Krave 2014 by Worcester Magazine

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The Broadway Musical

OCT 28-NOV 2

NOV 8

TM ©

NOV 21-23

A Christmas Carol NOV 28-DEC 1

DEC 2

DEC 19-28

FEB 13-15

MAR 6-8

MAY 8-10

Ceres Bistro at The Beechwood Hotel 508.754.5789 363 Plantation St • Worcester

TheHanoverTheatre.org 877.571.SHOW (7469) 2 Southbridge St. • Worcester

Worcester Center for the Performing Arts, a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, owns and operates The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts.

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Table of Contents

Pairings that enhance the senses.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Three ways to enjoy bobas.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Carne!.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 All aboard the spud wagon.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Dining Out: Restaurant listings.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Healthy Dining in the Woo.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 What He Kraves with Dan Andelman of the Phantom Gourmet .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

About the cover

Kirk A. Davis President

Kathleen Real Publisher

Brittany Durgin Editor Steven King Photographer Walter Bird Jr. Senior Writer Don Cloutier Director of Creative Services Kimberly Vasseur Creative Director/ Assistant Director of Creative Services Bess Couture, Becky Gill, Stephanie Mallard Graphic Artists Helen Linnehan Ad Director Rick McGrail Media Consultant Casandra Moore Media Coordinator Worcester Magazine is an independent news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement. EDITORIAL: 508.749.3166 SALES: 508.749.3166 E-MAIL: editor@worcestermagazine.com

Pho Dakao’s blended boba drinks. Photo by Steven King. Design by Kimberly Vasseur.

Worcester Magazine, 72 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604 worcestermagazine.com

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KRAVE 2014 5

Pairings that enhance the senses R

estaurants are taking dining to a whole new level with food and beverage pairings, an upscale option that turns dinner into an experience. “We believe that a really great food and wine pairing enhance each other,” said Katie Kelly, wine director for Niche Hospitality, which owns a cohort of restaurants, including The Citizen and The People’s Kitchen. “Instead of one plus one equals two, it’s one plus one equals three; because a great wine [and] a great dish ... taste better with each other,” said Kelly. The Citizen, located on Exchange St., is first and foremost a wine, cheese and chocolate bar, but also shares a menu with its counterpart, The People’s Kitchen, an upscale restaurant, located upstairs. Known for its selection of cheeses and charcuteries, The People’s Kitchen offers preselected wine flights to pair with each of these options. Each flight includes three two-ounce pours of wine that are offered in three different options: white wines, red wines and a combination of red, white and rosé wines. “Sauvignon blanc is a really great white wine that has high acidity, which is great for eating,” said Kelly, explaining how highly acidic wines trigger the mouth to water, which pairs well with the restaurant’s softer cheeses. In contrast, the rosé wine pairs well with any menu item, said Kelly, including the restaurant’s house-made pickles found on the charcuterie board. “It has a structure of a red wine but it chills like a white wine, so it’s a really nice transition,” explained Kelly. Also, she said, “the red wine that we have is a barbera from Italy, so it’s a lighter, low tannin red wine. It goes really great with...some of the harder, sharper cheeses.” The restaurant offers a bone-in, dry-aged rib eye served over roasted

potatoes and sautéed vegetables of the season, paired with a tannic zinfandel wine. “When you have a piece of meat that has a high fat content, you want a tannic wine to help cut through the fat,” advised Kelly. Also fond of pairing food and drink is Peppercorn’s owner Tom Oliveri, whose family has been in the food business since 1980. Described by Oliveri as an

“upscale family restaurant with Italian flare,” Peppercorn’s allows guests to enhance their dining experience with meals like the crispy Fontina Chicken – a breaded cutlet topped with prosciutto and fontina cheese and a creamy, roasted garlic and lemon cream topping – paired with J.Lohr Chardonnay. “[J.Lohr] is probably the best

continued on page 6

The Castle Restaurant’s North Atlantic cod wrapped in salmon pastrami paired with Greco di Tufo 2011 Mastroberardino Vinyards Campania, Italy.

STEVEN KING

Jacleen Charbonneau

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PAIRINGS continued from page 5

chardonnay at its price point. It’s creamy and buttery, but it’s also acidic. It finishes pretty dry,” explained Oliveri. “Wines that finish acidic will pair well with foods, and I think the J.Lohr hits on those notes.” Additionally, Oliveri suggests Cecchi Bonizio Chianti from Italy with the restaurant’s Neapolitan thin crust pizzas, which are thinly-rolled and cooked at 700 degrees. “Chianti is typically … a pretty dry wine. [For the

or her preferred taste. However, one pairing he is particularly fond of is the cod loin wrapped in salmon pastrami, which is pan-seared and then ovenroasted, coupled with a glass of Greco di Tufo by Mastroberardino. “It tends to have a real polished vanillin and melon-apricot nuance. It tends to work against, or is a foil to, the strong pastrami spices of the salmon, which is a little softened out by the pure… cod” said Nicas. “So it works to showcase those flavors. It’s one of

STEVEN KING

James S. Nicas, owner of the Castle Restaurant, with sous chef and pastry chef Cassie Ramsey.

pizza], you got the tomato sauce, which is on the sweeter side. You have the cheese, which is rich and creamy, and pairs very well,” said Oliveri. “Chianti generally goes with anything and everything, but pizza especially.” Also experienced in fine wine is the staff at the Castle Restaurant in Leicester, marked as one of the Top 10 wine cellars in the U.S., offering fine dining for nearly 65 years and occasional wine-maker dinners. “We were really the benchmark for fine dining and, most importantly, wine in Central New England,” said General Manager and maître d’hôtel James Nicas, who has purchased the wine for his family-owned restaurant for nearly five decades. “There’s no easy explanation [for pairings]. It really is trial and error, and understanding the different chemical compositions of food and wine.” When it comes to pairing, Nicas recognizes that every guest has his

those magical things that seems to work very well.” Nicas recently tried a unique pairing for an International Wine and Food Society dinner, which consisted of Lirac, a Grenache blend from France, and scallops cooked in wild mushroom, shallot and butter cream, topped with muenster cheese and then baked. “People would, most times, veer away from a very rich, concentrated red wine with a shellfish and cream base. But, when add[ing] the wild mushrooms and the sweetness of the Nantucket scallops…it was pretty across the board that it was unusual but extremely successful.” Also highly recognized for an exceptional selection of pairings is Armsby Abbey on Main Street in Worcester, which has offered some of the best craft beers and locally-sourced food to its guests since it first opened its doors six years ago. This multiaward-winning restaurant holds its

standards high, offering a beer pairing for each item on its menu. Armsby Abbey, said owner and curator of the restaurant’s beer selection Alec Lopez, “is a complete ethical commitment to the idea of serving hand-crafted food with the best ingredients possible. For us, that means that they’re coming from local farms. The food is technique-driven, always evolving.” The food and cocktail menu constantly changes at Armsby Abbey, so naturally as do pairings offered. “The goal is to enhance the food and beer experience. You’re creating a marriage, a symbiotic relationship … It’s something we take incredibly seriously and have since day one,” said Lopez. Lopez gives the example of the Belgian Wit, an “unfiltered wheat beer that has the addition of coriander and orange peel,” paired with fresh goat cheese. Additionally, Lopez recommends fresh, hoppy IPAs with tomatoes. “We’re sort of dealing with bright acidity. Tomatoes – sweetness and brightness – really line up well with hops. When you have something that’s really freshly-hopped like an IPA, you are dealing with the oils from the hops still being present in the IPA. Big citrus aromas … and grassy and floral notes,” explained Lopez. “The combination of the two, [hoppy IPA and tomatoes], is really nice. You could do a really classic Castilian Gazpacho and pair that with a super bright IPA.” With local restaurants offering pairings, diners can indulge in a feast for the senses, experiment with new drinks, and perhaps discover a new favorite combination or two. Visit these restaurants and try a pairing for yourself! The Citizen and The People’s Kitchen 1 Exchange Place, Worcester Peppercorn’s Grille & Tavern 455 Park Ave., Worcester Castle Restaurant 1230 Main St., Leicester Armsby Abbey 144 Main St., Worcester

8 KRAVE 2014

STEVEN KING

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Three ways to enjoy bobas Mike Murray Pho Dakao’s blended boba drinks.

hroughout the past 10 years, American cities have witnessed the growth of the curious elixir, boba tea, also commonly called bubble tea or pearl milk tea, and Worcester is no stranger to this popular beverage. The drink typically combines a chilled, blended or iced Asian tea with chewy, pea-sized bubbles of a variety of flavors, from fruit flavors like mango, orange, or coconut, but most commonly tapioca. The origin of boba tea is oft debated, but many scholars have settled on Chun Shui Tang tea house in Taichung, Taiwan, where product development manager Ms. Lin Hsiu Hui combined the tea house’s famous Chinese iced tea with a traditional Taiwanese dessert of sweetened tapioca pudding called fen yuan. The concoction was an instant success and the drink went global within a few years. While larger cities like Boston and New York are home to dozens, if not hundreds, of restaurants and tea shops serving bubble tea, Worcester has capitalized on the trend with a small handful of East Asian restaurants, each serving their own version of the drink. Pho Dakao on Park Ave. has been a local favorite for traditional Vietnamese fare for years, and while most diners visit for the comfortable dining room, lively bar and the restaurant’s eponymous Vietnamese noodle soups, the restaurant has also carved out a niche in serving a variety of excellent blended bubble teas. Pho Dakao’s hallmark boba tea is their Trà Thái, Thai iced tea, that is made with strong Ceylon tea, blended with milk, and flavored using orange blossom and spices like tamarind and star aniseed. As is customary in many Western Vietnamese restaurants, the Trà Thái is blended into a thick and refreshing frappe, with dozens of bobas layered heavily at the bottom of the glass. Though Pho Dakao’s most popular

worcestermagazine.com/A Special Supplement of Worcester Magazine

boba tea is the Trà Thái, the restaurant also specializes in a handful of less common teas, including durian (not nearly as smelly as the famous aromatic fruit), jack fruit and avocado, which is surprisingly sweet and refreshing. Just minutes down the street from Pho Dakao is one of Worcester’s newest Asian restaurants and the only hot pot restaurant in the city, Chuan Shabu, also on Park Ave. While the focus of Chuan is on hot pot – an East Asian stew that allows diners to cook their own meats and fish at the table – the restaurant also features a delicious Taro iced bubble tea. Served over ice instead of blended, this pale purple beverage is flavored using taro which is the corm, a bulbous root, and tastes similar to a sweet potato. While it may sound as strange as an avocado tea, taro is one of the most popular boba teas. Chuan Shabu’s taro iced tea is sweet, spicy and smooth with a few dozen bobas floating lightly at the bottom of the glass. With Chuan Shabu serving their

signature bubble tea over ice and Pho Dakao having delicious blended teas, it begs the question of which is better: a frappe-like boba tea or a chilled boba tea over ice? Much of this comes down to personal preference and while I prefer a refreshing draw from a bubble tea over ice, if your goal is to suck the slippery, chewy and sweet tapioca balls through your straw, having a blended frappe makes this much easier. For those who simply can’t decide between iced or frappe, the dilemma is complicated further by the popularity of serving fruit boba along with frozen yogurt. Just minutes from Pho Dakao and Chuan Shabu is one of Worcester’s original frozen yogurt shops – Wooberry. With lines that back out the door at all hours of the day, Wooberry swirls up frigid frozen yogurt piled high with toppings, ranging from crushed candy bars, to dark chocolate swirls, and of course, boba. Worcesterarea diners looking for a fruity treat should look to combine Wooberry’s

KRAVE 2014 9

pomegranate frozen yogurt, with fresh kiwi, and Lychee boba – a sweet, aromatic and vaguely floral boba that packs an impossibly juicy bite. It is impossible to decide on only one way to enjoy boba, and Worcesterarea diners who need a fix for boba can enjoy three variations on the treat within just a few miles. Whether you are topping your frozen yogurt, slurping up a blended frappe, or cooling off with a taro iced bubble tea, there is truly no wrong way to enjoy boba. Try a boba for yourself! Pho Dakao 593 Park Ave., Worcester Chuan Shabu 301 Park Ave., Worcester Wooberry Frozen Yogurt 141 Highland St., Worcester

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Cade Overton

ove meat, but tired of the same old steak? There are several restaurants in Worcester that offer different takes on carnivorous pleasures, ones with offerings inspired by cuisines south of the border and even across the pond to satisfy your need for culinary adventure. Other cultures’ traditions and variations on preparation and seasoning offer an easy way to escape the norm, so let’s take a look at three local establishments thinking outside of the American box.

Carne!

is cut straight from the skewer by the chef at the counter as the customer makes selections. All of it may look and sound familiar, but something as simple as pork sausage is impressively spiced and perfectly cooked. Beef is sliced thin and can be had in any level of rareness; the medium-rare is very pink with no blood, and boasts an uncommon sweetness that is the result of a wonderful marinade, which is perfectly offset by a charred and very salty crust. The roast pork strikes a similar note, but is heavily doused with a bouquet

methods of getting meat into your mouth is in a corn tortilla, but it can be difficult here in New England to find tacos of the authentic Mexican persuasion. Look no further than Tacos Parilla Mexicana on Millbury St., but be prepared to dust off your high school Spanish. A great place to start is with a chorizo taco. Mexican chorizo is sausage, usually made of fatty pork, chili peppers and a variety of spices. It can be deceptively hot, so go easy on the hot sauce at first. From there, try a carnitas taco. Carnitas, literally “little Tacos Parilla Mexicana

Pampas Churrascaria

First up is Pampas Churrascaria, located in the heart of the Shrewsbury Street restaurant district. A churrascaria is a place where meat is cooked in churrasco style, which means “barbecue” in Portuguese. This style of rotisserie has its origins in the fireside meals of the gauchos of southern Brazil, traditionally from the Pampa region. Pampas in Worcester offers a variety of dining options, including an impressive buffet and an entire corner devoted to churrascaria. Customers stand in front of a large rotisserie-style barbecue oven and choose from a variety of meats; it’s easy to overdo things without meaning to with the range of options. The meat

Bocado

of spices that would be a challenge to guess at. Hefty slices of chicken leg meat are so tender it’s almost difficult to believe it’s chicken, yet somehow the skin is crispy. As a result, the baconwrapped chicken is almost too rich to handle, and at this point it becomes explicitly clear that Pampas is not your uncle’s backyard barbecue. It’s also extremely hard to leave without feeling morbidly, yet satisfyingly full, and that’s without bothering with the wide variety of vegetables available from the buffet. A crushing amount of meat will set you back just over $10. Without question, one of the best

meats,” are made by slow-cooking pork in oil or lard until tender and then pulling it to shreds. It can be spiced with cilantro, and the flavor does not disappoint. It offers a complexity you won’t find in American pulled pork, and the seasoning at Tacos Parilla Mexicana is outstanding. It’s possibly the perfect taco filling. For a true adventure, if you think you can handle it, it’s definitely worth trying a lengua (tongue) taco. It is, quite literally, cubic chunks of beef tongue, and though the texture is a little startling (think somewhere between brisket and gelatin), the flavor is very interesting. It certainly tastes

KRAVE 2014 11 like beef, but there’s a richness and subtlety to it that’s hard to pin down. Three tacos here will cost you next to nothing – they go for $2 apiece. Finally, if you’re feeling flush and want a classy experience, head to Bocado on Winter Street. Bocado is a Spanish-style tapas and wine bar, where mixing a lot of smaller dishes for a big experience is encouraged. As a result, the restaurant offers a long list of varied options. From the charcuteria menu, the house-cured pork loin is a lightly-spiced and thinly-sliced pile of meat that pairs very well with the accompanying bread and jam, and is certainly worth topping with some fried goat cheese. When it comes to tapas, it can pay to be adventurous once again. The conejo de blanco is slow-braised rabbit in white whine, garlic and fresh thyme reduction, and it is a perfect fall dish. The meat is tender and the portion is surprisingly large, served in a shredded pile with a slice of toast as a base, which will soak up the delicious juices as you slice into the meat. The thyme gives it a distinctive harvest flavor, which is very nice in the colder weather. It’s a unique experience, but not so foreign as to be jarring, and you’ll come away knowing you haven’t had rabbit for the last time. Be prepared to shell out a little more at Bocado – it’s well worth it. Leave the leftovers at home next time you’re feeling those meat cravings. The carnivorous urge is one that deserves your full attention and the ultimate satisfaction, and you don’t even need a passport to pull it off.

Welcome to Padavano’s Place, an Italian family owned and operated establishment. Padavano’s Place is the sister restaurant of Rosalina’s Kitchen located on Hamilton Street in Worcester, famous for their homemade raviolis and quaint BYOB dining room.

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Try these meat items and others for yourself at: Pampas Churrascaria 145 E. Central St., Worcester Tacos Parilla Mexicana 138 Millbury St., Worcester Bocado 82 Winter St., Worcester

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Delivery & take-Out Worcester’s favorite pizza for more than 35 years! Order at bluejeanspizza.com or call 508-753-3777 Corner of Park Ave & Pleasant St Sun.–Thurs. 11AM–Midnight, Fri.–Sat. 11AM–1AM Blue Jeans Delivers! Limited area, minimum order

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Pizza and brew and a full dinner menu too Next to Blue Jeans, under Loft 266 Opens at 4:30 Weds.–Sun.

Blue Jeans Bistro

next to Blue Jeans Opens at 4:30 Weds.–Sun.

14 KRAVE 2014

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All aboard the spud wagon

Corlyn Voorhees

hey are starchy, hearty and can go with almost anything. Potatoes are used as a main ingredient in many delicious meals, but several Worcester restaurants have found creative ways to prepare them for hungry customers. Olé Taqueria, located on Water St., serves a potato taco and potato burrito, thanks to the daughter of owner John Haskell. “My daughter is a vegetarian and she’s the one who came up with it,” he said. The potatoes used are cut into cubes, seasoned and fried, replacing the traditional meat in the tacos and are served with lettuce, tomato, cheese and other taco supplements. Haskell said the potato taco is very popular with vegetarians and vegans who visit the restaurant. “Our potato tacos are actually our No. 1 seller,” said Haskell. “I think it’s because it’s different.” Also located on Water St., Weintraub’s Jewish Delicatessen & Restaurant offers a potato knish, a type of Eastern European snack, as an appetizer. Owner David Midrahi described it as a mixture of mashed potatoes and fried dough. “A lot of people are vegetarians so they buy that,” he said. Pomir Grill, serving Afghanistan cuisine on Shrewsbury St., offers a type of pan-fried potato-filled pastry called Kachalu Bolani. “A lot of vegetarians and vegans go for [Kachalu Bolani],” said Sowzia Sherzai, owner and chef. “People love it.” While Pomir Grill does not use a lot of potatoes in their dishes, Sherzai said

“they’re definitely a vegetable that a lot of people like.” At O’Connor’s Restaurant & Bar, located on West Boylston St., the bestselling appetizer is the potato pizza. Made with baked potato skins and topped with three cheeses, herbs, bacon bits, tomato, red peppers, mushrooms and scallions and served with the restaurant’s original creamy

said. “They are huge part of the Irish psyche.” O’Connor estimated that about 50 percent of the menu uses potatoes as an ingredient. “It’s really because we’re Irish,” he said. “It’s like rice and the Chinese cuisine, you know? We grew up with potatoes.” STEVEN KING

The potato pizza at O’Connor’s Restaurant & Bar.

dip, vegetarians can also enjoy it without the bacon. “We’ve been serving it since the day we opened,” said owner Brendan O’Connor. “It’s one of those Irish comfort foods that’s just taken off over the years.” O’Connor also suggests the New England Fisherman’s Pie, a seafood pie containing haddock, salmon, shrimp and bay scallops with diced potatoes, a New England-style chowder sauce and a crust made of mashed potato, cauliflower and white cheddar cheese. “We use a lot of potatoes,” he

Visit these restaurants and try the spud-inspired dishes for yourself: Olé Tacqueria 118 Water St., Worcester Weintraub’s Jewish Delicatessen 126 Water St., Worcester Pomir Grill 119 Shrewsbury St., Worcester O’Connor’s Restaurant & Bar 1160 West Boylston St., Worcester

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Cafes and Coffeehouses

Acoustic Java 932A Main St., Worcester 508-756-9446 acousticjava.com Bagel Time 194B Park Ave., Worcester 508-798-0440 bageltimeUSA.com Bagel Inn 785 Main St., Holden 508-829-3550 Bean Counter 113 Highland St., Worcester 508-754-3125 288 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury 508-754-0505 beancounterbakery.com Black Diamond Coffee 307 Grafton St. (Rte. 140), Shrewsbury 508-842-3709 The Breakfast Bar 119 June St., Worcester 508-373-2864

Dining Out

Coffee Mug 286 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-832-3616 Heritage Coffee Shop 567 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-832-9297 inhouse Coffee 225 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-363-1212 inhousecoffeeusa.com La Tazza 69 Main St., Leominster 978-840-2739 LalaJava 290 West Main St. Ste 12, Northborough 508-393-7625 lalajava.com Miranda Bread 140 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-791-2030 mirandabread.com NU Cafe 335 Chandler St., Worcester 508-926-8800 nucafe.com

On the Rise Baking 1120 Pleasant St., Worcester 508-752-3809 Sturbridge Coffee House 479 Main St., Fiskdale 508-347-2288 sturbridgecoffeehouse.com Sturbridge Coffee Roasters 212 Hamilton St., Southbridge 508-765-5520 sturbridgecoffeeroasters.com

13”

The diameter of a pancake at Jan’s Kitchen.

Sweet 72 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-373-2248 sweetworcester.com Tatnuck Bookseller Café 18 Lyman St., Westborough 508-366-4959 Wholly Cannoli Cafe & Bakery 490 Grafton St., Worcester 508-753-0224

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Diners

Boulevard Diner 155 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-791-4535 Carl’s Oxford Diner 291 Main St., Oxford 508-987-8770 Charlie’s Diner 32 West Main St., Spencer 508-885-4033 Gold Star Restaurant 68 West Boylston St., Worcester 508-852-7900 The Kenmore Diner 250 Franklin St., Worcester 508-792-5125 Lou Roc’s 1074 West Boylston St., Worcester 508-852-6888 Mac’s Diner 185 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-868-7508 continued on page 18

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16 KRAVE 2014

Colin Burdett

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Healthy Dining in the Woo

n 2010, three UMass Medical students challenged the traditional “eat until you’re full” restaurant paradigm by creating a natural, healthy and delicious dining experience known as WooFood. Co-founders Adam Chin, Matt DeWolfe and Mitch Li envisioned a sustainable way to enjoy eating out, without having to sacrifice the notion of being forced to eat healthy. “We were noticing that people were becoming upset with only having two options: eating healthy or eating something that is tasty,” DeWolfe said. “We combined them, and created a healthful and tasty experience.” The WooFood initiative allows restaurants and cafes in Worcester to spread this message of combining tradition and health.

“We educated local chefs on how to make desirable dishes that are flavorful and packed with whole grains, proteins and nutrients, allowing patrons to not feel forced to eat healthy,” explained DeWolfe. “These restaurants are now naturally guiding their customers to healthy eating options while still maintaining a fun and casual dining experience.” To help grow the WooFood philosophy, restaurants in and around Worcester can become WooFood Certified. There are three levels of certification: basic, silver and gold. To meet the standard of these certification, each restaurant has a certain level of healthy initiatives to maintain. Each restaurant must have two vegetarian dishes, one non-vegetarian dish, one appetizer and one dessert that meet WooFood

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY OR PRIVATE PARTY WITH NO ROOM RENTAL FEE! 64 Water St., Worcester • 508.792.GAME (4263) PerfectGameWorcester.com • Also find us on Facebook

certification criteria. The menus must also have a prominent display of whole grain options, no Trans fats and offer smaller portion sizes. To help with oversized portions, the minds at WooFood have created the “Dinner for Now, Tomorrow’s Chow” option, which allows customers to eat half their meal at the restaurant and save the other half for a next day meal. “Having smaller portion sizes allows restaurant owners to keep their same prices while also allowing customers to be satisfied and healthy and having food for later,” said DeWolfe. “It’s a win-win for everyone.” Over 10 restaurants have become WooFood certified, most recently: 7 Nana Japanese Steakhouse on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester and Apple Spice Junction located in the White City Plaza in Shrewsbury. Popular restaurants like The Flying Rhino Café and Coral Seafood have been strong supporters of the WooFood initiative. Even small cafes and dessert shops, including Sweet Worcester, NU Café and Wooberry frozen yogurt have jumped on the WooFood bandwagon. In order for a dessert to become certified, it must include at least half fruits (frozen or fresh) and must contain no added sugar. For example, Wooberry offers a wholesome 3-ounce WooFood certified frozen yogurt and customers can put as many fruits, nuts and granola on it as they wish (light amounts of dark chocolate is considered a healthy topping, too). In January of 2014, UMass Medical students Salim Zerriny and Jason Todd were handed the respective WooFood torch and are focusing on maintaining and strengthening their current connections with WooFood restaurants and plan on expanding to different locations and catering to different restaurant demographics. Try a WooFood certified dish for yourself. Below are three offerings suggested by WooFood certified restaurants.

KRAVE 2014 17 LUNCH Garden Fresh (Located inside St. Vincent Hospital) The Falafel: A 4-ounce portion of falafel mixed with tahini, hummus, tabbouleh, alfalfa sprouts, cucumbers, lettuce, tomato and onions served on a 12-inch whole wheat tortilla wrap or on top of a spinach salad. $5.99 DINNER The Flying Rhino Café, 278 Shrewsbury St., Worcester Cranberry Chicken: Two 6-ounce grilled white chicken breasts marinated with an original cranberry glaze served with two sides: jeweled black rice (rice mixed with almond nuts, ginger and dried cranberry) and sautéed broccolini. The meal is served over a homemade cranberry sauce and a cucumber yogurt sauce.$19.00

Enjoy a Casual Dining Experience 34+ Ice Cold Draft Beers on Tap

DESSERT Wooberry, 141 Highland St., Worcester Petite Frozen Yogurt: A 3-ounce serving of your choice of frozen yogurt flavor topped with at least two WooFood certified toppings which include: fruit, granola, nuts and a small amount of dark chocolate.

Thursday Night Trivia Game Room • New Bar Specials

508.835.4722

42 West Boylston St., W. Boylston, MA

Under NEW Management MONDAY - Kids Eat FREE with purchase of regular entree TUESDAY - Senior’s Day - 10% off & FREE bread pudding WEDNESDAY - Worcester Cowboys Day 10% off for players, cheerleaders & families THURSDAY - Karaoke | FRIDAY - Live Music SATURDAY - Karaoke SUNDAY - 1/2 price appetizers at the bar/lounge

Monday - Friday Specials 4 - 7 pm Half price apps with beer/alcoholic drink purchase

Live Music on Fridays with Doug Sanders

480 SHREWSBURY ST. Worcester, 508-755-1808

UMass - 10% off with ID College Students 10% off with ID

18 KRAVE 2014

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continued from page 15

Miss Worcester 300 Southbridge St., Worcester 508-753-5600 Parkway Restaurant & Bar 148 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-753-9968 parkwayma.com Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner 148 Grove St., Worcester 508-753-9543 ralphsrockdiner.com

Chinese

Bauhinia 271 Grafton St., Shrewsbury 508-842-0880 Best Chinese 892 Main St., Worcester 508-752-3392 Chef Sau 148 Main St., Spencer 508-885-3995 chefsau.com Cheng-Du Restaurant 157 Turnpike Road (Rte. 9), Westboro 508-366-7489 Cheoy Lee’s 45 Sterling St., West Boylston 508-835-3663 684 Main St., Holden 508-829-6331 China One 566C Southwest Cutoff, Worcester 508-791-8882 Chuan Shabu 301 Park Ave., Worcester 508-762-9213 shabuworcester.com Chumlee’s 50 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury 508-798-2220 Dragon Island 1328 Main St., Worcester 508-754-5236 Empire Village 446 Main St., Sturbridge 508-347-6588 Foodworks 50 Southwest Cutoff, Worcester 508-752-0938 120 Stafford St., Worcester 508-752-3663 110 Elm St., Millbury 508-865-1707 Fred’s Chinese Food 380 Maple Ave., Shrewsbury 508-798-8838 Great Wall Restaurant 521 Main St., Worcester 508-799-0803 Ho Toy Luau Restaurant 401 Park Ave., Worcester 508-754-4929 Hong Kong Island 880 West Boylston St., Worcester

508-853-8887 Jasmine Auburn 711 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-832-8869 jasmineauburn.com Kahula Rte. 131, Sturbridge 508-347-7121 Ken Chin’s 272 Mill St., Worcester 508-793-9657 King Chef Chinese Restaurant 205 Chandler St., Worcester 508-767-0209 Lucky Gourmet 117 June St., Worcester 508-791-8888 Mandarin Westborough 132 Turnpike Rd., Westborough 508-366-2288 mandarinwestborough.com Min’s Wok 582 W Boylston St., Worcester 508-853-0988 minswok.com Ming House 217A Chandler St., Worcester 508-756-6888 minghousetakeout.com Nancy Chang 372 Chandler St., Worcester 508-752-8899 nancychang.com New Super Chinese Buffet 490 Lincoln St., Worcester 508-853-8899 Peking Chef 344 Main St., Southbridge 508-765-0398 Red Pepper 1083 Main St., Worcester 774-243-6488 redpepperworcester.com Shangri-La 50 Front St., Worcester 508-798-0888 shangrilaworcester.com Singapore Restaurant 170 Whalon St., Fitchburg 978-345-0132 Super Chinese Buffet 50 Mill St., Worcester 508-799-6868 Wong Dynasty 176 Reservoir Rd., Holden 508-829-2188 wongdynasty-yankeegrill.com Yong Shing 338 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-832-0622

Indian

Bollywood Grill 97 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury 508-793-9888 New House of India 2 Coes Sq., Worcester 508-793-9900 Surya 299 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-752-3700

Upudi Bhavah 378 Maple St., Shrewsbury 508-459-5099

Irish

O’Connor’s Restaurant 1160 West Boylston St., Worcester 508-853-0789 oconnorsrestaurant.com

Italian / Mediterranean

A.J. Tomaiolo’s Pub & Restaurant 411 W. Main St., Northborough 508-393-5245 Amici Trattoria 582 Main St., Shrewsbury 508-842-7800 amicitrattoria.com Bistro Limoncello Ristorante 290 West Main St., Northborough 508-393-5440 Bossenele’s Pizzeria 198 Millbury St., Millbury 508-581-8885 Café Sorrento 143 Central St., Milford 508-478-7818

1906 Calabria Ristorante 75 Main St., Millbury 508-581-9700 Cappellini’s Italian Restaurant 141 Worcester Road (Route 12), Webster Carbone’s Restaurant 280 Cordaville Rd., Hopkinton 508-435-3465 Ciao Bella 402 Grove St., Worcester 508-756-2426 ciaobellarestaurant.biz Cristina’s Restaurant 314 Central St., Leominster 978-534-0849 cristinas.net Dino’s 13 Lord St., Worcester 508-753-9978 dineatdinos.com Enrico’s Brick Oven Pizzeria 500 Main St., Sturbridge 508-347-1740 Four Seasons 249 Lake Ave., Worcester 508-753-4823 Giovanello’s Italian Market 139 Main St., Sturbridge 508-347-1440 Gondola Restaurant 428 Lancaster St., Leominster 978-537-5887 gondolarestaurant.com Guiseppe’s Grille 35 Solomon Pond Rd., Northborough 508-393-4405 guiseppesgrille.com

Il Camino 555 Central St., Leominster 978-537-5083 Il Forno 27 Airport Rd., Fitchburg 978-345-2511 65 W.Boylston St., W. Boylston 508-835-3700 508 Nagog Park, Route 2A, Acton 978-263-5311 il-forno.com La Scala 185 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-753-9912 Leo’s Ristorante 11 Leo Turo Way, Worcester 508-753-9490 leosristorante.net Lidio’s 1045 Central St., Leominster 978-534-6600 lidios.com Linguine’s 350 Boston Post Road West, Marlborough 508-481-9747 Livia’s Dish 1394 Main St., Worcester 508-926-8861 liviasdish.com

The year the Worcester Lunch Car Company began creating diners. Nuovo 92 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-796-5915 nuovoworcester.com Padavano’s Place 358 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 774-823-3022 padavanosplace.com Picasso 2 Common St., Barre 978-355-3099 Piccolo’s 157 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-754-1057 piccolos157.com Polka Café 169 Millbury St., Worcester 774-243-1302 Ritual 281 Main St., Worcester 508-762-9501 ritualworcester.com Rovezzi’s Restaurant Corner of Rtes. 20 & 148, Sturbridge 508-347-0100 rovezzis.com Tony’s Pizza Rte. 146 Boston Rd., Sutton 508-865-9544 VIA Italian Table 89 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-754-4842 viaitaliantable.com Viva Bene 144 Commercial St., Worcester 508-799-9999 viva-bene.com continued on page 20

worcestermagazine.com/A Special Supplement of Worcester Magazine

“T

he Crunchy” burger from The Fix in Worcester is one my newest and strongest cravings. The burger, itself, is a beauty, made with a fresh grind of 60 percent chuck and 40 percent short rib, so it has the perfect blend of richness, fat and flavor. Then, it’s topped with lettuce, fried prosciutto, parmesan crisp, potato chips, garlic mayo and pickles. What makes this burger so cravable is the crunchiness that comes from the crispy fried prosciutto, those awesome house-made potato chips, and the ultra crunchy layer of parmesan crisps. I like to add a side of sweet potato fries and wash it down with a spiked coffee milkshake.

COURTESY OF THE FIX/PHOTO BY ERB PHOTOGRAPHY

What he Kraves

KRAVE 2014 19

-Dan Andelman, host/show runner for Phantom Gourmet, myTV38

Pictured here is “The Crunchy” with an original strawberry milkshake.

A taste of Greece in Worcester We offer a wide selection of our freshly prepared, homemade dishes and desserts Our shop is stocked with a variety of imported cheeses, olives and olive oil.

Pepe’s is special every day! Book your holiday parties now!

hours:

Mon-Fri: 9 am - 7 pm Sat: 9 am - 6 pm Sun: 10 am - 3 pm

1 1 8 A J un e S t 508-304-8828 connect with us

274 Franklin St., Worcester (Next to Worcester Fire Dept.)

508-755-1978

Tues-Thurs 11am-11pm • Fri 11am-1am Sat 2pm-1am • Closed Sun & Mon

20 KRAVE 2014

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Zorba’s Pizzeria Tavern 97 Stafford St., Worcester 508-796-5828 132 Sturbridge Road (Rte. 20), Charlton 508-248-0433 zorbaspizzeriatavern.com

Japanese

7 Nana 60 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-755-8888 7nanasteakhouseworcester.com Baba Sushi 309 Park Ave., Worcester 508-752-8822 babasushi.com Hisa Japanese Restaurant 21 South St., Westborough 508-898-9262 Kaizen Sushi Bar & Grill 479 Main St., Sturbridge 508-347-1088 Mai Tai Bar and Sushi Restaurant 69 Green St., Worcester 508-751-5900 Mikaku Japanese Restaurant 290 Main St., Northborough 508-393-5553 Oishi Japanese Restaurant 8 Franklin St., Worcester 508-752-1688 Osaka 20 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury 508-753-1144 Sakura Tokyo 640 Park Ave., Worcester 508-792-1078 sakura-tokyo.com Takara 10 Kelley Sq., Worcester 508-791-1140 Yama Zakura 369 West Main St. #3, Northborough 508-393-4187

Latin American

Brisa Tropical Restaurant 976A Main St., Worcester 508-797-3900 Churrascaria Ranch Cantina 329 Grafton St., Worcester 508-792-3560 Maria’s Kitchen 826 Main St., Worcester 508-797-3380 OneLove Café 800 Main St., Worcester 508-753-8663 Pampas Churrascaria 145 East Central St., Worcester 508-757-1070

Pupuseria La Salvadorena 82 Pleasant Valley Dr., Worcester 508-756-5586 Sazon Latino 130 Chandler St., Worcester 508-797-5645

Mexican

Cancun Family Mexican Restaurant 75 Worcester St., North Grafton 508-839-8800 cancunmexicanrestaurants.com Margarita Grill 10 Prospect St., Auburn 508-832-2553 chucks.com Mezcal Tequila Cantina 30 Major Taylor Blvd., Worcester 508-926-8307 20 Central St., Leominster 978-728-4084 mezcalcantina.com Mexicalli Fresh Mex Grill 700 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden 508-829-7700 117Main St., Spencer 774-745-8200 Tacos Acapulco 344 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury 508-425-3593

Middle-Eastern

El Basha 424 Belmont St., Worcester 508-797-0884 256 Park Ave., Worcester 508-795-0222 2 Connector Rd., Westborough 508-366-2455 elbasharestaurant.com Sahara 143 Highland St., Worcester 508-798-2181 eatsahara.com Shiraz 259 Park Ave., Worcester 508-767-1639 Shawarma Palace 3 Pleasant St., Worcester 508-755-6500

Thai

Brown Rice Thai Cuisine 26 West Boylston St., West Boylston 774-261-8322 brownricethaicuisine.com Racha Thai 545 Southwest Cutoff #2 (Rte. 20) Worcester 508-757-8884 thaiplacerestaurant.com Thai Island 456 Main St., Holden 508-829-8272 thaiislandholdenrestaurant.net

Thai Place Restaurant 50 Boston Tnpk., Shrewsbury 508-425-3595 371 Main St. (Rte. 20), Sturbridge 508-347-2999 thaiplacerestaurant.com Thai Time 107 Highland St., Worcester 508-756-7267 thaitimeworcester.com 180 Church St., Clinton 978-365-6368 thaitimeclinton.com Yoong Tong Thai 278 Main St., Northborough 508-393-7714 yoongtong.com

26 Vietnamese

Anh Thu 439 Park Ave., Worcester 508-752-1330 Dalat 425 Park Ave., Worcester 508-753-6036 Pho Dakao 593 Park Ave., Worcester 508-756-7555 Pho-Lam 91 Stafford St., Worcester 508-799-6666 Saigon 976 Main St., Worcester 508-799-5250 Viet Thao Webster Square Plaza, 68 Stafford St., Worcester 508-752-8426 vietthao-restaurant.com

Family

A&D Pizza 60 Elm St., Millbury 508 865-9013 adpizzapub.com Abigail’s Restaurant/ Jack Russell’s Pub 625 Betty Spring Rd., Gardner 978-630-2322 Annie’s Clark Brunch 934 Main St., Worcester 508-756-1550 Atlas Pizza 1282 Pleasant St., Worcester 508-756-9994 Auburn Town Pizza 69 Auburn St., Auburn 508-832-5210 Barbers Crossing 175 Leominster Rd., Sterling 978-422-8438 861 Main St., Leicester

508-892-7575 barberscrossing.com The Barre Mill Restaurant 90 Main St., South Barre 978-355-2987/6417 barremill.com Bentley Pub 602 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-407-8880 362 Main St., Sturbridge 774-241-0005 bentleypub.com Blue Jeans Pizza 270 Park Ave., Worcester 508-753-3777 bluejeanspizza.com Boomer’s Sub and Deli

The number of sauces available to top off the chicken at Wing it Up. 93 Highland St., Worcester 508-791-5551 The Boynton 117 Highland St., Worcester 508-756-8458 boyntonrestaurant.com Brian’s Restaurant 91 Providence Road (Rte. 122), Northbridge 508-234-9256 The Broadway 100 Water St., Worcester 508-753-3233 broadwaycaterers.com Coney Island 158 Southbridge St., Worcester 508-753-7885 Copper Stallion 538 Main St., Sturbridge 508-347-2100 The Corner Grille 806 Pleasant St., Worcester 508-754-8884 cornergrille.com Cranberries Restaurant 142 Massasoit Rd., Worcester 508-753-7885 Dean Park Pizza 745 Main St., Shrewsbury 508-842-2525 deanparkpizza.com Diamond Pizza 848 Main St., Worcester 508-755-4449 The Fix Burger Bar 166 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 774-823-3327 thefixburgerbar.com E.B. Flatts 245 West Main Street (Rte 9), East Brookfield 508-867-6643 ebflatts.com Eller’s Restaurant 190 Main St., Cherry Valley 508-892-3925 ellersrestaurant.com Elsa’s Eatery 33 Boston Tpke. (Rte. 9-West), Shrewsbury 508-890-1009 elsaseatery.com Blackstone Freshway Pizza 96 Water St., Worcester 508-755-1999 freshwaypizzablackstone.com

worcestermagazine.com/A Special Supplement of Worcester Magazine

Flip Flops 680 Main St., Holden 508-829-3008 flipflopsma.com Dean’s Deli 894 Grafton St., Worcester 508-792-3646 Golden Pizza 453 Lincoln St., Worcester 508-852-6000 1168 Main St., Worcester 508-752-4653 20 Auburn St., Auburn 508-721-1271 271 Grafton St., Shrewsbury 508-842-7774 107 Chandler St., Worcester 508-752-8907 1137 Grafton St., Worcester 508-770-1533 goldenpizza.net The Great American Grill at the Hilton Garden Inn 35 Major Taylor Blvd., Worcester 508-753-5700 Hiltongardeninn.hilton.com Grille 57 57 Highland St., Worcester 508-798-2000 grille57.com Harry’s Restaurant 149 Boston Tpke. (Rte. 9), Westborough 508-366-8302 harrysrestaurant.com Heavy Evie’s 2 Maple Ave., Rutland 508-886-6284 Hungry Coyote 580 Park Ave., Worcester 508-755-8777 hungrycoyote.com J. Anthony’s 892 Southbridge St. (Rte. 20) Auburn/Oxford line 508-832-9705 janthonysgrill.com Jason’s Pizza Palace 113 June St., Worcester 508-756-7424 Kaboodle Pizzeria & Grill 152 Main St., Spencer 508-885-4884 Ladd’s of Rutland 64 Barre-Paxton Rd., Rutland 508-886-4771 laddsrestaurant.com Lake Pizza & Restaurant 39 Thompson Rd., Webster 508-943-3684 The Lodge 148 Gore Rd., Webster 508-949-0000 restaurantlodge.com Lucky’s Café 102 1/2 Grove St., Worcester 508-756-5014 luckyscafeworcester.com The Manor 42 West Boylston St., West Boylston 508-835-4722 ourmanor.com Maury’s Deli 1125 Main St., Worcester

508-754-4446 Millbury Street Pizza 121 Millbury St., Worcester 508-752-7442 Mountain Barn Restaurant 174 Worcester Rd., Princeton 978-464-2044 mountainbarn.com Mulligan’s Tavern on the Green 121 West Main St., Westborough 508-366-0207 The National Grille at Blackstone National Golf Club 227 Putnam Hill Rd., Sutton 508-865-2111 (ext. 5) bngc.net Northeast Pizza 1205 Main St., Leicester 508-892-9276 548 S Main St., Webster 508-949-3409 208 W Main St., West Brookfield 508-867-9567 570 Summer St., Barre 978-355-4333 Olde Post Office Pub Rte. 140 and Ray St., North Grafton 508-839-6106 postofficepub.com Oxford’s Casual Dining 2 Millbury Blvd., Oxford 508-987-1567 oxfordcasualdining.com Peppercorn’s Grille and Tavern 455 Park Ave., Worcester 508-752-7711 epeppercorns.com The Pic 480 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-755-1808 The Pickle Barrel Delicatessen 305 Pleasant St., Worcester 508-754-0921 Regatta Deli 28 Lake Ave., Worcester 508-756-6916 3 Colonial Drive, Westborough 508-366-8958 regatta-deli.com Sisters Restaurant 171 Stafford St., Worcester 508-755-2604 Slattery’s 106 Lunenburg St., Fitchburg 978-343-6120 slatterysrestaurant.com Spoodle’s Deli 355 Main St., Worcester 508-755-0800 spoodlesdeli.com Still Four Corners Route 122, Rutland 508-866-6666 Tech Pizza 137 Highland St., Worcester 508-752-2133 Tom’s International Deli 52 Millbury St., Worcester 508-755-7295

Uncle Jay’s Twisted Fork 509 Stafford St., Cherry Valley 508-892-5437 unclejaystwistedfork.com Uncle Sam’s Pizza 974 Main St., Worcester 508-890-7888 samspizza.com Val’s Restaurant and Pizza Palace 75 Reservoir Rd., Holden 508-829-0900 valsrestaurant.com Weintraub’s Jewish Delicatessen & Restaurant 126 Water St., Worcester 508-756-7870 Wexford House Restaurant 503 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-757-8982 Whistle Stop Bar and Grill

96 85 Main St. (Rte. 12), Oxford 508-987-3087 Wings Over Worcester 1 Kelley Sq., Worcester 508-421-WING wingsoverworcester.com Wright’s Farm Resturant 84 Inman Rd., Nasonville/Harrisville, RI 401-769-2856 wrightsfarm.com Z Café 389 Main St., Worcester 508-304-1220 zcafeandcatering.com Zimmy’s Kitchen 865 Main St., Leicester 508-892-3200

Bistro

Armsby Abbey 144 North Main St., Worcester 508-759-1012 armsbyabbey.com Blue Jeans Bistro 264 Park Ave., Worcester Bocado Tapas Wine Bar 82 Winter St., Worcester 508-797-1011 bocadotapasbar.com The Canal Restaurant 65 Water St., Worcester 508-926-8353 thecanalrestaurant.com The Citizen 1 Exchange Place, Worcester 508-459-9090 thecitizenwinebar.com Cyprian’s Bistro at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club 284 East Temple St., Boylston 508-869-9900 cypriankeyes.com EVO 234 Chandler St., Worcester 508-459-4240 evodining.com

KRAVE 2014 21

Flying Rhino Café 278 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-757-1450 flyingrhinocafe.com Joey’s Bar & Grill 44 Chandler St., Worcester 508-797-3800 joeysbarandgrill.com Le Mirage 120 June St., Worcester 508-793-8558 lemiragerestaurant.com

Fine Dining

Alicante Mediterranean Grille 84 Uxbridge Road (Rte. 16), Mendon 508-634-8188 alicantema.com Arturo’s Ristorante 54 East Main St., Westborough 508-366-1881 arturosristorante.com

The number of years Coney Island has been open. Avellino 502 Main St., Fiskdale 508-347-2321 avellinorestaurant.com The Castle 1230 Main St., Leicester 508-892-9090 castlerestaurant.com Cedar Street Grille 12 Cedar St., Sturbridge 508-347-5800 cedarstreetrestaurant.com Ceres Bistro 363 Plantation St., Worcester 508-754-5789 ceresbistro.com Chocksett Inn 59 Laurelwood Rd., Sterling 978-422-3355 chocksettinn.com The Duck 502 Main St., Fiskdale 508-347-2321 theducksturbridge.com Fins and Tales 858 Main St., Southbridge 508-764-3340 fins-and-tales.com Gazebo’s Four Points Sheraton 99 Erdman Way, Leominster 978-534-9000 The Harding Allen Estate 59 Allen Dr (Rte. 122), Barre 978-355-4920 harding-allen.com The Harrington Farm 178 Westminster Rd., Princeton 978-464-5600 harringtonfarm.com The Inn at Woodstock Hill 94 Plaine Hill Rd., Woodstock, Conn. 860-928-0528 woodstockhill.com The Jenkins Inn 7 West St. (Rte. 122), Barre 978-355-6444 Jenkinsinn.com continued on page 22

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Maxwell Silverman’s 25 Union St., Worcester 508-755-1200 maxwellmaxine.com Romaine’s 299 West Main St., Northborough 508-393-8889 romainesrestaurant.com Sonoma 205 Worcester Road (Rte. 31), Princeton 978-464-5775 sonoma-princeton.com Wachusett Village Inn 9 Village Inn Rd., Westminster 978-874-2000 wachusettvillageinn.com

Historic

The Bull Run 215 Great Run Road (Rte. 2A), Shirley 978-425-4311 bullrunrestaurant.com 25 on the Common Restaurant Grafton Inn 25 Central Square, Grafton 508-839-5931 grafton-inn.com Publick House 227 Main St., Sturbridge 508-347-3313 publickhouse.com Salem Cross Inn 260 West Main St. (Rte. 9), West Brookfield 508-867-2345 salemcrossinn.com Spencer Country Inn 500 Main St., Spencer 508-885-9036 spencercountryinn.com Vienna Restaurant & Historic Inn 14 South St., Southbridge 508-764-0700 thevienna.cjb.net

Pubs and Taverns

The Banner Bar & Grille 112 Green St., Worcester 508-755-0879 thebannerbar.com Beatnik’s 433 Park Ave., Worcester 508-926-8877 beatniksbeyou.com Black Diamond Restaurant at Wachusett Mountain 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton 978-464-2300 wachusett.com Blackstone Tap 81 Water St., Worcester 508-797-4827 Blackstonetap.com Bolton Roadhouse Bar and Grill 544 Wattaquadock Hill Rd., Bolton 978-365-5757 Brew City Grill and Brew House 104 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-752-3862 brew-city.com Center Bar and Grill 102 Green St., Worcester 508-755-0879 thecenterbar.com Club Maxine’s 25 Union St., Worcester 508-755-1200 maxwellmaxine.com

Fiddler’s Green 19 Temple St., Worcester 508-795-0400 fiddlersgreenworcester.com Funky Murphy’s 305 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-753-2995 funkyandjosemurphys.com Grille on Main 306 Main St., Douglas 508-476-5661 grilleonmainpub.com Jillian’s 315 Grove St., Worcester 508-793-0900 jilliansworcester.com

Vintage Grill 346 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-752-0558 vintagegrille346.com Vivian’s Market Style Cafe 184 West Boylson St., West Boylston 508-835-6100 vivianscafe.com Waterfront Mary’s 103 Birch Island Rd., Webster 508-943-9731 waterfrontmarys.com West Side Grill Rte. 9, Northborough 508-366-6277

1.5

The number of pounds of the colossal burger for the Boynton’s Burger Challenge.

JJ’s Sports Bar & Grill 38 SW Cutoff, Northborough 508-842-8420 jjsbarandgrill.biz Keepers Pub/Finder’s Pub 175 West Boylston St., West Boylston 508-835-1100/508-835-3707 The Manor and Draught House Bar & Grill 42 West Boylston St., West Boylston 508-835-4722 thedraughthouse.com The Mill at 185 185 West Boylston St., West Boylston 774-261-8585 themill185.com Murphy’s Pub 97 Water St., Worcester 508-792-0900 funkyandjosemurphys.com Nick’s 124 Millbury St., Worcester 508-753-4030 nicksworcester.com Northworks Bar & Grill 106 Grove St., Worcester 508-755-9657 Northworks.com Other Place Pub 71 Shrewsbury St., Boylston 508-869-6003 Oxhead Tavern at Sturbridge Host Hotel 366 Main St., Sturbridge 508-347-7393 Park Grill & Spirits 257 Park Ave., Worcester 508-756-7995 Ross Tavern at Wachusett Country Club 187 Prospect St., West Boylston 508-835-4484 wachusettcc.com Stooges 114 River St., Fitchburg 978-342-0017 Suney’s Pub 216 Chandler St., Worcester 508-753-9072 Tweed’s 229 Grove St., Worcester 508-755-8047 tweedspub.com

Seafood

Coral Seafood 225 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-755-8331 29 South Bolton St., Marlborough 508-460-3474 coralseafood.com Dresser Hill 290 Dresser Hill Rd., Charlton 508-248-7870 Clam Box 53 S. Maple St., Brookfield 508-867-2047 Point Breeze 114 Point Breeze Rd., Webster 508-943-0404 pointbreezeonwebsterlake.com Ronnie’s Seafood 871 Southbridge St., Auburn 508-832-9068 208 City Depot Rd., Charlton 508-248-5024 Snow’s Clambox 321 W Boylston St, Worcester 774-823-3300 snowsrestaurant.com The Sole Proprietor 118 Highland St., Worcester 508-798-3474 thesole.com Sturbridge Seafood 376 Main St., Sturbridge 508-347-2600 sturbridgeseafood.com West Boylston Seafood 321 West Boylston St. (Rte. 12), West Boylston 508-853-3655

Steakhouses

Chuck’s Steakhouse 10 Prospect St. (Rte. 20), Auburn 508-832-2553/508-832-5139 chucks.com 111 Chop House 111 Shrewsbury St., Worcester 508-799-4111/508-791-7224 111chophouse.com

The Steakloft 369 West Main St., Northborough 508-393-8134 Thesteakloft.tripod.com Willy’s Steakhouse Grille and Sushi Bar 2 Grafton St., Shrewsbury 508-842-7220 willyssteakhouse.com

BBQ

B.T.’s Smokehouse 392 Main St., Sturbridge 508-347-3188 btsmokehouse.com Smokestack Urban Barbeque 139 Green St., Worcester 508-363-1111 bbqstack.com Texas BBQ Company 309 Main St., Northborough 508-393-4742 Texasbbqco.com Westside Steak and BBQ 2 Richmond Ave., Worcester 508-756-6328 Williker’s Tex-Mex & BBQ 896 Hartford Tnpk., Shewsbury 508-842-3030

For dining reviews, small bites, restaurant happenings and the latest in restaurant news, check out Worcester Magazine every Thursday or online at worcestermagazine.com

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