Worcester Foodies | Reviewing Restaurants and Food in Central Mass

Posted on June 28, 2017June 27, 2017 by Staff Writer

435 Bar & Grille: Leominster’s Hidden Gem

Worcester Foodies celebrating 74 consecutive months of food with 435 Bar & Grille in Leominster, MA.

On the recommendation of our member Lynn, the Foodies gathered at 435 Bar & Grille in Leominster. Tucked away on the second floor of an old mill building, requiring a back door and an elevator ride to find it, 435 Bar & Grille certainly feels hidden. And after the Foodies dined there this month, they found that it was an absolute gem.

Once you enter the restaurant is extremely inviting with a wide open space, big windows and beautiful exposed brick. A massive circular bar feels like a great place to catch up with friends or sip a pre-dinner drink.

The trim, yet diverse menu 435 offers made diners want to try a little bit of everything.

The Poutine was a popular appetizer selection, with Robyn calling it a “must try.” She said the fries were crispy, the short rib meat tender and the gravy delicious. “The meat was tender, the sauce was salty, and there were so many cheese churds!” Stephanie said of her Poutine order.

Almost everyone said they had a hard time choosing an entrée because so many of the items on the menu sounded so good.

“I ended up choosing the Pasta and Chicken which was outstanding,” said Joe. “Nice portion, sweet wine sauce, tender pieces of chicken breast over pasta.”

Braised short rib and lobster tail with pickled mustard seeds, celery root puree, spinach and port wine demi from 435 Bar & Grille in Leominster, MA. — Braised short rib and lobster tail with pickled mustard seeds, celery root puree, spinach and port wine demi

Dana opted for the bacon-wrapped Meatloaf and commended the restaurant for being flexible and pairing it with roasted carrots rather than the asparagus on the menu. “I wouldn’t call it a traditional meatloaf, as it was less firm and structured, but the flavor was fantastic. The bacon complimented the meat nicely and the dish was an overall success. One of the nicer meat loafs I’ve had out,” Dana said.

Stephanie got a “huge portion” of eggplant parmigiana, which was “breaded and fried perfectly” and paired with an enormous bowl of al dente pasta.

Both Robyn and Evan tried the Bolognese. “I would venture to say this is one of the best Bolognese I’ve had anywhere,” Robyn said. “It came in a large bowl filled to the brim with homemade Pappardelle pasta. It came in a rich tomato sauce with chunks of carrots. Topping this dish off was freshly shaved Parmesan cheese.”

Evan described the Bolognese as “incredible.” He said, “The thick, ribbon like pasta was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The sauce was rich and had large chunks of meat large enough that you could’ve cut them with your fork. It was honestly one of the best and largest pasta dishes I have had in recent memory.”

David and Lynn both tried the fig and serrano ham tart. Though labeled a tart on the menu, it was a bit more like a flatbread pizza. “I enjoyed my unique flatbread. The soft egg was a delicious addition,” Lynn said. David said the “ingredients and flavors were wonderful.” He paired his with a beat salad, that was served with burrata cheese, pea tendrils and a squid ink dressing. “The flavors, textures, and contrast with the plaques quitting in the dip dish was amazing.”

Beyond the food, everyone agreed the service was fantastic. The speed and quality with which the food came out combined with friendly and attentive service made dining at the 435 comfortable and fun. Definitely worth the trip.

Posted on May 19, 2017May 17, 2017 by Staff Writer

Comfy, cozy dining at Dianna’s Neighborhood Bistro

Walking into Dianna’s Neighborhood Bistro feels a bit like walking into your grandmother’s kitchen. This quaint, BYOB restaurant on the corner of June and Chandler Street in Worcester is what one Foodie called “the type of mom and pop shop that this city is known for.”

Cooking for such a large group was a challenge for the kitchen this night (the Chef noted there are only two and a half people in the kitchen) so while some of the food took a little time to make its way to the table, most agreed it was well worth the wait.

Robyn said her Pollo Lorenzo was so good that she’d have a hard time not ordering it again on a return trip to Dianna’s. “This dish was amazing. I loved the mixture of creamy gorgonzola sauce with artichokes, asparagus and broccoli. The chicken was pounded and lightly breaded and was cooked to perfection. The dish also came with cherry tomatoes which made a nice colorful contrast to the other ingredients. A very large amount of spinach ravioli were nestled at the bottom of this dish absorbing the creamy sauce,” Robyn said.

Julie enjoyed the Haddock & Salmon special at Dianna’s Neighborhood Bistro

Stephanie couldn’t get enough of the Pollo Lorenzo, either. “The Gorgonzola sauce in my meal was to die for!! And I really loved the added veggies in the dish. Asparagus and artichokes are my favorite! The chicken was also very tender and juicy and had a nice crisp on the outside,” she added.

Joe applauded the plentiful portion of Chicken Piccatta which “served over penne, was tender and sautéed to perfection, topped with a rich wine and lemon and caper sauce.”

Julie ordered a special of baked haddock and Dijon-encrusted salmon over a bed of linguine aglio and wasn’t disappointed. “My fish was fresh and cooked perfectly, the Dijon crust on the salmon was crunchy and gave a great texture to the fish. The linguine had onions and fresh cut grape tomatoes and plenty of garlic. My meal was delicious,” she said.

Lynn loved the cozy atmosphere – “perfect for date night” – and raved about the homemade soups.

While most felt their meals were very good, a few found Dianna’s to be just slightly off the mark.

Dana said his steak special, which consisted of a New York strip topped with sautéed red peppers and onions in a balsamic sauce, was a bit overcooked and found the balsamic sauce “overpowering.” But he added….”That said, I do realize that ordering steak in an Italian restaurant probably isn’t the best idea. I tasted my wife’s Pollo Lorenzo and it was delicious, so it seems like they do Italian very well, but the other stuff a bit hit or miss.”

Evan said his Vitello Forestier with fresh veal medallions, sautéed with Portobello, Cremini and Shitake mushrooms, shallots, prosciutto, garlic and a brandied demi-glace over house made Pappardelle pasta “had the makings to be extraordinary.” Unfortunately, he felt the veal was a little overcooked. “However, the brandied demi-glace could’ve been eaten with any combination, it was that good,” Evan added.

All in all, the Foodies seemed to agree that Dianna’s is a great addition to the neighborhood dining scene and while a few dishes were slightly off, most were right on the mark. We recommend trying his friendly neighborhood, BYOB bistro yourself!