Autumn Comfort Food

There’s pretty much nothing nicer than Harvard Square on a fall day. And yes, we are entering fall. The air is drier, the wind a bit more biting, and I’ve even seen some premature trees tinted orange and gold. Any true New Englander would be rejoicing, because Autumn is clearly the best season of all. So, if you’re walking about Harvard and would like to have a bite to eat al fresco while the weather permits, it may be time to try something other than Grendel’s Den or Upstairs on the Square. Enter: The Red House Restaurant.

Situated diagonally across the street from Upstairs, the Red House is just that: a quaint, vibrantly red cottage-like establishment with a wide deck, black shutters, and a deliciously old-fashioned feel. Inside, the restaurant exudes colonial charm. But it’s the outside deck, perched atop a stone embankment and peering down onto the street below, that sets this eatery apart. The menu is simple enough, with fresh New England ingredients. The lunch menu includes salads featuring beets, sea scallops, eggplant and fresh mozarella. There’s also a healthy selection of sandwiches, including a smoked salmon BLT ($12.95) and a lobster pot pie ($14.95). See? I said New England and old-fashioned.

For me, it was the half sandwich and half soup combo. The soup of the day was a roasted red pepper and almond concoction, which I paired with half of a baked rosemary ham sandwich (the sandwich alone: $9.50). Served on sturdy white china, the soup came in a steaming mug, thin and smooth with a hint of spiciness. It resembled a more fiery tomato soup, and although it was good, it was upstaged by the sandwich. Served open-faced on crusty, rustic bread, the slab of ham was topped with melted gouda and a heap of carmelized onions. This was comfort food at its finest.

The dinner menu overlaps with many of the lunch offerings, but sandwiches are replaced by a myriad of seafood options. These include shrimp linguini and grilled center-cut swordfish (both $14.95/22.50, presumably for a half or full portion). Although I’m not the biggest seafood enthusiast, after that ham sandwich I’d be willing to try anything here. The cute indie wait staff didn’t hurt either.