The Goats Head - Worcester

The food here is tasty, but the mobile-only ordering system can be quite frustrating. The staff doesn't inform you when your food is ready, which means you end up waiting for about 15 minutes in front of the cubbies. I'd rate it 4 stars for the excellent food quality, but the ordering experience leaves a lot to be desired. As for vegetarian options, the salads are generous in portion and of good quality.

Avoid this place unless your meal plan includes it; the food is only a slight improvement over the dining hall options.

It's a great spot to relax on campus when you're looking for something different than the usual facilities.

I had an amazing dining experience! Every dish we ordered was fantastic, and we opted for the fixed menu option of 2+6+1. The service was excellent, and our hostess was very welcoming. The marshmallow dip was particularly delicious. I definitely plan to return with my family. The ambiance was nice and cozy, making it a perfect spot to enjoy a meal.

For instance, the photos on their website present a much higher standard than what I experienced on my visit. It felt like a letdown. While the website claims their tapas range from simple to sophisticated, most dishes I encountered leaned heavily toward the simple side. I’ll touch on the breakfast diner-style potatoes shortly. I genuinely wanted to enjoy my time and to leave a positive review, but unfortunately, several aspects of my dining experience were lacking. I'm starting to wonder if this was just a one-off issue or if this is how they usually operate. Given the feedback about their Worcester location, maybe I’ll check out their Wellesley spot instead. Food presentation and service were the most disappointing aspects of my visit last night, where I met two friends for a birthday celebration. While I usually voice my concerns during a meal if I’m not satisfied, I refrained this time out of consideration for the birthday girl, who chose the restaurant. However, my Jerk Salmon, one of the evening's specials, arrived quite late and last among our group’s orders. To give some context, I had informed the server that I don't eat eggs or dairy and asked if the Jerk Salmon could be modified accordingly. I suggested maybe a dressing or garnish to enhance the dish. Unfortunately, it was not enjoyable, nor was it special. At a certain point, too many modifications render a dish unrecognizable and lacking. I didn't expect a plain piece of dry salmon without seasoning, served with a side of small sautéed pepper and onion cubes. Perhaps if the server was aware of this presentation, she could have suggested another option or communicated better with the chef. I also ordered the Patatas Asadas but they were completely forgotten, requiring me to reorder them. As things progressed, I decided to start a separate check for myself, to separate my order from my friends' and to place a few takeout orders for my boyfriend at home. The server, who mentioned she had been at Bocado for over ten years, must have been having an off night. Unfortunately, my potatoes never made it to the table but ended up in my takeout order. Perhaps the noise of a busy Saturday night led to some misunderstandings. When the potatoes finally arrived, they looked disappointing—more akin to cheap diner fare than what I would expect from a tapas restaurant. Again, it seemed like another case of a modified dish that fell flat. It seems that when this dish is served as described on the menu—with saffron tomato allioli and black truffle oil—it successfully masks the mediocrity of the potatoes, tricking those less discerning diners who continue to leave positive reviews. The next day, I received a call from my boyfriend, who was looking for our food. While he found the dessert and a shrimp salad with fried avocado in the fridge, he noticed a random salad we hadn't ordered and realized the meatloaf and Cubano were missing. After some consideration, I checked the receipt and confirmed we had been charged for the meatloaf we never got, yet he hadn't ordered any large salad. I told him I would follow up to see if they could remake what was missing, but he suggested not to bother. My first experience at Bocado Tapas Wine Bar in Worcester earlier this year with my boyfriend was pleasant—we enjoyed our windowside table and had a nice meal. However, after last night’s disappointments and my boyfriend's frustration over his missing meatloaf and Cubano, we’ve decided not to return to the Worcester location.