Sol of Mexico, 538 Pleasant St., August 12 and 15

Overall impression:   This place is fabulous!

http://solofmexico.yolasite.com/
http://www.solofmexico.com/

We have wanted to try Sol of Mexico for years, but have been thwarted by the afternoon-only opening times. (I believe  this was started just as a place to sell homemade tortillas, then the owner branched out a bit). As I had one last week of flexible summer schedule, however, I went there on a Wednesday and got take-out for lunch. To my happy surprise it is open Fridays and Saturdays 12-9, so we can go for weekend lunch/dinner. Which is great because I loved it on my own, and Eric loved it when I took him back three days later.

On the Wednesday I got in right at opening. By the time my order was ready there were five other customers and the three small tables were filled. Popularity is a good sign. I tried to order tamales, but she didn't have any, to everyone's disappointment (all parties were seeking tamales that day). But she promised tamales on Saturday, which is why I went back so quickly. For my take-out order I got a veggie burrito, chips and guacamole. Even the small (4 oz) guac is too much for one person, one sitting, but it was wonderful. The burrito was also too much for one sitting, but I didn't let that stop me and I ate it all. It was grilled just the perfect amount and tasted superb.

On Saturday, Eric and I were the only customers at 12:40. I guess it gets more of a work-lunch crowd, but regardless we were happy to sit down there. The ceiling is a beautiful shade of green and it was a bright sunny day. We both got tamales, mine veggie. They were well worth the wait. I also had a veggie taco (good, but I think I like the burrito better) and Eric got fish tacos. He was impressed, and started planning the next time in our schedule that we can return.

So - 5 stars, 2 thumbs up, etc. Yummy food, nice owner, pretty inside. Lovely.

Chuan Shabu 301 Park Ave August 5

Overall impression:   Go for sharing.

http://www.shabuworcester.com/


I went Shabu with too many limitations in my mind, and didn't have the best experience. If you visit- be open to trying anything on the menu. Make sure you are into hot soup. Maybe have a mai tai. Then it should be great.


Eric never really wanted to try this restaurant, but we went in a quest for this week's new place. Knitting friends said that they had good food, including Chinese dishes and appetizers other than hot pot. I think I'd be into hot pot, but Eric doesn't really like hot liquids (no coffee, tea, etc. He used to have hot chocolate about once a year in an airport Starbucks until he discovered frappucinos, so now hot cocoa is out too). I didn't want to do it on my own, so we both ordered other things on the menu.

Unfortunately I wasn't impressed by the scallion pancakes, or the veggie fried rice (the only large vegetarian option). But Eric thought the orange chicken was really good, so ironically he enjoyed his food experience much more than I did!  Even though we didn't use it, we thought the induction cook top was awesome. So did the people next to us - this was their first time for hot pot and they were excited. They asked the young couple next to them all about it, and were told that it would be super fun. So - this means I have to go back with a larger group and have the soup. There were some really cool looking mushrooms for the cooking, I'd like to try those.

  The ambience was nice. A guy with his daughters, couples, groups of friends. There are drawbacks to the seating though. Since the tables don't move, bench seating isn't good for those with long legs - too cramped. There are chairs in addition to built-in benches, but the chairs are for giant people. If I sat in one I wouldn't be able to lean against the back rest because the seat is so big. These are the problems of being 5'1" and having a 6'3" husband - nothing seems to fit us right. The parking is also bad, only a few tiny spots. (Next to a giant parking lot for bank business only). If you go, try to park on a neighborhood street parallel to Park Ave.

If you go, ask me along. It warrants a second try from me.

Pinecroft Dairy (West Boylston) July 31

Overall impression:  Like going back in time, but with modern ice cream flavors.

http://www.pinecroftdairy.com/


We just recently returned from a trip to Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes and many ice cream shops. So I thought when we got back we'd do a bit of comparison. This was kind of a cheating week - Pinecroft Dairy is in West Boylston rather than Worcester. I figured maybe I could have one restaurant in each Worcester-adjoining town this year. Anyway, my ulterior motive for heading out there was to explore possible new biking routes for my husband, and since we live in north Worcester this isn't too far.

I had heard about the ice cream at Pinecroft from a former neighbor a number of years ago. He was 10 at the time and gave it rave reviews. Meola's is our usual spot, but it is good to branch out. Plus, there is a farmer's market at Pinecroft in the summer. Also - this is a full sit-down restaurant (with walk-up window service too). More than half the booths circle a large counter and center area where ice cream is scooped and treats are made. Neat-o!  (As Eric said, its kind of like stepping back in time, so I think that word is appropriate).

We went on a Friday for lunch. The decor is dark and woody, and the music seemed to run pop female artists from the 80's (Belinda Carlisle, Sinead O'Connor, Whitney Houston). Perfectly enjoyable. We had a veggie burger and fish and chips. The fries were good, the rest of the food was fine but not anything outstanding. The ice cream was great, though. Eric had cookie dough and I had no-sugar-added peanut butter. The peanut butter taste was extreme, which I was in favor of.

The folks out for lunch were a diverse lot in age - this seems like a multigenerational gathering place. Great for grandparents and kids to go together. Multigenarational servers too, we were helped by a very nice woman and her teenage daughter. I would stop for ice cream here again if I'm in the neighborhood. Possibly in the middle of a bike ride.

Loving Hut Vegan Cuisine 415 Chandler St. (July 20)

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.

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!

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!

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.