Worcester Restaurant Guide
Dining Specials
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American
French
Bistro
Bar
Catering
Kids Friendly
Romantic
Take Out/Carry Out
TV/Satellite
Wheelchair Access
Dinner
Lunch
Bistro Food & Culture History
Restaurant Description
Partners since 1997, Bill and David believed that Worcester was lacking a true store front Bistro, so common in other cities. After leasing a gutted space, David and Bill began the process of creating 86 Winter American Bistro.
As head Chef, David has developed a simple comfort food menu. Along with his talented staff, they are always creating fun, inventive specials using the highest quality, freshest products available. Bill's front of the house presence creates a warm friendly environment!
86 Winter American Bistro will cater formal or informal gatherings. Full dinner with bar and servers or trays of food to go that you pick up for a party and everything in between. Call to create your own personal event.
86 Winter offers one of Worcester's most unique function rooms. Available for intimate to medium size functions up to 50 people 7 days a week.
Call for details about holding your next function at 86 Winter American Bistro.
July 4, 2009 @ 12:35 AM
a diner from Leominster
My girlfriend and I just went to 86 Winter and she got the Gorgonzola and pasta special and I got the pork loin stuffed with corn bread. My meal came out with 2 overcooked, tough slabs of pork with a square of cornbread and cheese on top. When I asked why the pork wasn't stuffed, the waiter just said "that's how they do it" - I HATE when what's on the menu is not what's served. My girlfriend's pasta was bland. The pasta didn't even seem like it was salted, and it was mushy. Also the chicken in the dish was overcooked. As far as the "alternative" comment from another post. We are an "alternative" couple and we weren't treated any better than anyone else.
My girlfriend and I ate 86 Winter last night. We have passed the restaurant many times over the past few months, we've reviewed the menu online and have always wondered what it was like, but we never choose to dine there...until yesterday. Our concerns arose from the moment we walked through the door; it was 7:30pm on a beautiful Friday night and there were only 2 tables seated. The service was pleasant, the specials sounded delicious and the menu offered comfort fare. The room was decorated nicely with art on the walls and exposed brick...
Where is the crowd, why is this restaurant empty?
Appetizer was Tuna and satisfactory, not too much to complain about here. Salads came out on time and fresh...Good again. BUT, then came the en tree's...I ordered the Chicken Marsala, pretty hard to screw up and make this dish inedible, however they managed to do so! Honestly is tasted like the sauce on the chicken was maple syrup. Literally it had the consistency and taste of everyday pancake syrup. I WAS SHOCKED!
My girlfriend ordered the 86 Chicken, a simple grilled chicken dish that bares the bistro's name; Should be a winner right? WRONG! The dish was completely over powered by artichokes, the marinade was terrible, melted cheese was everywhere on the dish. It was a total disaster.
Both dishes were picked at briefly and then thrown away. The waiter asked if we would like to take them home, and we could tell by his look he knew the food was bad.
This space/bistro/restaurant has all the makings of a great draw for the up and coming trendy Worcester canal district but it falls flat on it's face. Someone needs to help this restaurant!
Where is the crowd, why is this restaurant empty?
Appetizer was Tuna and satisfactory, not too much to complain about here. Salads came out on time and fresh...Good again. BUT, then came the en tree's...I ordered the Chicken Marsala, pretty hard to screw up and make this dish inedible, however they managed to do so! Honestly is tasted like the sauce on the chicken was maple syrup. Literally it had the consistency and taste of everyday pancake syrup. I WAS SHOCKED!
My girlfriend ordered the 86 Chicken, a simple grilled chicken dish that bares the bistro's name; Should be a winner right? WRONG! The dish was completely over powered by artichokes, the marinade was terrible, melted cheese was everywhere on the dish. It was a total disaster.
Both dishes were picked at briefly and then thrown away. The waiter asked if we would like to take them home, and we could tell by his look he knew the food was bad.
This space/bistro/restaurant has all the makings of a great draw for the up and coming trendy Worcester canal district but it falls flat on it's face. Someone needs to help this restaurant!
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86 Winter Reviews
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Avg Rating: 
Number of Reviews: 5
July 4, 2009 @ 12:35 AM
a diner from Leominster
My girlfriend and I just went to 86 Winter and she got the Gorgonzola and pasta special and I got the pork loin stuffed with corn bread. My meal came out with 2 overcooked, tough slabs of pork with a square of cornbread and cheese on top. When I asked why the pork wasn't stuffed, the waiter just said "that's how they do it" - I HATE when what's on the menu is not what's served. My girlfriend's pasta was bland. The pasta didn't even seem like it was salted, and it was mushy. Also the chicken in the dish was overcooked. As far as the "alternative" comment from another post. We are an "alternative" couple and we weren't treated any better than anyone else.
My girlfriend and I ate 86 Winter last night. We have passed the restaurant many times over the past few months, we've reviewed the menu online and have always wondered what it was like, but we never choose to dine there...until yesterday. Our concerns arose from the moment we walked through the door; it was 7:30pm on a beautiful Friday night and there were only 2 tables seated. The service was pleasant, the specials sounded delicious and the menu offered comfort fare. The room was decorated nicely with art on the walls and exposed brick...
Where is the crowd, why is this restaurant empty?
Appetizer was Tuna and satisfactory, not too much to complain about here. Salads came out on time and fresh...Good again. BUT, then came the en tree's...I ordered the Chicken Marsala, pretty hard to screw up and make this dish inedible, however they managed to do so! Honestly is tasted like the sauce on the chicken was maple syrup. Literally it had the consistency and taste of everyday pancake syrup. I WAS SHOCKED!
My girlfriend ordered the 86 Chicken, a simple grilled chicken dish that bares the bistro's name; Should be a winner right? WRONG! The dish was completely over powered by artichokes, the marinade was terrible, melted cheese was everywhere on the dish. It was a total disaster.
Both dishes were picked at briefly and then thrown away. The waiter asked if we would like to take them home, and we could tell by his look he knew the food was bad.
This space/bistro/restaurant has all the makings of a great draw for the up and coming trendy Worcester canal district but it falls flat on it's face. Someone needs to help this restaurant!
Where is the crowd, why is this restaurant empty?
Appetizer was Tuna and satisfactory, not too much to complain about here. Salads came out on time and fresh...Good again. BUT, then came the en tree's...I ordered the Chicken Marsala, pretty hard to screw up and make this dish inedible, however they managed to do so! Honestly is tasted like the sauce on the chicken was maple syrup. Literally it had the consistency and taste of everyday pancake syrup. I WAS SHOCKED!
My girlfriend ordered the 86 Chicken, a simple grilled chicken dish that bares the bistro's name; Should be a winner right? WRONG! The dish was completely over powered by artichokes, the marinade was terrible, melted cheese was everywhere on the dish. It was a total disaster.
Both dishes were picked at briefly and then thrown away. The waiter asked if we would like to take them home, and we could tell by his look he knew the food was bad.
This space/bistro/restaurant has all the makings of a great draw for the up and coming trendy Worcester canal district but it falls flat on it's face. Someone needs to help this restaurant!
January 5, 2009 @ 11:47 AM
a diner from Worcester, ma
My husband and I went for his birthday prior to going to the theatre. We got there 2 hours before our show and ordered 20 minutes after we arrived. Our dinner still wasn't served 10 minutes before our show started.We had to leave my sister there to pay for our drinks. They boxed up our food, gave it to her and charged her for all the meals. I went back the next day and was informed that they don't "comp" food and that they were sorry. They offered nothing to me to want me to come back. They manager (I think)knew it was my husbands birthday and even asked me how our show was!! I can't tell you how the food is because it was tossed into a box and I refused to even try it. I will never go there again due to their poor customer service and I will tell everyone my experience. Too many restaurants in todays economy that would treat their customers better especially when it is THEIR mistake that the food didn't come 1 1/2 hrs after ordering!!
November 24, 2008 @ 3:53 PM
a diner from Worcester, MA
I disagree with the other reviewer's comments. The food quality is good to excellent, and you get what you pay for with most entrees in the teens and lower twenties. (if you prefer to pay lower prices, then you're going to get mediocre food that isn't innovative, unlike that of 86 Winter). The owner, manager, and bartenders have always been outgoing, gratious and friendly to me and my husband, and remember us even though we only go there every few months. They have a great martini menu too.
December 15, 2007 @ 11:12 AM
a diner from Worcester, MA
Overpriced! I have had better food at other local restaurants at more reasonable prices. The owners take care of (or please) the "alternative" clientele more so than the "normal" clientele. If you are not of the "alternative lifestyle," do not visit this establishment, because you will not be welcome.
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Recent 86 Winter Reviews
July 4, 2009 @ 12:35 AM
a diner from Leominster
My girlfriend and I just went to 86 Winter and she got the Gorgonzola and pasta special and I got the pork loin stuffed with corn bread. My meal came out with 2 overcooked, tough slabs of pork with a square of cornbread and cheese on top. When I asked why the pork wasn't stuffed, the waiter just said "that's how they do it" - I HATE when what's on the menu is not what's served. My girlfriend's pasta was bland. The pasta didn't even seem like it was salted, and it was mushy. Also the chicken in the dish was overcooked. As far as the "alternative" comment from another post. We are an "alternative" couple and we weren't treated any better than anyone else.
My girlfriend and I ate 86 Winter last night. We have passed the restaurant many times over the past few months, we've reviewed the menu online and have always wondered what it was like, but we never choose to dine there...until yesterday. Our concerns arose from the moment we walked through the door; it was 7:30pm on a beautiful Friday night and there were only 2 tables seated. The service was pleasant, the specials sounded delicious and the menu offered comfort fare. The room was decorated nicely with art on the walls and exposed brick...
Where is the crowd, why is this restaurant empty?
Appetizer was Tuna and satisfactory, not too much to complain about here. Salads came out on time and fresh...Good again. BUT, then came the en tree's...I ordered the Chicken Marsala, pretty hard to screw up and make this dish inedible, however they managed to do so! Honestly is tasted like the sauce on the chicken was maple syrup. Literally it had the consistency and taste of everyday pancake syrup. I WAS SHOCKED!
My girlfriend ordered the 86 Chicken, a simple grilled chicken dish that bares the bistro's name; Should be a winner right? WRONG! The dish was completely over powered by artichokes, the marinade was terrible, melted cheese was everywhere on the dish. It was a total disaster.
Both dishes were picked at briefly and then thrown away. The waiter asked if we would like to take them home, and we could tell by his look he knew the food was bad.
This space/bistro/restaurant has all the makings of a great draw for the up and coming trendy Worcester canal district but it falls flat on it's face. Someone needs to help this restaurant!
Where is the crowd, why is this restaurant empty?
Appetizer was Tuna and satisfactory, not too much to complain about here. Salads came out on time and fresh...Good again. BUT, then came the en tree's...I ordered the Chicken Marsala, pretty hard to screw up and make this dish inedible, however they managed to do so! Honestly is tasted like the sauce on the chicken was maple syrup. Literally it had the consistency and taste of everyday pancake syrup. I WAS SHOCKED!
My girlfriend ordered the 86 Chicken, a simple grilled chicken dish that bares the bistro's name; Should be a winner right? WRONG! The dish was completely over powered by artichokes, the marinade was terrible, melted cheese was everywhere on the dish. It was a total disaster.
Both dishes were picked at briefly and then thrown away. The waiter asked if we would like to take them home, and we could tell by his look he knew the food was bad.
This space/bistro/restaurant has all the makings of a great draw for the up and coming trendy Worcester canal district but it falls flat on it's face. Someone needs to help this restaurant!
