Tag: Worcester Foodies XLVIII: The Urban Kitchen and Bar

Worcester Foodies braved the elements in February 2015 to visit The Urban Kitchen + Bar on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester. With a small group, here are the thoughts on some of the meals that were ordered—just one month after opening.

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Seared Duck Breast at The Urban

Seared Duck Breast at The Urban on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Seared Duck Breast at The Urban on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

The Urban Kitchen opened a few months ago so when it was announced WorcesterFoodies would be going there, I was excited. The old Coral Seafood space on Shrewsbury Street has been transformed into an sleek, modern space with an open kitchen visible form the dining room. The vibe is elegant while still casual and the menu is ambitious and creative, while still approachable.

Compliments of the house, we started our dining experience with house made ricotta served with truffle honey, chives and roasted croutons. The creamy cheese was firm, slightly salty and very flavorful while the truffle honey added a sweetness that pushed this dish to a whole new level.

The seasonal dinner menu had so many interesting items it made choosing an entree difficult. House made pastas, fish, pork, beef and even venison but when my dining companion chose the Artic Char, I immediately chose the Seared Duck Breast knowing I could taste her fish also!

Duck is a tricky dish, but not at The Urban. Perfectly seared duck breast, sat atop caramelized sweet potato and wild mushrooms. The duck, served with the skin, was crispy on the outside and moist, tender and perfectly medium rare on the inside. Flavorful but not gamey, the meat paired well with the earthy sweet potato and wild mushrooms.

The craftsmanship used to create this meal while not overly complicated, was outstanding. The portion size was generous, but not overwhelming. The sides were as well executed as the duck and the presentation superb. Overall, The Urban is a great addition to the Worcester dining scene and I for one will certainly return for what I anticipate will be another wonderful experience.

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Urban’s Chicken and Dumplings

Urban Kitchen's Chicken and Dumplings

Urban Kitchen's Chicken and Dumplings

The Urban Kitchen and Bar housed in the former Coral Seafood on Shrewsbury Street is one of Worcester’s newest dining destinions for upscale dining. Upon entering the restaurant one is greeted by a theater style wall over the bar and a subtle renovation to the prior restaurant.

After reviewing the menu I was drawn to the restaurant week menu and the thought of warm savory chicken and dumplins on a cold winters night. For my first course I started with the Salsify Clam Chowder. The clam chowder came with Manila clams in the shell small pieces of root vegitables, celery, thyme, cream, bacon, and a nice smokey flavor and was a nice twist on a New England clam chowder. The one suggestion would be a little less salt.

The chicken and dumplings was described as a mushroom consomme, Swiss chard, beech mushrooms, and toasted garlic. The dish was masterfully prepared and lived up to the desciption of the dish, but was overly salty and missed the mark for chicken and dumplins.  It was an exquisitely prepared dish in the style of a good French trained chef, but missed the slow cooking and comfort food nature of chicken and dumplins in my opinion.

For desert, I opted for the carrot cake with candied pecans and cream cheese gelato.   This was a nice petite desert in which the high point was the cream cheese gelato which left me wanting for more gelato.   Again quality and attention to detail was apparent.

Overall, I was impressed with the quality, presentation, and effort that went into each dish. My struggle with dinner was two of my dishes were oversalted and the portions were small.  I felt satisfied after my four course meal with an extra appetizer I ordered, yet if it had not been restaurant week the smaller portions and pricey menu might be a challenge to the Worcester dining scene. To find it’s place in the Worcester dining scene The Urban Kitchen will need to find it blend of quality, creative menu, and value in the Worcester market.