Bocado Restaurant Review - Worcester, MA |
||
82 Winter Street | Worcester MA |
||
|
||
As should be expected, Spanish wines dominate the wine list; bottles start at $16, with a number of offerings in the low $20’s, ranging up to $125. Wine flights are a popular way to introduce yourself to unfamiliar selections, although at times it was difficult to determine which glasses corresponded to the flight list upon delivery. The entire wine list is available in 2, 4, and 6 oz. servings or by the bottle, and it favors reds to whites by 2:1. Pitchers of Sangria ($20) are a delicious yet affordable option, although they provide a less immediate alcoholic reward than is offered by the specialty cocktail list. Frias plates range from $4-10. The mixed olives and roasted garlic plate make another good wine pairing, and the dates filled with goat cheese and bacon were delicious, fresh plump dates wedged full of cheese and smoky bacon. The beef carpaccio with paprika oil, fried garlic, manchego & rioja syrup was thoroughly enjoyed by my table, but I refrain from eating raw beef. Raw fish is another story, and the raw tuna with lemon basil crema, sweet potato chips and chili avocado was another solid offering. The 22 calientes plates are priced from $5-10. The least expensive of these offerings is the mozzerella stuffed crispy rice balls with basil aioli, Bocado’s take on arancini. The crispy fried exterior gives away to creamy rice filling, absolutely delicious, although too much of the accompanying Aioli will overpower the creamy rice inside . The simmered pork loin with figs and blue cheese was larger than I was expecting, and this combination of thinly sliced pork was perfectly tender and perfectly matched in flavor with the cheese and fig sauce. The lamb meatballs in paprika mushroom cream were a little dry for their medium size but were still good, and happily lacking the chewy-crunchy mysteries arising from lesser cuts of meat sometimes used by restaurants serving ground lamb. Other menu options include all kinds of seafood and meat including calamari, scallops, shrimp, haddock, crab, littlenecks, mussels, steak, ham, pork, chicken, lamb, Kobe mini burgers, even rabbit. Small plates of tapas are the perfect companion for an extended bout of drinking. The leisurely meal pace lends itself nicely to subtle intoxication. Sample before buying a bottle, you will find your taste for Spanish wine while the cares of your afternoon dissipate. The atmosphere has varied during our visits from casually relaxed to very busy (Friday and Saturday nights), with a clear relationship to the quality of service received. The stylish modern decor and aspiringly-upscale clientele makes it a great place for an after-work drink and a tasty meal shared with friends. You needn’t spend a fortune either; after all, it is Worcester. |
||