Molti on Moody Waltham

What used to be Moody's Delicatessen, The Backroom and the Pollo Club are now under the umbrella of Molti on Moody. They are geared towards quick takeouts and fresh food. The Backroom is only open for dinner on Saturdays with a prix fixe menu. The New England Charcuterie is wholly owned by Molti and is doing great.

Plenty of free on-street parking. I applaud the Mayor's effort in removing all parking meters and redoing the sidewalks, but I wish they would mark the parking spaces. You stand a good chance to get blocked in.

For now, it's just a temporary sign since this is a work in progress, and it really just happening this weekend. The websites are also a work in progress. I found it easiest to use Molti's Online Ordering and the same for the Pollo Club. The Pollo Club is now open all day for takeout Wednesday to Sundays, same as Molti. No more dinner only! Pickup for the Pollo Club is at Molti. One Restaurant, MOLTI Offerings.

If you remember the old Moody's, this is a major change that all makes sense in these trying times. People were reluctant to go out for dinner before, and it will only get worse, so going to a takeout model makes perfect sense. Stop by and pick up a pasta dish and a salad, and you are all set for a meal at home. All the food are restocked frequently. Pizza offerings can be seen to the right. The new interior is modern, sleek, open and impeccably clean. 

 

Despite being geared up for takeout, you can still order at the counter and then grab a table. You can also order drinks with your meal. It's weird to see Moody Street so empty on a Sunday at lunch.

This was Sunday's Brunch menu available 11-3. Of course you get good quality silverware and linen napkins.

 

You order their famous house-made truffle chips at your own peril because they are impossible to stop eating and might ruin your appetite. Good grief, but they are good!

Brunch Shakshouka. "Two Eggs, Spicy Tomato Sauce, Eggplant, House Made Yogurt, Herbs Za'atar Pita". I asked for the yogurt on the side since I don't like yogurt. I might have to stop stay saying that since this one was excellent. Really mild and well seasoned. The Shakshouka itself was really tasty, could have done with some more of that excellent tomato sauce. The bread was also super fresh and really enjoyable.

Crispy Chicken Sandwich from the Pollo Club. "Our Crispy Chicken Sandwich with pimento cheese, herb slaw, honey butter, and hot sauce". Of course they are using the thigh since that's the best part of a chicken. Using anything else in a crispy chicken sandwich should be illegal. This was a humongous piece, and I don't want to meet this chicken in a dark alley. It was spicy, but everything was delicious. The slaw added a nice texture. Even the thin part was perfectly fried. Turns out that they use a pressure fryer to cook the chicken and that way it comes out perfectly cooked and juicy.

They are also offering Pizza by the slice. Everything here is made in-house. This is the Coppola but the topping varies by what's are available. A really tasty slice (square?).

All the old favorites are back including the Corned Beef Sandwich. "A Moody Street classic! Corned Beef Sandwich made with Housemade Corned Beef, Swiss, Aged Sauerkraut, and Thousand Island Dressing", seen here, and the Katz. The breakfast burrito is also on its way back. They are using focaccia for bread, so I guess that's why they don't call it a Reuben, but it's really a Reuben with house-made corned beef brisket and all the traditional toppings. This was a really tasty sandwich, even if the red peppers and pickled cucumbers were a bit of a surprise.

The other new concept is Grab and Go. Ready-made meals that you simply take the top off, cover it in foil, and heat it up in the oven. This is the Lamb Meatballs "HARISSA TOMATO SAUCE, MINT AND DILL YOGURT, SIDE OF HOUSE MADE BREAD" that I haven't had a chance to taste yet. UPDATE: Tried them today and they are really excellent, light, really tender, and well seasoned. The sauce was also top-notch with nice acidity. I liked the mushrooms that also added texture. This is a far cry from the rubber balls that so often masquerade as meatballs.

Pork Bolognese "SOFRITO, PECORINO, RIGATONI" also looked really tasty. This was an excellent dish that was super tasty and serves two as a lunch, especially with the fabulous bread that accompanies the dish. However, it was just pork and the bolognese part was completely absent. The promised rigatoni was also not there.

Since they have a liquor license, drinks to go are available. The best thing Mass did was allowing drinks to go.

Address: 468 Moody St, Waltham, MA 02453 Phone: (781) 216-8732