spinach | Page 8 of 13 | Mass Food & Wine

There was a defining moment in my dining experience at Nuovo Restaurant, the moment when I knew that I had one of the best waiters in Worcester. It was the moment I took the first bite of my entrée, the entrée that without hesitation he recommended. It was the moment when I stopped hearing my dinner companions’ chatter, the moment when all my senses focused on the amazing and complex blending of flavors dancing in my mouth. The menu description made it sound good, sure, but all the menu descriptions sounded good. When I asked our waiter what he recommended, I didn’t get a namby-pamby, “Oh, they are all good” or “It really depends on what you like.” He told me straight out, “Get the Filet Napoleon.” And so, because I listened, I got to dine on one of the moistest, most tender, and flavorful filets I have ever had. No single flavor dominated the sauce. The garlic, shallots, tomatoes, baby spinach, and cabernet blended seamlessly to create an intense and sophisticated flavor. The perfectly cooked risotto was the perfect complement for absorbing the extra sauce, so not a drop was wasted. Oh, and the wine the waiter recommended was pretty dang good, too.-JD

With much anticipation I scanned the extensive menu at Shiraz Armenian Cuisine, deciding to start my dinner with an appetizer of Baba Ghanoush and choosing the Spinach Pie for my main course. I also ordered a glass of pinot noir figuring a soft easy drinking red wine would stand up to the smoky appetizer and tangy spices I was about to encounter. Immediately after my wine was dropped off by our very gracious waitress, a generous portion of creamy Baba Ghanoush was delivered along with a huge basket of sliced pita bread. The bread was soft and fresh and the Baba Ghanoush was creamy, slightly smoky and delicious. The tahini oil, olive oil, garlic and eggplant concoction was outstanding and a great beginning to what I hoped was a really good meal.

Next, a rather pedestrian-looking dinner salad was delivered…and while the look of the salad was nothing special, it was packed with a tangy and flavorful dressing that was in stark contrast to the creamy appetizer we had just finished!

Finally my main course arrived. The presentation was simple, a large square of spinach pie was accompanied on my plate by a heaping portion of rice pilaf. The pie was layered with rich creamy spinach, spices, cheeses and herbs and wrapped in flaky phyllo dough. The rice was perfectly done, buttery and warm and naturally, went perfectly well with the pie.

I have walked past Shiraz Armenian Cuisine many times, looking in the window at the almost cafeteria-style dining area, but never have eaten here. And while the dining room is simple, and the food presentation almost an afterthought, the flavors and tastes that you encounter are clearly from family recipes passed down and executed to perfection. If like me, you have looked in the window at Shiraz, take the opportunity to go in enjoy a simply presented, but authentic Armenian meal. – JG