Benicia foodies, if you want to designate Tuesday as a night to eat out, you have many dining options and Benicia Main Street will allow you to sample 18 of them for its annual Taste of First Street.

Benicia Main Street began Taste of First Street 11 years ago as a promotion for its numerous downtown restaurants. Held the third Tuesday in August, the event allows participating eateries to set up booths along First Street and provide samples of their menu items.

This year’s lineup features a mix of longtime favorites and new downtown restaurants, which Benicia has seen its share of in 2018. Participants will get to taste foods from previous participants such as Aroma Indian Cuisine, Camellia Tea Room, Dianna’s Bakery & Cafe, Elviarita’s Mexican Grill, First Street Cafe, Lucca Bar & Grill, Nine Zero Seven Grill, Pacifica Pizza, Rookies Bar & Grill, Sailor Jack’s, Sandoval’s Mexican Food, The Loft Wine Bar & Restaurant, The Rellik Tavern and Venticellos Ristorante Italiano. However, patrons will also get to try eateries that are new in town. These include healthy juice bar Juice House Co., which opened in January; Italian-American restaurant Bella Siena, which opened in June; and coffee and sandwich shop Farm & Flour, which opened last week. Additionally, visitors will get a sample of One House Bakery, a new upscale bakery which is under construction at 918 First St. and owners hope to be open by the end of the month.

The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 21 along First Street. Benicia Main Street is encouraging participants to secure tickets early as the event is limited to 300 participants. Tickets are $30 per adult or $55 for two adults if purchased in advance. On the day of the event, if any tickets are left, prices will increase to $35 per adult or $65 for two adults. They can be purchased at Benicia Main Street’s office, located at 90 First St., or online at BeniciaMainStreet.org. The price includes tastings at all participating restaurants, souvenir wine glasses and two glasses of wine to pair with the tastings.

For more information, contact Event Coordinator Deborah Housman at info@beniciamainstreet.org or 745-9791.

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