What’s hot and what’s happening now in the restaurant scene this month!

A canal is more than water. Buck’s Whiskey & Burger Bar opened the first week of May in Worcester’s Canal District. Check out the burgers.

Everyone believes in Redemption. Another brewery is working to open on Shrewsbury Street, this one in a former Coca-Cola bottling plant. Redemption Rock Brewing Co. plans to open at 333 Shrewsbury St., brewery owner Danielle Babineau said recently at a Historical Commission meeting. The Historical Commission granted a demolition delay waiver for the project at the 78-year-old building.

In other redemptions. Two Worcester Canal District eateries are gearing up to reopen after having to temporarily close when the former holder of their liquor licenses pleaded guilty to hiding and spending the drug money of former Worcester restaurateur Kevin A. Perry Jr. The Hangover Pub and Broth on Green Street are now a part of the newly formed Hangover Corp. Michael Arrastia, a chef at the Green Street restaurants, is the president of the new corporation and will be hiring more help for the kitchen so he can lead the businesses.

110 Grill opens in downtown Worcester. The 7,000-square-foot 110 Grill, located next to the newly opened AC Marriott in downtown Worcester, will feature a 30-seat, U-shaped bar, a lounge area with high-top tables, a dining area with views of the kitchen, a dining room, a private event area and a 50-seat outdoor patio with fire pits, couches and tiki torches. When 110 Grill opens its doors, it will be the first family-style, sit-down restaurant in the city center in years.

A crust of bread, a piece of cheese and a sip of wine. Crust of downtown Worcester is expanding its offerings by opening a wine and cheese shop in addition to its breads. Alexis Kelleher bought the business about a year ago. The new business will be called North Main Provisions.

Brew news. Craft brew company Tree House Brewing Co. recently announced a planned 16,000-square-foot expansion of its 52,000-square-foot headquarters in Charlton. The brewery moved from Monson to its current location last July to accommodate the long lines of beer drinkers waiting to get their share of its colorful cans. The new facility still attracts large crowds looking to buy limited quantities of beer, and the expansion is meant to enhance the customer experience.
The new 16,000 square feet will include brewery operations and retail space, a number of open pergolas, landscaping and a second bar — nearly double the size of the existing bar — to service customers inside and outside.

Brew Woo. Wormtown Brewery recently took home a bronze medal at the World Beer Cup in Nashville, Tenn. The medal was awarded in the category of Munich-style Helles. This is the second World Beer Cup medal for Worcester’s Wormtown Brewery on Shrewsbury Street. There were 6,000 brewries in the competition.

And all that jazz. Sonoma Restaurant and The Beechwood will once again host a summer music series on Wednesday nights. Tickets are $15 in advance. Enjoy chef Bill Brady’s delicious offerings while listening to some cool jazz.

Paul Giorgio