Happy August, everyone! While I am sad to see these last days of summer fly by, I am super excited for what September will be bringing to the city of Worcester! For the past few years, the Massachusetts Brewers Guild has hosted an annual fermentational in Worcester, but this year they are changing things up a bit. This year’s event is called The Great Mass Collab. This will be a one day event held on Saturday, September 21 on the Worcester Common where breweries from across the state will be partnering up with other breweries to come up with one of a kind collaborations that you will most likely only be able to get at the event. This incredible event is the kickoff for the first ever Worcester Beer Week!!! I’m looking forward to giving you guys the inside scoop on some of these awesome collaborations over the coming weeks!
If you would like to learn more about The Great Mass Collab, head over to the Mass Brewers Guild.
But in the meantime, if you’re planning on coming to Worcester for this awesome event you’ll want to make sure that you have a full belly before, after, and the morning after the event, and what soaks up alcohol better than diner food?!
I. Love. Diner food. (Though oddly enough I do not watch Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives…) Luckily enough for me, Worcester has no shortage of diners that I have been able to indulge in over the years and I am so excited to share some of my favorites with all of you!
1. Boulevard Diner
Ahhh the Boulevard, easily my number one favorite diner in all the world. Founded in 1936 and located on Worcester’s iconic “Restaurant Row”, this is the number one spot to go day or night. This incredible spot is open 24 hours a day and serves up omelets larger than you could ever hope to finish, a perfect late-night staple of a mildly greasy cheeseburger, and some incredible house-made Italian classics. I can tell you from years of experience that there is truly nothing like getting your day started with a cup of coffee and a great omelet or ending a long night out with a burger and a healthy serving of fresh Italian bread. Or my personal favorite way to experience it: heading to Boulevard after a night shift and watching all the drunk people come in as soon as the bars let out.
The Boulevard looks like everything you would imagine a diner from the 1930’s to be. It is old, tiny, and filled with wooden booths that I’m pretty sure are all original. The crew behind the counter will always greet you with a smile (and normally a thick Worcester accent) regardless of whether it is 2PM or 2AM.
I think one of my favorite parts of the Boulevard is their ode to the local colleges. Believe it or not, Worcester is home to a whopping nine colleges and universities, and Boulevard has an omelet in honor of each one.
Must-Tries:
-Pasta Fagioli
-American Chop Suey (tastes just like the one my grandmother used to make!)
-Literally any of their omelets
-Steak & Cheese Sub
2. Lou Roc’s Diner
Everyone I know raves about every single thing on Lou Roc’s menu…but to be honest, I’ve only ever had one item on their menu and because I love it so much, I will probably never order anything else on their menu. This one item is the sole reason why they made it onto this list, and it is their Western Omelet.
I am a bit of a western omelet aficionado. I first discovered them when I was about 13, and they can truly make or break my diner experience (I’m also a firm believer that cheese belongs in every omelet). Lou Roc’s has perfected this diner staple! It is incredibly cheesy, with healthy and hearty portions of ham, peppers, and onions.
Lou Roc’s also serves up an incredible selection of pancakes and French toast, and by selection I don’t mean, “Oh ya know, you’ve got your classic, blueberry, or chocolate chip”. Think apple cinnamon pancakes and French toast stuffed with cheese and your favorite breakfast meat. Not good enough for you? Check out whatever their pancake specials are which have included peanut butter, pumpkin pecan, and so much more!
Another thing I think is important to note is that Lou Roc’s is extremely handicap accessible! There is a great wheelchair ramp out front, ample handicap parking, and there is plenty of space to move around inside. I don’t know of many handicap-accessible diners so I feel that it is important to point this out.
Must-Tries:
-Western Omelet
-Any of the pancake specials
-Stuffed French Toast
3. Parkway Diner
Parkway in my opinion is the perfect “adult” diner. You can go here for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, grab a drink with friends, or head here to watch your favorite Boston sports team play. Their food is always top notch, especially the steak and eggs, and there are plenty of Italian spins on some of your favorite diner staples.
Also located on Shrewsbury St, it’s hard to miss the giant Parkway sign on the building that will remind you of any navy and red Red Sox shirt you’ve ever seen. Inside you’ll find plenty of seating, sports memorabilia, and TV’s.
Must-Tries:
-Steak Tips and Eggs
-Italian Burger
-Bloody Mary (because who doesn’t love a good bloody mary for brunch?)
Honorable Mention:
I’m going to go ahead and give an honorable mention to one of my favorite diners that unfortunately no longer exists, Mrs. Mack’s Diner. After many years of tirelessly serving the people of Worcester, the owners decided to retire in July 2018. While I typically do not like sweet things for breakfast, at one point they had caramel apple pancakes and they were truly incredible. Mrs. Mack’s is still very dearly missed, but I wish them all the happiness and rest they deserve in their retirement!
Worcester is home to so many other incredible diners and I encourage you to try them all! The establishments listed here are simply my top three personal favorites. See below for a list of others that did not make it onto this list. (Note: I have not tried them all, but have never heard anything bad about any of them. The ones I have personally tried will be marked with an asterisk and still come highly recommended by me):
· Miss Worcester Diner
· Cranberries Restaurant*
· Kenmore Diner
· Gold Star Restaurant*
· Shaker’s Café*
Want to read more about what Worcester has to offer? Check out the other #WorcesterWednesday posts!
January 2019: Worcester, MA: Why It Should Be Added To Your Bucket List
February 2019: Worcester Art Museum
March 2019: Redemption Rock Brewing Company
July 2019: 6 Best Coffee Shops in Worcester
September 2019: The Five Breweries inWorcester
October 2019: Worcester Hauntings
November 2019: Holiday Shopping in Worcester