A night of crab rangoon, pizza, baked goods and various other treats is on the horizon in downtown New Kensington.
The city’s fifth annual Restaurant Ramble will return March 28, with three new participating eateries: Ash Taphouse, Begonia Bistro and Lucky Duck Candy Co.
For $35 a ticket, participants can get small plates or a beverage at the 11 participating restaurants. Other participating businesses include Wildflower Bakery, Evanly Bakes, Steel Cup Coffee, Fox’s Pizza, Farm House Fresh and Panda Chinese Restaurant.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tickets are on sale until Friday online or at Voodoo Brewing Co.
Ash Taphouse will serve its homemade bruschetta on a toasted baguette — a menu staple.
“We wanted to offer something that if people like it, they can come in and get it every time,” manager Tara Salem said.
She said the bar and restaurant has been getting more involved in events and has enjoyed engaging with other businesses.
Such cooperative efforts get the word out about the restaurant for people only familiar with the city’s downtown dining scene.
“We’re still in New Ken, but we’re up on the hill,” she said. “Being included in this really helps.”
Michelle Thom, manager at Voodoo, said the Restaurant Ramble’s fare fits into three categories: appetizers, entrees and desserts.
She said the event is a great way to celebrate the area’s wide range of food options.
Voodoo will offer its Love Child Beer-BQ chicken bites and Voodoo dill pickle fries.
For baklava-focused bakery Sweet Tillies, the event this year is an opportunity to showcase its menu range, owner Amy Johnson said.
She will be offering her mini blueberry limoncello baked Kensington, which is a puff pastry-style item.
“I want people to know I do other things than baklava,” she said.
The bakery has participated in each of the previous Restaurant Rambles. Johnson said that, based on her experience, people should bring to-go bags.
She said the event is a great opportunity to show newcomers and residents alike what New Kensington has to offer.
“They can really see it as a destination,” she said. “They see all the shops that are here in walking distance and they get excited.”
