![\"_webtoptaste-of-north-park-image-1\"](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/webtopTaste-of-North-Park-image-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/a>of North Park for years. (Courtesy of North Park Main Street)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cI think [the Taste] highlights how truly diverse the food and beverage offerings are in North Park,\u201d said Matt Gordon, owner and chef of Urban Solace and president of North Park Main Street. \u201cYou can find pretty much anything you want in the neighborhood from great breakfast joints, to sushi, Mexican, pizza and, of course, a great bluegrass\u00a0Sunday\u00a0brunch on the weekends!\u201d<\/p>\n
Urban Solace has been a part of the Taste since the restaurant opened nine years ago. The restaurant was founded with a vision of \u201cthe kind of place that restaurant people would eat at on our days off,\u201d Gordon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted a place with an approachable menu, that wasn\u2019t too expensive, yet still offered the quality of ingredients and creativity that you might encounter in a more upscale or expensive restaurant,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Gordon notes that it has been great to see how the Taste of North Park has continued to grow. In 2016, 13 new restaurants have come on board. There are bakeries, coffee shops, cafes, delis, sports bars, cheese connoisseurs and more formal dining choices. Try Gordon\u2019s signature Dungeness Crab Roll with pickled fennel, butter lettuce and tarragon aioli on brioche at Urban Solace, or Pumpkin Arroz con Leche at West Coast Tavern.<\/p>\n \u201cTaste of North Park definitely gives you a feel of what North Park eateries are bringing to the plate,\u201d said Abe Botello, executive chef at West Coast Tavern.<\/p>\n Botello is known for his menu of modern American bar fare (including BBQ pork and waffles). Like many of his colleagues, he takes pride in using local and seasonal ingredients, including sourcing from the North Park Thursday Market.<\/p>\n \u201cI think North Park in general puts a lot of heart and soul into what we do,\u201d Botello said. \u201cEateries here really strive to create a memorable experience for our guests. We are a tight-knit community and really do it for the love of food.\u201d<\/p>\n And the love of craft beer, too! Ciders, meads, IPAs, ales heavy and light on the hops \u2014 all will be included in the Taste. The palate of craft beers will be explored in 4-ounce samples in businesses throughout the district. Retail locations include gift shops, salons, a gym and a music store.<\/p>\n For a full list of participating venues, haga clic aqu\u00ed<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>\u201cOne ticket allows guests to explore the best of the thriving North Park culinary and craft beer scene at venues where they can get a full sampling of what North Park has to offer,\u201d Forgione said.<\/p>\n