Blanchard’s 101 Diner

Went there for lunch with my boss. The food was OK but when we were ready to leave and asked for our check we had to ask several times. Finally after about fifteen minutes one of the waitress started yelling if you are in a hurry don’t bother coming here. So we haven’t been back.

What is a diner? Do diners have to be long lived institutions and equally long lived grease stains and wooden booths carved with the names of patrons past? Are they forever painted into the corner of sassy waitstaff and greasy food cooked by itinerant diner cooks that have no interest in developing the menu that they serve?
No. NO! There can be a grand union of old and new, where the bones of a diner (much older than the business it encloses) are wrapped in new flesh and run by people who are willing to take a fresh look at food without trying to wrap it in some veneer of shlocky retroism/​authenticity. That union is Blanchard’s 101 Diner.
The ancient bones of the diner in which ones sit were rebuilt into a modern and clean diner after being fossilized in a warehouse and then various lots and fields. The owners were thus able to create something that is comfortable in a modern way (heat and AC run silently, lighting is neither overly harsh nor remarkably dim) but maintains the sensation of the proper Worcester diner, with it’s small booths and long counter and line out the door.
The modern design and clean sheet build begets a diner that is sparklingly clean due in part to smart design choices and as well as the hard work of the staff. The place screams sanitary in the way an early 20^th century ad for White Castle would proclaim it’s cleanliness. It makes it a warm and inviting place to eat an stay.
The service is a mix of old and new as well. There is no shortage of waitstaff unlike some diners, and they’re properly sassy although perhaps too much so to each other in front of the customers. If you’re assertive, they’ll take care of you, meek and you may blend into the vinyl seats.
The food of course is the heart of the matter, the blood that supplies the body, is superb. Blanchard’s services the old diner standards to a T but adds innovation and expansion to the menu without being off putting. The pancakes and french toast are light and fluffy and come hot off the griddle, perfect for syrup (BYO Maple if you don’t like the fake stuff) or the mound of real butter on the side. Perfect accompaniment to this is the hash, which is fried fresh for each order from freshly chopped meat and presents a clean and salty compliment to the sweetness of the pancakes.
The bread itself is where Blanchard’s starts to set itself apart from other diners. It’s thick italian bread, unlike the standard sliced white/​wheat/​rye that everyone else has and it’s infinitely more versatile. You can eat it by itself (with plenty of butter slathered on by the cook) or use it to sop up your eggs or syrup. But it’s true purpose in life seems to be it’s partnership with the brilliant pulled pork. This pulled pork is smoked in house is rivals event the best efforts of Worcester’s BBQ joints. When paired with the bread, the union of taste and texture is completed and this writer is unable to truly articulate it’s wonderfulness.
Diner’s are rarely willing to tread in both food and form where Blanchard’s is willing to. The reward for going is to see where diners can go in the future and to get some great food as well.

This is your typical all American diner! My wife and I stop here for Saturday morning brunch with friends and family. It’s tucked away off a cut through street in Worcester, but worth the stop. Food is your typical comfort food and service is always friendly and fast.

The food was good, however I had one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had in my life. I received my order and my boyfriend only received his side dish, and we waited about 20 minutes for his and it never came. He also waited the entire time for his coffee to be refilled and he placed his cup the end of the table for her to see. She walked by us at least 5 times and not once did she notice we only had half our order and we needed a refill, nor did she come over and ask how my meal was or if there was anything else we needed. Everyone else around us was getting served and her attention, and she completely ignore us. We finally got her attention to ask about our other dish and to refill the coffee and she said the kitchen forgot about it, but she should’ve known that as well walking by us multiple times within the time we waited. We didn’t even get an apology or even a hint that she cared at all. So my boyfriend finally got his meal after another 15 minutes and then she never refilled the coffee so we had to ask again. And she she filled it without refilling the ice which had mostly melted (he had an iced coffee). Needless to say we are never coming back.

There’s nothing like a good meal to start your day. Went here for the first time Sunday morning and I loved it! Food was yummy, service was friendly and fast and the atmosphere was fun and relaxed. Cant wait for the opportunity to go back!

found a blonde hair in my eggs today and the staff was gossiping a lot. wont be back.

Great diner food! Good service from a younger staff on weekends. It can be a wait for food but they keep the coffee flowing in the mean time.

How can someone tell I love food? Because of the food I deal with the bitchy wait staff that work at this place.
A diner that is so clean you can eat off the floor. Yeah I know a clean diner I hope this trend catches on. Like others have mentioned the waitresses are usually rude and border line appalling. I say appalling because one time a waitress was asked where a coworker was and her response was «probably outback playing with himself». Alright if this was my first time and my expectations of the wait staff was up in the air I probably would have walked out because thats disgusting. Luckily the food was great and my expectations of their manners are already basement level so it was alright I guess… I can’t generalize the whole lot of them. Have had two good waitress, but the other 4 or so times I was unfortunate to have the other. Honestly though its a diner cart in a hard working class, low income are. Its to be expected I’d think.
Now the food: Delicious. Portion wise there’s usually a few bites left to try and stuff yourself with. Both breakfast and lunch options have always been amazing. The Ruben and the Havana burger are sooo good. Prices are low for the quality and honestly I’m always surprised when the bill comes how cheap it was.
Don’t take grandma or the kids, admire the cleanest diner you’ve ever been in, and order some great food.

We always get a great hot breakfast made to order. You will be pleased with what ever you order and portions are plentiful. The waitstaff are terrific and Chris is fast on the grill with his sidekick Cindy at his side. At times there can be wait times but that is to be expected with a place with a good following.

We’ve been here before and the breakfast has been great. Today I visited with my family for a late breakfast and did not get a warm reception. We stood inside the door without getting greeted. When my wife asked the woman behind the counter when she thought a booth would free up, the woman was not helpful and asked my wife to look herself. Not friendly at all and we left.

Had breakfast there this morning. Was very clean and appeared to be newly remodeled. The coffee was really good (i find that’s rare nowadays). Quite a few regulars came in, everyone was very friendly.. kinda felt like a family. Home fries were really good and flavorful. I didn’t have the French Toast but boy did they smell good! Definitely going back! It’s so hard to find a good place for breakfast in the area.

I eat here regularly, the food is always good. Never been dissapointed. Nothing really out of the ordinary but spotlessly clean, great staff (very entertaining) avoid Tuesdays as the normal cook takes that day off and the fill in takes forever.

Excellent, clean, quick! This was an unexpected surprise while visiting Holy Cross. Worth a stop!

I’m writing this as I sit in the diner, awaiting my order. I’ve decided to give it three more minutes before I walk out, as I’ve been here for about 40 mins now.
I usually enjoy the 101, but today I have watched people come in eat and leave, and all I’ve gotten is a cup of coffee, now quite cold.
Apparently don’t come here unless you have ALOT of time.

The bases covered in the other reviews are accurate. The food is excellent! The service not so much. Came in for a weekday breakfast. We were given menus and the order w taken promptly. The food also arrived pretty quickly. Then it’s like we turned invisible. No coffee refills, not 1 check in on how we were doing. In fact we had to basically beg to get the check. So that aside it was excellent.

Hello little Unilocalians!
First and foremost, I wish I could be giving this more stars because like most people have posted, I love the food at this diner. Chris, the tall cook, is also an owner and is a fantastic guy. He always goes out of his way to talk to me and my roommates when we come in and is a genuinely nice guy. Huge plus that he can cook some good food. But the rest of the staff ruin the experience. I’ve always put up with the service because Chris was such a good guy and it’s habit that we go there on Sundays. Our last experience was the last time though…
We walk into the diner, shining bright like a diamond… whatever, we walk in and sit down at the counter. There are dirty cups from the previous customers. My roommates girlfriend asked if they could be cleaned up by the waitress, nothing was touched for 10 minutes (we weren’t asked for our order in this time either). After another 5 minutes I ask the waitress if they could take away the half drank drinks. The older blonde waitress begins to roll her eyes right in front of us and huffs and puffs as she takes the cups and drinks away. Another girl takes our order after about 15 minutes (the diner was about 75% full so I can at least understand they had tables to wait on) they take our order, Chris the cook/​owner talks to us as he cooks. The food was great as usual, can’t get that point across enough, the hash is fantastic. No refills on coffee came, no refills on water, and when I asked the older blonde waitress: «may I please have another large orange juice» it was more rolling of her eyes and sighing as she got our drinks. we heard her tell the other staff «I don’t like them» after getting out drinks as well.
Well, okay, eat shit lady. Told Chris how much we enjoyed the food after, reluctantly left even a mediocre tip when I really wanted to write fuck off bitch on the check. Won’t be going back unfortunately.
As always, Cue the YouTube clip

Great breakfast, homemade hash cooked in cast iron skillet was incredible. Super clean. Bacon was thick, cooked to order perfect. (Amazing how 90% of breakfast joints screw up bacon or go cheap). Super clean

I’ve only gotten breakfast from Blanchard’s and I can say its one of the few places where I never have to worry about how my eggs are being cooked. The guy knows how to short order.
Very good home made corned beef hash, one of the few places that its not from the can, and its very basic. Lots of meat, a fair amount of onion, and very little (if any) potato. Cooked crispy and delicious. The bread is also very fresh, makes great french toast, and it makes the side of toast more than just an afterthought to your omelot.
Really the only thing that keeps from 5 stars is that the waitresses are often of the kind that either thinks «sassiness» is a suitable replacement for good service, or in some cases downright surly. Sometimes you get a nice waitress, but its sad cause you can tell the other girls are bullies.
Cheap and one of the best breakfasts in Worcester.

Great food. Am grateful for Unilocal to find a gem like this. The Cuban sandwich was unreal. The bread used for French toast and the sandwich made the meal. Nice people, good service and friendly chatter.
I wish I lived closer, but this was just by chance while visiting relatives out East.

We’ve been back SO many times… and I didn’t update my review. Kinda on purpose — seeing as there can be a wait. Blanchard’s is clean, prompt, and I ALWAYS find my craving on the specials board.
and one day, I’ll try the BLAM…