Both entrees met our expectations and were priced right for the portion sizes.
Atmosphere: Two levels of floor space provide highly varnished, wood-topped tables paired with black, contemporary chairs for a moderately sized crowd, and there is a full, wrap-around bar with seating just inside the entrance on the first level. Oak toned, wood wainscot rises above the concrete floor and imparts a cozy vibe to the atmosphere along with the open-beam wood ceiling. An attractive chandelier adds interest and beauty on the upper level near a wall cabinet filled with wine and a large framed mirror, which sets the space apart with a touch of homey elegance. Decorative barrels are wall mounted and carry the theme throughout the space. A potpourri of other items, such as art and iron scrolls, tastefully adorn the walls, and TVs provide entertainment.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: Macaroni and cheese at Uptown is loaded with Dungeness crab, and shepherd’s pie is made with bison. Pan-seared halibut and a Philly cheesesteak are among the other dinner entrees. Small plates include pork shanks, cheese fondue, hot crab bread and steak bites with mushrooms. Salads include a kale and steak salad and a poached pear and Gorgonzola wedge salad. Sides offered include steak fries, garlic green beans and baked macaroni and cheese. Lunch options include sandwiches such as a chicken club and a lamb gyro, in addition to a personal chicken pot pie and a chicken pesto pizza. The late-night menu has steak fries, a mixed green salad, fondue with bread, pork shank with spicy aioli and a hummus plate with pita chips and veggies. Among the brunch offerings are steel-cut oats, biscuits and sausage gravy, three-egg omelettes, eggs Benedict, beer batter pancakes, stuffed French toast, chicken fried steak, and New York strip and eggs.
Other observations: The atmosphere is comfortable and welcoming. On the evening of my visit, it was a full house and a bit noisy and difficult to converse at a normal volume. Seating is open and can be a challenge to navigate if someone goes for the same table. This was really the only downside to my experience. It could be remedied by a standard wait list to ensure proper order of seating. I found the ticket turnaround time was longer than usual, but our server was apologetic and comped our drinks as a consolation.
Cost: Brunch items range from $6 to $17. Lunch entrees start at $9 and top out at $18, and small plates are $10 to $14. Salads cost $9 to $12 (you may add chicken for $4 or salmon for $8), and sides go for $3 to $5. Dinner choices include entrees for $9 to $22, and small plates, salads and sides cost the same as they do during lunch. Happy hour options cost $3.50 to $5 with $1 off well drinks, draft beer and house wine. The late-night menu items cost $3.50 to $6. Alcoholic brunch drinks cost $6 to $10. Wines by the glass range from $6 to $8. Cocktails are $8 to $12. Bottled beers are $4 to $8.
