Tag: Roasted Potato

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A Little Bit of Chorizo Stuffed Calamari and A Lot of the Grilled Tri Tip Steak at Lock 50

Grilled Tri Tip Steak from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Summertime and the livings easy! Worcester is in full bloom and so are all of the new restaurants, cafes and bars throughout the city! Lock 50 stands out on crowded Water St. with its beautiful outdoor patio and exposed brick exterior. It was cozy and stylish with fun decor. I especially loved the hanging lights and rock salt crystal candle holders that were set on each table.

Buttermilk Fried Quail from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, Ma
Buttermilk Fried Quail from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, Ma

Our table of 5 quickly agreed to take the “YOLO” route and ordered a little bit of everything. For small plates we went with the Assorted Bread Basket, Grilled Beets, Potato Gnocchi, Chorizo Stuffed Calamari, Shaved Compressed Octopus, and the Buttermilk Fried Quail. My favorite of the 6 was undoubtedly the Chorizo Stuffed Calamari which was accompanied with zesty tomato broth and chickpeas. It reminded me of manicotti, but instead of pasta it was grilled calamari. I’ve honestly never seen or tasted anything like it!

As if all of that wasn’t enough we also ordered three shareable plates which were a lot larger than I expected. We went with the Porchetta, Grilled Tri Tip Steak and the Roasted 1/2 Chicken. All three were phenomenal, but the one that stood out most was the Tri Tip Steak with Roasted Potato and Broccoli Rabe Pesto. I had never thought of putting pesto with my steak but it was fabulous and cooked to perfection. After one bite I found myself going back for more.. and more.. and more.. until it was all gone. Each and every plate I tried was extremely satisfying and unique.

Our server was fantastic and well-versed on the entire menu. For drinks she recommended the Lookout Farm Cider from Natick and I’m so glad she did. I’m not normally a cider drinker because they tend to be on the sweeter side but this one was dry, crisp and refreshing! Definitely a new Summer go-to.

After ordering a handful of the small plates we asked if there was anything she thought was a must-try and she suggested the Buttermilk Fried Quail. It added a crunch that other plates lacked and I’m glad we went with it. Overall prompt service and great recommendations!

Lock 50 is a restaurant that brings out the best in Worcester! Although I found the dinner menu on the pricier side, it’s absolutely worth it for date night or a special occasion. I’ve been told their coffee (especially their Nitro Brew) and crepe selection is one of the best in the city, so I’ll be sure to hit up their cafe for a weekend treat! Overall it was a fantastic evening and my favorite Foodie adventure to date!

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Lock 50’s Grilled Tri Tip Steak, Roasted Potato, and Broccoli Rabe Sans Pesto

Grilled Tri Tip Steak, Roasted Potato, Broccoli Rabe sans Pesto from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

As I drove down Water Street on Tuesday after a loaded work day, I couldn’t wait to get to Lock 50 for the most recent Foodies destination. The night was warm, but cloudy. I approached the large silver doors that gave the appearance of entry a secret club and along the whole outside were large windows.

As I headed to my table, I was overwhelmed by the amount of noise that was coming from the small space. There wasn’t even any music playing, but the crowd of people provided an abrasive roar that made it difficult to carry on a conversation, even with the person next to me.

The opposite wall, covered in bricks, helped pull in the high ceilings and metal and give the space a more warm and inviting feel.

The menu at Lock 50 is definitely one of the most unique you will find anywhere. Advertised as bringing a variety of seasonal dishes sourced from, and prepared with, the freshest local ingredients whenever possible, I was both excited and nervous about my dining experience. Excited because I was prepared to try something new. Nervous because a restaurant with Octopus on the menu may be a little to “out there for me”. Upon review of the menu though, it didn’t seem as intimidating as I had originally thought. And the swirl of chatter from the other Foodies about what they were going to get or what they had already tried, helped set me on the right path.

Potato Gnocchi from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA
Potato Gnocchi from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

For starters I shared the Potato Gnocchi and Crisped Fontina Cheese. The Crisped Fontina which was served with fresh greens and crustini was by far the most amazing thing I ate during my entire night at Lock 50. The gooey Fontina cheese and the crunchy fried crust was just perfect! And the crunchy, buttery crustini just made the whole thing even better. As for the Gnocchi, I really enjoyed it, though I could have done with some more blue cheese. The exterior of the Gnocchi was crispy and the inside was nice and smooth. I really enjoyed the scallions and the sweet potato on the top added a nice sweetness to the dish.

As a main course, I opted for the Grilled Tri Tip Steak, Roasted Potato, Broccoli Rabe sans Pesto. While others around me were more ambitious, ordering the Whole Fish with head and tail still attached and Roast 1/2 Chicken, I went with what I felt the most comfortable. Originally I think I would have really enjoyed the Polenta board, but the dish was drizzled with pesto and as I am allergic to tree nuts, this was not an option. Luckily, for the Tri Tip Steak, I was able to forgo the potential anaphylaxis‎. My steak was cooked perfectly. And although lean, there was still some fatty pieces that I thoroughly enjoyed. The broccoli rabe was really nice too and provided a delightful crunch. I had never even heard of broccoli rabe and at first I thought it was a half-cousin of the asparagus, but it was completely different. Roasted potatoes accompanied the dish and were essential to completing the whole meal. Plus they were drizzled with parmesan, which is always a good thing!

Our waitress, Madison, was absolutely wonderful! She was young and bright and very knowledgeable of the items of the menu. She handled our large party with flare and spunk and didn’t miss a beat. There were some obstacles of course, a missing order, a longer wait, but she remained calm and even laughed along with us during the night!

In closing, I am not sure I would go to Lock 50 again. Though I am very impressed that they serve Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, I felt that Lock 50 was just a little too niche for me. The menu items and even the drinks made me feel like they were trying too hard to be different. Also, I was very disappointed when a lot of the items had pesto or nuts included and how unaccommodating they seemed. I was told when ordering and advising of my nut allergy that some of the things are “cooked in the same pan and oil as other things that were cooked with nuts” and it just made me feel very put off. I have been so many places, and even in the most humble of places, they would clean the pan or have a separate cooking pan to ensure that those with allergies are not at risk. For such a nice restaurant with an expensive menu, I guess I just expected a little more.