It's true: Upstairs on the Square is going downhill
After reading the thread at the end of April about other hounds' poor dinner experiences at Upstairs on the Square, I had to check things out for myself. After all, Upstairs has been my favorite brunch spot in the area for a couple of years now. Bottom line: the food ain't what it used to be.
The menu offers the same dishes and descriptions, but what is delivered is a huge step down from my last visit in October. I had the French toast, which in the past was at least 4 half slices (possibly even 6) of double-thick bread, with a mountain of caramelized banana chunks (about 1 whole banana), a big dollop of whipped ricotta, a handful of candied pecans, and plentiful maple syrup. Yesterday, what came out of the kitchen was a large rectangular plate with 3 forlorn halves of very dry double thick bread - closer to toast than to something that had had an acquaintance with batter -; about eight coin-sized non-caramelized slices of banana, about a tablespoon of ricotta, and a half dozen gritty and crystalized pecans. Also, we had to ask for maple syrup, which arrived in an espresso cup and was therefore difficult to pour. We also had to request the bread basket which, mercifully, is still excellent (coffee cake, fruit and nut quickbread, scallion scones, mini cinnamony muffins). Coffee and tea were very good. I can't begin to say how disappointing the experience was. I had been looking forward to the French toast for days and it was totally not worth the caloric indulgence. Clearly, it's time to find a new favorite.
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MB fka MB
May 7, 2007 07:05 AM
I felt disappointed on my last visit for brunch, too (about 3 weeks ago). Eggs benedict with barely any hollandaise? I felt uncomfortable asking for more, but at $14, c'mon. Bread basket - and butter (!) - were still awesome, but I was a little embarrassed bringing my friend there, since I had been raving about this dish for a couple years.
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re: MB fka MB
I know exactly what you mean about feeling embarrassed. I had also been raving about how great their brunch was to the friend from out of town whom I brought there yesterday. Fortunately we'd gone to Eastern Standard (which I'd also been raving about) the night before - so at least we had one phenomenal restaurant experience during the visit.
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re: Joanie
The french toast was $12 or $14, IIRC. It's served in the Monday Club Bar (up one flight of stairs from street level), not in the third floor dining room. Some of the items (like the steak salad and steak and eggs) are closer to $18. I don't mind so much about the price, as long as the food is amazing...but the french toast was really, really average and not at all how it used to be.
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