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The Big Fix Hamburger Salad

The Big Fix Hamburger Salad from The Fix on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

The Big Fix Hamburger Salad from The Fix on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

This month our Foodies group ventured to Niche Hospitality’s newest creation, The Fix Burger Bar on Shrewsbury Street, located in the old Mezcal space. We met up with our group in the lounge area and started the evening with a libation. Just a note, as with all Niche Hospitality restaurants, the cocktail menu at The Fix is as well thought out as the food menu with an awesome variety of craft cocktails, beer, wine and spirits. And while I didn’t try one on this occasion, they have a great selection of hand-crafted milkshakes and soda fountain classics. I enjoyed a Jefferson’s Bourbon with my good friend before heading up to our table.

The decor at The Fix is as important as the food and drink menu. The rich, dark wood, combined with the deep brown leathers and burnt orange walls create a casual yet upscale feel that sets the stage for your entire dining experience.

Seated upstairs in the semi-private dining area our group quickly got down to business ordering some appetizers and drinks. My dining partner and I chose the chicken wings that were prepared with a tasty dry herb BBQ rub and served with a tangy ranch dressing. The wings were steaming hot and crispy the dry rub had a very enjoyable jerk-, chili-, BBQ-type seasoning that was so good I can’t wait to go back for more. Fortunately I was able to steal a wing from the table behind us so I got more than my fill of these awesome wings. We also tasted the House Fried Potato Chip Nachos with Short Rib and the Pork Belly appetizers – both of which were outstanding.

After looking at a lot of great options for my main course, I chose the The Big Fix Hamburger Salad. A salad at a burger joint? Yes, and I am glad I did as this meal was one to remember. A huge classic burger, grilled perfectly, sat on top of an iceberg lettuce wheel and was finished with cheddar cheese, cherry tomato, red onion, diced house pickle and soft Brioche roll croutons. The burger was cooked perfectly, grilled on the outside and medium rare inside. The meat was described on the menu as a custom blend and certainly had a unique, hand-crafted feel and taste. It was well seasoned, but not overly seasoned and was the centerpiece of a truly enjoyable salad.

Overall, The Fix was outstanding and a spot I can see myself enjoying many more great meals.

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Cowboy Burger

Cowboy Burger from Flying Rhino on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Cowboy Burger from Flying Rhino on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

There are times when you just want to have a burger. I know from previous experience that the Flying Rhino serves elegant entrees that are beautifully plated and taste even better than they look. However, on this particular night, I wanted some simple and satisfying, and so I chose the Cowboy Burger ($12). Of course, ever calorie conscious, I substituted roasted Brussels sprouts for the fries, thus alleviating any sense of guilt for my less-than-heart-healthy choice. The burger might not have looked as beautiful on my plate as the entrees served to my fellow diners, but with one bite I knew that I made the right choice. The burger was served with bacon, cheddar cheese, homemade BBQ sauce, and fried onions strings, a delightful combination of taste and texture. In my opinion, crisp and salty bacon pairs as beautifully with sweet BBQ sauce and crunchy fried onions as a good cabernet sauvignon does with filet mignon. The only thing that would have made my meal better would have been to stick with the fries. Mind you, the Brussels sprouts were perfectly fine, but a decadently delicious burger deserves to be eaten with its perfect counterpart. Calories be damned. I will enjoy my meal and go to the gym tomorrow.