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Pesto and Gnocchi with Herbed Ricotta and Shrimp

Pesto and gnocchi with herbed ricotta and shrimp from La Scala on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Pesto and gnocchi with herbed ricotta and shrimp from La Scala on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

La Scala had lovely high ceilings of pressed tin and the large booths that were situated in were comfortable and relaxing. The staff was quick and friendly so we ordered fairly soon after arriving. The menu had many options we were willing to try and so we narrowed it down to the pesto and gnocchi with herbed ricotta and shrimp after much consideration.

This was no light pesto sauce as I had been used it, but, instead it was heavy and deep in pesto— in fact the gnocchi was just covered in the chopped deep green herbs! The flavor was rich and the gnocchi was cooked to perfect potato perfection. It was lovely combo of flavors and textures. My hubby added a little salt to heighten the flavor a bit, but I am not a fan of salt so I found it satisfying as served. While some of my dining companions may have been dissatisfied with their choices at La Scala, the flavor and textures within this dish certainly made it a table favorite. -DD

 

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Pistachio Pesto Mozzarella Sausage Pecorino Pizza

Pistachio Pesto Mozzarella Sausage Pecorino Pizza from Volturno on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Pistachio Pesto Mozzarella Sausage Pecorino Pizza from Volturno on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Volturno is Shrewsbury Streets newest entry into a bustling dinner scene. At first I was a little skeptical when I heard another pizza and Italian dining establishment was joining the mix, but Volturno has carved out its own spot in Shrewsbury Streets restaurant row. The owners of Volturno did an excellent job blending the old Edward Buick space with a new restaurant leaving an industrial open concept dining space that fits well with this brick oven dining spot.

For starters I decided to start with the grilled calamari, chili, olives, chickpeas, and parsley appetizer. A pleasant change from the usual fried calamari dish, the grilled calamari appetizer was extremely fresh and well prepared. The calamari was perfectly prepared, served over a bed of humus and chickpeas and topped with fresh greens. My only suggestion would have been to have the chili and olive portions of this dish a little more prominent to give the dish a little more flavor.

For my main course I opted for the Pistachio Pesto Mozzarella Sausage Pecorino Pizza. This perfectly prepared personal size pizza was a excellent choice of fresh ingredients that worked well together. The ground sausage, fresh mozzarella and pistachio pesto type mix worked well together to create a mild fresh pizza that is worth going back for. The pistachio flavors were somewhat lost in the sausage and pest—perhaps more coarsely ground bits might have added little more flavor and texture. The locally sourced fresh ingredients were evident in this worthwhile addition to the Shrewsbury Street dining scene.

In my opinion Volturno has carved out a place in the Shrewsbury Street dining scene that is worth going back for repeat visit. Nice atmosphere, great pizza, and a renovated Worcester landmark of a building make Volturno worth a try. And if you have room after dinner don’t forget to try the Nutella dessert pizza….. 
 -DO