Phantom Gourmet: Livia's Dish In Worcester
WORCESTER - There's a reason why Livia's Dish in Worcester is such a popular place; in fact, there are a lot of reasons. There's the food, and the family behind it, and the extreme friendliness. First and foremost, however, Livia's stands out because they serve a delicious brunch seven days a week.
Anytime from morning until mid-afternoon, any day of the week, you can get pancakes or paninis, burgers or benedicts. It's all cooked by chef/owner Enton Mehillaj and served his completely charming wife Oriola Koci.
"We felt like Worcester had a lot of restaurants, but not really a nice breakfast and lunch that would serve both meals throughout the day," she explained.
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They named the restaurant after their youngest daughter Livia, an adventurous eater with an insatiable appetite. That's where the American slash Mediterranean, breakfast slash lunch concept comes from.
You can start your day with a hand-crafted Bloody Mary or mimosa. Move on to a fluffy Sicilian Omelet stuffed with Chicken Sausage, and fresh mozzarella. Or maybe you want some fresh-spun crepes, served savory style with smoked salmon and yogurt sauce, or sweet with Ricotta, fig jam, and honey. Then there's the so-called "Not Quite Eggs Benedict" on toasted focaccia, topped with imported Italian prosciutto and a zippy homemade Hollandaise. For something really special, order the signature apple stuffed pancakes.
"We make three pancakes. We caramelize the apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, and in the end just pile it high with whipped cream and powdered sugar," Enton described. "Tastes like heaven."
For a stack that's even more heavenly, and a lot more intoxicating, pour on the Frangelico Pancakes.
"What's brunch without a little bit of alcohol? So we decided to mix it in a pancake. And we added some Frangelico to the pancake batter, and almonds on top and powdered sugar," Oriola said. "People at the beginning were like, 'Oh, there's alcohol in these pancakes.' But it's really cooked. You get the flavor of Frangelico, but not the alcohol that comes with it. And it became so popular that we had to add it to our menu, and it's one of the most popular dishes."
For a breakfast on the lighter side, there's an oven-baked asparagus frittata topped with a fresh arugula salad. If you're not afraid to indulge, go for the French Toast with bananas and Nutella.
"Enton and I are both European, and when we moved here, the next thing I missed other than my family was Nutella,"Oriola said. "I feel anything with Nutella on top is just a match made in heaven."
"Three pieces of Texas French Toast. We dip it in egg batter. We put banana on top. Smother it with Nutella since we love it around here. And we put powdered sugar, whipped cream," Enton described.
"I've had a few people tell me, as recently as this past weekend, if she was at home, she'd be licking the plate," Oriola added.
The burgers at Livia's Dish aren't so bad either, featuring eight plump, juicy ounces of ground beef and a bunch of toppings and combinations. There's the Brunch Burger, topped with cheddar cheese, garlic mayo and an over easy egg. The Livia's Burger boasts bacon, jalapenos, and whipped cream cheese with a side of homemade potato chips.
They even make their own bread, which helps explain why their Paninis are so perfectly cooked.
In the morning there's a steak breakfast Panini with farm fresh eggs and provolone cheese. Later in the day, the Chef's Favorite Panini stacks Enton's favorite flavors, including crispy chicken cutlets, fresh mozzarella and tomato, with a drizzle of chipotle mayo.
The food definitely impresses, and as for the atmosphere, it's two floors, not very fancy at all, just comfy and cozy and somehow familiar, even if you're never been here before.
"We feel like this is our home, and we're opening our doors to the world to come in and enjoy what we like to do best, which is me hosting and him cooking," Oriola said. "You add the best ingredients that are out there, mix it in with a great bartender that will make you the drink of a lifetime, and you've got it all."
You can find Livia's Dish at 1394 Main Street in Worcester, and online at liviasdish.com.
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