canal district | Page 16 of 20

Mass Foodies review the menu options at Worcester's Lock 50.

Shaved Compressed Octopus, Salsa Verde, Crunchy Bread Crumbs from Lock 50 in Worcester, MA

In the reviving heart of Worcester, the Canal District illuminates with a new presence, Lock 50. The restaurant and café, sitting on the 50^th lock of the old Blackstone Canal, once thriving with business, trade and prosperity, is a piece of the puzzle in the revitalization of the waterway.

The space, lit in an ambience of intimacy, wraps its guest with a street view of the up and coming Canal District, through an impressive display of full sized windows. The windows, grasping the attraction of every patron, are accompanied by the dark, rustic tones of wooden frames and an impeccable distinct style. A warm atmosphere engulfs the front café seating area with each table adorned with an amber colored stone display lit with centrally placed tea light candles. The exposed brick and wall hangings complete the creative display and overlook an elongated blue suede sofa – a sofa too comfortable to not make this a regular seating option for every visit. This sophisticated yet relaxed feeling continues down a few steps to the main dining area and into a room with vast high ceilings, more oversized windows and a large, inviting bar.

With owner Ed Russo and Executive Award-Winning Chef, Tim Russo at the helm, the seasonally-changing menu doesn’t fall short of exceptional. In the morning, the café peaks the interests of patrons with a selection of crepes like a delicious Nutella, Banana and Crushed Hazelnut crepe or a filling Roasted Mushroom, Goat Cheese and Fresh Herb crepe. Pairing a morning delight with an exceptional cup of coffee – created with contraptions only a true Barista can describe – is the right way to start the day. For lunch, the cafe expands diners choices with an array of soups, salads and sandwiches but these sandwiches are not your average turkey and cheese clubs, instead they serve slow roasted pork, caramelized with red bell peppers, broccoli rabe pesto on a nice ciabatta bread. The small plate options served for dinner come complete with simple descriptions, eliminating the need to decode dish titles only the Chef understands. With steamed littleneck clams infused with preserved lemon, fried garlic and parsley and a cured meat board, patrons will have to learn how to share, while leaving full, satisfied and begging for more.

Grilled Tri Tip Steak from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Half roasted chicken with mushrooms and marsala syrup from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

gnocchi with bleu cheese, crispy sweet potato, and fresh scallion from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA.

The Meat Board from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

The Whole Roasted Local Fish from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Crisped Fontina Cheese from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Roasted beets with creamy goat cheese, baby Kale and Blood Orange form Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Porchetta, Grilled Sausage, Pork Rib, Stewed Lentil, and Fried Polenta from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Chef Tim Russo speaking with a group of Worcester Foodies during the June outing

Potato Gnocchi from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Grilled Tri Tip Steak, Roasted Potato, Broccoli Rabe sans Pesto from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Roasted 1/2 Chicken with Mushrooms and Marsala Syrup from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Chorizo Stuffed Calamari with Zesty Tomato Broth and Chickpeas from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Whole Roasted Local Fish with Fresh Greens from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Roasted Chicken with Mushrooms from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Crisped Fontina Cheese, Herb Salad, Fresh Crostini from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA.

Writers for Mass Foodies share a moment while enjoying Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA.

Porchetta, Grilled Sausage, Pork rib, Stewed Lentils, Fried Polenta from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Grilled Beets, Creamy Goat Cheese, Baby Kale, Blood Orange from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Sweet's Main Bar at their new location on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA (Photo by Erb Photography)

For all intents and purposes, Worcester is a hungry city. We have seen the city grow in immeasurable ways through the past decade; cultural institutions including the Worcester Art Museum and Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, the educational institutions like Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Quinsigamond Community College, and businesses both large and small like Unum and Crompton Collective have seen the value and potential that Worcester has to offer. As a result, these companies have invested in expanding their footprints to include themselves in the fabric that holds Worcester’s community together.

Evidence of this vibrant vision for the future is most tangible in the hospitality scene. For the first time in recent memory, we are not only seeing dozens of restaurants opening (and, the true testament, staying in business), but are watching them leading the charge in the discussion of culinary excellence—on a national level. Everywhere you look: Armsby Abbey pioneered both the, then new to Worcester, “farm-to-table” and “slow food;” Niche Hospitality Group not only introduced the concept of tapas, but gourmet Spanish Tapas at Bocado Tapas Wine Bar (and then expanded it to Providence and Wellesley); Sweet calls Worcester home even after Chef Alina Eisenhauer was featured on the Food Network’s cooking show Chopped and Cupcake Wars and won Sweet Genius. Worcester is hungry.

This year is no exception. The hospitality industry is one of the most volatile industries, affected more so by the environment around it than the talent within. But Worcester’s economy, community, and hunger has ensured that the success of the early 2000s is more “the first course” than a flash in the pan. In twelve short months, much has happened. Early this year, husband and wife duo, Alec Lopez and Sherri Sadowski, finally opened the long awaited Crust Artisan Bakeshop, bringing locally sourced ingredients and naturally leavened bread to Main Street. Breathing life into the quickly growing Canal District, BirchTree Bread Company offers a similar attention to detail baking style with a completely different cafe-style atmosphere. Also in the Canal District, we’ve seen a building that has been empty for years brought back to life by David Domenick in the form of Compass Tavern. On Shrewsbury Street, Niche Hospitality Group, moved the original Mezcal Tequila Cantina into Más Mezcal at larger space in the heart of downtown while simultaneously created a new concept in its former space, as a restaurant focused on burgers called The Fix Burger Bar. Also on Shrewsbury Street, which was made known for its Italian style is now known for its diverse dining options, including Mezé Greek Tapas Bar & Grille where a taste of true Mediterranean flavors meets tapas style service. The Italian world also expanded on Shrewsbury Street when Rose-Ellen Padavano, growing off the success of the BYOB favorite Rosalina’s Kitchen, opened a new restaurant, Padavano’s Place. In other parts of Worcester, we see Red Pepper offering a Chinese culinary experience just a few short miles from craft brewery 3cross Brewing Company. And there is a lot more that opened in 2014.

For the first time in many years, it is evident that businesses, government, institutions, and individuals understand that they need to work together—it is no longer the wild west of monopolies; it’s community. Programs like the Worcester Cultural Coalition’s WOO Card and movements like Amy Lynn Chase’s #ShopWoo help hold the Worcester fabric together. Worcesterites may not have bucket loads more money than they did last year, but they are conscious about experience, quality, and worcester-centric ideas. This concept is not widely adapted by other cities, which is why Worcester’s reach goes beyond its seven hills. Worcester is a hungry city and it just started on its appetizer.

Tag: canal district

Dining at the Canal Districts Lock 50

A Year in Review: Worcester is a Hungry City