Tag: WFXXXVI

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Sangria from Mezcal Cantina

Sangria from Mezcal Cantina on Major Taylor Boulevard in Worcester, MA

Sangria from Mezcal Cantina on Major Taylor Boulevard in Worcester, MAI was eager to try Mezcal Cantina in their new downtown location. I have long been a fan of their cuisine but not a fan of fighting the crowds in the smaller space formerly located on Shrewsbury Street. The space was open without being overly loud, and homey without being overly rustic. I love all of the establishments managed by the Niche Hospitality Group. In a dining scene dominated by cookie cutter wine lists I can always count of finding something interesting at the Niche restaurants. But on this night I didn’t even look. I went straight for the Sangria. I am so glad that I did. It drank like a wine rather than any sangria I have had elsewhere. It was excellent. The pitcher served both of us two very generous pours. Ice and fruit (cherry and orange) was served on the side – THANK YOU, MEZCAL! The wine was a dense violet color. The intense aromas leapt from the glass with fresh, ripe, red berry fruit with a hint of orange peel. A dry wine, well-structured with a refreshing acidity and just a touch of astringency. However, the best part was it wasn’t syrupy sweet like so many other sangrias I have had. Many sangrias are overly sweet in order to hide flaws such as overt acidity or bitterness. If I had to guess, I would imagine this was made with a Tempranillo or Grenache which tend to be highly aromatic but low in acid. If you are a light red drinker (pinot noir) lover you will love the Sangria at Mezcal. It’s a Sangria you will want to sip rather than swill. Dare I say, it had finesse?!? It paired beautifully with the duck confit quesadilla. The mole sauce which was delicately drawn on the flaky, pastry like tortilla highlighted the subtle spice in the wine. The flavorful savory duck was the perfect companion for the long lasting fruit dominant wine. Delightful!

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Mexican Caesar Salad and Fish Taco from Mezcal Tequila Cantina

Salad and Fish Taco from Mezcal Tequila Cantina on Major Taylor Boulevard in Worcester, MA

Salad and Fish Taco from Mezcal Tequila Cantina on Major Taylor Boulevard in Worcester, MA

Mezcal had become a Shrewsbury Street staple since 2007. My husband and I would frequent their bar for their homemade guacamole, tasty libations, and of course, extensive tequila selection. Our only complaint…the lack of space. Sure, we sucked it up and sipped our drinks and crunched our corn chips shoulder to shoulder with other patrons, but did not stay long and quickly moved on to our next stop.

Mezcal’s new location will never have this problem because the space is massive, complete with a large, rectangular bar with built in high top tables, a giant dining room, and function room. Upon arriving for our monthly “Foodies” outing, I was thrilled with the space, decor, lighting…oh, and did I mention space! We were escorted to the function room, which was open to the rest of the restaurant, where we had our own private bar. I was quick to order the house guacamole and an ice cold Corona (with a lime of course). The guac arrived shortly there after and I dug in! The chips were crispy and the guacamole was fresh with a strong lime taste. I did need to add some salt as I thought it would bring out the natural flavors of the avocado and fresh cilantro. After indulging in an entire bowl of tortilla chips, I opted for a lighter fare for my dinner – 1 fish taco accompanied with the Mexican Caesar Salad with dressing on the side. The taco came with baked fish that was perfectly cooked, light and flaky. The salad was on the smaller side. I was disappointed that the lettuce was shredded because I like my salads to have large lettuce leaves, but enjoyed the toppings complete with chipotle Caesar dressing, cotija cheese, sliced fresh jalapeño, BBQ pinto beans, pickled red onion, tortilla crisps. The pickled onions were a nice compliment to the smokey, barbecued pinto beans, and the peppers and dressing added a punch to the dish. Needless to say, I consumed every bite! My husband and I will most definitely be returning, but next time, I promise not to spoil my appetite with too much guac – lesson learned!