Overall impression: Good vegan Chinese and Thai-style dishes. Nice for lunch.
http://www.lovinghut.us/worcester/
After popping in for a few hours to work I took myself to lunch. Loving Hut is a restaurant I should have tried years ago, being vegetarian. Perhaps I did have a spring roll from their stand at stART on the street once, but that's it. I vaguely recall a friend saying she thought the food was heavy, plus it is on the other side of town from me... those are my excuses. (Plus my husband isn't likely to want to try a vegan restaurant.) But today I had to stop over at That's Entertainment for a new comic, anyway, and it was a summer day in which I had the car (Eric gets it a lot when I have July-August vacation). So lunch there fit in with my plans. And it wasn't too heavy! Just right, at least with what I ordered.
I had other false preconceptions, I don't know where they came from. For example, I assumed it would be mostly a counter to order and very few tables. There were lots of tables, however, and though about a quarter of the 20-or-so people who were in and out while I was there got takeout most of us were dining in. I was there from 11:45 to 12:45 on a Monday, and there were groups of friends, a couple family units and another solo diner.
I had the scallion pancakes (yum) and the snow peas with soy protein. I purposefully chose something vegetable-laden, and it tasted very good. I liked what I got better than the dishes I've had at Nancy Chang's, in the same neighborhood (though I don't want to disparage Nanch Chang's). I also ordered Thai iced tea without the soymilk, but didn't drink it because it was super-sweet. I thought it would just be tea on ice, as the sweetener in a Thai iced tea is usually the condensed milk. Anyway, they asked after the un-drunk tea and took it off my bill, which was very nice.
The food arrives quickly and is piping hot. Drinks and smoothies seem to take longer, as did waiting for my check. But if I was in a hurry I could have requested my bill and change earlier, I'm sure. I will likely be back to treat myself to a lunch break or to meet friends from the west side.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Canal Restaurant & Bar 65 Water St. (July 15)
Overall impression: Great place to go for drinks. Large and diverse food menu, attentive service.
http://thecanalrestaurant.com/
I'm normally not one to get excited about Cajun/Creole food, mainly because I'm a vegetarian and it usually isn't the right fit. When we visited New Orleans a couple of years ago the only "classic" local cuisine I could eat were beignets (but hey - beignets!). Lucky for me, however, I have the new-place-a-week challenge, so that got us out to the Canal Restaurant (New Orleans Cuisine). I liked it, and I'd like to go again. The food was good, not amazing (I'll have to try some more dishes to get a better picture), but the relaxed bar atmosphere was nice.
Early-ish on a Wednesday evening it was pretty quiet. There was a group finishing up a meal at one of the other high-tops at the bar plus a few regulars coming in, having drinks at the tables outside. It was biker night, I believe, both the Canal and the bar across the street had lots of motorcycles parked out front. I wonder how busy they get late at night, when there is music. (Though late night DJ isn't so much our scene, so I probably won't ever find out first-hand. I was actually confused by the website announcing "Djing". I though, Jing? What do they mean by Jing? Oh, right, DJ-ing). Anyway, quiet was relaxing. The space is comfortable, set just below street level but very open feeling. The non-DJ music runs towards 80's hits.
I had a cocktail, a cucumber jack. Vodka, tequila, cucumber, lime. Good, but I'm not completely sold on the cucumber and lime combo. For food we started with the fries of the day (yucca), and Eric had shrimp tacos, which he enjoyed. I tried the roast vegetable jumbalaya, mostly because I hadn't had jumbalaya before and liked the idea of a vegetarian version. Unfortunately I don't think jumbalaya is my thing, but that's ok. For dessert we shared a gigantic piece of chocolate cake. I have been mostly off of eating added sugar for over a year, no cookies or cake except for my birthday. My birthday is in one week, so I declared this the dessert occassion. It was lovely. (Sorry to say, no beignets).
I think this is a great place to meet friends after work. On a July or August Thursday you could go to the farmer's market at Crompton place in the evening, then head over to the Canal for refreshment (alternating weekly with El Patron, of course). Beautiful summertime!
http://thecanalrestaurant.com/
I'm normally not one to get excited about Cajun/Creole food, mainly because I'm a vegetarian and it usually isn't the right fit. When we visited New Orleans a couple of years ago the only "classic" local cuisine I could eat were beignets (but hey - beignets!). Lucky for me, however, I have the new-place-a-week challenge, so that got us out to the Canal Restaurant (New Orleans Cuisine). I liked it, and I'd like to go again. The food was good, not amazing (I'll have to try some more dishes to get a better picture), but the relaxed bar atmosphere was nice.
Early-ish on a Wednesday evening it was pretty quiet. There was a group finishing up a meal at one of the other high-tops at the bar plus a few regulars coming in, having drinks at the tables outside. It was biker night, I believe, both the Canal and the bar across the street had lots of motorcycles parked out front. I wonder how busy they get late at night, when there is music. (Though late night DJ isn't so much our scene, so I probably won't ever find out first-hand. I was actually confused by the website announcing "Djing". I though, Jing? What do they mean by Jing? Oh, right, DJ-ing). Anyway, quiet was relaxing. The space is comfortable, set just below street level but very open feeling. The non-DJ music runs towards 80's hits.
I had a cocktail, a cucumber jack. Vodka, tequila, cucumber, lime. Good, but I'm not completely sold on the cucumber and lime combo. For food we started with the fries of the day (yucca), and Eric had shrimp tacos, which he enjoyed. I tried the roast vegetable jumbalaya, mostly because I hadn't had jumbalaya before and liked the idea of a vegetarian version. Unfortunately I don't think jumbalaya is my thing, but that's ok. For dessert we shared a gigantic piece of chocolate cake. I have been mostly off of eating added sugar for over a year, no cookies or cake except for my birthday. My birthday is in one week, so I declared this the dessert occassion. It was lovely. (Sorry to say, no beignets).
I think this is a great place to meet friends after work. On a July or August Thursday you could go to the farmer's market at Crompton place in the evening, then head over to the Canal for refreshment (alternating weekly with El Patron, of course). Beautiful summertime!
Friday, July 10, 2015
Mid-year review: Best of the new-for-me restaurants of Worcester
Today I tried a vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Framingham with a friend (Greenleaf - it was excellent). Since my friend lives that way and I met her by her house, I won't get in a novel Worcester restaurant this week. So instead I give my half-year review. These are the places we have tried since January that we continue to return to:
1) Fatima's Cafe.
I love this place. The samosas are brilliant, the family is so nice, and it is close by. We have dined-in and I've also gotten dishes to-go for my students and my book group. In fact, we were there last night. A brief moment of panic occurred, as there is a realtor's "available" sign on the building and they had forgotten to turn on the "open" light in the window. We thought they had closed down - that would be tragedy! In fact, they are open and doing well, though the building has just been sold. Hopefully the new building owners will keep them as tenants. If not, we'll follow to whatever new location they find.
2) El Patron.
Not only do we keep going back, I keep ordering the same dish (drenched burrito with grilled veggies instead of meat, and chips & guacamole). A favorite dish is both a delight and a danger -my friend Ara insists I need to try the tortas, and I really shouldn't limit myself. El Patron is popular with our friends and co-workers, we usually don't go alone.
3) Cafe Reyes.
The salads here are wonderful, and I can even request veggie empanadas. I love the coffee. Eric likes that he can walk there for lunch since its right by his work.
4) The Urban. NOTE - THIS IS NOW CLOSED.
We've only been a few times, but really like it for drinks and special occasions. The ambience is fabulous, the music they play is the music we play, and the food is flavorful.
Additionally, these are the places we have only been to just once, but are anxious to get back to:
Bay State Schawarma and Grill (Such good falafel); Basil N Spice (We only tried it a few weeks ago - we'll go again soon); Mare e Monti (We did attempt a return in May, but they were filled with graduation parties. Perhaps a weeknight this summer.)
And just to give them a mention: these are the places I go to frequently, but they were already old hat when I started the new-food establishment-a-week project, so I have never blogged about them:
Birch tree bread company, Volturno, Sweet, Bollywood Grill (Shrewsbury), Il Forno (West Boylston), Wild Willy's Burgers.
Happy Eating!
1) Fatima's Cafe.
I love this place. The samosas are brilliant, the family is so nice, and it is close by. We have dined-in and I've also gotten dishes to-go for my students and my book group. In fact, we were there last night. A brief moment of panic occurred, as there is a realtor's "available" sign on the building and they had forgotten to turn on the "open" light in the window. We thought they had closed down - that would be tragedy! In fact, they are open and doing well, though the building has just been sold. Hopefully the new building owners will keep them as tenants. If not, we'll follow to whatever new location they find.
2) El Patron.
Not only do we keep going back, I keep ordering the same dish (drenched burrito with grilled veggies instead of meat, and chips & guacamole). A favorite dish is both a delight and a danger -my friend Ara insists I need to try the tortas, and I really shouldn't limit myself. El Patron is popular with our friends and co-workers, we usually don't go alone.
3) Cafe Reyes.
The salads here are wonderful, and I can even request veggie empanadas. I love the coffee. Eric likes that he can walk there for lunch since its right by his work.
4) The Urban. NOTE - THIS IS NOW CLOSED.
We've only been a few times, but really like it for drinks and special occasions. The ambience is fabulous, the music they play is the music we play, and the food is flavorful.
Additionally, these are the places we have only been to just once, but are anxious to get back to:
Bay State Schawarma and Grill (Such good falafel); Basil N Spice (We only tried it a few weeks ago - we'll go again soon); Mare e Monti (We did attempt a return in May, but they were filled with graduation parties. Perhaps a weeknight this summer.)
And just to give them a mention: these are the places I go to frequently, but they were already old hat when I started the new-food establishment-a-week project, so I have never blogged about them:
Birch tree bread company, Volturno, Sweet, Bollywood Grill (Shrewsbury), Il Forno (West Boylston), Wild Willy's Burgers.
Happy Eating!
Friday, July 3, 2015
Corner Lunch, 133 Lamartine St (July 3)
Overall impression: A perfectly pleasant, sort of rundown-comfy, sunny diner.
http://m.mainstreethub.com/cornerlunchdiner
Several days were spent in Wisconsin last week. We had yummy Indian food plus midwestern family-reunion potluck. Now that we're back in Mass it is time for classic Worcester again. Diner food! This time for lunch, instead of breakfast, though we could have had omelettes and pancakes if we wanted.
I felt it was sort of cheating on my quest to seek out new places, in that we chose Corner Lunch because Eric got a groupon. He loves groupons. And hey, they do get us to new places. I had driven by once or twice before, but never really noticed it. It is right down the street from Miss Worcester, which I like a lot. It isn't fair to compare it to Miss Worcester, though, as they really are different beasts. Yes, they are both classic diners. But Corner Lunch is bigger and has a different vibe. Its pink and green inside! Both are good.
As it was Friday July 3 (meaning a day off for the long holiday weekend for lots of people) it was slammed. We only waited a few minutes for a table, but the service was a little slow since there was only one extremely busy waitress. She was nice, everybody was. It was loud with all the people and a very vocal toddler. But on a beautiful day off for us that didn't matter at all. Corner Lunch sits on a triangle corner, has windows on three sides and the fourth wall is covered in mirror. So on a sunny day- shiny!
I had grilled cheese with tomato, Eric got fish and chips. I thought he might want the nacho jalapeno cheeseburger special, but he'd had a burger the night before. There were many options for the fish - beer battered, breaded, chipotle, others. He liked his food, mine was just fine. I was almost breaking my rule that a meal has to have at least three colors, but the pickle and the tomato slices saved me. The fries are just crinkle cut potatoes - simple and classic. Nothing fancy-schmancy with coating or seasoning. (Eric rails against the gentrification of french fries in the last decade.) And the iced coffee was perfect.
I'm not sure we'll head back again, but it was a dandy experience.
http://m.mainstreethub.com/cornerlunchdiner
Several days were spent in Wisconsin last week. We had yummy Indian food plus midwestern family-reunion potluck. Now that we're back in Mass it is time for classic Worcester again. Diner food! This time for lunch, instead of breakfast, though we could have had omelettes and pancakes if we wanted.
I felt it was sort of cheating on my quest to seek out new places, in that we chose Corner Lunch because Eric got a groupon. He loves groupons. And hey, they do get us to new places. I had driven by once or twice before, but never really noticed it. It is right down the street from Miss Worcester, which I like a lot. It isn't fair to compare it to Miss Worcester, though, as they really are different beasts. Yes, they are both classic diners. But Corner Lunch is bigger and has a different vibe. Its pink and green inside! Both are good.
As it was Friday July 3 (meaning a day off for the long holiday weekend for lots of people) it was slammed. We only waited a few minutes for a table, but the service was a little slow since there was only one extremely busy waitress. She was nice, everybody was. It was loud with all the people and a very vocal toddler. But on a beautiful day off for us that didn't matter at all. Corner Lunch sits on a triangle corner, has windows on three sides and the fourth wall is covered in mirror. So on a sunny day- shiny!
I had grilled cheese with tomato, Eric got fish and chips. I thought he might want the nacho jalapeno cheeseburger special, but he'd had a burger the night before. There were many options for the fish - beer battered, breaded, chipotle, others. He liked his food, mine was just fine. I was almost breaking my rule that a meal has to have at least three colors, but the pickle and the tomato slices saved me. The fries are just crinkle cut potatoes - simple and classic. Nothing fancy-schmancy with coating or seasoning. (Eric rails against the gentrification of french fries in the last decade.) And the iced coffee was perfect.
I'm not sure we'll head back again, but it was a dandy experience.
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