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Hot & Now: 9/2002An new insider’s column on the local dining scene Editor’s Note: Welcome to “Hot and Now!”, a column on the area’s dining scene that will appear in every issue of thePulse. Gourmand Paul Giorgio, well known for getting the scoop on the political scene in Central Massachusetts and beyond, will share the latest dish on Worcester County’s eateries. If you would like to send Paul any news on what’s hot — or what’s not — send an e-mail to pgiorgio@wpltd.com. The White City Shopping Center just over the Lake Quinsig bridge is opening more upscale eateries. First came Panera, a posh bread store and now a Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse is under construction. Word has it that Osaka, a Japanese Sushi restaurant is slated to open in the center before the start of the new year. John Grosse’s Bread and Pasta on Shrewsbury Street recently reopened after extensive renovations. Grosse, who is credited with launching the Shrewsbury Street restaurant revival when he opened East Park Grille, has returned to the menu that has brought thousands of folks to Worcester’s East Side. Coral Seafood, a Green Street tradition for great fish at decent prices, recently opened a second place in Marlboro. Where Worcester’s Coral has a down-home family feel, the Marlboro version is upscale and slick. There is an unmistakable feel of openness to the place, from the open kitchen, to the wide-open dining room. They even put in doors that can be opened wide on those warm summer nights. Speaking of eating outdoors — Worcester recently enacted a Outdoor Dining Ordinance, which allows restaurants to set up tables on sidewalks. Will Shrewsbury Street take on the look of Boston’s Newbury Street soon? Already several places are featuring outdoor tables with umbrellas. The most elaborate have to be those that Primo’s puts out on weekends. We hope that though the umbrellas go up, Primo’s prices won’t! Speaking of Primo’s, owner Joe Petrou was the sole bidder who answered the city’s request for restaurant tenants in Union Station. It looks like two new clubs are opening on Water Street. Once home to Jewish delis and bakeries, Water Street is undergoing a renaissance of sorts. We hear that the Irish Times will be opening a second location in the old Arkus Pharmacy building on the corner of Water and Harrison Streets. A new gay dance club, Rage, is opening soon right near by. Wholly Cannoli, which relocated from Shrewsbury Street to Grafton Street in Worcester, has finally reopened. The expanded bakery and café seats about 20 and has a full line of Italian pastries. As the name implies, cannoli are the mainstay of the business with about a half different varieties, but they also do cakes, Italian cookies and a whole lot more. Shrewsbury Street’s loss is clearly Grafton Street’s gain. Across town, Michelino’s Italian Restaurant & Grille is set to open in late September. The upscale contemporary Italian eatery, located at 367 Chandler Street in Worcester, will feature Tuscan regional cooking. The executive chef will be Kirk Kiefer, who comes to Worcester by way of the Fay Club in Fitchburg as well as the Park Plaza in Boston. The restaurant is owned by George Leviton, who spent 17 years with Papa Gino’s and owned Buckey’s Bagels. Harrington Farm in Princeton has a new Executive Chef, Glenn Gonyea. Gonyea most recently was manning the range at Struck Catering. Prior to that he was the head chef at the Struck Café. |