thePULSEDining for Romance
February 2004 – So, Valentine’s Day is here. How are you planning to create the truly romantic experience of dining for two? Is it a table with candlelight? How about a secluded booth where you can sneak a quick kiss? Want to step back in time and dine in a romantic spot where couples have dined for centuries?
Many options in price, style, location and cuisine are available for romantic dining in our area. These described below are all a sure bet, consistently excellent and a good value for the money or time you set aside for what promises to be a memorable event.
To get started, let’s keep you close to the city and find you a quiet corner — maybe a big booth — you know, one of those that you can climb into that seem to surround you…
There are a couple of restaurants that will truly portion off your own piece of romantic real-estate. Located at the corner of Foster Street and Commercial in downtown Worcester, and kitty-corner from the Worcester Common Outlets and the Centrum, Shorah’s Ristorante has a long-established tradition of providing outstanding Northern Italian fare at reasonable prices.
The recent addition of a full length bar has flushed out this excellent eatery. Here you can climb into high-backed booths, dine on the lemon-mint Mediterranean salad, enjoy a wide variety of Italian pastas dishes as well as top-level seafood entrees such as excellent swordfish, salmon, sword and scallop pestos — you name it!
Speaking of seafood, a few high-back booths can also be enjoyed in the bar area of The Sole Proprietor. While the main restaurant will blow you away with impeccable service and killer food selections such as fresh mahi, soft shelled crabs, mako shark and blue fish prepared any way with just about any accompaniment, in the bar area — you can get down and dirty in a great non- smoking atmosphere with real food values, and top-rate cocktails.
The scoop at The Sole’s bar scene is to grab one of these great booths and take your food selections from the kettle meals. These choices are almost all under $8 and provide a Dim Sum style of easy eating options. Choose from a host of dishes like salmon teriyaki, sausage pisto, mushroom and ravioli in champagne sauce and a huge list of other entrees.
How does a candle-lit corner table with white linen in a restored brick factory building sound? Head over to Anthony’s Restaurant on Shrewsbury Street — home to at least 10 or more restaurants all opening over the past decade or so. Anthony’s serves up great portions and is a fine Italian restaurant complete with great sauces and piles of fresh bread. Start off with delicious appetizers before you move on to selections of veal medallions over pasta and a personal favorite of mine, pollo disaronno with sautéed chicken, gorgonzola and almonds over germelli – very nice, yes — it would kill Dr. Atkins, but go ahead, it’s Valentine’s Day.
Wind your way out Route 9 west from Worcester and you’ll find the Castle Restaurant in Leicester. Long known as one of Central Massachusetts’ top restaurants, the Castle has a reputation for comfortable haute cuisine in a unique and eclectic atmosphere only minutes from Worcester.
Located in a replica of a small castle complete with turrets, a moat, and stone walls overlooking a lake, this restaurant has memberships in both the The Chaine des Rotisseurs, an international gastronomic society promoting fine dining and the Les Amis d’Escoffier’ Society which brings together members of the culinary profession who appreciate good food and good wine above all else. This attitude about both food and people has kept the Nicas family in a firm position as leaders who provide fine dining experiences. The romantic fireplace is there, the fine cuisine is there, the classy atmosphere is there. If you chose the Chateau Briand for two, you’ll enjoy it carved and flamed right with the Sauce Bearnaise at its side… bien sur.
Need a Valentine gift and a dinner? How about a mini-escape? If you truly want to make the big score, this is a sure-fire win. It creates a mini-getaway feel that you can pull off in one day and it’s only about 20 minutes from Worcester.
Start your day around noon at Old Sturbridge Village which has cut their rates for the winter (only $10 for admission, about the price of a movie!)
Picture your loved one surrounded by meeting-house steeples and historical architecture galore and then enjoy first-rate, historical dining up Route 9 about 10 to 15 minutes at the famous Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield.
This wonderful, family-owned historic restaurant, set on 600 glorious country acres is a dining experience that has endured for hundreds of years. Salem Cross offers everything from a pub menu to great colonial dining by candlelight.
Check out the many February dates available for the Inn’s fantastic Fireplace Feasts. These are full-out, interactive, historic dining experiences with prime-rib roasting on the Roasting Jack Spit (turning right in the massive fireplace), chowder, apple pie — and are you ready for this — the Inn even includes a Sleigh Ride!
Grab a table, grab a booth, or if you can take the afternoon and evening off, enjoy your own romantic winter escape. Your lover will thank you for putting your heart into a very special Valentine’s Day 2004!
