TasteWorcester Restaurants

Roma’s

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:59:09 +0000

For quality Italian food, your best bet is Roma’s on Harding Street in Worcester. With a blend of pizzas, pastas, salads and seafood, Chef Joe Petrou has another successful restaurant in the making. Whether you’re looking for a nice lunch or dinner, or someone to cater your party, this place has you covered.

Try their house specialty pizzas. A personal favorite is the Five Star which is topped off with pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, onion and peppers. For the meat lover, the Grilled Marinated Steak Tips are exceptional. For a terrific meal at an affordable price, be sure to check out Roma’s.

Fins and Tales

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:08:13 +0000

You’d be hard pressed to find a better selection of American cuisine than Fins and Tales in Southbridge. It’s impossible to miss the bronze fish on the sign just outside the restaurant. The brick walls and stylish lounge area create an exciting and trendy atmosphere.

The appetizers offer a diverse selection. From Homemade Crab Cakes to the Beef Carpaccio, there are plenty of different tastes to whet your appetite for the main course. The Braised Lamb Shank is especially pleasing. It’s a slow cooked lamb shank served with aromatic vegetables, creamy herb polenta and a reduction of the braising liquid. Prices range between $14 and $25 for the main dishes.

Make sure to stop by Fins and Tales. It’s a real catch!

Joey’s Bar and Grill

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:58:36 +0000

For a perfect blend of fine dining and a relaxed atmosphere, look no further than Joey’s Bar and Grill. The modern décor is impressive, but more impressive is the service of the wait staff. They sure know how to take care of customers! For a great appetizer, you can’t go wrong with their Fried Oysters. And the entrée of choice is the New Zealand Lamb Shank. This great restaurant caters to everyone, whether you’re interested in watching the game or enjoying a nice dining experience.

Tavern on the Common

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:55:06 +0000

Rutland’s Tavern on the Common is nestled in a quaint village common and offers a great atmosphere, a varied menu with entrees ranging from $8 to $18, and food that is right on the mark. Do yourself (and a guest!) a favor and head out to Rutland, enjoy the ride and take in some truly good tavern fare.

Wild Willy’s Burgers

admin — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:54:11 +0000

Looking for a great burger? Mosey on down to Wild Willy’s Burgers on West Boylston Street. You can enjoy a wide variety of beef and patty options including their signature Wicked Good Burger with sautéed onions and mushrooms with Swiss and Cheddar cheeses. For a little variety, there are chicken and steak sandwiches. Want something on the healthier side? Try their salad. No meal is complete without an order of “country fair” fries. Rope in a delicious meal at this one-of-a-kind burger joint.

Drinks are on us!

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:14:37 +0000

Here’s To You, Designated Driver
By Dan Saberhagen

Picture this. You’re all set to get your drink on and have a night to remember. Your boss is on your case, your love interest just left you and the Red Sox got swept by the Yanks (the horror!). It’s time to get the alcohol flowing and drink away the bad times for some good ones!

But then the buzz kill of all buzz kills hits you when your friends ask you to be the designated driver. But fear not, great citizen! We here at Taste Worcester appreciate you. Who says that being the DD signifies a night of boredom? Instead of sulking around with a lonely glass of water, here are some cool non-alcoholic specialty drinks that ensure a fun night out and a safe drive home.

Cranberry Citrus Cocktail
6 ounces cranberry juice cocktail
2 ounces club soda
1 teaspoon orange juice
1 lime wedge

Fill a glass with crushed ice, pour in the cranberry juice. Top with club soda and orange juice. Squeeze in the juice from the lime wedge, drop in the wedge, stir and serve.

Roy Rogers
6 ounces cola
1-1/2 teaspoons grenadine
Garnish: orange slice or maraschino cherry

Pour cola over crushed ice, top with grenadine, garnish and serve.

Picante Pleaser
3 ounces cranberry juice
3 ounces tomato juice
1 teaspoon Tabasco
1 teaspoon lime juice
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Dash salt
Garnish: Cilantro sprig or lime wedge

Pour all ingredients over crushed ice, garnish and serve.

Wavebender
1 ounce orange juice
1/2 ounce lemon juice
Dash of grenadine

Shake all ingredients in a shaker full of ice and strain into a highball glass filled 3/4 with ice. Top with approximately 5 ounces of ginger ale and serve.

Virgin Planter’s Punch
3 ounce grapefruit juice
2 ounce pineapple juice
1/2 ounce lime juice
1/4 ounce simple syrup

Pour all ingredients into a shaker full of ice. Shake and strain into a collins glass filled 3/4 with ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a pineapple spear and serve.

Golden Nest
4 ounce orange juice
1 ounce cranberry juice
1 egg yolk
Dash of grenadine

Pour all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into an old-fashioned glass on the rocks and serve.

Virgin Mary
4 ounce tomato juice
2 - 3 dashes lemon juice
1 pinch celery salt
4 - 6 drops Worcestershire sauce
1 pinch coarse peppers
2 - 3 drops Tabasco sauce
1 celery stalk

Pour tomato juice over ice cubes in a large highball glass. Season to taste, stir, garnish with celery and serve.

Safe Sex on the Beach
3 ounce cranberry juice
3 ounce grapefruit juice
2 ounce peach nectar
1 maraschino cherry

Pour over ice in a chilled glass and stir. Garnish with a cherry and serve.

Bye Bye Blue Bird

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:11:37 +0000

Blue Bird Pizza (formerly the T-Bird), a Worcester landmark on Park Ave., has been sold. No word about its future, but we hear that the owner will be updating or changing the concept. This place has been serving pizza to Worcester’s college students for decades. We will keep you posted.

Finally Roma’s

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:11:05 +0000

Roma’s on Harding Street in Worcester finally opened its doors the last week of July. This BYOB Italian eatery features the cooking of Joe Petrou, formerly of Primo’s and Union Station The Restaurant. With Roma’s, Petrou goes back to the basics that made Primo’s so successful.

No more books

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:10:35 +0000

Jumpin Juice and Java opened its doors in mid-July at 335 Chandler Street in Worcester, the former home of Tatnuck Bookseller. Owned by Josh Van Dyke & Andrew Erickson, the place sells gourmet coffee, sandwiches, fruit smoothies and desserts. It is open seven days a week.

Economic spin-off

admin — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:10:06 +0000

It looks like there will be a new restaurant going in next to the Hanover Theatre. Ed Madaus and Paul DeMoga, the brains behind the Hanover restoration, have purchased the Goral Optician building next door and are putting in a 150 seat restaurant. Demoga’s daughter Amy will be the owner. Plans for the renovation also include a comedy club in the basement. Work on the restaurant should be completed by late fall.