Top area restaurants are slated to participate in the 12th Annual Taste of Del Ray. The event, named one of Virginia Living Magazine's top food festivals in the state, will shift to a weekend-long format from Friday, June 4 to Sunday, June 6.

Throughout the weekend, each participating restaurant will offer select “tastes” on their individual menus for just $5 each. Restaurants are also encouraged to offer cocktail pairings to complement their dishes. Order a bunch of Tastes to go, or enjoy them as an appetizer or part of your meal! Please note: Tastes are available at individual restaurants for purchase; we plan to return to our traditional event next year!

Register Now! (Fee: $5)

Online registration for the event is just $5, gives you access to an online ballot to cast your vote for the coveted People’s Choice Award. Both the ballot and menu will be sent to the email address registered via Eventbrite. Proceeds from the event will help fund future Del Ray Business Association events.  Click here to register!

Participating Restaurants & Ordering Information

• All “tastes“ need to be purchased directly from participating restaurants; they will be available on their online menus starting Friday, June 4, and through Sunday, June 6.
• Each restaurant has the option of offering up to three food entries in the competition; all entries are available for just $5 each, and will be available from June 4-6. Restaurants also have the option to offer VIP cocktail pairings (prices vary), which will not be judged.
• Tastes are available for dine-in or carry-out, depending on the restaurant's protocols.
• Special Taste of Del Ray menu items will be available June 4-6 for pick-up or dine-in at the restaurants during their normal operating hours. All restaurants will continue to follow all COVID-19 safety procedures. Please note: if you choose to enjoy your Taste at home, pick-up your order, instead of using third-party delivery services, to maximize the financial benefit to the restaurants.

People's Choice Award

• All registrants will receive an online ballot for the People's Choice Award, to the email used for registration. Online voting closes at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 6.
• The Judge's Choice and the People's Choice awards will be announced on Monday, June 7.

Entries

NOTE: This year, all “tastes“ need to be purchased directly from participating restaurants. Links are provided to each of their individual websites; they will be available on their menus from Friday, June 4 to Sunday, June 6. All food entries are specially priced at $5.

Click here for a printable menu:

Featured entries:

Bella Napoli (1310 Mt Vernon Ave.)

• FOOD ENTRY #1: Small Cheese Pizza
• FOOD ENTRY #2: ANY Pasta
• FOOD ENTRY #3: Cheesecake
• VIP COCKTAILS: Sangria and House wine (Red or White)

Cheestique (2411 Mt. Vernon Ave.)

• FOOD ENTRY: Three-cheese savory cheesecake
• VIP COCKTAIL: Floradora (gin, Chambord, lime, grenadine and ginger ale

Del Ray Pizzeria (2218 Mt. Vernon Ave.)

• FOOD ENTRY #1: Baked Avocado filled with fried egg and cheddar
• FOOD ENTRY #2: Chili Verde Pulled Pork Slider (pork bacon cheese on brioche)
• FOOD ENTRY #3: Beignets with chocolate sauce
• VIP COCKTAIL: Jupiter Jazz

Evening Star Cafe (2000 Mt Vernon Ave.)

• FOOD ENTRY #1: Chilled pea salad with Ricotta salata, shaved shallots,and Earl Grey Vinaigrette
• FOOD ENTRY #2: Local Coffee Custard (served chilled with sweetened cream and cocoa powder)

Hops N Shine (3410 Mt. Vernon Ave.)

• FOOD ENTRY #1: Wings- Choose boneless or bone-in, and your choice of any of our wing sauces. Served with a feta cilantro dip
• FOOD ENTRY #2: The OG - Our original grilled cheese, served with a shot of our tomato soup perfect for dipping
• FOOD ENTRY #3: Small Totchos - Our signature tots, topped with beer cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo
• VIP COCKTAILS: 1) Taste the Rainbow - Skittles infused moonshine, triple sec, lime, agave; 2)1800 Coconut Strawberry Frozen Slushy; 3) Mai Tai - Kraken black spiced rum, Cruzan silver rum, triple sec, orange, pineapple, lime

Junction Bakery & Bistro (1508 Mt Vernon Ave.)

• FOOD ENTRY: Chiquito Cubanos -- a staple sandwich in Latin culture made with freshly baked bread (in house), mojo pork, rosemary ham, mustard, cilantro mayo, and house-made dill pickles.
• VIP COCKTAIL -- The Tortuga -- a refreshing summery Rum based cocktail

Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap (401 E Braddock Rd.)

• FOOD ENTRY: Italian Lemon Cake
• VIP COCKTAIL: Bottle of champagne

Live Oak Restaurant/Elo's Italian Pop-Up (1603 Commonwealth Ave.) -- note: Elo's is closed on Sundays

• FOOD ENTRY: Meatball appetizer -- two meatballs made with veal, pork, & beef, with Creamy Polenta, Pomodoro Sauce, and Pecorino
• VIP COCKTAIL: Live Oak OG Old Fashioned

Pork Barrel BBQ (2312 Mt Vernon Ave.)

• FOOD ENTRY: Cup of white chicken chili

Spice Kraft (2607 Mt Vernon Ave.)

• FOOD ENTRY #1: Raj Kachori Chaat (Indian Street Food)
• FOOD ENTRY #2: Mango & Gulab Falooda
• VIP COCKTAIL: Madras Margarita (Chili Lime Margarita wine, ginger-infused tamarind chutney, house sour, & Himalayan pink salt)

Stomping Ground (2309 Mt. Vernon Ave.)

• FOOD ENTRY: Cheddar Blue Corn Grits with a Pork Ragu
• VIP COCKTAILS: 1) Strawberry Lemonade; 2) Coors Banquet Beer; 3) Counter Culture Espresso Martini: Big Trouble Espresso, Vodka, Kahlua, Vanilla Syrup; and 4) Southern Crush: Bourbon, Orange Liqueur, Fresh OJ, Peach, Lemon Lime Soda

Swing’s Coffee (501 E. Monroe Ave.)

• ENTRY: Bourbon Barrell-Aged Nitro Draft Latte -- this non-alchoholic, caffeinated beverage consists of cold brewed coffee that has been aged in a bourbon barrel, infused with nitrogen to provide a creamy cascading effect, and then combined with vanilla and cream for a slightly sweet, creamy draft latte with hints of bourbon

Taqueria Poblano (2400 Mt. Vernon Ave.)

• FOOD ENTRY: Gazpacho
• VIP COCKTAIL: Summer Sangria

Food and drink specials will be updated this week as we receive them.

Thanks for supporting our local restaurants, and for keeping this (modified) tradition alive! Don't forget to cast your ballot (it'll be sent to the email you registered under in Eventbrite), and share your food photos to @visitdelray on Facebook and Instagram.