Tag: Grafton

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Reunion Tap & Table Brings New Dining Options to Grafton

Worcester’s restaurant renaissance has received a lot of media attention the past few years, and rightfully so, as we have always noted. But let’s face it, Worcester isn’t the only area taking their restaurant game to the next level. And as a group, the Worcester Foodies are always up for a new adventure.

The Reunion Tap & Table in Grafton, MA opened a few months back to many rave reviews. Newly built, it is the brainchild of the Briggs brothers, Josh and Shawn and their business partner Sargon Hanna. If the Briggs name sounds familiar, it may be through their other business, Wicked Twisted Pretzels. Wicked Twisted Pretzels are distributed to many local and national grocery stores, restaurants and breweries. For good measure the team brought on food veteran Gary Benacquista, to run operations.

So, what are two pretzel-making brothers doing opening a full-service restaurant? As Josh explained, “We thought the area was a bit underserved and we could bring a new experience to the area. And we thought it would be fun…,” he added.

The experience, as described by the owners “is a place to relax, enjoy great American comfort food that is prepared fresh every day, with a menu of “elevated American Fare”. We were anxious to give it a try!

Walking into Reunion Tap & Table, the first thing you notice is the design and décor with warm rich wood, distressed metals, and exceptional tile work. The contemporary design is open and provides clean lines throughout with lots of attention to detail that really catches your eye. As Stephanie commented, “The interior was really beautiful, rustic yet refined with the coziness of a log cabin”. Evan found it “comfortable…a modern rustic chic that makes you feel at home”.

Entering the restaurant, the dining area is set to the left and lounge area to the right. These spaces are separated by a service walkway that creates two distinct spaces to enjoy.

The menu is subdued offering a variety of choices but not so many options that it is overwhelming. There are choices to satisfy any mood, from light and casual salads, burgers, comfort classics such as Bratwurst and Fish & Chips, to a Roasted Red Pepper Cavatelli or all out with a NY Prime Sirloin or Maple Brined Pork Chop.

We all arrived and were seated immediately as our server began the process of taking drink and app orders. Shawn, one of the owners came over and introduced himself. He chatted about how the restaurant came to be, told us a bit about Wicked Twisted Pretzel and thanked us for coming.

Soon drinks and apps arrived. As a table we shared the Fried Calamari, a well-appointed Cheese Board, a warm, soft Wicked Twisted Pretzel and the Pork Belly Poutine. The tartar aioli on the calamari was a big hit that Steph commented was “amazing, tangy, with a bit of heat that was very enjoyable” Evan was particularly fond of the Pork Belly Poutine announcing “the large chunks of juicy pork belly helped throw this dish over the top. I was actually so captivated by the pork belly that I ordered the Jumbo Mac and Cheese with an addition of pork belly for my meal”. Wine, beer and cider came to the table to help round out the beginning portion of our meal.

The table ordered a variety of main courses, all looking impressive and well plated when arriving at the table. David said, “The Lamb Gyro was made with freshly marinated lamb which came in a large pita with a generous portion of Mea and toppings.  As a side, I opted for the salad which was a nice accompaniment to the Gyro”.

Stephanie enthusiastically offered “For my entree I settle on the Prime Sirloin. While it was the priciest option on the menu ($27), it was well worth it. The 10 oz steak was cooked perfectly and paired great with the heaping pile of mashed potatoes and mushrooms. This was no small meal! I will say for me personally, this was a tougher cut of steak than I’d like as I normally prefer something a little fattier like a ribeye, but that being said, it was seasoned great and very hearty”.

Julie ordered the Caesar Salad topped with Grilled Salmon. “The salad was large and fresh accompanied with an authentic dressing. The thick cut salmon was cooked perfectly, you could tell the fish was fresh.”

Personally, I had the Reunion Burger which was am 8oz. chuck patty topped with Tillamook cheddar, bacon and pickles. It was perfectly cooked and served with house-made chips that added the perfect amount of salt to compliment the cheddar and pickles of the burger. This was one of the best burgers I have had in a while.

For dessert, we shared the Black & White Chocolate cake and the Citrus Cheesecake. Both were plentiful and the perfect ending to a great meal.

Overall our experience at the Reunion Tap & Table was excellent with many of us making plans to revisit! Reunion Tap & Table is located at 198 Worcester Street (Rte 122) in Grafton MA.

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Grafton Grill Burger: A Good Burger Will Get Into Your Soul

The Grafton Grill Burger from the Grafton Grill in Grafton, MA.

Winding down a long and eventful birthday weekend left me with a couple of feelings. The first one being that I was getting old; I was/am no longer a spring chicken and with every bend and crack, I am starting to feel my age. Secondly, the feeling of needing one last satisfying meal to cap off my birthday celebrations. After attending a friend’s opening softball game, I was in the market for a meal and remembered that the Grafton Grill was right up the street. Opened in 2016, the Grafton Grill is located on Bridge Street and features an inviting, warm display of modern chic from stainless steel and white tile, to textured wood table tops and custom laser engraved mason jars for drinks. Being that it was later on a Sunday evening with the closing hour slowly approaching, I was expecting that we would be the only ones in the restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised when I found the parking lot almost full and a wide array of patrons sitting at the bar and dinning areas.

Eager to see what the Grafton Grill had to offer in regards to burgers, I was slightly disappointed to find that they only offered one; the Grafton Grill Burger ($12) as it were. This solo burger featured fresh ground sirloin, heirloom tomato, leaf lettuce, red onion, and ale sauce. However, they offered a wide array of a la carte toppings to customize your burgers needs from 8 different cheese choices, two bacon choices, caramelized veggies and even a fried egg. I decided to top my burger with Applewood smoked bacon ($1), Wasabi cheddar cheese ($1) and a fried egg ($2), bringing my burger total to $16. I also opted for the truffle fries, but you could choose regular fries, a fruit cup, or a house or Caesar salad as a side option. As I sipped my soda, I was contemplating the choice of cheese I had just made. Being a lover of sushi, I was familiar with the spice and heat that wasabi could potentially have when mixed with other ingredients, and I was getting more and more excited with each passing moment.

When the burger came, my first impression was how beautifully the burger was plated. Seared with the Grafton Grill logo, the top of the buttered bun glistened in the light as a bamboo skewer helped hold everything in place. The truffle fries lay off to the side, freshly seasoned and piping hot, as if they just came out of the deep fryer. The wasabi cheddar cheese actually came on the side…think of wasabi pub cheese that was spreadable, rather than something that is sliced. I would have actually preferred if the wasabi cheddar cheese was a bit spicier, but I am always looking for more spice (if anyone reads these regularly should know).

The sirloin burger was cooked beautifully to a medium temperature and was extremely flavorful. The red onion and lettuce added a bite of freshness and tang to the mix. The Applewood smoked bacon was thick cut and covered the entirety of the burger. You always got a bite of bacon with each bite of burger. The Ale sauce was almost undetectable, but it had some pretty serious company. The runniness of the fried egg yolk made the burger creamy and rich, complimenting the burger in a breakfast sandwich sort of way. The truffle fries were fried perfectly to a golden brown and seasoned wonderfully. The saltiness from the parm that they were tossed in and the earthiness of the truffle oil made these fries to die for. I only wish I had more to keep eating. I would’ve liked a chipotle aioli for dipping, rather than ketchup though…something to put them over the top.

I was completely satisfied with my fabulous meal and was pleased beyond my own expectations at this local establishment. But as I finished sipping my Coke and chatted with friends, turning a year older has put a lot of things into perspective, as some recent events have a profound impact to some close friends and family. Tomorrow is never promised and the only time that we know we have for certain is right now. What you do with that time is up to you, but I hope you choose wisely and decide to spend some time with the ones you care about the most, and surround yourself with good food in the process. If the motto of the Grafton Grill can help you out, it’s to Eat-Drink-Gather…and love. Love yourself and your fellow man to create a better life for yourself and a better world for others. But enough of this philosophical sappiness, if you have a favorite burger spot that you think I should visit, tweet me @EDioufUC5 and you might see your recommendation featured next month…until next time!