Via on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester

First off, I don't think any of the entrees were less than 18 dollars, so if you're looking for something reasonable, you'll be in for a surprise when you see the menu.

I wasn't really expecting big things from this restaurant. Primarily because I haven't heard great things about it - and I don't care for it's big sister the 111 Chop House. Granted the Chop and Via have "star" quality. Meaning that I don't think you can get that kind of atmosphere anywhere else in Worcester...except maybe Bocado. Of course, as Sheila keeps reminding me, I haven't seen all the restaurants in Worcester. YET.

Speaking of atmosphere, it was really nice to sit outside on the veranda. Later, when it started getting colder, one of the waiters turned on the overhead heat lamps and after a little while I started to feel like one of those rotisserie chickens at the supermarket (of course Sheila loved them). Like the Chop we had two waiters and they were pretty efficient, not like when I went to the 111, where every time I turned around there was a waiter asking me if everything was alright. Personally, I like to eat without being interrupted every few bites. Don't get me wrong, I like pampering, but sometimes it seems unnecessary.

For starters, we ordered shrimp cocktail and crostini. Two of the crostini were prosciutto and some other ingredients - which I couldn't exactly see, since they were wolfed down by two other members of our party. The other two were sun dried tomato paste and goat cheese and I was able to try one of them, and I thought it was good. Can't really go wrong with sun dried tomatoes and goat cheese. Unfortunately, they did go wrong with the jumbo shrimp. They looked big and beautiful and the sauce was good - just enough horseradish. Unfortunately the shrimp themselves were slightly fishy...and rubbery. The flesh just didn't feel firm like freshly boiled shrimp. I have a feeling they were cooked earlier and put on ice for hours. Sheila said they tasted "powdery"...I have NO idea how she came up with that description...but powdery is not how I want my shrimp to taste.

Now for the food... I ordered an 18 dollar cheese lasagna and at first bite it was very good. Very cheesy and yummy. However, by the 4th bite the cheese was getting to be a bit too much. I also marveled at how much the lasagna tasted like spaghettiOs as it started to cool. Eighteen dollar spaghettiOs....interesting.

Sheila ordered shrimp scampi and the shrimp were firmer in this dish and were sitting in a bed of nicely done, al dente pasta. It was pretty good. Very buttery, with a nice garlicky taste, diced tomatoes, and of course, shrimp. Again, if I was eating this dish, I'd wonder if the initial buttery yummyness would start to get old and too heavy. Sheila like it though.

Oh, I almost forgot about the bread!!! It was sooooo yeasty. I swear there was so much yeast in this bread that it was starting to turn to alcohol. I don't know how this could happen, but there was a definite taste, and hot feel of alcohol.. Strange...but oddly good and delightfully crusty.

CONCLUSION: Overall, it was ok. However, I wasn't paying! If I were paying, I would have been disappointed. I liked the surroundings, but I wouldn't have been too keen on spending a lot of money on just "OK" food. I'm not wealthy so I have to get the most value for my buck! Still, if I were single and was taking a date out for the first time - this would be the place I'd take her.

CONS: Price, price, price...

MUSINGS: The Captains and Coke Sheila had was yummy. Oh, and I'd probably go there again for a soup (something cheap) just so I can have some more of that wacky bread...so different...so alluring.... :)