Smokestack Urban Barbecue
139 Green St
Worcester, MA 01604
(508) 363-1111
Yelp: 4 Stars, 44 Reviews This is some serious 'cue, the kind that will have you forgetting you're in New England and thinking you're a backroads shack somewhere in the deep south. The ribs are finger-lickin' good, the sauces have just the right zip, and the brisket practically melts in your mouth. Side dishes are authentically southern-style: cheesy grits, collard greens and cornbread, and there's even banana pudding for dessert. And if it's Thirsty Thursday, this is definitely the place to be—the beer is cheap and the bacon's free!!
Lou Roc’s Diner
1074 W Boylston St
Worcester, MA 01606
(508) 852-6888
Yelp: 4.5 Stars, 54 Reviews Lou Roc's is a classic diner, and breakfast is the classic diner meal, so that's what you should order. The coffee is hot and strong and the cup is bottomless, as it should be. Eggs are extra-large, and you can get them with ham, bacon, sausage, sirloin steak, even Italian sausage and corned beef hash. If you prefer to start your day with something sweet, the huge, fluffy pancakes come in plain, fruit or chocolate chip varieties—and if you come around Christmas time, you might even get one shaped like a reindeer (complete with bacon antlers) or Santa (with whipped-cream beard). If you're the indecisive type, however, Lou Roc's got you covered, too. The sausage-stuffed French toast is amazing, and the bacon-cheddar Belgian waffle will make your mouth water. A few things to keep in mind before you go—Lou Roc's is no hidden gem, everyone in town seems to know about it, and some mornings it seems like just about everyone's lined up waiting for a seat. Also, cash is king here; they don't do plastic. You know, just like in the olden days.
Bean Counter Coffee Bar & Bakery
113 Highland St
Worcester, MA 01609
(508) 754-3125
Yelp: 4 Stars, 59 Reviews While Lou Roc's does a great basic cup of Joe, if an espresso is what you crave, the Bean Counter's your kind of place. They were voted best coffee in town by ‘Worcester Magazine,” and this little coffee bar is a Euro-chic hideaway with free Wi-Fi and a selection of books and games that make you just want to pull up a chair and settle in for a while. If you get hungry, you're in luck, since the Bean Counter's also a bakery with some of the yummiest cupcakes around. Do try the whoopie pie, a cookie sandwich with a creamy filling native to New England—maybe. Pennsylvania also claims to have invented them, but its doubtful that Pittsburgh's got anything to rival the Bean Counter's pies.
The Grey Hound Pub
139 Water St
Worcester, MA 01604
(508) 754-6100
Yelp: 4.5 Stars, 9 Reviews If, on the other hand, you're your idea of a morning pick me up is a “drop o'the craythur” – well, you're out of luck, the Grey Hound Pub doesn't open 'til afternoon. They do, however, have about 75 different kinds of whisky, from Ireland and Scotland, too. In fact, even though the Grey Hound's as Irish as Paddy's Pig, their menu pays homage to their Celtic cousins with Scottish fried meat pies called bridies and a lip-smacking Scotch egg—a hard-boiled egg, wrapped in sausage meat, battered and deep-fried. Ok, so Scottish (and Irish) cooking isn't exactly health food, but you need something hearty to soak up all that whisky, or Guinness, Smithwick's, Magner's cider, even a Scottish ale, Inniss and Dunn. While the Grey Hound is definitely the best spot to catch a rugby or football (as in soccer) game on TV, they also sponsor a few local rugby and hurling teams. And if you want to work off a few calories ahead of time in anticipation of a pub binge, they even sponsor a free 5K run every Monday night.
Flying Rhino Cafe
278 Shrewsbury St
Worcester, MA 01604
(508) 757-1450
Yelp: 3.5 Stars, 93 Reviews The Flying Rhino bar and restaurant is a popular local hangout, especial in summertime when the outdoor deck is open. The bar has a nice selection of craft and import brews, including the local Wormtown I.P.A., as well as top-shelf liquors and specialty cocktails. Try the Safari Sangria, a tangy concoction of red wine, raspberry, peach and lemon rum and fresh fruit. They're also known for their eclectic selection of “wild bites” appetizers including yummy Buffalo chicken wontons and fried feta cheese. The sizable sandwiches make for a satisfying meal, especially if you get them with a side of the tantalizing truffle fries. Insider tip: The restaurant offers secret specials that don't appear on the menu, but are instead advertised only on their Facebook page. Ask for the Epic Tusk, a scrumptious chicken cheese steak with caramelized onions, applewood-smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce. Yum!
Source: Baba Sushi via Facebook
Baba Restaurant & Sushi Bar
309 Park Ave
Worcester, MA 01609 Phone number (508) 752-8822
Yelp: 4 Stars, 128 Reviews
Baba Sushi is hands-down Worcester's best sushi place and they've got a handful of awards to prove it, with multi-year accolades from “Worcester Magazine,” Worcester's Best Chef, “City Living” and “Worcester Living.” The atmosphere is intimate, with a small dining room that can feel either cozy or a bit cramped, depending on when you go, but the sushi and sashimi are always stellar. You can't go wrong no matter what you pick from the menu, but the creative maki rolls—like the Godzilla, which combines spicy tuna with a tempura-fried banana and drizzles it with eel sauce—are as appetizing as they are fun to eat.
One Love Cafe
800 Main St
Worcester, MA 01610
(774) 272-3969
Yelp: 4 Stars, 65 Reviews One Love's a tiny little space, and it's run by just one Jamaican woman who uses her mad cooking skills to bring us a little taste of her island home. It's authentic down to the little details—reggae music, Jamaican artwork on the walls, Ting and DG Kola...even the water is garnished with chunks of fresh fruit. The jerk chicken is fantastic, the coconut chicken's even better, and the curried goat is moist and flavorful. If you're a vegetarian, or even a vegan, One Love will show you plenty of love, too. There's a vegetable roti, a pumpkin soup, a spicy ital stew, and all kinds of veggie dishes on the menu. Even the weekly buffet is half vegan, and there's a vegan brunch once a month. Oh yeah, and the produce she uses is all organic, too. After all, the restaurant is located right next door to the ARTichoke Coop Natural Food Store.
The Dogfather
84 Holden St
Worcester, MA 01606
(508) 713-3730
Yelp: 4.5 Stars, 7 Reviews The Dogfather is a food truck (well, actually they're now up to three trucks) that promises to make you a hot dog you can't refuse...and really, you'd have to be a pretty die-hard health nut to turn one down. The Kayem Old Tyme natural casing franks are steamed and retain a satisfying snap, and are just as good whether you order them plain or doctored with chili, cheese, mustard, relish and onions or (if you're, like, Midwestern or something) ketchup. The specialty dogs have cute names like the Vito (pepperoni and peppers), the Undertaker (bacon, blue cheese and jalapenos) and the Hitman (sauerkraut, peppers and hot sauce), but think outside the bun and go for the Dogzilla: two hotdogs smothered in chili, shredded cheddar and mustard, topped with diced onions and crunchy hot fries and wrapped in a tortilla. Its barking good!
Pomir Grill
119 Shrewsbury St
Worcester, MA 01604
(508) 755-7333
Yelp: 4.5 Stars, 54 Reviews When you think of dining in Worcester, Afghan food might not be the first cuisine to come to mind. Pomir Grill, however, is doing its best to change all that, and after just two years in business, they're already Worcester's top-rated restaurant on Trip Advisor with a stellar five-star rating. Afghan food, if you haven't tried it yet, is kind of like a cross between Indian and Middle Eastern, mildly spicy, exotic and yet not intimidating. Whether or not you're into veggies, the vegetarian sampler plate makes for a delightful introduction to your new soon-to-be favorite cuisine, but if you're a carnivore, you're guaranteed to go nuts for the char-grilled kebabs. The lamb, in particular, is tender and juicy and just outstanding. The homemade pistachio ice cream couldn't make for a happier ending to one of the best meals you've ever had.
Bocado
82 Winter St
Worcester, MA 01604
(508) 797-1011
Yelp: 4 Stars, 195 Reviews Tapas restaurants may have become trendy a few years back, but they're still a relative novelty in Worcester. So the the city is very fortunate to have one as fantastic as Bocado. Order up a selection of whatever strikes your fancy, since you'd be hard put to pick a dud: fried goat cheese, sauteed shrimp, piquillo peppers stuffed with cheese and veal… all incredible. The list goes on, but I'm already drooling. Don't give in to the temptation to try one of everything, however, since then you'd be too stuffed to enjoy the outstanding paella, and that would be a crying shame. The seafood version is packed with with clams, shrimp, mussels and scallops and it's absolutely enormous. Don’t worry if you can’t finish it all in one sitting as it makes for some awesome leftovers, too.
Nuovo
92 Shrewsbury St
Worcester, MA 01604
(508) 796-5915
Yelp: 3.5 Stars, 35 Reviews Worcester's got no shortage of Italian restaurants, and they all claim they're the best in town, but Nuovo's extensive offerings, high quality and super-attentive service put them at the head of the pack. The décor, as the name implies, is contemporary, but the menu runs more to traditional than trendy. Favorites include chicken piccata, veal marsala and osso bucco, but the best way to judge an Italian restaurant is by its pasta, and Nuovo's is first rate. The homemade gravy is just like Nonna used to make, and the macaroni's truly al dente. Ahhh, molto bene!
Corner Grille
806 Pleasant St
Worcester, MA 01602
(508) 754-8884
Yelp: 4 Stars, 124 Reviews The Corner Grille is a favorite with Worcester's college crowd, and as we all remember, Pizza 101 is practically a required course at every institute of higher education. The Corner Grille's thin, crispy crust gets an A+, and its square shape frames toppings that are downright artistic in their presentation. Build your own pie with toppings ranging from the tried-and-true—pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, etc.—to more unusual offerings like cilantro, pesto and feta cheese. If you're feeling adventurous, go for one of the way-out specialties like the vodka-sauced Mad Russian, chardonnay leek-sauced Tipsy Goat, brown sugar butternut squash Harvest Moon or crazy chicken Caesar salad and pizza mashup.
Boynton Restaurant & Spirits
117 Highland St
Worcester, MA 01609
(508) 756-5432
Yelp: 4 Stars, 164 Reviews The Boynton's a friendly neighborhood bar that's been a popular Worcester hangout since 1969. They've got tons of different draft selections, including quite a few local brews (try the Wachusett Blueberry Ale!), and the menu runs to all things that go well with beer, like burgers, bombers (aka subs, grinders, hoagies), and great big pieces of grilled meat. They've even got a turkey dinner with cranberry sauce you can order any day of the year, not just in November. Where the Boynton really shines, however is with its bar food. They cover all the bases, from fried things (pickles, onions, mozzarella sticks) to vaguely ethnic things (tuna sashimi, quesadillas, nachos) to even kinda-sorta almost healthy things (homemade hummus and spinach/artichoke dip). If healthy eating's the last thing on your mind, however, they have been known to whip up guilty pleasures like pulled pork and tater tot nachos, oozing with gooey melted cheese, drizzled with sour cream, and sure to clog every last artery.
Sweet
72 Shrewsbury St
Worcester, MA 01614
(508) 373-2248
Yelp: 3 Stars, 110 Reviews Sweet's claim to fame is that they invented the “cronut” long before it was even a thing. Their version, the “dosant,” is superior to any other version you're likely to run across, however, since it's stuffed with dark chocolate and comes with a side of caramel sauce for dipping. Sweet's bakery has also been featured on several Food Network shows, including “Sweet Genius” and “Cupcake Wars.” They're more than just another cupcake and donut shop though—they've also got a full-service bar. While the bar serves up savory appetizers and premium spirits, beers and wines, it stays true to the dessert roots with mixed drinks like the Tiramisu Martini and Whiskey Apple Pie. Sweet bar snacks include homemade marshmallow s'mores you can toast over a tableside flame, a whiskey cake with caramel corn ice cream, and Bananas Foster spring rolls.
Crown Bakery and Cafe
133 Gold Star Blvd
Worcester, MA 01606
(508) 852-0746
Yelp: 4.5 Stars, 26 Reviews Crown Bakery has the most gorgeous cakes you've ever salivated over, and they also offer a full range of European goodies from baklava to petits fours to macaroons and picture-perfect little fruit tarts. They're actually Swedish, however, and the house specialty is an absolute dream of a pastry called the Princess Torta. This round ball of bliss consists of sponge cake layered with whipped cream, custard and raspberry jam, then covered all over with marzipan. It's so beautiful it almost breaks your heart to slice it, but so incredibly delicious you won't be able to keep yourself from diving right in. As the Muppets’ Swedish Chef would say, Børk! Børk! Børk!!!
