Posted on

Pasta with a Meatball and Eggplant Parmesan

The Parkway Diner; your typical looking diner from the outside, inside was pretty much what you would expect, nothing fancy.  While I wasn’t disappointed with the food I ordered I also wasn’t blown away by the place, I was hoping for a specialty of the house, or something that would make this diner stand out from the vast assortment of other diners in the Worcester area, unfortunately it was just what it advertises to be a Diner pure and simple.

The wait staff was efficient and personable. We started with an order of the bacon cheese fries, they were good and came quickly to our table and I have to admit they were greasy and cheesy with plenty of bacon added and exactly what I had expected.  After perusing the menu I asked our waitress what she would recommend and she told me any of the “gravy” dishes were what most of the regulars came back for. I ended up ordering the “Pasta combo” which offered a pick two from a selection of a Meatball, a sausage, chicken Parmesan or eggplant Parmesan. I chose the meatball and eggplant Parmesan, both were excellent with the eggplant parmesan not being overly thick with batter and it was cooked perfectly, the meatball had that slight creamy texture to it that caused it to fall apart when I stuck your fork in it, quite delicious. My meatball and eggplant were served over my choice of pasta, I chose good ole fashioned spaghetti. While I enjoyed the Red sauce or “Gravy” as any good Italian and as the waitress called it I thought it was just a bit salty, however I still enjoyed my meal.

If I’m in the mood and in the area, I might return, I wouldn’t put it on the top of my list, however I would go back to try out the breakfast options. –RL

Posted on

Grilled Sausage & Rice

Each time I drive down Shrewsbury Street I spy yet another location I have somehow missed in the past. Parkway Diner is one place I have actually never noticed. Walking in I took notice of the authentic looking diner to the left that was closed and made a mental note that I would certainly have to come back for my favorite meal – breakfast.

Entering the Parkway Diner the atmosphere was comfortable and sports bar themed. The very friendly staff member asked me if I would care for a drink; I ordered a cold beer since the summer heat has been extreme and started to peruse the menu.

The menu had the typical sports bar type feel and most meals had a slight Italian sound. I was torn between a balsamic chicken sandwich and the grilled sausage & rice – the description read: grilled Italian sausage served over rice pilaf & daily vegetable.

I decided to go with the grilled sausage & rice with the daily vegetable. When the meal arrived the colors looked appealing. The sausage was placed over the rice (I love rice pilaf) and the vegetables in a symmetrical portion of corn and peas. The sausage was slightly over cooked, however it did have a decent flavor and the rice was a typical pilaf. Unfortunately, I do not like peas or corn so I did not eat any of them. Hindsight, I should be asking what the vegetable is as to not waste food. Over all I really liked the atmosphere and the service was great as well. I look forward to trying breakfast there soon. -LB