Find out what’s hot and what’s new around Worcester this month!

Worcester Restaurant Week kicks off. The semi-annual Worcester Restaurant Week kicks off Aug. 4 and runs until Aug. 16. More than 40 locally owned restaurants are participating in the event, where diners can get a three-course meal for $23.14. You can check out the restaurants on worcesterrestaurantweek.com, where you will find the menus each restaurant is offering. Sponsors include: UniBank, Stella Artois Beer, Mercadante Funeral Home, Percy’s, American Express and Integrity Merchant Services. Media sponsors include: Pulse magazine, tasteweorcester.com and radio stations WXLO, The Pike and WCRN-830 AM. Worcester Restaurant Week is produced by Pagio, Inc., parent company of Pulse.

As the worm turns. Worcester’s Wormtown Brewery, which will soon move to Shrewsbury Street, was recently chosen as the best beer in the country. Wormtown was named Grand National Champion at this year’s U.S. Open Beer Championship in Atlanta on July 4. More than 3,000 breweries from around the world competed in a variety of categories. Wormtown won several gold medals and a couple of silver to gain the national championship.

Will it still be Shangri-La? Shagri-La, which is currently located in 7 Hills Plaza, is moving across the Common to 50 Front St. at the corner of Commercial Street. The space has housed McFadden’s and the City Park Grill. Let’s hope that the third time is a charm.

Bocado opens in Providence. Bocado, a Niche Hospitality Restaurant, has opened a second location. This time, the owners crossed state lines and opened in Providence. The tapas restaurant is located just off of Federal Hill at 60 Valley St. It has 85 seats and the same concept as Worcester. It also has a small outdoor dining area, and the bar area has 30 seats. Alexis Babineau went from the Worcester operation to Providence to head up the kitchen.

It’s become a Ritual. Ritual, located on Main Street in Worcester, has a new main man taking over the range. The new chef is Mark Ronnquist, of Westborough. He moved over from Rovezzi in Sturbridge. He will bring his interpretation of classic food combinations, stressing quality and clean flavors. Ritual is offering expanded lunch hours during the summer, including a $10 lunch buffet.

Stepping up your game. There is a new chef at Perfect Game on Worcester’s Water Street. Angel Barbosa, who has cooked at Tatnuck Grill and Coral Seafood, has taken over the kitchen. While not changing the sports bar theme, the Perfect Game will be offering meals during dinner.

Change is good. We see that the old Tara Pub on Worcester’s Green Street is undergoing much-needed renovations. We also hear that it will become a hookah bar. The appeal of this must be great, since another hookah bar is about to open up down the road on Harding Street. This one is on the back side of the Bay State Bakery & Restaurant.

Speaking of change. Dave Gerry is the new owner of Beatnik’s on Worcester’s Park Avenue. Gerry has made Beatnik’s into more than just a bar; he has added more food to the menu. Stop in at 433 Park Ave. And say hello.

By Paul Giorgio