BirchTree Bread Company — Restaurant in Worcester

So let me start off by saying this place has a great atmosphere and they have done a great job with the renovation and creating a nice laid back atmosphere. The line was moving and was very orderly. I was not in the queue very long during peak lunch hour. I felt like I was in Stowe or Waterbury VT in some Hipster Brewery waiting for Heady Topper or some other hard to find beer that we were privy to knowing. With that being said the clientele all had there Mac Books out while the band was playing soft melodies that were kid friendly as the rug rats were playing next to the community picnic style table. There were hipsters, students and some professionals alike all enjoying their afternoon in the well natural sunlit space. I ordered the Corned Beef & Kraut which was ($10.75) and I struggled a bit before I ordered because everything on the menu looked fantastic and I don’t typically eat meat out and about unless it is a trustworthy source. But as it stated on the menu that it was homemade so I took the chance. I also ordered a Hot Chai Latte ($4.25) to accompany me while I waited for my sandwich. They gave me a number and I sat at the bar and people watched as I waited. This made time go by pretty quickly as it started to fill up now. I received my Hot Tea Latte in a to go cup which was pretty disappointing since I was hanging out I would have preferred a mug and a fancy deign on my latte as shown on the website. What was even more disappointing was that my tea was not that hot. I was able to drink most of before my food came out. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and waited patiently for my sandwich. My sandwich came out and looked like he was pretty lonely, It would have been nice if they had fries or chips to accompany the sandwich. The sandwich was also very greasy, oily or buttery. I am not sure what they used but it was so much that the bread had a reflection and I needed lots of napkins which were conveniently located in front of me. Now I am not a picky eater so this did not bother me all that much so I at the sandwich which tasted delicious. The corned beef was tender and melted in my mouth and the whole grain mustard accompanied it perfectly. Not sure about the kraut because they either forgot about it or I got so little of it that I could not taste or see it. I honestly forgot about the kraut until now when I looked at the menu again to write this review. This place is great even though my first experience isn’t the best as far as the culinary experience goes but the location and atmosphere will bring me back to give it a second try. Worcester has some amazing places to eat and I can see this place succeeding. I just hope it doesn’t become overrated and have the food and drinks suffer. We have enough overpriced restaurants and cafes but none with an...

This place is a hidden gem! Being a chefs wife, I’m not that easy to impress. In most cases, food is just food. The BirchTree exceeded my expectations! This is quality food made from fresh ingredients, and the flavors are simply euphoric! I had the Spicy Bloody Mary as my choice of beverage, and it was absolutely spectacular! I’ve only tried a few bloody Mary’s in my day and wasn’t all that impressed but this is a whole different category of enticement! You can literally taste all of the flavors with each delectable sip! I also had the Spicy Tomato Bisque with the French Onion Grilled Cheese. I swear, I was in heaven! It was absolutely divine! The bisque was smooth and creamy, with a spicy kick! Some tomato bisque’s fall flat as in flavorless, but this was out of this world! The French Onion Grilled Cheese was grilled to perfection… caramelized, onions, and Gruyere cheese… it was absolutely perfect for a cool, rainy day! I went back for a second time before I had to return to South Carolina and again I had the spicy, bloody Mary and the spicy tomato bisque, because I was just so in love with those flavors that just explode in your mouth! This time I had shared the margarita pizza with my daughter. Once again, I was not disappointed! Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and the crust is simply perfect! It’s crisp on the outside and lightly chewy on the inside. I honestly cannot say enough about the Birch Tree Bread Company! Perhaps next time I come to visit, I will try some of the breads and pastries! One thing is for certain, the owner is an absolute master of flavor! Additionally, it is a beautiful space with open seating, and a very calm, inviting atmosphere. It was a...

BirchTree USED to be THE spot in Worcester. Unfortunately, when the original owners sold the restaurant three years ago, the high quality, experimentation of ingredients, and attention to detail has unfortunately been burnt to a crisp. The restaurant has recently felt like a mediocre chain of restaurants, because surprise, surprise, it actually is! If you are familiar with Crust, I hate to break it to you, but Crust owns BirchTree. Ugh.

They still have the COVID-19 conscious procedure of ordering from your phone at the table, which makes the experience feel much less personal than it used to be. Low key, I miss the long lines to order before COVID, there was something exciting and unique about this place, and now it’s riding along the coat-tails of what it once was. It used to continually innovate, but now it is pretty much the same old same old.

It’s still a “fine” place to eat, if you are in a pinch, but the food, especially the toast, has changed in quality and the amount of food given is much less than before. I used to recommend this place to friends, but I rarely do anymore. The old staff is essentially all gone, because they probably couldn’t handle how the place is now being run.

5 stars before COVID, 1 star now, rounding down to 2 stars, because I can’t subject myself to write a 1 star review because of my old nostalgia...