Tag: Water Street

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A Little Bit of Chorizo Stuffed Calamari and A Lot of the Grilled Tri Tip Steak at Lock 50

Grilled Tri Tip Steak from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Summertime and the livings easy! Worcester is in full bloom and so are all of the new restaurants, cafes and bars throughout the city! Lock 50 stands out on crowded Water St. with its beautiful outdoor patio and exposed brick exterior. It was cozy and stylish with fun decor. I especially loved the hanging lights and rock salt crystal candle holders that were set on each table.

Buttermilk Fried Quail from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, Ma
Buttermilk Fried Quail from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, Ma

Our table of 5 quickly agreed to take the “YOLO” route and ordered a little bit of everything. For small plates we went with the Assorted Bread Basket, Grilled Beets, Potato Gnocchi, Chorizo Stuffed Calamari, Shaved Compressed Octopus, and the Buttermilk Fried Quail. My favorite of the 6 was undoubtedly the Chorizo Stuffed Calamari which was accompanied with zesty tomato broth and chickpeas. It reminded me of manicotti, but instead of pasta it was grilled calamari. I’ve honestly never seen or tasted anything like it!

As if all of that wasn’t enough we also ordered three shareable plates which were a lot larger than I expected. We went with the Porchetta, Grilled Tri Tip Steak and the Roasted 1/2 Chicken. All three were phenomenal, but the one that stood out most was the Tri Tip Steak with Roasted Potato and Broccoli Rabe Pesto. I had never thought of putting pesto with my steak but it was fabulous and cooked to perfection. After one bite I found myself going back for more.. and more.. and more.. until it was all gone. Each and every plate I tried was extremely satisfying and unique.

Our server was fantastic and well-versed on the entire menu. For drinks she recommended the Lookout Farm Cider from Natick and I’m so glad she did. I’m not normally a cider drinker because they tend to be on the sweeter side but this one was dry, crisp and refreshing! Definitely a new Summer go-to.

After ordering a handful of the small plates we asked if there was anything she thought was a must-try and she suggested the Buttermilk Fried Quail. It added a crunch that other plates lacked and I’m glad we went with it. Overall prompt service and great recommendations!

Lock 50 is a restaurant that brings out the best in Worcester! Although I found the dinner menu on the pricier side, it’s absolutely worth it for date night or a special occasion. I’ve been told their coffee (especially their Nitro Brew) and crepe selection is one of the best in the city, so I’ll be sure to hit up their cafe for a weekend treat! Overall it was a fantastic evening and my favorite Foodie adventure to date!

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Whole Roasted Local Fish with Grilled Lemon from Lock 50

The Whole Roasted Local Fish from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

When you think of Water Street, you probably think of Wings Over Worcester or one of the many bars that line the street. You don’t necessarily think of fine dining. In the aspect, Lock 50 stands out right away. Located next to the beautiful new apartments on Water Street is a small window front filled with rustic brick work and personal touches that are inviting to their customers. However, it is a very small space and the acoustics in the restaurant make it so that even if everyone is whispering, it makes it difficult to hear the person speaking next to you. The colors were bright and the light fixtures were unique in their design.

The menu was broken down into two sections; small plates and shareable plates. From this, I gathered that Lock 50 was borrowing the tapas idea from their close neighbor (Bocado). By doing this, you encourage diners to order multiple items and share them with each other. While this concept is great, it makes it difficult to gauge the amount of food that you are ordering. This was particularly true for the shareable dinner plates. I had witnessed some dishes being delivered to tables next to us thinking that the portions were too small. However, I tried to be optimistic and proceeded to step out of the norm for myself and order the whole roasted local fish with grilled lemon, fresh greens and herbs ($24). When the waitress delivered my dish to the table, it certainly was a scene to be seen. The fish was in fact whole, cooked to a crispy, golden brown. The smell which emanated from the plate was the of deliciousness. As I began to dismantle my fish, I found that it was easier said than done. You need to be very careful when tackling this portion because of the small bones. The flesh of the fish was light, and flaky. The manner in which is was cooked was definitely a perfect way to preserve the inherant flavors of the fish while not overlooking it. The grilled lemon was a great accompaniment, as lemon is with almost any and every fish. The bed of fresh greens and herbs was more just chopped romaine hearts that wilted from the heat of the fish, making them soggy and rather unappetizing. While the dinner was delicious, it certainly was a chore.

The waitress that helped our tables throughout the night was extremely pleasant. She was always around when you needed something. Given the size of our group, there is always going to be special requests or the occasion hiccup, but she was able to adapt and serve us to the best of her ability. She made sure that everyone had a refill of their favorite beverage, or checked in to see if we needed anything else with our meals. Given the fact that it seemed as though the kitchen was slightly overwhelmed, they helped bridge the gap between courses very well.

While the food was different and delicious, I had a strange feeling that I was missing something throughout the night. I felt as though the evening of dining was disjointed and not as put together as I might have thought a restaurant of this quality and acclaim would be. Given the size of the group, I can understand that there might be some shortcomings, but I felt as though the menu could use some tweaking and maybe offer more individual dishes, rather than the tapas idea. The appetizers and dinners were full of flavor and flare and I would love to see what else the chef can bring in the future. I definitely recommend that you go to Lock 50 and choose for yourself. To each their own.