The Social Osteria has opened in Stockport town centre, taking over a spot in the historic Weir Mill, and has already become a hit with locals.
The new venue is the second site from the team behind Poynton's The Social Trattoria, which opened four years ago as a homage to William Okill's grandmother, Margaret Williams, who trained as a chef in Italy. The original restaurant, opened with co-owners Jeremy Hague and Daniel Barron, has gained national recognition, with dishes by head chef Justin Ashwin helping it be named one of the best Italian places to eat in the country last year.
A New Concept in a Historic Setting
The Social Osteria is located in the recently-revamped Weir Mill, which dates back to 1790 and has been at the centre of a major £60m transformation project. William Okill explained that the team wanted to elevate their new concept by being even more seasonal and going as local as possible with their produce.
Inspired by traditional Italian establishments known as osterias, which previously typically focused on wine and drinks, the word has expanded in recent years to include casual spots serving dishes and regional specialities. The Social Osteria's menu changes monthly with weekly specials focused on what is in season and locally available.
Menu Highlights and Early Success
William Okill, who describes himself as a 'seafood man and a big pasta lover', said his current favourite is the Pasta Scoglio, featuring king prawns, squid, mussels, and lobster bisque, as well as a black tiger prawn, all served in a chilli and tomato sauce with spaghetti. Other menu highlights include the social ragu with slow-cooked beef shin and pork shoulder, the Pizza diavola affumatica with smoked scarmorza, pickled chilli and cured salami, and the charred leeks pappardelle in a salsa di noci walnut cream sauce.
Since opening just a few weeks ago, the restaurant has been full. "We have been full since minute one," Okill said. "As soon as we stepped foot in the Mill, I just knew this was a match."
Overcoming Teething Problems
Despite the success, Okill admitted that things haven't been perfect and they are working to rectify some initial teething problems. "If I'm being honest, I think we may have opened too quickly," he said. "There have been some mistakes, but every customer has been so welcoming to us and we have had some glowing feedback, which makes us very proud."
The Social Osteria is on Weir Mill, Stockport, SK3 0AG.
