Taste of Atlanta is hitting the 25-year mark and throwing itself a birthday bash in the form of an all-inclusive tasting at The Works on the Upper Westside this Thursday, April 16. The one-night party packs more than two dozen chef stations, cocktails and live music into a single ticketed evening. Founder Dale DeSena and Fox Bros. co-owner Jonathan Fox have already been making the rounds on local TV, previewing what longtime fans can expect as organizers roll out the anniversary program.
What To Expect
According to Taste of Atlanta, the party runs from 6–10 p.m. at The Works and includes “unlimited tastings” from more than 24 restaurants, plus beer, wine and craft-cocktail samples. The lineup features names like Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, Hattie B's, Mission + Market and Morelli's Ice Cream, with more restaurants filling out the tasting stations.
Live sets from Bogey and the Viceroy are on the schedule, along with a special appearance by the Seed & Feed Marching Abominables, so the night is set to sound as big as it tastes. The event is presented with a slate of sponsors, and the anniversary page notes Second Helpings Atlanta as the charitable partner for the evening.
Founder And Local Voices
In an interview with Fox 5 Atlanta, founder Dale DeSena and Jonathan Fox talked about the milestone year and why gathering longtime restaurants under one roof still matters for the city’s food identity. They framed the anniversary as both a celebration and a check-in on how far Atlanta’s dining scene has come.
Local coverage has echoed that theme. Atlanta Daily World reports that this year’s celebration is designed as a reunion of chefs who helped shape Atlanta’s restaurant landscape. Organizers say the 25th anniversary will be part party, part retrospective, with a yearlong spotlight on the dishes and chefs that defined Taste of Atlanta over the last quarter-century.
Tickets, Logistics And Dates
Per Taste of Atlanta, tickets for the anniversary night are all-inclusive, the event is restricted to guests 21 and older, and it is scheduled as a rain-or-shine affair with no refunds. The Upper Westside is expected to be busy during the tasting window, so organizers recommend planning ahead for rideshares or carpooling.
Thursday’s event is the first of four signature Taste of Atlanta experiences this year. Also on the calendar are Food That Rocks at City Springs on June 4, Grand Tasting Alpharetta on Aug. 27 and Grand Tasting Midtown in October, setting up a full season of tasting events across the metro area.
Tickets and the full restaurant lineup are available on the festival’s site, and organizers say proceeds and partnerships will support local restaurants and food-rescue work across the region. Expect archival menu highlights and throwback dishes to pop up on social channels in the coming months as Taste of Atlanta turns one night at The Works into a yearlong anniversary celebration.
