Over the past few years, Fratelli’s Corner Crust Pizzeria has earned many accolades including being voted “Best Pizza of Central Mass” by MassLive. They have a 5-star average on Facebook and a 4.5 star average on Yelp. When a new owner comes in and says they are going to “make things better,” its natural to feel skeptical.
The new owners are vigilantly, “reworking the menu with some new items, sourcing higher quality and more locally-grown ingredients, and committing to even better customer service,” with the intention to elevate Fratelli’s to the top of the Worcester’s uber-competitive pizza scene.
A MassFoodies contributor revisited Fratelli’s in honor of the transition to taste both new and signature dishes that had reportedly gleaned positive feedback from longtime customers. Here’s what he found:
Tucked into a small plaza at 186 Stafford Street (next to Galway Bay Pub) it is easy to drive by Fratelli’s if you aren’t looking for it…but don’t. You will be missing out on some of Worcester’s best pizza – and other dishes as I found out on this visit.
Walking in, I was greeted by Brian Wiater, the previous owner, so I was a bit confused. I quickly learned that Brian is still happily employed at Fratelli’s, leading the charge in the kitchen and working with the new owners as he said, “to keep moving forward making the best food possible.”
To start, I was told I must try the fried pizza – something I had never had before. Imagine taking a fresh slice of award-winning pizza, cutting it into three equal pieces, dipping it in beer batter and deep frying it. I was a bit reluctant. But I was wrong. The hot, gooey cheese pizza wrapped in a swe
et beer batter, then dipped in delicious marinara sauce was amazing. Try it with an ice-cold beer as a way to start your meal and off you go.
Chicken wings from a pizza place often taste the same. You can’t expect much – frozen, no-flavor wingdings served with buffalo or teriyaki sauce, right? But not at Fratelli’s. The wings are one of the best-selling dishes and for good reason. These breaded and deep-fried wings come in orders of 8, 15, 25 or 45, with a variety of sauces. I tried the homemade, secret ingredient teriyaki wings and they were meaty, sweet, and super flavorful.
Now, let’s talk about what made this place famous. The pizza. The semolina dough is made fresh daily and hand stretched individually for each pie as ordered. They call it “artisanal,” we call it delicious. We ordered a half Niko (sweet caramelized onions in balsamic, feta cheese) and half Funghi di Fumo (mushrooms, crispy bacon, blue cheese.) Both were outstanding with a great combination of ingredients and the crust was perfectly cooked, with a nice crunch outside yet still a great “chew.”
Luckily, we saved just enough room for dessert. Fratelli’s has a homemade Flan that is fantastic. This cool, vanilla custard dish was creamy yet surprisingly light, with caramel on bottom and the perfect way to end a great meal.
In my opinion, the menu is extensive and very reasonably priced with great apps including homemade potato chips, endless combinations of pizza and calzones, great pasta dishes, and more. New items on the menu will include Grilled Kabobs, Steak Tip Dinners, and authentic Gyros.
Worcester’s pizza scene has grown tremendously the past few years with lots of great additions including Volturno, Dacosta’s and Antonio’s. The relaunch of The Wonder Bar and Corner Grille brought some of the iconic Worcester pies back. Choosing just one “favorite” is tough. But give Fratelli’s a try and I believe you will find their pizza to be among the best.
Located at 186 Stafford Street in Worcester, Fratelli’s Corner Crust Pizzeria is open Sunday-Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m.-midnight for eat-in or take-out and they deliver throughout the greater Worcester area. They also offer catering services for large parties and events with a dedicated catering manager to custom design a menu that works within your budget.
Atmospheres and Appetites
