Niche Hospitality Group, Leominster

Made up of a team of culinary creatives, Niche Hospitality Group has carved out four hubs of gourmet extravagance in the greater Worcester area. Yet apart from belonging to the same parent umbrella, the restaurants show few commonalities. Each outpost champions its own distinctive vibe and cuisine, from Spanish tapas and modern Mexican dishes to classic American seafood and pizzas.

Bocado

At Bocado, chefs showcase imported Spanish meats and cheeses in 40 hot and cold tapas, which favor complex flavor pairings such as bacon-wrapped scallops with white-truffle honey. Wines from an exclusively Spanish list and in-house sangria complement the small bites. While guests delve into the signature paella, they lounge amid rustic brick walls, curvy leather upholstery, and lighting as sultry and alluring as a chocolate sculpture of Marilyn Monroe.

The Citizen Wine Bar / The People's Kitchen / Still & Stir

The Citizen Wine Bar introduces newcomers to the finer things in life. There, a vast selection of wine, cheese, and chocolate combine and intermingle to awaken taste buds and deepen appreciation. In the same building, The People’s Kitchen anchors that triumvirate with a menu of house-butchered and dry-aged steaks, and Still & Stir’s mixologists invite visitors to wind down with old-fashioned cocktails served until 2 a.m.

Mezcal Tequila Cantina

Chefs at Mezcal don’t shy away from bold flavors. To wit: they whip up six globally inspired varieties of guacamole by hand, and toss southwestern shrimp scampi with tequila-butter sauce and pickled jalapeño. Dishes from Mexico and the southwestern United States combine with a checklist of aged tequilas to fuel long conversations and marathon sessions of Truth or Dare.

Rye & Thyme American Tavern

Situated in the 120-year-old historic Wood Block Building, Rye and Thyme has all the trappings of a classic American tavern. It’s a fitting locale for devouring wood-fired steaks, pizzas, and seafood, whose smoky flavors stand up to the bourbons and ryes that dominate the drinks menu.