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!