East Side

There are two reasons It is hard to review this neighborhood mostly because the "East Side" as mapped out by street advisor:

A. Isn't actually the East Side.
If you were to say where is the East Side to most Worcesterites they would tell you it is the area directly east of the CSX rail yard that goes all the way to Lake Quinsigamond.

B. Is two completely different neighborhoods that are diametrically opposed culturally. The two neighborhoods are Shrewsbury St and Belmont/Lower Lincoln. The boundery between the two as mapped on this page is pretty much Cristoforo Columbo Park and Chandler Hill Park although the boundary gets a little blurry between the parks and 290.

We'll start with Shrewsbury St. Shrewsbury St traditionally has been the home of Worcester's Italian American community. While many families have moved out of the more urban Shrewsbury St area to the suburbs and outlying Worcester neighborhoods. There is still a feel of old European ethnicity when you walk the more residential areas of the neighborhood. Shrewsbury St itself has become the dining mecca of central Massachusetts boasting over 30 restaurants that include Italian, Steakhouses, Japanese, Seafood, Brazilian, Indian, and Afghanistan fare. Shrewsbury St also has it's share of markets, bakeries and bars making it quite an interesting neighborhood to explore. It is not so pedestrian friendly. Most of Shrewsbury St is spread out and the street itself is a big wide boulevard with a grassy tree and garden lined median running up the middle. Lower Shrewsbury St however is plenty walkable and your access to Neighborhoods such as The Canal District, The Theater District and Downtown/City Square are really great. Union Station, in Washington Square right at the end of Shrewsbury St offers an MBTA commuter rail stop to travel into Boston as well as Amtrak, Greyhound and Peter Pan stations. By the end of 2013 Union Station will also host the central bus hub of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority.

Belmont/Lower Lincoln is a whole different animal. There is a lack of restaurants, although the neighborhood boasts what many claim to be one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the city. There is a lack of nightlife, although the neighborhood houses three of the largest artists collectives in the city. There is a lack pleasing aesthetics, though the neighborhood hosts the biggest park in the city in Green Hill Park. There are many low income families in this neighborhood and the unfortunate reality is there is quite a bit of seediness and unsightliness in the neighborhood. I would not call the neighborhood unsafe, but there is a creepiness factor that goes right along with a couple of rehabilitation centers that exist there.

Both neighborhoods boast stellar medical facilties close by with UMASS Memorial in the Belmont/Lower Lincoln neighborhood and the main campus of the UMASS Medical School as well as St Vincent's Hospital just outside of the Shrewsbury St neighborhood. Both neighborhoods also boast great highway access to 290 as well as easy access to Metro West via route 9 east.