thePULSEBy Paul Giorgio
Ceres set to open. The long anticipated opening of Ceres, the new restaurant at the Beechwood Hotel on Worcester’s Plantation St., will happen on June 21. Dr. Charles and Janet Birbara have spent millions to create the finest eatery in Worcester. The reasonably priced restaurant will use local product sourced from area farmers, the hottest trend in the restaurant business. Ceres will feature a seasonal menu.
Happy Birthday to the Rhino. The Flying Rhino on Worcester’s Shrewsbury St. is celebrating its tenth anniversary with an all new menu. Well, the menu isn’t exactly all new ~ The Rhino has brought back some of its best menu items from years past and the menu includes everything from Citrus Duck to fish tacos. The Rhino is owned by Paul and Malina Barber.
Ziti’s get liquor license. Ziti’s Italian Trattoria at 192 Harding St in Worcester’s Canal District recently started serving wine and beer. According to co-owner Stella Rando, they have been approved for a full license but will just be serving wine and beer in the short run until the bar is redone.
O’Connor’s celebrates 21 years. O’Connor’s Restaurant, West Boyslton’s quintessential Irish Pub, is celebrating their 21st year in operation. And how are owners Brendan and Claire O’Connor celebrating? They have expanded the pub once again.
The Grill on Green Hill opens. The Grill at Worcester’s city owned golf course recently open its doors to the public. The moderately priced restaurant with great views is open Monday to Friday from 11 am to 9 pm and opens at 7 am on weekends. The eatery is being managed by Savaras Fotiadis, who also owns The Manor in West Boylston.
There is no Pearl in this Oyster. 55 Pearl Street in Worcester has closed its doors. This is the third restaurant in as many years to locate to the building at 55 Pearl Street in downtown Worcester. Originally opened as TiNoVo, it then became G’vanni’s before being reborn as 55 Pearl. Word is that there may be a North Shore restaurateur interested.
El Basha on Park Ave expands. The El Basha Restaurant located on Worcester’s Park Ave has expanded and added a function room that holds 100 and features a wine bar. Owner George Sakhat said that they will also host Middle Eastern music once a month. The elegant room is perfect for small functions. They also plan on hosting monthly wine dinners in the space and will be expanding the kitchen.
Café Manzi set to open. Brain Manzi will be opening Café Manzi is the space that once housed Scano’s Bakery and Zia’s Grille. He is doing a complete gut of the place and it looks fabulous. He will be open for breakfast and lunch, serving both Italian and Lebanese food. He will also be opening late on Friday and Saturday to get the late night bar crowd. According to Manzi, he may expand the hours in the future to include dinner.
Ever since David DiStefano, the former chef at LaScala has moved on, the food has moved on as well. The dishes are not as creative and the food is very bland. My wife and I loved going in for dinner especially on a Friday or Saturday knowing that Chef David will have something we have never had. His food presentation and flavors were something we didnt have to go to Boston for. Good Luck David where ever you are and if you ar in the area please let us know where you are. LaScala has gone down hill and we will not return!