Community Spotlight: The Woo Bar & Grill

Giuliano D’Orazio

Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street, affectionately known as ‘restaurant row’, has long been the home of eateries ranging from fancy to casual, and is often the first neighborhood that comes to mind when deciding where to grab a bite to eat. Bursting onto the Worcester food scene in 2020, The Woo Bar & Grill sits on 358 Shrewsbury Street on the corner of Imperial Street. It’s clean, welcoming atmosphere draws in all kinds of folks, making patrons feel right at home. The restaurant has earned a special place in the hearts of Worcester’s LGBTQ+ community, and they’re filling an important role by creating a new queer space in town.

Owners Jon Pittsley and Eddie Rocco really have a special thing going. They are a married couple, and the dynamic duo behind The Woo. Jon is the face of the Woo, and you can find him working the front of the house or slinging cocktails behind the bar. Eddie, originally from Brazil, is the head chef, and he’s infused the menu with some of the delicious traditional flavors of his home country (I highly recommend the Picanha!). Together they’ve built a business out of love, great food, and wonderful hospitality, which you can feel every time you walk into the restaurant. 

I found The Woo when my partner Josh and I were first starting to venture back out to restaurants again after the Covid lockdowns of 2020. The Woo, as a new business, had managed to survive and were eagerly welcoming guests back to their patio, as indoor dining had not yet returned. Come the warmer weather months, I’ll definitely be back there enjoying the sun and good company while sipping on some of their dangerous drinks… This place knows how to do a “Sunday Funday”, and whether you’re a mimosa, bloody mary, or espresso martini kind of person, they’ve got you covered.

For a city with a vibrant and diverse LGBTQ+ community, Worcester has long been lacking in the gay destination department. We’ve got the MB Lounge, but for years that’s been the only place. I know I speak for a lot of my fellow Worcester gays when I say that when The Woo opened, we were thrilled at the prospect of a new place where we could go out and know we were going to be welcomed and celebrated. It’s a place where even if you don’t have plans to meet up with friends, you’ll probably run into some there, and certainly make some new ones! It’s become kind of the “first stop” when doing a “gay night out” in Worcester. The bar keeps serving drinks long past dinner time, and they occasionally have live music to help keep the party going into the night… you might even see yours truly belting out a set once in a while!

If you haven’t yet checked it out, you owe it to yourself to spend some time at The Woo. Our city is lucky to have them and they’re doing a great job of not only running a good restaurant, but also bringing the community together and creating a safe, inclusive space for all!