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BBQ Bacon Burger from The Fix

BBQ Bacon Burger from The Fix on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

With the summer season upon us, nothing screams more “Americana” to me than a big, juicy hamburger. However, we have all fallen victim to the bland standard of hamburger that we have become accustomed to at family cookouts…small, overcooked, flavorless hockey pucks wedged between two buns. However, when you do find a place where you can get a good burger (and I mean GOOD burger), you want to eat there all the time. That was how I felt after my trip to The Fix. Before I go off on a tangent about my main course, first things first. The Fix is located on Shrewsbury Street and takes the place of the old Mezcal, which used to occupy the same real estate. Unlike Mezcal, where it used to feel crowded and cramped, The Fix gives off a much more relaxed and open vibe, even with similar floor plans.

As we first began our culinary roller coaster, we obviously needed to order drinks. My drink of choice was called Shake It Up. This drink was a delightful concoction of rum with muddled raspberries, basil and rhubarb bitters. Being a large fan of rum, this drink was a perfect example of how simple, fresh ingredients combined the proper way can let all the ingredients shine in their own right with the natural sweetness and aromatics of the raspberries and basil, with the tanginess of the bitters taking a bit of the edge off of the rum.

I digress though (again)…as we perused the menu, I had predetermined that I was going to order a burger. The first one that caught my eye was the BBQ Bacon Burger. How could you go wrong with bacon??? To start my meal, I had to order the Bleu Cheese Polenta tater tots. These delicious little taters came out fried to a crispy, golden brown, but the interior was velvety and rich. The polenta blended well with the bleu cheese to take some of it’s notorious ‘funk’ out of the dish. The Sriracha aioli and ranch dipping sauces were also a great addition to cut the richness of the tot.

When my burger arrived at our table, the first thing that struck me was the sheer size of it! It was massive! The plate was crowded with handcut fries that were salty and crunchy. The burger was cooked medium (which is also a rarity, even at a decent burger joint). Nestled on it were 4 large strips of bacon, caressed by BBQ baked beans. The onion and lettuce gave the burger a nice texture and crunch to the dish. The smoked gouda cheese brought everything together on a dish that reminded you more of quality BBQ than a traditional burger. With everything that was consumed at The Fix, I left full and happy. For anyone who has a large appetite and a craving for a perfectly cooked burger, head on down to Shrewsbury Street and get your fix on!

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Texas Star Chicken

Texas Star Chicken from Blackstone Bistro in Worcester, MA

Texas Star Chicken from Blackstone Bistro in Worcester, MATucked away in the Quinsigamond Village section of Worcester is a relative newcomer to Worcester’s dining options: Blackstone Bistro. After sitting down and opening the menu my first thought was how reasonable the prices were. There were plenty of options for appetizers and I was tempted to try the Queso Frito with Mango sauce, but opted for the Chili Con Carne as an appetizer.

The Chili Con Carne was described as flavorful chili made with beans, ground beef, tomatoes, peppers and the right amount of spice. The chili delivered as promised and was a flavorful well prepared chili that was not to hot, but gave the top of my head a little tingle. The quality of the ingredients and fresh taste was apparent in the dish.

Moving on to the main course I decided on the Texas Star Chicken. The Texas Chicken was a large thin chicken breast topped with cheese and bacon and homemade BBQ sauce. The main course was perfectly prepared and I have to apologize to the chef as I think the BBQ sauce was lost to me in the large quantity of cheddar cheese and bacon that topped the chicken. The thing that makes Blackstone Bistro stand out to me was there was the same attention to detail on the side dishes that was given to the main course. Often when dining it is easy to have good main course and then find the chef prepares a large quantity of the side dishes that sit in warming dishes to be served along with the main course. The sautéed vegetables were freshly prepared and included crisp onions, broccoli, red peppers, and mushrooms. They were perfectly sautéed in a little oil and spices. Served alongside the chicken and sautéed vegetables was a twice baked potato that complimented and rounded out the meal perfectly.

Overall Blackstone Bistro is a nice family owned restaurant, where Chef Louie and his wife put a lot of heart and care into their restaurant. Pride of ownership, quality fresh ingredients, and attention to detail make Blackstone Bistro worth a trip for lunch or dinner or both.