Upstairs on the Square Experience

I went to the Monday Club Bar at Upstairs on the Square (that is Harvard Square in Cambridge) back in February for lunch.  They are doing Lunch and Dinner for Restaurant Week, but the menus just look so-so to me.

It is all Alice in Wonderland decorated.

Anyway, it's not too expensive for lunch - we had the following very yummy pasta dishes - quoting from the menu:

Handcut Spaghettini Putanesca - with olive-oil poached tuna, caperberries, chilies, and shaved parmesan.

Hand Rolled Fresh Ricotta Cannelloni - with seared mushrooms, savory walnut pesto, cream spinach, and aged gruyere.  This is pretty rich but yum yum nonetheless.

2010 Summer Restaurant Week Boston and Market by JG Experience

So Restaurant Week is coming up August 15-20 and 22-7 in Boston. It might be a bit difficult to secure reservations at the most popular places now, but I thought I'd do a preview of sorts, of some of the Restaurant Week restaurants I have tried in the past. First up is Market by Jean-Georges (W Hotel) in the Theatre District / Chinatown which I went to in April.

Inside is airy, and modernly gray.

This is our crab fritter appetizer - not on the menu anymore and that is a good thing.

These were very tasty - crispy clams with basil salt and a mousse-like aioli dipping sauce.

Pizza with fontina cheese and black truffles.

My entree - cod with orange / miso sauce, bok choy, and some fancy blobs of sriracha.  MEH.  I went to Market for lunch once in the spring and had a salmon dish that was superior.

The dessert cookie platter!  With chocolate truffles, a peanut butter French macaron, sour cherry marshmallows, and salty caramels.

I think it is worth it to go to Market for restaurant week.  I especially love the crispy clams and cookie platter.