Paul Giorgio

More Tacos please.  Taqueria Del Pueblo, the Worcester restaurant that got its start at the Worcester Public Market, has opened its second location at 57 Highland St. in Worcester.

A little espresso with dessert. Owners Roger and Joanna Bachour will soon open Meraki on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street. The coffee and dessert bar will be serving specialty coffee-infused alcoholic drinks. It will be open Monday to Thursday 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. (with possible 9 a.m. opening time on Sundays).

Take to the streets. Downtown outdoor dining could see improvements this fall and remain in place for the foreseeable future. The City of Worcester and the Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) were awarded a $54,000 grant from MassDOT Shared Streets and Spaces program to re-purpose on-street parking spaces into outdoor dining areas, or “parklets,” and install new landscaping elements. 

The pilot program is being launched at Chashu Ramen + Izakaya on Franklin Street.

Barre gets a new place to go.  Pie Town in Barre is a newly opened go-to café for made-from-scratch sweet and savory pies, apps and drinks.

April Adams and Elisa Kjerting, both of Barre, started the business in June in the building formerly occupied by Picasso Restaurant & Bar, which closed last year. 

Waiting for Pepe.  Pepe’s Pizzeria on Worcester’s Franklin Street has delayed its move to Shrewsbury Street until the middle of September.  According to the owners, construction hold ups are the issue.

The shack is back.   The shack 275 on Worcester’s Park Ave. recently opened.  The small take-out eatery is serving international cuisine including Indian. 

It finally has a name. Two Chefs is the name of the new Italian restaurant going into the space that was recently home to Wild Willys, a burger joint on Worcester’s West Boylston Street.  No info on an opening date. 

Speaking of West Boylston Street.  A New health food restaurant is going in a small strip mall across from Quinsigamond Community College. Level Up Nutrition will be opening soon.

Closing the barn door.  Princeton fixture, the Mountain Barn restaurant owned by the Zotoli family for over 20 years, abruptly shut down at the end of August.  The owners cited lack of staff as the reason.  This appears to be a permanent decision to close the popular eatery.

In other North County news.  The Niche Hospitality Group announced the opening of a new Bocado Tapas restaurant in the space that once housed Mezcal in downtown Leominster.

Thanks to the sponsors.  Two very successful food events occurred this August.  Worcester Restaurant Week, which saw close to 0,000 people participate in a dining out experience and the taste of Shrewsbury Street, which was held at the end of August were sponsored by Atlas Distributing, Pepsi, Bud’s Goods, Worcester Mayor Joe Petty, City Councilor Candy Carlson, Deep Eddy Vodka, Mercadante Funeral Home, Percy’s appliances and a host of media partners.  Thanks to all.