Category: Food News

Food News revolves around the happenings within the national Hospitality Industry and how it relates to the local restaurant scene. Here in the Commonwealth, the dining scene is vibrant and is influenced by—and sometimes influences—the national spotlight.

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The Future Fix On Grove Street

Niche Hospitality President, Michael Covino, giving Mass Foodies a tour of the new Fix set to open on Grove Street in Worcester, MA

No longer are burgers confined to the restricted stigmas of fast-food and summer cook-outs. While chefs around the nation have been paying careful attention to burger service, Worcester, too, has been paying close attention since The Fix Burger Bar opened in 2014. The long wait to sit at this small eatery proves that burgers in Central Massachusetts isn’t a fad, and Michael Muscarella’s serious dedication to the craft and the evolution of the sandwich allows it to take another step forward in Central Massachusetts.

Michael Covino, President of Niche Hospitality Group, has embarked on a move and expansion of the popular Fix brand, which will alleviate some of the problems that the original Shrewsbury Street location has: turning away customers night after night due to their maxed capacity.

“The Fix was instantly successful on Shrewsbury Street. I mean, we are the only full-service burger bar in Worcester and success has given us a new challenge: space,” says Covino. “A year into The Fix, we realized it was time to make the change and we were contacted by a broker who led us to the old Northworks, and here we are.”

The timing was impeccable.

Covino, toured Mass Foodies through the newly leased property on 106 Grove Street, giving Mass Foodies the behind the scenes tour on what is in store for The Fix. Covino breathed life into his vision, taking notes on new ideas about The Fix and the future of the brand, while showcasing all that is perfection in a construction site. The ability to foresee the new expansion isn’t about restaurant experience, isn’t about passion and for Covino, passion has led him to new heights in the past.

With a new space comes a highly anticipated level of change – and not just change on the menu but change in the culture assimilated with devouring a nice half pound burger and fries on a work day.

Among the added seating areas, expansive industrial look, open kitchen and a variety of function rooms, The Fix is adding a visual tap system designed to creatively flow beer from a central location to the tap and, of course, is hopeful to supply local craft beers to its patrons.

“We aren’t going to just stop at a great burger menu and beer. With our new location, completely surrounded by businesses, we want to add value to our lunches by expanding our function meal to include dishes beyond the burgers but we are also going to introduce the cold brew coffee tap and a few ‘mid day’ treats for those looking to come in a break away from,” says Covino. The nitro coffee is a brand new technology only seen in larger cities like New York and has seen success when first introduced at Sweet and Lock 50, and for The Fix, it’s going to help take their menu to a new level of kick-ass.

A quick peek at the progress of the new The Fix set to open on Grove Street in July!

Posted by Mass Foodies on Wednesday, May 25, 2016

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British Beer Company Worcester

British Beer Company Worcester now open

When news broke earlier this year of Worcester’s “restaurant row” getting a chain restaurant, emotions were mixed. But, as of Monday, April 11th, the British have arrived and are aching to prove they want to be part of the city’s fabric. With its opening, Shrewsbury Street, in Worcester, welcomes British Beer Company to the space formerly occupied by The Urban Kitchen and Bar and Coral Seafood.

The space has been completely re-invented to create a comfortable environment for family-friendly dining, private functions (both large and small) and even casual bar dining (as apparent by the focal center bar that is designed with rich architectural details). The physical space is unrecognizable from previous tenants: the kitchen has been moved to the back of the building and windows that previously looked into it have been replaced with private cove, booth seating; the function room which resided on the second floor remains, but now overlooks the main bar area with a balcony that allows the entire restaurant to have an open feeling; the spot previously home to the Coral and Urban bar have been replaced with a smaller dining room which is removed enough from the bar to feel private.

The Sweet Thai Chili Salmon from British Beer Company Worcester
The Sweet Thai Chili Salmon from British Beer Company Worcester

The only part of this restaurant that one could argue makes it a “chain,” is that the menu is shared across its other BBC locations. This, however, does not mean that the freshness, creativity, and flavors are cookie-cutter, as apparent by the Sweet Thai Chili Salmon. Even the drink menu, which has several notable favorites (from both sides of the pond) even include hometown favorites, such as Wormtown beers.

While some may cry foul allowing a “chain” onto Shrewsbury Street, it’s important to remember that any tax paying entity should show signs of growth for the city and when there is so much attention to detail to every aspect of a restaurant, British Beer Company should be example of how a “big company” can compliment the diversity of food “in the neighborhood.”