thePULSEBy Paul Giorgio
Changes at the Rhino. Mark Hawley, the Flying Rhino’s award winning chef, has left after several years and returned to VIA. The Rhino’s new chef, Chris O’Harra, comes most recently from Sodexo, where he served as Executive Chef of EMC. O’Harra was formerly at the Rhino until 2010. He was also the Executive Chef at the John Henry Tavern at Highfields Golf Course and before that at the 111 Chop House. Look for the new fall menu at the end of September.
It was open a long time. The 1790 House on Route 9 in Westboro has closed its doors after 200 years in operation. The restaurant is owned by Kurt Pearson, who also owns Bergson’s Ice Cream next door. There is a For Lease sign up, so maybe someone will buy and reopen it.
Smokestack Place to move. The rumors are rife that The Canal District’s Smokestack Place will be moving shortly. According to owner Richard Romaine, who also owns Romaine’s in Northboro, he is planning on staying in the Canal District. Smokestack Place is the best BBQ joint in Worcester, with absolutely the best Southern fried chicken in the area not cooked in a church basement.
Lidio’s closing. Lidio’s on Route 12 in Leominster will be shutting its doors after 18 years in business. Tasha, Marcus and Jeff DiNardo have been running the Italian restaurant for a long time and simply wanted a change of pace.
GazBar to open. Lidio’s will become a sports bar after a brief reconstruction period. The new name is GazBar Sports Grill and it will be owned by Erica Gasbarro-Grinkis and her husband Jarred. The Lidio’s chefs are staying, so the food will lean toward Italian ~ with a few new items. The concept will be to merge a sports bar with a casual dining restaurant.
Greyhound to reopen. The Greyhound Pub, a fixture in Worcester’s Kelly Square, will reopen shortly on Water Street. The Greyhound, owned by Paul Curley, is the only place you can watch Irish football in these parts and it was very popular with the Holy Cross crowd. It had a great selection of beer on tap.
It will be a great Knight. Higgins Armory’s Annual Festival of Ale will take place on Saturday, September 22nd at the Armory on Worcester’s Barber Ave. They will be serving a slew of craft beers. The price is $45 per person for non-members and $40 for members. The event runs from 6-9 pm.
When smoke gets in your eyes. Smokey Joe’s Cigar Bar will be moving into space at 373 Park Ave., next to Club Universe, as the two places are owned by the same folks.
Ziti’s to offer outdoor dining. Ziti’s Italian Restaurant on Worcester’s Harding Street will soon be offering outdoor dining. Now if we get that canal, the diners will have a waterside view.
Volturnno moves a step closer. Volturnno at 72 Shrewsbury Street in Worcester moved a step closer to opening recently when they were granted their liquor license. The Italian mega eatery will feature Neapolitan pizza baked in wood fired brick ovens ~ just the way they do it in the Old Country. The restaurant will be owned by Greg Califano and his dad, who both recently graduated from a Neapolitan pizza-making school.
Speaking of Italian. We hear that the folks who own Napoli Restaurant on South Quinsigamond Ave. in Shrewsbury will be opening a second location on Worcester’s Plantation Street.
