Chioda's Trattoria - Worcester, MA - Ian

by Ian

I love this restaurant. I'm Italian and I've always loved Italian food, and this place is definitely one of my favorites. Forget about Vinny T's or any other "chain" restaurant like that. This is where it's at. They aimed for authentic Italian dining and they've certainly made their mark in Worcester.




The Location
Away from the buzz of downtown, Chioda's sits at the top of Franklin Street and looks down on Shrewsbury Street.

The Ambiance
As you can see in the photo, they've chosen some very warm yellows and reds. It's not large and loud, but rather quaint and cozy. And with the accompanying Italian music, it's the perfect setting for a romantic evening.

The Food and Selection
OK, so now we move on to the good part. I've been to Chioda's several times and tried many of their dishes and I've never been disappointed.

It's hard for me to choose a favorite, but it's definitely a tie between the porcetta and the almond-encrusted Gorgonzola sirloin. The former was a moist, rolled pork loin around prosciutto and a cheese I couldn't quite put my finger on. The latter is steak sirloin smothered in this beautiful Gorgonzola cream. Each time I've had it, it was always cooked exactly as I requested. Both dishes demonstrated true culinary excellence and contribute to the maintenance of high standards of fine dining in the city of Worcester.

I've also had the opportunity to try their Alfredo and scampi dishes. The Alfredo was not soupy, but the right consistency and sticks to the fettuccine. This is very important for me, as many restaurants omit the egg from the sauce leaving the fettuccine swimming in a sea of cheesy cream. The shrimp scampi is also delightful: buttery, garlicky (if I'm allowed to say that) and huge shrimp. You can't ask for much more from a scampi dish.

I must mention, though, that they have a very extensive menu. Even with all the dishes I'm highlighting here, you must look at the menu yourself to see the real selection.

I was so excited to share my favorites that I forgot to mention that Chioda's bread dipping oil is pretty much the best in town. I don't know what's in it, but it's awesome. You should at least stop by just to try the oil.

Their standards of excellence are carried right on through to dessert. I've tried the tiramisu (amazing), the limoncello cake, which is a lemon-cake, which wife would die for (or from) and I sat across from someone once who tried their lava cake and said it was wonderfully warm and creamy inside.

The Service
Their service is right on par with their food. I haven't met anyone on their staff that wasn't friendly and cheerful. Tables and silverware are always clean and staff are always making sure that plates and glasses that you're finished with are taken out of your way.

Chioda's is a true gem. Worcester should be proud to have Chioda's Trattoria as part of it's host of great resaurants. Chioda's, though, is now setting the standard for fine Italian dining.

Here's the scorecard:

// Menu Selection: 9.3
// Taste: 9.6
// Presentation: 8.9
// Ambiance/Atmosphere: 9.7
// Service: 10

Welcome India Cuisine - Framingham, MA - Ian

by Ian

Pleasantly surprised. That would definitely summarize my experience here.




The Location
While the location is definitely convenient (on Route 9 in Framingham, on the eastbound side), the area and outside appearance can be deceiving.

The Ambiance
While there is a small, limited seating area, it makes for a tranquil setting. The restaurant appeared very clean and orderly, and this also lent itself to a peaceful, relaxed experience. I was treated with a cloth napkin, and this was only at the lunch buffet!

The Food and Selection
Please keep in mind that I was only there for the lunch buffet. While only a small variety of dishes to choose from, they were of the highest quality. Before I even took my seat I was offered fresh baked naan (an Indian flat bread) in the flavors of onion, garlic, plain and others still. I ordered the garlic naan. It was also sprinkled with fresh basil and cilantro and it was awesome!

From the buffet, I chose the chicken masala--a rich, red-brown thick sauce with chunks of chicken. I used every last bit of my naan to send that down my chute. Oh so good. I also had some zucchini deep-fried in a chick-pea batter. This is a great choice for those of us on the Atkins/South Beach diet who miss those deep-fried, golden goodies. I also sampled their vegetable mix that was available, and it was OK. Their strength is definitely in the naan and soy or meat w/sauce dishes. And again, this was just for the lunch buffet. I hope to return there for a full-course dinner soon.

The Service
The service was excellent. Everyone on the staff was smiling and attentive, addressing me with "sir". And when I left, they also sent me off with a smile. Well, two, actually. Their smile and mine as well.

Here is a quick scorecard: (FOR JUST THE BUFFET)

Out of 10

// Menu Selection: 6.8
// Taste: 8.3
// Presentation: 6.5
// Ambiance/Atmosphere: 8.0
// Service: 9.0

One Eleven Chophouse - Worcester, MA - Ian

by Ian

Posh. Upscale. These are a couple of words that come to mind when you walk into the browns and reds of the One Eleven Chop House. As you make your way into the main dining room, (which is where Sheri and I sat) you walk by a table for two with big, brown, leather wing chairs. Nice.

This was a trip we've been meaning to take for some time. Actually, I've been waiting since about 1999 when I received a $100 gift certificate to the One Eleven and the Sole Proprietor. Now it was time to whip that baby out for a night on the town.




Location and Ambiance
Well, we touched on it a bit already but comfortable, indulgent and luxurious are a few more words that come to mind when thinking of the atmosphere. It was a bit noisy, but it was also Friday night and very busy. I was pleased with our surroundings.

Located right in the heart of Worcester's cultural district, Shrewsbury Street, it couldn't be more accessible. It's minutes from downtown and seconds off route I-290, exit 15.

Service
The service was what should be expected of such an establishment. Respectful, courteous and attentive. I'd give it 5 out of 5 stars. Our waiter was knowledgable regarding wine (he recommended a great red for my filet), he offered us more bread when we finished and he let us take our time to find what we wanted and then enjoy it.

The Food
OK, wow. That's one way to start. I got the mixed grill platter, which was comprised of filet mignon over a bed of garlic-mashed, duck confie over a bed of this amazing onion and fig jelly and then two grilled jumbo shrimp over some great tomato salsa mix. The flavors were diverse and all their own. I have to say that my favorite single thing on the plate was the onion and fig jelly. I could have eaten an entire bowl of it. OK, no, that would be gross. Two thumbs way, way up, though, for the mixed grill.

I forgot to mention the Caesar salad: The presentation was interesting: just whole romaine leaves draped across the plate with all the fixings on top. I had to cut up the lettuce myself, but I didn't mind. I must say, it's a great way to add a little something to a classic dish and cut down on preparation time all at once. Nice move, 111.

As I mentioned before, the waiter suggested a glass of Pinot that was perfect for my mixed grill. Mmm, mmm, good.

I guess I was so excited about my mixed grill that I forgot not only to mention the salad, but the appetizers. I got the Vidalia onion soup (as they call it). It was excellent. Many french onion soups locally are much too dark and rich. This was the perfect balance of flavor and simplicity. Oh and with that swiss cheese draped over the top of the crock...yeah, that's good stuff.

And for dessert, Sheri and I split the apple brown Betty crepes. We were so stuffed we opted not to get our own desserts. A 9.2 out of 10: The crepes were a little dry, but that didn't affect the wonderful taste.

The One Eleven Chop House is, without a doubt, one of Worcester's top three restaurants. It is truly fine cuisine. The prices aren't so bad either. If you stick with an entree, you can stay in the $25 range and still get sides and salads. When you go for the steak cuts is when it becomes a la carte and can get expensive. But everything that the chop house has to offer is well worth the money--the craftsmen there are delightfully skilled in their craft.

Here's the scorecard:

// Menu Selection: 9
// Taste: 9.7
// Presentation: 9.4
// Ambiance/Atmosphere: 9.1
// Service: 9.9

http://www.111chophouse.com/

Chioda's Trattoria, Worcester MA-Sheri

The first time I noticed the sign advertising the opening of a new Italian trattoria, I was super excited. Ian and I love Italian food, and we were getting kind of tired of the typical Vinny T's. It had been a while since we tried a new Italian restaurant that we liked.

Our first visit to Chioda's was the day they opened for lunch. They brought us rustic Italian bread and olive oil dipping sauce that was so delicious, we were asking for a refill on the olive oil within a few short minutes (it was also 1:30 and we were starving). The olive oil dipping sauce was thick with flavorful herbs and seasonings as well as parmesan cheese. The bread had a nice thick and hard crust on it with a light and airy inside that made the perfect vehicle for the oil.

After much deliberation we agreed to split a dinner entree and finally decided on the Chicken Scaloppini with Lemon & Capers. At $14.95 it was a cheap lunch, but they added a $2 charge for splitting. Something I myself, am not a fan of. Why should they charge you more, when you're getting the same amount of food? Not really sure of the reasoning behind that, but whatever. If they asked me (which of course they haven't), I would say that they should offer slightly larger portions for splitting (like Vinny T's) or maybe charge a splitting fee, but include an additional cup of soup. I just don't like the idea of paying more for exactly the same thing.

More about the soup, though. Instead of salad, a cup of soup is served with each dinner entree. Its a homemade "Wedding soup" and it is yummy. Of course, since we only ordered one entree, we only got one cup of soup, so I only had a few tastes of Ian's, because I insisted that I didn't need to get my own. Next time we dined there, I was sure to get my own.

The entree came pretty quickly. It was great. I don't really have a lot to say about it, except that it was just really good. Not any spectacular flavor from it, but then again its a fairly simple dish. It has all of my most favorite elements-lemon, capers, and butter. We both cleaned our plates, and were well satisfied.

That particular day, since it was their first week open, the staff were especially attentive and friendly. But then again, we were the only 2 people there.

All in all, a great experience. You can tell its a new restaurant, still working out the kinks and getting a feel for things, but I'm sure that, with time, it will grow to become a favorite in Worcester.

Thai Place - Sturbridge, MA - Ian

OK, so we've been venturing outside of Worcester lately and we discovered that there lots of great places hidden away in Sturbridge. One of which is a Thai restaurant called Thai Place. Sheri loves Thai food. I like it.

The Service
I have to say, though, that the best thing about this restaurant is the waiter. He's dry and deadpan with a great sense of humor and goes around telling everyone that he's half Polish and half Korean and how funny that is. He mostly makes fun of his Polish side. If he forgets something you asked, he says: "Oh, I guess I had a Polish moment." And if you ask pointedly for something, he'll just refuse. But you know he's just playing because one of us asked for some extra peanut sauce and he brought a bucket size portion with a huge spoon. We wanted to take it home. Suffice it to say that the service here is excellent.




The Food
As for the food: The winner was the Tom Kha Kai soup. With coconut milk, scallions and chicken, I have to say that it had the best flavor out of anything I sampled that evening.

The runner up were the wings. Wings with hot Thai spice and a cucumber dipping sauce--ooh yum.

My main dish, the spicy chicken, came with celery, carrots, peanuts and some great spicy sauce with a hint of peanut flavour...OK, and I added a little bit of that peanut sauce too. Oh yeah, good stuff.

I did get dessert and it was OK--red bean ice cream. It was a strong vanilla base and I don't know if I was experiencing anything much different from a traditional American ice cream cone experience. I guess I expected Thai ice cream to be different. I have had green tea ice cream at a Thai restaurant before, and that was defintely a new experience. So, nothing amazing in the Red Bean ice cream, but it was tasty.

The Location and Ambiance
Positioned right next to the entrance to Old Sturbridge Village on Mass Rte. 20, the atmosphere fits nicely into the old-world, Sturbridge scene. The building was old with creaky, sloped floors and there were little stand-up, folding dividers around several of the tables that added a nice little private feel to the ambiance. And it was sufficiently warm on that very cold evening. We all know how important that is. Nobody likes to dine with wind blowing underneath their table.

The Drinks
Also, I should mention that they had a fairly good selection of wines but there was not a full bar.

All in all, it was a favorable experience. Comfortable, fun and tasty.

Here are the numbers:

// Menu Selection: 8.6
// Taste: 7.5
// Presentation: 7.1
// Ambiance/Atmosphere: 7.3
// Service: 8.4

Bollywood Grill - Shrewsbury, MA - Ian

Well, I practically had to drag Sheri to this restaurant on Mass Route 9 in Shrewsbury, but I'm glad I did. It was a very interesting experience. I didn't eat or taste anything that I didn't like.

I'm not going to pretend to be a connoisseur of Indian food, because I don't frequent Indian restaurants. But I think I'm going to try a few others now.

The Ambiance
The atmosphere was very interactive--Indian music videos displayed on a large plasma screen and popular Indian actors looking up at you from underneath the polyurethane on the table. The decor was very modern and warm. Lot's of browns and yellows. It was a very comfortable place and I wasn't the only one feeling it because there was a small group at a nearby table that were really kicking back. But the full bar could have been the explanation for that.

The Food
We started off with the Bollywood Combo Platter under "Trailers" because we wanted to taste as much variety as we could. Since we were both starving we were glad that it came out quickly. The platter mostly consisted of meats or vegetables deep-fried in chickpea batter, which was a nice, healthy twist. Tasty too. I think my favorites were the non-deep-fried Meat Samosas, which were turnovers stuffed with fresh, minced lamb. Yummy.

For a main dish, I decided to reach for the unknown and went for the Shaahi Paneer, although I wasn't reaching too far because the listed ingredients (ginger, garlic, onions and tomato base) are on my hit list. But the paneer cheese was completely foreign to me. It's kind of a homemade Indian version of cottage cheese, but much more firm with almost the consistency of tofu. It has a very mild flavor of its own, which made it a great canvas for the sauce it came with. It was totally delish. I wrapped bite after bite in a whole wheat pita and finished the entire thing.

Sheri got the Chicken Curry because she was too chicken to get something other than chicken. Sorry I had to. Anyway, I got a taste of it and it was top-notch curry flavor. Yummy. I also tried this great Mango shake that she got that was made with yogurt and it was oh, so smooth. Good stuff.

The Service
I have to say that the service was pleasant and attentive. The whole wheat pita I mentioned was something I had to ask for, and they had no problems complying. The service here gets a big gold star on its forehead.

Sorry, but I can't offer any feedback on the dessert menu since we were stuffed, but if you like Indian food, definitely check it out. Even if you don't know if you like Indian food, but you're in the mood for some diversity, give it a try. You might have something new to put on your comfort food list.

Here's the quick scorecard:

// Menu Selection: 8.8
// Taste: 7.9
// Presentation: 6.9
// Ambiance/Atmosphere: 8.1
// Service: 9.6

Their website features the full menu:
www.bollywoodgrill.com

Block 5 - Worcester, MA - Ian

"Where,? On Green Street?" That's what I said when Jordan suggested Block 5. I couldn't remember where Green Street was, and then when I realized it was one of those streets leading to Kelley Square I became skeptical. But I was very pleasantly surprised.




The Location and Atmosphere
The valet parking did make up for the super-small lot next to the building and to look at the face of the building changes your opinion of Kelley Square. As a man, I certainly enjoyed the modern, black-trim decor and especially the "streets at night" photos hung all over the place since I'm a fan of photography. Very modern, very cool. We kept saying that we felt like we weren't anywhere near Worcester.

The Food
As for the menu, one word would suffice: eclectic. But I'll say more. They had some dishes that are super-original and others that are classic but have a cool modern twist, like their burger that's dressed with goat cheese and shallots. The menu wasn't very extensive, but they make up for that in the meticulous preparation of their dishes.

I decided on the slow-roasted duck ($19) , since I haven't had duck for some time, and I was really pleased. I'd say 3 and a half out of 4 stars. I think I'm holding back the half star because I couldn't substitute brown rice for the jasmine they offer with the dish. So I got asparagus instead and wasn't cooked nearly as long as it should have been. But nonetheless, the duck was superb. The presentation was outstanding--everything arranged in orderly fashion on a square plate with sauces drizzled appropriately. They cooked the duck exactly as I had ordered (medium-well) and the taste was amazing. The raspberry-hoisin glaze was perfect.

I almost forgot to mention the appetizers we shared. We got the Parmesan-encrusted shrimp and the calamari. I have no complaints about the calamari. It was awesome. Especially the spicy kick from the pepperoncini and the chorizo sausage that was tossed in. The lemon aioli added a nice twist too. The shrimp was OK, but the Parmesan was undetectable. Not a big win.

They had a great selection of teas. I had the African Amber--decaf and delicious. I passed on dessert but I tasted Sheri's Molten Chocolate Egg-Rolls and they were quite tasty. I know I'm picking but, I think they should change the name to spring rolls since they're wrapped in rice paper and not egg roll wrappers.

We checked out the bar on our way out. It featured leather seating areas and large, flat-panel monitors showing the Celtics game. Again, very cool, very modern.

The Prices
You get a great experience for prices that are right around Vinny T's prices, which range from $13-$22 for an entree. In my opinion, the plates here are well-priced.

The Conclusion
All in all, this restaurant is a big win for night-outers in Worcester. With a price point not much higher than Vinny T's and a super-modern experience, we all agreed that Block 5 is one of our favorite places.

Here's a quick little scorecard on a scale of 1 through 10:

// Menu Selection: 5
// Taste: 8.9
// Presentation: 9.9
// Ambiance/Atmosphere: 9.9
// Service: 7.8

You can check out their site: (the intro is kind of annoying)
www.block5bistro.com

Block5 in Worcester, MA - Sheri

First of all, let me say, that I never in a million years would have thought that such a trendy place could be found tucked away on Green Street. When you look at the surrounding neighborhood, the last thing on your mind is a hip, happening evening.

Block 5 makes a pleasant first impression peering in on the bar and dining areas from Green Street. With a limited amount of off-street parking, the valet service is an essential. Our party of 4 arrived around 7pm and we were seated immediately, although we didn't have a reservation. By about 7:30 a steady stream was flowing through the curtainted entryway. I was immediately taken by the great mix of cool green and blue painted walls contrasted with the black doors and trim. The black and white photos of local Worcester streets hanging on the walls gave a nice perspecitve on the local neighborhood.

At first glance, the dinner menu seems a little small, but as you start reading about the appetizers, pizzas, and sandwiches, you realize dinner doesn't have to mean steak and potatoes. After about 10 minutes of hemming and hawing, we finally decided on 2 appetizers-the Calamari and Mussels Mediterranean along with the Parmesan Shrimp Fritters. Right away we were munching on crostini spread with white navy bean dip. It was a great starter. Soon after, our appetizers were out, and soon after that they were gone, because they were so delicious. The calamari and mussels were dressed with a smooth aioli and tossed with chorizo sausage and cherry tomatoes and pepperoncini. The shrimp fritters were served with a red pepper jam to replace the traditional cocktail sauce. Both were great tasting, and generous portion sizes.

About 15 minutes later, our dinners were out. Lisa and I each got a sandwich and swapped halves. My sandwich was a Pressed Cuban. The presentation, just like all the other dishes, was impressive. The taste left a little something to be desired. Nothing bad, but nothing spectacular either. The swiss cheese was well paired with the pork and ham, but it was a little light on the horseradish for my taste, and the pickles seemed out of place somehow. The french fries had the appearance of McDonald's french fries, but closer to the taste of Friendly's french fries. Nothing special there either. The B5 Grilled Cheese made an even more spectacular presentation accompanied by a Raspberry black peppercorn sour cream dunk, which at first glance seemed a bit out of place, but paired with the carmelized onions and mix of creamy cheeses including brie and fontina, it was delicious. I'll let everyone else comment on their entrees. (But just to get my 2 cents in, Jordan's burger looked delicious and Ian's duck looked pretty good too. The asparagus left something to be desired though)

I couldn't resist the dessert menu, and finally, after much deliberation, settled on the Molten Chocolate Eggrolls. They were accompanied by a rasberry-ginger dipping sauce, a caramel-Kahlua cream, and a white chocolate mousse. It was divine. The warm chocolate earned its name as it oozed out the sides of the "eggrolls" like molten lava.

Througout, our waitress was attentive but not over bearing. The service all around was friendly and warm.

All in all, it was impressive. With generous portions designed for sharing, its a great value as well. The fun and trendy atmosphere is contagious. I'm ready to go back next week and try those great looking pizzas. Maybe next time I can get someone to split the Chocolate fondue for Two with me!

Introduction

OK, so this blog is for the Fantom Four, two young, modern couples on the Worcester restaurant scene, to post their reviews of the coolest eats in town.

We all decided, after having a great experience with a new restaurant, that we would share our experience with the rest of you. So take a look, but don't let us sway you too much and draw your own conclusions! :)