Mezcal - Worcester, MA (Second Review)

Though we've been to Mezcal many times since our first review (Mezcal and the Niche restaurants are our favorites in Worcester) we've decided to review again, since we had a few new experiences recently (great ones).

The service is still top-notch. Mezcal proves true to the "hospitality" in the term "hospitality industry". Our waiter, our host, and even the owner took good care of us and made sure we had everything we needed. Our silverware and dishes were spotless and cleanliness is a non-issue.

I'd like to comment as to how much fun you can have at Mezcal even if you're trying to be frugal (like us). We spent $30 and got:

• The tortilla chips and salsa that come with the table
• The jalapeño rice balls (more on that later)
• 1 fish taco each (my wife and I)
  
• A side of rice and beans
• A side of fried plantains
  
• A Corona

And we took most of the plantains and rice home! You can certainly eat well even if you're trying to pinch pennies.

Ok, so is the food still good? Yup. You bet. With the new addition of the jalapeño rice balls, Mezcal has shown that it's still got it. Whatever "it" is. Each of the five rice balls were presented atop tiny inverted forks that were inserted into slots in what appeared to be a custom-made, wooden tray. Very nice.

The fish tacos, loaded with dressings and almost impossible to roll up, served as our main course--only $4. Yeah, and for this quality, you've got to be kidding me. And complete with the wonderful freshness of Mexican cuisine, cilantro; give me more.

Their fried plantains may evade your view since they are only on in the "Sides" section of the menu, but they are a hidden jewel. Fried and coated with a spicy chili honey, they certainly make a tasty addition to any table. But be careful, you probably won't be able to finish them (unless you're a growing boy).

Well, that about wraps up our second review of Mezcal. If you've read the first review, and now you're reading our second and you still haven't been there, shame on you! Get your butt over there and suck down some tequila! (with moderation, of course).

Zipango - Worcester, MA

Once again, I got a craving for Sushi and we ended up at Zipango--my very first time. It was about 9:30 at night when we called to see how long of a wait it was for a party of 6. The hostess replied over the phone, "One second."

"One second?" I said jokingly. "Really?"

"No, I meant just WAIT one second," she replied, playing along. I was glad she was in a good mood. :) Anyway, she said it would be ten minutes and we just happened to be ten minutes away, so off we went.

The Ambiance

When we arrived, we were seated almost immediately near the window. I must mention that on that particular night it was very cold out and the windows seats are quite drafty.

But there was a very warm feeling inside. The red painted walls, the Japanese-decor bamboo facades hanging from the ceiling along with the tasteful old standards piped in over the sound system made for a very comforting atmosphere. It felt trendy, yet relaxed.

The Service and Cleanliness

The service was so good--. It was almost like a superb actor that dissappears into a role and, is so good, that they don't get noticed or recognized for their acheivment. Our waitress gave us our space and was also attentive and pleasant.

The table was very clean, as would be expected from such an establishment and the silverware was without spot.

The Food

GREAT. SUSHI. AND FISH.

The tiger eye (I think that's the only one I ever get) that I ordered was the best I ever had. The spicy srirachi-flavored sauce on top was just as it should be, spicy and thick. There was a little more tempura on it than usual, but I loved that. I love the crunchiness.

I also tasted a piece of my friend's tuna steak and it was even better. The lemon-wasabi sauce combined with the texture of the perfectly-grilled tuna and the flavor of the seaweed salad practically blew our minds. My friend Jake said that he would happy if that's all he ever ate.

I also sampled the Philly Roll and one other roll covered in some sort of rowe. Each was its own experience, as sushi should be. Zipango is top-notch sushi.

One of us also order their warm saki and, well, let's just say she really enjoyed it. ;)

The Fantom Four's trip to Zipango was not premeditated, but it was certainly a delightful find. I will return their again and again for sushi with all of my friends and I hope you will too!

Here's the scorecard:

// Menu Selection: 9.0
// Taste: 9.8
// Presentation: 8.9
// Ambiance/Atmosphere: 8.8
// Service: 9.7

Zorba's - Southbridge, MA

We were taking a break from a big moving project . We were dog tired and WICKED hungry, as we say here in New England. Our friend, whom we were moving, decided to treat us all to Zorba's, a favorite stop for people in the Southbridge area.

It was a Friday night and we were a party of ten, so we expected to wait. We waited pretty much an hour to sit down. I wasn't too happy about it, but at least that tells you that the place has a good reputation.

The Ambiance

We finally got in and were seated. Inside, it's very chattery and the large wood rafters and wood decor makes for a comfortable atmosphere. There is a full bar and the music selection is 80s-90s pop music.

The Service

It was a large group and I was really busy eating most of the time and still getting over the 1 hour wait, so I didn't really notice the service much. But I don't really have any complaints.

The Food

I have to point out that, as I am writing this, I am digesting 4 pieces of the best takeout pizza I have ever eaten (along with my Corona) and it came from Zorba's. Tonight we got some takeout and the actual visit to the restaurant was several weeks ago. I had a piece of their chicken sausage pizza. I don't know the name, but even the waitresses can't pronounce it. The vegetarian pizza is equally as good with a breaded-and-fried eggplant--SLURP! And even the plain cheese pizza is nothing short of extraordinary.

Anyway, I digress. Back to the visit.

I had some of the calamari that was ordered for the table and it was good, but nothing special. For my entree, I order a gyro because I am a fan. I was dissapointed because the beef/lamb did not seem to me to be freshly shaved from a big, skewered, rotating piece as is the tradition. The meat appeared to be just pre-frozen strips of the meat that was grilled and greasy.

My recommendation for Zorba's is: get the pizza. The pizza is the best pizza you will ever have. I could take or leave everything else. But let me conclude on the positive: Awesome. Pizza.

// Menu Selection: 9.3
// Taste: 8.2
// Presentation: 7.1
// Ambiance/Atmosphere: 7.3
// Service: 8.4

Racha Thai - Worcester MA - Sheri

It was a Tuesday night and Ian and I were feeling as we usually do on a weeknight with no specific plans - lets go get something to eat! Unfortunately, our spending has quickly been outweighing our income these days, so we figured we better do something cheap. Not like McDonalds cheap, but we would have to set our budget a little lower than, say, the 111 Chophouse. We were both thinking Thai. Sturbridge was a little far for us, and besides that, we've already reviewed that place :) So we thought either Racha Thai or Thai Cha Da on Park Ave. We decided on Racha Thai, simply because it was closer. So off we went.

Racha Thai is nothing spectacular to look at, and if you were not previously aware of its existence, it would most likely continue to escape your notice. Its in a small plaza, towards the back end. I would tell you to look for the Papa Gino's across the street from Wendy's near the Burlington Coat Factory on Rt. 20. By the time we arrived, it was about 6:30 and we were seated immediately. The decor is typical and generic "Asian." Our waitress was friendly and demure. She seemed to be the only waitress. There were only 2 other parties, besides us, and she was readily available to promptly take our orders and keep our water glasses filled.

We ordered the Golden Bags and Vegetable Tempura to start with. The Golden Bags ($5) were tasty and I love the sweet soy sauce that is served to accompany them. In case you're wondering, the Golden Bags are pretty much like pot stickers or dumplings. I really liked the variety in the Vegetable Tempura. There was a nice mixture of baby corn, sweet potato, broccoli, onions and green beans. It was served with a slightly spicy and sweet dipping sauce. The tempura batter was a little heavier than I would prefer, but at only $5, its still a great deal.

I had the Pad Thai for an entree. I asked for a side of peanut sauce as well. Ian got the Massaman Curry dish with tofu. Our entrees came out quickly, before we even finished with the appetizers, actually. The Pad Thai was delicious and freshly prepared. For me, Pad Thai is incomplete without the peanut sauce, so I was glad to see that my waitress had remembered to also provide a small dish of peanut sauce. It was delicious, and at only $7, a steal. I only ate about 1/3 of my dish, and I was looking forward to eating the rest for lunch the next day. The waitress even gave me a small container of peanut sauce in my to-go box. I sampled some of Ian's dish as well. The Massaman curry sauce was good, but not the best I've ever tasted (once again, I'm lamenting the loss of Thai Cuisine in Millbury!). I was not a big fan of the tofu either. It was a little dry and rubbery. But that's tofu for you. Ian seemed pleased with it though.

All in all, I would say Racha Thai offers many favorite and freshly prepared Thai dishes at prices that are more than reasonable along with amiable service. Its a great place to take friends or family out, your treat! I would suggest getting a couple of appetizers and entrees to split and share, since the portions are generous and the prices kind. They even have an appetizer sampler for only $9 that includes mini Thai rolls, satay and golden cups among other popular items. They also offer a lunch buffet during the week and a dinner buffet on Sunday's. I've yet to try the buffets, but I'm determined to get there one of these days! They also provide carry out service, which is really convenient for lunch time or if you happen to live close by, for dinner. I've ordered out during lunch time and never had to wait more than 15 minutes.

Racha Thai is conveniently located on Rt. 20, right around the corner from the Blackstone Valley Shoppes. The next time you're looking for a place to eat after an arduous shopping trip, and are sick of the Longhorn's/Applebee's/TGI Friday's/Uno's/Red Robin/Qdoba offerings at the Shoppes, consider Racha Thai. Its good food for an extremely reasonable price.

Bocado Tapas Bar - Worcester, MA - Ian

It has been over a year since Bocado came into my life. I don't know why I have waited so long to review it but, in a way, I'm glad. Just last week I had the best experience there, ever.

My sister-in-law was to be married that weekend and we had friends visiting from all over. So we wanted to take them somewhere special. We made reservations at Bocado and sat down as soon as we walked in. There was a latin band playing at the bar--there was some salsa, bachata--a little bit of everything.

We were seated in the Cava lounge, which was away from the music and a bit more quiet. We were led to a long table with modern-looking chairs that had only a single cushion lumbar support. Tres chic. Opposite our chairs was a soft, cream-colored booth. With some original art in the decor, you can't really get more modern, or sexy (as the website claims) than that.

Bocado is a tapas bar. A little history on tapas: Tradition asserts that Spanish King Alfonso X mandated that no wine be served at any inns unless accompanied by something to eat. So, the “botillerias” (bottle-shops) and “tabernas” (taverns) started to place a piece of smoked ham or cheese atop the wine glasses of the guests. This also served to keep insects out of their drinks. Thus tapas sread throughout all Spain and are served all over the world today.

Some also feel that the tapa first appeared because of the need of farmers and workers of other unions to take a small amount of food during their working time, which allowed them to carry on working until time for the main meal.

Who knows. All I know is that I love it. The way Bocado serves tapas, bringing them out one at a time, allows me to eat like a European--slowly and enjoyably. I get to have a lot of variety and I don't have to stuff myself in the process. It allows me to feel full when I am full. But, I'm just a health nut.

The Food

There were 10 of us and, believe it or not, we ordered the Bocado Experience for 4 and we had food left over. I don't even know where to start in describing the food, but it included 4 choices from the charcuteria y queso menu, 10 choices from the tapas menu and a paella clasica for 2 (which can feed 6). By the time the paella arrived, most of us had had enough. Of course, I had some paella. It was absolutely scrumptuous. Steaming hot shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari with a saffron rice--it was delish.

As for the tapas and charcuteria: The crowd favorite was definitely the queso de cabra con miel. This is a honey goat cheese covered in panko and fried to a golden brown and then served with almonds. I think that we ordered two of them and people were still complaining they didn't get enough--"Hey stop hoarding the goat cheese!", somebody said.

My personal favorite is the DÁTILES CON QUESO DE CABRA Y TOCINO (dates filled with goat cheese and bacon -- separately $4). I am a huge fan of dates. I also like the ATÚN DE BOCADO (raw tuna with lemon basil crema, sweet potato chips & chili avocado -- separately $10). The lemon basil crema is light and delectable. Those two are from the "frias" side of the tapas menu, meaning cold.

On the "calientes" side, the CALAMARES CON AJO Y LIMÓN (separately $6) is always a god choice, and much better than most others' calamari. And the flavor of the PIQUILLO RELLENOS (piquillos peppers stuffed with tasso ham, garbanzo beans & goat cheese with grilled onion crema -- separately $6) will blow you away. The combination of sweet and savory is a pure work of art.

The Service

A Porrón

Outstanding. The entire team was wonderfully pleasant, attentive and, well, hospitable. They claim to be "redefining hospitality" and, boy, did we get a special dose that night.

The restaurant owner, Mike, came to our table with something called a porrón. It's a pitcher of sorts that resembles a teapot. It has a long spout and it is meant for drinking wine. He was hugely entertaining and showed us the technique that is used to drink from it. It's meant to be passed around so you don't touch it to your lips, but instead, you pour a stream of it into your mouth. I know some of you are already really liking this idea. Then you're supposed to see how far you can extend the stream from your mouth and demonstrate your skill. I tried it, and yeah, I got cava (a rosé of sorts) on my shirt. Just a little though. That's more than I can say for some others at the table.

It was an awesome experience for us that night. The porrón, the excllent food, the European atmosphere, the hospitable restaurant owner made it a night to remember. The Niche Hospitality Group has done it again and we have ourselves another Fantom Four Fave. One of our friends visiting from Buffalo said, "This must be the best resaurant in the northeast." Enough said.

http://www.bocadotapasbar.com/index.html

Scorecard:

// Menu Selection: 9.9
// Taste: 9.9
// Presentation: 9.9
// Ambiance/Atmosphere: 9.7
// Service: 9.9

Mezcal - Worcester, MA - Ian

Oh. My. Goodness. Gaaahh, gahh, gah...drool drool...

The Niche Hospitality Group has done it again and Mezcal is now officially a Fantom Four Fave!

I have to admit that the first time I walked in there, I was looking for a more budget-friendly place and I went somewhere else. Boy, did I make a BIG MISTAKE. In fact, you can do a budget night at Mezcal and still eat awesome food and have a great time. My wife and I only spent forty-five bucks and we each took home half of our entrees because we couldn't eat it all. OK, so here's the review.

The Ambiance
I remembered eating there when it was the Pearl Oyster. It hasn't changed too much, but I like it because it's very quiet and small. The decor is very tasteful and keeps in line with Niche's style: classy.

The Service
We were greeted by some avocados in a bowl of the same color and square starter plates (I love square plates). The plates reminded me of Block 5.

Our waitress was delightful and we were waited on by several people. In fact, someone came to refill my wife's water glass only to be beaten to the punch by someone else. I would describe the service as attentive, well-accommodating and enjoyable. The host even joined in on our experience and was happy to answer questions in passing about the menu items.

The Food
OK, here we go. The guacamole--no, I'll wait on that. We actually started with the salsa and tortilla chips (which everybody gets as complimentary). It was pretty standard except for the addition of coriander, which I am not used to--but I got used to it quickly. Very good.

OK, the guacamole--YIKES!!! I think you should go to Mezcal, if for nothing else, for the guacamole alone. Amazing. Spectacular. I'm overflowing with adjectives! I've never had guacamole like this anywhere else and I've been to a lot of Mexican and Tex-Mex places from Nashua to San Diego. Simply delicious. We decided to get the tasting flight which is a bit of the house, tropical and crunchy. Each were fantastic in their own merit. The house: perfect. The tropical: sumptuous. And, finally, the crunchy: intriguing.

For a second course, I chose the empanadas. They were made with lobster & sauteed mushrooms with smoked cheddar, Mexican oregano & minced serrano (That's right off the menu). They were other-worldly. And for twelve bucks it's just craziness. I couldn't even eat the second one and it tasted just as good the next day.

For dessert, we chose the chimichanga, which we had to wait a little while for, but the host approached us and said it was on the house. And, let me tell you, it was certainly worth the wait.

In summary, Mezcal is top-notch Worcester eating. My wife proclaimed it to be her new favorite restaurant--and she's picky. So, we'll be in from time-to-time, maybe just for the guacamole and a Corona with lime. We love it.

Watch for us to hit Bocado soon for a review. Oh yeah, we've been there a bunch of times, and it's awesome!

Here's the scorecard:

// Menu Selection: 9.5
// Taste: 9.9 (I don't really know what a ten is and I'm afraid something bad might happen if I put one!)
// Presentation: 9.8
// Ambiance/Atmosphere: 9.3
// Service: 9.8

Niche Hospitality Group
I want to just take a minute and talk a little bit about the Niche Hospitality Group. Please note: These comments are entirely my own thoughts and unsolicited.

I am so thankful that the Niche group has brought their restaurants to Worcester. They have raised the bar in experience and quality which, I am hoping, will improve the quality of all new restaurants to dare themselves onto the Worcester restaurant scene.

Many of you may be aware that Niche first brought Block 5 to Green Street and then Bocado to Winter Street. What I love about Niche restaurants is that they are all consistent in quality and service. I can't honestly say that I see this same consistency in other group's restaurants.

To the Niche Group: Thank you, thank you, thank you. To all others, you owe it to yourself to get over to one of these fantastic restaurants that, in my opinion, could compete in any restaurant scene across the country.

They claim that they are "Redefining Hospitality". They ain't lyin'.

Calabria Ristorante - Millbury, MA - Sheri

Let me begin by saying that I grew up in Millbury. I like to think that I avoided ever becoming what, those of us who feel exempt from such labels, refer to as "townies" or "Millbillies." But let's be honest, after 20+ years of living in the same town, some things start to rub off on you. So, when I heard that a new Italian restaurant, excuse me, I mean Ristorante, was opening on S. Main St, where Linda's Discount Video used to be, I was beyond shocked. I immediately started feeling sad for whoever had mistakenly thought that a swanky restaurant with style and maybe even a little culture would be able to make it in our beloved little town.

I had a brief flash back to Thai Cuisine that once occupied the Taft House on Main St. It was, by far, the best Thai food I've yet to have in MA (sorry Thai Place, you're a close second). I remember with fondness meeting my father there for lunch. Usually we were the only 2 in the entire place, which should've been a strong indicator that things were not going well for that little place. Their food was always freshly prepared, top notch quality, and a fair price. But, sure enough, after a brief year or 2 stint, they were gone. It was a sad day for Ian and I. But, I digress...

Back to Calabria. For several weeks Ian and I had every good intention to get over to this new place that was creating quite the hype among the Millbillies. (At this point I'd like to point out that the term "Millbillies" is not meant to be derogatory in any way, and I hope that no one takes it too personally. Believe me, its a term of endearment. I'm from there too, remember?) Finally one Friday night in December, we made it over there. It was about 7:00 and the place was packed. Always a good sign. I was immediately won over by the beautiful decor-dark tables and chairs, swanky granite top bar, handsome bar tender... all in all a great first impression. It was hard to believe we were still in Millbury.

We were seated after a brief 10 or 15 minute wait at the bar. I perused the menu, as is my custom, hoping something would pop out at me. I considered several options, but stuck with my old standby, a chicken scallopini dish with liguini served with a lemon caper sauce. Ian decided on a shrimp scampi dish. We ordered the fried calamari to start with. The calamari came quickly. It was a little over-cooked for my liking. I prefer a light crispy batter. This was sort of soggy and over fried. The marinara sauce, served for dipping, was tangy and tasty. Our meals came out in quick succession. I was not impressed with my meal. It lacked taste, bordering on bland, even after dousing it with salt and parmesan cheese. I only finished about 1/4 of the dish, since the portion was more than generous. I sampled Ian's shrimp scampi, hoping for something better. Nothing spectacular there either. The waitress continued to be attentive and helpful. About 40 minutes and $50 later, we were leaving.

I had lunch there again with an old friend not too long ago. My food experience was again, unremarkable. I had the tortellini with pesto. She had the gnocchi. Neither one of us was impressed. It satisfied our appetite, and lets face it, its better than eating a tuna sandwich or throwing a lean cuisine in the microwave for lunch.

Its difficult for me to sum up my review of this restaurant. I'm always a big fan of new restaurants that present fresh new options to those of us who have grown tired of the old corporate stand-by's that the Millbury Shoppes offer (i.e. Applebee's, Friday's, Uno's, etc.). I admire their courage for bringing their little piece of Italian heritage to a small town like Millbury. The restaurant itself is beautiful. They've done an amazing job with renovating the space, and have really improved the face of S. Main St. The staff is always warm and friendly. Calabria Ristorante offers a nice setting to meet up and enjoy good conversation with friends or family. My issue lies with the food. There is certainly plenty of room for improvement there. I hope to see their menu expand and improve in the months and, hopefully, years to come.

The next time I have a lunch appointment with someone in town, I may suggest going to 'this great little Italian restaurant in town. Its really nice inside. The food isn't anything special, but its better than Applebee's. And its right on S. Main...'

Halfway Cafe - Marlborough, MA - Jake

I agree with Ian wholeheartedly on this one.

The ambiance and service were just as agreeable as the food itself. I was able to join in on the appetizers and enjoyed the crispy onion rings and loved the pairing of the calamari with the hot peppers. It was a truly wonderful combination.

For an entree I had the Halfway Fish & Chips with Sweet Potato Fries. The fish was served in small pieces that were perfect for using your hands with, and a tartar sauce that was refreshingly tangy. The sweet potato fries were great and the coleslaw was some of the best I've tasted lately. All-in-all it was fish & chips done right, and I would happily return to not only have them again but try any of their other available dishes.

Go there with friends and just relax and feast! Great food, a wonderful laid back atmosphere, and friendly fun people. The Halfway Cafe is well worth the visit.

Halfway Cafe - Marlborough, MA - Ian

Halfway Cafe on Boston Post Road in Marlborough

We were headed to the Solomon Pond Mall on Friday evening and we were hungry. So I Googled restaurants in the area from my phone and I found the Halfway Cafe and discovered that it is a favorite of the Phantom Gourmet. We decided to check it out.




The Ambiance

One word to describe this place is FUN. When you walk in, you're greeted by one of those curvy mirrors (vertically, of course) that makes you look all stretchy and stuff. You could smell popcorn and hear great music. We had to wait about 10 minutes for a table, but it was Friday night and it definitely seemed like a popular place.

The Food

There was a great selection of food, great prices and a full bar. They're running a "7 for 7" special for the month of January. There are seven different meals for 7 dollars. Two of the people at my table ordered the Steak Au Poivre and they said you couldn't beat it for 7 bucks.

For appetizers, we had the calamari and onion rings and they were both fantastic! I was really impressed by the onion rings because the batter actually stuck to the onion. It wasn't like the rings at Red Robin that slide all the way out on the first bite and slap you on the chin.

The calamari was also outstanding. It was served with red and green hot peppers and some tangy marinara. It definitely beats the calamari you'd get at Longhorn's, 99, Friday's or any of those places.

For my entree, I ordered a burger. It was tasty, although a bit overcooked, and the fries were especially good. They were skin-on, hand-cut. Can't beat that. Together with my black-and-tan it made me a very happy (and full) man.

The Service

I was very pleased with the service. All of our appetizers came out very quickly, and so did out entrees. This was especially impressive for a Friday evening. Our waitress was very friendly and good-natured and the others in the wait staff had a similar persona that melded well with the family atmosphere.

I liked this place so much that I'm going to add it to the Fantom Four Fantastic Finds! I was very pleased to know that there are still great pubs out there that remain unscathed by the corporate monster that has taken over American, feel-good food.