Upstairs on the SquareWe had a nice late dinnerWe had a nice late dinner on a Friday night in June in the more casual space, the Monday Club Bar. Fun decorating and many happy diners. The service was a bit slow, but otherwise good. Food was very good. Definitely a fun spot for a memorable meal.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAn Absolute GemI love Upstairs on the Square. I've been back MANY times and referred so many people iIve lost count. They always come back and say it's their new favorite place.
Each dish is creative, incredibly tasty and beautifully presented. The decor is a conversation piece in itself.
The service is wonderful and Mary Catherine and Deborah (the owners) are incredible hosts that make make you feel like friends at their house party.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMA totally delightful restaurant.A totally delightful restaurant. Food was so much better and upscale than the restaurant's outward appearance would suggest. Don't get me wrong, the restaurant's design is charming but the elegant food presentation and taste was dramatically good. This is my new favorite (non-ethnic cuisine) restaurant in Cambridge.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWe picked the wrong day toWe picked the wrong day to go - it was Harvard graduation, so only a prix fixe menu was available. It was very pricey and the main courses did not meet the price expectations. The chicken pasta had almost no chicken in it but the gazpacho was superb as was the strawberry -rhubarb cobbler. The wine was pricey, too. We will go back, but not right away.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMIn the Heart of Harvard SquareAlways on the best of list, Upstairs on the Square brunch didn't disappoint. Great food - attentive service- fun atmosphere. A hit!5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMLove the service and the ambience.Love the service and the ambience. Everything on the menu is good. The lunch selection is a little too limited.5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day BrunchWe went to Upstairs for Brunch on Mother's Day and sat upstairs. The staff were friendly and VERY accommodating when our 4 year old spilled a blueberry smoothie all over one of their banquets. Nothing ruffled their feathers. The food was excellent. I had the Cod and it has a mix of textures and flavors that I'd go back for. The steak was well prepared, but the sides were the real star. One of the best locations around, if you like the old yankee Harvard bustle.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day BrunchPerfect spot for Mother's Day.
Great food, service, plus we were treated to one of the Harvard
A Cappella Groups as part of the dining experience.
Would definitely recommend and will be back.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMcharming setting, puppylike serviceWe chose this restaurant for my mother's 90th birthday celebration. We had a couple of advance requests, which were responded to promptly but often indirectly; it took persistence to nail down the details. The setting was beautiful, comfortable for conversation, the waitstaff extremely friendly and enthusiastic, which helped keep us entertained during the long wait for the main course. A modest request for a substitution, overlooked at first, was then attended to with gracious overcompensation. Food was tasty, containing imaginative elements without being precious. Duck moist and tender, gnocchi enlivened with morels and air-dried bacon. Excellent coffee, rare in an American restaurant.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was a nice atmostphereIt was a nice atmostphere but food wasn't great. Server wasn't knowledgeable about the menu.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMNice eveningFood was imaginative and eclectic. We had some trouble finding something that both of us liked, but when we did it was excellent.
Biggest negative is wine prices. They have several I buy, and the multiple is much higher than other restaurants.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAn Old Favorite still ShinesNothing but positive feedback on a Friday Night dinner for 8.
I have to admit that my expectations going in were a little low due to some recent reviews but not only was I pleasantly surprised that things were so good I actually was impressed at just how delicious everything was. Agnolotti, Salmon, Duck, Halibut, Asparagus, Greens, Oysters, We hit them all and then some, and all were to perfection. After a couple classes of wine poured from bottles off of the thorough but not overwhelming wine list, each of us seemed to glow in the "Pink" of the room and our laughter and smiles only grew as yummy diet busting desserts were the indulgence to cap off a great night with friends.
More to say if I had more space but all Positive. Just Go5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMNot Just for Neighborhood folks!This is our second visit to Upstairs on the Square. The first time we sat upstairs, which was lovely and nicely appointed. This time, becuase it was a Sunday, they only have the downstairs open, but we sat out on the "terrace" room with a great view of the square. While food selection is somewhat limited, everything is excellent, nicely prepared and very tasty. Our waiter was very helpful and they were mindful of our need to leave at a certain time in order to make a performance locally.
I would definitely keep this on our list of special places to go when in Cambridge.4/28/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall greatWe went for brunch the food was very good.i love that they serve fresh squeezed oj. I also loved the basket of rolls and scones. Very yummy. The only thing I didn't like about the experience was that the Harvard acapella group performed. In of itself that's not bad, but they were standing almost on top of me and were jumping up and down and singing pretty much right into my ear the whole time I was trying to eat. When I eat I like to relax, not jostled about by some Harvard kid. It was very awkward and unappreciated. If I'm spending good money on a meal I want to be able to enjoy it, which I was not able to (even though it was delicious). I'll definitely go back as long as this performance isn't a reoccurring theme. Husband loved singing.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMA perennial favorite - MaryA perennial favorite - Mary Catherine and team always deliver a great experience.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent lunch and greatExcellent lunch and great atmosphere, to be recommended!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe ambiance is great. AudaciousThe ambiance is great. Audacious colors that work. Plenty of space between tables so you can have private conversations. The food is quite good. The menu is just a little too limited.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMThe decor is wild and crazy,The decor is wild and crazy, but fun. We went for Sunday brunch and all 3 of us were happy with our selections and the choices available. It was a bit louder than I normally like, but our small table allowed us to sit close enough to converse and hear each other and it was very festive. A surprise performance by Harvard mens acapella group was lots of fun and really added to the birthday celebration we were having.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThe salmon was overcookedThe salmon was overcooked and kinda dry to me... and the veggies were sparse.... they didnt have a tasting menu I could look at so did it a la carte. But my duck was delicious, fatty juicy and amazing. Just wish I had more veggies on my plate or a better choice of good side dishes.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe sat upstairs, and it wasWe sat upstairs, and it was great. Downstairs is much louder.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMA funky, fun place in a centralA funky, fun place in a central location. Loved it. Prix fixe lunch very good
and great price.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMThe meal was very good, serviceThe meal was very good, service good, they did a very nice birthday cake presentation.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMDownstairs dinner menu isDownstairs dinner menu is limited and seems to overlap with lunch type of items such as a burger. Food is good but not overly creative. No French type of sauces. My skirt steak was under seasoned and dominated by garlic. Deserts are also safe-uncreative.
Beautiful room. Staff and owners are wonderful hosts.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMMy pal and I had the prixMy pal and I had the prix fixe w/3 courses...very nice arugula and beet salad, tasty shrimp and tagliatelle w/light cream sauce and a delicious moist carrot cake. The bubbles on this relaxing lunch were glasses of lambrusco rosso and ruinart pink champagne which were a steal thanks to a very kind wine person there.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMEaster BrunchWe had a lovely Easter brunch and plan to make it a tradition, both for the food and the pleasant, smiling service. Portions are small but not absurdly so, in fact, a perfect 3-course meal. I had the salmon blini, cod, and shortcake, all of which were delicious, but the rest of the party swore by their eggs benedict, soup, omelet (says it's the best he's had in 25 years, which doesn't say much about my cooking, I guess) and carrot cake. In all, a delightful holiday brunch.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely brunch spot in Cambridge.My daughters and I had a wonderful Easter holiday brunch at Upstairs on the Square in Cambridge last week. The interior decor is lovely and fun...lots of bright colors and pretty prints. The service was spectacular and the food was very good.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMI went for Easter brunch,I went for Easter brunch, and they really made you feel like you were celebrating something special. They started with a bread basket of pastries that weren't even included in the 3 courses. There were also a handful of Easter chocolates on the table when we arrived. The food was plenty, and very delicious. The decor is incredibly sweet. All in all, it is a wonderful spot for a Sunday brunch.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMEaster Brunch was absolutelyEaster Brunch was absolutely fabulous! The food was delicious and well prepared, and the service was excellent. Will definitely return in the future.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMWOW. A perfect dinner entertainingWOW. A perfect dinner entertaining friends celebrating their anniversary. Great food romantic setting helpful staff.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecial Place for Little GirlsA wonderful space (Zebra Room) with food to measure up! My picky grilled-cheese girl loved their grilled cheese and tomato soup. My young daughters thought they were in a scene from Alice in Wonderland and made to feel very special. We'll be back soon.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMNothing in Cambridge comesNothing in Cambridge comes close to offering the extremely high quality of this food. Its pink decor may be a little too much for some people, but I find its extravagance and elegance to be inviting and calming. But the food and service are absolutely the tops.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsolutely stellar eveningAbsolutely stellar evening for a friend's smal birthday gathering . For some of us it was our first time there and we adored it. More than pleasant. Fantastical setting. Will return.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother wonderful meal UpstairsAnother wonderful meal Upstairs in the Soiree Room. This has been a special place for my wife and I and we have many special memories there. The staff was warm and attentive without being intrusive. From appetizers through desert the food was top notch. The duckling was the highlight of the meal. Matt recommended great wine pairings as well.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMBeen eating here since itBeen eating here since it opened; have held many group events here. Most recent meal was on a Friday night. The menu is creative, the food is ALWAYS delicious, the wine list is fine (although when I see a bottle at a 400% markup over retail it irks me...); and the servers are terrific. This is definitely one of my go-to places in Cambridge. The Lock-Ober lobster bisque focused a bit too much on the sherry, but the skate was terrific! I loved my Caesar salad with fried oysters! What a unique and delicious composition!3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe interior of Upstairs onThe interior of Upstairs on the Square is painted in bright, pastel, greens and pinks, with big mirrors and balconies. It feels a little like it was pulled out of the Moulin Rouge. I enjoyed the food, but wasn't blown away. I'll certainly go again. Our waiter was knowledgeable and very endearing. The kitchen made a mistake with one of the entrees. They sent out a salad so he'd have something to eat with us and three people came to apologize including the manager. Very good service.3/8/2013 12:00:00 AMI have previously rated UpstairsI have previously rated Upstairs very highly, and I continue to love the food, the service and the ambiance. This last time, for the second time, I showed up at the time of my reservation and was told they didn't have any reservation for me. When I insisted I had made it through OpenTable, the receptionist finally said she had found it. Later they reported to OpenTable that I was a no-show. It's a minor nuisance compared with all the positives, but they need to fix this.2/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThe dramatic colors of theThe dramatic colors of the restaurant give it a memorable ambiance, and the excellent food and service ensure that the memories will be favorable. Wonderful place to take out of town guests.2/7/2013 12:00:00 AMI did enjoy brunch here, butI did enjoy brunch here, but mostly because of the view of Harvard Square (which is pleasant even from the lower level. I also love the decor of this place, but it's not for everyone. I was disappointed by the menu. There wasn't a lot of variety and the only thing I found innovative was the early-bird special. That means that if we had come later in the day, there would have been nothing interesting to eat.2/3/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time there and I willFirst time there and I will definitely be back. I'm not one to leave the city and go to Cambridge but his place makes it worthwhile. The striped bass was perfectly prepared.1/18/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a great and elegantThis is a great and elegant restaurant and the perfect choice for a brithday celebration. We could talk. The food was exceptional (everyone loved what they ordered). The service imnpeccable.11/17/2012 12:00:00 AMAmong the best brunches inAmong the best brunches in the Square! Upstairs on the Square is not to be missed: excellent food, excellent service, and a lovely ambiance. Great for locals and visitors alike.1/1/0001 4:00:00 PM