Mass Hidden Gems: Tacos, tapas and sangria flights in a waterside castle
Castle Cantina Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Leicester might be the most visually impressive restaurant in Massachusetts. It also features an awesome Latin fusion menu full of tapas, tacos and can’t-miss drinks.
Believe it or not, you only have to drive 15 minutes outside of Worcester to eat like a king, or queen or princess. I guess you could be a baron or duchess, too.
The point is that you and about five of your closest friends can sit at a booth tucked into a castle turret, sipping on flaming cocktails and sangria while you wait for a bonkers charcuterie board, paella and churros.
If that doesn’t get people to explore more spots outside of the major cities in Massachusetts, I don’t know what will.
The exterior of Castle Cantina, complete with the aforementioned turret.(Nick O'Malley/MassLive)
Mass. Hidden Gems: Castle Cantina in Leicester
The setting for Castle Cantina is unlike any other restaurant you’ll find in the state.
Its incredible stonework is straight out of the “Lord of the Rings.” The exterior gives off the aura of a fortress, while the interior makes you feel like you walked into Castle Winterfell from “Game of Thrones.”
The little touches are brilliant. The front entrance features a drawbridge over a moat. If you look above, you can see a cadre of intricate gargoyles.
Once inside, you’ll see that much of the medieval-inspired charm is intact. There are stone depictions of suits of armor. The bathrooms are labeled “Kings” for men and “Queens” for women. The event space is dubbed the “King’s Court Room.”
Things only get better once you step onto the back patio. The stone exterior sits right on the edge of Sargent Pond, creating a wonderful waterside atmosphere.
A look at the outdoor patio at Castle Cantina Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Leicester, Massachusetts.(Nick O'Malley/MassLive)
It’s only been a few years since Castle Cantina moved into the space. Previously, it had been home to a longtime fine-dining establishment called The Castle, which played into the architecture and theme.
The Nicas family, which ran The Castle for 71 years, put the restaurant up for sale in 2020. A year later, owner Suhaily Quiñones (along with her brother and husband) purchased it with a plan to transform the menu while keeping the fantastic space.
By 2022, the “castle restaurant” had officially become a tapas restaurant with a Latin spin.
An order of Ropa Barbacoa tapas from Castle Cantina Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Leicester, Massachusetts.(Nick O'Malley/MassLive)
What’s good on the menu?
The kitchen at Castle Cantina faces a tall task when it comes to making food that is just as fun and exciting as the setting. Fortunately, they pull it off with a vibrant collection of small plates and select Latin-inspired standouts.
The highlight of the menu is the “royal dining” experience, which gives visitors a sample of everything awesome on the menu. Designed for groups of two, four or six, the royal dining menu lets you pick a selection of tapas/charcuterie along with a paella and dessert.
As for drinks, definitely check out the sangria menu. I loved the sangria flight, especially the sweet and vibrant Muy Baya Sangria. Castle Cantina also has a selection of flaming cocktails (which are actually set on fire), including a s’mores martini complete with a flaming marshmallow.
The charcuterie boards feature a colorful mix of fruits, meats, crackers and even fried goat cheese. The prosciutto and sausage I got on the “Prince Board” were definite winners.
Of all the tapas I had, my favorite was definitely the ropa barbacoa, a quartet of fried plantains topped with beef, avocado and aioli. It was an insane blast of savory, sweet and creamy flavors.
Normally, I don’t like mixing cheese with lobster. But I’ve got to say the Lobster Dip managed to pull it off. Served with tortilla chips, it was a delightfully savory-spicy flavor with just the right level of cheese and lobster flavor.
For paella, I passed on the seafood and veggie variants to go with the Paella Valenciana. It’s a multi-meat masterpiece chock full of chicken, pork, smoked sausage and just enough delicious veggies to deliver a savory flavor bomb that wasn’t overly heavy.
If you’re not feeling tapas, or just want one thing, other menu highlights include fajitas, tacos and quesadillas. There’s also a range of entrees, including grilled sirloin, salmon, lollipop lamb, a burger and a Mexican carne asada plate.
So, why is this restaurant in a castle?
The restaurant that eventually became Castle Cantina was built in 1937. But it wasn’t until 1950 that it became a castle — or rather, “The Castle” restaurant.
That’s when Stanley Nicas purchased the property. According to the Boston Globe , he used construction materials from the old Worcester Public Library, Elks Home of Worcester and YMCA to renovate the building into the medieval-inspired setting we see today.
For 71 years, the Nicas family ran The Castle as a fine dining establishment. Following Stanley Nicas’ death in 2014, ownership of the restaurant passed to siblings Evangeline Nicas and James Nicas.
In January 2020, the Nicas family announced plans to sell The Castle and head into retirement. In 2021, a $1 million sale was finalized as Quiñones and her family put a new spin on the decades-old space.
A look around Castle Cantina Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Leicester, Massachusetts.(Nick O'Malley/MassLive)
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What’s the address?— 1230 Main St., Leicester, Massachusetts, 01524
What’s the parking situation?— Castle Cantina has a large off-street lot with plenty of free parking.
When are they open?— Here are the listed business hours at the time of this writing.
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Monday: Closed
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Tuesday: Noon - 10 p.m.
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Wednesday: Noon - 10 p.m.
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Thursday: Noon - 10 p.m.
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Friday: Noon - 10 p.m.
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Saturday: Noon - 11 p.m.
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Sunday: Noon - 10 p.m.
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Mass. Hidden Gems is a series highlighting restaurants and other businesses across the Bay State that we think deserve more attention. You can check out the rest of the series here .
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Read the original article on MassLive .
