Tag: calamari

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Seafood and Mixed Vegetables with Pan Fried Noodles

Seafood and mixed vegetables with pan fried noodles from Dalat on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA

Seafood and mixed vegetables with pan fried noodles from Dalat on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA

Having been part of the Worcester Foodies now for the better part of three years, I’ve come to realize that there are some fantastic Vietnamese restaurants in the city, and particularly on Park Ave. Dalat is not any different…nestled in amongst various store and Beat Niks, is a small dinner room, whose policy offers BYOB and provides dinners with a taste of the foreign flavors that you might see in Vietnam. For my entree, I decided to go with seafood and mixed vegetables with pan fried noodles ($9.90). The waitress described this meal to me as something similar to seafood lo mein…that description alone got my mouth watering.

As I enjoyed my Summer Shandy and conversed with fellow Foodies, I was amazed that the freshly prepared food was ready in a matter of minutes. My plate came steaming with a nice pile of browned noodles that we cooked perfectly. The medley of seafood included shrimp, calamari, shrimp balls, fried fish and other assorted goodies. The fried vegetables were a nice texture contrast from the seafood, and also added a nice freshness, and crunch to the dish. There were also an assortment of sauces that you could add to your dinner including soy sauce, fish sauce, chili sauce and Sriracha. This allows the customer to truly customize their dinner to their liking, whether you like the spice of Sriracha or the tang of a rice wine vinegar sauce. And unlike meals that you may get out at larger chain restaurants, this meal left you feeling satisfied but not overly full or weighted down. The ingredients and the speedy service was what really set this place apart from other restaurants that we have frequented. If you are in the mood to step slightly out of your comfort zone and ambitious enough to try something new and exciting; Dalat is a must stop for any self-proclaimed “Foodies” out there!

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Seafood Calabrese from Dino’s

Seafood Calabrese from Dino's on Lord Street in Worcester, MA

Seafood Calabrese from Dino's on Lord Street in Worcester, MA

Dino’s Ristorante Italiano has been serving Worcester’s Italian appetites for over 60 years. I was looking forward to this stop as I have never dined here before.

The menu is packed with classic Italian staples like pizza, chicken and veal Parmesan, meatballs, alfredo, etc., as well as a respectable mid priced wine list. I decided to look for my “go to” Italian dish, Seafood Fra Diavolo. I was in luck when I found the Seafood Calabrese, a seafood medley of Shrimp, scallops, calamari and mussels served over pasta in a spicy marinara sauce.

While waiting for our dinner the very attentive waitress served the table with fresh Italian bread and a brushetta that was to die for. I had to ask where they purchased the bread, and was told it was delivered daily from Culpeppers Bakery in Worcester. We were off to a good start.

My entrée arrived in a timely manner. The portion was huge; unfortunately, the flavor was not. I had to ask the waitress for crushed red pepper to add to the salt and black pepper the dish needed just to give it a lift. Not good for a dish that is advertised served in a “simmering spicy marinara sauce.” The dish was prepared well enough, but the flavor went nowhere.

Unfortunately, my impression of Dino’s is that quantity outweighs quality. If you’re looking for a lot of food at a low price point, Dino’s delivers. Otherwise, I feel they fall short.