were excited to go, but it took one hour for us to have our order taken. It was finally taken by someone who was not our waiter but felt sorry for us. It took two hours for us to get bread. We had to all move our cars before we even got our food because our two hour parking ran out. And we had to move our cars a second time before we were able to pay. The manager, Nadine, had let us substitute soft drinks for the wine on the restaurant week menu, but then was MIA when the (only) waiter tried to ring us up. He didn't know what we ordered because he wasn't the order taker. We had to tell him what he brought out to us hours previously. And then the price that was programmed into the register for restaurant week was more expensive than what was on the menu. The food wasn't even that amazing. They really like the spicy stuff. It was all three courses of horrible: hush puppies were spicy, pasta was spicy, and the hazelnut chocolate tart was so rich you could only take a decent bite before having to stop. The only good thing I had was legit the bread that was filling and served with softened butter. It was why this place gets one star. And the worst part of all was the poor parents with their kids who tried to eat here. Some tables legit walked out because they weren't waiting two hours for their food. Those poor kids and parents!!! I felt so bad for them. So disappointing. Stay away!!! *Update* I think they are closing this restaurant - July 2019.
Blanca W.
Society Fair is now CLOSED. I reported the closure to Yelp on Wednesday, but they haven't updated the listing. Unfortunately, the reservation system is still online, so you can make a reservation thru Yelp - but you'll turn up to find a closed restaurant.
D. L.
Great Sunday brunch place! We like their Eggs Benedict and their Biscuit and Sausage and Gravy - as well as their excellent Bloody Mary!
A A.
Just had the most amazing coconut cake! I am cake snob for sure, but when it comes to coconut cake---it has to be just perfect for me to have it. This cake was moist and flavorful. The cream cheese icing was sweet, but not too sweet, and had the perfect amount of coconut flakes. The sweets table is beautiful, had to keep my eye on my 7 year old. The place's decor is absolutely stunning. Overall a 10. Looking forward to many more visits.
A great place with wonderful food and pretty interesting cocktails too!
Janet C.
Over the past few months, I always make a quick stop at Society Fair between errands. The food is always stellar and the service ho hum until today. Kerry offers service while managing the register with heart and a sense of community - - no wonder, Alexandria is home. Thank you for making it home for the customers as well. Kudos Nadine for finding a gem!
Jarrod A.
Perfect place to wake up in the morning. The staff are very accommodating and the food are excellent
Julia G.
Update: guess my review has left me without Circus cake as the store seems to run short every time I visit. Service has changed a great deal and the cake is half the size when you can find it. Last two times I was very disappointed to get cold coffee in a cup handed to me mid air without a saucer and this cup was not a mug. Just a lack of attention to detail certainly not the same place from my first review. When I asked why a $8 slice of cake was so poorly cut that it was lopsided, I was told they cut them smaller now. Little effort to please the customer and a general lack of mindfulness for hospitality. I mean I travel to visit this place and a restaurant that doesn't seem to acknowledge the customer's satisfaction is not worth the effort. I simply moved to the great bakery down the block. Hospitality is to a restaurant what the sun is to the summer.
So I can't say that I'm surprised in the least that Society Fair has closed. Based on my one experience with them (losing a $60 order for a take-out picnic (order was made well in advance and had a confirmed pick up time), taking 30 minutes to put it together when I went to pick it up and providing cold cooked chicken with cold barbecue sauce poured over it - not actual barbecue chicken - no plates and two sets of silverware/cups for a 4 person dinner) and the reviews of others, Society Fair would have been an excellent candidate for Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares - unorganized kitchen, inept staff, and an utter lack of focus on what the business actually should be. I just hope the people involved have learned some lessons and their next venture will be better.
This place is no longer in business. If it had been open, I think we would have rated it highly, as it looked promising.
Apparently they went out of business last week with very little announcement. We had a reservation for a birthday brunch and they didn't even call us to cancel. Not sure why, we liked the menu and decor, location is right in Old Town.
Killed by its poor service and high prices. Another one like so many others. Hey waitstaff, you're not rock stars, quit hiding in back
Thank God this place closed. It was horrible when the Restaurant Eve people originally opened this place years ago and got even worse after they sold it, from what I hear from others ...also what I read online, since I never went there after the first year or so. Basically they sold the same product that was at Baldaccis except at a higher price and less quality. Service was always horrible and owner were arrogant d-bags
Have eaten here a couple times. The food is pricey but good. My partner loves coconut cake and he gave Society Fair's a thumbs up. Been trying to order a cake for his graduation/birthday party for a week and a half now. The online check out on their website doesn't work, they don't answer their phone, or email messages, or instagram messages. Super disappointed.
Stay away!!! They do not have the staff right now!! I heard such great things about this restaurant so we were excited to go, but it took one hour for us to have our order taken. It was finally taken by someone who was not our waiter but felt sorry for us. It took two hours for us to get bread. We had to all move our cars before we even got our food because our two hour parking ran out. And we had to move our cars a second time before we were able to pay. The manager, Nadine, had let us substitute soft drinks for the wine on the restaurant week menu, but then was MIA when the (only) waiter tried to ring us up. He didn't know what we ordered because he wasn't the order taker. We had to tell him what he brought out to us hours previously. And then the price that was programmed into the register for restaurant week was more expensive than what was on the menu. The food wasn't even that amazing. They really like the spicy stuff. It was all three courses of horrible: hush puppies were spicy, pasta was spicy, and the hazelnut chocolate tart was so rich you could only take a decent bite before having to stop. The only good thing I had was legit the bread that was filling and served with softened butter. It was why this place gets one star. And the worst part of all was the poor parents with their kids who tried to eat here. Some tables legit walked out because they weren't waiting two hours for their food. Those poor kids and parents!!! I felt so bad for them. So disappointing. Stay away!!! *Update* I think they are closing this restaurant - July 2019.
Society Fair is now CLOSED. I reported the closure to Yelp on Wednesday, but they haven't updated the listing. Unfortunately, the reservation system is still online, so you can make a reservation thru Yelp - but you'll turn up to find a closed restaurant.
Great Sunday brunch place! We like their Eggs Benedict and their Biscuit and Sausage and Gravy - as well as their excellent Bloody Mary!
Just had the most amazing coconut cake! I am cake snob for sure, but when it comes to coconut cake---it has to be just perfect for me to have it. This cake was moist and flavorful. The cream cheese icing was sweet, but not too sweet, and had the perfect amount of coconut flakes. The sweets table is beautiful, had to keep my eye on my 7 year old. The place's decor is absolutely stunning. Overall a 10. Looking forward to many more visits.
Restaurantji Recommends
The crawfish
A great place with wonderful food and pretty interesting cocktails too!
Over the past few months, I always make a quick stop at Society Fair between errands. The food is always stellar and the service ho hum until today. Kerry offers service while managing the register with heart and a sense of community - - no wonder, Alexandria is home. Thank you for making it home for the customers as well. Kudos Nadine for finding a gem!
Perfect place to wake up in the morning. The staff are very accommodating and the food are excellent
Update: guess my review has left me without Circus cake as the store seems to run short every time I visit. Service has changed a great deal and the cake is half the size when you can find it. Last two times I was very disappointed to get cold coffee in a cup handed to me mid air without a saucer and this cup was not a mug. Just a lack of attention to detail certainly not the same place from my first review. When I asked why a $8 slice of cake was so poorly cut that it was lopsided, I was told they cut them smaller now. Little effort to please the customer and a general lack of mindfulness for hospitality. I mean I travel to visit this place and a restaurant that doesn't seem to acknowledge the customer's satisfaction is not worth the effort. I simply moved to the great bakery down the block. Hospitality is to a restaurant what the sun is to the summer.