Northworks Bar & Grille

Easily the most popular restaurant that has closed in 2015, Northworks Bar & Grille shut its doors back in January.

As GoLocalWorcester has reported extensively, back rent, parking issues and lease disagreements contributed to restaurant's downfall after 35 years.

Still, there were few places better than Northworks to meet after work and the beer was always cold. And it seemed like everyone that worked there had worked there since the day it opened. 

And there's a lot of ticked off people with Northworks gift cards who probably want to see it come back for that reason alone.

Closed: 2015

Webster House

A staple in Worcester, the Webster House shut its doors last summer after nearly 80 years in business.

A Webster Square favorite, people from all over would come to the Webster House for a hearty meal.

And it was a slow, but tension-filled race to make it in time for the popular early-bird special.

Closed: 2014

Tortilla Sam's

Even though Mexican spots like Mezcal, Plaza Azteca, Sol of Mexico and El Patron are doing well in the city, there was something about Tortilla Sam's on Highland Street.

It was probably the BYOB.

Closed: 2013

Biagio's

Biagio's shut its doors a few years back (now home to Park Grille & Spirits - we don't want them to leave). Biagio's had great Italian food and was a West Side favorite over on Park Ave.

They were also home to Frank Foley's Comedy Safari for a short stint.

Why did they close? Could've been the lack of parking. 

Closed: 2012

Block 5 Bistro

If you never ate at Block 5, then you missed out on something special. It was the first restaurant that started the Niche Hospitality Group. And it could do no wrong. 

Inexplicably, Block 5 turned into the Jewel Box and then went out of business. (Square One Sports Bar took over and kept the trend of square-themed names going. That too went out of business after a few years.)

It could be said that Block 5 changed Green Street forever. Now it's former home is house of Smokestack Urban BBQ - which is also pretty great.

Closed: 2009

Cactus Pete's

If you graduated from high school in the 1990s in Worcester, then solid chance you spent many weekends at Cactus Pete's when you turned 21. 

The place was a haven for anyone that is in their 40s right now. And rightfully so. Great place to meet single people and have many beers.

Can't meet people and have beers now though because it's a CVS. 

Closed: 2007

Image Credit: Pigtrip.net

Ding Ho Dynasty

Before Ding Ho closed, it was the oldest Chinese Food restaurant in the city. A hole-in-the-wall downtown, Ding Ho made arguably the best Mai Tais in the city. Definetly the strongest at least. Trust us, we know.

Ground Round

This place didn't close too long ago. And it was a great 1-2 punch with White City Cinemas across the street. (Yes, we know. Not directly across the street. A stone's throw away for cryin' out loud.)

On your birthday, your meal cost your height in inches.

Watch out for the clowns though.

Visiting Walgreens now isn't the same experience.

Barber's Crossing

With two locatons (Leicester, Sterling) you can still get your fix for Barber's Crossing, but the untimely closing of the West Boylston Street location still leaves a bitter taste in our mouths.

What does Leicester and Sterling have that we don't? (Money.)

The street still lacks a neighborhood bar/restaurant although we hear the soon-to-open Quinn's may fill that void. Wild Willy's is great, and of course, Smitty's is one of the best bars in Worcester and probably the best on that end of W. Boylston Street.

Closed: 2006

El Morocco

Greatest restaurant in Worcester's history? Maybe not for the food, but for the atmosphere, the clientele and the history.

El Morocco opened in 1943 and welcomed the likes of Al Pacino, Wayne Newton, Harry Belafonte, Nat King Cole, Dustin Hoffman, Dizzy Gillespie, the Beach Boys, Abbie Hoffman, Neil Sadaka, Bette Midler, and Rodney Dangerfield (source: worcesterscene.com)

We need something like the El Morocco back in this city - BYOB in a brown bag, filled with celebrities, stays open all night, belly dancers, meat pies and live jazz music. It's not too much to ask.

Closed: 1994

Abdow's Big Boy

What kid could resist the Grilled Cheese and Fries? It was $1.99 so the parents loved it too.

Slosh it all down with a giant chocolate milk and call it a day.

Hit up the gumball machine on the way out.

Now it's home to Moe's.

Closed: 1993

Jose Murphy's (Murphy's)

Jose Murphy's, or Murphy's at the time, had to close abruptly after a pipe burst above the restaurant ultimately destroying the place.

In it's hay day, Jose's was a lot like it's sister (brother?) restaurant Funky Murphy's on Shrewsbury Street. It had more space (above it) than Funky's and it's Sunday night Karaoke rocked the house.

A comedy club held the top floor when it wasn't being used for dancing. 

Closed: 2014

Image Credit: Yelp

Eden Garden

Located at 38 Franklin Street, the Eden Garden was best known for their seafood and the large display of fresh seafood in their front window.

The restaurant was next door to the Bancroft Hotel.

Image: Bancroft Hotel - Worcestermass.com

Il Forno

You can still get Il Forno in West Boylston, Fitchburg and all the way out in Acton, but the Worcester location was the cream of the crop for some time.

And you didn't have to make the trek to those other three places.

Bring back Il Forno's brick oven pizza and we won't bring up that you ever left in the first place.

Closed: 2010

Speedy's Drive-In Hamburgers

Open for roughly 30 years on Shrewsbury Street, Speedy's was a drive-up restaruant with waitresses on wheels. A central meeting point for everyone that loved cars and car races, many would come and race with car ownership on the line. 

According to Vitality Magazine, Ted Kennedy stopped at Speedy's while on his 1960 senate campaign. Kennedy commented, "This is the fastest grilled cheese I've ever had anywhere."

Closed: Circa 1970s

Image Credit: Worcestermass.com

Piccadilly Pub

There's only a few reasons we want the Piccadilly Pub back - the popcorn...and because since it left, the Shrewsbury Street location seems to be a black hole for business.

It closed on Super Bowl Sunday in 2012 even while profitable. However, as GoLocalWorcester reported earlier this week - the company that owned the franchise owes the state about $750,000 in back taxes.

Shot in the dark: The back taxes are probably why they closed.

Closed: 2012

McQuale's/East Side Mario's/Vinny T's

We listed all three places here (left out Buca di Beppo) for a reason. Waterfront dining is few and far between in this area and we've had enough.

Can someone please open a restaurant there? Easily one of the best places to watch the fireworks on July 4th and it's going to waste.

Someone lend us a couple $ million and we will take it from there.

Closed: McQuale's 1993, East Side Mario's 2001, Vinny T's 2010

Putnam and Thurston's

Putnam and Thurston's opened in 1858 and was known as "Worcester's Largest Restaurant." By all accounts, this place was still open into the late 1980s.

Known by many as "Putt's," it was originally located at 381 Main Street before moving to Mechanics Street.

P&T had a cocktail lounge where waitresses were told to be "social," and a huge Empire Room for large gatherings.

And it was Air-Conditioned - well beyond its time.

Source: Worcestermass.com

Image Credit: Boston Public Library/Flickr

Chopstick's

For years, Chopsticks was "thee" Chinese Food restaurant in Worcester. Located in Webster Square, Chopsticks was a popular take out spot in the city.

For this writer, Chopsticks was my introduction to chinese food growing up. Best beef teriyaki and crab rangoons going.

Closed: 2013

Messier's Diner

Messier's Diner was the prelude to the Emerald Isle on Millbury Street.

According to Marty Civin, author of Memories, lobster was the popular item that brought the crowds to Messier's. For only $3.50 you could dine on baked or stuffed lobster.

Now that's a deal we can get behind.

Image Credit: Worcester Historical Museum- Photo taken by George Cocaine, 1959.