Category: Casual Eats

Whether you’re looking to enjoy a quick bite to eat at the bar or sitting down to relax without the fanfare associated with white linen and fancy wine menus, Casual Eats takes a look at all of the food that can be enjoyed when you’re able to sit back and unwind.

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Ravioli Roma from Brew City on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester

Ravioli Roma from Brew City on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester

Allow me to reintroduce myself…just kidding. It has been a while since I ventured into the realm of burgers but now I have returned. With the craziness of the holidays and just completing a move to a new house, I am glad to be back. I decided to come back to the basics and go to a Shrewsbury Street classic, Brew City, for my latest iteration of my burger blog. Needing a hearty meal and possibly a cold beverage at the end of a long week brought me to 104 Shrewsbury Street. Walking in, I was instantly reminded of Monday Night Football and wing specials in the bar, complete with crowded seating and the occasional unruly patron.

It has actually been a few years since I had been to Brew City and I was happy to see that the interior décor had been updated and their menu was given a massive overhaul thanks to a newer executive chef. After ordering a classic ‘Gansett lager, I decided to see what the menu had to offer in the burger department. I was rather surprised to find that they had quite the selection of unique and eclectic choices. I decided on the Ravioli Roma ($12.99). As it is described on their menu, this is a fresh black angus burger topped with a jumbo 5 cheese fried ravioli, marinara sauce and provolone cheese on a butter toasted ciabatta roll. After reading this description, how could I not get it?! A burger mixed with Italian…as Charlie Sheen would say, “#winning.”

When the burger came, the first thing that struck me were the colors of the dish. The marinara sauce was bright red, the fried ravioli was a toasted brown, the burger was charred from the grill and the bun was shining with what looked like a fresh coat of butter. As I bit into the burger, it revealed a nice medium center. The ravioli added a nice textural element to the burger with its crunchy exterior. I was almost expecting the ravioli to lend more of a cheesy element to the burger.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t as cheesy as I would’ve hoped…but then again, I do thoroughly enjoy my cheese. The marinara sauce took the place of a ketchup or BBQ sauce that you would normally top a burger with, and it was a pleasant surprise. The marinara was deep in flavor and had a slight sweetness to it, that complimented the rich burger and ravioli nicely. While I would’ve thought a sturdy ciabatta roll would have been the perfect roll for this type of burger, it just didn’t stand up well against its formidable contents. While it was buttery and delicious, I found that I had to squeeze it to keep the burger in one piece and as a result, more or less made two ciabatta pieces of paper. The fresh cut fries were a delight, as they were salted wonderfully and twice fried for a crunchy, golden outside that we all want from a fry!

As I downed an additional beverage, I was happy to say that Brew City has evolved (atleast to me anyways) from an average restaurant and bar, to a Shrewsbury Street staple with a menu to rival any of the burger places I have visited already. The menu has been refined, while still offering a wide variety of choices, while still being unique with character all it’s own. I just wish my stomach and wallet had the room to try more of their delectable sounding burgers, like the Buffalo Jam, Hot Mess or Thai Blue…but I guess tomorrow is another day! As my burger quest continues, I can always use recommendation. Tweet and follow me @edioufuc5 and your burger suggestion might be my next spot. Until next time…

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Best Burger? We Ate The Phat Albert At Evo

Evo's Phat Albert Burger

So it’s a dreary, fall day and my week of rest and relaxation is over. Still feeling gorged from the Thanksgiving festivities, but yet hungry (like the fat kid at heart that I am), I decided that I needed to treat myself to another burger. My travels bring me to Evo, nestled on the corner of Park Ave and Chandler Street. I’ve come for the infamous Phat Albert burger. This burger was recommended by an avid reader of my blog (shoutout to you, whoever you are!) and I can honestly say ‘thank you’ from the bottom of my red meat loving heart.

As I settle into my bar seat with a delicious Goose Neck Winter Lager in hand, I scanned over the menu, pretending that it was the first time I had seen their menu and acted like I didn’t know what I was getting before I stepped foot in the door. After seeing the various other hand-crafted dishes that the open kitchen had to offer, I placed my order with excitement and anticipation.

From what I have read about this burger, it sounds like Worcester’s and Evo’s take on a Juicy Lucy. For those of you out there who may not know what a Juicy Lucy is, or is not a binge watcher of Man vs. Food, Triple D, or Bizarre Foods, it is two burger patties that have cheese stuffed between each patty. This allows the cheese to melt and become a ball of molten, cheesy goodness when cut into. While the origins of the Juicy Lucy has been pegged in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it is still unsure of the specific bar/restaurant that created this culinary miracle, with two places still battling it out for Juicy Lucy bragging rights at Matt’s Bar and the 5-8 Club in South Minneapolis. Now you’ve learned something new! You’re welcome!

Anyways, back to my personal burger bliss. I decided to order my Phat Albert – Texas style ($12), which is a 1/2 pound all natural ground beef burger stuffed with cheddar and American cheese, topped with BBQ sauce, bacon, ale battered onion rings, served on a buttered brioche bun with a side of sweet potato fries. When the bartender brought my meal out, I was shocked at the sheer height of the burger. The bun looked like it was toasted to a nice golden brown, with a blanket of cheese enveloping a baseball sized burger, sitting on crunchy onion rings. I decided that I needed to cut the burger in half just to make it manageable. Cutting the burger exposed the deliciously pink ground beef and the perfectly melted cheese mixture on the interior.

My only negative with the burger, if I had one at all, was due to the size of the burger, it was slightly under cooked, even to my medium-rare standards. A little longer on the grille or in the oven would help cook the burger a little more evenly on the interior.  The bacon added a delicious smokiness to the burger and in addition to the BBQ sauce, I could picture myself sitting fireside, with horse nearby enjoying this burger in the plains of Texas. The bacon was actually more chewy than super crunchy, which is how I prefer it. I don’t want to bite into a piece of bacon and have it shatter like a delicate stained glass window. The cheesy interior melted and added a creamy factor to each bite, to break the beef and BBQ sauce tang. The buttery brioche bun was a great choice of bun, as it held up to the sturdy ingredients that were stuffed inside its confines. However, the size of the bun seemed to overwhelm the size of the burger patty itself. The sweet potato fries were seasoned with large, flaky sea salt right out the fryer and that salt helped cut some of the richness of the burger and bun.

As I finished up my beer and thoroughly enjoyed watching OSU lay waste to another overrated Jim Harbaugh coached football team, I contemplated where I should enjoy my next burger. Should I stay in the confines of Worcester proper or venture out of Central Mass? Should I go with a veggie burger or stay traditional? Where will my burger quest take me? I guess you will have to wait to find out. Until next time…

Have suggestions for burgers? Tweet me at @edioufuc5 and your suggestion could be my next spot!