Worcester Foodies LVII: The International | Page 3 of 6

The Cast Iron Swordfish at The International

The International in Bolton, Mass. first seems to be in the middle of nowhere; to get to this gem of a restaurant in the winter, you will need to take some fairly dark country roads. Do not be deterred, this drive is well worth it. There is a very large, but cozy, bar with a great room that serves as the dining room.

The dining room overlooks the golf course. We arrived in the evening but for a little bit I could see the gorgeous view through the enormous windows that surrounded me. I’m curious to go back and see the beautiful pine trees in the light of day.

When I asked the waitress what her favorite item on the menu was she really couldn’t tell me. She went on to say that this was the first restaurant she’s worked for where she can’t pick out a favorite because every item on the menu is so delicious.

To start, I ordered the Classic Caesar Salad with anchovies. The ample portion and the creamy dressing made this salad delicious. It was a traditional Caesar with romaine, croutons, and shaved parmesan.

For my main course, I ordered the Cast Iron Swordfish. The menu mentioned that it would come blackened, but I didn’t find this to be the case. Either way, the seasoning was fantastic. The fish melted in my mouth. The white cheddar polenta, roasted garlic spinach, roasted tomatoes, and crunchy corn niblets added great flavor and texture. I especially liked the crunch of the corn. The bottom line is that the meal was amazing and I will return to order it again.

I found the servers to be excellent as well as knowledgeable about the food. I also found the ambiance lovely. I can see myself returning to this place for a special occasion.

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.