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Rigatoni with Sungold Marinara, A Twist On An Italian Favorite That Only deadhorse hill Could Do

Rigatoni with Sungold Marinara from deadhorse hill on Main Street in Worcester, MA

Next up on the MassFoodies tour was deadhorse hill a new and interesting restaurant on Main Street in Worcester. Having been here once before I wasn’t sure what to expect the second time around but was looking forward to seeing what was on the menu. The atmosphere and decor at deadhorse is eclectic to say the least. High tin ceilings, exposed brick, modern art on the walls combined with mix and match vintage dishes and glasses create a casual but hipster and edgy feel. Perfect for the meal and dining experience that was about to take place….

Before we were seated, I ordered an ice cold Narragansett tall boy at the bar. To my surprise, the beer was served alongside a vintage Ronald McDonald glass. The juxtaposition of the beer served in a Ronald McDonald glass was discussed amongst our group, with the conclusion that while it was an odd pairing, it worked perfectly here at deadhorse hill. Hell, my friend was drinking out of a glass decorated with the Grimace character and other glasses behind the bar included Speedy Gonzales and Scooby Doo!

As an appetizer our table chose to share a plate of Duxbury Oysters. Served ice cold with a bit of sour cream, onion, and oyster cracker on top, they were fantastic. The sour cream, onion and cracker topping was an interesting combination with the fresh and salty oyster.

The menu at deadhorse is a combination of small plates for sharing, large plates designed as entrees and centerpiece meals, even larger and more expensive meals to be consumed by the table. I chose the Rigatoni from the small plate menu but believe me, it was plenty of food for one person! Perfectly cooked, al dente pasta surrounded a large scoop of ricotta cheese and sat atop charred sungold tomato marinara. The charred tomato was sweet and intense, complementing the rich, creamy ricotta cheese and the big, fat rigatoni pasta. This dish was very distinct and flavorful, something I certainly would enjoy again.

Our service team was outstanding and knowledgable, from the bar staff to the servers, everyone seemed in tune with the mission and philosophy of the restaurant.

At deadhorse the food, service and atmosphere all came together to deliver a friendly, delicious and outstanding dining experience. The menu changes regularly so there is plenty of reason to come back and I would highly recommend this restaurant be put on your “visit soon” list!

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Ravioli Roma from Brew City on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester

Ravioli Roma from Brew City on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester

Allow me to reintroduce myself…just kidding. It has been a while since I ventured into the realm of burgers but now I have returned. With the craziness of the holidays and just completing a move to a new house, I am glad to be back. I decided to come back to the basics and go to a Shrewsbury Street classic, Brew City, for my latest iteration of my burger blog. Needing a hearty meal and possibly a cold beverage at the end of a long week brought me to 104 Shrewsbury Street. Walking in, I was instantly reminded of Monday Night Football and wing specials in the bar, complete with crowded seating and the occasional unruly patron.

It has actually been a few years since I had been to Brew City and I was happy to see that the interior décor had been updated and their menu was given a massive overhaul thanks to a newer executive chef. After ordering a classic ‘Gansett lager, I decided to see what the menu had to offer in the burger department. I was rather surprised to find that they had quite the selection of unique and eclectic choices. I decided on the Ravioli Roma ($12.99). As it is described on their menu, this is a fresh black angus burger topped with a jumbo 5 cheese fried ravioli, marinara sauce and provolone cheese on a butter toasted ciabatta roll. After reading this description, how could I not get it?! A burger mixed with Italian…as Charlie Sheen would say, “#winning.”

When the burger came, the first thing that struck me were the colors of the dish. The marinara sauce was bright red, the fried ravioli was a toasted brown, the burger was charred from the grill and the bun was shining with what looked like a fresh coat of butter. As I bit into the burger, it revealed a nice medium center. The ravioli added a nice textural element to the burger with its crunchy exterior. I was almost expecting the ravioli to lend more of a cheesy element to the burger.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t as cheesy as I would’ve hoped…but then again, I do thoroughly enjoy my cheese. The marinara sauce took the place of a ketchup or BBQ sauce that you would normally top a burger with, and it was a pleasant surprise. The marinara was deep in flavor and had a slight sweetness to it, that complimented the rich burger and ravioli nicely. While I would’ve thought a sturdy ciabatta roll would have been the perfect roll for this type of burger, it just didn’t stand up well against its formidable contents. While it was buttery and delicious, I found that I had to squeeze it to keep the burger in one piece and as a result, more or less made two ciabatta pieces of paper. The fresh cut fries were a delight, as they were salted wonderfully and twice fried for a crunchy, golden outside that we all want from a fry!

As I downed an additional beverage, I was happy to say that Brew City has evolved (atleast to me anyways) from an average restaurant and bar, to a Shrewsbury Street staple with a menu to rival any of the burger places I have visited already. The menu has been refined, while still offering a wide variety of choices, while still being unique with character all it’s own. I just wish my stomach and wallet had the room to try more of their delectable sounding burgers, like the Buffalo Jam, Hot Mess or Thai Blue…but I guess tomorrow is another day! As my burger quest continues, I can always use recommendation. Tweet and follow me @edioufuc5 and your burger suggestion might be my next spot. Until next time…