UpStairs on the Square

Definitely one of the best restaurants in Harvard Sq. My friend and I went there to try their special SuperBowl menu. We just got appetizers and drinks, but they were extremely good. The maple-glazed wings especially (though according to the chef, whom we met, there was a lot of bourbon in the glaze, too). And the cocktails were quite creative - I especially liked the smoky-sweet mezcal cocktail. They also had a lot of info on the origins of the alcohols (and whether they were organic or sustainably produced) in the wine menu, which was awesome. And they gave us complimentary dessert, possibly because we got so many drinks. Overall it was a fabulous experience, and the fact that it's a green certified restaurant made me feel that much better about going there. more

My party of four arrived at 8.30 pm for an 8.30 reservation. The hostess - an ugly disinterested troll - made us wait for 20 minutes in a dark crowded hallway where people were pushing past us to go to the washroom. A second hostess - a younger bimbo with no qualifications - told us that our table would be another 10 - 15 minutes. No apologies or explanation. We were treated like dirt. (For those readers who think the previous paragraph is sexist, all I can say is that my wife concurs with this assessment of the appearance and behavior of the hostesses.) We noticed that other people were invited to sit at the bar so we pushed our way into the restaurant and stood at the bar where we waited ten minutes to be served. 45 minutes after arriving I asked the bimbo when our table would be ready and said if it wasn't soon we would leave (which we should have done at that point). Nothing happened so after a few minutes I told her to go upstairs and find out if the table she had said would be ready in 15 minutes half an hour ago was ready. She came back and said it was. This was 45 minutes after the time of our reservation. We went upstairs to find the staff throwing a tablecloth over a table that really was too big for four people. We had planned to have the vegetarian and vegan tasting menus promoted on the website but first we didn't get menus for the tasting menu and then the waiter made it pretty clear that, because it was now 9.30, the tasting menu was not a good idea because it took a long time. As if the fact that it was so late was our fault? The vegan tasting menu was not on the menus we finally forced the waiter to give us. So we left and had a nice meal for about one fifth of the cost nearby. I can't comment on the food at Upstairs on the Square because we never got any. But I can comment on the fact that if you plan to make a reservation at a nice restaurant and spend $150/person on the meal, then Upstairs on the Square is not the place to go because their ability to courteously host and seat their customers is hardly world class. In fact, it's unconsciounably bad. Cons: Too many to list more

HAVING SEEN THE VERY FAVORABLE REVIEW OF ""UPSTAIRS"" ON CHRONICLE RECENTLY, MY FRIEND AND I WENT FOR BRUNCH YESTERDAY (02/09/09) AND LEFT FEELING VERY DISAPPOINTED FOR THESE REASONS: THE FOOD WAS ONLY MEDIOCRE--OUR APPETIZER OF PROSCIUTTO AND MELONS (AT $10) WAS SKIMPY WITH ONLY TWO THIN NOT-QUITE-RIPE SLICES OF HONEYDEW AND CANTALOUPE; MY ENTREE, FRENCH TOAST ($14) WAS SO DENSE AND SYRUPY RICH THAT I WAS UNABLE TO FINISH IT (IN FACT, I GAGGED AT THE MERE THOUGHT OF SUGAR FOR THE REST OF THE DAY); AND THE COFFEE WAS LUKEWARM, DESPITE REPEATED CUPS, EACH OF WHICH HAD GROUNDS SWIMMING IN THE BOTTOM. MY FRIEND'S FRESH-EGG TART ($13) WAS LITTLE MORE THAN MUSH, THOUGH SHE LIKED THE SALAD DRESSING ON THE GREENS THAT CAME WITH THE EGG DISH. THE BRUNCH MENU WAS VERY LIMITED. more

I took my boyfriend here for his birthday, which also happened to be the night of Obama's inauguration. I can't imagine a better place to have spent this important day! We dined in the elegant and romantic soiree room and ordered from the special event menu. Between the two of us we tasted everything on the Obama menu. It's always a challenge finding a place that won't disappoint my boyfriend, a five-star chef by profession. Here he thoroughly enjoyed his meal and didn't try to analyze the complex flavors in his meal-- he simply enjoyed. They also surprised him by presenting him with a beautifully scripted birthday message on his dessert. (I had mentioned his birthday when I made reservations). Strongly recommended! more

Dining at UpStairs on the Square can best be described as a heavenly experience. Located in the center of Harvard Square overlooking a park, the two-story restaurant features all the trappings of a fine dining establishment - but with a funky twist. The formal atmosphere and beautiful china is tempered by a Zebra-print rug and hot pink walls in the first floor dining room. The more formal second floor Soiree Room is adorned with lipstick-pink and gold walls with a mirrored ceiling. The wait service is impeccable and the American cuisine is some of the best you will have anywhere. The flavorful Seared Nantucket Sea Scallops melt in your mouth. The Crispy Golden Halibut with Smoky Bacon and Marinated Shrimp make you want to sing with delight. Amazingly, the deserts are even better. Their famous Milk Chocolate Pecan Turtles are a slice of nirvana without being too sweet. And the UpStairs Blondie, a white dough brownie with butter rum sauce and toasted pecans, is unique vanilla treat that you will be talking about long after you leave. more

Two years ago, I ate at Upstairs on the Square and had the single greatest dish I have ever eaten in my life. It was a kuri squash ravioli, with such a delicate balance of flavor and texture that I was speechless. When I discovered that a new kuri squash ravioli was once again on the menu, I knew I had to return. I arrived early on a Thursday, when the restaurant was mostly empty. I was disappointed to learn the ravioli was no longer available, but luck was on my side. The kitchen staff was meeting at a nearby table, and the chef informed me that she would gladly make the dish. She seemed even more excited after I told her about my last visit. Before the ravioli I tried two soups - a french onion and a tomato soup served with grilled cheese. The french onion soup was good, not great, but the tomato soup was delicious. It had a buttery texture, and the grilled cheese was tasty as well - the ultimate comfort food. The soup was followed by the ravioli, this time containing a lemon fondue, and while it was not as breathtaking as the original dish (which had become the thing of legend in my mind) the new version was still excellent. Upstairs on the Square is a master of combining unique flavors in such a way that you can taste each component individually, while losing yourself in the harmony they create as a dish. I was equally impressed with the duck confit appetizer, though the gingerbread accompaniment was confusing. For entrees, the standout dish was the pappadelle bolognese. I took one bite of this dish, and the flavor resonated in my mouth for at least a minute. The combination of a classic bolognese, fresh fennel fronds and hand rolled pasta is reason alone to visit this restaurant. I also enjoyed the skirt steak that, while slightly oily, was well seasoned and medium rare. The texture of the ""tater tots"" that came with it was also lovely. This is a restaurant that is creating original flavors with classic dishes, and is well worth the trip. Pros: Ambiance, decor and original, delcious dishes Cons: Expensive, but worth it. more

I hadn't been to Upstairs since they moved to their new space. I tried it last night for a special evening out, and will not go back. Pros: Nice fireplaces, accessible via public transportation Cons: Food was not very good for any price, and dreadful at this price more

I wouldn't bother to climb the stairs and spend the $$$. Last June we arranged a special celebration for our son and a friend who were graduating from the Harvard / JFK School. The $85 fixed price meal was a ripoff. Two dinners were good but very small - the 2 steak dinners were so tough as to be inedible. Several attempts at contacting the owners have met with no response. Bad food - bad attitude. more

I found Unstairs on the Square ramdomly on the internet and was instantly intrigued by the menu, photos and concept of throwing a dinner party every night. I was absolutely delighted to be greeted in the Monday room by a friendly maitre'd and was seated promptly near the roaring fireplace. The inside has a bohemian alice in wonderland feel--almost like you are indside of a birthday cake! Every meal that we ordered was delicious and unique. I highly recommend the kobe beef skewers. UATS is sure to be one of my favorite Harvard Square haunts. Pros: Fireplace, mood lighting, unique menu Cons: Valet Parking is $14, but you can certainly find street parking in the evening more

Always had a good time here -- from a cozy dinner to a corporate event. Although it's not the absolute best... more

Always had a good time here -- from a cozy dinner to a corporate event. Although it's not the absolute best food and service in town, it's still p... more

Always had a good time here -- from a cozy dinner to a corporate event. Although it's not the absolute best food and service in town, it's still p... more

I've had the good luck to experience Upstairs on the Square three times this month. I've been so thrilled with my time there, I had to write. I watched one of the Red Sox games at the downstairs bar and had some artisan beers I'd never tried before that were priced better than commercial beers. The bartender was friendly and attentive. Dinner a week later upstairs in the Soiree Room with my parents for moms birthday was one of the best meals I've ever experienced. To start the wine director came over to help us choose the perfect wine for our meals and it was very reasonably priced and the best! We ordered off the menu, although we were tempted by the vegetarian tasting menu. We all devoured our beautiful dishes that tasted equally grand. I started with the salad of baby roasted beets. It had a passion fruit sauce and arugula with a horseradish panna-cotta. YUM! My entree was the trout dish that was served with the freshest baby sprouts, from local farms. I love that I can come to a restaurant in Cambridge that is on the Green wave. The waiter, who was exceptional, told us how they are becoming green. Switching to recycled materials, whenever possible. The wine list is becoming bio-dynamic/ organic/ or sustainable, and the kitchen, whenever possible is using local, organic meat and produce. Dessert had seasonal favorites, along with classics like profiteroles. We had the apple strudel and they wrote a Happy Birthday message and gave a candle to my mom. My latest visit was for brunch. They were so busy, so we waited a little to get in, but it was worth it. I enjoyed decadent French toast and I love the MEM tea selections they carry. Brunch was in the Monday Club Bar, downstairs and the service was great, we saw lots of different faces, helping us, but we were never for want. A manager stopped by to check on us and invited us to their Thanksgiving pris fixe menu. We'll be there! I can't wait to go back! Pros: Valet Parking, Friendly Attentive Service, Amazing Food and Wine more

Upstairs is like No. 9 Park's cooky Cambridge cousin. Sort of like No. 9 on magic mushrooms. The decor is so cool, unlike any other restaurant in Boston. The mismatched color schemes, funky chandeliers and rustic wood accents creates a chic-watermelon-in-the-jungle vibe (if that makes sense). It was pricey but worth it because I had a great time and the food was pretty darn good. I compare it to No. 9 because many menu items are similar - salads with farm fresh eggs, lardons everywhere, gnocci, weird cocktails, etc. I'm no food critic, but I was satisfied with every thing I ate (hot dates, yeah!). No doubt, this one is in my top 4 faves. Pros: Fun and delicious Cons: Server was unfamiliar with menu more

The decor at Upstaris on the Square is wild! The interior colors are bold and exotic animal prints are carried throughout the design. When I took my girlfriend for her birthday, we sat in the Monday Club downstairs and our table looked out onto Winthrop Park in Harvard Square. It was a Friday evening. The whole dining room was full and yet we enjoyed the bussling about of the prompt waitstaff. There was even a piano player adjacent to the fireplace who played requests. For a starter, we tried the almond-stuffed dates. They were awesome! My new favorite comfort dish is the roasted red pepper soup and my girlfriend loved the frise salad. The soup was mouth-watering and anchored with a touch of cream, while the frise salad came with a poached egg, lardons, home-made croutons, and fresh field greens. For our entrees, we tasted Fernando's shrimp scampi and the seared ahi tuna. Fernando's scampi was better than my mom's. Sorry mom. The sauces and sides for the tuna dish--almonds, peas, and olive tapenade-- highlighted the fresh flavor of the seared tuna steak. We were very impressed with the kitchen's creativity and also the plate presentation. To finish, my girlfriend and I shared the Affogato dessert--a perfect choice on her part. I can think of no better way to end a meal than with hot espresso poured over home-made ice-cream with home-made amaretti cookies on the side. Or home-made mint chocolates...drool drool drool. I have to go back! The food at Upstairs is sooo delicious! I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere more

Very fun decor. Great food! Can't wait til my next visit to the PINK Soiree Dining Room. :D more

Very fun decor. Great food! Can't wait til my next visit to the PINK Soiree Dining Room. :D more

Very fun decor. Great food! Can't wait til my next visit to the PINK Soiree Dining Room. :D more

I have eaten at Upstairs on the Square several times over the past 3 years. My first experiences were pleasurable-great staff, excellent food, fun atmosphere. Over the past 3 years, as the prices have gone up, the food quality has gone down, it's not terrible, but I have had better for similar or less price. Since my last not-so-great meal I have limited my visits to drinks only. However about 2 months ago my boyfriend and I paid $40 for two Irish coffees and officially have declared, Never Again! I am not cheap when it comes to food, but that is simply uncalled for. Plus, we waited about 15 minutes for our check. Pros: Original atmosphere, Good location (Harvard Square) Cons: Parking, prices, sevice more

I really wanted to like this place but after several experiences I am left with very few positive things to say. The cocktail menu is inventive and the bartender experienced. It is a great place to come for a unique, admittedly overpriced, cocktail. The woman who runs/owns the restaurant is very friendly and made me feel comfortable on all occassions. That said, the brunch menu is extremely limited and the service mediocre. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros which, for $15, should be more than two tiny poached eggs on top of a scoop of black beans floating in liquid. It was just plain gross. We had to ask for coffee repeatedly which is the downfall of any breakfast establishment. Overall, is just feels like this place is past its prime and needs to be skaken up a bit. It has potential. Pros: Great Cocktails, Unique Ambiance Cons: Pricey for what you get, parking, unattentive staff more