The University Club & Restaurant

Nope. I don’t think I remember a more disappointing meal. While this place may be good for unloading all your YCMP swipes and is redeemed by it’s quick service and waitstaff, it’s not good for much else.
While this place serves scallops and filet mignon, and crab cakes, they are so inexpertly cooked I could hardly call it a good meal. And don’t get me started on the astoundingly pathetic cheese plate which didn’t have enough of anything to be called an appetizer. The scallops tasted old and rubbery and came in a meager portion, the steak didn’t have any meaty flavor besides black pepper. The root vegetable side was only ok.
We ordered a bunch of shirley temples and when it came out there were six fruit flies in my glass and more in my friends. Our waitress promptly took our drinks back and made us a new ones with a fresh bottle of grenadine but it was super disconcerting to have that sitting in the pantry.
I certainly would not pay to take here again. I wouldn’t even take my grandparents here. I think anyone could make a better meal.

We needed to find a rehearsal dinner venue on short notice, and the University Club came to our rescue! Most of our guests were already staying at the Hotel UMass (where we held our wedding reception), so it couldn’t have been more convenient.
All of our guests loved the historic house and the beautiful patio. It presented a nice contrast to the modern ballroom at the Hotel UMass. The layout is unique, with a large open space by the bar, which opens out onto the patio, and smaller dining rooms of varying sizes on the other end of the club. I liked that I was able to plug my iPod into their sound system and curate the music for the evening. It was such a warm, cozy affair.
The quality of the food was excellent. We started with salsa, guac, and chips, and served a taco bar as the main course. UMass catering offers seemingly endless options, ranging from more casual (like our meal) to custom, plated, super fancy meals. I appreciated their willingness to work with our relatively limited budget and was very pleased with the quality of the meal.
As was our experience at the Hotel UMass, the quality of service was first-​rate. The staff was incredibly kind, professional, and accommodating. I’m pretty sure we were in the space beyond our slated end time and they didn’t charge us OT.
The biggest hit of the night was THE BAR. The beer selection was incredible, and this is coming from a beer snob. It wasn’t a crazy 50-​tap sort of offering, but rather, a moderate and carefully curated selection of bottles and drafts, including local brews, widely known domestics, and more exotic international brews. WOW. What a fun evening.
I’ll reiterate that the value for the price is unparalleled in the valley. Parking was also a breeze.

Go Minutemen! The University Club, slightly atop the University of Massachusetts Amherst, fits perfectly within the campus’ community of award winning college dining commons. Even though it’s the oldest building on campus, the food is well up to date. You can’t go to New England and not get seafood! So crab cakes was just what I ordered. The crab-​to-​filling ratio was just about right. The apple cold-​slaw paired nicely along side. To forget about how refreshing the apple slaw was, I ended off my meal with a chocolate tart cake (something around those lines). For all you chocolate lovers, THIS is the cake to devour. But definitely split it with a friend of you just want a taste. By the time dinner was over I forgot I just ate in what was originally a home. Who knew a 5-​star dining experience could be found on a college campus?!

A fine birthday meal — whatever the reason may be.
I was skeptical entering the University Club, I must admit. I have heard mixed reviews of its food and service but had to see for myself. Yes, I went on an evening whereupon a fixed-​price menu was being specially served so perhaps there was an unusual attentiveness in the kitchen. I can’t say for sure. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my meal very much.
From the cheerful waitstaff and hostesses to the prompt service and throughout my delicous meal, I was pleased. Grilled Endive with sweet roasted Kobucha Squash was a nice light but sweet palate-​priming dish. I enjoyed well seared Arctic char with remarkable buttery beluga lentils and roasted fall vegetables (I’m a sucker for Brussels, I admit it). My fellow diner enjoyed (and I too ‘cheated’ — red-​meat-​abstaining-​me) perfectly fresh and well cooked venison atop a parsnip purée of remarkable richness and sweetness. Dessert was a wonderful slice of Raspberry chocolate cheesecake — a dessert I seldom find myself praising as a relative Cheesecake fearing man.
I truly enjoyed the University Club and will certainly go back — prices are high but no more so than at any comparable restaurants in Amherst. Their wines– a good selection.

For the numerous times that I’ve gone with friends for dinner, it has always been a great and convenient experience (located right on campus near Franklin Dining Commons)! At the end of the semester I usually have quite a few YCMP swipes left so my friends and I splurge by using them up on «extravagant» meals at UClub. (Better that than feeding UMass Dining free money!)
The menu in my opinion is definitely on the pricier side if you were to spend your own non-​prepaid money, but it is an upgrade from the regular Dining Hall mass-​produced meals. Plus it’s in a charming blue old-​fashioned house, apparently the oldest in Amherst! Most if not all of the servers are UMass students so I didn’t factor any expectations for the service. Although I was impressed that when one of my friends made a reservation for 12 of us, the staff actually found a table AND private room to accommodate all of us!
APPETIZERS: Pan-​seared Scallops, Stuffed mushrooms (Both were delicious! Who knew scallops with a bit of apple sauce and some chips on the side would taste so good.)
ENTREES: Pan-​seared Salmon, Herb-​crusted Mahi (Both my boyfriend and I were pleasantly surprised by how delicious and appropriately seasoned the fish were!)
NY Steak (underwhelming, tough), Seafood Pasta (I don’t really like their pasta since it reminds me of dining hall food, plus there weren’t enough scallops or shrimp)
DESSERTS: They have a daily menu so the server will let you know. Lemon cake, Cheese cake, Chocolate Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, etc…
(I’ve tried a lot of different ones, and they are all good but nothing sticks out in my mind in particular. I’m usually probably too full at this point.)

I’m writing this just arriving home from dinner at the University Club with two friends. I would like to start off by saying that I enjoyed the atmosphere of the club; our server was wonderful, helpful, and friendly; our food was delivered promptly and with a smile. Unfortunately these are the only positive things I can say about my experience there tonight.
I entered expecting to enjoy a well cooked meal that may be a little expensive, but would be comparable to a similarly priced meal off-​campus. I’m sure one can understand my disappointment when my $ 24 entrée was served with undercooked rice that clearly was prepared from a box, creamed spinach that rivals only the generic frozen variety, and a pineapple slice fresh from the can. The flavorless fish was only slightly overcooked, but it was topped with a garnish that was crusty and unappetizing. One of my dinner companions spent $ 16 on a special that was served with 5 green beans. One would hope for that price they might be a little more generous. I can’t imagine where the pricing comes from. The bill for three of us came to around $ 70 with none of us ordering drinks. The small serving sizes and poorly cooked meals are outrageously priced. I will enthusiastically recommend my friends to avoid the U. Club at all costs until either the prices are lowered or the quality of the food drastically improves.

Not bad, but definitely a branch of the dining hall staff. I can see it being a place for professors to eat and bill to their department, possibly even to take a favored student as a treat (and break from ramen noodles), but otherwise, kind of eh.
There are are far better places right in Amherst proper, but if you don’t want to leave campus, it’s pretty decent.