Visiting from SC, I was blown away by a perfect lobster roll!! And the proprietors, Bill and Jeanette, were super friendly. A small cafe with a great, homey vibe. And did I mention that the cold lobster roll - with fresh Maine lobster - is perfect??? It was so good I returned the next day to try the hot lobster roll and the lobster bisque. Like on my first visit, the owners were great and the food was absolutely delicious. read more

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Tight to the towering yellow sign for "Great Wall" in the heart of downtown Worcester you'll find the unassuming Theater Cafe quietly tucked into the streetscape. You'd be forgiven for walking past without a second look, assuming it's just another mom and pop breakfast and lunch joint. One doing a brisk takeout business for the neighboring businesses and likely not a place you'd try for more upscale fare. You'd be wrong! Beyond the admittedly dated decor and past the countertop service of dinner standards is a kitchen that turns out food that hits well above its weight. With a daily list of specials that would do most $50 a plate restaurants proud expect to have your first impressions blown away. Haddock cooked with a very Mediterranean mix of artichokes, olives, onions, and cherry tomato's in a lemon/butter/ fish stock, Jambalaya done wet in the traditional New Orleans style with house made creol seasoning, a shrimp and veg stir fry with Bok Choy served uniquely with fat fettuccine noodles in the house made broth. All spectacularly good, all incredibly under priced! A word about the wine list: there is none! Far better, it's BYOB with food that justifies pulling your better bottles. Perfect. Don't spread this around, but the daily lunch specials mirror the by reservation only dinner menu...for half the price. In sum, Theater Cafe far exceedes expectations and delivers a remarkable value. You come here for the food, not for the ambiance, perfect service, to be seen by the right people, or God forbid because some snooty food critic deigned to give it 5 stars. It's a place Michelin will never review and we should all be greatful for that. read more

I'll be the first to say that we were in a bit of a rush because of a show time, but that doesn't really affect my review. We ordered an eggplant panini, a BLT and chicken tenders, along with sweet potato fries and onion rings. We were the only table for whom they were cooking. It took at least a half hour to get our lunch. The BLT was on homemade bread with bacon and fresh tomatoes and lettuce, HOWEVER, there was a bucket of mayo on both pieces of toast. I could have scraped some off, but I saw it sitting, completed, for at least 10 minutes before I got it. The basket with the chicken tenders had oil dripping down the tissue liner. The sweet potato fries were great. We finally had to cancel the onion rings because it was taking so long. (They did refund and give them to us.) To top it off, the two people in the kitchen got into an audible argument about the temperature of what I believe was the fryolator. The people were nice enough to us, but cook time was very long and food mediocre....mayonaised to death and oily. read more

The staff and owner were exceptionally friendly and accommodating, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. However, the food, while decent, was quite basic and lacked any standout features. read more

Theatre Cafe - Sandwiches Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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Scratch kitchen cooking all your American favorites. Small and exclusive.... Make sure to book a reservation for dinner. Quality of the food is top notch. read more

This food is unbelievably good. The hard part is getting a reservation. The place is tiny so plan in advance in order to enjoy the wonderful food and service. It's better than eating at home read more

I ordered the Thanksgiving sandwich and it came on homemade herb bread, which was amazing! I also took an order home of American Chop Suey (photo from Brian Goslow) and it was absolutely delicious! The restaurant is small but the staff were very friendly and welcoming. They had a lot of regulars who were greeted warmly like family. Highly recommend! read more

Theatre Cafe - American Chop Suey - Sandwiches Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

I recently got a job right around the corner from here so I have picked up lunch a couple of times. This place is SO GOOD Not much of a sit-down spot but they do have a few tables. More of a pick-up place I've had their "Thanksgiving" style sandwich, omg so good. I just ate a BLT, was perfect and hit the spot Really love this place and I expect to grab lunch here very regularly. The other folks in my office love it too. Five stars all day! read more

The lamb was superb, perfectly cooked, flavorful, as was everyone's dinner. Deserts were varied and all delicious, which made it fun sharing. Service was very good and also a lot of fun. Very cozy and a wonderful place to enjoy a meal. read more

EXCELLENT food and service!! If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! We will definitely be back.

Awesome experience...worth coming 30 miles!! Bill lit it up in the grill.,.Jeanette provided the 5 star service and entertainment! Great value and experience! read more

Joined family members and a friend here on a Friday night for a private dinner. It was our second time here and Bill, Chef and Owner, did not disappoint. He was solo on this evening and everything was excellent and timed perfectly. Very impressive for a one-man show! We had ... - an autumn harvest salad for a starter. Mixed greens, beets, butternut squash, pistachios, apples with a housemade maple dressing - scallop topped with an avocado remoulade over a cranberry glaze (Bill went above and beyond by making a thin sliced brisket over cauliflower purée for the non-seafood eater in our party) - pumpkin sausage soup (other soups were also offered and available such as tomato, chili con carne, butternut bisque and I think one more I cannot recall) - surf (stuffed shrimp) and turf (sirloin topped with a mushroom glacé) served with roast brussel sprouts and a thin stuffed twice baked potato For the non surf lover: stuffed roast chicken with the same sides For the non turf lover: grilled fish with the stuffed shrimp, same sides For desserts to share: homemade chocolate mousse cake and pumpkin cream wheels. Great coffee too! Everything was outstanding and after dessert, Bill sat with us and we had a wonderful conversation with him about being in the food industry. Wish we lived closer. You must check this place out if you're in the area! Thanks Bill for another wonderful experience!! read more

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Another great date night at the Theatre Cafe! This time we brought the munchkin as we didn't have a sitter. I had the pan seared duck breast with the most scrumptious baked pear topped with bleu cheese. My husband had the short ribs on top of polenta, absolutely amazing. The little one shared a little off of each of our plates and ate every last but including the house made pumpkin cheesecake with espresso mousse... which was out of this world. Lucky enough to get a seat on a packed night before the show! read more

A block away from the Hanover Theater, we went before the show (they stay open a little later on show nights). The place is very small, maybe 8 tables, but the food is fabulous. Treated to an Amuse Bouch, a first for us and very tasty. We split a Cesar Salad and had a couple of burgers, and can't wait to try their other offerings. The have two menus a bistro menu and special theatre night one for when the Hanover has a show. The service is great and friendly and we got to meet the chef which was a special treat. It's BYOB but they have their own brand of soft drinks which was a pleasant surprise, I had the root beer but there were several other offerings that I'll try on subsequent visits. Reservations on show nights are recommended and fill up fast! We plan to try and dine here before every performance we attend downtown, so I'll be updating this review from time to time. Stay tuned lol read more

Outstanding Butternut Raviolis today...always friendly service! Fortunately I work closely so definitely looking forward to my next visit. read more

My only regret is that I have never been here before! The cafe has been open for 9 years, and it's one of those best kept secrets of Worcester. Everything is made from scratch and they source from farms for fresh meat. Soups are not mass produced or prepackaged. They are made from fresh ingredients everyday. The clam chowder is creamy but not thick. It will warm you up nicely and remind you that you are in New England. The duck wings are delicious with a nice sesame sprinkle and sauce. Definitely an Asian flare! There are so many things I want to try. My husband enjoyed his chicken parmesan with perfectly cooked penne pasta. I have never thoroughly enjoyed gnocchi before. But I was really craving lamb and they were paired for the daily special. This was the best gnocchi I ever had. A nice sear on each gnocchi gave it just the right texture. The sauce was delicious, and I really wanted to take half of it home. But I decided to go full caveman and practically lick my plate! They do fun looking events like a supper club and they are open later for dinner when there's a show at the Hanover Theater. But you need to make a reservation for those nights. They are primarily a breakfast/lunch place, so we need to go back for pancakes soon. read more

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Another fantastic meal at the Theatre Cafe! Bill and Jeanette delivered exceptional food and service. A hidden gem that needs to be discovered!! Thank you for providing amazing food choices . We will be back! read more

What a great find! Ten of us went to dinner before a show at The Hanover. The food was absolutely delicious and there wasn't a single complaint about anything.! From the fillets to the scallops to the salmon to the bolognese everything was perfect! Very small and intimate so reservations recommended! read more

Had the pleasure of having breakfast here. Everything about this place is right. From the welcoming Pride Flag out front to the cozy atmosphere inside and the "where everybody knows your name" ambience. You can tell that this is exactly what it would be like to walk into Jeanette and Bill's (the owners--married couple) kitchen at home. They're right there the whole time, and I do mean right there since the space is small and humble, they want to make sure that you have a good meal and leave satisfied, and they love their restaurant as much as they love each other. They also have a great sense of humor, but you can tell that if you piss Jeanette off, she will make you feel it, and deservedly so. Where I'm from, you don't walk into someone's kitchen and disrespect it. read more

Our friends and I dined here before a show at Hanover Theatre. The staff here are extremely welcoming and friendly, and the kitchen was superb. I have dietary restrictions and they offered to create something special for me, I enjoyed a delicious meal of grilled salmon and sides, and my own special amuse bouche (created just for me). I look forward to coming back here soon. read more

Took a friend's recommendation and stopped in for a quick lunch and was still able to make our afternoon show at The Hanover Theatre without feeling rushed at all. Can't wait to come back next time I score some tickets. 5 stars. read more

Tuna Club (sans bacon) is outrageously delicious.

If I could give more stars I would. The food, the environment, the owners and chefs are incredible. Best little kept secret in Worcester!

What a wonderful place!!! I have walked by and tried to stop in several times before but on show nights at the Hanover, it's by reservation only and always booked. Now I finally understand why! Cozy tables but everyone there was nice and friendly and laughing at each other's jokes. We were treated to a delicious little amuse bouche on the house, ravioli with creme fraiche. The garden salad was generous and yummy, house made vinaigrette. Then I was so glad I had remembered it was BYOB and brought a merlot to go with the fabulous Brisket dinner with carrots and mashed potatoes. Succulent beef in a perfect wine sauce. We didn't have dessert but they looked amazing so I will try to leave room next time. Thank you very much for the incredible meal and homey hospitality! read more

The food is phenomenal and the staff is five star quality. Bill, Jeanette and their entire staff strive vigorously to maintain the highest quality standards on a daily basis. They use the freshest seasonal ingrediants and prepare each meal with care creating mouth watering dishes that never disappoint. My family and I have been dining here for years and it is consistently incredible. They do not disappoint and come highly recommended! read more

A SPECTACULAR way to celebrate the Theater Café's 6th year! A chefs dinner! Jeanette and Bill were lovely hosts as always, and prepared an amazing dinner for their guests, supplemented by smooth live music. They were even accommodating to food restrictions, even with the preset menu. I'm posting each of the SIX courses that were included. We've been about a half dozen times so far, but we're lucky to have gotten a reservation to celebrate this Worcester gem. Congrats on six years! read more

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A small place that's BIG on flavor and portions! Just happened across this place while looking for a brunch place and talk about a hidden gem! I had the biscuits with sausage gravy and eggs...and it was awesome. I'm a southern boy and it reminded me of a great breakfast back home. Diverse menu, awesome chef. You've got to try this place out! read more

Theatre Cafe - Awesome biscuits with sausage gravy and eggs! - Sandwiches Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Teeny tiny place near the Hanover Theater that makes surprisingly good, gourmet food. From the outside you're expecting typical diner fare, but this is something of a higher quality. I've sampled a few things here (Spicy Thai chicken wrap and the brunch Lobster Eggs Benedict) and I was pleasantly surprised with the taste. This small place with the dingy exterior has some hella good food! On top of that, the prices are so reasonable I could cry with pleasure! $16 for the lobster Bene with home fries and a cup of coffee). Believe me, I am well acquainted with expensive, but poor quality food. Theater Cafe is reasonable and delicious, two things I love when it comes to food. Definitely a place worth trying at least once if you're on Main Street, and one worth going back to more than once. read more

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I ordered the biscuits and gravy and they are so good! The biscuits are soft and the gravy was not too greasy and the portion was just right not too insane. The breakfast potatoes have a nice crunch to them and the staff was so nice. Would definitely order from here again! read more

Theatre Cafe is such a nice spot for myself that I live close by. I can run in and get some coffee or place an order for pick up and know it will be ready on time and it's great every time. I will definitely keep coming back. read more

So tiny I often have to get dinner to go. The menu is always interesting and the quality is amazing.

I loved the Avocado and Cheese tomato and bacon sandwich. It was grilled. I also loved the homemade potato chips. I also loved the Greek Salad. I also loved the sauce for the homemade potato chips. It was also conveniently located right next to the Hanover Theater where I saw The play A Christmas Carol. Friendly wait staff and chef. Best thing I ever ate! read more

I never knew about this place until i started working in my office since then I've never had an issue whatsoever well maybe one small one. Their coffee is always watered down. Please don't water down your coffee when you have it delivered but everything else is great especially their breakfast sandwiches. Also more options for your French toast or maybe add waffles!! read more

It really depends on when you go in there. If Bill the husband is working the service is fantastic. And then there's his wife, you'll see her outside smoking a cigarette once in a while. I've actually sat in there and watched her backstab regulars as they've come in and left. I've also caught her on several occasions overcharging me because she didn't think I was paying attention to the prices. So when I go there I walked by if the bill is working I go in there, if the wife is there I keep walking read more

Fresh clean food. With awesome flavors! You would never know it from the outside but the inside is awesome yummy. The service was great and I didn't have any complaints. That's why I gave it five stars. read more

Their food. Maybe be ok. Not sure. But their customer service is horrendous!! Tried to make reservations and the woman on phone basically hung up on me!!! REALLY?? Wow. Not even trying even if food is ok. Lots of other venues without attitude. Response from owner doesn't make me want to even attempt trying back. A simple we "don't have any reservations left" would have suffice without being rude. Don't take offense from the truth. Food AND service IS your industry not just ONE or the other. Good luck. read more

After reading the reviews, I so wanted to have a good experience.... unfortunately that was not the case yesterday. We got there before noon and I was excited to see the specials. Looked good. We asked the waitstaff whether the hamburger came with fries and I asked about the number/size of the shrimp cakes. She brought over a plate of 4 cakes that had not been cooked yet and explained that this was what they started as. She indicated it was her first day there but if the description of the meal did not indicate fries then no fries. So my husband ordered sweet potato fries with his Med/Well burger and I ordered the shrimp cake/chowder special. When the woman (guessing owner) read the order I overheard her ask the waitstaff if the request for sweet potato fries was instead of the fries that came with the burger.... That was the first time I realized that there was some confusion. When the food finally came, the chowder was a bit thin though did taste OK and there were 3 small shrimp cakes -not 4 and were a bit dry. Not a problem a bit of tartar sauce couldn't overcome.... Then my husband started eating his burger and realized something was wrong.... something was hard to bite through. He showed it to me and I realized that the cook had never removed the paper lining of the meat and had cooked it that way! I refrained from making a scene but did point it out to the waitstaff who shared the situation with the woman/owner who subsequently shared the information with the cook(guessing husband/owner). Both came out and saw the paper that had been removed and joked about it though apologized.... NOTHING else... At best it would have been appropriate to remove that cost off the tab. At the least, my husband should have been offered a replacement. The fact that the cook could grill the burger with the paper on it make be wonder if both sides were actually cooked. After all, wouldn't it have been noticed once the burger was flipped? The paper was on the underside of the meat in the bun so it was not seen when husband put ketchup on top. Very disappointing. I do not see us ever going back regardless of the proximity to the theater. read more

I have to say for the size of this place I'm amazed at the food I've received from here. I never got a bad meal here and is one of my favorite places in Worcester. Best steak bomb I ever had by far and the specials are great. This sort of quality at the price point is head scratching. Great sandwiches with unique specials like lobster mac and cheese. So many places nearby have fancy atmospheres with high prices but the food is always sub par, this cafe is the polar opposite. Not saying the atmosphere is bad at all just small but that doesn't bother me. I go to restaurants for good food, not yuppie atmospheres. I assume based on the dishes the chef has had some past culinary training, pretty wild what they accomplish in that tiny kitchen. read more

My son and I have been on a very long college touring trip. And came across this establishment. We were taken care of very quickly and had a fantastic breakfast. The egg sandwich was awesome. And the pancakes were fluffy & big. Thanks for the great meal.. read more

We had the best blueberry homemade pancakes here, they were amazing. The breakfast was so good and everything was homemade. The place is small and cozy with very good music and hospitality. If we lived close enough this place will definitely be an almost every day occurrence. Will definitely come back if we are in Worcester read more