Uncle Jay's Twisted Fork

Doesn't Recommend

julia f.

Joined 1 month ago

Good food served here, but watch out for over pricing. One great example is the 18% gratuity added to checks recently for Easter Buffet service. Really? Buffet service, automatic gratuity? 18%? Not only well beyond reasonable and customary tipping for buffet style meal, but also incredibly tacky.

Recommends

Larry C.

Joined 3 months ago

This was one of the BEST meals my wife and I have ever had.

We decide to go to the Fork for Valentine’s night on the advice from many our friends. First we pulled up to this strip mall and did not think we had arrived but we had. We did not know what to expect when we walked in, but what we saw was a great little Bistro with art on the walls, a small unassuming bar and just clean, clean clean.

We looked and saw the Chef in his white jacket cooking away. Talking to the patrons and wishing us a happy Valentine’s Day through the kitchen window. We did not have reservations, shame on us, and they were full. The Chef’s wife Nancy handled the whole thing and set up a table for 2 in the corner and it was perfect.

Our server Danielle came over and introduced herself and took out drink order immediately. They have a decent wine list with some really good wines and a full bar. I also noticed a great beer selection of tap beers, all local micro brews. She left us with the specials for the day and we could not believe our eyes. Foie Gras, Chateaubriand, Rack of Lamb (local), Diver Scallops on top of a wheat berry risotto and much more. Finally, a French and Italian restaurant in the Worcester County area. Danielle came back with our drinks and then proceeded to explain, may I add, with a perfect description each of the items on the menu.

My wife ordered the escargot, and I ordered the Foie Gras crème brulee to start. The escargot was set on top of a braised crimini mushroom cap and topped with garlic/brandy/parsley butter. This was just delightful but the Foie Gras brulee was simply amazing. The custard was full of Hudson Valley Foie Gras and it was served with herb crusted crostini. It melted in your mouth; I cannot truly describe how good this was.

Next we had the arugula/sautéed fennel salad. It was tossed with Turkish apricots, Marconi almonds from Spain, Westfield Farms goat cheese and a fresh Champagne vinegar from France (yes the Chef should us the bottle) poppy seed and lemon vinaigrette with a touch of citrus honey. Once again unbelievable.

Then our Entrée – reading as a baked stuff lobster for two was a 3 ½ pound lobster (that looked like 4) stuffed with another 1.5 pound lobster. The dish also had 4 giant shrimp and a bunch of steamers on the same plate with drawn butter. I can not describe the stuffing, it was something I have never had before, not bread, not crackers almost like a moist stuffing of a turkey but lobster. It was hands down the best stuffed lobster we have ever eaten.

We could not eat another bite.

Then Danielle proceeded to tell us about the homemade desserts, by the Chef’s wife Nancy and his mother. We went home with a piece of Red Velvet cake which we eat a couple hours later, that was simply delectable. The cream cheese frosting was once again the best my wife or I has ever had.

This is a 5 star Bistro – Food, Service, Atmosphere . All great. Thank you Twisted Fork in making this the best Valentine’s ever.

Doesn't Recommend

millie r.

Joined 5 months ago

I really wanted to like this restaurant- a small cafe tucked away in the woods of Leicester. Plenty of parking, and a lot full of Christmas trees adjacent. Unfortunately we were overwhelmed by the number of things present to take your attention away from the pleasure of a simple meal; advertisement for yelp on the front door along with a sign reminding patrons not to bring their own beverages (how weird- did they just get their liquor license?). a sign to "like us on facebook at the front counter. then, and mind you, this is not a large place; a collection for toys, a collection for food pantry, and signage indicating Santa visits for sale to raise money for a pet shelter.

Add to this the fact that no one greeted us when we walked in (don't you love getting the blank look from the guy in the kitchen as well as from the server behind the counter who, after a minute or two, tells you to go ahead and sit wherever you'd like? )

I am accustomed to constant pleas for donations at every retail establishment this time of year, I think 3 distinctly different charity drives at one small cafe are 3 too many.

I do remember the food- it was good and decently priced.

As I said, I really wanted to like this restaurant, but I can't afford the tithe to get in again.

Doesn't Recommend

Kelly C.

Joined 1 year ago

Be Advised. Some months ago I had breakfast at Uncle Jay’s Twisted Fork in Cherry Valley, MA. I found the service and food to be acceptable, not notable. Having read the article in the Worcester Telegram dated 3/8/2012 about this restaurant recently winning a prize for its “soup/chowda” and other complementary remarks, I thought it was worth another visit.

Today, a companion and I went to the Twisted Fork for breakfast and I ordered my usual Eggs Benedict, a personal favorite. Our order arrived promptly and upon cutting into the egg I soon realized it was overdone. I debated for a moment whether to send the order back and knowing that I would not enjoy it, decided to speak to the waitress. By this time there were several more customers and she never came back to check, offer a coffee refill, or even looked my way. My companion finished her breakfast and the waitress came by with a check. My food was basically untouched and when she asked if I wanted her to wrap it, I told her I had not eaten because the eggs were overdone. She pleasantly and quickly said she would take the item off the check.

Within seconds the owner/cook, Jay Powell, came to the table with my plate, ran his fingers through the untouched egg and indignantly stated these eggs are fine and walked away. I was stunned, and frankly insulted, by his crude behavior.

I went to the counter to pay the check and express my disappointment at his apparent lack of concern for and placement of blame on a customer. I truly felt an apology for his behavior was not unreasonable to expect. With a restaurant full of customers he loudly and irately told me there was nothing wrong with the eggs and no apology was warranted. I asked if he treats all his customers so poorly and I would share this unpleasant experience with friends. He told me that was good because he doesn’t want me or any of my friends there either.

Had he not come to my table with such rude and repulsive behavior, I would have paid the bill and left, perhaps unsure whether I would return but certainly not insulted by the owner who lacks any sense of acceptable customer service or satisfaction.