thePULSEBy Paul Giorgio
Taste Worcester.com. Check out the newest web site dealing with all things food in Central MA. Brought to you by the same folks who bring you Pulse, TasteWorcester.com is perhaps the most comprehensive listing of restaurants in Central Massachusetts. It has a database searchable by region, cuisine, price and star rating. In addition, it will have all the latest restaurant news plus recipes, a wine and spirit section, interviews with chefs, and a listing of restaurants’ special offers and events.
Green Bamboo closes. Word has it that Green Bamboo, located on the Worcester/Leicester line, recently closed its doors. Those of us who used to go there will miss it because it had some of the best Vietnamese food in the city.
Also closing. The Pearl Oyster on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester closed its doors in the middle of September. This upscale seafood restaurant had what I think was the best raw bar in the city. Owned by the Turo family (who also owns Leo’s Ristorante), the Pearl Oyster had been open for about 2 years.
Southwestern takes the Pearl. Mezcal Tequila Cantina will open in late October in the space that was formerly occupied by the Pearl Oyster at 166 Shrewsbury Street in Worcester. The Southwestern-themed restaurant will be owned by Mike Covino, Michael DesRosiers, Kevin Luddy & Steve Champagne, the guys who also own Block 5 & Bocado, both in the Canal District.
New eatery opens on Chandler Street. The Q, a new sandwich shop owned by Emily Poulin, has opened near the intersection of Chandler & June Streets. The Q is open Monday to Wednesday 9 am to midnight and stays open until 3 AM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. In addition to sandwiches, they serve specialty coffees & lattes.
Lucky Shamrock? The Shamrock Pub in Holden on Rte. 122 is for lease. The building was recently renovated, but the new owner had to move back to California shortly after opening. Chris George from George & Co is handling the leasing arrangements. The property is owned by Tom Wong who also owns the Wong Dynasty in Holden.
Canal’s newest restaurant. The Boiler Room Café, a gourmet pizza and oven tapas bar, is set to open in Worcester’s Canal District after the first of the year in the basement of 70 Winter St. at the corner of Harding. It will specialize in brick oven pizza as well as other oven-baked items including lamb pies, cheese pies, and other Mediterranean specialties. The Boiler Room Café will have a full liquor license and, according to owner Selim LaHoud, the bar will specialize in martinis.
Via changes chefs. The owners of Via have announced a change in their kitchen lineup: Mark Hawley has been promoted to Executive Chef. He was formerly the head line chef at 111 Chop House. Joining Hawley will be Rico Giovanello, who was named Chef de Cuisine at VIA. Giovanello previously owned his own restaurant in Sturbridge, Enrico’s Brick Oven Pizza.
