OTR nonprofit restaurant Social OTR is hosting a special kick-off opening celebration 4 p.m.-midnight Feb. 7 with a 5-1-3 happy hour featuring $5 house wines, $1 oysters and $3 drafts in The Alley at Social (off Campbell Alley).
A collaboration between Findlay Market and CityLink Center, which provides integrated services to help individuals break free from poverty, Social OTR offers a working internship in a fine dining restaurant for the community’s unemployed and underemployed talent pool. Students get fundamental, hands-on culinary training at no cost to them. And all the money made in the restaurant will be funneled back into the program to provide each student with a set of knives and a uniform; it also keeps the stoves on and the shelves stocked.
The communal dining experience features two large tables for shared seating, as well as several smaller tables and a full bar. Follow an exposed-brick hallway past a kitchen with open windows — where you can watch the chefs and students at work — to the back lounge, The Alley at Social, to find another communal table and bar.
The menu, led by executive chef Jennifer Kemplin, consists of shareable small plates made with local ingredients.
The restaurant will open at 4 p.m. with dinner service starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The Alley at Social will be open until midnight. Social OTR, 1819 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, socialotr.com.