This Monday, Times Square will turn into one big party, of the sort that even local New Yorkers will enjoy. Yes, the Times Square Alliance has returned with Taste of Times Square, an outdoor food and music festival featuring international flavors from the district’s top restaurants and the city’s best street performers at the Crossroads of the World.
More than fifty of Times Square’s most popular culinary destinations will offer “tastes” ranging from $2-$6 on Monday, June 1 from 5:00 – 9:00pm. The event will be on 46th St. between Broadway and 9th Avenue (including Restaurant Row) as well as the Broadway Plazas between 45th and 47th Streets.
“For more than two decades, Taste of Times Square has been an amazing venue for locals and visitors alike to experience the best of New York’s culinary and cultural scenes in the heart of the city’s town square,” said Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance. “With dozens of participating restaurants and entertainment options, Taste 2015 is sure to be another remarkable exhibit of the richness that Times Square offers the city and the world.”
Newcomers to the event this year include: The Rum House, Iron Bar, Dos Caminos, City Kitchen (Azuki, Gabriela’s Taqueria, ilili Box, Sigmund Preztel Shop Inc.,Whitman’s) Paul’s on Times Square, Buffalo Wild Wings, URBO and Heartland Brewery, which will operate the first-ever Taste of Times Square outdoor beer garden.
Other participating restaurants include BB King Blues Club & Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings, Junior’s, Havana Central Restaurant & Bar, Le Rivage, John’s of Times Square, Hard Rock Café, The House of Brews, Bourbon Street Bar & Grille, E&E Grill House, Da Rosina, Paramount Bar & Grill, Bareburger, Applebee’s, Barbetta, Crossroads American Kitchen & Bar, The View Restaurant & Lounge, Virgil’s Real BBQ, Carmine’s Restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Bubba Gump Shrimp, The Palm Restaurant, Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar, Becco, Doubletree Suites, Blue Fin, La Pulperia, O’Lunney’s, Patzeria Perfect Pizza, Hourglass Tavern, Sangria 46, Ruby Foo’s, Planet Hollywood, Brasserie 1605, Orso, Joe Allen’s, Playwright Celtic Pub & Restaurant, Paul’s on Times Square, Dos Caminos, URBO, The Rum House, Meson Sevilla, Schnipper’s, Shake Shack and Toloache.
But it’s not just about the food. Highlighted street musicians provided by the Hard Rock Cafe Times Square include: Baby Soda Jazz Band, classical guitarist Don Witter Jr., Drum Café, The Ebony Hillbillies performing bluegrass, Paul Mueller with a hammered dulcimer, Sean Grissom on the cello and StreetMule.
Another entertainment location includes the Swing Tent featuring George Gee Swing Orchestra made possible by Swing 46. And if you pay close attention, there may even be a few raffles and giveaways for Crossroads members!
Taste of Times Square has no admission fee. Each “taste” ticket is $1 with most dishes ranging from $1-6. So come on down to Times Square to find out all that the Theatre District has to offer, and maybe scout out the next restaurant you would like to try before seeing your favorite Broadway or Off-Broadway show.