thePULSEBy Paul Giorgio
TOSS. The 12th annual Taste of Shrewsbury Street takes place on Tuesday, June 19th from 5-9pm on Worcester’s Restaurant Row, aka Shrewsbury Street. For $25 you get to sample the food of almost 40 restaurants along this 1.5 mile stretch. There will be live music and wine tastings as well. All proceeds go to benefit the Shrewsbury Street Merchants Association. Sponsors include: Shock Top Beer, People’s United Bank, Fidelity Bank, The Digital Credit Union, Bay State Savings Bank, Pulse Magazine, and Taste Worcester.com, as well as radio Stations WXLO, The Pike, Oldies 98.9 & WCRN 830-AM. Buttons can be purchased online at www.Tasteshrewsburystreet.com.
Gumbo opens. Gumbo, Worcester Canal District’s newest eatery, opened its doors the last week of May. Gumbo will feature New Orleans style cuisine under the guidance of Chef Patrick Carroll .
Seven is finally lucky. 7 Nana will finally open its doors the first week of June after months of construction delays. The over-the-top Japanese Steak House has undergone a million dollar plus renovation to turn a former real estate office into one of Worcester’s most elegant eateries. A large waterfall graces an entire wall and several rooms hold Tabenaki tables.
Haiku gets new owner. Haiku Restaurant on Worcester’s Park Ave, one of the best Japanese sushi restaurants in the city, was recently sold to Jean Romano. Haiku has been owned since it opened by the Sakhat family, which also owns the El Basha restaurants.
New Cuisine. In a testament to Worcester’s cultural and epicurean diversity, an Afghan restaurant will soon open on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street. The new restaurant will be owned by Fowzia Sherzai and her husband, who have been in the Worcester area for almost 30 years. The restaurant will be housed in the space that was home to Big Joe’s Deli. The name of the new place is Pomir Grill, named after an Afghan mountain range. The restaurant will serve lamb, chicken, beef, and several vegetarian dishes.
Chill out. The 23rd Big Dipper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival is coming up at Elm Park on Saturday, June 30th from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. The Big Dipper was started in 1989 by the Children’s Friend Society and is one of Worcester’s best and most fattening events. How can anyone say no to all-you-can-eat ice cream?!
New Beer. Joshua Van Dyke, proprietor of Nu Café at 335 Chandler St. in Worcester (the old Tatnuck Bookseller), will be hosting a launch party on June 7th. Nu Café will be introducing their new beer and wine selections, accompanying an “after work hours” menu of savory appetizers.
More restaurants opening, sign of a strong economy:
Kozara Restaurant will be opening by the late fall on Worcester’s Park Ave. This will be the second restaurant for Wilson Wong, who owns Baba Sushi ~ also on Park Ave. Kozara will be an Asian Tapas bar.
Vintage Grille is slated to open the first week of June in the space that formerly housed Junior’s. The pub style menu will feature burgers, pizza and several entrees. The space has been completely redone with a larger bar area and more comfortable seating.
Pho 2000 sold. A new Italian restaurant will Pho 2000’s place at 1394 Main Street in Worcester. We don’t know how long Pho 2000 was open, but we hope this new eatery lasts longer.
Hot Rocks. The Lava Grill will be opening at 374 Belmont Street in Worcester. The concept is simple ~ pick your protein, pick your vegetables, and cook it on hot stones. The restaurant will be going into the space that the former D’Angelo’s Sandwich shop occupied. We reported earlier that an Italian restaurant was going into the space.
