SOHO - sports bar/nightclub

Update: This place no longer exists...it has become yet another nightclub along that dewdney strip. Not that it will be missed - you can get a lot better food in a lot better atmosphere...So long Soho.

Atmosphere: 2.5 out of 5
Service: 4 out of 5 (we were only ones there so they couldn't ignore us)
Food: 2.5 out of 5

SOHO has been around for a while in the Regina entertainment scene. It is located on Dewdney avenue in the strip of renovated warehouses that are home to a number of nightclubs and bars. In my young and wild days I believe this place was Manhatten's which then turned into the very hip New Yorx nightclub and then SOHO nightclub but I may be wrong on the history because I never went to any of those incarnations.

We chose this place out of blind luck - driving down Albert we spotted the billboard advertising a new executive chef who specialized in 'fusion'. Okay - it's newly renovated looking for new clients - excellent lets try it. (Later in my search I found the sports bar has been open since May 09 - surprised then at lack of afterwork customers - maybe why there is a new ad campaign?!?)

The nightclub part - the basement - has been voted best nightclub in Regina by the community newspaper (Prairie Dog) readers. I can't comment there because I don't fit that demographic at all and never really did.

Parking is street (no meters) and I believe people can park across Dewdney in one of the other warehouse lots.

The sports bar is in the upper part of the building - atmosphere is quite nice, love the rustic walls, open beams, great floor (mostly original wood with some concrete touches added - looks a lot better than it sounds) - and great lighting. Like any "sports bar" they have tv's with sports...all on the same channel but hey and some of the screens have seen better days unless you really like shades of green. Mix of tables - pub height and low. A couple of pool and foosball tables to keep folks entertained. Looks like a great place for after work 5 à 7 type of thing. We walked in at 7 and it was just us - but they are newly opened. Needless to say the service was tremendous as we were it, later some patrons came in and sat around the bar itself - not too social.

Full bar menu - although when asked what's on tap the server couldn't quite remember and it turned out to be the basic domestic choices you would find at any bar.

The menu is bar fare - a mix of appys, sandwiches and burgers etc - nothing I would call 'fusion'. Not exactly what I expected from the billboard advertisement or the website I checked on when we got home.

We went for the standbys - Ribs and burger. Ribs were not what was expected - rather than a slab of ribs they were boneless rib chunks (much like dry ribs) bathed in the chosen sauce which would be fine if that was what you were expecting. The burger was well cooked, good bun and dressed well but definitely not made in house - generic burger from the freezer, made with real meat, not too many fillers, but no love for the burger. Fries and Sweet Potato fries were also from freezer - although the aioli for the sweet potatoes was very tasty. Freezer was also the original home of the veggies that accompanied the ribs. Steaming fresh veggies would add a special touch and probably decrease food waste - because frozen - yuck.

As an aside - and directed at all restaurants - when I see a cook outside the back door having a smoke I question the food. Not because of health issues but because the cook has chosen to fry his taste and sense of smell. My expectations are immediately lowered for the food. If we had noticed this cook outside before we went in we may have made another choice - we did later see him go out for a break with his cigarettes which may have answered a few questions on the plate.

SOHO is a try-over type of place. Just getting their feet and trying to build their clientele from the nightclub reputation they have. I would recommend this place to folks looking for an after work nacho and beer break. If you want the basic food - it works - especially if you like the generic out of the box stuff that is being served at a lot of the chains...I don't so I'll probably try it again in the summer and see how they fair but it won't make it into my regular rotation of Regina eateries. I believe it is somehow associated with McNalley's (Irish pub down the street) whose food I don't go out of my way for either. Not sure if the owners are the same but the menu looks it.

Give SOHO a chance - it's a nice place for drinks but needs to work on full menu.