Volturno is Shrewsbury Streets newest entry into a bustling dinner scene. At first I was a little skeptical when I heard another pizza and Italian dining establishment was joining the mix, but Volturno has carved out its own spot in Shrewsbury Streets restaurant row. The owners of Volturno did an excellent job blending the old Edward Buick space with a new restaurant leaving an industrial open concept dining space that fits well with this brick oven dining spot.
For starters I decided to start with the grilled calamari, chili, olives, chickpeas, and parsley appetizer. A pleasant change from the usual fried calamari dish, the grilled calamari appetizer was extremely fresh and well prepared. The calamari was perfectly prepared, served over a bed of humus and chickpeas and topped with fresh greens. My only suggestion would have been to have the chili and olive portions of this dish a little more prominent to give the dish a little more flavor.
For my main course I opted for the Pistachio Pesto Mozzarella Sausage Pecorino Pizza. This perfectly prepared personal size pizza was a excellent choice of fresh ingredients that worked well together. The ground sausage, fresh mozzarella and pistachio pesto type mix worked well together to create a mild fresh pizza that is worth going back for. The pistachio flavors were somewhat lost in the sausage and pest—perhaps more coarsely ground bits might have added little more flavor and texture. The locally sourced fresh ingredients were evident in this worthwhile addition to the Shrewsbury Street dining scene.
In my opinion Volturno has carved out a place in the Shrewsbury Street dining scene that is worth going back for repeat visit. Nice atmosphere, great pizza, and a renovated Worcester landmark of a building make Volturno worth a try. And if you have room after dinner don’t forget to try the Nutella dessert pizza….. -DO