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A Quick Stop at 435 Bar & Grille in Leominster

435 Bar + Grille in Leominster, MA (website)

435 Bar + Grille is set in an old mill in Leominster with exposed brick walls, large windows dominate one side of the dining room, original hard wood floors and exposed beams in the ceiling. The place is very open concept with tables set up throughout. A very large bar sits in one corner of the space and takes up a large part of the restaurant. Large flat screen TV’s above the bar provide the perfect viewing for your favorite sport team.

435 Bar + Grille in Leominster, MA (facebook)We were greeted promptly and asked if we had a seating preference bar or dining room. We chose the open floor plan dining room and were shown to a seat next to a large window. Our server Maddi was very prompt and was knowledgeable about the menu. She was able to recommend a few items for us as well as answer all of our questions. Very personable and she made our dining experience all the more memorable.

A decent wine list and beer selection as well as a cocktail menu was available. The menu for dinner had quite a decent selection of appetizers and entrees to choose from. We chose the Charcuterie plate to share. It came with a salami, pate, a cheddar, goat and blue cheese options. The blue cheese came drizzled with honey. The plate also offered Kalamata olives, Dijon mustard and a fig paste. A large quantity of toasted bread came with the charcuterie.

For my meal I ordered the fish stew which came in a large bowl with a tender flaky white fish, shrimp and a large amount of mussels. Also in the stew were yellow fingerling potatoes. The base was a tomato and fish stock. Very tasty and a large portion. I was unable to finish my meal.

My dining companion ordered the bacon wrapped meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes and brocollini, I tried it all and it was delicious. I would come back and try more items on the menu from this new establishment. Over all a great meal.

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Shrimp and Grits

Nestled in a building on Water Street in the Canal District in Worcester, Gumbo is one of Worcester’s newest restaurants. Billed as a New Orleans kitchen and Oyster Bar  it is nice to hear of something other than another Italian restaurant opening. The main dining area was a slightly darker room with lots of brick, stone, and exposed beams—hints of purple and gold accented the room. We were promptly seated and pondered over the wide variety of selections on the menu. I opted for the Shrimp and Grits that were described as “well seasoned gulf shrimp sautéed with onions, peppers, and celery in a Louisiana BBQ sauce… served over a creamy cheddar and jalapeno grits.” The meal delivered what it promised, pairing seven large shrimp with a tasty red BBQ sauce. The grits had a nice jalapeno cheddar taste to them and were the perfect accompaniment to the shrimp. My only suggestions would be to season the shrimp a little more and to make the sautéed vegetables more pronounced for added texture. Overall, I will definitely be back to Gumbo to try more of the dishes Gumbo has to offer. A welcomed addition to the Worcester dining scene. -DO