Eats: Upstairs on the Square
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Culture
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By Sarah Burleson, MPP2
Upstairs on the Square offers one of the few afternoon tea services available in Cambridge on Fridays and Saturdays (and soon, Sundays). More than just a snazzy venue, Upstairs offers not only the Zebra Tea, Zebra Tea with a kick (that's tea plus a glass of champagne) and a Peppermint Tea Trio, but also savory bites, desserts, and restorative beverages.
If you are new to afternoon tea, you are in for a treat. If you are an experienced tea-timer, do not expect a traditional English tea. The three-tiered stand boasts a kitchen-sink presentation of savory bites, tea sandwiches and assorted sweets. Indeed, the decadent sweets are more of the creamy praline and thick chocolate brownie variety. Also, the tea sandwiches are mostly tasty contemporary versions of their traditional counterparts: tomato and mozzarella instead of cucumber, egg salad instead of egg and cress, tuna fish salad instead of fish paste and so on.
Oh, and the tea itself? Top notch and plentiful. All in all, the experience is quite satisfying, as long as you know what to expect. With a bird's-eye view of Winthrop Park and a brightly decorated interior, afternoon tea at Upstairs on the Square is a wonderful weekend treat to share with local friends and out of town guests.
Upstairs on the Square offers one of the few afternoon tea services available in Cambridge on Fridays and Saturdays (and soon, Sundays). More than just a snazzy venue, Upstairs offers not only the Zebra Tea, Zebra Tea with a kick (that's tea plus a glass of champagne) and a Peppermint Tea Trio, but also savory bites, desserts, and restorative beverages.
If you are new to afternoon tea, you are in for a treat. If you are an experienced tea-timer, do not expect a traditional English tea. The three-tiered stand boasts a kitchen-sink presentation of savory bites, tea sandwiches and assorted sweets. Indeed, the decadent sweets are more of the creamy praline and thick chocolate brownie variety. Also, the tea sandwiches are mostly tasty contemporary versions of their traditional counterparts: tomato and mozzarella instead of cucumber, egg salad instead of egg and cress, tuna fish salad instead of fish paste and so on.
Oh, and the tea itself? Top notch and plentiful. All in all, the experience is quite satisfying, as long as you know what to expect. With a bird's-eye view of Winthrop Park and a brightly decorated interior, afternoon tea at Upstairs on the Square is a wonderful weekend treat to share with local friends and out of town guests.
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