Classy American Dinner at Upstairs on the Square

I have frequented Upstairs on the Square for recruiting events & a fancy brunch for a club that I am part of at Harvard, yet this was my first time going there for dinner. Upstairs on the Square has been a staple at the Square since it opened in 1982, but the restaurant recently announced that it will close its doors at the end of this year.

Like most fancy restaurants, Upstairs also changes its menu depending on what ingredients are fresh in the market. This appetizer of Fluke Ceviche was cooked Peruvian style with aji amarillo, lime, choclo, and conchita. When my Peruvian friend saw this photo, she immediately identified the dish as being Peruvian so I suppose it is quite authentic!

Three pieces of Mission Fig Ravioli was stuffed with smoked mozzarella and duck ragu. The ravioli was light on the sauce with a bit of grated cheese and herbs on top. The piece of fig is a nice touch, although the overall presentation could be improved.

I have a soft heart for gnocchi, so what I saw the Littleneck Clams Gnocchi on the menu, of course I ordered it. Unlike the mushy gnocchi that I get in the dining hall, this gnocchi had the perfect balance of soft and chewy. I just wished there were more gnocchi hidden beneath those littleneck clams, which surprisingly had similar texture to the gnocchi.

For my entree, I went with my safe fish choice: Silk Red Snapper. To be honest though, I was slightly disappointed when I got the dish because of the skin that came with it. I love fish, but the fish skin is something I absolutely cannot stand and I had unfortunately forgot to ask for it without the skin. Anyways, the snapper was garnished with roasted icicle radish , crispy yucca planks, and peppadew in red peppered brown butter. I really like peppadew because they have really sweet flavors. 

My friend ordered the Apple Grilled Quail. I was once again surprised that they served him the whole quail! Doesn't look too appetizing to see that quail with its legs split open like that ;) It was served with toasted farro with boudin blanc vignoles grapes.

The Lemon & 6-Spiced Crusted Monkfish was garnished with squid tangle on top and garbanzo beans at the bottom in monk's secret herb liquor. A boozy dinner? The waiter certainly didn't check your ID for this entree.

A restaurant's menu wouldn't be complete without a chicken entree. The Brick-Roasted Chicken Breast was served with grilled peach, yogurt, cucumber, and panner in spiced mustard oil. I thought the addition of paneer, or Indian cheese, to this classic American food was an interesting twist.

The final entree of the night was Archer Farm Grass Fed Beef Tenderloin with sherry-flamed cippolini onions and pickled chanterelles on a skewer atop a bed of spinach. Cippolini onions are my favorite because they have sweet and savory flavors. 

Nubar, a Hidden Gem in Harvard Square, and Molten Chocolate from Finale

For those of you who ask what my favorite restaurant is in the Square, I can answer you without hesitation: Nubar Restaurant in Sheraton Commander. Because Nubar is a little further out from the Square, a lot of people don't know about it, but this restaurant serves some amazing food!

First of all, the atmosphere of the restaurant is noteworthy. The restaurant has comfortable yet contemporary design. The dining room and bar/lounge are divided by a modern fireplace. The lighting in the restaurant reflects its warm, cozy environment. My first time at Nubar was definitely an unforgettable experience, both in terms of its food, service, and atmosphere, so I was very excited for my second time.

I don't normally eat pizza or sausage, but one item in the flatbread menu caught my eyes. I decided to try the Sweet Italian Sausage, Herbed Ricotta, and Spinach Flatbreads ($12). The flatbread was served on a long, rectangular plate and cut vertically into about seven pieces. Each piece had ample amount of mozzarella cheese  with chunky Italian sausages and bits of ricotta cheese and spinach tucked underneath. The flatbread was sprinkled with some basil. The dough was thin and crispy. The flatbread was perhaps in the oven for a little too long because top layer of the mozzarella cheese was slightly burnt.

This is Pat's Littleneck Clam Roast ($22), a dish I wish I had gotten! The round plate had handful of toasted angel hair pasta with bacon, zucchini ribbons, baby shrimp, littleneck clams, and garlic, and tossed with white wine and olive oil. My favorite part of this dish was definitely the toasted angel hair pasta because it had crunch texture. Definitely going for this dish the next time I come :)

The Pan Seared Diver Scallops ($25) had four plump scallops with a ragu of beech mushrooms and a succotash of sweet onions, corn, beans, and fresh herbs. Other than the fact that it was too salty, the scallops were pan-seared nicely with crispy outside and juicy inside.

For dessert, we went to Finale in Harvard Square for its signature Molten Chocolate ($9.95). This standout dessert is baked-to-order, so be willing to wait at least 15 or so minutes! The warm chocolate cake with a gooey center is served with a scoop of coffee gelato, topped with milk chocolate covered almonds and Valhona chocolate sauce.

Again, I am not a huge fan of chocolate, but I definitely enjoy a bite or two of this dessert. As you dig your spoon into the warm chocolate cake, the center oozes with chocolate sauce like a lava. My favorite part is definitely watching the sauce spilling over.

The balance between warm chocolate cake and cold coffee gelato is interesting. The almonds also add crunchy layer to this delectable dessert!