Upperwest - Cambridge

I come back to UpperWest every couple of months to see what Kim's added to the menu and enjoy a cool and relaxing midweek dinner. This time we enjoyed a meat and cheese board of six items, mostly chosen by her, and the day's pasta. I've never been let down by what she and Xavier make for food or drink.

As we looked at the menu on the chalkboard, we inquired about vegetarian options. The bartender asked the chef, who simply said, "I usually make a vegetarian pasta, but tonight it’s bolognese," and then she just turned and walked away. We decided to leave as well. It was a beautiful night, and the gloomy atmosphere of the restaurant didn't appeal to us. Instead, we headed to Spoke in Davis Square, which was fantastic.

This place is quite unique, located in the basement of a VFW hall. It sits somewhere between a lounge with good food and a full-fledged restaurant. The wine list is impressive, featuring a selection of wine flights. The menu may be small, but I was informed of this when I made my reservation.

Funky basement location with surprisingly good food. Excellent cheese board and charcuterie plate, as well as an excellent daily pasta. Very generous wine pour served in a carafe. Service was on the slow side, but this may have been because there was only one server who was also working the bar as well. All in all a n enjoyable experience that I would repeat.

If the thought going through the back into the basement of the VFW have been stopping you from eating at Upper West GET OVER it. The space is warm and unencumbered. The food is spectacular and the wines are all great. We had a great meal. And we were able to talk without screaming to be heard. Many many stars.