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WORCESTER TELEGRAM & GAZETTE WORCESTER MAGAZINE More coming soon...
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WORCESTER TELEGRAM & GAZETTE PLENTY OF FAVORITES AT EIGHTY ATES You can bet your blue light martini that scallops over lobster mashed potatoes or bourbon steak tips with couscous won’t get axed at Eighty Ates Bar & Grille, 8 Airport Road, Dudley, anytime soon. The dishes have their own fan club, according to Trevor Dieffenwierth of Charlton, general manager, and Kevin Krommer of Dudley, food and beverage director, who opened the restaurant in February. “We have customers who come in just for the lobster mashed potatoes,” Krommer said. The scallops special is served every other week, so you may want to call to see if it’s on the menu before you head out to the restaurant. Telephone: (508) 949-8888. Everything on the Eighty Ates menu ends in 88. How clever is that? The menu, which changes seasonally, offers plenty of choices for vegetarians as well as carnivores. Go to www.eightyates.com for a peek at the lunch, dinner and kids’ menus. Or, wait until you get there. We don’t want to spill the beans about everything. Here’s the skinny on the place: Krommer has been in the restaurant business for 37 years; he owns Colonial Caterer in Webster. Dieffenwierth has previous restaurant experience, and also worked at Commerce Insurance Co. in Webster. The men plan to open another Eighty Ates in a Worcester suburb. “Down the road, we see Eighty Ates as a franchised business,” Dieffenwierth said. The restaurant seats 92; the bar, 12. A portable partition separates the dining room and bar. “We want families in the dining room to feel comfortable,” Krommer said. Small, private parties can be accommodated. Parking is no problem. Hours: Dinner, 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30am Sunday; Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Another new dining experience on the horizon.
WORCESTER MAGAZINE EIGHTY ATES BAR & GRILLE: WHAT, NO PIANO? Written by Ina Irving
At the risk of sounding like a snob, how hip and trendy can a restaurant be when it is sandwiched in a strip plaza with a Big Lots and a Family Dollar store? Well, someone had to take the first step, and the Eighty Ates Bar & Grille in Dudley makes a respectable attempt. Past the black tinted windows, the décor is spare and slick, punctuated by vividly colored abstract paintings, specially commissioned from artist and assistant manager David Bussiere.
Tables for two and four were packed in a grid, with just enough space for comfort, populated by families with children as well as couples and small groups. My companion and I chose a spot near the front end. From there we could glimpse merrymakers at the bar behind a partition at the opposite end of the long, narrow space. The servers scurried about in shirts of cobalt blue, and in short order Heather introduced herself and the specials (scallops, four different ways) and took our drink orders: that evening's drink special, a mojito for $3.88 (add 75 cents for Bacardi) and an iced tea (Arizona, $2.50).
In a stroke of genius, the desserts were included in the slim wine menu placed at each table. Before we had decided between seafood, chicken or beef, we were dreaming of chocolate peanut butter pie with Reese's peanut butter cups and the homemade chocolate brownie sundae ($4.88 each), or maybe raspberry white chocolate cheese brule ($5.88).
Getting back to business, we agreed upon the stuffed Portobello mushroom for a starter ($7.88) and took a few more minutes to weigh the merits of the spicy shrimp fra diavolo ($12.88); swordfish steak with a sesame ginger glaze ($13.88); or any of the chicken dishes — oven-roasted with sausage and cornbread ($11.88), or with Portobellos, prosciutto and cheese ($12.88), or roulade stuffed with sun dried tomatoes, spinach and feta cheese ($13.88). I spied the cedar plank salmon special at another table, a healthy pink filet on lush, dark baby spinach.
Hungry, we carved and devoured the pizza-like black mushroom, topped with spinach-flecked goat cheese and a crown of sweet lobster chunks. In my husband's absence, I felt compelled to keep the beef banner aloft, and I was not disappointed. My order of bourbon sirloin tips ($12.88) was succulent, bathed in a sticky-sweet glaze that was kept in check by savory sautéed onions, green peppers and Portobellos. A bed of couscous, a nice change of pace, brought it all down to earth. I ate my fill and still had another large serving to take home.
My friend polished off most of her chicken roulade. Thickly sliced moist and tender white meat hugged the flavorful stuffing. A chunky mound of homemade mashed red bliss potatoes and mixed summer vegetables rounded out the dish.
Heather cleared our plates and returned with those delectable desserts. Crumbled peanut butter cups nestled in layers of firm dark chocolate and peanut butter mousse, poised on a soft, graham cracker crust. I dipped each forkful in dollops of real whipped cream. My friend dove into a generous bowl, a big, thick chocolate brownie just visible beneath scoops of vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and whipped cream. I thought the brownie was a bit dry, but she was in sundae heaven.
Our visit to this hot spot totaled a reasonable $56.10 before tip. After we left, we went shopping at Big Lots — who can resist a bargain?
Ina Irving is a pseudonym.
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Eighty Ates Bar & Grille, 8 Airport Rd, Dudley, MA 01571 | 508.949.8888 |
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