What’s hot and what’s happening now in the restaurant scene:

And the winners are… The annual Taste of Shrewsbury Street is history, but the accolades will live on. Vintage Grill claimed top honors, winning Best Food for the second year in a row. Basil N Spice, a former winner, came in second, and Piccolo’s received an honorable mention. About 5,000 people enjoyed this annual event featuring tasting samples from Shrewsbury Street restaurants. In addition to food, attendees were treated to free music up and down Worcester’s Restaurant Row. The money raised from the event goes to a local charity and the beautification of Shrewsbury Street – Worcester’s Gateway from the East.

New Idea. The 20 Franklin St. building in downtown Worcester will finally get a restaurant tenant. The owner of the franchise Taste of Mediterranean has confirmed that the Greek/Lebanese restaurant will open next month. The restaurant will join several other food options springing up around the Worcester Common. Within the next two years, at least seven eateries are expected to open on the Franklin Street side of the Common. Taste’s Sam Hussein said Worcester will be a great location to expand the Canadian-based company. The company looked at three or four Massachusetts cities before choosing the Woo. The primary reason was the large student population. Taste of Mediterranean will serve Greek and Lebanese food, including gyros, shawarma, falafel and wraps.

They made it to the top. Wachusett Brewing Co., of Westminster, and Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, of Framingham, both made the Brewer’s Association’s Annual List, a ranking of the country’s top local breweries. The list was published in the May/June 2017 issue of The New Brewer, the journal of the Brewer’s Association. Wachusett produced 51,239 barrels in 2016, nearly double the 26,351 it produced in 2012, according to the Brewer’s Association. Between 2015 and 2016, production grew by 36 percent. According to Brewer’s Association data, Jack’s Abby grew its barrel production from 2,500 barrels in 2012 to 34,500 in 2016. The brewery is set to produce 50,000 barrels this year, and its Framingham facility has the capacity to produce almost triple that amount.

They’re not making chopsticks. Look for the opening of the Wooden Noodle Company, a Worcester startup that will serve Ramen noodles in the Woo. It may be as a pop-up or a food truck.

Out of Africa. A new African restaurant will open soon in Worcester’s South Plaza on Grafton Street. Accra Girls will specialize in Ghanaian food. Worcester has one of the largest Ghanaian communities in the country.

Expansion plans. Two Worcester Restaurants have recently opened outdoor patios. Paesano’s Pizzeria, at 1121 Grafton St., now offers outdoor dining. The same goes for the Hangover Pub in Worcester’s Canal District.

The Red Baron is alive. The Red Baron Diner has opened at the Southbridge Airport. The diner is owned by best friends Richard Galli and James Dhembe. Both men have prior restaurant experience in the area.

Paul Giorgio