Tag: basil

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The [Great] Gatsby at Bootleggers Prohibition Pub

The [Great] Gatsby at Bootleggers Prohibition Pub on Chandler Street in Worcester, MA

Bootleggers Prohibition Pub is a new speakeasy themed bar on Chandler Street in Worcester where EVO once was.

A speakeasy is an illicit establishment that sells alcoholic beverages. Such establishments came into prominence in the United States during the Prohibition era. During that time, the sale, manufacture, and transportation (bootlegging) of alcoholic beverages was illegal throughout the United States, hence where the name “Bootleggers” came from.

It was dark inside yet relaxed, cozy and a little mysterious. The black decor, old photos, dark wood tables and a chalk board full of moonshine cocktails made me feel like I had stepped back in time. It’s definitely a place I could see myself frequenting.

Upon arrival I started with a glass of the house Pinot Noir ($6) followed by a few appetizers that the table shared. Out of the apps I got to try, The Dry Rub Buffalo Chips ($4.99) were my favorite. They consisted of crumbled blue cheese, green onion, bacon, diced tomato, and honey blue dressing. They very packed with flavor but weren’t too heavy; a great starter!

With a surprisingly large menu and a ton of unique options, it took me a while to decide on my entree. I ended up going with The Gatsby ($10.99). With 3 cheeses, bacon, tomato, basil, and garlic oil pressed on an Italian roll paired with tomato sauce for dipping, it reminded me of a mix between two classics, a grilled cheese and a margarita pizza. If you’re in the market for an adult grilled cheese The Gatsby will certainly not let you down.

Service was good. My wine glass was always full (important!) and our food came out quick. For 7pm on a Tuesday this new restaurant was filling up fast and the servers were handling it well. I really liked how each of the waitresses wore their Bootleggers t-shirt but dressed them up with cute skirts and choker necklaces. I thought it worked well with the theme of the restaurant.

I really enjoyed this Foodies destination. Bootleggers has great food and drink options at very reasonable prices.  A cocktail didn’t surpass $10, sandwiches and burgers under $15 and an entrée was $23 at most. With so many Italian and American style restaurants in the city, it’s nice to have a completely different option now!

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Caesar Salad and The Godfather Pizza

Caesar Salad and The Godfather Pizza from the International in Bolton, MA

Caesar Salad and The Godfather Pizza from the International in Bolton, MA

After making our way through the middle of nowhere to get to The International, we were greeted by a warm dining room. The restaurant’s interior reminded me of a grandparent’s den complete with well-appointed bar, roaring fire and embraced opulence. They even had a sign that read ‘Cell Phone Use Prohibited’.

The gracious waitstaff explained their vast wine and drink menu making us feel right at home.

After reviewing the menu, I was struck by sticker shock at first. I could not believe some of the prices. While I am not cheap, I am always weary about the correlation between price and portion size. We have been victims of a shakedown or two at other Foodies events. That being said, I decided to go with a Caesar Salad with anchovies and The Godfather Pizza.

First off, the Caesar Salad was bright and refreshing. It offered a nice balance of creamy dressing and crunchy housemade croutons. The saltiness that only anchovies can bring made the salad complete. My only gripe was that I am used to a Caesar salad being made with anchovies. Apparently anchovies cost $2 extra. Something about that just doesn’t seem right considering the salad was overpriced to begin with.

The Godfather Pizza was adorned with pepperoni, prosciutto di Parma, blistered cherry tomatoes, basil, housemade Pomodoro sauce, cow’s milk mozzarella, and a balsamic reduction drizzled on top. When the pizza arrived, I noticed that the edges looked amazing. The charred and blackened crust begged me to sink my teeth into it. The creamy mozzarella was silky and stretched with each bite. The pepperoni and prosciutto added a classic spiciness. The red sauce was sweet, but the addition of fresh basil made the pizza dance off my taste buds.

What I did miss was the balsamic reduction. I could barely detect it on the pizza. I missed the acid in each bite. I also found that the so-called blistered cherry tomatoes were mostly raw. They may have been too big to cook properly. I found it difficult to eat them so I removed most of them from my pizza.

The service at The International was everything that I would expect from a high-class country club. The waitstaff was attentive to our needs and was always in the vicinity to refill water glasses and bring adult beverages. They were respectful and provided helpful hints about the menus. However, we had to wait a considerable amount of time between our appetizers and entrées. And, it didn’t seem like the kitchen was very busy.

Our Foodies group was split into two tables. The other table received their dessert before we received our entrées. To me, this is completely unacceptable given the price.

Overall, The International lived up to my expectations. It was a very upscale, high-class dining experience that is not for an ordinary occasion for a regular middle-class citizen. To me, this would be a perfect restaurant for an anniversary dinner or another special occasion. It’s not for a casual Tuesday night dinner.

With the price of dinner well over $100, I will not be back on a regular basis. Although, I would certainly like the opportunity to shoot 120 on their golf course. I just found myself slightly out of my comfort zone and felt as though I was transported to a scene right out Caddyshack. If this is your cup of tea, I would highly recommend you brush off that silk suit, start up your Maserati and head down to The International for a delicious dinner. Don’t forget, you’ll need to carve out a few hours for the full experience.