salad | Page 8 of 10 | Mass Food & Wine

My first question when hearing about Lago Ristorante was, “It’s where?” It is a bit off the beaten path and the exterior is lacking, but the interior has a nice ambience. The standard menu is typical Italian with a few twists on old favorites. The list of specials that night was extensive and the word used to describe everything was “fresh.” I have to say I would agree with that.

I started with the Mediterranean Scallops – pan seared with curry and topped with a maple horseradish. I did not taste a lot of curry, but the maple horseradish was tasty and the fresh scallops cooked to perfection.

I have to make note of the dinner salad. While it was simple, it was also very fresh. It was accompanied by fresh bread that I understand is made there.

My dinner was traditional Chicken Marsala. I am not a fan of pasta and my request for mashed potatoes was enthusiastically accommodated. The two chicken breasts were thinly sliced and nicely presented. The marsala sauce was light and the mushrooms were fresh. I would have liked a little more marsala taste, but overall the dish was very good.

The dessert tray was extremely tempting and everything looked FRESH, but I somehow managed the willpower. The only disappointment of the evening was the wine list – it is very limited, though the restaurant did try to accommodate my picky taste buds. -KP

Caffe Espresso Trattoria has long been a favorite in Worcester for outstanding Italian cuisine made from traditional recipes, the highest quality ingredients and prepared with a homemade touch.

Since the restaurant is BYOB, my dining partner and I stopped at the liquor store (strategically located directly across the street) and grabbed a special bottle of wine to enjoy with our meal. Once we were seated, the aroma of homemade Italian cooking soon engulfed our table and I knew we were going to enjoy a wonderful dining experience. Deciding on an appetizer proved to be difficult as many of our favorites were on the menu. Finally we agreed to order the Pepata di Cozze, a dish of steamed mussels prepared in a spicy garlic wine sauce. Choosing a main course was also very difficult as the extensive menu presented many choices that sounded very appealing. I chose the Salmone alla Griglia described on the menu as a grilled salmon fillet topped with with fresh Italian herbs and spices.

The steamed mussel appetizer was a great choice. The shellfish were served steaming hot, fresh and spicy. The garlic wine sauce had plenty of flavor while not overpowering the tender mussels and when the mussels were gone, I enjoyed dipping a piece of homemade bread into the leftover wine and garlic sauce.

Each meal was accompanied by a side salad or soup. I chose the salad but others at the table enjoyed a minestrone soup that was described as “one of the best minestrone soups ever.”

My dinner, the Salmone alla Griglia was a very healthy portion of grilled salmon served with a medley of mixed vegetables. A very flavorful mixture of Italian herbs and spices topped the salmon which was perfectly prepared, grilled crispy on the outside and tender and flaky on the inside.

Caffe Espresso Trattoria lived up to every expectation I had and now that the restaurant has moved to a new, more accessible location on Chandler Street, I am sure their success will continue. -JG