Worcester Foodies Eats at The Urban in Worcester

Chicken + Dumplings from The Urban on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Foodies 2015 is off to a delicious start with yet another great venue. This month – The Urban Kitchen + Bar located on Shrewsbury Street. The Urban Kitchen + Bar promises ‘refined comfort food’ and I would agree they absolutely do!

The décor is slightly industrial simplistic, the staff was attentive, welcoming, and knowledgeable. The menu was extensive with many unique items. It was a tough decision on what to order, but I decided to go with the restaurant week menu.

Appetizer – Salsify Clam Chowder -manilla clams, bacon, thyme, cream, housemade oyster crackers. This was such a fantastic clam chowder; you had to deshell the clams, which added to the excitement of the dish. The flavors were perfect, the bacon added just enough smoke, the thyme was not overwhelming, and surprisingly the broth was not extremely heavy. This was not your average clam chowder; it was as they state, ‘refined’.

Main – Chicken + Dumplings – mushroom consommé, swiss chard, beech mushrooms, toasted garlic. I am a huge fan of bone in chicken, if cooked to perfection, and this was spot on! There was a fair amount of broth, although it was a tad bit salty. However, the balance of all the flavors combined was just delicious. The mushrooms and swiss chard were a perfect complement to the chicken. I did not have many dumplings, but I was not disappointed in this, as I really could have had the dish without. This dish was excellent! I also ordered a side of Brussel sprouts to share, roasted with pecorino and lemon. This was a great twist to roasted Brussel sprouts. They were slightly crisp with a fantastic balance of cheese and lemon. I really enjoyed them.

Dessert – Carrot Cake – candied pecans, cream cheese gelato. I typically do not order dessert but it came with the restaurant week option so I thought I would have a bite. Or two, three… The carrot cake was the perfect size, just enough for one or to share. The gelato was the star on this plate; it had perfect flavors to accommodate the carrot cake. The cake was moist and full of flavor, not too sweet. Excellent finish to a fantastic meal.

I will definitely be back to The Urban Kitchen + Bar. As they promised ‘refined comfort food’ and they get that right!

Pan Seared Bass from The Urban on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

I am a self proclaimed traditional girl when it comes to food. Normally stick to basics and generally I veer toward ordering the same things on menus when I go out. Hey! When you like something you just know, right? That being said, I do also like to experiment with food and try different things. When I found out that we were going to Urban Kitchen, I was both excited and nervous. I knew that I was going to be a bit out of my “comfort food comfort zone,” but I also was excited to try something new.

The Shrewsbury Street location for the Urban Kitchen is ideal, and is one of the only restaurants that includes off street parking. This in and of itself is quite a nice thing, especially as the snow piles have continued to grow during this brutal winter. On the interior, the dim lighting provides a romantic and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant was very simple and clean, nothing too overpowering on the walls, and not cluttered. The bar’s backdrop played a black and white feature film, which was a nice touch adding to the theatrical flair of the décor.

The menu, as I suspected, was very complex; a variety of fresh and unique spreads and bread to accompany a delicious selection of meats and seafood. Coming from someone who normally orders Mac and Cheese or Chicken Tenders, it was a bit overwhelming, but again, I was feeling very open minded.

For a starter I went with the House Made Ricotta with truffle honey and chives, served with croutons. This was an excellent start for a bread and cheese lover like me. The croutons had the perfect crunchy to soft texture that paired well with the soft and salty cheese. A hint of garlic and a drizzling of truffle honey added to this delicious treat; a nice combination of salty and sweet.

For the main course, I went with the Pan Seared Bass, seeking a bit of a lighter fare for my dinner. The Pan Seared Bass was served over a sunchoke puree with trumpet mushrooms and topped with black garlic. The fish was cooked perfectly and I really enjoyed the crispy skin. I had never eaten the fish with the skin still on it, but I was presently surprised with the taste; it was a nice bonus. The crunch was a graceful match with the flaky and light white bass. The trumpet mushrooms were perfect with this and I really enjoyed the sunchoke puree for dipping my fish before each bite.

One thing that I would mention is that the Pan Seared Bass was definitely one of the bigger meals as far as portion size. If you are looking for something light, then this is an excellent restaurant choice for you, as most of the other main courses have smaller portions, with sides provided a la carte. The eccentric menu was geared more toward people looking for a smaller meal, and not so much for a hearty eater.

Also, if you are planning to make your way out to Urban Kitchen, make sure this is your only stop for the night. The service was excellent, but very slow. I would recommend stopping by as a couple, not so much a group. The vibe of the restaurant is more for those looking to enjoy a relaxing and intimate meal, not for people on the go. I would say this would be ideal for Valentine’s Day or an anniversary. The prices were also quite steep for the portion sizes, so if you are on a budget, I would recommend eating elsewhere. With meals running about 25-32 dollars per plate, you should expect to pay at least $100 for dinner and drinks.