Finally, a benefit of the pandemic, the 26-year tradition of Taste of Times Square is back — and it’s on for a whole week! The popular event, which usually happens for one evening each year in early June, has been transformed into a week-long event with 20 restaurants taking part.
Restaurant Row, on W46th Street between 8/9th Avenue, will remain the focus of the celebration, with other eateries east of 8th Avenue in the Theater District joining the festivities too. Restaurants will offer a special $35 three-course prix fixe menu from tomorrow (Friday, October 23) through to October 30.
The deal is open to all forms of dining — indoor, outdoor, delivered, or to go. The $35 deal (drinks, tax, and tip not included) delivers an appetizer, entrée, and dessert.
The organizers, Times Square Alliance, have partnered with the Hell’s Kitchen Happiness Krewe to bring live music to Taste. The Krewe has already been active in engaging the community in song, dance, and visual art, all while wearing masks and remaining socially distanced. Their performances will pop up throughout the week in front of participating restaurants and will continue to employ artists and musicians who have been impacted by COVID-19.
“Reopening has been an uncalculated and passionate investment in our brand, our staff, and our neighborhood.”
“Every June for the past 26 years, we have celebrated international cuisine and live music in Times Square through a multi-block festival,” said Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance. “Our event looks different this year but supporting our restaurants hasn’t changed. We call New Yorkers and visitors who are #AllInNYC to Times Square to explore these fabulous restaurants that are safely welcoming guests with delicious food.”
Nick Verses, the owner of Bar Dough, is delighted to be taking part in Taste for the first time. His pizza joint only opened on Restaurant Row last September. “With Broadway shut down we are hoping that Taste of Time of Times Square will attract and drive more business for all of us,” said Nick. “We appreciate what Times Square Alliance is doing to help the restaurants in this area. Here’s to a Taste of Better Times.”
“We are the center of New York City in the good times and in the not so good times. Reopening has been an uncalculated and passionate investment in our brand, our staff, and our neighborhood,” shared Phil Gonzalez, who owns Trattoria Trecolori, with his brothers. “Many New Yorkers do not consider Times Square a neighborhood, but we have always considered it a neighborhood based on one thing; the electric energy of the people that are there regardless of where they live. Over the past 25 years we have always sought to gain the trust of everyone that has walked through our doors regardless of where they were from. We’d always want to create ‘regulars’ even if they would only come once a year. We view the 2020 Taste of Times Square as a great opportunity to slowly rebuild those relationships with the energy of the people that will come back and take another look at Times Square.”
“We have reopened Gallaghers and focused our efforts on the locals from day one. New Yorkers have been through a lot,” Dean Poll, the owner of the iconic Steakhouse told us. “We are so happy to bring back that piece of normal to the neighborhood. A good meal with close friends in a favorite place close to home. Doing this with our fellow Times Square restaurants is an effort we are proud to be a part of.”
If you want your appetite whetting, Gallagher’s three-course special menu is the Classic Steakhouse Wedge with iceberg, roquefort, smoked bacon and tomato; followed by a 10oz Filet Mignon grilled on their signature hickory coals and served with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach; finished off with a Classic New York Cheesecake!
Details about participating restaurants (also listed below) and their menus can be found at www.TSq.org/Taste.
An’nam BarDough Bareburger Dos Caminos Ellen's Stardust Diner Gallaghers Steakhouse Havana Central Hold Fast Kitchen & Spirits Joe Allen Restaurant Le Rivage Pasta Lovers Trattoria Patzeria Perfect Pizza Playwright Russian Samovar Seamore's Takeover @ Urbanspace Swing 46 Jazz & Supper Club Tito Murphy's Toloache Restaurant Tony's Di Napoli Trattoria Trecolori
Sounds SO good–wish I could be back in my old hometown!
Under the current situation, can I ask why this was not offered to restaurants and bars outside the area to help them as well?