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Chicken Wachusett from The Boynton on Highland Street

Chicken Wachusett from The Boynton on Highland Street in Worcester, MA

Chicken Wachusett from The Boynton on Highland Street in Worcester, MAThe Boynton Restaurant is very large, with a lot of tables, making the place a little on the noisy side. The atmosphere is basic American with a lot of exposed brick, a lot of booths and generally comfortable.

Food: (Liked)

We started with an appetizer of the Tuna Sashimi: Cajun Seared Sushi Grade Tuna, thinly sliced and placed over a bed of Asian Coleslaw with Pickled Ginger, Wasabi and Lite Soy Sauce. This was lightly seared, giving it just the thinnest of crusts and was absolutely delicious. This was as good as any sashimi I’ve had anywhere else. It came with a little hot sauce on the plate which was a great counterpoint to the tuna and ginger making an overall wonderful flavor. This was a good size for one, but way too small to share.

For dinner I had the Chicken Wachusett: A trio pan seared Chicken Breast is sautéed with Roasted Peppers, Red Onions, Spinach and Tomatoes in Wachusett Country Ale Pan Gravy then placed over Whipped Mashed Potatoes. This was a very big portion size, more than enough to have leftovers, for a pretty reasonable price making this a very good value. The chicken was tender, juicy and cooked perfectly. The peppers and onions were also cooked perfectly, having just enough texture to add a little light crunch and the gravy was very flavorful but not so strong it overpowered the other flavors. The flavors and textures all played together very nicely making an overall fantastic dish. In my opinion, the weakest part of this dish was the mashed potatoes, they were pretty basic and plain and not very flavorful. Overall this was an excellent dish!

Service: (Liked)

Being in a large party (15 of us) I always expect the service to be a little slower than normal. While that was the case here as well, our server did an excellent job keeping things moving at a reasonable pace while keeping a great friendly attitude.

Overall: (Liked)

As an overall experience, I’d have to say the Boynton was an excellent find. A very varied menu with a ton of options, all good, with good service and at a reasonable cost.

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Shepard’s Pie

Shepard's Pie from O'Connor's on West Boylston Street in Worcester, MA

Shepard's Pie from O'Connor's on West Boylston Street in Worcester, MA

O’Connor’s has been a Worcester staple for the last 25+ years! Despite the fact that it is almost outside the “Worcester proper” town line, this established eatery is known for their eclectic menu, beer selection, and old-fashioned service. You can imagine my surprise after sitting down with owner Brendan, that he views O’Connor’s main competition with mediocre chains such as Pub 99, Applebee’s, and TGIFridays! I couldn’t disagree more!

Having dined at O’Connor’s on numerous occasions, I was looking forward to this month’s Foodie event! Our hostess greeted us immediately upon arrival and brought us to our own private dining room! The room was set up to accommodate our large group with an extra wide long table that made it easy to socialize and of course exchange bites with my fellow Foodies!

I went for the shepoards pie because, well to be honest, my pregnancy appetite is as big, if not larger than my growing baby bump! The dish arrived and I dove right in! The top layer was a gorgeous mix of creamy mashed potatoes and melted cheese! The inside was filled with fresh veggies, lean ground beef, and a rich brown gravy with a hint of ale! The gravy was by far the best part as it complimented the perfectly seasoned beef and vegetables! Needless to say, the two tablespoons I happened to leave in my bowl were quickly devoured by a fellow Foodie within seconds…the true sign of a great meal!

So O’Connor’s has done it again…another superb meal, excellent service, and some additional attention from Brendan. The proud owner took time out of his evening to share with us the story behind O’Connor’s, his journey from a student to an entrepreneur, and his time and expansion in Worcester! Thank you O’Connors and Brandon for your hospitality!!! Those chain restaurants have NOTHING on you!