sun-dried tomatoes | Mass Food & Wine

Salmon Fellini from Dino's on Lord Street in Worcester, MA

It had been 12 years since my last visit to Dino’s and I was delighted to see it had remained largely unchanged, a comforting blend of at-home Italian dining dressed up for a family celebration. Being one of the last to arrive (foodies always seem eager to arrive early), I took my seat and reacquainted myself with the menu.

I chose to start with the Goat Cheese Pear Salad, a wild greens salad topped with spiced walnuts, fresh caramelized pears, marinated tomato wedges, goat cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Though the look of the salad was a little underwhelming upon its arrival, the ingredients were fresh and came together well which made for a solid, though not exceptional, start to the meal.

Since seafood is a claimed specialty for Dino’s and there is only so much meat, tomato sauce, and pasta a human body should process, I decided to order the Salmon Fellini. Described as “Atlantic salmon broiled and topped with artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes and leeks, topped with spears of asparagus and honey dijon sauce,” it seemed healthy enough to count as lighter fair and had enough sweet, fatty sauce to make me happy (ordering it over a buttery risotto is something I’ll conveniently ignore). The meal was delicious, and I was surprised at how well the honey dijon accented the salmon and sun dried tomatoes in particular. It was also one of the few dishes on the table that came in a manageable portion size, much to my belt’s delight.

With great, no-nonsense service and a selection of dependable dishes, Dino’s continues to be the work-horse of Worcester’s Italian restaurants. It may not always be the prettiest, shiniest, or most innovative, but it is great nonetheless for its charm and consistent level of quality. It won’t take as long for me to reconnect next time.

Fish Tacos from Mezcal Tequila Cantina on Major Taylor Boulevard

Having been to Mezcal Tequila Cantina a few times, I was anxious to try the new incarnation so when our Foodies group decided to go there, I was very much looking forward to the evening. First off, the new space is amazing. Located street level under the parking garage on Major Taylor Blvd across from the DCU Center, Mezcal is huge spanning most of the entire length of the building. There are lots of distinct seating areas and a large bar area that opens to the kitchen. And, as with everything that Niche Hospitality does, there is an attention to detail and decor that does not go unnoticed.

The expanded menu had many of the things you would expect to see at a Mexican restaurant such as quesadillas, tacos and burritos, but there is so much more and I knew they all would be done in a way only Mezcal can do. My dining partner and I started with the guacamole sampler, three choices of guacamole served with a plentiful amount of chips. Our three choices, all handmade and fresh, were the traditional, mediterranean and the special of the night, a bacon guacamole. All three were outstanding but the mediterranean – filled with sun-dried tomatoes, olives and feta cheese, stood out with a flavor and texture that was a great way to start the meal. Next came my meal, the Fish Tacos served with warm, soft corn tortillas, lettuce, jack cheese and side of authentic Mexican rice. The fish was tender and light, perfectly seasoned with chili and topped with a habanero slaw that provided enough heat, while not overpowering the delicate white fish. The crunchy texture of the lettuce and the slaw was a great contrast to the soft tortilla and the creamy jack cheese.

My entire dining experience was outstanding, the food, the atmosphere and service at Mezcal was top notch and I can’t wait to go back and try some of the new offerings.