Looking for a casual dining place with delicious food and a hip vibe? I’ve reviewed several places on the blog that fit that bill such as Sarma, The Kirkland Tap & Trotter and La Brasa. They all seem to have one thing in common. They are all located in Somerville, Massachusetts where, as I’ve mentioned before, my husband and I lived when we were newly married. Hardly hip way back then, Somerville today has some fabulous food finds including those I mentioned above, Pepe Bocca, an Italian market that I showcased on the blog here and Highland Kitchen that my cousin and I visited this past week.
Highland Kitchen is not a newcomer to the Somerville food scene, but I have never been there and it was on my list to try. My cousin lives in a nearby town and she and her family have enjoyed Highland Kitchen on and off over the years. She suggested it, not having been back for awhile and I thought it was a perfect opportunity to check it out.
Highland is an incredibly busy spot and lines to gain entrance to the bar or restaurant for its nightly dinner service and Sunday brunch are not unusual. Perhaps because we went on a Tuesday after a long weekend, we were able to slide right into our seats and spend as long as we wanted. The restaurant was hopping and tables were turning, but nobody was rushing us out…
Highland has a very fun and vibrant interior. One end is anchored by a sizable bar that has a large screen television and seating for 17. There are an additional seven stools that are nestled under large screenless windows that are open to the street, a perfect place to sit on a warm night with a cold beverage and some nibbles. Highland has an extensive proprietary cocktail list and offers a wide range of traditional cocktails and fancied up margaritas. Beer, wine (maximum of $9 a glass) and other refreshing beverages are also offered…
The dining section of the restaurant includes 4 booths and banquet seating with flexible table arrangements for an additional 65 people. A large chalkboard colorfully displays the extensive nightly specials which in addition to appetizers and main courses, includes a specialty cocktail. On the night we visited, they were offering a margarita made with freshly pressed watermelon juice. Highland’s Jukebox which has received much acclaim provides a lively soundtrack to your dining experience. Wish I had taken a picture of it!
Opened since 2007, Highland Kitchen is a family-owned, neighborhood restaurant serving comfort food of all kinds. Owner and chef, Mark Romano and his wife Marci Joy drew on their experiences at The Blue Room, The Green Street Grill (one of my old faves) and The East Coast Grill when opening Highland, their first solo venture. A contender for many years, Highland Kitchen beat out Island Creek Oyster Bar to finally win the coveted “Munch Madness 2015” restaurant tournament conducted by The Boston Globe to determine the best local eatery. You can read more about that here.
Highland’s menu is extensive and has something for everyone including some vegetarian and gluten free options. We wanted to sample a cocktail, but I was having a hard time deciding as there were so many fun choices. Joyce selected a Mark & Stormy, a rift on the Dark & Stormy that used Bourbon and house made spicy scotch bonnet infused ginger beer. This drink was so spicy but it was really delicious and if you want to linger over one drink, this might be the one to choose!
Our server, Shawna, was very patient with me as I hemmed and hawed. She patiently described the drink selections and offered her thoughts on the various choices. I decided on the Elderflower Margarita which had white tequila, St. Germain and lime juice. Delicious…
Appetizers and Small plates range in price from $6.95 to $9.95 and include Handmade Gnocchi, Ricotta & Mozzarella Fritters, Shrimp & Grits, a Meze Plate, Smoked Bluefish Cakes and our selection, Buffalo Fried Brussels Sprouts…
Maybe not the prettiest plate, but these were delicious. Served with a traditional blue cheese dressing, the sprouts were lightly breaded, fried and coated with a spicy buffalo sauce. While we thought the sprouts could have been a little more tender, they were delicious. If you are a vegetarian or just love the flavor of a spicy buffalo sauce, you will love these.
We also ordered an appetizer off the “specials” menu. I’ve rarely met a fried clam that I didn’t like and these did not disappoint either. Lightly coated and gently fried, the clams were meaty, sweet and served with a delicious cabbage slaw and remoulade sauce…
Highland Kitchen offers several Soups and Salads from a Roasted Beet Salad to a Spicy Texas Beef Chili and a Vegetarian Soup of the Day (Pinto Bean & Chile). Sandwiches range from the reasonably priced Highland Cheeseburger ($10.95) to a Pulled Pork Sandwich ($8.95) and a Black Bean Veggie Burger ($9.95).
For our main course, our choices ranged from a Pappardelle Bolognese ($15.95) to a Spicy Coconut Curried Goat Stew ($18.95) to a Grilled Hanger Steak ($23.95), all served with chef’s choice of sides. At Joyce’s recommendation, I chose the Pan Roasted Boneless Half Chicken which was served with a sweet potato hash, broccolini and an herb gravy…
Every component of this dish was executed perfectly and at $17.95, it was a great value. The chicken was moist and tender, the skin was perfectly crisp and the gravy was silky and luscious. The sweet potato hash was tender but not mushy and the broccolini had a crisp-tender consistency that I love.
Joyce decided to order one of the evening’s appetizer specials for her meal which was the Seared Harissa-Marinated Yellowfin Tuna ($9.95). The dish included a couscous salad, cucumber yogurt and pickled ramp…
Joyce thought the dish was delicious. The heat from the harissa was balanced with the cool cucumber yogurt. The couscous made this a filling entree.
Sides and Snacks ($3-6.50) round out the menu and include options such as deviled eggs, house made pickles and chicken liver toasts to fried green tomatoes, collards with smoked bacon and fried sweet plantains.
Desserts are all $7 and include traditional comfort food selections such as Warm Banana Bread Pudding, a Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae, Pecan Pie and a Fruit Cobbler. Several ice creams and sorbets are also offered at $6.
As I mentioned, our server Shawna was excellent. Food came out promptly and we never felt rushed in the least. The clientele was definitely on the younger (hipper) side and included singles at tables or at the bar, twosomes, a couple of larger groups and a young couple with their baby. The tables turned pretty quickly and people were still coming in at 9:00 when we were leaving. Highland is open for Sunday Brunch and serves dinner nightly from 5:00 to 11:00. The bar remains open until 1:00 for anyone looking for a late night option.
Highland also has fun theme nights. On Mondays, stop in for some of Highland’s award winning fried chicken and tropical Tiki drinks. Are you a good speller? Plan to visit on the first Tuesday of the month to try your luck on Spelling Bee Night. There is karaoke on Wednesday nights and live music on Sunday during brunch and starting at 10:00 pm.
I am already anticipating my return visit to Highland with my husband. It just feels like one of those places that you can come back to night after night and never repeat a dish! It’s summertime and Highland has just the right atmosphere for a relaxing and fun evening with straightforward, delicious and comforting food, with very reasonable prices, great service and fun cocktails.
Check it out if you can. Maybe I will see you there!
Just added to my list is Indignant, yet another restaurant featuring meza, craft coffee and small-batch beers that Somerville is welcoming this Fall to its Winter Hill neighborhood. You can read about Indignant here.
Until next week…
One Year Ago: Salmon with Orange-Avocado Salsa