When 32 local eateries and pubs offer their best at the Taste of Ocean Beach Restaurant Walk, the small samples will rapidly add up to multiple meals. The event on Tuesday, Nov. 14, runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., providing ample time to visit every stop on the tour.
“We have three check-in stations and we have buses that will run you from one end of Ocean Beach to the other and they go around in a big loop. There is a map on the ticket of all the participating restaurants and bars involved in it,” said Denny Knox, executive director of the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association. “You just go with your friends and meet new friends along the way and get little tastes of whatever each restaurant or bar is offering.”
The year’s walk will feature “A Storybook Christmas” theme, with merchants playing up the concept in order to get people jazzed up about Ocean Beach’s famous holiday happenings. The Ocean Beach Tree Committee, part of the Ocean Beach Town Council, is working with OBMA to present the walk.
“The walk is one of many events that raise money for the food and toy drive that we have every year where between 60 and 70 local families receive complete turkey dinners, lots of toys and presents for each member of the family,” he said. “Any money left over goes to the tree committee, which gives the money back to local people and businesses who apply for grants.”
The funds raised can be considerable because the event has 550 tickets and sells out every year. OBMA, its staff and volunteers all get involved as part of its mission to give back to the community.
An OBMA committee contacts restaurant and bar owners to see if they want to be involved in the walk. Each establishment selects what they will be serving and then tells the committee.
About 600 diners made it last year to Shades Oceanfront Bistro, 5083 Santa Monica Ave., which will be participating again this year and serving up its famous barbeque ribs and trying out a surprise new entree. Restaurant walkers should be sure to give their critiques of the new item to owner Dave Martin because three entrees served in the last four years have shown up on the menu.
“The restaurant walk provides us with the opportunity to visit with all different kinds of people,” Martin said. “It is a fun evening and gives us a way to get everyone who has not been here to come in, enjoy our great restaurant, menu and service, and come back again.”
Eight stages of live music are also part of the festivities, featuring entertainment from The Grams, as well as Chelsea Flor, Siren’s Lure, Beer Feat, Peter Hall and Mike on the Mike.
Jungle Java, Thee Bungalow, Café Bella, Tiny’s Tavern, Lighthouse Ice Cream, Bravo’s Mexican Bistro, Elsbree House B & B and South Beach Bar & Grill are among the places satisfying hungry stomachs.
The restaurant walk started out with a half-block of participants 20 years ago, and now stretches across Ocean Beach, featuring more restaurants, bars and vendors every year.
“This is a longtime event for our community and it is one of those things that people look forward to every year,” Knox said. “It is a festive, good and busy time for us and affords us the opportunity to shine a light on Ocean Beach.”
Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased at Dog Beach Dog Wash, Surf n’ Sea Wetsuits, Indulgence Salon and at the event while supplies last. For information, call (619) 224-4906.