Casual Eats curated by Mass Foodies

Posted on February 28, 2017February 28, 2017 by Staff Writer

Revisiting The Fix For Their Phenomenal Burger

The Phenomenal Burger from The Fix on Grove Street in Worcester, MA

Hello everyone! It’s good to be back. The end and beginning of the year can be crazy and this year was no different. By the time I blinked we were already into February; the groundhog saw his shadow and we were well on our way to 6 more weeks of terrible, snowy winter. So here we are and I thought of no better way to kick off a new year of this burger adventure than return to the scene of the crime; the restaurant that kicked this whole journey off: The Fix.

Now on Grove Street in Worcester, The Fix occupies the space originally home to Northworks Bar and Grille, but has been newly renovated to leave you captivated with exposed wood beams, industrial piping for modern HVAC and a much brighter interior than the previous location on Shrewsbury Street (I always felt as though it was a tad too dark in there before – I mean, I shouldn’t need a flashlight to read the menu, am I right?). The square footage is easily 5 times larger than the previous location, and that’s no exaggeration. This would make you think that more seats would mean less wait time, more burgers in my mouth time… but don’t get ahead of yourself. My visit took place on a Sunday before President’s Day at 6 pm, and while there was a private function occupying one of the rooms, we still had to wait an hour and a half. I’m not sure if this is normal for them, or if was an off night for the servers, front of the house and kitchen, but we saw numerous people come in and leave because of the excessive wait times. I guess it’s good that you are busy, but it’s tough on your patrons and I can see how that could leave a sour taste in your mouth if you were thinking about coming back.

Anyways, back to the task at hand… burgers! After we were seated, I could not wait to place my order. I had decided on getting the Phenomenal Burger ($15). This particular choice featured bacon, smoked gouda cheese, a fried egg, frizzled onions, sweet chili ranch sauce on a brioche bun. I have to admit, that given the name, this burger was pretty phenomenal. The burger was slightly overcooked than the medium I tend to prefer (I’ll chalk it up to the disconnect I touched on earlier), but not to the point where the meat is ruined. It was still juicy and rich. The bacon was cooked until crispy, but not burned. Some pieces even had some chew to it, just how I like it! The smoked gouda was definitely a special choice. It was cut slightly thicker than normal and definitely added smoky undertones to each bite. While a fried egg is always appreciated on top of a burger, with the runny yolk oozing with each taste, the combination of flavors acting together made this burger seem like a breakfast burger of sorts. Now that’s a burger I can get behind! The onions added some great texture, but I wish there was more sauce. The bites I got more sauce in made the flavors explode in your mouth, with rich, creamy, smoky, sweet, spicy all playing their part in a well conducted burger concert. The perfectly buttered brioche bun was a great choice for the burger. Light enough to not be overpowering, but strong enough to withstand the hefty burger and its toppings.

The perfect end to the evening were a pair of chocolate spring rolls with caramel, strawberry sauce and whipped cream to finish everything off. The burger bar has been set once again for 2017 and although I’m not sure where the road will take me, I know that it will be a delicious ride. Where should I go next? Have a suggestion for a favorite burger joint that I should hit up? Tweet me @EDioufUC5 and your burger could be featured. Until next time everybody…

Posted on December 29, 2016 by Staff Writer

Rocky’s Burger

A Burger from Rocky's on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Nestled neatly into the restaurant and bars along Water Street is a small, 50 seat establishment called Rocky’s. Opened in May of 2015, the bar offers a full menu and bar, and even two dart boards, if you’re looking to try your hand at something different. With it being the holiday season, several Foodies members thought it would be a great idea to throw an impromptu get-together and share some food, drinks and each other’s company before things spiral out of control into the abyss known as Christmas and New Year’s.

Albeit not our first choice (Whiskey on Water happens to be closed on Tuesday nights, FYI), Rocky’s offered a generous area for the group of 15 of us to spread our wings and get casual after a long work day. Naturally, I gravitated towards a burger, while other appetizers were ordered for the group to share. However, I was disappointed to see that there was only one variation of the American classic on the menu, called Rocky’s Burger ($8.95). It was a 1/2 seasoned ground beef patty, topped with lettuce, no tomato, onion, choice of American (American all the way) or provolone cheese, served on a toasted bulkie with a side of fries. You could then add bacon for an additional $2, which I gladly did.

As the night progressed and the good times rolled, I was presented with my burger. Portion size was great, and fries appeared to be cooked to a golden, crispy exterior, something about the burger just seemed to scream average. There was no sauce or noticeable seasoning for the burger; something that could kick it up a notch. It was topped with a small amount of sliced red onion and a few pieces of romaine lettuce to give it some freshness and a slight bite from the onion. I did find that the burger was cooked a beautiful medium; a tough task when it is just a ground beef patty. Seasoned well, the burger had good flavor, but once again was missing a small kick to put it over the edge. The toasted bulkie roll was a nice touch. Crunchy grilled marks and buttered, this bun choice was a great vessel for the burger. It was sturdy enough to hold up to the meat and it’s toppings, something that I find even the great restaurants struggle with…ones that should know better. While the bacon was cooked well, it seemed to have been cooked beforehand and then heated for service of the burger. The burger could have benefited from the flavoring of the bacon fat that renders as you cook it (it probably is as unhealthy as it sounds, but it’s probably delicious!). Also, for $2, I was hoping for a little bit more bacon as well. However, being that this was my first full meal of the day, I had no problem polishing it off in one sitting.

Overall, Rocky’s provided us Foodies with a great evening that we were able to share together. The owner and the staff was more than accommodating and seemed to thoroughly enjoy our presence as well on a relatively slow night across the restaurant business. The atmosphere and ambiance was enhanced by the company we shared, and the dinner was an added bonus. If you’re in the area of Water Street and are thirsty and hungry, stop on in and tell ’em Mass Foodies recommended it for you!

As this last entry wraps up a busy year in the food and burger world, I have time to reflect on all of the wonderful places I have had the chance to visit over the last year. Each one memorable in its own, unique way. I am hoping that this is only the beginning, not only a New Year, but a new burger adventure in 2017. Have a burger suggestion for me to hit up? Tweet me @EDioufUC5 and you might see your favorite burger spot on here next month. Until next time…