UpStairs on the Square

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91 Winthrop St (at At John F. Kennedy St, Harvard Square & Vicinity)
Cambridge, MA 02138

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(617) 864-1933
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UpStairs on the Square - Cambridge, MA
Reviews
( 18 )
( 17 )
( 5 )
( 6 )
( 10 )

Best

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 go...

Worst

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 REAS...

Stay away from this place!!! 8/3/2003

1) A diner could make much better eggs than this place. 2) The freshness of the ingredients is questionable. 3) The waiter is great with spilling water and coffee but not with listening to a customer's order. 4) Ridiculously overpriced for the quality and service. With the price I am paying, I know that I will get at least good food at comparable restaurants. more
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last time i was there 6/13/2003

For graduation we went there with our 13 year old daughter and i turned ou to be a great disappointment. We got sat late, the waiter left us for 10 minutes, water took for ever, refills had to be asked for, food took long, salad was disgusting, everything is crazy expensive. for us never again. there is a lot of places around that are a lot better than this Cons: price, service more
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Could be great 5/12/2003

The food was good and the portions were reasonable. The room is enchanting and the decor is fun. Service was slow and not terribly knowledgeable. Good wine list. Restaurant is superior to most restaurants in Harvard Square but that is not saying much. Pros: food, ambience, value Cons: service, noise level more
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GREAT!! 4/16/2003

I don't know what these other people are talking about....I had a great experience!! The food, service, and ambiance was amazing! We were not seated right on time, but have a drink at the bar, it's really not that big of a deal! I am wondering if the authors of the other reviews eat out often in Boston- it's really the same everywhere. Pros: nice decor, friendly service Cons: prices more
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Disapointed 4/13/2003

Reading all the wonderful reviews we thought we would try Upstairs on the Square on a Saturday night and were very disapointed. We had 8:15 reservations and arrived at about 8:05. We were told it would be about 5 minutes before we were seated, 25 minutes later we were told our table was ready only to go upstairs and waot another 5 minutes. The host asked us what time our reservations were for and when we replyed 8:15 he filpped his head and brought us to our table. While the upstairs is very nice to look at it was very hot, very crowded and very very noisy. and we ended up walking out. While we can't comment on the food the experience up to the food was not what we expected from a restaurant at this level. Pros: Nice interior Cons: Very noisy, Very hot, Very crowded more
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Don't bother 4/2/2003

I took my girlfriend for what was supposed to be a nice dinner... Far from it. The menu was impossible to order from and the food we did order was decent, but certainly not worth the money. The over all experience was brutal - topped off by the owner or manager (I'm not sure which) stand at between our table and the table next to us for 20 minutes - While describing the lurid details of a how a friend of his *had the best of luck* after running into a former lover while on vacation in Tuscony with his family and then divorcing his wife for the lover... The space was better used as a theater. You are better off at Rialto, Casablance, Grafton Street, or even the Red Line. Pros: Location, funky decor Cons: Overpriced more
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Go For the Food, Ignore the Decor 3/7/2003

Good food. Went for lunch and had a very nice time, especially having sat near the fireplace. The room however, is like Alice in Wonderland meets the Junior League. Too many colors, which is a distraction from the meal. Pros: good food, attentive waitstaff Cons: decor more
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Fantastic 3/6/2003

I don't agree with the other reviews. The restaurant was excellent. Service was impecable and the food was delicious. more
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Yeck! 2/18/2003

The service was so bad we thought our table was not on the floor plan. The veggies were cold ~ the steak was alright. The place was very noisy with absolutely no atmosphere. The tables were so close that a loud speaker sitting adjacent could drown out your conversation! Awful place. I also think it is a fire trap with the narrow stairway. I would not return. Pros: Harvard Sq. Cons: noisy, cold,, overrated, expensive more
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Upstairs with Downstairs Food 2/12/2003

After waiting for the Pudding to complete it's move to the new digs, we had to pay a visit. Our first try for a Christmas dinner for three gets poor reviews for food and service. Portions were ridiculous, including a $22 fois gras that was the size of a dime. Our server knew nothing about service or wine. And the scallops were BAY, not sea. Sad and hungry after 4 courses. A larger group (10) of us went two weeks ago and none of our food was great. Only the steak was passable and it was grainy. They totally lied and served us salmon instead of char and then SWORE it was char. AMAZING! Service is better downstairs than up and the downstairs servers know more about wine! Pros: Ambiance, Color, Downstairs service ok Cons: Food, Price, Service upstairs more
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Hip to be in the Square 2/5/2003

We had a great time here. I'd go back in a second. Waitstaff was fast and friendly. Atmosphere was hip but not trendy. more
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The Jewel of Cambridge 1/27/2003

""Upstairs on the Square"" was truely a delite to dine at. The drinks at the ""Monday Club Bar"" were festive and creative. When walking up to the restaurant you can see the ""Zebra Room"" radianting ""pink"" charm and glamor to the outside world. If you follow the leopard print carpet up the stairs you will find yourself at the main dining room, known as the ""Soiree Room."" Bravo to the chefs for creating a wonderfully juicy Beef Tenderloin and very tasty scallops. The chocolate soufle was deliciously decadant, and the citrus sorbet was very nicely presented. I do hope that they fix the coatroom, as well as making it a bit brighter in the bar area. I can see why the staff seems to be delighted to be at work and why friends as well as critics have been raving about the re-awakening of Cambridge's lost jewel. Welcome back home! Pros: fireplaces, romantic, unique Cons: cramped coatroom, a little too dark more
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Stuffy and Snobby 1/20/2003

The service here was atrocious! My husband and I made reservations for ""Upstairs on the Square"". When we arrived we were seated in ""The Monday Club"" and I noticed atmosphere and menu were completely different than they were shown on the website. They had neglected to tell us that the main diningroom ""Upstairs on the Square"" was closed for a private event when we made reservations. The waiter was so unattentive that it took him about a half an hour to find this out despite the fact that it was not crowded. Pros: Fireplaces Cons: Stuffy, Snobby more
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dee lish 1/9/2003

loved it! this place is so beautiful, whimsical, and romantical! Not to mention, great wine list and lunch! It's like being in a dream, or a bit like Alice in Wonderland! Pros: great food, great drinks, great time Cons: little pricey more
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Menu for UpStairs on the Square


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Editorial

  • Like an elegantly demented take on ""Alice in Wonderland,"" the restaurant's Monday Club Bar is all odd angles and colorful touches, while the upstairs Soiree Room is a vision in pink, outfitted...

  • 8/1/2008 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Daily 11am-1am
  • Payments: American Express, Diner's Club, Discover, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: West Cambridge
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