Tag: WFXXVIII

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Pesto and Gnocchi with Herbed Ricotta and Shrimp

Pesto and gnocchi with herbed ricotta and shrimp from La Scala on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Pesto and gnocchi with herbed ricotta and shrimp from La Scala on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

La Scala had lovely high ceilings of pressed tin and the large booths that were situated in were comfortable and relaxing. The staff was quick and friendly so we ordered fairly soon after arriving. The menu had many options we were willing to try and so we narrowed it down to the pesto and gnocchi with herbed ricotta and shrimp after much consideration.

This was no light pesto sauce as I had been used it, but, instead it was heavy and deep in pesto— in fact the gnocchi was just covered in the chopped deep green herbs! The flavor was rich and the gnocchi was cooked to perfect potato perfection. It was lovely combo of flavors and textures. My hubby added a little salt to heighten the flavor a bit, but I am not a fan of salt so I found it satisfying as served. While some of my dining companions may have been dissatisfied with their choices at La Scala, the flavor and textures within this dish certainly made it a table favorite. -DD

 

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Veal Parmigiana

Veal Parmigiana from La Scala on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Veal Parmigiana from La Scala on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

As a long time resident of the Worcester area, it still amazes me that there are established restaurants in the Worcester area that I have never dined at. La Scala, nestled into the bustling  Shrewsbury Street’s Italian scene is one of them. Upon reviewing the menu, I was drawn to an appetizer of Hot Italian Stuffed Fried Cherry Peppers. The peppers were stuffed with a spicy cream cheese and served with a side of marinara sauce. The peppers were lightly breaded and fried and had a nice kick to them—an order would be perfect for sharing for two people.

For my main course, I decided to order a classic dish that I rarely prepare at home: Veal Parmigiana. The Veal Parmigiana was served over penne pasta and served in a red sauce. The veal was tender and well prepared and served over a large plate of pasta. With Shrewsbury Street known for both its Italian heritage and food, I had greater expectations for the dish. As the Veal Parmigiana was the main attraction and was well prepared I would give the dish a positive review, yet I was slightly disappointed that the pasta and sauce did not seem to show the same attention to detail as the veal. When I venture to Shrewsbury Street for Italian I have high expectations for all of the details; pasta and gravy included.

Overall, La Scala has a nice neighborhood restaurant feel that the “big restaurants” lack; it also has a family-friend feel to the attentive employees. My dining companions’ dished looked great, including the grilled pizzas. The Veal Parmigiana was well prepared and with a little effort could have been kicked up a notch to really compete with the other Italian eateries. -DO