The ultimate guide for what food to eat during WooSox games at Polar Park

WORCESTER — Move over peanuts and Cracker Jack, brisket sandwiches and lobster rolls are the new food du jour at the ballpark these days.

As part of the biggest menu in all of Minor League Baseball, Polar Park is offering more than 100 food options this year to whet the appetite of baseball fans in Worcester.

And don’t worry, peanuts and Cracker Jack still have their place at the old ballgame.

“It’s really fun to be able to experiment and get fan feedback to find out what our first-time guests are initially looking for and what our season ticket members are coming back for,” said Amanda Winters, director of premium professional sports catering at Polar Park. “Taste of Worcester is also a really valuable offering where we can support local small businesses and offer diversity to our fans each homestand, and really speak to the heart of Worcester.

“On the other hand, no matter what type of fun, cool or new things we come up with, Worcester really loves their hot dogs and (chicken tenders), and we’re grateful for them.”

In an effort to highlight each item on the menu at Polar Park, I’ll try each food offering for the rest of the season in a rolling diary that will be updated before each homestand. At the end of the season, I‘ll share my favorite foods but not the size of my waist line.

To start, we will list what you can taste from Stand 1, Stand 2 and Stand 3. Happy eating:

Stand 1 (Nachos and Ice Cream)

• Souvenir Helmet Corn Elote Nachos: $16 (corn, back beans, nacho cheese, pico, guacamole, sour cream)

• Souvenir Helmet Pulled Chicken Nachos: $16 (pulled chicken, nacho cheese, pico, guacamole, sour cream)

• Black Bean Taco Salad: $12 (romaine lettuce, black beans, pico, onions, cilantro, cheddar cheese, guacamole, sour cream, tortilla chips)

• Ground Beef Taco Salad: $14 (romaine lettuce, ground beef, black beans, pico, onions, cilantro, cheddar cheese, guacamole, sour cream, tortilla chips)

• Polar Park Frank: $5

• Classic Ballpark Nachos: $6.50

• Popcorn: $5

• Peanuts: $4

• Cracker Jacks: $4

• Assorted Candy: $5

• Cotton Candy: $6

• Soft Serve Cup: $5

• Soft Serve Helmet Sundae: $7

• Fried Dough: $6.50

• Table Talk Pies: $3

Cassell's Choice: Chicken nachos out of a souvenir helmet? Sign me up. Especially since these mile-high nachos are perfect to share between two people or to just eat yourself.

Stand 2 (Coney Island)

• George’s Coney Island Dog: $4

• Pickle: $3

• Chips: $2

• Table Talk Pies: $3

Cassell's Choice: This small menu (that includes plenty of beverages like craft beer, coffee and chocolate milk) could be larger but the pick would always be a Coney Island Dog. A steal for just $4.

Stand 3 (Behind Home Plate)

• All American Cheeseburger: $7

• Bacon Cheeseburger Meal Deal: $14 (onion, lettuce, tomato, bacon, cheddar cheese)

• Vegetarian Burger Meal Deal: $12 (onion, lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese)

• Battle Burger Meal Deal: $14 (rotation of burger based on opposing team)

• Chicken Tenders and Fries: $12

• Polar Park Frank: $5

• Pretzel: $5

• Classic Ballpark Nachos: $6.50

• French Fries: $5

• Popcorn: $5

• Peanuts: $4

• Cracker Jacks: $4

• Assorted Candy: $5

• Cotton Candy: $6

• Table Talk Pies: $3

Cassell's Choice: The popcorn is delicious and the cotton candy hits the spot, but the Battle Burger takes the cake at this stand. The chefs at Polar Park have fun with this rotating burger that changes each homestand and incorporates a few specialty ingredients from where the visiting team comes from.

Stand 4 (Infield Fry)

• Chicken Tenders and Fries: $12

• Grilled Chicken Sandwich and Fries: $12

• All American Cheeseburger: $7

• Polar Park Frank: $5

• Pretzel: $5

• Classic Ballpark Nachos: $6.50

• French Fries: $5

• Popcorn: $5

• Peanuts: $4

• Cracker Jacks: $4

• Assorted Candy: $5

• Cotton Candy: $6

• Soft Serve Cup: $5

• Soft Serve Helmet Sundae: $7

• Fried Dough: $6.50

• Table Talk Pies: $3

Cassell's Choice: The grilled chicken sandwich comes open-faced and ready for you to douse in any number of barbeque sauces, but, for this fry stand, I have to go with 12-year-old Tommy and select the chicken tenders and fries.

Stand 5 (Wonder Bar)

• Cheese Pizza Slice: $7.50

• Pepperoni Slice: $8.50

• Special Pizza Slice: $8.50

• Gluten Free Cheese: $18

• Gluten Free Pepperoni: $18

• Mixed Salad: $7

• Kettle Chips and Dip: $6

• Jumbo Cookie: $3.50

Cassell's Choice: This staple of Worcester (that's over 100 years old) provides Polar Park with what every venue needs: a place to get pizza. With a rotating special pizza slice that changes daily, I tried a slice that featured pickles and ranch that was bold and refreshing. But my pick will always be pepperoni. Chef's kiss for this 'za.

Stand 6 (B.T.’s BBQ)

• Brisket Sandwich: $15

• Pulled Chicken Sandwich: $15

• Pulled Pork Sandwich: $15

• Mini Sandwich: $8

• Plates with Two Sides

• One Meat Plate: $18

• Two Meat Plate: $24

• Three Meat Plate: $30

• Pimento Cheese Nachos with House Made Pico De Gallo: $12 (Add your choice of meats for additional $6)

• Bavarian Pretzel with Pimento Cheese: $7

• Macaroni and Cheese: $5

• Coleslaw: $5

• Potato Salad: $5

Cassell's Choice: This southern style BBQ joint, with other locations in Worcester and Sturbridge, brings the smoke to Polar Park. A big brisket fan, I would choose that (with the chicken) for a two meat plate with two sides (and mac and cheese has to be one of those sides). A true gem down the right field line.

Sausage Guys & Cotton Candy

• Wicked Hot Sausage: $12

• Hot Italian Sausage: $12

• Sweet Italian Sausage: $12

• Steak Tips Sub: $15

• Top Knot Pretzel: $7

• Fresh Spun Cotton Candy: $8

• Fresh Spun Cotton Candy Bag: $8

Cassell's Choice: When going to a stand called “Sausage Guys,” you have to respect the name. And with three options, you can’t go wrong. But for me, the spicier the better — so give me the Wicked Hot Sausage. And to counteract that spiciness, stop right next door for Miss B’s Cotton Candy for some sweets. Give me the blue raspberry.

WooSox Market

• Cracker Jack: $4

• Deep River Chips: $6

• Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy: $6

• Assorted Candy: $5

• Grab N Go Packaged Food

• Caesar Salad: $16

• Chicken Caesar Salad: $18

• Garden Salad: $16

• Fruit Salad: $8

• Fresh Veggie Cup: $8

• Ham & Swiss Sandwich: $10

• Turkey & Cheddar Sandwich: $10

• Roast Beef & Provolone Sandwich: $10

• Black Bean Veggie Wrap: $12

• Chicken Caesar Wrap: $12

• BLT Wrap: $12

• Sunbutter and Grape Jelly Sandwich: $7

• Sunbutter and Strawberry Jam Sandwich: $7

Cassell's Choice: The WooSox Market is baseball’s first autonomous retail experience, where fans can check out their own food. No need to wait in line or have someone scan your items: just download the code provided and select a payment method. When it comes to food, in an effort to keep off the summer 15, my favorite from the market is the chicken Caesar salad.

Dippin’ Dots, Centerfield Popcorn, Kona Ice

• Regular Dippin’ Dots Cup: $6

• Souvenir Dippin’ Dots Helmet: $8

• Souvenir Popcorn Bucket: $7

• Popcorn: $5

• Assorted Candy: $5

• Kona Klassic Cup: $5

• Kona Kowabunga Cup: $8

• Ko-Branded Kolar Changing Cup: $10

Cassell's Choice: The kids may all love Kona Ice these days, and it is cool to flavor your own ice, but give me the ice cream of the future (for the past 25 years) in Dippin’ Dots. In a WooSox souvenir helmet.

Ice Cream & Lobster Carts

• Ice Cream Cup: $6 (Vanilla, Chocolate, Mint Chocolate Chip, Rainbow Sherbet)

• Lobster Roll: $23 (Chilled Lobster, Mayonnaise, Lemon Juice, Parsley, Dill, Old Bay, New England Style Roll & Kettle Chips)

• Clam Chowder: $8

Cassell's Choice: Growing up in New England, I’ve always loved seafood. Now you’re telling me I can get one of my favorite seafood items at the ballpark for less than market price? Deal. The $23 lobster roll wins in a landslide beyond the centerfield wall.

Sweet & Boozy Ice Cream

• Flavors Regular Ice Cream: $10 (Crazy Caramel Vanilla, Double Chocolately Chip, Cookies & Scream, Sweet Strawberry Mallow)

• Alcoholic Flavors: $12 (Las Vegas Vice, Carrie’s Cosmo, Peanut Butter Whiskey, Gimme Some SoCo, The Big Lebowski)

• Thundercups: $15 (O-O-Oreo, Peanut Butter Blitz, Caramel Apple Pie)

• Whoopie Pie: $6

• Ice Cream Sandwich: $6

Cassell's Choice: Alcohol-infused ice cream? A nice way to mix tasty with boozy. The peanut butter blitz is a pile of fun at the ballpark.

Water Street Deli

• Beef Kosher Hot Dog: $5.75

• Corned Beef Sandwich: $15

• Hamburger 1/4lb: $12

• Pastrami on Rye: $15

• (Peppers & Onions Add On and Plant-Based Cheese Add On: $1)

Cassell's Choice: A hidden treat beyond the left-field wall, this deli station gives added variety to the Polar Park menu with corned beef and pastrami. Give me the latter in pastrami, and the coleslaw that comes with it.

Concessions In-Seat

• Lobster Roll: $23 (Chilled Lobster, Mayonnaise, Lemon Juice, Parsley, Dill, Old Bay, New England Style Roll & French Fries)

• Bacon Cheeseburger Meal: $14 (Onion, Lettuce, Tomato, Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, French Fries)

• Vegetarian Burger Meal: $12 (Black Bean Patty, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, French Fries)

• Battle Burger Meal: $14 (Rotation of Burger based on opposing team)

• Chicken Tender Basket: $12 (Chicken Tenders & French Fries)

• Grilled Cheese: $8

• Polar Park Frank: $5

• Pretzel: $5

• Classic Ballpark Nachos: $6.50

• French Fries: $5

• Popcorn: $5

• Peanuts: $4

• Cracker Jacks: $4

• Fruit Salad: $12

• Vegetables & Hummus: $14

Cassell's Choice: Lobster roll. See above.

— Contact Tommy Cassell at tcassell@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: What WooSox fans can expect to find on the menu at Polar Park