Lovely ambiance, solid food, good service, elegant yet casual, and more recently made even more popular by the Obamas’ dinner with Bono there. Upland is a great neighborhood joint that is really way more than a neighborhood joint. It has that feel but it’s the type of restaurant you travel to eat at. Reservations go quickly, so if you’re going during the prime times, you likely need to book a week or two in advance.
As expected, weekend brunch was a full house, so our reservations came in handy. It’s a large, open space with the two sides divided by a charming bar area and a slight split level. On the “lower” floor, there are booths and larger tables. On the “upper” floor, there are smaller, traditional tables seating parties of two and four.
We ordered the omelette and the granola dishes.
The granola came with ricotta, lemon cucumbers, and blackberries. Unlike the vast majority of granola dishes, this one was entirely savory, which was a really great change of pace. The granola had no added sugar or dried fruit and the only sweetness the dish had came from the fresh berries. The ricotta was a nice touch, adding creaminess and substance, and the two slices of lemon cucumber were tangy and refreshing. Ultimately, this dish lacked flavor, and it would be hard to describe it as “delicious”. But it is so interesting and unique (and of such good quality) that it is a great experience to eat anyway, and I would still recommend it for that reason.
The Omelette came with spinach, feta, and chives and was to be served with a mixed greens salad, but I wanted toast instead, which they accommodated. The omelette was one of the smallest omelettes I’ve ever been served and it needed to be better seasoned as it was pretty bland, but the texture of the omelette was one of the best I’ve had. Light and fluffy as though it had been well whipped. It was served with a thick slice of brown bread (not sure why as I had requested white), which was quite delicious and hearty, adding much needed substance.
Our server was polite, provided us any information we needed, and checked in regularly. Waters were quickly filled as needed.
Though portions could’ve been bigger, the food is well prepared and uses fresh, top quality ingredients. It was a very comfortable and enjoyable experience overall and I’d be eager to try it for another meal. Highly recommended for good quality food, great ambiance, and nice service.
