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We went on a Saturday night where it was quite packed (almost every single table was filled), however, we still got seated quickly which was awesome. The service is great. Our food arrived fairly quickly as well. All of the staff are very friendly & attentive. The space is cool, very relaxing & open. As for the food, it was very, very SALTY. The mussels were good but once you reach the bottom of the bowl it was salty. The flavor of the wings were good but also salty. The ramen was also extremely salty as well so it seems like everything they make here is just overall on the salty side. If they just lessened every dish on that part, it would be perfect. But especially the ramen was very hard to eat without drinking 5 cups of water. The shirley temple was delicious tho! Food is 3/5 but service is a 5/5. So I will say the service definitely saved the rating from 3 stars.
After moving to Worcester this summer, I can honestly say that Wooden Bar is my favorite restaurant in the area. I have already gone several times, and cannot go more than a week without recommending it to others. Upon our first visit, we had a bit of difficulty finding it. However, if you just look for the little parking lot, then it is easier to find. They do not take reservations, but for two people it is pretty easy to find a seat even on a Friday or weekend night. It is seat yourself and then you order at the bar; once you order, food comes out fairly quickly. They have a nice assortment of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages; I personally love ordering a gin and tonic. In terms of food, we love the spicy tantanmen ramen and the lamb wontons. The ramen specifically is so comforting as it gets colder here in Worcester. I also cannot come here without getting the Napa cabbage kimchi and the pickles on the side. Overall, the restaurant has a cool atmosphere and would be great for a first date, date night, getting together with friends.
What a spectacular surprise this place was!!! A hidden-away bar in the middle of Worcester that was one of the most tasteful experiences. This was amazing and I recommend everyone come here for a treat and relaxing time. The spicy tantanmen ramen was AMAZING. The broth was soooo flavorful, the pork belly was thick and soft, and the noodles were perfect. Not too crazy spicy, it was just the right amount. The oysters were very fresh (3 for $6!), and the creme brulee and ice cream afterwards were perfect enders of the meal. The vibes are very casual, we went on a weekend night and it was amazing. Service is super fast, it's quite busy and loud but nothing crazy. Lots of parking as well.
My friend and I enjoyed our dinner here and got to try new flavors that we never seen before. Their menu is Asian inspired with plenty of veggie options and ingredients clearly labeled. We tried the ogeat lemonade (very refreshing), miso carrots appetizer (both of us loved - very unique flavors), the spicy tantanmen (not too spicy/was just right for me), the lamb wontons (not our favorite - only 4 dumpling shaped wontons, flavors heavy on the lamb, might not be filling), and lastly, the brown butter ice cream (topped with pepper which was interesting! But very delicious). They were able to accommodate nut allergies easily and everything tasted amazing. The total came out to be about $35-$40 per person depending on tip. The staff were all very friendly and attentive, and the space was clean. Parking wasn't an issue at all.
Can you day Date night! Came here for the very first time for date night with my boyfriend Saturday night. At first we weren't sure where the restaurant was located or the parking because it's tucked away behind buildings and it's literally inside a giant warehouse. But once we saw the very small sign and a few people sitting outside we knew we found it. It was a nice night out so we decided to dine al fresco. You order at the bar and they give you a number and bring your food to your table. They have a drinks menu and we decided on the barrel aged stout and a fruity drink. Both were very tasty. We shared a cabbage appetizer because it looked interesting to try. The dish was very pretty to look at and it tasted very good. Don't see many cabbage appetizer dishes so we had to try! I ordered the spicy ramen and my boyfriend got their fish. Both were delish! We finished every single bite! We even treated ourselves to dessert because all the options sounded amazing! The split pea ice cream was intriguing so we had to get that and the lemon sorbet was also a must! What a fun date night!
Went back to Wooden Bar tonight because I had to try the Lamb wontons. We also ordered the teriyaki bok choy, and both dishes were super flavorful and very filling. Did find some room for the brown sugar and butter ice cream it was so tasty. I ordered the ginger mazeman with sake meatballs and pork belly to go. Then I saw on their specials board to ask about the day old pastries from Wooden Bakery... got a bag of beautiful pastries for $10. Love the atmosphere and service here, and I will be back again!
FOOD! So good! We had the kimchi pancakes, I had one of the ramen bowls...drinks are tasty too! But, everything is $16+...portions are healthy, but they are all at least $16 even for the apps. Ambiance feels a little unfinished? Maybe that's why it's called Wooden Bar? Not 100%. Not a bad thing, but it has that feeling. Service is fantastic! People are soooo nice and helpful! We spent around $130 for 3 drinks, one app, and 2 entrees. WE WILL BE BACK!!! :)))
The food here is really good. I was a bit skeptical because the menu is very limited, and I wasn't too keen on the options I saw, but the food really speaks for itself. I came here last night to celebrate a friend's birthday and when you first drive by, it can be easy to miss because it's in the cut and in a residential neighborhood. The ambiance is very cool. It has an earthy and artistic feel. I could see them doing live music or haven spoken word if they ever decide to go that route, but it seems very intimate and personal at the same time. Since it was our friend's birthday, we tried a little of everything. We had pork sliders, Shirley temples, and squid pancakes to start. The Shirley temple was so refreshing, tart, and tasted like it was made with fresh ginger. We all loved it. The pork sliders were also very tasty. The pork was nicely seasoned and the red radishes were a nice addition, although they were a bit chewy. The squid pancakes were surprisingly good. I wasn't sure I'd like it, but I did. It reminded me of scallion pancakes. For the entrees, three of us got the Spicy Tantanmen which was very flavorful. The broth was creamy and rich. The pork was well cooked with a bit of a char, and the noodles were perfect! I would definitely recommend and reorder. The birthday girl had the confit half chicken. I liked the presentation of the dish as the chicken was sliced up and easy to eat that way. She let us sample the chicken. I will say the chicken didn't look all the way cooked through, but the piece I had was very tender. Service was good for the couple times they checked in on us. They pretty much left us alone, as it's more of a self serve type of vibe. You order at the counter, pay at the counter, and they leave a huge jug of water at the table for you to help yourself. I will come back this summer once I'm home and bring my sister.
Very cute restaurant and bar located off a little known side street in Worcester. I like that it's a little tucked away so it feels like a best kept secret, but they have a pretty decent sized parking lot that is well lit. There's outdoor seating for the warmer months, and inside, there's a spacious dining room and bar seating. I was impressed by the adequate spacing between tables. It gets busy but you don't ever feel crowded like at other restaurants. Order at the end of the bar, grab a number, and they'll bring food to your table. Drinks are creative and delicious. Their food menu changes regularly and tastes very fresh. Only con is that prices are pretty steep and the food menu is slightly limited. Service is so friendly, with staff being on top of clearing finished dishes/drinks and checking to see if we were satisfied. Overall, really enjoyed our dining experience here.
This is my 1st visit here as I saw all the good ratings and decided to go out with the gals. The food was very interesting, but good all around. I think I enjoyed the pork sliders more than the ramen due to trying lots of ramens in the area. The shoyu ramen was decent, bonus points for homemade noodles, but the broth seemed to be lacking something - it seemed flat for shoyu. The pomegranate Creme brûlée was fun, I didn't get much rose hints though as it seemed masked by the sugar. The drink was very tequila forward, so if you really enjoy that taste like I do, it's perfect! The service was good when we first got in when it opened, once it started to fill we kinda were left there waiting to order another dish (~10 min wait). Totally understandable, but no one ever really checked on us/how the food was which was a bit weird to me. The ambiance was nice and seems like I good spot to hang out/chat with friends for a night out! Overall, I would like to give this place a 4.5/5 due to the weird service aspect we received. I think I would expect more personable interactions since we did sit at the bar, but we seemed avoided more than approached. Otherwise, enjoy some good drinks and food here!
2 months ago
It's a mix for me. The ambiance was amazing, great lighting and not too loud. The parking lot was full of water but honestly that didn't bother me at all, it added to the vibe of the place. I got the spicy ramen and my partner got the chicken non spicy one, please refer to pics as I forgot the name... highly recommend getting the chicken ramen, the broth is light and savory, additionally lots of protein and veggies to make it the perfect ramen bowl. The spicy ramen was okay, I love spice but this one was a bit starchy as if too much starch was used to thicken the broth. The noodles were also way too soft; and there's very little protein. I got beansprout as an add on and that was $2; a bit much if added onto the bowl. read more
27 days ago
We went on a Saturday night where it was quite packed (almost every single table was filled), however, we still got seated quickly which was awesome. The service is great. Our food arrived fairly quickly as well. All of the staff are very friendly & attentive. The space is cool, very relaxing & open. As for the food, it was very, very SALTY. The mussels were good but once you reach the bottom of the bowl it was salty. The flavor of the wings were good but also salty. The ramen was also extremely salty as well so it seems like everything they make here is just overall on the salty side. If they just lessened every dish on that part, it would be perfect. But especially the ramen was very hard to eat without drinking 5 cups of water. The shirley temple was delicious tho! Food is 3/5 but service is a 5/5. So I will say the service definitely saved the rating from 3 stars. read more
11 months ago
After moving to Worcester this summer, I can honestly say that Wooden Bar is my favorite restaurant in the area. I have already gone several times, and cannot go more than a week without recommending it to others. Upon our first visit, we had a bit of difficulty finding it. However, if you just look for the little parking lot, then it is easier to find. They do not take reservations, but for two people it is pretty easy to find a seat even on a Friday or weekend night. It is seat yourself and then you order at the bar; once you order, food comes out fairly quickly. They have a nice assortment of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages; I personally love ordering a gin and tonic. In terms of food, we love the spicy tantanmen ramen and the lamb wontons. The ramen specifically is so comforting as it gets colder here in Worcester. I also cannot come here without getting the Napa cabbage kimchi and the pickles on the side. Overall, the restaurant has a cool atmosphere and would be great for a first date, date night, getting together with friends. read more
1 year ago
What a spectacular surprise this place was!!! A hidden-away bar in the middle of Worcester that was one of the most tasteful experiences. This was amazing and I recommend everyone come here for a treat and relaxing time. The spicy tantanmen ramen was AMAZING. The broth was soooo flavorful, the pork belly was thick and soft, and the noodles were perfect. Not too crazy spicy, it was just the right amount. The oysters were very fresh (3 for $6!), and the creme brulee and ice cream afterwards were perfect enders of the meal. The vibes are very casual, we went on a weekend night and it was amazing. Service is super fast, it's quite busy and loud but nothing crazy. Lots of parking as well. read more
My friend and I enjoyed our dinner here and got to try new flavors that we never seen before. Their menu is Asian inspired with plenty of veggie options and ingredients clearly labeled. We tried the ogeat lemonade (very refreshing), miso carrots appetizer (both of us loved - very unique flavors), the spicy tantanmen (not too spicy/was just right for me), the lamb wontons (not our favorite - only 4 dumpling shaped wontons, flavors heavy on the lamb, might not be filling), and lastly, the brown butter ice cream (topped with pepper which was interesting! But very delicious). They were able to accommodate nut allergies easily and everything tasted amazing. The total came out to be about $35-$40 per person depending on tip. The staff were all very friendly and attentive, and the space was clean. Parking wasn't an issue at all. read more
Can you day Date night! Came here for the very first time for date night with my boyfriend Saturday night. At first we weren't sure where the restaurant was located or the parking because it's tucked away behind buildings and it's literally inside a giant warehouse. But once we saw the very small sign and a few people sitting outside we knew we found it. It was a nice night out so we decided to dine al fresco. You order at the bar and they give you a number and bring your food to your table. They have a drinks menu and we decided on the barrel aged stout and a fruity drink. Both were very tasty. We shared a cabbage appetizer because it looked interesting to try. The dish was very pretty to look at and it tasted very good. Don't see many cabbage appetizer dishes so we had to try! I ordered the spicy ramen and my boyfriend got their fish. Both were delish! We finished every single bite! We even treated ourselves to dessert because all the options sounded amazing! The split pea ice cream was intriguing so we had to get that and the lemon sorbet was also a must! What a fun date night! read more
2 months ago
Went back to Wooden Bar tonight because I had to try the Lamb wontons. We also ordered the teriyaki bok choy, and both dishes were super flavorful and very filling. Did find some room for the brown sugar and butter ice cream it was so tasty. I ordered the ginger mazeman with sake meatballs and pork belly to go. Then I saw on their specials board to ask about the day old pastries from Wooden Bakery... got a bag of beautiful pastries for $10. Love the atmosphere and service here, and I will be back again! read more
FOOD! So good! We had the kimchi pancakes, I had one of the ramen bowls...drinks are tasty too! But, everything is $16+...portions are healthy, but they are all at least $16 even for the apps. Ambiance feels a little unfinished? Maybe that's why it's called Wooden Bar? Not 100%. Not a bad thing, but it has that feeling. Service is fantastic! People are soooo nice and helpful! We spent around $130 for 3 drinks, one app, and 2 entrees. WE WILL BE BACK!!! :))) read more
11 months ago
The food here is really good. I was a bit skeptical because the menu is very limited, and I wasn't too keen on the options I saw, but the food really speaks for itself. I came here last night to celebrate a friend's birthday and when you first drive by, it can be easy to miss because it's in the cut and in a residential neighborhood. The ambiance is very cool. It has an earthy and artistic feel. I could see them doing live music or haven spoken word if they ever decide to go that route, but it seems very intimate and personal at the same time. Since it was our friend's birthday, we tried a little of everything. We had pork sliders, Shirley temples, and squid pancakes to start. The Shirley temple was so refreshing, tart, and tasted like it was made with fresh ginger. We all loved it. The pork sliders were also very tasty. The pork was nicely seasoned and the red radishes were a nice addition, although they were a bit chewy. The squid pancakes were surprisingly good. I wasn't sure I'd like it, but I did. It reminded me of scallion pancakes. For the entrees, three of us got the Spicy Tantanmen which was very flavorful. The broth was creamy and rich. The pork was well cooked with a bit of a char, and the noodles were perfect! I would definitely recommend and reorder. The birthday girl had the confit half chicken. I liked the presentation of the dish as the chicken was sliced up and easy to eat that way. She let us sample the chicken. I will say the chicken didn't look all the way cooked through, but the piece I had was very tender. Service was good for the couple times they checked in on us. They pretty much left us alone, as it's more of a self serve type of vibe. You order at the counter, pay at the counter, and they leave a huge jug of water at the table for you to help yourself. I will come back this summer once I'm home and bring my sister. read more
8 months ago
Very cute restaurant and bar located off a little known side street in Worcester. I like that it's a little tucked away so it feels like a best kept secret, but they have a pretty decent sized parking lot that is well lit. There's outdoor seating for the warmer months, and inside, there's a spacious dining room and bar seating. I was impressed by the adequate spacing between tables. It gets busy but you don't ever feel crowded like at other restaurants. Order at the end of the bar, grab a number, and they'll bring food to your table. Drinks are creative and delicious. Their food menu changes regularly and tastes very fresh. Only con is that prices are pretty steep and the food menu is slightly limited. Service is so friendly, with staff being on top of clearing finished dishes/drinks and checking to see if we were satisfied. Overall, really enjoyed our dining experience here. read more
2 years ago
This is my 1st visit here as I saw all the good ratings and decided to go out with the gals. The food was very interesting, but good all around. I think I enjoyed the pork sliders more than the ramen due to trying lots of ramens in the area. The shoyu ramen was decent, bonus points for homemade noodles, but the broth seemed to be lacking something - it seemed flat for shoyu. The pomegranate Creme brûlée was fun, I didn't get much rose hints though as it seemed masked by the sugar. The drink was very tequila forward, so if you really enjoy that taste like I do, it's perfect! The service was good when we first got in when it opened, once it started to fill we kinda were left there waiting to order another dish (~10 min wait). Totally understandable, but no one ever really checked on us/how the food was which was a bit weird to me. The ambiance was nice and seems like I good spot to hang out/chat with friends for a night out! Overall, I would like to give this place a 4.5/5 due to the weird service aspect we received. I think I would expect more personable interactions since we did sit at the bar, but we seemed avoided more than approached. Otherwise, enjoy some good drinks and food here! read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
Tucked away in a very unassuming location, Wooden Bar was by far one of the best dining experiences I've had in downtown Worcester. Stopped by here for dinner with my brother and a friend last night. When you pull up to the place you can't really get a read but as you walk in you are welcomed to an open space with a bar and several tables for dining. Ordering is done at the bar and food is brought over to your table. For drinks we got the Pandan Rum Punch, a Debby Don't, and Wine and Cola (Kalimotxo). At first, we ordered * Banchan - We got the Kimchi Perilla/ Shiso leaves with Pear and cucumber and the soy glazed burdock root. Both items were delicious and were a great way to start the meal. * Squid and Scallion Pancake - This was very solid, it came with a sesame sauce on top and was put together nicely. Also, the portion sizes for this were perfect for our group * Anori Sliders - This was a fun take on a pulled pork slider. The bun (which I think Kombu) was very soft and the crispy onion was a fun textural crunch in the slider. * Winter Chirashi: Light and refreshing - the fish was tasty and the anchovy furikake was a nice touch. Also, the added acidity and crunch of the pickled onions and ginger were refreshing. One thing to note, portion sizes are a little bit on the smaller side.... so after we finished our first round we decided we'd try to eat most of the menu. For our second round of food, we got: * Daikon Rice Cakes - very nice plating and each bite of this item was very enjoyable. The radishes served alongside this also provided a nice crunch and a bit of acidity. * Brussey Sprusseys - well cooked and served with a very nice sauce. * Mackerel - Grilled Mackerel on top of "Dirty" rice - This was the last thing we got and was by far a highlight. The fish was absolutely fantastic and grilled to Perfection and the dirty rice was extremely good. Not quite sure what it was seasoned with but I wish I knew. On top of all the great food we had, the service at this restaurant was fantastic. The staff were very friendly and seemed down to earth. We even got complimentary Amazake towards the end of our meal. All this being said - I'd highly recommend swinging by Wooden Bar and trying out some of their food and drinks. With unique and solid takes on some traditional Asian food, a great drink selection, and friendly service you won't be disappointed. 5/5 read more
10 months ago
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Best ramen Ive ever had. Poke bowl my daughter had also looked amazing. Great prices! Really delicious mocktails. Cool space and vibe, great service. I will be going back! Little tricky to find, but easy parking. It is around the back of the building on the corner of Knowlton. read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
Great spot to bring a foodie. Highly recommend for adventurous eaters/drinkers. It has a very hip vibe and lot's of the interior work was crafted in house. Very polite and friendly staff. Wooden bar has succeeded in carving out a unique culinary identity. Imagine if asian fusion ran into local ingredients, then put an experimental twist on it and top that with a bit of fermentation. That's how I would describe this place. That is to say -- you can really taste the creativity and effort that's gone into these dishes and drinks. I live close by -- before this place even opened we were scoping it out and peaking inside. One of the owners saw us and invited us in for quick tour. Last time I went the place was packed. Clearly the word has gotten out. Well worth checking out. Stand out addition to the Worcester food scene. The location is unsuspecting. For the newcomers, it's right next to Breen's Cafe on the back side of the white brick building. read more
2 years ago
We have been wanting to check out this place since it opened, and were not disappointed at all! It definitely lived up to the hype we heard. The wood was amazing, we got the pork sliders which were so flavorful and the texture of the buns was so unique. The ribs were delicious, and even the pickles and the banchan on the side were extremely flavorful, and really showed their attention to detail. We tried a bunch of drinks and I asked for the bartender to make me a spicy drink with mezcal, and it was amazing. Definitely will be back to try out more of the menu! read more
2 years ago
Food: we got the lamb wonton, spicy tantanmen, crème brûlée beet ice cream, honey ice cream, good boy treat, and espresso martini drinks. I love how different in ingredients that they involve as well as the flavors that come forth with these dishes. The lamb wonton was rather filling with a soup base that helped balance. What was inside making a great salty blend. The Ramen has spices that's not spicy that burns your tongue but spicy like it's got a kick. The honey ice cream really does taste like honey and goes well with the little croissant crisp and the bee crème brûlée is interesting because it's not really an ice cream. It's more kinda like a purée, but the taste was muted enough to balance with the crème brûlée, being sweet. The drinks were great they carefully handcrafted well the good boy treat drink kind of reminds me of like a frozen Paloma. Service: the bartenders were great. They're right up front for you to ask anything that you need. Ambiance: it's a lot bigger than I had anticipated with a bar and good amount of seatings that is spread across the building. You can sit wherever you like and make sure to grab a little number tag so that the person that you're getting food from at the front nose, where to place the order Location accommodation: it's kind of hidden in a little alley street but once you get there, there's a parking lot with some lights. They usually do have outdoor seating when it's warmer, but there's a little curtain to kind of cover the entrance and once you're inside, it really does give a wood like a bar. read more
2 years ago
If you like tasty, delicious, local food clearly made with LOVE and passion at very reasonable prices: Run don't walk to the Wooden Bar. I tried six different dishes and enjoyed every last bite. The non-alcoholic drinks were Phenomenal as well. Service was perfect as well. Such a gem. read more
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I stopped drinking and eating meat prior to a surgery, and this place is the actual best way to still go out and be healthy. I came the first day without knowing where I was going, and then I ended up coming back with a friend the next day. The atmosphere is so relaxing, the service is friendly, the food was sooooo good, and the drinks alcoholic/not has a good variety and delicious! The pickled eggplant was so dang good! I've also tried the spicy vegan ramen and the ginger noodles - they offer sharing plates so we were able to eat both and the combo was delicious. I'll be back and bring everyone I know! read more
3 years ago
Run, don't walk, to Wooden Bar. We had a fabulous dinner here on a cold night in November. All three of us had the miso ramen with pork belly; one of us opted to make his version spicy. The ramen was extraordinary. The homemade noodles were incredible tender and cooked just right; slightly al dente but still easy to chew. The broth was complex thanks to both the miso and the mayu oil. The pork belly was perfectly cooked - crispy skin, melt in your mouth meat. The ajitsuke tamago were a great texture and the yolks were really flavorful. The employees were friendly and helpful, and the vibe was laid back and unpretentious. We savored every bite and sip and can't wait to go again! read more
2 years ago
We had an absolutely amazing meal here tonight. Great vibe and even though it was a date night, the place is family friendly atmosphere. I highly recommend trying them. read more
2 years ago
First this place is so fun to find around the back of the building, it's like you know a secret spot. The drinks were delicious and creative, and the food was outstanding, local/seasonal, with interesting combinations. The chalkboard special Biscuits & Chicken of the Woods (mushroom) gravy had a lobster Newburg taste to the gravy, which I loved and wasn't expecting - and love finding vegetarian options (I did later read that you should test this kind of mushroom if you have never had them before as some people have an unpleasant reaction, but we all had some and were fine). The ramen and the other noodle dish the others with me had were also fantastic. We are definitely coming back when we visit Worcester! read more
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More info about Wooden Bar
4 Knowlton Ave
Worcester, MA 01603
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(508) 556-0535
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http://woodenbar.blog
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