Uptown on the Square?

[lgss]

I keep catching bits of info on WBUR lately about a vegan tasting menu at a place called something like Uptown on the Square (what square?). Can't find any info/website. Don't find anything on this board. I probably have the name of the place wrong. What's the correct name of the place? Where is it? Accessible by transit? How expensive/formal? Any good? Could they accommodate a vegan who is also gluten-free? Is their vegan menu new? If not, why haven't I heard of it before?

[finlero]

You've got the name slightly wrong, it's Upstairs on the Square, right in Harvard Square.

I haven't tried the vegan tasting menu, but as for the rest of the menu, my take:

Soiree Room (more formal) is a waste of money, not bad, but certainly lackluster and of poor value.

Monday Club Bar (downstairs bar with lower prices) is awesome when it's firing on all cylinders, but goes through all-too-frequent phases of mediocrity. Seems to be a lot of staff turnover.

Good, if not particularly cost-effective wine program.

Probably best in the summer, during harvest season.

-----
Upstairs On the Square
91 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

[zebedee]

Oi. I went to Upstairs once, the Soiree Room for an anniversary. I definitely will not go back. By far the best thing we had was the raw oysters... everything else was overcooked and underseasoned. Never tried the vegan menu, but it's hard to imagine it being all that impressive with that lack of artistry.

[lgss]

Thank you both. I won't bother following up. I can see why I haven't heard of it.

[zebedee]

To be a little more fair, a lot of other folks have had a good experience there. There are just so many better options for omnivores. For vegans and gluten-free vegans... I don't know if that's true at all.

[hckybg]

I too would advise not dismissing Upstairs because of a couple negative reviews. I don't doubt that those posters did have bad experiences, but many others, including many on these boards, have had very good meals there. I have had two good meals there, though cannot personally attest to their vegetarian cooking. But this is a serious restaurant and can be a very interesting one.

[enhF94]

I was part of a seven-course tasting that included several omnivores, some vegans and two celiacs and was wowed. I enjoyed most every bite. They were unbelievably accomodating, as well; the chef came out and told us he enjoyed the challenge and had been anticipating it all week.

[lgss]

Found the website and looks rather steep for my current budget but I won't rule it out completely. Glad to hear they were accomodating. Have you tried the vegan tasting menu at Flora in Arlington? How do they compare?

[enhF94]

I have, and I liked it fine (it was a while back, when they were getting most of their produce from Parker Farms' Steve Parker). I like both the atmosphere and the food at Flora; the bar staff is personable, and the waitstaff knows food fairly well. Can't compare since they were a couple years' apart, so I suppose I'm giving a general "yay" to Flora.

[lgss]

I thought Flora's veg tasting menu was new this year...

[rlove]

I had one of my worst dining experiences in Boston at Upstairs in the Square, at the Monday Club Bar. It is definitely the lead item on my "places you hate but others love" list.

We are easy going hounds--we don't even have "bad dining experiences"--but this place failed to fire on any cylinder. Poorly executed food, awful service, and, for all the hype, several issues surrounding wine service.

I was no fan of the space, either. The Soiree room looks funky, but the downstairs bar is dark and crowded, with several tables right aback the bar and folks standing there. I am usually a big fan of louder, active places, but the resultant vibe was just uncomfortable.

I have only been once, of course, but these sorts of experiences are not uncommon on the board. I can forgive (and in fact even ignore) bad service, but overcooked and bland food is a deeper issue. As finlero noted above, they seem to have inconsistent streaks.

Given that even the Monday Club Room isn't cheap, I'd focus my efforts elsewhere. Nearby, you have Chez Henri, Ten Tables, and TW Food--all favorites of mine. I'm not vegan, but I'm sure (at least) Ten Tables could accommodate, and Chez Henri's Cubano comes in a vegetarian version (not sure if vegan) that is equally delicious. And then, of course, there is my favorite vegetarian option, Oleana's vegetarian tasting menu, which I enjoyed last night on their beautiful patio. They even dropped the price--only $36 for 4 courses plus dessert, where before it was $42 for 5 plus dessert. They no longer include the pret a manger items in the first course, allowing you to order a couple when you first sit down, if you so desire. I like that change a lot. We had a great meal--you know a vegetarian option is good if a pork-lover such as myself and my DC love it.

[katharineR]

Ten Tables in both JP and Cambridge offer a vegan tasting menu 'every other night'- you just have to call in advance and let them know 24 hours before. I have had the vegetarian tasting menu, and thought it was wonderful. Evidently, Toro and Myers and Chang have great vegan options as well, but not tasting menus.

[katharineR]

Riove: The menu on Oleana's website says $42 for 5 mezze and dessert for the tasting— this has definitely changed?

[rlove]

Yes, definitely. I clearly remembered it being $42 for 5 + dessert, and asked when I saw the new $36 for 4 + dessert. The waitress (who was awesome, by the by) said they wanted to drop the price and also had a lot of people who wanted to order the pret a mangers upon sitting down. So they removed the first course from the vegetarian tasting, which was always an item from the pret a manger list. I really like the change.

My DC and I started with 3 pret a mangers and then each one vegetarian tasting. Excellent, as always. We also enjoyed their summer sangria, which is new this year: rose (instead of white) with strawberries and rose petals.

[tsackton]

I'll chime in on the side of those saying you should give Upstairs on the Square a look. I was there for lunch today (at the Monday Club) for the soft shell crab special, which I thought was quite good: nicely crisp with a cornmeal coating, served as a sandwich with a spicy jalapeño sauce. It is possible that they are more careful with their specials, but I certainly wouldn't call it bland or overcooked, and for $15 I thought it was well worth the price.