The Social Honolulu Eatery & Bar lives up to its name. An enormous, warehouse-like sports bar on McCully Street, it’s convenient for townies and an ideal spot to take over when your posse has grown its membership into the double-digits.

The experience

There’s not much for decor here. A few dart boards adorn one wall, and a Japanese-style cigarette machine stands at the entrance. Still, you get the sense that The Social is an empty canvas for you to imprint with your own party.

While it was quiet at 5 p.m. on our weekday visit, when University of Hawaii students were taking finals, it’s not difficult to imagine that the scene heats up into anything-can-happen territory on the weekends.

One thing we really liked: The Social’s get-turnt blend of old school hip-hop and R&B songs had us calling for extra rounds and forgetting it was a Wednesday.

“My favorite thing about this bar is the soundtrack,” said one friend. “If it was a radio station, I would straight up listen to it all the time.”

The food

The food at The Social is like a Shonda Rhimes television show — “Scandal,” let’s say. You know it’s not good for you, and you’re a little ashamed that you’re into it, but it’s still a cut above the rest of what’s out there.

An extensive $7 pupu menu is well-priced, with enough options to balance out the booze for everyone, including vegetarians.

We tried Truffle Parm Fries, and they were a hit, the thick fries topped with real Parmesan cheese.

Garlic bacon fried rice, on the other hand, was a tough sell for this kamaaina crowd. While serviceable (and massive), it was inconsistent, and the consensus was that there “wasn’t enough garlic, and wasn’t enough bacon.” Still, a drizzle of Sriracha and shoyu was enough to elevate the dish closer to our high standards for fried rice in Hawaii.

A number of fried chicken dishes are offered, including Dynamite Chicken, topped with Sriracha aioli. “Sure, it’s good, but Zippy’s might be better,” opined one companion.

We did get the inside scoop that the chef is in the process of overhauling the menu, perhaps featuring quarterly updates. The food is solid – but with a little tweaking, it could become more craveable.

The drink

“I just have this feeling like the floors here are gonna be sticky,” remarked one of my friends when we sat down.

“I love places like that,” said another. “That’s how you know the drinks are gonna be strong.” That being said, we didn’t venture into the cocktails at The Social, instead sticking mostly to the beers on tap offered on special during happy hour. It was Whiskey Wednesday, though, and most whiskeys were only $5, so one of us mixed her own drink: a shot of Fireball in an Angry Orchard.

During happy hour, pitchers of Coors Light and Miller Lite are $8, Sam ’76 is $10, and Saint Archer IPA is $12; all are also offered by the pint for $3 to $4. They’ve also got a selection of bottles and cans for those whose tastes lean more towards ciders or beers off the beaten path.

The verdict

Need a place to cut loose and get loud with friends and friends of friends and their friends? The Social is your spot.

The combination of cheap drinks, decent food and a huge location makes it the perfect place to blend day to night — or drag the party out of your co-workers.