Tag: steak

Posted on by

New York, New York at The International

New York, New York at The International - SO

New York, New York at The International - SO

As I entered the Fireplace Room at The International, I was grateful my boyfriend suggested I stay in my work attire. The dimly-lit dining area was something I would expect to find in a mansion. The high ceilings are adorned with wooden beams. A roaring fireplace provided a cozy, inviting feel. The majestic views transported me away from the city rush. This refuge from the crisp fall night reminded me of the impending holiday season filled with loving friends and family.

The menu was a challenge for me. Not only were the options not as traditional as I am used to, everything was also very pricey. The New York, New York Sirloin Steak I ordered was $38. And, my riesling was $9 per glass.

Since the restaurant is part of a top-tier golf course, this shouldn’t have come as a shock to me. The thing is that I am more of a chicken fingers and fries kind of girl. That being said, The International definitely seems like a wonderful spot for a wedding, anniversary dinner, or Valentine’s Day date.

I should mention that there is a bar menu, which offers some cheaper meals like burgers and pizza. But, hey, go big or go home, right?! I was in a fancy place. I thought, why not treat it that way?

The menu, however expensive, did not disappoint. The New York, New York Sirloin Steak immediately caught my attention, mostly because I normally don’t order steak when I go out. The side of potato and mozzarella croquettes especially seemed like something that would make my taste buds happy.

I ordered the steak medium so that it wasn’t entirely bloody. However, I still wanted to see a tender and juicy piece of meat with some pink in the middle. Upon first bites, the steak appeared to be overcooked, but as I cut deeper into the liberal-sized sirloin I found that the inside was more of the pink color I hoped for. The fatty pieces on the sides added fantastic texture and a primitive chew. The veal demi-glace was perfectly paired with onions.

The charred rainbow carrots were served al dente–a little bit too undercooked for me, though. The mozzarella potato croquettes were also as wonderful as expected. The crunchy exterior was excellent, but I wish they had been warmer.

As far as the service, I did feel The International was a bit of a disappointment. A larger party can be a greater challenge but given that the restaurant was mostly empty we waited longer than I expected for drinks and food. Normally when I head to dinner for 6:30 p.m., I don’t expect to be there after 9 p.m. At a more casual place, I may have ordered a few more drinks and not noticed. But at $9 a glass, I didn’t want to order too many, and my expectations were higher.

Looking at The International as a whole, I am not sure I would go there again. As nice as the location was, it was a little too off the beaten path for me to come back regularly. However, I would recommend it for a special occasion as long as you are O.K. with spending a little bit more money and waiting a little longer.

Posted on by

New York New York at The International

New York New York at The International -JG

New York New York at The International -JG

As our group has grown, we decided to expand our footprint and visit restaurants outside Worcester. For our November Foodies gathering, we ventured to The International in Bolton, Mass.

Nestled in the woods of Bolton, a quick 25 minutes from Worcester, The International is known for being a world class golf destination with its own signature restaurant.

When we arrived, everyone was excited to be there. We met in the parking lot and meandered through the tall pine trees toward the unassuming Fireplace Dining Room entrance. The dining room is casual but upscale. The cathedral ceiling with wood beam details along with huge windows revealing a beautiful view of the grounds beside the crackling fireplace created the perfect atmosphere for a pre-meal drink.

The Fireplace Dining Room’s menu is seasonal because the restaurant locally sources many ingredients, which made it hard to select a meal.

I started with a very tasty Field Green Salad with fresh vine tomatoes, English cucumbers, and shaved carrots dressed with a champagne vinaigrette. The salad portion was very large. In fact, it was so large my dining companions commented on how long it took me to finish.

For my entree, I was torn. A friend told me to order the Chilean Sea Bass, but when I saw the roasted pork chop and the sirloin steak on the menu, I knew I would have a difficult time choosing a meal.

Ultimately I ordered the New York, New York Sirloin Steak. When it arrived, it was as expected. They plated the meal beautifully and topped the steak with the right amount of veal demi-glace and charred onions. The rainbow carrots provided an earthy companion to the perfectly cooked medium-rare steak. The potato and mozzarella croquettes added a creamy texture that worked well with the rest of the meal. My only criticism is that the broiled steak lacked the marbling I expected. However, the lean steak was moderately tender with a good chewiness and a robust beefy flavor.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the service. At our end of the table, our team of servers were never very far away. They were always there to answer a question, fill a water glass, or take an order for another drink.

I have golfed and attended many business functions over the years at The International so overall the experience was exactly what I expected. The facility is gorgeous. The Fireplace Dining Room is upscale while still warm and inviting. The food was outstanding. And, the service was excellent. The International is definitely worth the trip.