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Sashimi at Baba Sushi

Sashimi at Baba Sushi on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA

Sashimi at Baba Sushi on Park Avenue in Worcester, MA

Baba Sushi is able to deliver the full dining experience—the atmosphere, food, flavors and service combined with good friends makes it simply one of the best sushi restaurants.

Having sat in the front room dozens of times, the back dining room was a pleasant surprise. It has a much different vibe. The back room’s high ceilings give it an open, inviting feel.

Baba Sushi’s food has always been consistently outstanding and this visit was no different. Nothing is simpler than raw fish on a plate, yet, nothing compares to the taste.

My sashimi spread consisted of sake (salmon), hotate (scallop), taco (octopus) and maguro (tuna). As usual, it was fresh and full of flavor.

The taco’s texture and consistency were exceptional, easy to chew and not rubbery, which can be a challenge for octopus. The highlight of the night: describing hotate’s buttery flavor and soft texture to my Foodies friend. She tried it and loved it, thanks to my recommendation.

One note on the portion size at Baba…often after eating sashimi at other restaurants I might not be full, but Baba is generous and fair.

Our excellent server handled our large party alone. He delivered food in a timely manner, filled water glasses promptly and offered drinks right on time. He seemed very knowledgeable about the food. I overheard him speaking with a few folks about the preparation and ingredients of a few dishes in impressive detail.

Baba Sushi is one of a very small handful of restaurants in Worcester County I have found to be consistent with its fresh food, great service, and appealing atmosphere. For me, Baba is my go-to restaurant for sushi. Highly recommend.

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Brunch: Salmon Salad from Via on Shrewsbury Street

Salmon Salad from Via on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Salmon Salad from Via on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

The latest Foodies gathering was Sunday morning brunch at Via Italian Table on Shrewsbury Street. It is unusual for us to get together for brunch but certainly a nice change. We were seated on the patio which made for a wonderful experience, the weather was magnificent with warm sunshine and a nice breeze.

I have not been to Via in quite some time and had never enjoyed brunch there so I was looking forward to seeing what changes had been made and how the brunch menu would be constructed. Being that it was brunch I opted to start with a Smoking Mary – Via’s take on a Bloody Mary. Mixed with Tito’s vodka and Dow’s 10 year Port, the drink was satisfying but not as rich and bold as other Bloody Mary’s I have had, but it certainly did the trick.

The entree list was extensive, and nothing was perfectly “traditional” (which is fine by me). Via added some little twists that made the dishes a bit more adventurous, French Toast Casserole, Porchetta Eggs Benedict, Bacon Egg and Cheese served on an Italian Baguette and other nice changes. For my meal I chose the Salmon Salad. The meal was served with a huge piece of perfectly grilled salmon, light and flaky, along with fresh avocado, corn, cherry tomatoes, zucchini ribbons, mixed greens and homemade pesto. Interestingly there was not any dressing per se added to the salad allowing for the ingredient combination and pesto to mix in a wonderful fresh, light and delicate manner.

My dining partner and I shared a hash brown cake, which we asked to be served extra crispy. When it arrived we added some salt and a little hot sauce (a must) and we had the perfect side dish to eat with meals.

When I was done, I felt satisfied but not stuffed, a great way to start a wonderful Sunday morning!

Overall brunch at Via Italian Table was fantastic. The patio is a wonderful place to enjoy a meal, the food itself was outstanding and the service was very good. I look forward to enjoy brunch here again, hopefully very soon!