Posted on

It’s OK To Dine Alone When Going Out To Eat

Worcester Foodies enjoying Chef Bowser's Menu

Octopus Appetizer at The Urban Kitchen on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MAMany of life’s greatest moments are celebrated by going out to dinner; a new job, graduating, date night. We share these life accomplishments over a meal and libations with friends and family. We have become so conditioned to these moments that the food becomes an afterthought—usually, the meal itself is judged purely on the celebration’s intent and not its ingredients. It’s as arbitrary as it is detrimental to choose dinner as a ceremonious event.

This has become most apparent to me after several visits to the newly opened Urban Kitchen and Bar, in the former location of Coral Seafood, on Shrewsbury Street.

Worcester Foodies enjoying Chef Bowser's MenuTo start, Chef Bowser has taken the lead of a national food movement (which has also been adopted, and in some cases improved upon, by other Worcester eateries) to carefully select ingredients and techniques that the casual consumer (which describes a vast majority of us, myself included) would find “experimental.” Take, for instant the octopus appetizer. Traditionally, as prepared at Mezé, it consists simply as a tentacle grilled with high quality olive oil and dry oregano. Urban, instead, uses orange and a blend of sweet ingredients to bring out a light flavor with hints of honey and maple syrup which masterfully marries the chorizo potato hash with chiles and cilantro which it is served over. The flavors are unexpected and hard to pinpoint but prepare the tastebuds for the course to come.

A common observation for those who graduate past the first course is the portion size of the meals. Partly because they are plated beautifully on a large, white plate and partly because they are beautiful in composition, the meals are a journey of the senses. Admittedly, we’ve become conditioned to always want more in life; if we aren’t engorged at the end of a meal, we are obviously being taken advantage of. But in the case of the Urban, the flavors, appearance, and portions will leave you comfortably satisfied. Whether the house made pastas, the Pan Seared Bass, Arctic Char, Chicken and Dumplings, or even the more expensive (and admittedly smaller portioned) lobster, the flavors will leave you wondering, “how?”

When you go to Urban Kitchen and Bar expect to order an appetizer, expect to spend upwards to $30 for a plate, expect to spend a little more on your drinks, but also expect to have one of the most unique combination of flavors, ingredients, and, above all, dining experiences.

With meals so thoroughly planned, dining at the Urban should be taken as a journey from appetizer through dessert. When you go to the Urban be selfish because the food demands your full attention—make it your reason to celebrate.

Lobster tail dinner at Urban on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA
ROASTED LOBSTER TAIL + BUTTER POACHED CLAW
Posted on

Pan Seared Bass from The Urban

Pan Seared Bass from The Urban on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Pan Seared Bass from The Urban on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

I am a self proclaimed traditional girl when it comes to food. Normally stick to basics and generally I veer toward ordering the same things on menus when I go out. Hey! When you like something you just know, right? That being said, I do also like to experiment with food and try different things. When I found out that we were going to Urban Kitchen, I was both excited and nervous. I knew that I was going to be a bit out of my “comfort food comfort zone,” but I also was excited to try something new.

The Shrewsbury Street location for the Urban Kitchen is ideal, and is one of the only restaurants that includes off street parking. This in and of itself is quite a nice thing, especially as the snow piles have continued to grow during this brutal winter. On the interior, the dim lighting provides a romantic and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant was very simple and clean, nothing too overpowering on the walls, and not cluttered. The bar’s backdrop played a black and white feature film, which was a nice touch adding to the theatrical flair of the décor.

The menu, as I suspected, was very complex; a variety of fresh and unique spreads and bread to accompany a delicious selection of meats and seafood. Coming from someone who normally orders Mac and Cheese or Chicken Tenders, it was a bit overwhelming, but again, I was feeling very open minded.

For a starter I went with the House Made Ricotta with truffle honey and chives, served with croutons. This was an excellent start for a bread and cheese lover like me. The croutons had the perfect crunchy to soft texture that paired well with the soft and salty cheese. A hint of garlic and a drizzling of truffle honey added to this delicious treat; a nice combination of salty and sweet.

For the main course, I went with the Pan Seared Bass, seeking a bit of a lighter fare for my dinner. The Pan Seared Bass was served over a sunchoke puree with trumpet mushrooms and topped with black garlic. The fish was cooked perfectly and I really enjoyed the crispy skin. I had never eaten the fish with the skin still on it, but I was presently surprised with the taste; it was a nice bonus. The crunch was a graceful match with the flaky and light white bass. The trumpet mushrooms were perfect with this and I really enjoyed the sunchoke puree for dipping my fish before each bite.

One thing that I would mention is that the Pan Seared Bass was definitely one of the bigger meals as far as portion size. If you are looking for something light, then this is an excellent restaurant choice for you, as most of the other main courses have smaller portions, with sides provided a la carte. The eccentric menu was geared more toward people looking for a smaller meal, and not so much for a hearty eater.

Also, if you are planning to make your way out to Urban Kitchen, make sure this is your only stop for the night. The service was excellent, but very slow. I would recommend stopping by as a couple, not so much a group. The vibe of the restaurant is more for those looking to enjoy a relaxing and intimate meal, not for people on the go. I would say this would be ideal for Valentine’s Day or an anniversary. The prices were also quite steep for the portion sizes, so if you are on a budget, I would recommend eating elsewhere. With meals running about 25-32 dollars per plate, you should expect to pay at least $100 for dinner and drinks.