4. Restaurants

The People’s Kitchen

1 Exchange Pl, Worcester, MA, 01608
  • (508) 459-9090
  • Store is closed

The People’s Kitchen Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Worcester for healthy meals suggestion.

Applebee’s ( 632 Park Ave )

Visit below restaurant in Worcester for healthy meals suggestion.

Applebee’s ( 632 Park Ave )

  • Jesse D.

    I've only ever had their boards but their were stupendous. Occasionally they will put out a groupon for a three or five course dinner which I have heard is amazing but I've yet to partake myself. Certainly a place I would like to have a full meal at, and you have access to the drinks from still & stir as well as citizen's.

    (4)

  • Lisa E.

    Mike Covino is the president of the Niche Hospitality Group. He contacted me after my last yelp review. We took a break from this restaurant, then I tried The People's Kitchen again recently and contacted him with a problem (what I perceived to be a nasty comment by an employee), I was told this in an e-mail (a direct quote): "I think you should reconsider your latest stance on TPK." I wished him the best of luck with his business.

    (1)

  • Nico C.

    Honestly this is the first place I've been in Worcester that hasn't let me down. The food was really good and the drinks were phenomenal. We went on a weeknight around 7pm and nobody was there. We were able to sit on the patio and have a quiet meal with no distractions and incredibly friendly staff. It's too pricey for me to eat here often, but if there is one available I highly recommend getting the groupon and paying this place a visit.

    (5)

  • Richie S.

    My wife and I have been here twice so far, once just the two of us and the second with her folks. Both times we could not say enough about how awesome the ambiance and atmosphere are, it must have been an old Fire Station. Now for the food, we enjoy that the menu is always changing. The first time we went I got duck two ways which was amazing. Then when we went with my wife's parents I got root beer braised pork shank which was to die for. The flavor of the root beer was nice and subtle and the meat fell right off of the bone. Can't wait to go back again soon.

    (4)

  • Mr S.

    I am torn between 3 and 4 stars for this place and I feel this place can easily earn 5 stars if they fix a bunch of stuff. Here is our experiences. Pros: - The staff is great, the complimentary parking is great, the server was nice. - The food was really good, all the seafood and vegetarian options were great. - It is fairly priced if you have a groupon, without groupon I think its overpriced. Cons: Now these are the things which takes down a star even 2 stars. - This is really not an upscale restaurant, even though they claim it to be but I expect a little more classy and modren sleek interior if its called upscale, compared to restaurant in middle east this place is probably 1 star in decor. PF Changs is way more upscale then this place - The carpet on stairs is literally at its last breath. - We had few ants walking around on our table, not good. - The cutlery is scratched up. - We were seated next to window which was so blur that it might have been better to not sit next to a window. - There are no mocktails so if you do not drink alcohol then the only choice you have is soft drinks like coke. - Bread and oil was unimpressive, you get so much better bread and oil at "Not your average Joes" I might return to this place if I purchase another groupon but for now this experience was between good and OK.

    (4)

  • Kevin S.

    Restaurant Week and Open Table Special. The food at the PK is always very good and I don't think we have ever had a bad experience with service, but in a sea of many different choices of restaurants, its tough to go back to this one without some sort of inducement. The place is feeling a little dated and lacks any considerable ambiance; our seating was in front of a window, although it was actually an old fire/exit door with a window in it.

    (3)

  • Maria G.

    Visited TPK recently with a groupon deal on a Thursday evening. It's a pre fix menu so if you don't like any of the appetizers for example there is not much anyone can do about it. This was my first visit to TPK and i can't say I was impressed with all of the offerings. The other person in my party had fish and said it was good. Personally I thought my beef and other food was too seasoned. For those reasons I'm giving it a 4, don't see myself going back for now.

    (4)

  • Cindy B.

    I had wanted to try this place for awhile and the Groupon made it a no brainier to go try it out. Unpretentious and laid back, nothing fancy when you go in. However, once you're seated, you are treated to a wonderful dining experience! We have been here twice and the wait staff is very attentive and knowledgable. Get the cheese board! Honestly, if you get the Chefs cheese board you don't even need dinner! But, since we love food..... We kept going! Starters, I had the muscles and honestly wanted to drink the broth it was so tasty! My partner had the radish salad. Both were very healthy portions. For the main, I had the brined pork chop. The chop is just huge, perfectly cooked, and oh-so tender! It came with asparagus and a red skin potato salad, there was so much food I had to have them pack it to go. My partner had the swordfish. Again, perfectly cooked. I have never had swordfish cooked so well, it melted in your mouth! Dessert - this is the only reason I could not give 5 stars as much as I want to. We had the brûlée - unfortunately it had not set, it tasted fine, but like eating warm yogurt. The bread pudding, while advertised in ganache, had an abundance of a chocolate syrup that was just too much. We will be back! In fact we have company coming in next week and we cannot wait to take them! A great dinning experience!

    (4)

  • Jack P.

    First time last weekend at this place. Prix fixe menu was amazing. . (Even better with a Groupon which we didn't have).. Service, food, specialty cocktails, all top shelf. .. and complimentary valet parking. .. will be back for sure

    (5)

  • Carlen A.

    Came here for the first time for Restaurant week! Appetizers (crispy duck wontons) and dessert (peanut butter pretzel bread pudding) were delicious, but my main course (sweet potato gnocchi) was WAYYYYY too salty. And this is coming from a straight-up salt fiend. My boyfriend fared better with his steak, which was cooked perfectly. Bread came with dipping sauce, which is always a nice little extra. Our server was very nice and efficient, and recommended a great bottle of wine after our first choice was unavailable. This is a great place to come for dinner before a show at the DCU, as it is directly across the street! But definitely be an early bird, as others will have the same idea: we made a 5:30 reservation, and wrapped up about 30 minutes before our 8 pm show, while others who came later were still waiting for their meal at that point.

    (3)

  • Sandra Chai D.

    Awesome little gastropub!! I first found out about this place through Groupon and have always wanted to come here. So when some friends wanted to have a girls night we decided on this place and it was a great idea! The Groupon was for 4 prix fix meals for $80 (or 2ppl for $40), with a $5 extra charge for the steak and lamb entree. The waiter was super nice and told us that if we wanted to substitute off the main prix fix menu we could, within reason. The atmosphere of the place is really casual and publike, reminds me of the gastropubs in London. It's a perfect place for a first date. The food was very good, presented nicely, and service attentive. Although it was too cold to eat outside, I caught a glimpse of the outdoor seating area and it was beautiful!! It was in a little open area in between two buildings and was decorated with lights. Now on to the food! As implied earlier, I ordered the prix fix meal ($35 regularly); tuna tartare for appetizer, lamb for main, and peach bread pudding for dessert. I also tried (from my friends' plates) the tofu appetizer, Mac and cheese, steak entree and s'mores crème brûlée. The tofu appetizer, lamb entree, and bread pudding were my favorite in each category. All of dishes were very good though, beautifully presented, and came in a timely fashion. The waiter also deserves a mention, he was very attentive, polite, and funny. I also had a glass of the French Bordeaux. I'm not usually a red wine fan but I liked it a lot! I'm a white wine kind of girl but after reading about the many health benefits of red wine (hello antioxidants!), I've decided to turn a new leaf. Although this place is a bit pricey, it's well worth it my opinion. I'd definitely recommend this place to friends. There's not many restaurants like this in Worcester (I don't think) so I'm happy that the Niche Group filled that void. Next time I come here, I think I'll try the Chef's board of cheeses and meats... Mmm All around a great experience.

    (5)

  • Rita V.

    We finally made it on a groupon, and I really wanted to love it... But its not a place I think I will go back to - it was confusingly underwhelming. Service was GREAT, the place is CLEAN, and deceivingly HUGE and spacious. But the food is like a roller coaster - it can hit high notes and it can hit really low notes. Drinks - mixed drinks, in our opinion (with two mixologists on the table) are designed for young (er) professionals defining a palate. One of the drinks was so nasty (Gandolfini), we had to turn it back. Manhattans were flat, one note, and too sweet. Wine flights were drinkable, approachable, but not memorable. High note: The $22 charcuterie and cheese board - the duck prosciutto is fantastic, the smoked trout pate was really good and the home made sausage was very flavorful. Bread comes out hot and crunchy on the outside with a moist, chewy center. Appetizers: Hit: The tofu. Miss: the oysters. Flat. Tiny. Lifeless and overpowered by the spice in the shooter and the grey-ish rockefeller type topping. Mignionete - not bad. Miss: Corn tomato soup. Bland. We added the spice from the oyster shooter. Courses: HUGE portions. Hit: Burger and truffle fries. Hit: Salmon and the couscous. Hit: 21 day aged beef - WITH foie gras. No dinner misses. Dessert: Miss: Cannoli. Weird: PB Banana creme brulee with BACON. PB freaks love fest. Me, not a fan. Hit: Chocolate cake. Hit: FREE Valet Nice ambiance, just not a place I am dying to go back to. HOWEVER, if you aren't as "food snobbyish" as I am, it is a great addition to the Worcester foodie scene - I see where they are going, and frankly, I'd stay for wine and cheese, charcuterie and friends. Given a choice for dinner, I'll stick with the Rail Trail Flatbread Co in Hudson.

    (3)

  • Kathryn R.

    This place is amazing. This is the second time we've been there and the food was terrific and the service was excellent. One of our friend's has celiac and cannot have gluten -- the staff went out of their way to accommodate her. The wine choices were excellent. The prix fixe menu is a great deal with nice size portions. They even have outdoor seating if you want to do that and valet parking. The menu has cheese and charcuterie board if you just want a glass of wine and some really nice cheese. The thing we were most disappointed in was the fact that there weren't more people there. We moved to the worcester county area 2 years ago and this is by far the best restaurant we've eaten at. We need to support great restaurants like this so they don't disappear. We will be back.

    (5)

  • Joe B.

    I went during the week at dinner time. Staff was great and very attentive. The food was interesting and on pricy side. I liked the cheese appetizer, but I'm not sure how well the sides enhanced the cheese selection. I had the short ribs which were great and my wife had pasta which she liked, I didn't care for it. I guess I was hoping for more. That said, I would recommend this restaurant because it does offer an interesting variety of foods which I have not seen at other locations. Wheelchair access is okay- street and sidewalk are a bit rough and there's a slope getting inside. Once inside, access was fine.

    (3)

  • Katie F.

    I had heard such wonderful things, but the service...oh the service. Came here on a week night during restaurant week. The bar area was full so we were seated outside where there was one other party. After about 10 mins of waiting with no waiter in sight we were about to leave when someone finally acknowledged us and gave us menus. We put in our drink and dinner order. We didn't see the drinks for another 10-15 mins. Each food course was slow to come out as well. By the time we had reached dessert and were ready for the check, our waiter had disappeared yet again. After looking around for him we saw that all of the diners inside had left and that aside from a couple of women at the bar whom he and the bartender were chatting with, we were the only patrons there. After finally getting the check we eventually had to take it inside ourselves as our waiter showed no sign of coming back outside. Service aside, the food was pretty enjoyable and I loved the platter of chocolate that accompanied the restaurant week menu. But with the experience we had, and especially without restaurant week specials, we will not be returning.

    (2)

  • Jennifer H.

    I came here on a double date with friends. The service was incredibly slow and the food was not that good. With the groupon it is definitely affordable but without it it is very overpriced for the quality of food you receive. The swordfish I ordered was tough and I tried my friends salmon which was bland. My friend ordered clams for an appetizer and it came with only two. Just very average food. The dessert was strange too as they put peanut butter in their creme brule. I have eaten appetizers at the Citizen bar which is downstairs and that was ok. But I will not be going back to Peoples Kitchen.

    (2)

  • Jamie B.

    Here's a short, sweet, yet informative review: great food, great service, but fails on some pretty basic managerial functions. There just doesn't seem to be much of any type of operational system there. High class restaurant, but feels like a cluster. The food is great, on par with other Worcester restaurants in the $20-30 entree range. Currently offering a fixed price menu for $49, which included Salad, appetizer, main course, and dessert. We added another $20 each for the wine pairings with each course. A bit pricey, but delicious. The wine pairings were perfect, but the wines never showed up at the same time as the entrees they were paired with. I found out that this is due to a really poor building layout. The bar and kitchen are downstairs, so the waitstaff has to truck up and down to the upstairs area of TPK. The result was that we NEVER got our drinks in a timely fashion. Not the waiters fault, but for spending $180 for two people, I really do expect better. Another thing to note is that there is no parking for this restaurant. You have to park elsewhere and walk, or use their valet service which I found to be rude and super-inefficient (especially with all the snow we've had. I can deal with inefficient, but the rudeness factor was annoying). Long story short, this place is great. The food is good, and the waitstaff is friendly and knowledgeable. But I really hate it when a high quality, take-your-last-dollar restaurant can't even time their courses and drinks appropriately. Even the Pub 99 gets that right. I give it 3 stars simply for this reason - I'm sorry, but if you're going to make a name for yourself on your impeccable wine selections and pairings, at least coordinate it so that your customers aren't polishing off their dishes before the pairings come. That's a problem for management - the staff really is doing the best with what they have. **Quick note. I don't like to go on social media and rant about places without at least giving them an opportunity to correct what went wrong. So I also sent a note to the owners with essentially the same info in this review. I learned that their computers went down the night we were there, and that impacted the timing of the food and pairings. It was nice to hear back from the management - it shows that they really care about their reputation, and make sure their customers are satisfied. Changing my review to 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Dave C.

    I stumbled in the snowy night and found this little pub. It is a warm and cozy old style pub with amazing food. I had the aristocrat burger that has seared foie gras, herb butter, grilled onions and truffle mayo, it was out of this world delicious!! Not for the faint of heart because the burger is a large angus patty which would be tasty in its own right. They also have an extensive wine list as well as a long beer selection. If your in the hood you need to try this place!

    (4)

  • TumTummyPanda P.

    The food is AMAZING!!! Make me wanna just lick the plate like a dog...but of course you can't do that in polite society. I am a HUGE steak lover, I don't get to eat it as much because the economy we are in does not permit it unless you are a doc, thief-lawyer, or something like that. The People's Kitchen has the BEST steak I have ever tasted. I mean the best and yes I been to Via and 111 Chophouse, if you ask me they are not as good and that a la carte sh** gets too expensive if you haven't eaten the whole day. I only give it 4 starts because their portions can reflect their prices a bit more. Highly recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Joe P.

    I am not writing a review for the great groupon deal. I ordered the Marinated Beef Tenderloin and Pineapple Kabobs for a starter, which were perfectly cooked very tender pieces of meat served on a skewer with pineapple, and peppers with thai basil creme fraiche and a pepper relish. It was excellent. The main dish was a filet mignon, which I gladly paid the extra $5 charge on the groupon, ordered medium rare, and it was also cooked to near perfection. It was flavorful, seasoned properly, and an excellent tender cut. It came with mashed potatoes and summer veggies, all which were well seasoned and fresh. For desert, I did order the white chocolate creme brule, which was served with a piece of homemade white chocolate, and fresh raspberries (nice touch). The service was friendly and attentive, the establishment is clean, with nice decor, and it is fairly rare that both my wife and myself walk out of an establishment extremely happy with everything. This is a place I would not hesitate to return to. I love the craft beer list, and the wine list is pretty large as well. They have a monthly rotating menu, which is a great idea as well.

    (5)

  • Donna M.

    Live TPK! Great alternative to the pizza and Mexican madness on the other side of the DCU! Great upstairs dining space which is deceiving from the outside, ESP since it's easy to overlook this place because of the dark sign and pretty dark side street that it's on. Our waitress, Lindsay, was animated, enthusiastic and helpful in her recommendations. I had the Restaurant Prix fixe which was a steal at $23. My daughter had the crunchy watermelon rind salad which was so tasty and we split a cheese board which was plentiful, even though we only ordered one sampling of cheese. It came with a mini loaf of French baguette with honey and figs, nuts and fruits and a crudités. Very appealing and tasty! I had the Artic char on a yummy quinoa blend and we split the creme brûlée which was fantastic! We will be back!

    (4)

  • Ashley L.

    We went on a sunday night expecting to go to the restaurant but they told us only the bar area is open sundays but it's all the same food so we figured, why not! We still got a nice seat away from the bar, the waiters were incredibly attentive and the food was outstanding. It was restaurant week so we stuck to that menu and were very happy with it. My entree was a homemade pasta with perfectly cooked vegetables (not too soggy, not too crunchy) in a dill cream sauce that wasn't heavy like most cream sauces are. My boyfriend had a balsamic chicken with chorizo risotto and balsamic drizzle, he said the kick of the chorizo was perfectly balanced by the balsamic. Overall, everything we ate felt like a chef took a lot of time to balance flavors and get the best out of them. The naan pizza was the perfect combo of sweet and savory and i love all the use of fruit in the dishes. Our waiter helped us choose some cocktails and his recommendations were exactly what we were looking for.

    (5)

  • William F.

    If you get the Groupon, this is a superb value. The cocktails are very well made. The quail appetizer I had was the highlight of the night. Generally, I find gimicky dishes with some sort of puree or drizzle a bit much, but this was superb. Nothing distracted from the quail. The swordfish entree was simple and well executed. For dessert, I had the apple and pear crumble since my girlfriend had already claimed the Maple Creme Brulee (We both can't order the same thing, duh). Usually, I'm not too excited by this kind of dish at restaurants since they aren't hard to make on your own. This was great, better than my grandma's apple crisp. Warning: The Maple Creme Brulee is extremely sweet.

    (4)

  • Bruce G.

    Had one of the best steaks of my life so I returned several times in search of more goodness. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the exception, not the norm. Nice vibe and nice people but the food is underwhelming to say the least and even with Groupons, the prices are so-so.

    (2)

  • Jennifer N.

    Gosh, I really loved this place to start. Bread on the table, with herbed olive oil was good. The bread was warm, and obviously freshly baked. Yum. Started with the cantaloupe and prosciutto. It was good, and a nice blend of salty and sweet. I did not expect the prosciutto to be crispy, but it worked. Second course was the pumpkin risotto. In theory, I feel like I should have loved this dish. And I just did not. The acorn squash it was served with was good, and made for a very pretty presentation. But, the oregano (or I think it was oregano) spice on top of the risotto completely overpowered the dish, in a very non appealing way. It was almost inedible because all I could taste was the weird spice. Not good. The dessert course was good- I had the trio of sorbets which were refreshing. The chocolate sample is also huge, with five pieces each of dark, milk, and white chocolates. Service was excellent- very attentive, and clearly passionate when explaining the dishes. I just wished I had like the main one more.

    (3)

  • Melissa R.

    My fiancé and I came here during Restaurant Week, and unknowingly but luckily had a reservation scheduled for after everyone left to go see Cirque de Soleil across the street at the DCU Center. But even with the rush leaving at 8:00, it's like the staff here didn't know what to do with themselves. They need to get their act together, because good food isn't worth anything without good service. Even during Restaurant Week, I still expect an enjoyable dining experience. When we showed up the hostess stand was empty. We watched, and waited patiently, as I think 5 or 6 more parties showed up behind us, as we all continued to wait for the absent host or hostess. Finally someone showed up all flustered, and tried to take care of us all in the order in which we arrived. A host told us, "I have your table ready over here!," and tried to seat us in the SUPER noisy lounge/bar area. Sometime we'll come back for that, sure, but we specifically had a reservation upstairs in the dining room. I wanted a romantic quiet evening with my boy, not a meal where we couldn't hear each other. When we finally got seated, it was a full half hour or so after our reservation time. We got our drinks and our food, and our waiter was really nice (I forgot his name), but honestly everything was overshadowed by the service. Getting our food out took forever as well. I remember that I had some great soup, and his steak he said was really good. His chocolate peanut butter pretzel bread pudding, though? That thing was ridiculous. The waiter said the wait was so long because it was just baked, but it looked atrocious, and literally had a handful of what looked like Snyder's sourdough pretzel nibblers just scattered on the top. Gigantic pieces. Like I said, I think the rest of the food was pretty ok, but I do know that we won't be back to the dining room. We want to try out the bar menu some other night, but that's it.

    (2)

  • Marco D.

    An amazing restaurant to say the least. Food was fantastic, service was exceptional, and the drinks paired perfectly. The waitstaff is very knowledgable of their food & beverage menu. It's about a 50 minute drive for me to get here, and it's certainly worth the drive.

    (5)

  • Laura P.

    I love The People's Kitchen! I've been twice, both times for restaurant week. For both visits all my dishes were delicious. The salmon I had was tasty and perfectly cooked. I almost licked the plate from my bread pudding dessert, it was so good! I went with girl friends and we gabbed the whole night. The waiter never made us feel rushed or that we needed to leave.

    (5)

  • Steven K.

    Quite disappointed in this....... place called in to check about reservations and no one told us there they werent open Sunday night and wantedus to come in so I would go to the citizens bar where the food was limited As for the food it was okay I mean nothing great

    (3)

  • Timmy C.

    Food was delicious, but the service was HORRENDUS! Like literally - the slowest service we've ever had. We arrived late (reservations for 8:30pm), so the crowd was thinning out by the time we were eating. It just took FOREVER to get anything. Even when we were trying to cash out at 11:00pm, our waitress was just no where to be found. Too bad - the food was really good. I just have no patience for poor services. It's too bad - the other Niche Group restaurants that we've been to (Mezcal and Bocado) have fantastic services.

    (2)

  • Nicole C.

    Went in on a Wednesday night, 8 pm, not many people out, so we got a table right away. It was restaurant week in Worcester and The People's Kitchen was running a 3 Course Prix Fixe menu for $23. What a deal! You could choose a start, main, and finish. Started with the roasted red pepper soup, very tasty, could have been a bit warmer, it boarded on the luke warm. For the main, ordered the spice rubbed flat iron steak that was glazed with a bourbon barbecue sauce and served with Cajun fries. Really enjoyed this dish, would certainly recommend it. Finished with the chocolate cannoli with blueberry jam. Perfect way to finish off a nice meal! Also ordered at the table was the iceberg wedge salad, seared salmon with quinoa salad, and the Belgian chocolate tasting. Had a taste of the salmon with the quinoa, also a dish I would have enjoyed! Our waiter was personable and attentive...very pleased with the food and service at the People's Kitchen. Looks like they are going to run their Prix Fixe until Aug. 31, so get there if you can!

    (4)

  • Titi T.

    Food is a 4****.... My son and I had a groupon and tried it out.. came with appetizers.. chicken dumplings and mushroom ravioli..both were really good.. I had the Hen Chicken Dish and oh my it was delicious. All plates are prearranged and come with certain sides. Mine came with brussels sprouts and mushrooms and sweet mash.. it was so tasty. My son upgraded for an additional $5 to a steak, also yum and his came with amazing truffle fries... dessert we had the creme boule ... tasty but too sweet.. Great ambiance and atmosphere. perfect place for a date.. Service is extremely slow. from the bread to the drinks to everything.. seems like only 2 servers for the whole restaurant.. so expect the wait and enjoy a good meal

    (3)

  • Julia J.

    Very straight forward menu and nice atmosphere. The filet mignon and the s'more creme brûlée were fantastic. The only complaint I have is that the service is horrible. Took our waitress 3 separate requests for a refill and was rarely seen otherwise. She was very helpful with her reccomendation however.

    (4)

  • Joyce V.

    My husband and I have lived in or around Worcester our entire lives and have eaten in a million restaurants there. TPK exceeded our expectations. We came with a Groupon during Restaurant Week. The hostess as well as our server both told us what our best value would be and thus, didn't try to take advantage of us at all. Our server was awesome. He was so pleasant, accommodating, and explained lots of menu items and stipulations to us. My husbands steak came overdone and he rarely, if ever, sends food back. But he did this time. They gave him a new one, cooked much more to what he asked for and he loved it. My meal was fantastic all around. We did not leave hungry. The atmosphere is really nice in the dining room upstairs where we sat. I have a real affinity for wood and brick. It felt warm and inviting. I even liked the music they played. Since we used our soon-to-expire Groupon and didn't order off the Restaurant Week menu, we may return soon to try something else. Either way, we will definitely return someday for the great food and great service.

    (5)

  • Thomas N.

    dinner recently.....this is upstairs across from the back of the dcu center where there had been a rotation of restaurants for quite a while, this used to be a legal seafood....we were early so it was not too crowded, server explained how the prix fixe worked, basically for 35.00 you get app, entree and desert, there are some upcharges for certain things....area was attractive and service pleasant, drinks were some of their specials and were very good, we had the fixe prix with the wine pairings for the additional $15, it was sort of neat but don't think we would do that again.....food was great!! apps of watermelon salad and some lamb and beef meatballs, entree of grilled swordfish (great) and the filet (also great), and cooked just like i wanted, and we both had the sorbet for dessert......we had a gift certificate and were really glad someone got us here, very enjoyable!!!

    (5)

  • Cassidy D.

    We came here for dinner with friends who had purchased a Groupon, and when they told us the deal they got we were sure they made a mistake. We were wrong. I have been to TPK before and thought everything was outstanding, but this deal was absurd. I decided to write this review not for the fantastic deal, but for the meals we each got. We were a table of four and we each did their prix-fix menu (so we each got out own appetizer, entree, and dessert). We had two orders of crab cakes and two orders of pork belly, both of which were phenomenal. My friend and I decided to do the wine pairing with each course (a steal at $15), and the wine complemented the appetizers and entrees perfectly. Moving on to our meals: I ordered a steak and my boyfriend got a seafood special. Our friends got a pork chop and a dry-aged sirloin. When the food came out we were all tempted to take pictures because everything was plated so perfectly! We were 90% happy with our meals, which is more than happy enough, but our server, the manager, and an owner noticed immediately that our party wasn't 100% satisfied. They came to speak to my friend whose steak was a little, teeny, tiny bit over-cooked and immediately rectified the issue. We didn't complain, and didn't even think the steak warranted a complaint (even though slightly darker than requested, it tasted delicious), but they noticed and came by to ensure that we were happy. Their attentiveness and service were absolutely top-notch. Like I said, I've been here before and have always been impressed, but my recent visit made me realize that this restaurant is a true gem in the city of Worcester. The ambiance is nice but casual enough, the food and wine are superb, and the service truly could not be better. For a special occasion, a date night, or just a night on the town with friends, this is a great spot!!

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    Best food in Worcester by far. Would be five stars if they had better hostessing. Always friendly, but don't tend to give you a choice of which room, etc. The room upstairs room with windows to the street gets really loud - maybe some plants or something to soften the sounds. My favorite place to eat, over Via, Chophouse, etc.

    (4)

  • Dine A.

    Such a great spot! We love The Peoples Kitchen/Citizen. We actually love it so much we had our wedding reception there. Always a great meal with fantastic drinks and wine. The staff are top notch! All of them! Quirky, delicious spot in Worcester.

    (5)

  • Kena P.

    I purchased a Groupon for this place for a prix fix menu for two! It was $35 so not bad! Each person gets an app, entree and dessert. I went with my sis and her fiancé. We ordered the buttered shrimp toast, pork belly thing. It was good, a little small portion as I expected! For our entree, we we decided to add $5 more to upgrade to the rack of lamb dish with roasted veggies and mashed. That was the star of the night! Delish and perfectly cooked to my desired taste! And for dessert, sorbet trio and chocolate cherry bread pudding-meh. My sis did get a veggie sandwich and fries also. Fries were good enough that we ordered another side order! Overall it was good food, good times and worth the money we spent! I'd give it a try!

    (4)

  • Lee C.

    Went for dinner with a groupon--so glad I did! Excellent food and service. It was pretty empty for a Friday night. I'm wondering why! AtRed with a cheese platter that was fabulous. Will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Debbie H.

    I had been interested in trying this restaurant for some time. Finally, a friend and I made reservations for a Saturday evening. We were promptly greeted upon our arrival and seated. The restaurant was not terribly busy. Our server was very knowledgeable about the food, wines and beers. We indulged in the fried goat cheese with blueberry sauce and the beef and lamb meatballs for starters, both were superb. I had the ribeye as an entree and my friend the duck. We were very pleased with the taste and presentation of both entrees. We will definitely return.

    (4)

  • Melissa C.

    The food was phenomenal! However, we made a reservation and still had a 40 minute wait, and the service was slow. Unfortunately, our waitress didn't know anything about the wines we were drinking, which was a detractor to the experience since each wine is paired with the meal for a reason [presumably]. Overall, it was an alright experience, but for the price it may not be worth it service-wise.

    (3)

  • Joey R.

    Love this place. Food is mostly local to the area so the menu changes based on what's available. Upscale food for a bit more $ but not crazy. You can often get prix fixe for a decent price and frequently have Groupons available.

    (5)

  • Max K.

    Great restaurant we were looking for a place to eat there is an upstairs and a downstairs the downstairs is where the bar is and some tables. The downstairs has more menu items that are less pricy compared to the upstairs. As far as the food goes it's awesome I got the pretzel chicken which was amazing and our table got calamari and edamame which were amazing as well. The service was great and the servers knew a lot about the food they were serving. The only complaint is the confusion of the top restaurant and the bottom portion they have different names and different signs even though it is the same restaurant. I would definitely go back to the peoples kitchen.

    (4)

  • Christopher H.

    Overall very solid meal. Steak was one of the best I have had, high end steakhouses included. Tuna tartar was a highlight. The meal was well executed and overall everyone in my group enjoyed it. Biggest shortfall was the desert. Ordered this pretzel peanut butter bread pudding. Tasted great but on top of the desert were pretzel sticks... Like whole pretzel sticks. As in, they made a beautiful bread pudding and then doused the top in Snyder brand pretzel sticks out of the bag. To be honest it was bizarre. Maybe others like it/get it/ don't think it's ridiculous to just toss some pretzels out of the bag on top of a desert, but it ain't me. Thumbs up to the meal, thumbs down to the pretzel sticks.

    (4)

  • Michael A.

    I liked the place. 1st time. Good food. Interesting architecture. Quaint. Nice waitstaff. Perfect.

    (4)

  • Katie K.

    This was one of the best dining experiences we've ever had in Worcester. Our waiter was fantastic and every dish was just perfect.

    (5)

  • Rakiesha C.

    Went to People's Kitchen tonight with a group for dinner. Totally underwhelmed. The restaurant is very pretty, but the atmosphere is a little lame. The wine list is pretty extensive, but the drink menu was hit or miss. My drink was yummy, but my husband's tasted like cough syrup. Our server was a bit inattentive, and when we ordered, it look a long time for the food to come out. When it finally did, it was very disappointing. My salmon was totally bland and unseasoned, and the side veggies were undercooked. And there were dried apricots on the plate, as if they just pulled them from a Trader Joes bag. Very odd, and not very good. My husband's lamb pie was too salty, and poorly put together. The lamb wasn't even trimmed. All in all, it totally wasn't worth the money. TPK wants to be a fancy Boston-esque restaurant, but the bland food and slow service make for a weak dining experience.

    (2)

  • Elizabeth R.

    Went to the Citizen during restaurant week. The restaurant was extremely cold and although we were the only ones sitting upstairs for a few minutes, as soon as two other groups showed up, the service became extremely slow. Because it was restaurant week, we received a three course meal. The food was ok, I started with the creamy mushroom and leak soup - which was flavorful, but salty... then I had the grilled flat iron steak and again, I couldn't help by notice that the meat was extremely salty. The food was decent, again very salty for some reason. The dessert however was "Peanut Butter Pretzel bread pudding" - however I did not taste an ounce of peanut butter in it... and the presentation of broken pretzels on top wasn't reminiscent of fine dining. Wouldn't rush to return any time soon.

    (3)

  • T L.

    Disappointing. Recently went there with a group of 8 for dinner on a weeknight. Love the farm-to-table concept, decor is beautiful, and everything looks very clean. Menu selections looked good, but not overly impressed. Everyone's food was pretty good, but not great or memorable. Reasonable prices. Our server had a great personality and very friendly, unfortunately not the best menu knowledge. When we asked about craft beers our server suggested four (not a great selection), but we each ordered a different one but they were Out of two of the ones our server recommended. Very disappointing. Service was pleasant but very slow. We waited a longtime to get greeted, and very long for the process of all 8 of us getting drinks the actually had. Don't think it's worth going back. Everyone decided "not bad" , but not great overall. Also our reservation was for 8:00pm. Four of us arrived early and got a drink at the bar down stairs, which was great. After dinner i checked my voicemail and listened to a rude message from the host At 8:02, asking if I was still going to make my reservation. Bad communication & unacceptable

    (3)

  • Jay C.

    Went here with a bunch of friends. I've been to all of their other restaurants in town and would rate this at the bottom. All I can really say is the food was "meh". They have a nice menu. It changes daily which is nice. All nine of us kind of felt that the food was bland and plain. We came here after visiting Thistle Hill Tavern in Brooklyn the weekend prior, and that place blew the socks off of The People's Kitchen. Maybe it's an unfair comparison but they are obviously in the same category. The atmosphere was also a bit boring. It reminds you that you are in Worcester - sort of a three decker apartment feeling. They sat all nine of us in a room full of couples. We felt bad that we were loud and having a good time when all these people were on quiet date night. I could see that some of them felt the same way with the expressions on their faces. The service was great however. The drink selection was also fantastic. I probably wouldn't come back here, though I really want to go back to Bocado (the best of their restaurants imo). Armsby Abbey is still king of the area. Their food and ingredients are far superior. I want to go there every day.

    (2)

  • Tracy K.

    Not a place to go. Was promptly seated upon arrival, that is about this only good part of the evening. Drinks took 45 minutes to arrive and during this time no one stopped by. Had to ask 3 times. Was told they where very busy. After drinks arrived cheese app took another 30 minutes to arrive, this was good. Entrees arrived another 45 minutes later (yes 2 hours after being seated). Steaks and fish was over cooked. Spoke with manager who was very flip. Told us "what would you like me to do". Spoke with one of the owners who was apologetic but wanted to give us gift cards to come back. Why? Desert came and that was another disaster. Bread pudding was ice cold and hard as a rock. Definitely not worth going to.

    (1)

  • Carina C.

    A great spot for a classy dinner. Everyone who has tried the dry aged steak says it beats anything in town. I love the seasonal options, and you can order from the downstairs wine bar menu if you prefer. After dinner, wander out back to have an artisan cocktail from Still 'n Stir or dessert downstairs at the wine, cheese, and chocolate bar. A great place for a date. I usually eat downstairs and order from TPK (upstairs) because I prefer the ambiance of the wine bar. That's why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Lila S.

    I really wanted this to be a 4 or 5 start review. I really did. I have been to People's Kitchen a total of 3 times now. Three stars would be the average of all three summed up. Well lets see.. its spitting distance from my other weekend haunt... Cigar Masters... woot woot. That's an A+ for location and of course, free valet! That said, for those who don't like cigar/cig smoke, you may not want to try this place... the air from opening doors to CM tends to drift up the elevator shaft and though not powerful, you can smell a hint of smoke sometimes in the front upstairs dining room. The service here is VERY nice and VERY knowledgeable of their huge wine list and cheeses etc. As nice as they are, they are painfully slow. On 2 of the occasions I visited people's there were events at the DCU center or Mechanics Hall and the restaurant was simply unprepared for a pre-theatre dining situation. The patrons with tickets get served first, understandable and expected. But when we have a 7pm reservation and we walk out at 9:45 this is just straight rude. So if you are looking for a quick bite,this is not your place. The waiters are attentive enough to know when to leave you alone with a huge portion of cheese and baguette that you can order. Based upon the menu, you will come to the assumption that this place is a place for foodies. You will also note, that they have a Prix fixe side of the menu that allows you to pick a Start, Main and Dessert for 33 bucks. Not bad! I particularly liked the steaks and burgers we have had here. They do a nice job and the portions aren't huge but will surely fill you up! I was far more disappointed in the sea food dishes I've had here like the salmon... accompanied by coconut/pinapple lo mien and bok choy. The fish was OK at best... definitely not fresh and I like the creativity of the lo mien idea, but it seemed out o place with a Northwestern style preparation of the fish and oh yeah raw bok choy isn't really what I had in mind. My date had a dish with roasted sweet potatoes that didn't lack in taste, but were also terribly raw. Too bad, I really think that People's is onto something. The place itself is clean, new and dark with a intimate feel like you made a romantic meal for your date in your own kitchen. I want to like this place more, but for now I think I will stick to the cheese and wine. Also it should be noted that whomever is behind the bar has the right idea. Very craft worthy drinks on the men, even a section of drinks that are inspired by wines, but don't contain any. Peoples, I'll be back, but I'm in no rush.

    (3)

  • Tim S.

    The service is always excellent at the People's Kitchen. I have gone for their wine dinners on Tuesdays. The food is creative and avant guard. My only complaint is at the recent visit, some of the pairings for the wine dinner were not perfect, especially with the second course.

    (4)

  • Lauren M.

    SOME HIGHS...SOME LOWS. My husband and I went to TPK last Saturday to celebrate his Bday. We had heard good things, and were excited to enjoy quality food. The restaurant itself is cool...nice atmosphere, quiet, clean, well-lit, etc...we liked the look of it right away, and the fact that it's above The Citizen (Bar/wine/cheese/dessert place) was a bonus...we decided we'd go there for an after-dinner drink before heading home. Service was good, drinks were yummy...apps were DELISH...hubby had tartare, and I had a spinach salad to die for...we were off to a really good start. Then dinner came. My steak was a hockey puck...I asked for it to be cooked medium and it was well...and flavorless. The veggies on my place lacked seasoning, and the fries are better at McDonalds...we joked that my plate looked like something from Denny's...not ok. My husband's pork was really really good though so I assumed I just chose poorly...not acceptable though. Moving on to dessert...I had a vanilla creme-brulee(ish) delight, and hubbs ordered the bread pudding...this was his big mistake of the night. Sogg to the y...not good, and the booze-infused fruit that came with it...not even edible...so so so bad...like eating chemicals...he made me try one as a joke...not funny. So, needless to say we were disappointed...so much good, but just enough really bad to make us never go there again...especially with gems like Armsby and Babba close by.

    (3)

  • M S.

    Went here yesterday with my husband - dinner was excellent! We are pretty picky about food and felt that each course was delicious and well prepared. We chose the prix fixe option... Had raviolis for appetizer, scallops and filet mignon for dinner and honey lavender creme brûlée for dessert. For $15, we added wine pairings for each course. Perfect atmosphere for a date! Our waitress was knowledgable about the menu and wine selections, and each course was timed perfectly. We will return again!

    (5)

  • Michael W.

    Recently held a 25th anniversary for a long time employee and a Holiday dinner for a group of professional contacts and I cannot say enough about the food and service. If you can find a better antipasto than the "chef's board" with fresh (many regional) cheeses and charcuterie then you have found a great place. I recently had a dinner party and shamelessly stole the board idea...it was a huge hit. The Chef's Board would make a great meal in itself. I especially like the fact that you can order from the dinner menu or the "Citizen" which is the wine bar located on the first floor....I'm addicted to the grilled cheese and soup (although the tomato soup is missed)....this restaurant needs to be supported because it is clearly the freshest concept we have in Worcester.

    (5)

  • D. C.

    Horrible dining experience. I'm not sure if the chef had a day off... but whoever was in the kitchen that night clearly had no idea what he/she was doing. Came with a party of four for a groupon we purchased and all four entrees, including the fish and steak were extremely salty. It was just terrible food all around. We would've said something to our waiter except while we were there the fire alarms kept sounding off and it was really annoying. We just wanted to get out of that restaurant as quickly as possible. Never going back.

    (1)

  • Bryan D.

    This was a great dinner out. The food was incredible, the waiter (carlos?) was great and on top of everything and the drinks were made perfectly. The menu changes weekly (some things seem to stay on for a long time if they're good sellers). We've been back a couple times since and nothing has disappointed.

    (5)

  • Matt Y.

    The People's Kitchen has a lot of good things going for it, but in the end we've always been disappointed with the final product. In general I've always enjoyed the Niche offerings(except for The Jewel Box...how you could replace the Block 5 with that culinary atrocity is beyond me) The restaurant itself is cozy, and the waitstaff that we've always gotten has been polite and knowledgeable about the food. This is the place in Worcester to go if you are into cheese and charcuterie...the selection and quality is good, and the price is reasonable. The appetizers have always been good, although the soups in our experiences has just been average. The place where we are always underwhelmed is the entrees. We've gotten fish dishes, fried chicken, asian fusion, and steaks and we are always regretful we just didn't stop at apps. Whether its underseasoning, not resting the meat enough, or poor cooking of other protein we just have never had a good entree at TPK. Upscale comfort food is hard to find in Worcester, and hopefully there will be more options in the area in the near future...or they just bring back The Block 5!

    (2)

  • Rose E.

    The wine chocolate and cheese slogan on the sign caught my attention, so we gave it a try. Happily they had a full bar and a charcuterie plate which was why we wanted to try the still and stir. We sat at the bar to eat, which I thought was weird since we were told they couldn't seat us at a table for two hours and the place was less than half full. It filled up completely by the time our charcuterie and cheese arrived. The prosciutto was very well done with a wonderful mouthfeel. The smoked duck was not the best. It was dry, and with duck that is hard to do; plus all you could taste was the smoke and nitrates. The smoked trout was quite good though; neither the fish flavor or the smoke was overpowering. I liked it with the tart-sweet, fresh raspberries served as garnish; although, where they got raspberries in early February I don't know.... I was a bit put off when I asked about the local cheeses and the waiter/bartender actually made a bit of a face. He suggested his favorites and said they'd been a staple on the menu since they started serving the cheeses. Apparently, the cheeses change from time to time. I actually asked about the local cheeses again, and he steered me away from them!? Weird.... The pickled veg served with the cured meats and cheese was a delightful surprise as the vegetables still retained their crispness and some of their original flavor; although, the bread and butter pickling vinegar was too sweet for my tastes. In addition we got a steak to share. Honestly, I can only say it was al right but nothing I would go back for again. The potatoes were not exceptional; in fact, after one bite I didn't have any more, and I usually will eat potatoes in all their forms above and beyond anything else! The filet mignon was tender and cooked to our preference, but covered in a very salty gravy, and coming from someone who loves charcuterie that has to be very salty indeed! The summer squash veg mix was so overlooked it would not even stay on my fork but kept sliding off in to the gravy that covered the entire plate, an unpleasant surprise since the pickled veg was so good. All in all, I liked the prosciutto and smoked trout, the cheeses were solidly "good" and I will be back if they get more tasty charcuterie or a genius in the kitchen cooking the fresh food.

    (4)

  • Erin U.

    The People's Kitchen is absolutely fantastic. It is truly the place to go if you are in the mood for a steak dinner. Forget the other local steak houses....The People's Kitchen actually cooks steak the right way so that when you order a steak medium, it comes out truly medium unlike most places. The servers are attentive, professional and helpful. The location with complimentary valet parking is great too! We actually have enjoyed this restaurant, the food and it's theme so much that we had our wedding rehearsal dinner there. We had about 20 people which allowed us to use a room that was the old warden's office in years past. The room perfectly fit all 20 guests and everyone RAVED about the food. Everyone in attendance is eager to get back there for dinner again. We also attended a special event that was held at The People's Kitchen. It was a beef and ale tasting event. Not only was the menu to die for and the beef and ale over the top fantastic but we were fortunate enough to dine with one of the farmers that produced some of the very beef we were tasting that night. It was truly a fantastic experience. We keep our eyes open for any special events like this held at The People's Kitchen and cannot wait for the next one!!!

    (5)

  • DQ S.

    Wine - yes! Food - meh. First off, Armsby Abbey is across the street so why are you here? You're here for the very nice wine list. The bar downstairs, The Citizen, is probably the place you want to be. But for the PEOPLE'S KITCHEN: Here's our experience for a table of eight: Slow kitchen service even though they were serving only two tables. The waitstaff was attentive, but has obviously been over instructed on "menu introductions". Managers, please don't make your staff recite long monologues as if they were telemarketers. Potato & Leek soup - under seasoned, uninteresting 3 Cheese Mac - a winner, but I've had better. Cornbread - horrible, cakey, and over sweetened. Very sad. Duck, Duck, Goose - greasy (more than it should be). Chicken - crispy, moist inside (but the "gravy" is NOT red-eye gravy, it tastes like canned milked gravy.) Cedar Roasted Salmon - dynamite! Portobello & Vegetable Lasagnette - bland and under seasoned. Meatloaf - NOT comfort food. Seriously under seasoned. No one ordered a steak, which might be the thing to try if we go again.

    (3)

  • Jason S.

    I want here after relatively good experiences with Bocado. Bocado is great. If you are in the neighborhood of TPK, head to Armsby Abbey. The food here at TPK is unremarkable and lacks technique. The menu is incoherent mixing French, Thai, Latin, and some sort of Americana in a confused mess. The service is unremarkable and the atmosphere is definitely downscale. We were seated in the bar. I don't however think that being seated anywhere else would have made a difference. On that note, the bar was definitely unremarkable in selection and ability. Good bartenders, like chefs, seem unknown in Worcester. Far worse was the dessert we had: a chocolate tasting. It consisted merely of chocolate discs thrown on a cheese board. TPK is definitely off the list of places for good food in Worcester. Stick to Armsby Abbet and Bocado for a decent meal. They are the only two places in town I've found that have close to dining one could get in a larger city with cuisine you'd bother to go out for prepared by actual chefs with technique and training. Skip it.

    (1)

  • Rick M.

    Awesome food with chef who used to be at cedar street restaurant in Sturbridge. Great atmosphere and very reasonably priced.

    (5)

  • Kris H.

    Ok, so The People's Kitchen no longer has the TPK Supper that I loved so much. However, they now have a Meat plus 3 deal. It is a four course dinner where people share the 3 sides of their choice for $22.00 pp. It is really good and a nice change of pace!! Still my favorite restaurant....Keep it up, guys!!!

    (5)

  • Robyn Z.

    UPDATE: 5-7-12 We had not been back to the People's Kitchen in a few months. This weekend we went back. The food and menu have changed. The once great food has been replaced by sandwiches. This has become a hamburger and sandwich place that serves wine and unique beers. I personally do not think that is a bad thing. But TGIF or any other franchise food joint does this same thing. The food for a sandwich place was average but over priced. The mac and cheese I wrote in my review in the past has gone way way way down hill. It was over cooked and bland tasting. I have a feeling the owners needed to change to make extra money. Every business is in it to make money. Just sad to see the great food had to suffer. I will no longer recommend this place or visit it again. To bad a great restaurant had to change. Past review 10/27/2010 Went here with a couple friends because they heard good things about this restaurant. The place was empty when we got there, which is a good thing because we get to sit where ever we want. The People's Kitchen has a nice relaxing atmosphere, with tables arranged to feed the feeling of privacy. The menu is small. Unlike most small menus one gets the feeling of limited choices. This menu had many dishes we wanted to try that the size did not matter we liked the choices that were given to us. We heard about an onion appetizer that was great but they no longer make it :(. The beer selection are not your typical bud, bud lite, corona, etc. which I am glad about. I was able to have a dark larger that was wonderful. I ordered the mac and cheese as the appetizer and pork chops for main meal. The bread served during the meal was nothing special but not bad. The mac and cheese was creamy and very good, leaving you with thought of taking a huge bucket of it home for later. The pork chops where cooked perfectly and the sides that came with the dish worked really well with the chops. The way the food was prepared displays the chief really understood how flavors work together to improve your dining experience. To many times a chief has been taught this food goes with this or maybe this sounds good with this so let's put them together. From the two dishes I had I have to say the chief understood the science of good food. The server during the whole meal was pleasant and able to answer all of our questions. He added to the overall experience of the People's Kitchen. I will be going back and will recommend this to others I really look forward to the other items on the menu. P.S. The other three people with me all loved there food and will be going back. The food was price reasonable and you felt you got your money's worth.

    (2)

  • C D.

    Great seafood and wine selection, and I would definitely recommend the monkfish entree!

    (4)

  • Gonzo Gordonzo S.

    Much better than chain. Disappointed when my first entre choice seared tuna was unavailable after the order was placed. Custom wine flight was very interesting. Aged steak was above average but not outstanding. Remarked that the bread served before the meal did not set the stage for a fine meal, somewhat burned blasé banquette - some options e.g. sour dough, whole grain would have made a better anticipatory set. The fresh grilled vegetables were great, French Fries with a $27 steak hhhhmmmph. Best surprise of the evening was an exotic night cap called the Millionaire of Havana.

    (4)

  • Bill C.

    I finally tried out The People's Kitchen this past weekend. A fan of the various Niche Hospitality restaurants (and mourner of the bygone Block5) I was extremely impressed with the latest addition to the restaurant group. We had an extremely reasonable wait with no reservations during prime dining hours on a Friday, and spending a few minutes at The Citizen bar is certainly a great way to bide the time before a meal. Having visited The Citizen before, I was curious about the space available above the wine bar. I was surprised by the expanse of the upper level. Despite its large size, the area remains intimate with a variety of smaller rooms and dining areas. As for the food, Mike's crew impresses again. The People's Kitchen rotates a menu with fresh ingredients crafted in house. My party ordered the Chevre plate and Beef Tartare for our appetizers and sampled a few different wines. Our individual entrées including roasted chicken, a portabello burger, venison and scallops, and swordfish, the latter dish being my choice. Everyone found the food delectable and our service was excellent from start to finish. I'd give two thumbs up, but they're reaching for seconds.

    (5)

  • Jill C.

    I echo a below reviewer who said the drinks were great and the food...meh. Ate here on Saturday. First, let's talk about the time we were in the place. From the time me and my date walked in the door to the time we walked out was close to three hours. I am all for slow food and taking time between courses and whatnot but this was ridiculous. There would be times that we wouldn't see our server for 20 minutes. Annoying, especially when I wanted a refill on my drink. So let's talk about drinks. In my opinion, the best part about this place. It was refreshing to find a joint that makes an old fashioned the correct way. The Manhattan I had was beyond reproach and my date said that he had never had such wonderful wine. The water was chilled tap water in fancy old wine bottles, which was kind of amusing. Now, I am a girl who loves cheese. We eagerly ordered the chef's cheese plate and it was so underwhelming. Maybe I have been spoiled by the Armsby Abbey but there wasn't a single item on this plate that didn't taste like something I couldn't easily get at the grocery store. The $33 prix fixe menu is a spectacular deal and my date said his steak was delicious and cooked very well. My roasted chicken was perfect but a little salty. Everything else was totally underwhelming. The sweet potato gnocchi was bland. I ordered almond creme brulee and was told, two hours later, that they were out. The portions seem kind of out of control, the mousse my date got was the size of a softball. I like Niche group joints. Mezcal is fabulous and I haven't had a bad meal at Bocado. This place just wasn't special enough to justify the price. Next time, I'll just go to the Armsby Abbey.

    (3)

  • Roger S.

    In updating my review based on dining experiences on New Years eve and March 25th, I can say that food has been consistently excellent, but the service has been very sporadic. We will return and hope to experience much better service.

    (4)

  • Ann P.

    I called to change our res from 4:45 to 5 and to add my child. A kind man, Kevin called back and obliged but said he needed our table at 6:30. No worries..this was more a late lunch early supper. Driving in Worc. was interesting: mad high snow banks, no parking ,a mess...we parked out front and called inside via my cell to ask where the valet was. A nice young man came out and said to parallel park into the handicap entry area for the time being as the valet was late. It was a tight fit but I did it. Mom and my daughter went inside. Here it was a little confusing. There were 2 parties behind us and I added to the commotion asking if someone would move my car. I am in the field of counseling/rehab and abhor people parking in illegal handicap areas. The young man in front was unclear which added to my trepidation. Then Kevin showed up and things started to flow. We were taken to the elevator (mom does better walking down vs up stairs at 87 years of age) which is outside and around the back. Inside the elevator we smelled cigar. Once upstairs there was a slight but evident smell that we quickly got used to (Cigar bar downstairs). The setting is dark and stark. I don't recall any music. Carlos was our waiter. He was a very chatty, friendly and sincere waiter. He guided us through the menu. At some point Kevin came back with my valet tag. I had a nice Sicilian red, Mom had a Stella Artois and my kiddo nada. Mom chose the buttermilk chicken dinner, same for my daughter plus the mac and cheese app and I had the tuna as recommended by Carlos. The bread was amazing with a nice EVOO dipping plate. The place started to really fill up. We all liked the mac and cheese, a nice sized app portion just as it was at Block 5 Bistro. Then the entrees came. In short we all loved the chicken. It was juicy inside and a nice crust outside. The greens were lovely. The mashed potatoes were lumpy and good. The gravy was mild..so so. My tuna came perfectly rare but it was sitting on a bed of mashed potatoes with ratatouille. It was an odd combo that I did not enjoy and barely ate. I just could not get into it. I had a few bites of the tuna but instead helped my kiddo eat her massive portion. I had another red wine, an Oleana from Oregon I believe. Ambrosia. We were out by 6:15. Our waiter was great..he disappeared towards the end largely but a few nice women working the front helped immensely. It was a nice dinner, nothing wow but really ok. One odd mention, when Carlos brought our water I immediately took a sip and the exterior of the glass was gritty. He quickly returned with another class, this one the same in fact all of our glasses had what might be soap detergent granules. My daugher and I are both have extensive food service experience. She is a waitress and I have been in all aspects. We let it go but I spent the evening fussing with the glasses.

    (3)

  • Jamie B.

    Had a great meal here the other night. I had one of the aged steaks and my wife had a scallop dish. Both were tasty and perfectly portioned. Service was attentive and friendly making for a great night out in Worcester.

    (4)

  • David B.

    excellent food, excellent value (price fix menu), excellent service. only disappointment was in the dessert menu

    (4)

  • Jason A.

    Great wine. Amazing steak. The cheese platter was fantastic. The deserts were to die for.

    (4)

  • Tyler L.

    We had been trying to get here for quite some time, having read good-to-great reviews. Overall we enjoyed our dinner. The food was average, including the highly touted sirloin - it was not all that great and actually tasted a few days over the claimed 21-day aging period, as stated on the menu. My wife had the Braised Short Rib, which was the lone standout. Well, the Belgian Chocolate Tasting for dessert was quite good as well. The wine list was good enough and the bottle we ordered was served at the right temperature. Some great beers are offered as well. We may return in the future, but likely only to enjoy the Citizen's Wine Bar. There are plenty of better venues within a 10-minute drive.

    (3)

  • X to the Z M.

    Food was very good and the items seemed original. Duck duck goose appetizer and pork with apple cornbread were the highlights. A wobbly table and unattentive waitstaff bump this down from what would have been a five.

    (4)

  • Marlarissa M.

    It was like eating at an upscale version of grandma's house. They don't have the most creative menu, but everything is delicious!

    (5)

  • David G.

    Had dinner here for the first time on Saturday night, 11/13, and was thoroughly impressed with the entire experience. The Niche Hospitality guys really know how to execute a concept. Although we had a reservation, we went to the bar first & had drinks--and was pleasantly surprised at the prices. $13 bucks for two premium cocktails? Dinner was phenomenal. Our server, Amanda, was tremendously personable and related the highlights in a genuine, enthusiastic manner. Unlike most high-end restaurants, the mark-up on wine isn't 100%, so a great bottle of Pinot was $28--it would be $50 in Boston. Both appetizers, the Cuban calamari and the mussels, were delicious, although the calamari could've been a bit spicier, considering the name. The broth with the mussels was so good I wanted to pick up the bowl & drink it! We then had steaks, both cooked to perfection and delicious. As much as I've been a Bocado loyalist when dining out in Worcester, I think this is a new fave--glad they're owned by the same people! This was a fantastic dining experience all around.

    (5)

  • Jim W.

    The People's Kitchen is a very cool restaurant upstairs from The Citizen pub. We went on a weeknight, and it was not very busy. The waitress was amazing, seeming to know everything about the food - down to the identities of meat and cheese suppliers! We had a great time - the ambiance is rustic and fun, the food is filled with flavor, and the draft beer list is good. We will certainly be back for more!

    (4)

  • Yorkiana M.

    Just a few words...the food is so amazing it's undescripable. I had the fried chicken, the peanut soup, and many other amazing things. Before leaving Worcester, you MUST come to this place.

    (5)

  • Robert T.

    This place is going to be the new to place to be in Woostah! It's upstairs from the Citizen, in a great space: lots of nooks and crannies for discrete, private, romantic meals; wood paneling that's masculine, but not overbearing; low ceilings, sometimes slanted, keep it cozy; windows look out on to Worcester's brick industrial past. The principle of the place is locovore, seasonal, constantly changing menu--whatever's good and available. We started with some "pre-prohibition" drinks. I had a martini like I've never had before--apparently, this is what they're drinking on "Boardwalk Empire"! In any case, it was very tasty. One of my friends had a similarly vintage Manhattan. The cheese and charcuterie platter was amazing. I try not to eat pork, but the salami and leberwurst were worth making an exception for. Salads were good and big. One of us had the ravioli appetizer, which was to die for. I had a steak,which melted in my mouth. One of us had the soy braised short ribs on udon noodles, which were also amazing. And another person ordered the homemade pasta and meatballs. All too good. The only problem was that after the cheese and charcuterie platter and the salads, we were already full, so none of us finished our meals. Which is fine, because I'm going to have some more now!

    (5)

  • Donna D.

    We love the food and service at this place. They always have unique items on the menu that reflect the creativity of the chef. The steaks are perfect every time, the Veggies are delicious, and the staff is knowledgable, friendly and fast. I highly recommend this place and it's fabulous entrees and amazing drink menu.

    (5)

  • Yohanis A.

    I went here for an interview dinner and everything was Great!

    (5)

  • Brittany B.

    Had a wonderful experience here a few weeks ago! There were 8 in our party and it was a special occasion. The restaurant gave us a special, more private table, which was really nice and accommodated a special request easily. Our server, Carlos I think, genuinely seemed enthusiastic and happy to take care of us and there was never any lag time with the food coming out. Perfect pace. I don't get out to Worcester all that often, but would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • C K.

    Saturday night. Last minute decision based on recommendation from a friend. Valet was a trainwreck as we sat in the car for close to 15 minutes before being able to drop off. We were seated immediately, nice atmosphere (the paper toppings to the tables are fine if you give kids crayons but not for a restaurant with this clientele). Calimari excellent (but honestly you can't screw that up too much) On the recommendation of server got the $27 filet (which she said they were known for) HUGE mistake. this thin, tiny, overseasoned and overcooked piece of meat arrived...dwarfed by the mountain of fries and bland vegetables. My buddy had the cuban sandwich which he said was ok but certainly not great. When I saw the small selection of the menu and heard that they were known for their steaks I held out hope that by focusing on a few things they would be outstanding.. but I was wrong. With a prime location they have the chance to be great but not worth the hassle for me to consider going back when I am back in the Big Woo.

    (2)

  • James C.

    I have wanted to try this place for quite some time after having a positive dining experience at Bocado and several great meals at Mezcal. I had read some negative reviews so I really didn't know what to expect. I have to say, that after a slow start, the People's Kitchen did deliver. I think anyone who goes here has to realize that it is not the Pub 99. This place uses fresh, local ingredients and the menu reflects that. If you want a Bud Light and a burger go somewhere else. If you want creative dishes that offer innovative takes on traditional staples, then most definitely this is the place for you. The only reason I didn't give the People's Kitchen 5 stars is a small issue with the service. After our party of 6 was seated we didn't see a server for 45 minutes. An oversight for which the server apologized profusely. Our meals were all outstanding and cooked to perfection. The chef(s) obviously take great pride in their craft and the resulting dishes reflect this. This minor service issue will not prevent me from returning or recommending the People's Kitchen to friends and family. The People's Kitchen should be commended for focusing on local and small businesses as their suppliers.

    (4)

  • Carrie R.

    We had dinner here on a Saturday night and it was not very busy. We were seated in the middle of the restaurant right near a large party. There were plenty of open tables on the sides of the restaurant that were more private, however, I figured they may have had them reserved for a later reservation. (As it turns out no one else came in...) Our waitress was horrible. She forgot to bring our drinks to us....we had to ask twice and then got them finally after our meal had arrived. Her excuse was "I hate when its a slow night...I always seem to forget stuff, I'm just not busy enough". Poor excuse....if it is a slow night then your service should be perfect. The food was mediocre and we left rather unimpressed.

    (1)

  • Patrick C.

    Friendly and lively atmosphere. If you stop by, try the mouth watering cheese plate, it's a great appetizer. Dinner service was attentive, however drinks were slow...

    (4)

  • adam t.

    UNBELIEVABLE Food! This place has a great vibe and fantastic food. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I had the aged steak and it was unreal. The homemade steak sauce left you craving for more. I highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Thomas S.

    I took a couple of friends here for a charity dinner/opening preview. The food was excellent and served in HEAPING portions. We had a long chat with one of the owners (who we've met at the other restaurants) and the night was perfect. We didn't get to try the frites though, but we were assured they were fried at two temperatures and hand cut (I strongly believe that you can judge any restaurant by their frites). The manager Chris, is a total pro, he's going to move up fast in this industry! I went a week later, after they had opened, and brought a different friend. I had the cauliflower soup (out of this world good) and some sort of salmon with creme fraiche (also very good). My companion got the NY Strip with Haricots Verts, and the frites. We both immediately noticed that the frites looked like they were only fried at one temperature (sad, pale looking, and limp). When the waitress came over to check on us, we asked about them, and she looked around and then told us that they were frozen and fried once. This seems to be a trend, as this happened at Ceres too! It's not just the frites, it's the whole Farm-to-Table credibility that they are losing, suddenly it's Sysco-to-Table when convenient. I'd go here again (as I do almost all of their restaurants), but now I'm always going to be wondering what else is frozen slop, and what else they're trying to pass off as authentic.

    (3)

  • Robin V.

    While the food was very good, it was difficult to find the place if you don't know it is upstairs from the Citizen Bar; the place was cold and the service beyond bad. One water told us there were no specials, another told us there were. After we ordered we received the specials menu and changed our order. The Osso Bucco was delicious and fell off the bone. All thru the dinner it was difficult to find a waiter. He brought me the wrong bill and disappeared. I had to go downstairs to the bar to find a human being to tell that I had the wrong check. It was like being in the Twilight Zone. So I won't be returning in spite of good food. The aggravation wasn't worth it.

    (3)

  • kent r.

    I had heard that the People's Kitchen was fantastic. ABOUT THE FIRST IMPRESSION: I made the reservation through Open Table, asked for information about valet car parking for a classic car I drive - didn't want another $400 dent repair...I was bringing friends for a night out and they wanted the special car...wasn't "showing off"...but I got no response to email nor a phone message. Arrived and the valet parking was pretty casual, off hand really. I parked my own, thank goodness it was only across the street.. and hoping that it would not get vandalized on the street, passed $10 to the valet and asked him to keep a look out and he promptly shrugged and left. I just felt that the level of attention was lacking and I hadn't even started. DECOR: Very nice, inviting. Hostess wasn't too excited to see us, maybe valet car person was setting the tone? This was Friday night at 8pm and maybe there were 4 other couples...very empty, I was staring to get the feeling that I knew why. Arrived at a a booth table, waitress had to ask us to pass our plates...we were working pretty hard for our dinner..take the restaurant's name seriously "The People's Kitchen" it was startng to feel like a Soviet experience. The service was consistently amateurish if not just plain bad. THE FOOD: Bread was fantastic, asked for more and felt like Oliver Twist, was told that the kitchen would fire up some more...but no more came. Friends said to get the fried chicken, wasn't on the menu so I ordered sirloin steak, the women had the sea bass. Not bad but not great, it came "naked" expect fries and some au jus style clear sauce that didn't add much. Just didn't have that extra je ne sais quoi. French fries with cheese grated lightly on top added something but not 'panache". Just plain disspointing. the evening ended with us leaving past a chef with 3 staff eating at a table and not an "au revoir.".. not a friendly glace in our direction. So it's no au revoir or de retour for me ..Worcester has terrific restaurants, many with good food, great value, buzz and excitment, but not this one. The People's Kitchen owners have other operations in Worcester, they are excellent - maybe this was a night off, but what a night off. 111 Chop House next time for steak, beautiful decor and excellent service...

    (1)

  • Elisa T.

    I wish I had read some of the other reviews prior to going. My husband has wanted to try the People's Kitchen for a while, since we really like Bocado. But like some of the reviewers said, the food was meh. The best thing we had was the cheese board, probably because the restaurant didn't prepare any of it in-house. Our waiter seemed to try hard, but felt the need to make odd jokes each time he came over. He also spilled my husband's beer when he poured it into a glass and didn't bother to wipe it up, and he tried to refill the beer glass, but ended up filling it up with foam . I had the spinach salad for an appetizer, which was decent, but drenched in too much dressing. For an entree, I had the Asian salmon risotto. The salmon was pretty good, but not very flavorful, and the risotto was a bit al dente and lacked flavor, kind of like a bland fake fried rice. My husband had the pork loin, which was literally raw. The waiter had told us that they cook their pork to medium temp, but the pork he got was literally still cold and red in the middle. The waiter promptly brought the pork back to the kitchen to be cooked more, but by that point, our appetite had been a bit ruined by the raw meat. For dessert, my husband had the bananas foster, which hardly had any bananas in it. I had the chocolates, which as another reviewer mentioned is just chocolate pieces served on a cutting board. And the place just smelled like cigar smoke throughout. I think it may be from the cigar bar on the corner, but the strong odor just puts a damper on your meal. I don't think we'll be going back to the People's Kitchen any time soon, it was quite a disappointment. Like some of the other reviewers advised, stick to Armsby Abbey if you're in that area, and Bocado if you're going to a Niche Group restaurant.

    (1)

  • B M.

    We went, we sat, we were ignored or forgotten for over 10 minutes. We didn't like the set up of the upstairs either. The restaurant is basically a long series of what feel like hallways, with little atmosphere. We ended up in a dull ugly room with low ceilings and horrible dentist office music. After sitting in disbelief for ten minutes, we got up and went downstairs to the citizen. We had eaten here a couple times before and were always happy. We also like the way they did the bar area in the citizen and the fact that you can sit outside for a good part of the year. The changed up the menu and I think the Citizen has its food made by the same kitchen used in the People's Kitchen. The food was excellent. We had some egg and ham sandwich for dinner. I think it was one of the best sandwiches I ever had. We split that and their hamburger, which was also very good. We had started by sharing the arugala, pear, peanut brittle with maple vinegrette salad. My wife let me know that it was the best salad that she has ever had in the states. I found that pretty shocking since we have ate in NYC and Chicago so often. So to sum up I do believe we ate the food at the People's Kitchen, we just at it downstairs at their bar (or sister bar). We might be willing to back and try eating upstairs, but the atmosphere is just so much nicer downstairs. Oh what to do.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :4:30 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Valet
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Classy
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

The People’s Kitchen

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