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The Best Cast Iron Swordfish

The International has Best Cast Iron Swordfish

The International has Best Cast Iron Swordfish

I blindly signed up for this month’s Worcester Foodies event without looking up the restaurant until the day of. Even then, I did not look at where it was until I put it in my phone’s GPS. I headed out the door from Blackstone, Mass. with hesitation. Tuesdays are school nights, but boldly I went up 495 anyway.

The dark winding roads into the woods made me feel very adventurous. When I parked next to a Maserati, I gave myself a solid pep talk to be on my best behavior. To my surprise, The International was not stuffy at all. I may have even overdressed.

I ordered the Cast Iron Blackened Swordfish Steak with white cheddar polenta, roasted garlic spinach, San Marzano tomato and sun-dried corn. I had been deeply wounded by The Urban in the past so I thought the high prices and fancy-sounding dishes would mean tiny portions. I was completely wrong. I don’t know the exact weight of my swordfish, but it was definitely three ounces, the recommended protein quota for a serving.

Even thinking back to it now, I am amazed I ate the whole piece. Despite the size, the swordfish was cooked evenly. The fish just melted as my fork sliced through it. The texture was meaty, smooth, and moist. On its own, it was excellent. Along with white cheddar polenta, tomatoes, and roasted garlic spinach, it was the best dish I have ever eaten as a Worcester Foodie. The rich, creamy polenta, the tangy garlic spinach, and the slight sweetness from the tomato was perfection. I think if I were to order swordfish anywhere else I would be disappointed

The servers were quick and attentive. There were a lot of people helping with our group. The servers all seemed to rave about the food as well.

I honestly cannot recommend The International enough. I fully plan on returning with my husband sometime soon and would love to see it in daylight as the wall of windows looks out onto the grounds. I also had a delicious bite of the Lobster and Pumpkin Risotto (served in a pumpkin) so I am eager to try more items on the menu. If I lived closer I would head over for a casual weekday evening meal to enjoy the bar menu of burgers and pizzas.

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Cast Iron Swordfish From The Fireplace Room at The International

Cast Iron Swordfish From The Fireplace Room at The International

Cast Iron Swordfish From The Fireplace Room at The International

The International in Bolton, Mass. is a world class golf destination with its own signature restaurant tucked away in the middle of nowhere. I knew about the location, but I never knew the restaurant was open to the public. When I arrived, I walked into the rich-looking dining area called The Fireplace Room. I immediately noticed the comfy and spacious restaurant’s spectacular view of its immaculate grounds.

I began my dinner with the Classic Caesar Salad without the optional anchovies. This Caesar, my favorite type of salad, did not disappoint. The portion was large for a pre-dinner salad. Fresh romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, large shavings of Parmesan, and a delicious dressing came together to make an excellent starter.

For dinner, I chose the Cast Iron Swordfish. This blackened swordfish steak with white cheddar polenta, roasted garlic spinach, San Marzano tomato, and sun-dried corn was cooked to perfection. It pretty much melted in my mouth. The char and smokiness didn’t taste overpowering either. The crunch of the sun-dried corn provided a nice texture to the dish too. I’m not a polenta fan, but the white cheddar polenta was fantastic. The slightly cheesy flavor and creamy consistency of complemented the swordfish perfectly. The garlic spinach also provided a flavorful punch. I will certainly return to have this amazing dish again.

I found the service to be very attentive and knowledgeable, but I don’t think they were ready to handle our group of 18. We also arrived around the same time as another large party so our food took quite a while to arrive. While waiting, the waitstaff was very quick to refill water, snag drink orders, and keep us updated. Even though the service was slow, I understood why and still thought the servers were outstanding.

The Fireplace Room combines quality food, attentive service, and a beautiful location to create a wonderful overall dining experience. Despite the distance, it’s a trek I plan to take again and again.