Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Central and Western MA

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Central and Western 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!

Villa Napoletana

4.8

4.8 (739)

$30 and under

Italian

East Longmeadow

About the restaurant

“The combination of exquisite food, superb service and excellent ambiance all create an experience you will never forget.” Since 1998, Villa Napoletana has offered the finest southern Italian cuisine, service and atmosphere to all who enjoy making memorable experiences. Villa Napoletana is committed to selecting only the freshest ingredients available. To us it is a constant culinary challenge to bring guests the finest Italian food that can be provided. We look forward to serving our guests with innovative specials!

Top review

Juan

Dined on Sep 6, 2024

The food was good, the only thing that hey could have made it better was if my bread bowl was not stale. The lobster was amazing.

B Napoli

4.8

4.8 (1880)

$30 and under

Contemporary Italian

West Springfield

About the restaurant

bNapoli Italian is a contemporary Italian restaurant serving authentic cuisine from the Naples region of Italy using only top quality ingredients. Reservations are highly recommended as they are booking for indoor as well as outdoor dining on their 28 seat enclosed patio.

BNapoli is known for their professional yet approachable service, beautifully created from scratch menu and inventive balanced cocktails. They offer an eclectic 100 label variety of new and old world wine focused mainly on North America and Italy from a glass enclosed temperature controlled wine room. Their cocktail menu is culinary based and guest focused offering creative seasonal takes on timeless classics and they also offer six draft lines featuring local breweries as well as a small curated selection of bottles.

Top review

Rebecca

Dined on Sep 12, 2024

Great food, great service and the drinks were exceptionally tasty!

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Popular dish

Arugula

Chashu Ramen + Izakaya

4.8

4.8 (540)

$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

Bill

Dined 5 days ago

Great first experience!! Wish I had been more hungry ! Will try the ramen next time. It looked legit!

The Student Prince Cafe

4.7

4.7 (730)

$30 and under

Steakhouse

Springfield

About the restaurant

Since 1935, Student Prince has offered largest selection of Bavarian and German beers paired with American, Seafood, Steakhouse, and European-inspired cuisine.

Top review

Dined on Sep 11, 2024

We celebrated a 75th birthday for a noon lunch ~ we really are getting old!! The service was excellent, it was quiet for conversation, and we enjoyed the ambiance. It was like dining in a restaurant in Germany. We enjoyed the traditional German food. It was a nice time celebrating another trip around the sun with great friends.

Specialty Bar and Grill

4.7

4.7 (164)

$31 to $50

American

Worcester

About the restaurant

INSPIRED BY DISHES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, WE PREPARE A MENU OF FRESH CUISINE, SAUTÉED AND GRILLED.

Top review

Beth

Dined on Aug 1, 2024

We had a great dinner here. The atmosphere was excellent, a bit noisy but not bad. The view is great, overlooking Mirror Lake. Service was friendly and very fast! The Brussels sprouts and Ruben sandwich were fantastic! They make their own pastrami and excellence shows. The only negative was the nachos: Most of the plate was chips, minimal toppings and the cheese sauce tasted like American Cheese and/or Velveeta. bleh. We sent it back. But that was the only negative among a bunch of positives. I highly recommend trying this place!

Baba Sushi Sturbridge

4.6

4.6 (60)

$30 and under

Japanese

Sturbridge

About the restaurant

Welcome to Baba Sushi… Voted Worcester’s Best Sushi Restaurant 9 consecutive years in a row, and a 5-time winner of the prestigious Worcester’s Best Chef award, Chef Wilson Wang is pleased to bring the freshest, most original sushi creations to the newer Sturbridge, MA location.

Wilson also invites you to try his Chinese Hot Pot, a delicious and fun way to enjoy all of your favorite foods.

So Sushi… AND Hot Pot, all under one roof, and made only with the freshest and tastiest ingredients. Thank you for joining us! We are excited to finally be here in Sturbridge and look forward bringing you the finest dining experience.

Top review

Kelly

Dined on Aug 17, 2024

Summer was our server and she was literally one of the best I have had all summer!! Even the valet (we didn’t use) was fun and personable. baba is a little pricey, but we had a great dinner.

Tavern in the Square - Shrewsbury

4.6

4.6 (993)

$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

Daniel

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent and consistently good food all the way around. Plenty of TV's and nice and vibrant atmosphere.

350 Grill

4.5

4.5 (1142)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Springfield

About the restaurant

The 350 Grill offers Las Vegas style decor and surrounds you with crisp white linens, dark wood colors and richly appointed fixtures.The menu offers a large variety from Tapas and appetizers to a full complement of Lunch and Diner entrees. The 350 Grill also offers classic and specialty desserts. The restaurant also offers elegant outdoor dining on our patio.

Top review

Josephvip

Dined on Sep 12, 2024

A very pleasant surprise for my first time having dinner at the 350 Grille. The food was very delicious and special recognition to Brandy, our server, who was very accommodating. The Dirty and Expresso Martinis were expertly prepared. This was a very rewarding experience. Please keep up the good work.

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Popular dish

Surf & Turf

The Mercantile

4.4

4.4 (827)

$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

Jeff

Dined 6 days ago

Service was a little slow, but in their defense it was very busy with a major convention going on on next door. Our server was extremely nice, but things just took a long time to happen.

Max Tavern - Springfield

4.3

4.3 (60)

$31 to $50

American

Springfield

About the restaurant

!Max Tavern's innovative menu features contemporary American cuisine, classic chophouse fare, craft cocktails, and more. Our team strives to make sure you have a memorable dining experience each and every time.

If you're looking to make a larger reservation please contact us directly at (413)-746-6299

Top review

Vincent

Dined on Aug 25, 2024

Our Max Tavern experience was thoroughly enjoyable in every way. Hostess and wait staff service is exemplary. Food is well-prepared, presented, and delicious.

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