Tag: zucchini

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House Grind Burger with Focaccia Roll

House Grind Burger with Focaccia Roll from The Fix on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

House Grind Burger with Focaccia Roll from The Fix on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Entering The Fix Burger Bar I got the feeling of high energy, a little loud but very dynamic. This feeling made me want to grab a drink and have a good time with friends and enjoy life.

A friendly server asked us immediately upon entering if they could assist us. Our party had already arrived and were having a drink at the bar so we made our way to them.

Our table and companions for the evening was quite large with around 15 people.  The server assigned to us was likable and friendly, she was attentive but I felt some of the service with receiving our orders was a little slow the waitress apologized several times and told us the kitchen was overwhelmed (plus, we did have a large party in addition to the restaurant being full). I totally understood and the restaurant made up for the long time in receiving our order; I felt they did everything they could to make our meal enjoyable.

I am a huge fan of red sangria and was not disappointed when I ordered my first glass.

Being known for their burgers I had to order one. I chose the house grind combination for my burger with a focaccia roll and I chose to have it with blue cheese and crispy fried prosciutto. It was cooked exactly how I ordered it: “medium”.  I chose the veggie fries to go with it; they were a combination of summer squash, zucchini and eggplant. They were lightly battered and thinly sliced. An excellent choice if you do not want to go with the usual French fry option.

We had several appetizers brought out to us as we waited for our meals to be served. The Polenta “tots” or nuggets were amazing. Crisp and deep-fried on the outside with creamy polenta and cheese on the inside. The short rib nachos were another hit with shredded meat and BBQ sauce over crisp tortilla chips.

Overall, a fun place to grab a burger and a drink with friends.

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Fall-off-the-bone Lamb Shank from Livia’s Dish

Fall-off-the-bone Lamb Shank from Livia’s Dish on Main Street in Worcester, MA

Fall-off-the-bone Lamb Shank from Livia’s Dish on Main Street in Worcester, MA

It may be because of my fascination with the medieval time period (or perhaps my recent visit to Worcester Art Museum’s Knights!), but, whenever an opportunity presents itself to order a large chunk of meat off of the bone, I have to bite. To make it more appealing, whenever I see lamb on the menu of a restaurant I channel my inner Greek and assume that the divine intervention of Θαλία makes the decision clear.

Livia’s Dish opened in 2012 just beyond the Webster Square side of Main Street. They feature Italian and Mediterranean-influenced dishes with an emphasis on artisanal and local ingredients. The space was the previous home to Pho 2000 and, for a year, Bangkok House, so it was refreshing to see that owners Enton Mehillaj and Oriola Koci took the time to update the interior to start fresh with a split level restaurant that features two small dining areas—one, more intimate with a small bar for 6 and the other, more open and airy with large windows to the street.

While the selection of menu items didn’t surprise me, the lamb shank immediately caught my eye.  The couscous (an option), a staple side for fish in Western Sicily, was the perfect starch for this dish: not only did it fit the restaurant’s advertised style, but the texture and flavor paired perfectly with the dish’s second side option of roasted zucchini and summer squash (which, admittedly, needed a little more salt seasoning). The meat was exactly how lamb shank should be prepared; braised with a port wine and plenty of garlic. The shank, which is the portion of meat directly beneath the knee, can often be the toughest cut of the lamb and takes time to braise properly to ensure that the tough connective tissue softens. If done right, as was the case here, the textures and flavors yield a rewarding, moist piece of meat that neatly pulls off the bone and maintains the rich flavors of the port and garlic.

Considered on the “outskirts,” Livia’s Dish provides a menu that deviates slightly from the norm but its unique flavors, ingredients, and combinations will please, intrigue, and satisfy. I look forward to joining Livia’s Dish for their brunch, where I may need to channel Διόνυσος to enjoy their pitchers of mimosas.