Pre-dinner, Upland was hyped up beyond belief. My parents told me their duck wings were an immediate highlight, in addition to the rest of the amazing menu and stellar atmosphere. The interior, as expected, was gorgeous- bottles of wine lacing the walls, golden chandeliers and lush bushes infusing the space with a sense of sophistication. We started, after the constant pressure from my parents, with the famous duck wings. However, despite asking for them to be crispy, they arrived slightly soggy, over-drenched in the salty sauce, and dripping all onto my hands. They tasted good, yes, with a nice yuzu-lemon seasoning, but the flavor didn't stop the appetizer from being a massive disappointment. Next, we ordered the sausage and kale pizza, which I'd hoped would be a redemption. Unfortunately, the crust was too doughy, and the sausage tasted rather bland. Thankfully, the next dish would be a massive improvement over the next two- the Cioppino was a fantastic mix of clams, mussels, red shrimp, and white fish, all stewed together in a hot and spicy kochujan broth. All the seafood was cooked tenderly and the broth didn't overwhelm. The side of garlic bread was perfect for dipping as well. Finally, the angus skirt steak, which we ordered medium but arrived practically raw, so we sent it back, hoping for a recook. Instead, the steak arrived five minutes later curled up in a ball, slightly heated up with the same side of now cold onions. It tasted and felt better, but it's disappointing that the restaurant was so lazy. Thankfully, the owner offered free dessert, which included a delicious cookie basket and a creamy/fruity vanilla cake. Overall, I give Upland 2 1/2 pineapples. The restaurant evidently has the ability to be a 5-Star restaurant, but this night’s service, for the most part, immensely disappointed.
-tdg
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