Marc on the Menu: Woodaddy Waffles, Moynihan’s Pub, 897 Main Street
by Marc Kadushin
Scarlet Staff
Image courtesy of vegworcester.com
Part of my unending quest to find good breakfast is looking for new restaurants that specialize in serving this mightiest of meals. To my pleasant surprise, such a place recently opened in the Worcester area. The eatery in question is Woodaddy Waffles. Woodaddy Waffles is run by some Clark alumni out of Moynihan’s (a bar down Main Street). Seeing how it was mere blocks away and that it had waffle in the name, my going there was pretty much a categorical imperative.
There are traditional seating options like booths, but the bar itself is still a pretty dominating presence. While it felt a bit off, it certainly wasn’t gross or unappealing.
My biggest issue with the place was the amount of options available. It had a fairly small amount of waffle variants on its actual menu. Most bizarre creations of grid worked batter were cast aside to the specials menu. As such, any trip to Woodaddy Waffles is a bit of crap shoot; the specials could be unique and tasty or they could be unappetizing. Also, the hours are really, really limited. It’s only open for 4 hours a week; Sundays from 11-3. That being said, the prices are quite reasonable. The most expensive items are $8, and there are quite a few cheaper options.
Now, for reasons I don’t entirely know or understand, I decided to try the vegan sausage. Perhaps it’s because the menu boasted that they were homemade; perhaps I wanted to try new things; or perhaps I’m simply a deranged eater long past the point of ordering rationally. Either way, I ordered the meatless sausage, and I must say it was a regrettable decision. Texture wise it was sort of like hot soggy bread. It tasted a bit like bread soaked in meat drippings. It was like a lump of mediocre stuffing. I’m no expert on vegan eating, but I certainly wouldn’t go so far as to liken it to sausage.
For my entree I ordered the waffles rancheros. The dish consisted of a corn waffle topped with black beans, salsa, cheese and fried eggs. I must say it was a tasty waffle. The beans were hot and full of earthy flavors. The salsa was mild, but added an acidic taste. Furthermore, its light composition helped to balance out the heavier ingredients like the beans. The fried eggs added the chewy textures of the whites and the rich goodness of liquid egg yolk. The cheese was melted to perfection and threw some gooeyness into the mix. The waffle itself was chewy and had a subtle corn flavor. Interestingly, the waffle itself was lost beneath a sea of toppings. I could scarcely taste it, and I don’t think I ever actually saw it. Regardless, it was a nice blend of Mexican flavor and traditional breakfast fare.
In conclusion, this place has potential, but has yet to reach it. At the end of the day the menu is limited and the restaurant itself seems like a Sunday morning gimmick for a bar to draw customers. The vegan food really wasn’t very good. I know there are all sorts of vegan eaters who would insist that serving vegan food is wonderful. But I’m not one of them. That stuff just tastes bad. On the other hand, the waffles themselves are really quite good. The rancheros waffle was certainly an interesting twist on the breakfast classic. I would keep on eye on Woodaddy though, they’re just getting started. They have to work some kinks out, but once they do I think they could really step up there game. That being said, at the moment it skirts the line between mediocrity and unique grandeur. Is Wooddady the best place? No; but you could do a hell of a lot worse. It’s only a few blocks away, so if you’re hungry one Sunday morning you might as well go give it shot.
Overall: 5/10
