The event usually takes place on a Tuesday, but this year, fans have a couple more days to plan for the feasting. Thousands are expected to descend on Worcester’s “Restaurant Row” on Thursday, June 18, for the annual Taste of Shrewsbury Street, an event that turns one of the region’s best-known dining destinations into a mile-long culinary crawl featuring samples from nearly 30 restaurants, live music and neighborhood block parties.
“We get about a third of the attendees deciding they’ll come on the day of, so our expectations range from 2,000 to 3,000 depending on weather,” Breanna DiBella, marketing consultant for Taste of Shrewsbury Street, told the Worcester Guardian.
The event runs from 5-11 p.m., with food sampling from 6-9 p.m.
For $25, attendees receive a wristband granting access to unlimited samples from participating restaurants, offering a chance to try everything from steakhouse favorites and Italian classics to Thai cuisine, Mexican dishes, pizza, burgers, desserts and craft beer. It’s key for participants to pace themselves properly and not load the tummy too early on, as you’ll run into everything from bowls of macaroni and cheese to sliders to grilled swordfish. That way, it’s easier to make it to the end without finding yourself in the vomitorium before the finish line.
Organizers told the Worcester Guardian that more than 1,200 wristbands had already been sold as of this week, with hundreds more traditionally purchased during the final 48 hours before the event and on the day itself.
Among the participating businesses are 111 Chop House, Flying Rhino, La Scala, Leo’s Ristorante, Meze Estiatorio, Nuovo, Pepe’s, Piccolo’s, Via Italian Table, Volturno, Wormtown Brewery, Sonoma Restaurant at the Beechwood, Wonder Bar and dozens more. New participants this year include Mercado, which recently opened in the former Flying Rhino space, and Whiskey Lounge at 225 Shrewsbury St.
The annual event has become one of Worcester’s signature summer traditions and one of the largest food-focused gatherings of the year, drawing visitors from across Central Massachusetts and beyond.
“This event is unique in that, because of the scale of the ‘venue’ being all of Restaurant Row (and beyond with the addition of Sonoma Restaurant at the Beechwood Hotel), the Shrewsbury Street Merchants Association has not set a sell-out quantity,” said DiBella.
Part of the appeal is the variety. Instead of committing to a single restaurant, attendees can spend the evening strolling the corridor and sampling dishes from a wide range of establishments, many of which offer signature menu items designed specifically to impress visitors.
One newcomer generating buzz is Sonoma Restaurant at the Beechwood, where a new executive chef will make his Taste of Shrewsbury Street debut with Oklahoma smash burger sliders and mahi mahi ceviche with chili lime. The restaurant’s newly renovated patio and large parking area have also made it one of this year’s wristband pickup locations.
The event also includes a friendly competition among participating restaurants.
A panel of judges will sample offerings throughout the evening and select winners, with first place receiving a $500 prize and second place earning $300.
The judging panel includes Jacqueline Cain, a Worcester County native and newsletter editor at America’s Test Kitchen; MassLive reporter Nick O’Malley; former Taste of Shrewsbury Street judge Jim Moughan; original Taste of Shrewsbury Street judge Mark Waxler; and food influencer Logan Woodcome, known online as @NE_Foodie_Chick. Organizers said one additional food influencer judge is expected to be announced before the event.
For longtime attendees, Taste of Shrewsbury Street is as much about the atmosphere as the food. The event regularly fills sidewalks and patios with visitors moving from restaurant to restaurant, creating a festival-like environment that serves as an unofficial kickoff to summer.
Organizers note that the event’s footprint stretches more than two miles if visitors walk both sides of the street from end to end. While dogs generally are not permitted inside restaurants, many participating businesses serve samples outdoors, making the event a popular outing for people bringing four-legged companions along for the walk.
To help visitors navigate the crowds, two shuttle buses will run along Shrewsbury Street throughout the evening, with more than 10 designated stops. Organizers said the shuttle stops will be more clearly marked this year, and an updated event map showing restaurants, shuttle locations and live entertainment venues will be released before the festival.
Discounted wristbands are available online through the event website. Beginning June 1, wristbands can also be purchased or picked up in person at Vintage Grille, Sonoma Restaurant at the Beechwood and Wormtown Brewery.
Additional information, including a complete list of participating restaurants, is available at tasteofshrewsburystreet.com.
Have a story tip, community concern, or insight to share? Email Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org.
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