Worcester Foodies Eats at The Urban in Worcester

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

The Urban Kitchen and Bar is located on Shrewsbury Street, in the building that used to be Coral Seafood. It’s a fairly spacious location with plenty of seating and plenty of parking.

As an appetizer, we started with the House Made Ricotta, with truffle honey, chives and crostini. This came as a large scoop of the ricotta, with a light drizzle of the truffle honey. This was absolutely fabulous. Smooth and creamy with the honey adding some sweetness, this was delicious both on the crostini and standalone.

Next up as the Arugula and Squash Salad, with curried pistachio and pickled raisins, served over a small portion of the house made ricotta. There was no dressing on the salad but the mix of flavors from the ricotta and other ingredients proved that no dressing was needed. This, again, was delicious with a great mix of the sweet ricotta and slightly tart raisins. The pistachios provided a nice crunch/texture creating an overall really nice app.

For dinner, I had the Chicken and Dumplings with mushroom consommé, swiss chard, beech mushrooms and toasted garlic. The chicken was skin on breast meat and cooked to perfection but the consomme was a little too salty for my liking. The dumplings had just enough texture in them to counter the wilted chard and mushrooms nicely, and could stand up to the chicken as well. The overall flavor of the dish was still quite nice, but I couldn’t get past the saltiness.

My parting comment would be that the portion sizes are on the small side. 2 Apps, a main course and dessert left me full but certainly not stuffed.

Arctic Char from The Urban on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Upon entering the Urban, I thought the ambiance was industrial combined with a retro feeling. A modern looking bar took up residence near the front door. Behind the bar was a very large screen playing an old black and white movie. A friendly server took us to our table to be seated. I had been anxiously awaiting my chance to visit this restaurant. I had heard so many positive and good things from my friends that I was very excited to indulge and enjoy some amazing food unfortunately; the night was not all I had hoped it would be.

Our server came around asking for drink orders and I selected the Petit Syrah from their generous wine menu. When I received my wine in one of those ultra-modern “No Stem” wine glasses my first thought was different and very nice, I then saw how little wine it held and was very disappointed. I estimated half of a normal pour; it was was disheartening and I did not order another glass. I have to reiterate that I cannot say I have ever really noticed the lack in my wine glass before but in this the quantity or should I say lack of was something to be noticed.

This week in Worcester they are celebrating “Restaurant Week” it is where restaurants offer a smaller pre fixed menu that usually includes an appetizer, salad or soup, a Main course and a dessert. Thinking this would give me a nice sampling of the menu I chose do to this for $23.15, which I think, is a great deal.

From the Pre fixed Restaurant week menu I ordered to start with the Country Duck Pate’ – It came with two small slices of pate and a few thinly sliced toasted bread, accompanied with brandied cherry, pistachios and raisins. I thought it was very nice if a little small in quantity when it came to the amount of pate’ on my plate. For my main course I ordered the Arctic Char which is a very light flaky white fish, it came seared on a small bed or lentils. I truly loved the taste of everything. The lentils were amazing, however there was so little of them that I barely got a few forkfuls and sadly they were gone. The Arctic Char was cooked to perfection and was delicious, but a small portion; again the theme here very little food and my belly was not happy with me. For a main meal with no sides to speak of, I would expect a larger serving of fish. I ended the night with the Carrot cake, which turned out again to be delightful. It was a deconstructed carrot cake and came with a small scoop of cream cheese gelato, small portion again but not such a problem as it is dessert.

I really dislike giving a negative review for restaurants and this was very difficult for me to do with this place, after having heard so many positive things about it. Leaving The Urban last night after having a 3-course meal with the addition of a shared appetizer on the table, I am very sad to report that I left hungry. In my eyes, this is the worst thing that could happen after leaving a restaurant. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone and quite honestly, I am not interested in going back. In closing, the portions were ridiculously small, the service was slow. The only positive thing I can say for this place is that the food was truly creative and delightful.