Worcester, Massachusetts is where I went to college, so I spent many years trying all the restaurants, diners, and especially the bars! So I was excited to return and make a video that included some of my favorites from years ago (like the Boynton and George’s Coney Island Hot Dogs), as well as some new additions (Dead Horse Hill) and of course Wormtown Brewery.
Boulevard Diner and Miss Worcester Diner
Worcester is the home of the lunch car style diner, as they were made by the Worcester Lunch Car Company here in the early 1900s. The Boulevard Diner is open 24 hours Th-Sat so it’s a great late night stop after the bars close
Deadhorse Hill
Chef Jared Forman may come from New York City, but his experience working at some of NYCs best restaurants: Gramercy Tavern, Momofuku, and the three Michelin starred Per Se (one of the most amazing meals I have ever had) is certainly Worcester’s gain.
Ralph's Diner
Officially named Ralph’s Rock Diner, its definitely not an ordinary diner… Ralph’s is a live music venue and bar.
The atmosphere is best described as eclectic. Antiques and neon adorn the walls and ceilings, and hand painted murals are everywhere, a sort of curated carnival of curiosities. The diverse live entertainment is drawn from local, national and international artists and has featured many famous performers. Bi-monthly Metal Thursdays have been a staple since 2006, while the Dirty Gerund Poetry Show has been going strong every Monday since 2009. Ralph’s also projects movies and video games on the outside patio, hosts vintage auto and motorcycle shows as well as private parties.
Wormtown Brewery
Wormtown Brewery serves some of the best beers in the city, all usng locally sourced ingredients. My favorites are the “Be Hoppy” Left Coast IPA and the “Mass Whole” American Lager. You can also find them at Gillette Stadium before the New England Patriots games. And if you don’t like beer, they also make a few hard seltzers as well.
George's Coney Island Hot Dogs
A staple in Worcester since 1912. I came here in college. My father came here. And my grandfather also came here. And there are families that have been coming here for longer than this. Get a couple dogs with chili and a Polar soda (also made in Worcester)
The Boynton
This was another place my father hung out in back in the 1960s when it was more of a dive bar and then I did in college. Long gone are the days of 10 cent wings on Monday nights, as a renovation a while back made it bigger and nicer. But WPI students and local patrons still fill this place up each night.
