Bocca Social in Tunbridge Wells

Booked the private room for a work gathering. It was on the advice of some colleagues - so went with it. Was not impressed that I was told 12.5% would be added to every drink and the buffet. It was non negotiable. On the evening the room looked pretty and the staff were nice, especially the gentleman who I think, may run the restaurant. He was excellent. When I queried the amount of food for the £400 we had paid - he couldn’t have been more helpful in replenishing it. However I thought this was damage limitation, as the snooty serving staff said - yes, this is it! I am not convinced the service charge goes to the staff - so I get her attitude. But overall, it is overpriced and not a patch on Carluccio’s.

We tried this new restaurant out a year ago and gave it five stars. Sadly it has gone downhill since then. Having once praised the food for being "good quality genuine Italian (excellent pasta)", we recently revisited and found the food poorly presented and dull, with one dish appearing to have been made in a factory. But the wine list is still not too expensive, and the service attentive. Plus a bonus: free, partly chilled filtered water (so, no bottled water rip-offs). However, whereas we originally praised the fact that there was "no background music, thank goodness", some idiot has now decided to ruin the dining experience with pounding rock.

Lovely looking restaurant in the heart of Tunbridge Wells but an utterly disappointing experience. We did a walk in on Father’s Day. The restaurant was about two thirds full (I didn’t see the upstairs). We took our seats and in truth we were told that there might be a bit of a wait but the waiter said about 25 minutes so we decided to stick it out. The bar were prompt with our drinks and even though the three staff were visually busy, our orders taken quite quickly. An hour later and nothing had come so we asked from some bread for our hungry 4 year old and some olives for us. These were hastily thrown on the table and off our waiter went. An hour and twenty minutes after ordering my four year old got his pasta. And hour and 25 minutes my wife got her carbonara which was so salty she barely had half of it. A couple of minutes later I got my steak which was strange as I had ordered Cotoletta Di Pollo Alla Milanese. To which the waiter said, you can just have it, its more expensive. True I guess but no apology for the wrong order. However, even though I like a medium rare steak, the steak was so under that it was still mooing. I asked for it to be cooked a bit more to medium rare and it got whisked away, minutes later my meal was returned and it was transformed into a Cotoletta Di Pollo Alla Milanese! No explanation. It was ok. No seasoning. No offer of further seasoning or Parmesan. After our meal I took my son to the toilet and as I walking with him the waiter sprinted past. A millisecond later and he would have ran into us. There was no visible management on site and it showed. An overall very disappointing experience.

Love love love fab place, drinks only on this occassion however i will be back !!!!!!

The best bottomless brunch I’ve ever had! 6 of us enjoyed a lovely meal for a hen do, amazing service, never had an empty glass & very tasty food! Would definitely recommend for any occasion & will be going back soon!

Bocca Social is a gem nestled in the heart of the Tunbridge wells, offering a delightful blend of culinary mastery and warm hospitality. Under the guidance of Manager Kavi, this restaurant transforms dining into an unforgettable experience. Upon entering Bocca Social, one is immediately struck by its inviting ambiance. The decor strikes a perfect balance between chic and cozy, creating an ideal setting for any occasion, be it a romantic dinner or a lively gathering with friends. The menu at Bocca Social is a testament to culinary excellence. Each dish is a work of art, carefully crafted to tantalize the taste buds. From appetizers bursting with flavor to entrees showcasing the freshest ingredients, every bite is a journey of culinary delight. The wine selection complements the menu perfectly, offering a variety that pairs beautifully with the dishes. What truly sets Bocca Social apart is the impeccable service led by Manager Kavi. Kavi's passion for hospitality shines through in every interaction, ensuring that guests feel not just welcomed, but truly cared for. His attention to detail and commitment to excellence create a seamless dining experience that leaves a lasting impression. During my recent visit, I had the pleasure of trying their signature dish, the Bocca Special Pasta. It was a symphony of flavors, with the homemade pasta perfectly cooked and the sauce bursting with freshness. Paired with a glass of their recommended red wine, it was a culinary journey I won't soon forget. Whether you're a food enthusiast seeking new culinary adventures or simply looking for a place to unwind and enjoy delicious food, Bocca Social is a must-visit. With Manager Kavi at the helm, you can expect nothing short of an exceptional dining experience that will keep you coming back for more.

Kavi was really attractive. Always run extra mile for us. Good foods , friendly staffs, nice atmosphere 👌

Great food, great service! Recommend the vodka pasta and the goats cheese balls. The staff were all very friendly. The restaurant and toilets all very clean. Will defo go again.

Really good food. Staff really friendly and attentive especially Kavi! Definitely revisit!

Staff were amazing, especially Kavi Amazing experience

This place is a must, top restaurant serving wonderful food, the staff are brilliant (particularly mark, who can’t do enough for you). The restaurant is beautiful I highly recommend it.

10/10 Italian restaurant, best customer service in the market and a very welcoming environment. Easy to deal with and very fair prices for the quality of the food. Well worth a visit thanks to the amazing staff hany and kavi for making it such a memorable experience!

Really lovely place. Tastefuly furnished and decorated to a good standard. Excellent choice for food. My wife and I thought they were really good portions so good, no room for a dessert. SHAME. Really good staff, on the ball all the time. Really enjoyed our lunch. Try this place, you won't be disappointed. I wish we lived closer.

We had Kavi and he was a wonderful server, very attentive. Food and drink amazing, would deffo recommend to anyone wanting to try!!!

Had Kavi serve us tonight, he was absolutely brilliant, very welcoming and gave top notch service. Food and drink was brilliant. Would definitely recommend.

Absolutely amazing experience. Staff are very lovely and welcoming, they treat you with respect. The food is cooked to a great standard, and the presentation of the food is lovely.

Me my Wife and Daughter went there on the 6th of April to celebrate her 20th birthday we had a very great experience from the start to the end great food tasty cocktails and fantastic service from all the staff. From the first instant as we walked through the doors we felt at home I highly recommend absolutely go back again thank you Bocca Tunbridge Wells

We visited Bocca for lunch last Saturday and had such a lovely experience! The staff were great and we found the service really attentive and friendly. The food and cocktails were all fantastic, I had the slow cooked pork belly and my daughter had the ravioli - both were cooked perfectly and we really enjoyed the starters and desserts. After lunch we enjoyed another drink in the bar area which was also great. We’ll definitely be back!

I recently went down to Bocca social on Saturday afternoon for lunch with my family and it was very pleasant.the service was very good and the food was amazing. Overall we had a brilliant time and would definitely go back

Absolutely loved our experience at Bocca for my friends party the staff were so attentive and couldn’t do enough for us! Food was unbelievable and epic cocktails! Special mention to Kavi he was the best!

The food was amazing! I highly recommend you check this place out if you’re in the area!

Have been to Bocca Social a few times, the food has always been great and the house red is AMAZING!!! The staff are really friendly and really accommodating with our young family

Fantastic food and even better service

We're back at Bocca Social yesterday evening with friends and everything was impeccable, great service , we ordered different cocktails all of them delicious. Superb food, selection cicchetti and mains, my favorite is chicken supreme and my boyfriend carbonara, all of us was really happy definitely will be back. Thanks Guys!!!!!!

Exceptionally poor service, overcharged by over £80 and after 3 recalculations gave up and just paid for what we ordered. Below average pizza, (by kebab shop standards) Carbonara consisting of only 3 ingredients. Pasta, generic hard cheese and unsmoked tasteless ham. About 30% full on a Saturday night in the centre of town at the beginning of the month says it all really.

I don't normally leave reviews but the food here was really poor and overpriced. Soggy pizza dough, tasteless carbonara and we had extra items charged to our bill that we hadn't ordered. Leaving with a stomach ache, please avoid.

I booked Bocca Social for my Sisters baby shower. There was 11 on us so wasn’t enough of us to use the Function room but they put us in the restaurant area in the corner which felt quite private. I ask if we could have space to put out presents and balloons and when I arrived they had laid out a separate table for gifts and let me decorate how I wanted. The staff were so friendly and helpful and kept asking if there was anything else we needed. Food was great and even brought out extra sandwiches which we didn’t ask for. My sister had a lovely chilled out afternoon, this is definitely a restaurant that know what there doing, would highly recommend!

Enjoyed the food but had to chase drink orders on several occasions, waiting almost half an hour in one case.

Went for Saturday lunch Food was great and the atmosphere was really enjoyable. Both waiters friendly and very efficient making the whole experience all the more enjoyable. We will be back

Went with the family for Sunday lunch for the first time. The food was amazing (especially the desserts!) and we couldn’t find fault with any of our dishes. Looking forward to going again.

Sadly all 'style' and no substance. You can forgive when one aspect of a meal is a poor, but unfortunately, the service, food, drinks and atmosphere were all equally bad. Nearly an hour for drinks (one of which was undrinkable - twice!), stodgy carbonaras, expensive ravioli and the wrong order being delivered to our table at least twice. The restaurant did remove the service charge and some other items from the bill, however, it was a shame that they didn't take proactive action - a friend had to convince them! I never normally leave reviews like this, but Tunbridge Wells has so many other lovely restaurants and Bocca Social just isn't up to par.

Terrible service. Terrible cocktails. Terrible food. Absolute waste of money.

Food was oily, stodgy and the restaurant was full of drunk teenagers. Service was very slow (1 hour for drinks) and staff disinterested. Absolutely horrible experience.

As always, the food is perfect; the team are so attentive, and the cleanliness is excellent. 5* every time. Thankyou.

Came to this restaurant for the first time on mothers day 2024 , we had an amazing lunch time meal with my family. The food was unbelievable, (especially the slow cooked Ragu & Fettuccine) the staff were very polite, attentive and nothing was too much trouble. The place is furnished to the highest standard, very modern and stylish and the ambience was perfect. I will 100% be going back very soon. i would highly recommend a visit, its a place for all occasions.

Great experience Briliant service,

Restaurant decor looks lovely and the staff were polite but that’s where it ends. Slow service (took 15 mins to pay), food was way below par of what I would expect for a place like this example, my bruschetta was served on a slice of tiger loaf!! Hardly authentic. The sauce in my husbands carbonara was lumpy and bland and the meatballs were dry and overcooked. Pretty restaurant with Jamie’s Italian level of food. Won’t be back again.

Another fabulous lunch at Bocca Social. Great service from Harley and Olivia. Delicious food, freshly cooked and piping hot. Can also highly recommend Lychee-infused cocktail!

We went during our winter Christmas holidays to enjoy a nice meal AND the meal was disappointing. Great interiors and waiting staff good!

Our first time at Bocca Social. What a lovely surprise! Delicious fresh food, very good service, generous portions, and all at reasonable prices. We loved the calamari. The kid's pizza was so tasty my 4 year old nearly finished it all! The chocolate mousse with hazelnut was divine. Also the carbonara sauce was delicious. Would definitely go to Bocca again to try more food!

Went for Valentine’s Day, was forced to have fixed menu ‘because they were over book’ which was £50 per person. They then watched a 20% service charge on top.

This restaurant is beautiful!! It feels as though it’s a sophisticated London restaurant in our little home town. The food is amazing and the service is fab. Everyone is so friendly who works there and goes the extra mile for their guests. The decor is stunning. Would 100% recommend! Give it a try 🥰

We had a company party at Bocca Social and we had an amazing time. The food was excellent. Big big thank you to the wonderful staff, they were brilliant :)

A wonderful place for a sunny lunch! Super impressed with the attentive staff and the delicious menu. The tiramisu is a must!

Great Christmas dinner with my friends, food was delicious lamb and millefoglie OMG, perfect combination for both. Service really kind and fast, beautiful atmosphere. Will come back soon.

Awful and very rude service. The atmosphere is not great at all although the venue is lovely. We attended here this evening for our work Christmas meal and left extremely disappointed.. we did not finish our food (no taste, chewy and bones in the meat) we ended up leaving and eating elsewhere. Would not visit again.

Great food and great service. The team are always so warm, welcoming and professional here. It really deserves to be buzzing all the time.

Not good value at all. £19 for a piece of breaded chicken and just rocket. Nothing else!! No tomatoes nothing! No chips or sides included... an extra few pounds for those! So disappointing and clearly money grabbing company. The service is good but need to re think their prices for where they are situated! Drinks and starter £50 per person!

Generally okay experience but food overpriced. Wine was above average price at £9:00 for a 175ml glass

Nice decor and set up, arrived for family birthday 9 people at 7 in the eve, seated and drinks brought, all good, then when we went to order food - no pizza available! So we all had to order meals for considerably more cost than would have liked, felt this was contrived, we had been given both menus and no one told us no pizza until we we're ready to order, so a more expensive evening than originally planned.

Impressive building, service was great and the food was excellent. The Ribeye was outstanding and cooked to perfection. Very nice.

Another amazing visit to Bocca Social and we were not dissappointed. Great atmosphere, fantastic food and a friendly welcome as always! What a great way to start the Christmas festivities!

Utterly fabulous! What a fantastic find in a perfect location. Excellent, freshly cooked Italian food in a stunning restaurant. From a warm and friendly welcome at the door to first class service, excellent food and superb value for money. I honestly cannot fault this restaurant. This is a must if you’re visiting Tunbridge Wells.

We had a lovely time here last weekend. Our waiter Mike made our time most enjoyable! And provided us with excellent service. Food and wine was good but the Truffle Fettuccine was a little underwhelming and quite a bland dish.

Had my surprise 30th birthday here in the upstairs events room. The staff were great, very attentive and the food was great. Would happily come back!

I dont often 5☆ but this place met every expecation & more thank uou Team Bocco for our fab afternoon on Thurs 2nd Nov... we will be back 😘

We had a really great family breakfast here this morning. Food was excellent and so was the service, in this beautiful and comfortable botanical style restaurant. Thanks for having us :)

Lovely place for a wonderful meal. Great cocktails, good quality food and friendly staff make for a lovely lunch or dinner. Would absolutely recommend and have sent many people here after our multiple lovely experiences. At Christmas, get the peanut butter whisky sour and it will change lives. Big thank you to everyone on staff for always making for a pleasurable dining experience.

Lovely restaurant. Nice food and nice atmosphere.

Great place with great service with stunning decor throughout. Highly recommended and can’t wait to go back. Might even book the works Christmas meal here

Amazing experience. Nice place. Very good food. We were very well attended to by the manager Kava who was very attentive. I'll be back more often.

Very slow service (45 minutes wait for food to arrive) and some confusion about dishes ordered. This meant food had to be eaten double quick because we needed to get to the theatre. Such a shame as the food was excellent.

Could not fault a thing!!! Owner was working and leading by example! He was so lovely and is very hands on. All servers are amazing. Had a great laugh with all of them every time they came over! Food. My god what can I say! Every mouthful was just amazing. I felt emotional at how great the food was. My partner got angry at how great it is. "I want to punch the chef and tell him to f off" is what he said. 🤣. Just amazing. Highly Highly recommend to anyone!

Went with my partner for a birthday meal, was massively impressed with the atmosphere and the venue. The food was stunning, had three starters between us, arancini, crab croquettes and burrata, two mains, crab arrabiata and lamb and desserts, choc mousse and panna cotta. and every single bite of each was spot on, could not fault any of it. The stand out for me was the gravy on the lamb dish, it had such a depth of flavour and was delightfully thick. And the panna cotta dessert was unreal, so dense and creamy with a super sharp blueberry compote to cut through it. It was the first time in a long whole that every single thing I ate and drank far exceeded my hopes. The team are lovely and the attitude is very familiar and friendly. You feel as if you're returning to see old friends even if it's the first time you've visited. Overall outstanding food and wonderful atmosphere. We'll definitely be back.

Bland food, cocktails very under par! Staff looked like they would rather be anywhere else! What a shame!

What a lovely place to have lunch staff are very friendly, food is freshly made highly recommended

Food good but music far too loud. Staff claiming it couldn't be turned down - really?? It was early, 7 - 8.30 pm. Went up to Cote for dessert and coffee in despair. Won't be returning to Bocca Social.

Bit of a surprise find for us but what a treat. Beautiful food in a beautifully decorated building. The truffle fries were magnificent. Special shout out to our waiter who was friendly and attentive without ever being intrusive. As we were there celebrating A level results, the complimentary prosecco was a classy touch. We will definitely be back.

Atmosphere is very nice. High ceiling and clean place The food was above average. We ordered the lamb which was the best. The ribeyes stick was also very very nice. It’s chopped already and the tomatoes was exceptional. The pastas were not the best( we will try pizza instead next time) We booked online saying it’s for someone birthday. When we order for bill the staff remembered and giving us a birthday cake! It’s a great and wonderful surprise for us. There were quite some bad feeling during the meal. We ordered red but was given a rose. We ordered Apple juice and was forgotten. When the waiter serve the katchup his hand touched the food (I’m a bit sensitive but yeah I’m not sure if it’s clean) and when we ordered already and we found that they serve pizza! We were not given any pizza menu!

Fabulous food, we had pork belly which was the best I’ve ever had and complimentary tomato bruschetta,a really nice touch. Friendly and attentive service. We will definitely go back.

Wonderful dinner with friends, great food and very good service.

Amazing staff and beautifully decorated restaurant! The food was amazing looked stunning and was good portion sizes and everything was cooked to perfection. Would definitely recommend and will be coming back!

A wholly disappointing experience. We booked the upstairs room for a private lunch and upon arrival we were told that they thought we’d be arriving two hours later (our booking details confirmed that this was not the case) and they were not ready for us. Once finally seated (an hour and a bit later) we discovered that the majority of the wine list was unavailable and we were served cheap cava grabbed from the Sainsbury's next door (and charged a mark up for the privilege). Credit where credit is due… the majority of the Sunday lunches were good (except for the frozen pizzas served to the children) but we wont be returning and don’t recommend.

A wholly disappointing experience. We booked the upstairs room for a private lunch and upon arrival we were told that they thought we’d be arriving two hours later (our booking details confirmed that this was not the case) and they were not ready for us. Once finally seated (an hour and a bit later) we discovered that the majority of the wine list was unavailable and we were served cheap cava grabbed from the Sainsbury's next door (and charged a mark up for the privilege). Credit where credit is due… the majority of the Sunday lunches were good (except for the frozen pizzas served to the children) but we wont be returning and don’t recommend.

Fantastic restaurant, friendly and attentive staff great food, amazing cocktails and deserts to die for ! Fantastic time - thank you

Delicious food but a little small for the price charged.

Another amazing meal at Bocca. We had lunch for a party of 7 on Father’s Day. Excellent service, excellent food and enjoyed by everyone.

Lovely food and service, and what a stunning restaurant - we had a few pizzas of their brand new menu, our server (Yaro I think his name was?) told us the menu launch was this week following new management! He asked us for some food...

The food here was delicious, great little starters to share and the main courses were excellent. Service was great however it’s a shame they have to have the lights at full brightness in the evening and this created a real lack of atmosphere. So many...

What a fabulous restaurant. The decor was stunning and the service and food did not disappoint. Had the gamberoni to start which was delicious and great portion size, followed by pollo Milanese which was so tasty. Service was superb and staff attentive and friendly. Loved...

Food was ‘ok’. Not bad, but not great either. For the prices they charge I had much higher expectations so we left a little disappointed and feeling underwhelmed. The venue and decor are beautiful but the rest just felt like something was missing which is...

We had an enjoyable meal. The food was of good quality and there was a good choice of Italian dishes. We were eating quite early so there not many guests which meant it lacked a bit of atmosphere but we would come back and try...

So.. let’s clarify I am Italian and I know what good looks like and I am a fitness freak so I like good quality food, however: 1. Portions were WAY too small although ok in terms of taste overall. 2. An Italian restaurant without a...

Very good friendly staff very clean

The food offered is overpriced. My partner had Carpaccio and as an Italian I can assure you this was not carpaccio - a thick, dull, slab of meat, rather than fresh, vibrant, slivers. Our friends’ food was also over salted. Sadly, a disappointing experience.

Super happy with my experience at Bocca Social. The staff are amazing, super friendly and incredibly attentive. Great choices for food, I couldn't decide on what to have! Both food and drinks menus are extensive and have something for everyone. Could not recommend enough!

Terrible, expensive food & warm wine - they did discount the wine but at £38 a bottle you would expect it to be served cold. Sadly we will not come here again & wouldn’t recommend.

Went with my family yesterday. Had a lovely time, food was good and a it’s a really nice space. Waiter was very good. Will go back again

Very slow service. Table booked for 8. Food came out at 9.45. Had to ask to order drinks, food, cutlery and chase on several occasions. £22.50 for a dish, nice but very over priced. Staff seemed nice so a shame the service was so lacking. They did give us some free bread and olives but then asked for an extortionate tip.

Waiter kavi was excellent the service was on point. We had arancini, panchetta, scallops for starters and followed by chef’s special tomahawk steaks, linguini gamberoni, and mussels. Finished with panda cotta, and 2 afogato. Food were absolutely fantastic, and highly recommended! Will definitely revisit

Great place, 3rd visit today for my 40th afternoon lunch with the Mrs while sons at school and I had the pork belly. Was unreal. Great service as well

Bocca Social was good this evening.. but we had to wait a very long time for everything.. the food was good, they forgot parts of my orders and I ended up being given two puddings, as they could not remember which one I had ordered, so a bonus for me, as only charged for one! It was very busy.. but waiting half an hour for each cocktail was a bit much. It was very pricey for what it was.

I'll start with the positives, the food was very tasty and we greatly enjoyed our individual dishes. That's where the positives end. The amount of food that was presented to myself and my mother, for the amount we paid, was very little (it was the Linguini Ai Gamberi Rossi). It was a little embarrassing that the pasta was almost gone in a few short minutes into the meal, compared to my Dad who had the lamb. The dining room, though it was quiet when we initally arrived, has not been sound proofed adequately enough, with the noise from the full room of patrons reaching deafening levels to the point where trying to have a conversation was near impossible and unpleasant. The decor is great, but needs more soft furnishings to absorb more of the noise, especially during peak times. This is the same problem that the previous restaurant had, no lessons have been learnt. The service, though the staff on hand were doing their best, was unfortunately very slow and seemed understaffed for peak serving times on a Saturday evening, with waits between meals becoming noticeably longer, culminating in a near 30+ minutes for 2 scoops of ice cream and a tart to appear for dessert. More waiters and better sectioning is required for a smoother service - we did notice several other customers getting irate and making complaints. What did not help either is that there is no proper cloak room for jackets or coats, instead there were/are two heavily laden coar stands, and our coats where not even on these, instead in the supply room for the bar! It is a pity that the service was the letdown, and though I can't blame the staff, a few months after opening and this should not be an issue, with more staff being on hand to assist the suited waiters. That and the portion sizes. Would I visit again? Perhaps not now that I have seen it during peak hours.

Had such a lovely evening at Bocca Social! The restaurant is beautiful, service was great and we really enjoyed all our dishes. Also can’t recommend the cocktail menu enough - hands down the best Espresso Martini! We’ll be back!

Solidly average, nice enough atmosphere and staff, but service rather slow and most pasta was fairly average. The only exception being the Ravioli which was excellent.

Very disorganised service. Food was average - carbonara and linguine were nice but pasta was slightly undercooked. Service was below average - Kava (or Kiva) was great and very on the ball and friendly however the rest of the team were very all over the...

We visited Bocca social for Sunday Lunch to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We had a fantastic time. The food was amazing and the service second to none. The best roast dinner we have had dining out in a long time. Perfect portion sizes too. The...

Been here a few times, food is brilliant and very taste, staff are very friendly and I feel we are always very well looked after! Atmosphere is great and the cocktails even better! Looking forward to our next visit for sure! Keep up the good...

Visted for lunch yesterday with my father and sister, to celebrate what would be his 60th wedding anniversary. Greeter and waitress were good and efficient. Sadly the same can’t be said for the kitchen. The brushetta my Father and sister both had had to be sent back, as the bread was stale, not freshly toasted and the tomatoes had been pre cut and stored in a too cold fridge causing the structure of the tomato to discolour and break down. By the time the replacement bruschettas arrived at the table (bearing in mind the restaurant was not all busy, with only 5 other diners in total) I had had the embarrassment of being watched eating my green bean salad starter. The mains arrived (mushroom pappardelle for S and F and cod for me). The cod was not great but I was fed up by this stage and didn’t want to ruin my Father’s celebration lunch experience further. The music was so loud we had to lean in to hear each other talk until we asked for it to be lowered. I came away with the feeling that Bocca Social was trying to be a bit Ivy-esque, but not delivering at all. Overpriced and unimpressive. Won’t be returning.

A very disappointing lunch today celebrating my fathers 60th Wedding Anniversary. The Tomato bruschetta had clearly not been made fresh. The bread was soft and stale and very cold and the tomotoes were woolly and fridge cold. It was disgusting. We sent them back and...