Tag: The Civic Kitchen & Drink

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It’s Patio Season!

Chorizo Tacos: Housemade chorizo, cotija cheese, pico de gallo and cilantro lime creme from The Civic Kitchen & Drink.

Patio season is upon us, and Central Mass has plenty of spots for you to soak up the sun. Checkout our favorite local options for outdoor dining:

The Civic Kitchen & Drink offers guests lush views of the golf course at Westborough Country Club. The Civic boasts a locally driven menu, which means that no one is more excited about Spring’s arrival than Chef Rick Araujo. Order his Spring Raviolo, a Narragansett Feta and ricotta stuffed pasta with parmesan, peas, pea shoots and lemon butter. The Civic’s innovative cocktail program also relies on local ingredients and small distilleries. Try the Blackberry Sage Margarita made with Chinaco Blanco tequila, fresh blackberries and sage, house-made sour, and local honey. Or, checkout the craft brew selection featuring the likes of Banded Horn and Jack’s Abby.

If you want pizza on the patio, look no farther than Volturno. Honoring a 200 year old Neapolitan tradition, Volturno brings you perfect pies cooked in wood burning ovens heated at 900 degrees. Make the most of the two-for-one pizza deal on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Funghi is perfect for springtime, made with wild mushrooms, mozzarella, arugula, truffle crema and goat cheese.

For large groups hoping to sit outside, Mezcal in downtown Worcester ensures ample seating and Margaritas served by the pitcher. There’s a guacamole variety to suit every customer; choose from: Mediterranean, Cool Ranch Bacon, Thai Rooster, Tropical, and Buffalo Chicken.

Outdoor dining at Lock 50 on Water Street offers a pristine view of a mural created by noted American painter, Spencer Keeton Cunningham. Lock 50 frequently hosts live music on the patio featuring an impressive raw bar. The eclectic, food friendly beverage selection will satisfy even the most exacting drinker.

Nick’s Bar and Restaurant was not just the centerpiece of an Oscar nominated film, it is also home to one of Worcester’s most flourishing patios. Nick’s promises live entertainment every night, but in between sets, we recommend that you order a grilled bratwurst served with onion and spicy mustard and find a seat out back.

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Your Civic Duty

Chorizo Tacos: Housemade chorizo, cotija cheese, pico de gallo and cilantro lime creme from The Civic Kitchen & Drink.

Executive Chef Rick Araujo and General Manager Sarah Lee are not your typical pair. For starters, Araujo is a hometown hero who hails five miles from the restaurant where he now serves as Executive Chef. If his reputation as a former star athlete at Algonquin Regional High School isn’t enough to get the locals through the door, his menu will be. Lee, on the other hand, is a restaurant industry lifer who has worked her way up from busser to manager over the course of her storied career. As a team, Araujo and Lee are complementary in every sense of the word. Her beverage creations effortlessly enhance the subtle nuances of his locally inspired dishes. And, the view from The Civic Kitchen + Drink’s deck overlooking Westborough Country Club’s lush golf course isn’t bad either.

The Civic Kitchen & Bar's Feta and ricotta stuffed raviolo with parmesan, peas, pea shoots, and lemon butter paired with Banded Horn Pepperell Pilsner.
The Civic Kitchen & Bar’s Feta and ricotta stuffed raviolo with parmesan, peas, pea shoots, and lemon butter paired with Banded Horn Pepperell Pilsner.

Araujo and Lee recommend pairing the Spring Raviolo with a crushable lager like Banded Horn’s Pepperell Pilsner. The bready malt character of an unfiltered German pilsner suits Araujo’s housemade pasta stuffed with fresh ricotta and Narragansett Feta. The Pepperell Pilsner’s herbal hop presence and its zesty aroma lends themselves to the raviolo’s soft, leafy pea shoots and lemon butter.

Lee names the Blackberry Sage Margarita as one of The Civic Kitchen + Drink‘s flagship drinks, a constant on their ever changing menu. She suggests that you go with a natural pairing and order yourself some tacos. Araujo’s housemade chorizo and sharp pico de gallo hold up to the smoky allure of Chinaco Blanco tequila. Local honey, fresh blackberries, and sage round out Lee’s signature Margarita, the perfect match for the cilantro and lime crema that complete your plate.

Once Lee knows you enjoy tequila, there’s no escaping a special treat from The Bean Counter and a taste of her Nighttime Stroll. Pair a slice of decadent chocolate cake with Dos Alas Anejo tequila, Cynar, brandy, orange bitters, and a luxardo cherry. Cynar is a bitter liqueur that notably contains artichokes. This traditional Italian amaro offers a sharp, bitter edge, and the benefits of a digestivo. Trust us, you’re going to need some Cynar in your life after three delicious courses at The Civic.

Perhaps the most natural pair of all is a Cold Harbor and a dose of sunshine, a guaranteed summer offering on The Civic Kitchen + Drink‘s deck this season.

The Civic Kitchen + Drink's Chocolate Cake Courtesy of the Bean Counter in Worcester and the Nighttime Stroll
The Civic Kitchen + Drink’s Chocolate Cake Courtesy of the Bean Counter in Worcester and the Nighttime Stroll