Category: Worcester

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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Roasted 1/2 Chicken From Lock 50 Was Fantastic!

Half roasted chicken with mushrooms and marsala syrup from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Lock 50 is beautiful! Big windows, exposed brick walls, classy simple decor. But with all those hard surfaces the talking bounced around and around and it was loud. You could barely have a conversation without screaming at the folks across the way. Something should be done about that… Curtains and art from local artists would certainly help.

Our food was excellent. I loved the bread and whipped butter, the cured meat board had tons of tasty vittles on it. The pepperoni spread being a favorite among the folks at my table, but I felt the thinly sliced prosciutto and thick cut salamis were the real treats.

As our main meal, we ordered the 1/2 roasted chicken with mushrooms and marsala syrup. Now this was spectacular. Especially whatever that chef did in that kitchen with those mushrooms. Wow. It was fantastic. I had to hold back from stealing them all on my plate. I did share, begrudgingly. Turns out that it clearly states on the menu these are “Shareable Plates” so I followed instructions.

Everyone shared everything around the table. It was fun to eat and share the dishes and we tasted quite a few items this way. Polenta board and Porchetta were also well received. The potato gnocchi was a huge yum with all its ooey gooeyness. And the Crisped fontina cheese was a real stand out! I will return to try the shaved octopus since no one in my group dared. This is one dish the Chef himself said he enjoyed, so it must be tried in a future round.

Let’s talk service. This place had a fantastic server. The kind of server that makes you want to go back again and again to a place. And Lock50 has her. Her name is Madison and we had a great experience with her. She did everything a great wait person does and she did it with a smile and a playfulness I adored.

This place gets a thumbs up from this Foodie. I will return. I will bring friends who like to share, I suggest you bring friends who are open to adventures. Show them something new that they didn’t know they were missing! That’s what I liked about this place. I saw things I don’t normally see on other menus. I really like that.

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Grand Opening of Lock 50 Restaurant & Cafe with Whole Roasted Local Fish with Fresh Greens

Whole Roasted Local Fish with Fresh Greens from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Lock 50 is located on Water Street in Worcester. The exterior reminded me of a restaurant you would find in Providence, RI. We entered through the front of the restaurant walking through the breakfast/lunch area. The delicious aroma of coffee welcomed us, in the back was a counter to place your order and plenty of seating next to the over-sized windows overlooking the street. Here we found a mix of contemporary artwork, great light fixtures and the warm feel of exposed brick from an old building. We were here for dinner so we were seated in the back dining area up a few stairs. The dining area had dark, rich, wood flooring, large chandeliers and an open floor concept, making the feel of the restaurant sophisticated and fun.

I decided to order the Whole Roasted Local Fish with Grilled Lemon, Fresh Greens and herbs. The fish was large and fresh with a hint of lemon, the fresh greens had just enough dressing to compliment it. I would suggest a few more herbs on the fish to give it a bit more flavor and also, another choice for a side dish.

Our waitress was prompt and knew the menu well, she kept our drinks flowing which was helpful since our food took quite a while to come out.

Lock 50 is a sophisticated addition to Worcester. The menu has some delicious shareable items that you do not find elsewhere and I can’t wait to return to try them. They also have a great wine selection and hand-crafted beer that change seasonally, I look forward to my return trip!