(Forgive us, we’re still dialing in our brewery acoustics.) This week, we recorded at Wormtown Brewery with Director of Marketing Katrina Shabo. On February 25th, Chefs Brian Treitman and Bill Nemeroff of B.T.’s Smokehouse are teaming up for an intimate dining experience at Wormtown Brewery. Before opening one of New England’s most highly acclaimed barbecue spots in Sturbridge, Treitman worked closely with industry titans Jamie Bissonnette and Ken Oringer in Boston. You can hear more from Nemeroff on episode 25 of Pop It.
We asked Katrina what she thought about the controversial article that blew up our beer news feeds this week, written by Brewing News publisher and co-founder Bill Metzger. Did you know, according to the Craft Brewers Association, 31.5% of craft beer drinkers in 2018 were women? We also discuss Per Se’s written appeal, Jennifer Aniston’s 50th birthday party, and Ryan Adams’ lethal Napoleon complex. (Height confirmed at 5’8″.) Tunes by Submarine Machine. Photos by Unity Mike.
Recently, Mass Foodies’ Worcester Foodies ventured to Sturbridge to visit the Cedar Street Grille on Stephanie’s recommendation. And if you haven’t been there yet, you need to make the trip.
As many of our readers know, Sturbridge is well worth the short drive if you are looking for restaurants to indulge in some outstanding food! From world-class BBQ at BT’s Smokehouse, classic Italian at Rovezzi’s, award-winning sushi at Baba Sushi and lots of eclectic options in-between, Sturbridge offers up a variety of menus to satisfy any craving.
Cedar Street Grille’s atmosphere is casual and comfortable, with warm décor and calming colors that fit perfectly. The layout offers multiple small dining areas as well as a front bar area perfect for enjoying drinks and sharing food. Evan thought “The interior was quaint and perfect for a romantic evening out”.
The Menu and More
The restaurant’s menu offers a few appetizers, a mix of small plates and a list of larger entrees giving you plenty of options depending on how you want to dine.
Stephanie thought “The restaurants’ tapas menu made it easy for sharing and allowed us to try a variety of different things, which was really great”.
Burger Sliders at Cedar Street Grille
The small plates at Cedar Street Grille encourage sharing around the table with options such as Lamb Meatballs, Duck Confit, Burger Sliders, Garlic Shrimp and lots more. The large plates include Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Hanger Steak and Pan Roasted Salmon to name a few.
Starting off with Drinks and Appetizers
Once we all arrived at Cedar Street Grille were seated immediately in a room off the main dining area to accommodate our large group. A seasonal drink menu was presented which included some interesting options, one of which was a Pear Martini that Scott felt was “quite good” and Aaron added his Espresso Martini was “very well done”. Looking down the table I saw a traditional Old Fashioned, some craft beer options and plenty of glasses of wine being enjoyed along with lots of apps and small plates.
Salmon Steak at Cedar Street Grille
The Deep Fried Goat Cheese and Mac & Cheese seemed to be popular small plate choices. Evan commented, “the fried goat cheese had a crispy exterior and a creamy, rich interior that was a textural delight”. He also thought the Buffalo Mac & Cheese was “one of the best I have ever had, bar none. The small cast iron pan kept the dish warm and pasta was covered in velvety cheese sauce”. According to Katie, the Flash Fried Brussel Sprouts with roasted garlic and lemon aioli were “amazing.”
On to the Main Courses
For her meal, Julie indulged in the Swordfish Steak which she thought was “fantastic”. She added, “the fish was tender and flavorful, and the restaurant provided portions that were big enough for two people”.
Robyn and Dana shared the Beef Sliders and thought they were “cooked perfectly”. In addition, Robyn had a Caesar Salad and thought “the dressing was one of the best she has ever had and she would go back for the salad alone…it was that good”.
The Fried Chicken with Red Bliss Mashed and Spinach Rockefeller
Aaron and Jamie seemed to enjoy the Cedar Street Grille. The Fried Chicken with Red Bliss Mashed and Spinach Rockefeller looked to be an incredible portion and as Aaron told us, was “the best we ever had”.
Our end of the table shared the Pan Seared Scallops and we were more than impressed. The three large scallops were delightfully light and the warm Parsnip Puree and Maple, Raisin and Almond Agrodolce added a sweet and sour flavor that paired perfectly.
We also shared a Harvest Salad that was a perfect starter. Full of Roasted Butternut Squash, Toasted Almonds, Robinson’s Farm cheese, Dried Cranberry and topped with a Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette the salad was an early Winter delight!
Harvest Salad with Butternut Squash, Toasted Almonds, Robinson’s Farm Cheese
For my meal, I opted for the Grilled Pork Tenderloin. The pork had a honey Dijon marinate that added some sweetness. Finished with Brussel Sprouts, Bacon and a Port Wine Demi, this meal seemed to be a signature of Cedar Street Grille. I would definitely return for this!
Outstanding Service
Given our large party and the fact most of our meals were shared small plates, the food arrived in a timely manner. Our servers were always close by to help with drinks, water and to clear empty dishes. Clearly, this was not the first time the restaurant had encountered a group of our size.
Overall our experience at Cedar Street Grille was excellent with many commenting it stood out as one of the best meals they had in 2018. Many folks added they would be making the trip to return soon!
Cedar Street Grille is at 12 Cedar Street in Sturbridge, MA and is part of the Table 3 Restaurant Group which also operates The Duck, Avellino and The Barn at Wight Farm.
