Z-Square
Categories:
Catering Companies, Restaurants, Traditional American Restaurants
Details:
$$, Breakfast, Cheap Eats, Date Spot, Food Delivery, Lunch Spot, Outdoor Dining
Editorial by Citysearch
In ShortZ-Square's ground level cafe provides sleep-deprived Harvard students and international tourists with a quick, casual spot for a filling breakfast or a light bite (soups, salads, sandwiches and crepes dot the menu). Downstairs resides a relaxed, minimally decorated dining room and bar in which patrons enjoy creative cocktails and inviting, modern comfort fare (curried crab cakes with orange-pineapple relish, whole grilled rainbow trout, turkey burger with cranberry chutney). A shaded sidewalk patio rounds out the seating options. Young, pleasant servers patrol all corners.
The Inside Scoop
- When to Go - The dining room is open daily from 12pm to 10pm, and the bar serves until 1am on weekends.
- Know Before You Go - Not all breakfast items are served all day, but patrons can enjoy items like steel-cut oatmeal, yogurt with granola, sweet crepes and breakfast paninis in the afternoon and evening.
Insider Pages Reviews for Z-Square
I absolutely ADORE this place! Everything is wonderful, including the sandwiches and salads. The crepes are to die for, and it's wonderful how you can get a "venti" size cup of tea without paying more than $2.10! The teas are glorious, especially the chai. I would go to Z Square every day if I could for food, but I do go every day for my evening tea!
Posted 10/30/08 | Report Abuse
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Latest reviews from Citysearch.
This place is a nightmare.
by pat_man_ta
I went here once and will never go again. I encourage you all to save yourself some money, aggravation and a ruined evening.
They seated us over an hour late for our RESERVATION.
They served our birthday cake, which was supposed to be a surprise, to another table!
When the food finally came it was terrible. Raw potatoes in chowder, dry pork chops, undercooked veggies, over salted dumplings, under seasoned meat, cold polenta, missing or improperly substituted sides... the list goes on and covers everything we were served.
Because we were seated and plated so late, we were still trying to choke our dinners down when they dimmed the lights and started thumping out bad techno and letting people in for the "club" portion of their night.
They utterly failed to do anything right or adequately fix any of the mistakes they made.
I seriously question some of these 5 star reviews for this place. If you look at them, some have this place as their one and only review or only have "Z" related restaurants on their list.
Pros: Their drinks are tasty if you can manage to get the bartenders' attention.
Cons: Bad and Overpriced Food, Inept Service and Management.
Posted 10/14/08
Best food tasty and healthy too!!-
by luckydawn
First, I go to a restaurant for the food-What I love about the z-square food is that it is always tastes great and it "feels healthy" too. I can sit with friends and have apps, dinner and desert and I am not troubled by salt or "food hangover" when I eat there. The food is interesting but not pretensious, healthy but not sprouts and tofu. The price is fair and affordable, great for a crowd. It is always great. It is my favorite either for dinner or drinks and a nibble at the bar. btw- solid drinks- some interesting new ones and they make a great vodka martini.
Upstairs, for lunch, the sandwich of the day is a great pick. or I really like the chaccaro with the fresh green beans and while it sounded a bit wierd it was wonderful! I like the soups too.
The atmosphere is clean, classic, upscale euro. The focus is creating a setting not a distraction (I hate places with signs and shirts and old instruments or whatever hanging on the walls. )
Try it-nothing else like it around.
Pros: love the food and setting
Cons: center of Harvard Square,
Posted 08/31/08
Fun but inconsistant.
by bunheads
This is a nice place to go on a casual night out. My husband and I have gone to Z Square on three different occasions. Once we both found the food and drinks to be great. A second time I was still pleased, but my husband was less enthused with his dish and the server messed up the drink order twice. The third time we went with another couple and I would say we all left happy. Service seems to be inconsistant. They have a fun and pretty varied menu selection. They do get 5 stars from me as far as being flexible goes. My friend has some pretty severe allergy issues. The chef came out to our table, wrote down what she could and could not eat, and then created a dish just for her that was outstanding. She had not had a good experience eating out in months until we went to Z Square.
Pros: Nice menu selections.
Cons: Service isn't the best.
Posted 08/26/08
Sorely Lacking...
by wineaficionado
After reading about this place, I would have thought it would be much more interesting at the very least aesthetically. However, the attempt at modern design was pretty awful, and worse than that was the wretched and completely horrendous 80s soft pop they were playing. At one point, I commented to the bartender about it, and she said that others had complained about the music as well, but she liked it. Unless you have a thing for really lame 80s soft rock/pop, avoid this place!
Pros: Nothing
Cons: Atmosphere, music
Posted 08/03/08
very mediocre
by dizzy02138
The upstairs cafe area is fine. Nothing spectacular but good enough for a quick bite. However, the service downstairs is terrible and the food is only mediocre. I've gone back more times that I'd like to admit because they have a reliable Belgian waffle, but the coffee is often a little off and the wait staff is terrible about refilling. Other breakfast items are often too salty. Moreover, twice now I've heard other patrons very upset over their experience at nearby tables, whether it's not getting their drink order or getting the wrong order. The location is good but I usually leave feeling disappointed.
Pros: location
Cons: service
Posted 07/29/08