I have only been here once, so maybe I should give this place another chance. This review is only based on that one experience... Which SUCKED. My old boss took me and my ex here for drinks and apps. We eyed the french onion soup but it was 9 BUCKS. Seriously, do people pay that much for a little bowl of soup? Unless it's served in one of those Pho bowls or contains the serum for everlasting youth, I don't want it. My cocktail was mediocre but whatever. What stole the show was this nasty, gross, disguting grilled calamari with watercress salad thing we ordered off of the apps. I can't believe a place like the Independent would actually serve something this gross. Chef's are supposed to taste things before they serve them. It was one of the most awful things I've eaten in this city. I am SO glad my boss payed because they would have had to pry the money out of my hands if I were picking up the tab. My money and I are going to stick to the Temple Bar. read more

I love The Independent for trying. And for being in Union Square, which makes it one of the few places I can walk to for a good beer/glass of wine and some table service. So I decided to scope it out last week with a friend and we were hoping it'd be great; however.... The food was bitterly disappointing and the service was mediocre. Our waiter (who was also the bartender as we were at the bar tables) couldn't get the cork out of the wine bottle - he was only screwing in the corkscrew half-way. So he got another bottle and broke the cork on that bottle as well. Not to fault the poor guy for not being able to open a bottle of wine, but he is the bartender. We also had to chase him down for the check even though it was not a busy night at all. Now, I haven't had the sandwiches that several people were talking about so those are spared and could be decent. However, I did have the lamb salad and the andouille sausage appetizer. The salad was greasy, full of bacon, and just lousy. The sausage itself had good spicy flavor but the cornbread was packed with onions (yes, onions) and the tomato sauce tasted like a salt lick. I love salt too, salt is yummmy, but this was WAY too much salt. I am so very disappointed that the food sucked because I really and truly wanted this place to be awesome. Like a Union Square version of Matt Murphys...but no. I'm just disappointed. I don't understand what I missed about this place that people seem to like so much. Must be the sandwiches!! read more

Sunday brunch blows. Super slow service, very long wait for our orders, eggs looked gross and runny, one order came out a lot later then everyone else's and when it did come out bacon was very undercooked, runny eggs again, and toast was actually just bread. Stick to being a bar. read more

Cool vibe, good staff and good beer selection. Minus one star for the somewhat dead atmosphere on a Friday night. But if you're looking for a quiet dark place to grab a good beer with good service, it's a great spot. read more

On a recent trip to Boston, some friends invited me to brunch here, and I must say - it was one of the best brunches I've had. When trying a new brunch place, I usually end up getting eggs benedict or eggs florentine. I went with the florentine here, and it was phenomenal -- hollandaise sauce to bring tears to your eyes. My boyfriend had steak and eggs -- also great. The service was a little slow, but the servers were pleasant enough. It might have just been the brunch rush. My next time in Boston, I hope to experience the bar. read more

This place absolutely sucks. It's sad because when they first opened they were delicious and accommodating. Today I ordered the cheese plate and a grilled cheese. The cheese plate consisted of 5 slices of cheese, a pile of liquified crap, slices of god knows what, potato chips (?!) and nuts that clearly came out of a Planter's can. They used to notify you the cheeses and accruements when they brought you the plate. The nuts used to be candied and roasted in house and fresh fruit accompanied the cheese. Also they gave the cheese APPETIZER after they handed me the my grilled cheese. The grilled cheese was dry and flat. I think they slapped it between a Foreman grill with no butter or olive oil. There was also barely any cheese in it. Fries that were included could have been better if they used less salt. My friend received a burned pigeon carcass instead of the fried chicken sandwich she ordered. Gross. If you want a drink refill or the check expect a long wait to be noticed. It's also hard to flag the waiter over when they are spending most of their time on their cell phone and flipping channels on the tv. MEH! read more

I like the Independent very much. What knocks this review down a star is the hostess who looks bored and miserable to be assisting you. Several times she has been decent, not always the most cheerful person, but a recent experience left me soured. We were told a table would be 15-20 minutes (no problem) and when we politely declined her offer to sit in the just-now-opening, giant and empty dining room next door, she rolled her eyes. We left. This is not unique to the Independent. What is with my generation of 20-somethings who seem to think they are too good for the job they are hired to do, and do it begrudgingly? You are the master of your destiny -- if you want something more, go and get it. Otherwise, put a smile and your face and don't take it out on me. read more

Solid beer selection, decent food. OK prices. It's the indo ladies and gentlemen! read more

Made it here for the first time last night and am looking forward to going back in the near future. The draft list is very solid and reasonably priced with a nice balance of local and imported brews. The menu looked fine, but the long list of specials looked even better. Went with the paella ($18) which was pretty tasty and boasted a healthy serving of mussels. I would've liked to see some more shrimp and sausage, but overall I'm definitely not complaining. Pro tip: ask for hot sauce if you want to spice up your paella. Also noshed on some bleu cheese fries that my friend ordered as a side. Fries were crispy, but the bleu cheese wasn't really what we were expecting. It was basically bleu cheese salad dressing as opposed to melty crumbles/chunks of cheese. Regardless, pretty good app. Overall, I'm excited to try some more of their menu and see what else The Indo has to offer. read more

I love my sister, I really do. But when she prepares meals, it takes quite a bit longer than it should. Thus, on Easter, a friend and I found ourselves with some extra time as my sister was diligently working in the kitchen. (To be fair, she told us to go down to Union Square instead of hanging around her apartment.) So, we chose to get a drink at the Independent. I love the look of the bar area, and I loved the fact that I could get a glass of Malbec (I'm not a beer drinker, but not all bars carry my favorite wine). If I lived in the area, I could definitely see myself hanging out here. read more

I know they're trying to make new and different twists on classic menu items, but my lobster roll was just horrid. It just wasn't good. Lobster is my favorite food ever - please don't butcher it with an overly sweet runny sauce and slap it togther with a soggy burger bun, lettuce and tomato. Shoe string fries were tasty, though. The service and ambiance were satisfactory. Cheese plate was bland. read more

I've never actually eaten in the restaurant (altho I have gone in to use the nicer bathrooms on that side). It looks nice, maybe for a date or something, but I like the more casual atmosphere in the pub. It's pretty dark and woody and cozy... there's some board games on the bookshelves (Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit... Connect Four!?). The crowd in there is generally pretty relaxed, it's usually pretty busy but not insanely so, you can usually find a seat. Table service is kind of meh, unlesss you're seated at the bar (and even then). This is really no fault of anyone other than understaffing because the bartender has to wait the tables too, so you end up waiting a long time. The food is great though, I've had the mac and cheese, the fish and chips (yum). Pretty standard above-average bar fare. If you sit at the bar to eat you're better off. Or go over to the restaurant. Edit 9/28/10: The bartenders and staff are way friendlier than they were a couple years ago (mostly new folks). If you stopped going there because of the bartender snobbery, give it another try, these new kids are sweet. read more

Even though I used to live near Union Square, I've only been here twice - which I can't help regretting now that I'm gone from the neighborhood. The first time I went was for a friend's birthday, and the Independent was a great place for a bunch of people to gather. By the end of the night, we were able to conquer three tables for our big group, and everyone was comfortable. The beer selection was pretty awesome; they have several of my favorites on draft. Visit #2 to the Independent was for brunch. After finding out that the wait at Highland Kitchen was going to be more than an hour (we should have known!) we biked down to Union and decided to try the Indo. We made a great choice. The food was pretty fantastic; I got the croque monsieur, and it was authentic (beschamel on top! Real gruyere! Be still my heart) but amped up in the best way - bursting with ham, cheese, and deliciousness. The home fries were soft on the inside yet perfectly crispy outside; I respect a place that takes care with their home fries. The only problem seemed to be the flow at the bar that morning. We were actually seated at the bar first (we were too hungry to wait!), but after sitting there for 10 minutes, our drink order still hadn't been taken, let alone food. So we asked for a table, which they were very friendly about, but our food and drinks took quite awhile getting out. However, our waitress was very apologetic and the manager came over and took care of things as they should have. All in all: friendly, great beer, yum. read more

Two stars for the beer selection, generally very good, but always too heavily skewed towards the overhopped beers. I'd rate higher if there was a better selection. The food was great until 1/05/2011 when a new menu was launched and basically got rid of everything that was good and vibrant. Replacing it with duds such as the anorexic offering of shrimp, or the pale, insipid croquettes. I've only been back to the Indo three times since 1/05, where prior it was our go to place, and we'd be here 4-5 times a month as an extremely conservative estimate. Could definitely be a 5 star place, if they put together a decent menu. The menu change would bring back the three missing stars for food. As it is, I'm getting more exercise by walking down to some of their competitors. read more

Went here with my girlfriend on a Friday night. We had been to Bronwyn across the street a bunch of times and always saw this place and were curious about it. I cannot even begin to explain how great this place is, but I'll try. The beer list is absurd. Like 30 amazing beers on tap and a ton of bottles as well. For an appetizer, we got the artichoke dip. It comes with amazing crispy potato chips and the saltiness works perfectly with the dip. A+ I got the BBQ Steak Tips on special and they were quite literally the best steak tips I've ever had. My girlfriend loved her corned beef dinner, which is saying a lot because her grandmother is an authentically Irish master cook. A+ For dessert, we got some kind of delicious cheesecake cookie dough thing that was perfect. A+ The generally atmosphere and service was tight as well. This place rules, give it a try. read more

The Independent is my go to bar and restaurant when I'm in Union Square, which is very often. It's the perfect place if you just want to drop in and get a beer or eat some delicious deviled eggs! The wait staff and bar staff are down to earth, knowledgeable and friendly. The menu is well thought out and contains high quality items and the beer selection is huge. Their grass fed burger is so savory and amazing- it's unreal. If you get the fries you need to order the truffle sauce on the side to really appreciate what a delicious combination it is. Their beet salad is also incredible and they offer a local oyster selection that is super satisfying. I bring my friends here, I bring my mom here, I bring myself here! The Independent is a great representation of Union Square's neighborhood and never a bad time! Seriously... order the deviled eggs! read more

Went here with a date recently to check it out seeing as though we go to Precinct from time to time and tend to like there food. It was a Tuesday night so when we arrived we had no problem getting a table, the beer selection was large so we didn't have a problem each finding something that we enjoyed and put in our order. We enjoyed our beer and waited for our waitress, she was very nice but seemed to be taking a long time with getting back to us. The burger was good, and the iceberg wedge that my date got was also decent. I was not unsatisfied but at the same time not overly impressed. I guess I would go here again but it's not somewhere that I'm running back to. Update: After I originally posted this I got a timely response from the people at this restaurant. It was a very reasonable explanation of the above issue and therefore I increase my rating to 4 stars. I appreciate the timely response and will surely visit The Independent another chance in the near future. read more

I used to really really love tho place. Then they changed their menu. While some of the old favorites are still on there (great burger), they have replaced their mac and cheese. Their old mac and cheese was delicious. It was cheesy and was everything that a mac and cheese should be. The new one does not even qualify as mac and cheese. The new one is basically a pasta dish with some sausage and a weird sauce that is not at all cheesy. Please bring the old menu mac and cheese back. read more

Mad points for space. Very large inside, with plenty tables and moving room. The drinks were average in price, and the staff was friendly. It's located in Union Square... which is always a hassle to get to via public transit, but the experience was a better one for the area. They also hold a 2am liquor license, so last call is around 1:45am, which makes it a good spot to finish up your night. Just an average place though. read more

The Independent is probably your best option in Union Square for good food, good beer, and a great pub atmosphere. I love this bar because it's split between the pub (on the left) and the restaurant (on the right). There's a wall between them, so you don't really get a mixed atmosphere, though the restaurant still has a bar as well. I've had late night meals, dinners, and brunches here, and all have been pretty fantastic. The beer options are good (if you just want a Bud Light, don't bother) and the wine options are also worth checking out (they have half bottles, which are great for a couple's dinner). The interior is great, with big leather chairs in booths for the restaurant (including 2 person booths near the windows) and a classic Irish pub atmosphere on the left side. It's easy to end up here if you live nearby, but even since I moved away from Union Square, I still find myself here on occasion. read more

Food is consistently good (the burger is tasty, salads usually fresh and crisp) but don't recommend the drinks here. They are unbearably sweet/not mixed well. Stick to beers and two ingredient drinks if you have a bev read more

I really wanted to like this place. It's in walking distance to my house, has a tasty looking menu, and seems to do a pretty good business. The first time I went there was a Sunday night and it was dead, which was ok, since we just wanted a quick drink after a long day of shopping. The bartender was really friendly, telling us the busy nights, and pointing us to which items on the menu were his favorite so we knew what to order if we came in to eat. We left with a pretty good feeling. Too bad the second time was such a flop! The bar was moderately busy when we got there, so we excused the poor service at first. But nothing excuses a bartender standing idly around, making eye contact, and then turning his back as soon as he realizes you are going to ask for another drink. It got to the point where we'd blurt out all our requests when he came over in the hopes that SOME of our needs would be met. When he finally (after an hour!) decided to let us order, we started with the cheese plate, which had a TON of yummy cheese, and about 6 crackers. Stinky cheese eaten with your fingers is a hot way to spend a Thursday night. Needless to say at this point we'd had enough, and left before we could sample anything else. And to the jackass at the bar next to me that was loudly complaining about the place being "over run by newcomers", I will now gladly leave you to your "regulars". Have fun. read more

Maybe 4 stars. Depends. I've been here and had a great time and I've been here and felt like I've been ripped off. I think they have great beers and good sandwiches -- anything else and you're rolling dice. I've heard that the breakfast here can be excellent but since I haven't officially moved into the area yet I haven't gotten around to trying it. I have had many of their entrees though, and like I said, I've found it best to stick with the sandwiches. I do like the comfy dark wood feel of the place though. I also like the fact that if you're looking for a more casual time -- head to the left, or if you're feeling a bit snazzier -- head to the right and your hostess will get you a proper table. The music is generally pretty good as well. I'll keep coming back but I'm done with looking to be impressed by The Independent. Maybe I'll get that breakfast here one of these days and it will knock my socks on to their asses, but for the time being I'll be happy with it being a solid, classy pub. That being said, I desperately miss the nOg. read more

I've been to the Independent a few times now for drinks, sometimes snacks, but never food, and every time I go, I like it more and more. The space is divided into a bar-feeling area and a restaurant-feeling area, and although I've only been on the bar side, I think the menus are the same. And fabulous. Both the beer and cocktail selection is top notch. The last time I was there, the drinks were a little bit slow in coming, but unimpeachably good when they did. My fruity-palate girl-drinks friend had a difficult time finding something that appealed to her on their list -- ending up with their grapefruit gimlet, subbing in pineapple -- but for anybody who leans towards classic cocktails, this is the place to be. Just scanning down the list, three drinks star Rye Whiskey (rittenhouse and overholt), a spirit sadly absent from many bars, and most of the clear liquor is gin. No fuzzy navels here, but rest assured that if you had your heart set on one, the bartender could whip it up. Prices are slightly higher than I usually hope to pay, but only because of the quality of liquor. Beer prices are definitely nothing to complain about. What bumps this from a four to a five, though, is -- wait for it, because anticipation sweetens desire -- Connect Four. Bam. Perfect bar game. Chess and others are available, but you wanted something that gets more fun as it gets sloppier. The sweet rattle as the checker shimmies down the yellow ladder of victory paired against the warm complexity of a vieux carre specked with surface frost is why I make the trek to if-only-the-T-went-there Union Square. read more

Everytime I go here I have to remind myself that it's ok to enter even though I have no idea what 99% of the beers on tap are. I'm not overwhelmed by this place or underwhelmed by this place. It's a nice place to stop in for a beer, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go here. Since it is one of the few nice bars in the Union Square area I find myself here for the occasional work get together. The food is mediocre at best and it is sometimes hard to find a waitress, but the beer selection makes it worth it. I like the set up inside. Overall, this place doesn't wow me, but it is a good after work destination and one of only two bars in Union. read more

A wonderful accidental find. Food was great. Don't miss the garlic shrimp app, we even asked more more bread to soak up the glorious sauce. The huge portion of steak & frites alone will bring me back here. The frites were thin and soaked up a majority of the delicious sauce, but not to worry, as our gracious server brought more sauce for the meat. Do not miss the Apple Brown Betty dessert. Made with fresh apples and delicious vanilla ice cream, my dining partners and I were fighting over the last crumbs. Drinks were great. I tried El Presidente, which was fruity without being overly sweet. Reminded me a lot of Washington Square Tavern or Beacon Street Tavern. Also of the Publick House in Brookline (fresh food, lots of good drinks), but with a less insane method of seating their patrons. read more

I really like this place, and yet, I also have so many criticisms of the things they do wrong. Mostly, I like what they do right, and like that they are an easy walk from my home, so I really want them to get it together on the few things they do wrong. They have a great drinks list, including one of the best selections of beer on tap in the Boston area. As a former west coaster, I love seeing Lagunitas IPA or Boont Amber on tap! And they also have great beers from closer to home, including my personal favorite, Dogfish's 90 minute IPA. Wine list is good too, interesting bottles at fair prices. They do great cocktails as well. I've had one or two not come out as good as I would have liked, but most of the time they are perfect. They have a wide ranging menu, and while I have never had anything there that was worth raving about, almost everything is pretty good. Burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, and the like are priced in the $9-12 range, and portions are generous and quality is high. Their fancier entrees (which mostly range from $17-23) can be a little hit or miss, but most of the time they are good. I had a really nice swordfish dish the other night. I wish they were a more impressive dining destination, but for what it is, it's not bad. To be clear, this is not a restaurant to cross town for, it's better to think of it as a neighborhood gastro-pub with a nice atmosphere, great drinks, and enjoyable food at reasonable prices. The room is big and well laid out, and they are generally not too crowded, which means it never feels like a zoo and is usually fairly easy to get a table. They keep it really dimly lit, and I can't help but wish they would turn the lights up just a little. Sometimes I will go alone for a burger and a beer and want to read a book and it will seriously be so dark I can barely pull it off. I can't help but think this review doesn't sound enthusiastic enough for the four stars I gave them. I really like these guys, and while, like I said, I do have some criticisms, I think they do a good job. I don't think they qualify for "hidden gem" status, but I do think that anyone who enjoys places with great drinks and food that is a few steps above standard pub fare (I'm thinking of places like Highland Kitchen and the B-Side) would probably find something to like in the Independent as well. read more

I live in a little teenie underdeveloped but on it's way part of Somerville called Union Square. The Independent was the first bar I went to and still go to occasionally. Food is really good, but really 'spensive, which is annoying. But the atmosphere is great, and they have CONNECT 4, along with other games, which kicks ass. It's good for drinking beer and catching up with friends, but not necessarily for eating. If I wanted a 'spensive meal, I would not pick the Independent, solely because I'm trying to keep it a bar in my mind. read more

The beer they have on tap is great. Go for that. Skip out on dinner. The food is over flavored (too much pepper on my wife's steak), overcooked (my squash lasagna) and a bit too much for what it is. The dinner service was also quite slow. I'd go, grab a brew and maybe an appetizer, and just enjoy the atmosphere. read more

I looove the independent. Not only is the beer menu and cocktail menu extensive and diverse, but the food is always solid (in particular the burger with a fried egg on top) and the wings (they were a special, but I hope they'll come back soon!!). The staff is friendly (while being unobtrusive) and extremely knowledgeable about the food and the drink. I prefer the pub side, but the restaurant side is nice too. I wish I was a little bit closer so I didn't have to drive home... read more

So disappointing! Went this week during a very quiet time - the service was SO slow (took almost 10 mins for them to bring my beer) and the food was terrible. The Turkey Osso Bucco was supposed to come with risotto. Last time I checked, seasoned sticky rice and risotto are two very different dishes. Not to mention, the chef forgot to put the sauce on the dish. Our waiter brought it out after we asked. I have to admit, I'm pretty bummed... I've had good experiences, but over the past year, the service has gotten slower and slower. I'll be taking the Independent off my 'go-to' list. read more

The interior of the Independent is stylish without being pretentious, and the drinks are great (especially the basil gimlet). However, the food is tremendously overpriced and the menu is quite limited. The last time I was there I got the fish and chips and asked if the fish could be battered lightly instead of heavily, and the waitress responded that the chef would probably not comply with my request. However, on another occasion, there was a snafu with my reservation and the hostess was extremely friendly and apologetic and gave my eight-person group a round of free drinks. Overall, it's nice to have a clean, comfortable bar/restaurant in the neighborhood, but the food is not worth what it costs. This place is better utilized as a hang-out spot for drinks after getting a superior dinner somewhere else. read more

Really Good Food... Came by after the Fluff Festival in Union Square... We had a gift certificate won at the festival. They were swamped. We sat outside, had to wait a bit for our table but expected that. Ordered a Lambic, wife got a Mojito-esque thing... Loved them. Food took a bit to get to the table and we were told that our ticket got dropped in the kitchen, manager offered and brought comped appetizers... Food came moments later and was really quite nice across the board. Finished meal and were told the whole meal was on the house partnered with vehement apology and refusal to take money for their shortcoming. Tipped the server and made ourselves scarce. Class act staff and ownership ... From hostess's through servers, bussers and management... We'll be back with our gift certificate before too long... read more

Sub-par when it comes to dinner. Friends have brought me here a few times, and it's always a letdown. Last time I tried a vegetarian dinner, and all I remember about it was the undercooked parsnips. read more

Met friends here for brunch and it was worth the hike! The waitress was really friendly and the whole vibe was mellow, Sunday morning, living is easy sort of thing, while keeping us well fed and hydrated. The food was outstanding - the menu options were super appealing. Sometimes brunch menus are all the same damn thing, but half of the menu here was unique and also very tempting. Also, seriously people, maple bacon donuts?! My mimosa was fab, my coffee was fab, my cozy booth was fab, everything was great. Also, the bathrooms were clean and they had a changing table! Yay! read more

Pretty decent food, epically long beer list, and fantastic location. The bar room (left) has that "we wanna look like a dive bar except our beers are $8 so we're not" vibe to it. The dining room area fits the menu/prices. I love to eat here on Saturday afternoons, right after I go to the Union Sq. farmer's market. They have brunch on weekends and it's pretty good. read more

I can see people being a fan of this place. The vibe all around is very friendly. There looked to be lots of regulars hanging out. The waitresses were sweet and there at the right times. I went in for Sunday brunch and honestly just wasn't loving the food. I got the fried chicken sandwich. The chicken was rubbery and the bread was very hard. I ended up just cutting the chicken on the plate and eating it that way. My bf had the pulled pork but it could of used more sauce. They do make good fries with the skin on and give you an obnoxious amount of them on your plate. The spicy aioli is a good option to get on the side for them. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back cause its not my neighborhood. I can see it as a local hangout. The scene for drinks is probably fun on a weekend. I would leave it at that and just get the fries. read more

Alright so I may or may not have been a little grumpy after my first foray into the Independent back in September. Since then I've made a few returns for drinks (and even food) and had a perfectly pleasant evening. The cocktails really can't be beat. There's a great selection of them (as well as draft beers) and the price isn't too shabby. The food has been much improved since my first jaunt - perhaps they were having an off night. The staff is great and very nice. Even when things get busy - they seem to stay pretty upbeat. read more

Well! What a splendid little find! Union Square, I must admit, gives me the willies, considering I usually drive and have never not felt like I was going to barrel into oncoming traffic from a suddenly-two-lane street, but I've heard there are some good spots here, and I'd like to be part of the revolution before it becomes too trendy. Be forewarned: this is not a pub, it's a nice restaurant, with prices to match. But the food is GOOD, it's local, and the interior alone is enough to sooth the workday woes right outta you. A nice menu, we discovered, is as follows: a beer from their decent but high-quality beerlist, an order to share of their FANTASTIC ARTICHOKE DIP, and an entree that's hard to ruin. I got a great blue cheese burger (great fries), my fellow diner got a salmon that she raved about. The only complaint was her boyfriend's fried chicken--apparently the "biscuit" was a bun. Fail. An inordinate amount of dishes were dropped behind the bar throughout the night, but hey, we're all of us only human, right? read more

Somerville has no shortage of great pubs in the area, and despite the number, all of them are different levels of experience, good and not so good. One of the better ones, if you find yourself in the Somerville area, is The Independent. With a nice rustic looking pub feel, this is a good place to go, specifically if you are in a brunch-y mood. The maple bacon donuts are a good choice to start it off. Can we just take a minute and recognize the beauty of that delight? Maple. Bacon. Donut. In the same sentence, no less. If you are a fan of sweet, savory and salty, this is for you. The Irish breakfast was the meal of choice for anyone who wants a traditional meal in an Irish pub or just something new to try. Chock full of puddings (more meat mashup than pudding) baked beans, grilled tomato, Irish bacon, Irish bread and sausage, there is enough meat here to put you in a food coma. Nice, tasty and warm, its a great way to start a day, or pregame for a nap, anyways. My girlfriend ordered the delectable french toast, which was more than we could handle at the time. Big pieces, they were soft and delicious, as French Toast needs to be. As we couldn't finish them, they ended up warming up nicely for a snack later in the day. If you do decide to do brunch, don't make the mistake of showing up too early. The staff was in full stride as we were finishing up. Showing up at 11 on a weekend for brunch might a bit too early for the staff there. It was a bit off putting having one person serving a whole room, but I can understand that it might have been one of those places that really doesn't get going until later in the day. Anyways, The Independent is definitely a good place for brunch. I would be curious to see it fares later in the day with lunch and dinner. Nonetheless, its a great place to check out. read more