Dinner Friday Night in Worcester? [moved from Greater Boston board]

[Valyn]

We will be in Worcester on Friday evening around dinner time, and I'm not at all familiar with the dining scene out there (we live in Acton). Any suggestions? We're open to just about anything, and are willing to spend a bit if it's particularly good.

Thanks!

[Valyn]

Thanks to you all for your recs. We ate at 111 Chop House, and it was quite good. Amazed at the crowd, but it wasn't too noisy. We had the shrimp cocktail as an app, and that was the low point food-wise. The shrimp were limp, rubbery and didn't have much taste (although the cocktail sauce was very nice and either made on-site or from a high-quality purveyor). I'd guess the shrimp were cooked too early in the shift.

My companion had the pepper-crusted sirloin and I had the hangar steak, and both were cooked as ordered. Service was a little rushed; will take longer to place our order next time. Overall it a nice Friday night dinner.

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111 Chop House
111 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604

[Rick_V]

Baba. It's particularly good.

[Science Chick]

I find 111 (very noisy!) and Sole to be overpriced and mediocre. For some of the best Japanese in New England (yes, including Boston!), I would try Baba. Via is pretty good Italian. Bocado is also wonderful for tapas, with a nice atmosphere to boot.

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Bocado
82 Winter Street, Worcester, MA 01604

[invinotheresverde]

111's steaks are prime and ridiculously cheap, as is their wine list.

[oldschoolshrewsburyST]

111 is too noisy..I agree. If you want steak or sushi..try Willy's SteakHouse in shrewsbury. Bocado is great if you not really hungry. Via is good but over priced except for lunch. Don't even try Rhino..way overpriced.

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Bocado
82 Winter Street, Worcester, MA 01604

[Science Chick]

I forgot about Willy's.....yes, agree a MUCH nicer place to get steak. I think the Rhino is gross.......

[hoffa2651]

Willys has the best sushi you will find in Central MA bar none. Its always fresh and you get more for your money than other high end sushi places

[Science Chick]

I think Willy's sushi is fine, but I wouldn't say it is the best in Central MA. Have you tried Baba? Far better in terms of quality and creativiity in my book.

[hoffa2651]

I'll give Baba the nod in creativity for sure, but Ive gotten sushi at Willy's 20+ times and had a great meal each and every time. Im not alone in thinking they are the best either. To each their own I guess

[invinotheresverde]

Maybe it's because I'm really into wine, but I hate Willy's. Their list is awful, as is their glassware and wine service. Plus, they pan-fry their steaks. Yuck.

111 is noisy because it's busy. If you ask to sit in a quiet area, it makes a big difference.

I don't get the dig on Bocado. I've never left there hungry; quite the opposite, in fact. I mean, it's a tapas spot- you don't just order one thing.

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Bocado
82 Winter Street, Worcester, MA 01604

[oldschoolshrewsburyST]

I wasn't digging on Bocado's at all. In fact I love that place but if you willing to drop some money because you have to order many dishes to share. It might not be the best place. i do like wine list too. As for pan-fry steaks at Willy's, Most Steakhouses do that that first, They sear them them put in the oven, I even saw on the Barefoot Cantessa show, where is was trying to make a"steakhouse" steak and did the very same thing that and they put tons of butter on them.

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Bocado
82 Winter Street, Worcester, MA 01604

[invinotheresverde]

I wouldn't say "most", I'd say "some" other steak houses do that.

OP, where'd you end up?

[phelana]

I agree Sole is overpriced and it's hey day is over..mediocre at best...I will second Baba for amazing sushi (Park Ave) and Cafe Dolce on Shrewsbury St. for dessert and..

[brandywiner]

Wow... If the Sole's heyday is over, that must've been SOME heyday! I had dinner with my brothers and SIL on Saturday, and everything was terrific!

Two of us ordered off the Lobsterfest menu; one brother got swordfish, the other got Barcelona tuna. All were just as ordered, and delicious. We also shared 4 apps and 2 desserts.

And they even had a Wachusett ale other than the ubiquitous Blueberry! :b

Overpriced? I don't think so. I've certainly paid (considerably) more for a less enjoyable dinner.

[CocoDan]

"Sole Proprietor" for seafood and "Steakout" for, you guessed it, steaks, and "Via" for Italian.
I don't think you'd do much better than that in Worcester.
Enjoy,
CocoDan

[lmuller]

I like El Basha for Lebanese and that is something that you can't find everywhere.

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Basha Cafe
26 New St, Cambridge, MA 02138

[edgewater]

I would highly recommend 111 Chophouse which is owned by the same people who own Sole Proprietor and Via. The food and service have always been excellent. In addition to beef, , they have an extensive selection of fish. The Sole Proprietor is also good but I like the 111 a bit better. I haven't been to Via yet.

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Sole Proprietor
118 Highland St., Worcester, MA 01609

[trufflehound]

Second El Basha and the Chop. Flying Rhino is good. One Love can't be duplicated in Acton.

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Flying Rhino Cafe
278 Shrewsbury St, Worcester, MA 01604

Basha Cafe
26 New St, Cambridge, MA 02138

[invinotheresverde]

What's Steakout?

[hoffa2651]

i might be in the minority but I still prefer good ole Dino's over Via

[invinotheresverde]

Via has that killer pizza, though.
*Drool*

[hoffa2651]

Dinos had pretty damn good pizza too. One of the few Italian rest. I go to where there is almost always 1 person who comes in to get a take out pizza

[invinotheresverde]

Never heard of Steakout.

[Science Chick]

???Yeah, never heard of that place....hmmmm