Tag: Shrewsbury

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#SundayFunday – Stacked Ice Cream at Tavern in the Square

Stacked Ice Cream from Tavern in the Square - Shrewsbury (Photo by Crystal Anson)

With nine locations spread across Massachusetts from Salem to Burlington, Tavern in the Square is quickly becoming a household name. Its recent location in Shrewsbury called our attention for a list of reasons but we quickly found that it was a perfect fit for #SundayFunday.

Let’s start by breaking through a common misconception: Tavern in the Square is not only for sports fans, it’s for foodies too. The menu is lined with comfort foods including the sweet sticky spicy Korean pork ribs; the wing sampler – a selection of the piri piri, buffalo, and signature smoked wings; and Bayou chicken pasta – pasta topped with blackened chicken, sweet corn, jalapenos, bacon and Parmesan cream. There are no shortage of ways to satisfy the hungriest of customers. Let’s not forget its extensive list of beers, canned and year-round drafts that include rotations of New Belgium Fat Tire and Downtown Hopped Grapefruit. Although pairing the chopped Greek salad with the year-round draft like Wachusett Blueberry is an easy win, we tend to opt in for something sweet.

Sharing is caring and at Tavern in the Square they take this notion to heart with the molten brownie – a dessert described as, “warm chocolate brownie with vanilla and chocolate ice cream dripped with Guinness caramel.” But, don’t be fooled by the description. This molten brownie dessert is not your average sized brownie with a scoop of ice cream on the side. With two container sized servings of ice cream – one vanilla and one chocolate – stacked on top of each other, Tavern in the Square serves up a dessert fit to share with three or more foodies. The stacked ice cream, coupled with a bowl of warm brownies is the reason Tavern in the Square makes our list of #SundayFunday destinations.

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2Ovens is Much More than Brick Oven Pizza

The Chopped Salad from 2Ovens in Shrewsbury, MA. (Submitted Photo from 2Ovens)

Fourth of July festivities have sadly wound down for the summer and I think it’s safe to say we’ve all had our fair share of hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato salad. As we approach mid-July, it’s time to return to healthier fare.

Although 2Ovens is known for brick-oven pizzas, they are actually one of my go-to’s for lighter dishes. If you have yet to stop into 2Ovens located in White City, Shrewsbury, I ask: What are you waiting for?

Upon walking in, you can always, always expect delightful aromas of fresh ingredients baking in the brick oven. I really enjoy the atmosphere because 2Ovens has created a space where anyone can feel comfortable sitting at the bar. Sometimes you just want to be left alone with a cold beer and a pizza.

The “VEGGIES” section of the menu is devoted to roasted vegetables; brick oven broccoli, sweet potato wedges, corn on the cob, and skillet Brussel sprouts – to name a few. These dishes are cooked in Oven #2, (hence the name 2Ovens) with fresh seasonings and tasty dipping sauces, and they each cost just $5 or less.

2Ovens’ salads are what really stole the show for me. The House and Napa Valley Salad are both light and packed with fresh flavors. But, it was the signature Chopped Salad that turned me into a loyal customer from the very beginning. The Chopped Salad includes iceberg lettuce, seasoned tomatoes, cucumbers, Gorgonzola, avocado, bacon, and cucumber wasabi dressing. 2Ovens offers two sizes: a small (perfect for one) for only $5, and a large (perfect for sharing) for $10. Even the small is actually quite large. I typically add a protein. Choose from oven roasted chicken ($3), maple mustard salmon ($7) or Maryland style crab cakes ($8).

These six ingredients pack a ton of guilt-free flavor. I’m not a huge iceberg lettuce lover, but in 2Ovens’ case, the greens are so finely chopped that I don’t think anything else could replace them to the same effect. A small portion of bacon gives each bite a nice crunch. Tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocado are so fresh and juicy that you almost don’t even need dressing. Nevertheless, the cucumber wasabi dressing adds a subtle heat to tie the Chopped Salad together and elevates it above any other chopped salad I’ve had. Out of all of the amazing local options, this is on top of my list when it comes to flavor and affordability. This salad won’t let you (or weigh you) down!

Right now, 2Ovens only has this one location at 84 Boston Turnpike, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they had plans to open more locations in the future since it’s actually an expansion of Bertucci’s. Enjoy lunch or dinner on their outdoor patio while people watching in White City and be sure to let us know what you thought.