Taste of Shrewsbury Street Returns to Worcester

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Jeffrey Starr, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

The exterior of Coral Seafood is a beautiful example of what Shrewsbury Street has to offer,

More than 30 restaurants and pubs in the Shrewsbury Street neighborhood of Worcester will once again participate in the annual Taste of Shrewsbury Street festival on June 18. A button you may now purchase for $25 is your admission ticket to sample the food served at restaurants. Customers can enjoy great food and entertainment on the street as well as arts and crafts presented by local vendors.

Proceeds benefit the beautification of Shrewsbury Street along “Worcester’s Restaurant Row” as well as local children’s charities. More specifically, the funds raised will be used by the Shrewsbury Street Area Merchants Association, Central Mass' largest independent restaurant row, to pay for the upkeep of flower beds and trees and to add new flower beds, mulching, and the cleaning and de-weeding of the sidewalk. Money will also go to a general fund for the Shrewbsury Street Area Merchants Association which helps charities and schools throughout the year .

As always, there are intangible benefits as well, such as simply showing off and celebrating the uniqueness of the Shrewsbury Street area.

"It markets the street as the premier “Restaurant Row” in central mass. With over 40 restaurants of which 90% are independent operators which is unheard of these days," remarks Paul Barber, owner of the Flying Rhino.

"It's important have an event that highlights how this street keeps growing every year and how nice it is to walk up and down the street going from place to place. It shows people they can park once and walk from place to place hassle free, and have a cocktail at one place, appetizers at another, and dinner somewhere else and desserts at sweets too!" says Barber.

Participating Establishments

Participating establishment so far include Boulevard Diner, Brew City, Cafe Manzi, Coral Seafood, Dante's, Dunkin' Donuts, East Side Liquor, Flying Rhino, Funky Murphy's, Inhouse coffee, Kenichi Bistro, La Scala, Leo's Ristorante, Little Caesars, Mezcal Tequila Cantina, Miranda Bread, Nuovo, One Eleven Chop House, Pampas Churrascaria, Papa Razzi, Parkway Diner, Piccolo's, Pomir Grill, Porto Bello, Ralph's Tavern, Red Lantern, Subway, Sweet, VIA Italian Table, Victory Bar & Cigar, Vintage Grille, Volturno, and Wonder Bar. A continually updated list of those participating can be found here.

"It is an exciting family friendly event that our guests look forward to every year," says Jim Voyiatzis of Coral Seafood, one of the many participating restaurants and one of the brightest spots on the street.

"Also its meant for the entire City of Worcester. I don't know of any other event that is so well organized and gets people into the various restaurants to try their food."

Additional sponsors include Bay State Savings Bank, Pulse Magazine, and UMass Memorial Medical Center, among many others.

For more information on the Shrewsbury Street Area Merchants Association or the Taste of Shrewsbury Street 2013 please click here or find the Taste of Shrewsbury Street on Facebook. The event lasts 5-9 pm.