Posted on

A Mediterranean Medley at Mezé

Roasted Red Pepper from Meze on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Roasted Red Pepper from Meze on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Located on Shrewsbury Street, Mezé Greek Tapas Bar & Grille is another great restaurant on this iconic street filled with restaurants. The energy in this place was upbeat and friendly. Many exciting conversations happening around you causing you to be caught up in the excitement of being out having amazing food with friends and family. This place is not quiet. If you are looking for a quiet meal this is not the place, but if you are looking to expand your taste buds and experience great Greek food in a highly energetic atmosphere this is the place for you.

The wait staff was prompt and very knowledgeable about the menu items. The idea behind this place is to order multiple dishes and share them among your table. Very typical Tapa’s style. My dinner companions and I ended up ordering quite a few dishes to share among us. Our server started out by delivering lightly toasted bread to our table served with a combination of olives. I dug into a “Village Salad” as it was called from the menu that consisted of cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, olives; feta cheese drizzled with a light dressing.

The other dishes we ordered came out randomly as they were prepared and ready. Sharing all the plates of food was encouraged as the bounty of wonderful dishes began to fill the table. I had amazing anchovies in an olive oil and tangy dressing. The flavors bursting from these tiny little fish were truly amazing. I also had a small sampling of “smelts” which I had thought were a New England classic. Maybe their origins came from the Greek. Either way I loved these small deep fried crispy fish. Many of these dishes came with dipping sauces with names too complicated write about. Another dish of marinated cold beets was served and needed no dipping sauce to enjoy their earthy flavor. Grilled marinated red peppers were another favorite of mine when it came to the non-carnivore offerings.

Lamb chops came grilled on a bed of white flavored rice. The lamb chops were cooked exactly as I had requested. Chicken Kabobs were another favorite of the table. Served on skewers over white flavored rice. Stuffed grape leaves melted in my mouth, these were truly the best I have ever had. There were so many dishes I can’t do justice describing them all, suffice it to say this is truly a Food Lovers experience. I will be heading back to Mezé to experience and try more of their offerings.

 

Due to the tapas style eating, photos may not match the foodies review or description.

Posted on

Spicy Beef Wok

Spicy Beef Wok from Chuan Shabu on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA

Spicy Beef Wok from Chuan Shabu on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA

Chuan Shabu is one of the newest restaurants to emerge in the Worcester in winter 2014. The restaurant has a nice modern design with a large bar area and cooking tables throughout. On a previous visit I tried the hot pot experience that Chuan Shabu has brought to Worcester and I found the wait staff were very friendly and helpful in explaining the hot pot options. While Chuan Shabu‘s main theme is the hot pot experience they also feature a large menu of other foods, which I opted for during this visit.

After a review of the menu I opted to start with a small bowl of wanton soup and a spicy beef wok that was served over its own cooking wok. The wanton soup was a very simple broth and wantons. While it lived up its name, I had higher expectations for a restaurant known for soup. Fortunately, the spicy beef wok more than made up for the soup. I asked for it to be prepared with a moderate to medium heat and it was just the perfect spice. The beef was thinly sliced and tender. Accompanying the beef were onions, cauliflower, green peppers, and red peppers and a brown sauce that were a perfect pairing to the dish. Surprisingly, the cauliflower was the key ingredient that gave it just the right texture and variation from the more common broccoli that usually accompanies similar dishes.

Overall, my main course was a strong contender and great alternative to the hot pot. The hot pot experience is definitely worth a try as a social form of eating that allows you to try different combinations and is a interesting experience to share with friends. Yet, I was pleasantly suppressed by the other side of the menu. My suggestion is don’t forget “the other side” of the menu when you visit Chuan Shabu.