haddock | Mass Food & Wine

Baked Haddock from La Cucina Italiana Restaurant and Deli on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MA

I was excited to come to La Cucina because I am a huge fan of Italian food. As we entered the restaurant we were greeted warmly. The smell of baking bread and Italian sauce wafted in the air. The inside of the restaurant is decorated shabby chic with old black and white photos decorating most of the walls, which created a warm, inviting atmosphere.

Our waitresses were very personable. They quickly put fresh bread and olive oil on our table. The bread was delicious. Once the basket was empty another arrived filled with hot bread. They also had a blackboard of nightly specials. I finally decided on the Baked Haddock special and a Caesar side salad. My plate arrived with a large piece of haddock pan seared and coated with breadcrumbs, which gave it a delightful crunch. The fish was well seasoned. The Caesar side salad was large with freshly made croutons, large shavings of Parmasean cheese, and a lemon-flavored dressing. Simply perfect!

I was quite full by the end of the night so I did not order any dessert, however, someone at my table ordered the Mascapone Blueberry Cheesecake. I had never tried it before and was skeptical about the thick layer of lemon on the top but it matched the blueberry cheesecake perfectly. I will definitely order this the next time I come to eat here.

Our servers were warm and friendly, and seemed really excited to have us. We were promptly given warm bread with oil and waters. When any of these items were low, they brought refills. They did an excellent job keeping up with us by taking our dishes and delivering our food in a timely fashion. They did a wonderful job. Quick service with a smile!

We would definitely return. Between the excellent service and delicious food (with specials changing daily), this restaurant will surly be a hit!

Fresh Haddock at The Boynton on Highland Street in Worcester, MA

There’s a reason The Boynton is hopping on a Tuesday night: locals have come to expect consistently great service paired with delicious comfort food at a price that won’t break the bank. The tavern-like space is expansive and I was impressed to see nary an empty table on what is typically the slowest night of the week for restaurants.

The menu is equally as expansive as the space of the restaurant with staple American dishes that range from steaks to pastas to burgers. Eyeing our neighboring table’s order of fried brussels sprouts, I knew that would be my first foodie venture at The Boynton and I wasn’t disappointed. The presentation was adorable: a small wire fry basket filled with crispy brussels sprouts accompanied by a spicy aioli. The brussels sprouts themselves had a delicious burnt char, which was admittedly addictive. While the aioli was not quite spicy enough for me, it did have good flavor and the creaminess was a welcome compliment. I was further impressed by The Boynton’s french onion soup. I recently had a bowl at a different restaurant and was left disappointed so I was happy to have this dish redeemed. A piping hot, beefy broth chock full of tender onions and topped with a gratinéed mix of bread crumbs and cheese. This soup had a memorable depth of flavor with just the right balance of herbs and spices. Seriously, so good!

My main course consisted of fresh, baked haddock with a side of mixed veggies and mashed potatoes with gravy. This dish was a bit inconsistent for me: while the fish was undoubtedly fresh and cooked to perfection, it lacked flavor and needed a special touch to help elevate it. The mixed veggies, while fresh and not frozen, were over-seasoned and a bit limp. I did, however, love the mashed potatoes and gravy — they were flavorful, creamy, whipped to just the right consistency and the gravy was finger-licking good.

Our servers were pros at managing a large group — food came out fast and hot and drinks never ran empty. Our waitress even perfected the art of navigating multiple checks without flaw….something I have not seen many servers accomplish at a restaurant as busy as The Boynton.

I would definitely return to The Boynton, if not for the french onion soup, then for the fried whole belly clams that caught my eye on the specials menu. If they’re as good as the fried brussels sprouts, then they’re going to be exquisite. As I was exiting the restaurant, I saw waitresses bringing out six crock pots of french onion soup so, clearly, I am not the only one who thinks that appetizer is one of their winning dishes.