thePULSEHot & Now:
Dining utopia on Main Street, Opia 1541 opens.
September 2004 – Dining utopia on Main Street: Opia 1541 opened its doors at 1541 Main Street (Route 9) in Worcester last month. Formerly O’Flaherty’s Piano Pub, the 65-seat restaurant is right on the Worcester/ Leicester line. Manager Megan Lassonde and owner Rocco Savino describe the menu as contemporary, noveau- American. Entrees include such specialties as braised short rib, purple potato salad, grilled asparagus and lobster etouffee, pan-seared trout, red lentils, pea tendrils and sweet pea ragout.
What does Opia stand for? Not a thing, says Lassonde, a former employee of the award winning Oleana Restaurant in Cambridge. She and Savino had been toying with the word Utopia when they decided to simply shorten it.
Savino’s son, Antonio Savino is the executive chef. Fellow classmates from the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont round out the kitchen staff. Steven Worcester is the sous chef, Evan Burnham the chef de cuisine and Jonathan Giddix the pastry chef. Savino and Worcester are both graduates of Worcester Vocational High School.
Opia is open for dinner Tuesday – Thursday 5:30 -10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 11. Appetizers are priced in the $6-$18 range, entrees $14-$26 and desserts $6-$12. Reservations are recommended (508) 795-7955.
When the moon hits your eye…: Corleone’s Amore will open on the street level of The Lights Sports Pub on Worcester’s Grafton Street. Long time favorites Stephano’s and Michael & Maria’s, both outstanding Italian restaurants, previously occupied the same location. Corleone’s will also serve reasonably priced Italian food.
Butcher, baker and pizza-maker: Bahnan’s Bakery and Café, located at 106 Water Street, has a new owner. Abe Belrhalia recently purchased the bakery and renamed it The Blackstone Bakery. He has plans to open Canal Pizza Restaurant at the same location, after he renovates the storefront and divides the space in half. The bakery will be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and serve breakfast all day. The restaurant, on the other hand, will be open from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. with extended hours until 3 a.m. on weekends. Call (508) 459-7745 for more information.
Ye fond farewell: Barbers Crossing, a Greendale mainstay, closed its doors last month after 22 years. The Worcester location on West Boylston Street was the first Barbers Crossing owned by the Wallace family, who has since expanded with locations in Sterling and Leicester. According to the owners, they hope to reopen in a new location in Worcester. Barbers Crossing are reasonably priced family-style restaurants.
Solace for smokers: Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner, located on Prescott Street in Worcester, recently received approval from the city’s License Commission to create an outdoor eating and drinking area. Now, our spies tell us this isn’t to accommodate those folks who want a view of Rural Cemetery, but rather will be for smokers who can no longer smoke inside the popular diner, bar and music venue. Could this be the wave of the future?
Save the date – On October 1, Denis Leary, Lenny Clark and Jim Dunn will take over Union Station for a good cause. Jim Leary’s October 1st Fundraising Comedy Show promises to be the hottest ticket available in Worcester this fall. Tickets are $35.
