Guy Fieri's new venture puts spotlight on latest restaurant trend
Menu options from Flavortown Kitchen. (Virtual Dining Concepts)
It’s not a diner, a drive-in or a dive, but celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s new restaurant venture brings Flavortown to Westborough.
The Food Network star, whose shows include “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and “Guy’s Grocery Games,” has launched Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen, a chain of more than 100 restaurants that are operated within existing restaurants.
One of the newest Flavortown Kitchens is at Bertucci’s on Route 9 in Westborough.
Not yet registered on the016.com? Sign up today and be the first to know what's going on in and around Worcester! Registration is free and easy
Flavortown Kitchen is a virtual restaurant or “ghost kitchen” that cashes in on the rising demand for takeout and delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Without a standalone restaurant, Flavortown menu items are prepared by local chefs. As its website reads: “Flavortown Kitchen is a delivery only restaurant featuring real-deal flavors from Chef Guy Fieri. … [A]ll of Flavortown’s favorites come straight to your door step.”
The menu at its Westborough location includes 3 appetizers or “shareables”, 5 burgers and sandwiches, 4 entrees or salads, 3 sides and 2 desserts.
The menu, much of which is comprised of Fieri’s greatest hits, includes the aforementioned Mac N Cheese Burger ($12.99), Jalapeño Pig Poppers ($12.99), Cajun Chicken Alfredo ($14.99), Chicken Parm-eroni ($14.99), and Super Melty Cheesesteak Egg Rolls ($14.99).
Bertucci’s in Westborough is also the home of 4 virtual restaurants, including Flavortown Kitchen.
The concept is being popularized by Virtual Dining Concepts, which is owned by restaurateur Robert Earl. According to an article in the Washington Post: “ To date, all 100 Flavortown Kitchens (more will be installed in the days and weeks ahead, Earl said) have been placed in restaurants owned by Earl. A check of the addresses of each Flavortown location finds that they are all connected to a Buca di Beppo, Bertucci’s, Brio or some other concept connected to the Florida-based Earl Enterprises.”
In addition to Flavortown Kitchen, the Bertucci’s in Westborough is home to 3 other virtual restaurants, Tyga Bytes (boneless chicken bites), Wing Squad (chicken wings) and MrBeast Burgers (burgers and chicken sandwiches).
While partnering with a virtual brand does offer a new revenue stream for existing restaurants that may have been hit hard by the pandemic, a recent article in the Hartford Courant quoted local chefs who called the virtual dining business a ‘cash grab’ that undermines local restaurants.
What else is happening in and around Worcester? Click here or keep scrolling ⤵️
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:32). High of 56 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+7:00: M.B.T.A. announces return of morning Worcester-to-Boston express train
+1:00: Isaiah Disla, 16 at time of killing, to be tried as adult in Worcester
+1:00: Things to Do: The Porch Party Mamas, Pride launch, "Nine" and more
+1:00: The Ghost Inside returns to Palladium on the heels of new album
+1:00: W.C.P.A. to launch poetry series in memory of Richard Fox
+1:00: Shaun Connolly: Low T Troubles
-Worcester Art Museum discrimination lawsuit has been dismissed
-Worcester Housing Authority looking to relocate Lakeside residents
-Worcester pastor commemorates the 109th anniversary of Armenian Genocide
-Worcester Facebook groups support the local community with resources
-Worcester woman arrested after multi-agency investigation
-New Worcester Police Department gun unit targets repeat offenders, strengthens penalties
-Central Mass. unemployment rates drop in March
-First Worcester Miyawaki forest planting targets library lot
-Sturbridge's Robin Lataille still hoping for second kidney transplant after being taken off the list
-Radio Worcester (16:55): Mayor Petty discusses Worcester Public Schools, M.B.T.A. boost and Heart to Hub express
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (45:58): City violence and upcoming State of the City address
-ICYMI: Planned Downtown Worcester restaurant may lose licenses
-See Worcester job, income, population changes over 30 years
-Judge orders prosecutor to turn over documents in Turtleboy case
-Ride-share drivers rally in Worcester to support contractor work, benefits
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Attorney General gives Holden until December to comply with M.B.T.A. law
-Lamoureux Ford salutes the UConn Huskies (:54)
-Wachusett names new principal
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Northbridge company settles wage violations for $190,000
-Sutton Historical Society to host presentation on metal detecting
-Community Harvest Project Plantapalooza begins May 2nd
-Houghton hosts Community Reading Day
-Nashoba opens some slots for School Choice
-Will Harper harvests F.F.A. Agribusiness award
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Thursday
>SHOWTIME: Singer Cara Brindisi wants to talk
-TODAY! "Beyond the Frames: A Musical Celebration" set for Mechanics Hall
-Screen Time: Remembering Clinton's Bewitching star, Agnes Moorehead
-Gardening Central Mass.: Spring ephemerals a great start to the season
-Sarah Connell Sanders: A few spring things to fling yourself into family fun
-Last Call: Fred Gerhard, poet
-Manny Jae Media (28:06): Manny and City Manager Eric Batista
-WCCA-TV's This Is Worcester No. 200 (27:20): Peter Panagiotou, Pay It Forward Card Shows
-WCCA-TV's Tech Safe No. 32 (28:51): Sidnee Cox, Part 2
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to longtime area lawyer
>SPORTS: Bruins beat Toronto, 4-2
-Celtics lose to Miami, 111-101
-Red Sox beat Cleveland, 8-0
-Bill Belichick joining ESPN's "Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli"
-Holy Cross 'Sader Stories (31:03): Get to know field hockey coach Lindsay Jackson
-'Saders in 60 (1:00)
-The “210 Awards” for the Worcester Railers 2023-2024 season (Part 1)
>CARS: Bertera has the all-star team to help you find your next Nissan car or truck (:39)
-Hyundai recalls Genesis vehicles for crash risk
>NATIONAL: Fluoride being removed from water systems in more U.S. communities
-Universal Studios tram accident injures 15
-Tragic: Tourist plunges to her death into active volcano while posing for photo
>NEW ENGLAND: Final jury seated in Karen Read murder trial (2:01)
-State revenues are up from last year, but budget concerns linger
>COLLEGES: WPI shows introverts how to succeed in college, work
-Anna Maria AMCAST (28:35): Revive, a recovery community outreach program
-Deadline for Mass. students to get college aid moved amid F.A.F.S.A. problems
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): The calmest cities in the world
>BUSINESS: The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits holds steady
-LPL Research: The ever-changing market narrative
-Mass. surpasses $6 billion in cannabis sales as unofficial 4/20 holiday breaks singe-day sale record
>SHOPPING: Birch Alley leaves Canal District, moves to Manchaug
>HOMES: Climbing prices, declining sales of Central Mass. homes largely continue in March
>HEALTH: Does working out before bed affect sleep? Experts explain
-3.6 million Medicare enrollees may now be eligible for Wegovy coverage
>FOOD: Public health alert for ground beef over possible E. coli contamination
>TV/STREAMING: "The Office" follow-up will star Domhnall Gleeson and "White Lotus" star Sabrina Impacciatore: Report
>MOVIES: Toy Story 5, next Star Wars movie set release dates
>CELEBRITY: Morgan Wallen breaks silence on Nashville arrest: "I'm not proud of my behavior"
>ANIMALS: Heartbroken dog reunited with her puppies after fiend abandons mom, sells babies in parking lot
>HISTORY: Former Post Office in Worcester
>GOOD NEWS (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Drummer celebrates 100th birthday playing with his band (:47)
-Meanwhile, in Scotland, reported armed man at train station was "Star Wars" stormtrooper
Latest obituaries | | Wednesday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
+Kitchen help at deadhorse hill
+Food runner at White Eagle
+Bussers, Food Runners & Hostesses at Holden diner
See all Help Wanteds | | Job opening? Post it here for FREE today
Quick Links: Personalize your news | | Browse members | | Advertise | | Blogs | | Invite friends | | Videos
Animals | | Boston Sports | | Business | | Cars | | Celebrity | | Colleges | | Commute & Travel | | Crime | | Faith | | Food | | Good News | | Health | | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather