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Chicken Parm at La Cucina Italiana

Chicken Parm at La Cucina Italiana on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MA

Chicken Parm at La Cucina Italiana on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MA

Walking into La Cucina Italiana is like walking into a friend’s kitchen. The dining area is warm and inviting with close tables to give diners a family experience. With sweet aromas of tomato and spices in the air, the roar of laughter filled the small space. Along the walls they used antique doors to hang black and white pictures. I assume the photos depict generations of their family members, who created and tasted the same recipes being used today.

For my main course, I decided to order a traditional Chicken Parm with fettucini. I was torn between a few menu items, but I figured this was a nice classic dish after a long Tuesday at work. While waiting for my meal, I nibbled on the endless supply of fresh Italian bread served with olive oil.

One of La Cucina Italiana’s best perks is that they are BYOB. This seems to be catching on in some of the smaller restaurants and I personally think it’s a wonderful idea because it’s a big money saver. When you consider how much money you spend on drinks going out and how much a big bottle of wine at a package store costs, the savings is fantastic.

My meal arrived on a large plate covered with a huge pile of pasta and two large pieces of breaded chicken smothered in sauce and cheese. As delicious as my dinner looked, it was only average as far as taste. The breading on the chicken was not as crispy as I would have hoped and I was left with a bit of a metallic aftertaste, which may have come from reusing a frying pan. The temperature of the food was also a little on the cool side. The sauce and cheese, however, were delicious! The Parmesan cheese added a nice salty complement to the rich and flavorful sauce.

Although the meal for me was average and I would rather have Chicken Parmesan from another restuarant, I would go back to try something else. The menu offered so many different options. Their pizza looked especially appealing. It’s also tough to beat the portion size. My meal was only $8.95 and I had enough to give my boyfriend leftovers the next day, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

I would also HIGHLY recommend their Blueberry Mascarpone Lemon Cheescake. This huge slice of heaven was only $4.25! The homemade creamy mascarpone was a dream and the tartness of the lemon balanced well with the sweetness of the graham-cracker crust. I split this with my boyfriend, but I will definitely get my own next time.

The service at La Cucina Italiana was wonderful. Our waitress was very vibrant and energetic. Her positivity was a highlight of the dinner and made for a very enjoyable experience. Everyone was attentive and helpful in refilling waters and the bread bowl as well as reviewing the daily specials.

Overall, I would say that La Cucina Italiana is a nice restaurant for a night out when you don’t want to spend too much money on a home-cooked Italian meal. There is a small off-street parking lot, which is a nice benefit because Hamilton St. can be kind of busy. I would recommend calling ahead to ensure availability. And don’t forget to bring your favorite wine!

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Porchetta at La Cucina

Porchetta at La Cecina on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MA

Porchetta at La Cecina on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MA

La Cucina Italiana, a BYOB restaurant on Hamilton Street in Worcester, hosted Worcester Foodies this month. I had eaten there before, but I was eager to try it again. The dining area is an open room with booths that surround a handful of tables. They also have some old black and white photographs of Worcester County, which is a nice accent. The dining area is homey and comforting, which to me meant the meal was about to be the same.

Our very attentive server immediately brought us bread and olive oil to enjoy as we reviewed the menu. La Cucina Italiana offers tried and true Italian favorites such as lasagna, chicken Parmesan, eggplant Parmesan, meatballs with pasta, pizza and so much more. Many of the dishes tempted me, but I chose the Porchetta from the specials listed on the blackboard.

To start, I ordered a cup of Pasta Fagioli Soup, which was served piping hot. The tender beans and pasta were as plentiful as the flavor in this rich, hearty soup. Although I did add red pepper flakes for a little spice.

The Porchetta was a popular choice in our group. The generous portion of pork was rolled and stuffed with spicy ham, salami and a mixture of cheese with cavatelli pasta and a topping of wonderful brown mushroom gravy. The meat and cheese stuffing added a zesty, spicy flavor to complement the tender pork. The mushroom dressing brought an earthy finish to each bite. Then the pork was somewhat crispy on the outside, but soft in the center.

This family-run restaurant really made us feel right at home. Our servers were extremely attentive and helpful. They were always there to replenish the water glasses and the bread basket. The rest of the service team pitched in too, which made our dining experience outstanding.

I would certainly recommend La Cucina Italiana to friends and family, especially if they are looking for a casual Italian meal at a great price.