Category: Food Reviews

Mass Foodies is dedicated to consuming everything that the commonwealth has to offer. The food review portion of Mass Foodies is written by independent group of wandering consumers from different backgrounds. Foodies come together once a month at a predetermined restaurant, order off of the menu, and share their experience Learn more »

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Mac and Cheese at the Oak Barrel Tavern

Mac and Cheese at the Oak Barrel Tavern

When I walked in I was surprised at how great the place looked. What a wonderful overhaul to the old Tweed’s space. Nice bar space, great high tops off the bar, nice warm colors, great table sizes…And the hostess was very, very nice. The menu design looked updated and hip as well. I had high hopes for this new Oak Barrel Tavern. Especially since our waitress was on top of it. I had a drink in my hand within 5 mins of being there. NICE.

I looked over the menu. There were no surprises there. It was a very typical pub style menu with all the basics. So, I decided to go comfort food – it was a rainy night and I could use some warming up. Mac and Cheese sounded perfect. For 14.00 bucks I could order up a plate of Cavatappi pasta mixed with their own cheese blend and truffle oil. Topped with panko bread crumbs and baked golden brown. I could even add on some Buffalo Chicken or some shrimp or some veggies…Sounds yummy to me! But I stuck with tradition.

Let’s face it folks, I am a spoiled brat of a foodie. I have had some amazing mac and cheeses over the years. Including several mac and cheese’s made by some of the folks in this very foodies group that were down right stunningly delicious. So when my hot gooey plate of mac and cheese arrived I had high expectations. And they were quickly dashed. This was just nothing special. I plate of pasta from a bag tossed with some average tasting cheese, and lightly dusted with those panko crumbs. The portion was big- I’ll give them that, but if there was any truffle oil in there to add some flavor it was certainly hidden by a too small dose. After adding salt and some parmesan cheese from a shaker, I got enough flavor to have a decent meal.

Our server was great! She was always available to order more drinks and quick at getting our food out. The service here was excellent and sometimes that is enough to make me want to try a place again.

So, if you want a place to play trivia on a Tuesday night with some pals and grab a drink or two, this is a nice place to do that. If you’re looking for some typical pub foods, check out the Oak Barrel Tavern. The service is great.

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Barely Legal Blackberry Moonshiner Burger

Barely Legal Blackberry Moonshiner Burger from Bootlegger's Prohibition Pub on Chandler Street in Worcester, MA

It seems the Maykel family has bootlegged their own property. One of Worcester’s first gluten-free and vegan-friendly restaurants (EVO) is survived by a completely redefined destination- Bootleggers Prohibition Pub. With far more than just a menu makeover, the entire space has been redesigned into a throwback saloon that would make the 1920’s jealous. Reclaimed wood beams and tables (literally reclaimed from his father’s decking according to Chef Albert Maykel) adorn the space accompanied by a big center bar and a chalkboard proudly displaying a wide variety of specialty moonshine.

My night begins and ends with a French 77- a concoction of cucumber gin, champagne, lemon juice and St. Germain. I was pleased to see some lemon pulp in the drink- ensuring me that the bartenders are using all fresh ingredients. I was peer-pressured into ordering an appetizer (much to my delight) and landed on the Southern Fried Lollypop Wings. It was the perfect size- 3 fried chicken pops served on a bed of coleslaw and bourbon infused maple syrup. I hate when appetizers are so big that they ruin your meal. The menu is what I expected – burgers, pressed sandwiches and flatbread pizza all appropriately named for the decade. However, a couple of sections stood out as different- Street Tacos and Prohibition (Hot) Dogs. I was tempted by the dogs but as many of you know, I spend much of my summer watching the Worcester Bravehearts at Hanover Insurance Park… eating hot dogs and drinking beer, so I decided to order the Blackberry Moonshiner Burger. This half-pound burger came covered in blackberry moonshine barbecue sauce topped with blue cheese, apple cider fromage, bacon, lettuce and onion. The combination of the cheese and BBQ sauce did make this a messy burger, albeit delicious. I just wouldn’t recommend ordering it on a first date. One of my dinner companions ordered the same thing so I felt completely justified in my general attack on this Angus beef patty. The litany of sides you can choose from is impressive- french fries, sweet potato fries, green beans and on and on. I must admit, I was jealous when my burger buddy’s meal came with a side of golden plantains that looked incredible. My fries weren’t great but you know that feeling… food guilt from what you wish you had ordered.

Service here was great, from friendly smiles at the entrance to attentive barmaids. The prices are very reasonable and the bar looks like a great place to belly-up at for Sunday football.

I think Bootleggers will make it’s mark on the Chandler St./Park Ave neighborhood. I asked Chef Maykel if there are any plans to add a password protected room or some kind of menu item that only appears by request… he smiled and said “maybe someday”. I guess I’ll have to just keep checking in to see how things shape up.