Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Central MA

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies 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!

Clintons Bar and Grille

4.9

4.9 (1966)

$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

fred

Dined 5 days ago

Always so good, great server and food fantastic. Enjoyable experience.

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Baba Sushi Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (133)

$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

Rachel

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

we had a baby with us and they were super sweet and accommodating !

Chashu Ramen + Izakaya

4.8

4.8 (636)

$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 and Tam Le of Pho Linh and Reign Drink Lab, Chashu brings Japanese inspired fare to downtown Worcester. Power lunches, happy hours, and sophisticated nightcaps are about to be redefined.

Top review

Heidi

Dined 5 days ago

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

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Popular dish

chicken leg

Popular dish

fried chicken bao bao

Popular dish

salmon

Tavern in the Square - Shrewsbury

4.7

4.7 (1069)

$30 and under

American

Shrewsbury

About the restaurant

Tavern in the Square located at the Lakeway Commons on route 9 in Shrewsbury. Our Tavern in the Square Shrewsbury location features an open floor plan along with a 50 seat bar that extends on to our patio. 50 beers on draft and a menu made with the freshest ingredients and our big screen TV’s to watch all your favorite sports teams. Our all season enclosed patio features dining tables, bar chairs, and a lounge area.

Top review

DanielVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Thursday nights with friends at the Tavern is the best.

The Rail Trail Flatbread Co. - Milford

4.7

4.7 (386)

$30 and under

Pizza Bar

Milford

About the restaurant

The Rail Trail Flatbread Co., celebrated its grand opening on 12/12/23, marking not only a milestone in Milford's downtown revitalization but also a nod to the original Hudson location's success. Built in a meticulously renovated former bank that features a spacious restaurant and bar, outdoor patio, and upstairs events space, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere.

The Milford location reflects a two-and-a-half-year renovation effort, preserving historical elements like the century-old clock, vault door, and exposed brick walls. The open dining layout encourages interaction, adorned with family photos for a homey feel.

Though famous for flatbreads, Rail Trail boasts diverse offerings, each component is made in-house. Notable flatbreads include "Fig & Walnut" and "Mexican Street Corn," alongside the popular "Primo Pepperoni." Appetizers like "Hot Tots" and "Sesame Cauliflower" showcase Rail Trail's culinary creativity.

Top review

OlgaVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We are always so pleased with our experience at the Rail Trail Flatbread Co. The food and drinks are always delicious. We are amazed with the people working here. Everyone works together so well. It is a well organized restaurant. We love sitting in a booth near the pizza oven.

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Experience

Kids Eat Free - 4th of July Weekend

Experience

Summer Menu Launch

Tropeiro's Grill Brazilian Steakhouse - Worcester

4.7

4.7 (47)

$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

Jeffrey

Dined 4 days ago

We loved it! Food was fabulous and service outstanding!!!

The Mercantile

4.6

4.6 (1016)

$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

Melanie

Dined 3 days ago

Fantastic original brunch food for Father’s Day!! My husband and my father both loved it!! Also very reasonably priced for 6 adults… with a couple adult beverages… $175!!

Nuovo Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (1596)

$31 to $50

Italian

Worcester

About the restaurant

Nuovo Restaurant is located on 92 Shrewsbury St, with ample parking in the rear of the building (Hill St), and complimentary Valet Parking service. Nuovo Restaurant in Worcester is known for their friendly and exceptional serving and food quality. Serves Italian cuisine with Mediterranean flare and provides an extensive wine list. Perfect place to have dinner with family, a group of friends, or a date night.
For reservations of 7 guests or more please call at 508-796-5915 or text at 508-826-8053.
The 2 private dinning rooms with dancing floor and WIFI available are ideal for a seat down dinner up to 90 guests, or a cocktail party up to 150, and everything in between.

Top review

Richard

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

We have dined at Nuovo in Worcester, MA on occasion during the past 12 years, and they have never disappointed. The food quality and service are excellent, as they were when we dined there on June 6, 2025. Our waitress was superb, and the food, wonderful. However, the prices, particularly for drinks has become excessive (as they are in most good restaurants) when added to the overall bill, but we will continue to dine here (at least on special occasions) because of the food quality and service. We recommend them for special occasions.

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4.4

4.4 (212)

$30 and under

Italian

Northborough

About the restaurant

Casta Diva was founded on the idea that the people of Central Massachusetts shouldn’t have to go all the way to the North End to get real, fresh Northern Italian cuisine.

Top review

Matt

Dined 4 days ago

Surprising dinner that was outstanding. Quiet atmosphere with great view of the water.

Forge and Vine

4.4

4.4 (3287)

$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

Roxanne

Dined 2 days ago

As always, the food and drinks were delicious with exceptional service!

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Popular dish

Seared Scallops

Popular dish

Seared Day Boat Scallops (GF) S

Popular dish

French Onion Soup

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