The 2014 A Taste of the Town event will feature 17 of downtown Wilmington’s restaurants, more than ever before in the 13-year history of the event.

The fundraiser for Thalian Hall takes place Sept. 23. Patrons will gather at Thalian Hall where they will receive a map, a ballot and information about each restaurant. They will then travel through downtown either on foot or by trolley to enjoy small appetizer portions of each restaurant’s best dishes and vote for their favorites.

The categories will be Best Appetizer Taste, Best Entrée Taste and Best Overall. Prizes will be awarded to the winning restaurants. Last year’s Best Overall Award went to Cousins Italian Deli and Caprice Bistro. Aubriana’s received the Best Appetizer Award, and the Best Entrée Award went to the Pilot House.

This year’s event features seven new participants: Buzz’s Roost, Canape, Delphina Dos, Fork N’ Cork, Happy Bowls, Stuffedwich and The Dixie Grill.

“Thalian Hall and our downtown restaurants have a symbiotic relationship,” Thalian Hall marketing director Gary Tucker said. “The events and shows at Thalian Hall attract people to the downtown area, which benefits the restaurants, but the exceptional food and service you can get downtown at these eateries helps complete the experience for our patrons, which makes them want to come back more often. Working together on an event like A Taste of the Town just makes sense for everyone.”

For more information and tickets, go to www.thalianhall.org

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