(TRENTON, NJ) -- Taste Trenton has registered about 40 restaurants to welcome “food tourists” as part of a self-guided tour of the capital city’s restaurants during the weekend of June 10th through 12th. This not-for-profit effort, initially begun in 2016, is designed to introduce Trenton residents and guests from across the region to the vast culinary and eating options available in many corners of the city. What began as a single day event with just a dozen restaurant in the Chambersburg region, has evolved to three days and an ever-expanding and changing list of participating restaurants.

As in previous years, Taste Trenton aims for a mixture of “old favorites” and “new-to-the-city” venues, and especially seeks to reflect the diversity of cuisines in the city. There are 11 restaurants that are either newly opened or new to the tour.

The format remains the same. Guests or “food tourists” purchase wristbands ($7 per day; $10 for entire weekend) from Taste Trenton (TasteTrenton.com) and receive a guide (on-line this year) that describes participating restaurants (address, contact information, website, type of cuisine, alcohol license status). For their part, restaurants offer a tasting menu of their specialties that guests can sample for a reduced price (typically $2-$8). Food tourists may purchase wristbands at Artworks on Hanover street (across from the Trenton MVC) and visit as many of the restaurants as they wish (or can) during the weekend. 

More than half of the restaurants offer a special Taste Trenton dinner option and many also have developed special “Taste Trenton” drinks and beverages that guests can enjoy. This year’s tour also offers a new feature: special breakfasts that are available at six restaurants where guests can enjoy a cup of coffee, a traditional breakfast, and plan their day’s jaunt.

The Taste Trenton website maintains its restaurant listings throughout the year so patrons can learn about those places they missed during the tour weekend.   

“Our goal is to introduce Trenton’s amazing restaurant fare to as many people as possible.” says Taste Trenton coordinator, Bernard McMullan. “We are giving people an excuse trying to try out a new place, to taste an unfamiliar cuisine , or simply showing off Trenton to friends who relish eating in a food-friendly town.”

This year’s event coincides (on Saturday) with the Mill Hill Garden Tour.  Tickets for the garden tour will be available at ArtWorks on Saturday, June 11th. 

Wristbands can be purchased in advance at TasteTrenton.Com and may be picked up at ArtWorks on the Taste Trenton weekend.