Diners' Choice: Best Ambiance restaurants in Central MA

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambiance in Central MA? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Willy’s Steakhouse Grill & Sushi Bar

4.8

4.8 (3049)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Shrewsbury

About the restaurant

Welcome to Willy's Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, nestled in historic Shrewsbury Center. Established in 1995, we offer an intimate dining experience characterized by elegant wood paneling, crisp white table linens, a polished granite bar, and soft lighting.

We pride ourselves on serving the finest choice cuts of beef, dry-aged for a minimum of 21 days, along with exquisite seafood delivered fresh daily. Our menu also features skillfully prepared sushi, perfect for the most discerning sushi connoisseurs. From classic favorites to original signature entrées, each dish is crafted with the freshest ingredients, including locally sourced produce.

Enhance your meal by selecting from our extensive wine list, or let our knowledgeable waitstaff assist you in finding the perfect pairing. Our seasoned servers and bartenders are dedicated to providing exceptional service.
We have private parking and valet service available for added convenience.

Top review

Janet

Dined on Jun 29, 2025

Amazing food, cocktails, and service perfect place to celebrate our birthday

Discover more

Popular dish

14 oz Prime New York Strip Sirloin

Popular dish

Crème Brule

Popular dish

20 oz New York Strip Sirloin

Chashu Ramen + Izakaya

4.8

4.8 (637)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Worcester

About the restaurant

Chashu Ramen + Izakaya is bringing fire to Worcester. The latest collaboration between Worcester’s own Son Vo of Kaizen and Pho Sure, Chashu brings Japanese inspired fare to downtown Worcester. Power lunches, happy hours, and sophisticated nightcaps are about to be redefined.

Top review

Heidi

Dined on Jun 13, 2025

Been there 4 times and always consistently good!! Food great and atmosphere pleasant

Discover more

Popular dish

chicken leg

Popular dish

fried chicken bao bao

Popular dish

salmon

Alicante Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (356)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Mendon

About the restaurant

Newly Remolded Alicante Restaurant is a waterfront restaurant that offers picturesque scenery with a relaxed and casual ambiance. It has an impressive menu that consists of unique items. All meals are prepared to order, with fresh produce and only high-quality cuts of meat and seafood. Now Open for Sunday Brunch and Dinner service.

Alicante is a well-known venue for casually going out, private parties, gatherings and celebrations . Patrons are welcome to enjoy their meals on the patio ( seasonality), surrounded by the beautiful scenery overlooking the water, or inside the large dining room and bar.

Top review

Michele

Dined 4 days ago

We had high hopes after recommendations from friends but were kind of disappointed. Service was excellent. We were a little disappointed in where we sat. There were 2 tables right at the windows but we were sat back against a wall. We thought those tables were for parties of 4 but then a couple was sat and the other table stayed empty. Maybe we should have spoken up. My lobster ravioli was fantastic but my husband’s rack of lamb, ordered medium, came out raw. Our waitress was great and did rectified the problem but I ended up sitting there waiting for his meal to come back, making my dinner lukewarm. Disappointing. $150 for 2 drinks, 1 appetizer and 2 entrees would have been Ok if things were perfect but, needless to say, we were disappointed.

Clintons Bar and Grille

4.8

4.8 (1973)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Clinton

About the restaurant

Clintons Bar and Grille offers a vibrant and casual atmosphere with details in our custom lighting, a fully stocked bar area with lounge seating, and a focus on guest satisfaction that provides a unique dining experience in the heart of Clinton.

The detailed contempoary American menu leaves plenty of options for any of our guests' palates ranging from the ever popular butternut squash raviolis to our deliciously tender filet. Come experience a little slice of the city on High Street.
Outdoor dining will be available weather permitting.
Kitchen closes one hour before closing.

Top review

Tracie

Dined 3 days ago

Never disappoints, food is always excellent, salads are very generous and the service is great

Discover more

Ruth's Chris Steak House - Worcester

4.6

4.6 (717)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Worcester

About the restaurant

Ruth's Chris Steak House in Worcester serves the finest USDA Prime beef available, broiled at 1,800° and served on 500° plates, so your steak stays hot, juicy and delicious from first bite to last. Enjoy our New Orleans-inspired appetizers, USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, signature side dishes and homemade desserts. All this while you enjoy our warm, inviting atmosphere and Ruth’s Chris’ genuine hospitality. So, whether you’re a regular or have just been wondering what all the buzz is about, Ruth's Chris is the perfect excuse to enjoy the perfect night out. Dinner is served nightly, reservations are suggested, and private dining and offsite catering may be arranged.

Top review

Linda

Dined 2 days ago

Great patio w good food and service that sped up. Sauces are delicious w double checks needed to make are anything in the side comes in the side. We would go again but check tip pre allocated and sauce on side checks

Discover more

Experience

$55 3-Course Menu

Experience

Moët & Chandon TasteMaker Dinner

Forge and Vine

4.5

4.5 (3300)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Groton

About the restaurant

Drawing inspiration from the region’s history and natural surroundings, the 156-seat freestanding restaurant reflects elemental themes of wood, water, iron, and fire, reminiscent of the carriage houses and blacksmith shops that once dotted the landscape. The centerpiece of Forge & Vine is an eight-foot wood fired grill and open kitchen with counter seating where guests can enjoy dinner while interacting with the chef. Welcoming residents as well as visitors to the area, Forge & Vine offers a strong sense of place with a design sensibility that brings in the outside with floor to ceiling windows offering breathtaking pastoral views of Gibbett Hill. The restaurant boasts spacious and casual bar with service inside and out and features classic and comfortable cuisine sourced from the best produce, seafood, and meats that New England offers.

Top review

Cheryl

Dined 7 days ago

We had a wonderful evening we ordered the two flatbreads and they were amazing. They were enough so we didn’t have to order a meal. A few cocktails to end the evening outside was fabulous. Will definitely go back. Our server Abby was great, attentive and friendly, would ask for her again. Overall top notch place. Can’t wait to go back.

Discover more

Popular dish

Seared Scallops

Popular dish

Seared Day Boat Scallops (GF) S

Popular dish

French Onion Soup

Lucia's Tavola

4.7

4.7 (1604)

$31 to $50

Italian

Ayer

About the restaurant

Chef owned and operated Lucia's Tavola is a fine dining Italian restaurant. Lucia's features a menu comprised of Chefs family favorites, Chef originals, traditional Italian & local ingredients creating unique Italian inspired cuisine.
Lucia's also offers an extensive cocktail menu and a complete, well balanced wine list.

Top review

Stanley

Dined 6 days ago

Our waitress, Tricia, was Amazing and just the best. Great atmosphere and food!

Tropeiro's Grill Brazilian Steakhouse - Worcester

4.7

4.7 (49)

$31 to $50

Brazilian Steakhouse

Worcester

About the restaurant

Are you craving the irresistible flavors of Brazilian cuisine? Well look no further than Churrascaria Tropeiro’s Grill! owned by restaurateurs, Who love taking care of their Customers, we’ve been serving the Dartmouth, MA community since 2015, bringing the delicious tastes of southern Brazil to your plate.

At Churrascaria Tropeiro’s Grill, we take great pride in offering an authentic dining experience like no other. Our recipes have been lovingly passed down through generations, ensuring that every bite you take transcends you to the vibrant streets of Brazil. From succulent cuts of beef, chicken, pork, and lamb to delectable grilled pineapple and grilled cheese, we have a wide variety of options to cater to every palate.

Top review

Lyndsay

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

This was the first time ever coming to Tropeiro's. I went with my husband who is an avid steak eater for our anniversary. The restaurant atmosphere was inviting and the table setup was cute and professional. I love they didn't push alcoholic drinks on us (we don't drink) after we flipped our wines glasses over. Other restaurants would still ask several times but at Tropeiro's they were very kind and welcoming. It was a great experience trying all the different meats that they brought over explaining each meat and asking what cut you want. I also like they had a chip on the table that was double sided you could flip it to green if you still wanted meats or if you were all done you could flip it to the red side. They had an excellent assortment of sides and a great salad bar. Dessert is also a mist as it is hard to say no when they wheel over the Dessert cart. I had the cheesecake and it was to die for.

Baba Sushi Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (134)

$30 and under

Japanese

Worcester

About the restaurant

Baba Sushi Restaurant is an award winning sushi restaurant in Worcester. Not only does it serve up the most innovative and freshest sushi, consider the sushi making classes on Sundays if you’d like to learn how to make them at home. Baba Sushi Restaurant takes pride in offering a sophisticated atmosphere. The master chef and owner of Baba Sushi Restaurant was trained in China and enjoys pushing to bring more creativity and innovation to the art of sushi. The results are as entertaining to see as they are to consume. With sushi, starters, salads, soups, tori tori and entrees to choose from, every visit can be a new experience.

Top review

MikeVIP

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

The food was superb, the staff even better. Couldn’t be more welcoming, a fantastic experience.

The Mercantile

4.6

4.6 (1023)

$30 and under

American

Worcester

About the restaurant

Serving up New American Tavern Cuisine in our two-floor full-service restaurant and bar, equipped with two 50-seat bars, world-inspired snacks and entrees, brick pizza oven, private event space, and an open rooftop patio that offers views of downtown Worcester and City Square. Located next to the DCU Center and minutes from Polar Park, we’re a natural choice pre and post-game.

*Due to limited patio seating, we do not take reservations for our patio. Please note the patio request in your reservation, or ask upon arrival, and we will do our best to accommodate.

**The rooftop is open Wednesday-Friday 4 PM - close. Saturday & Sunday 12 PM - close.

***Public parking is available at The Mercantile Center Garage with direct access to the restaurant on Level 3A.

Top review

Judy

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

Our food was very good, our server was very attentive and we were very pleased with our experience. I would recommend Mercantile for great dining in a pleasant setting.

Explore Diners' Choice best of Central MA

Explore more Diners' Choice lists