Taste Fall River showcases downtown dining

April 16, 2019 : The Herald News, by Linda Murphy

FALL RIVER — On April 24, downtown restaurants will offer up bites of their signature fare for Taste Fall River.

A paid event organized through the Fall River TDI Partnership, Taste Fall River gives ticketholders the opportunity to sample a specified dish from a dozen or so downtown restaurants including Scottie’s Pub, Adagio, T.A. Restaurant, Fall River Grill and Tequila Lime Cantina. The Taste Fall River ticket, which costs $25, will also include tickets for two free drinks.

“It’s meant to highlight the vibrancy downtown,” said Zachary Leone, managing partner of Alexandra’s Boutique. Leone, one of the organizers of the event through the cross-sectional Transformative Development Initiative Partnership, said the event is a lead-up to Restaurant Week, taking place from Monday, April 29, through Sunday, May 5. During Restaurant Week, participating downtown restaurants will offer a fixed-price menu of fare typically featuring a choice of several entrees paired with either a dessert or an appetizer.

Taste Fall River gives people the opportunity to sample fare from Berta’s Restaurant and Tapas Bar and Sado Asian Fusion, two restaurants that opened recently on South Main Street, said Leone.

Some of the other restaurants that have signed up for the event as of publication include Taqueria El Habanero, Thirsty Joe’s Café, JavaHouse Chew and Brew, Harry’s Restaurant and Dunny’s Saloon.

Now that the weather has finally started to warm up, Leone said it’s an ideal time to showcase the downtown in an event similar to the popular Art of Dining Stroll from several years ago. Leone said ticketholders may opt to walk to the various venues of their choosing or hop on a trolley that will run that evening. “Maybe people will try out a place they haven’t been to before,” said Leone. “Hopefully people will taste some things they really like and they’ll want to come back again for Restaurant Week.”

Both events are sponsored by MassDevelopment. The TDI Partnership includes People Incorporated, Alexandra’s Boutique, Rockland Trust, BankFive and Fall River Pawnbrokers, in conjunction with key collaborators: Creative Arts Network, Bristol County Chamber Foundation, Justice Resource Institute and Fall River’s Community Development Agency.

“MassDevelopment is proud to sponsor Taste Fall River and Fall River Restaurant Week as part of our ongoing support for the cross-sector team behind these exciting events, the Fall River Transformative Development Initiative Partnership,” said Kelsey Schiller, spokesperson for MassDevelopment. “We hope these events will help draw residents downtown, provide a boost to local restaurants and shops, and remind people how much Fall River has to offer.”

To see a list of participating restaurants and to find out where to purchase tickets, visit tastefallriver.com.