Downtown New Kensington is setting the table for its fifth annual Restaurant Ramble on Saturday, March 28, turning a stretch of Fifth Avenue storefronts into a midday tasting route. For a $35 ticket, visitors can wander from spot to spot between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., sampling small plates and beverages at multiple local eateries in a quick, walkable tour of what is new downtown.
Tickets are $35, and the event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with sales available online or in person at Voodoo Brewing Co. through Friday, as reported by TribLIVE. According to the outlet, this year’s ramble features 11 participating restaurants, with Ash Taphouse, Begonia Bistro, and Lucky Duck Candy Co. all joining the lineup for the first time.
Ash Taphouse plans to serve its homemade bruschetta on a toasted baguette. “We wanted to offer something that if people like it, they can come in and get it every time,” manager Tara Salem told TribLIVE. Voodoo’s manager, Michelle Thom, described the ramble as a spread of appetizers, entrees, and desserts, with the brewpub offering Love Child Beer‑BQ chicken bites and Voodoo dill pickle fries for the event. Sweet Tillies owner Amy Johnson said she will showcase a mini blueberry limoncello “baked Kensington” to spotlight that she does more than baklava.
Downtown momentum
Organizers and business owners say the ramble taps into a broader effort to bring shoppers and diners back to Fifth Avenue, with Voodoo at the former Ritz Theater often credited as a spark for new leases and storefront openings. As outlined by the New Kensington Redevelopment Authority, local initiatives and programs that help incubate small businesses have attracted bakeries, cafes, and other independent shops to downtown in recent years. That push is a key reason organizers describe the ramble as both a tasting tour and a shop‑local showcase.
Tickets and tips
Tickets are available online via the event checkout page or in person at Voodoo, and local calendars list the gathering as the 5th Annual Restaurant Ramble on March 28. The event is featured on listings such as AllEvents, and organizers have a checkout page at the ticket checkout. Past participants suggest bringing a to‑go bag for pastries and wearing comfortable shoes for the short walking route.
With 11 stops and a mix of familiar favorites and newcomers, the midday ramble offers an easy way to sample what New Kensington’s downtown has to offer. Expect a neighborly crowd and a clear view of the wave of new small businesses that organizers and locals say are helping revitalize Fifth Avenue.
