Originally known as Taste of the Upper West Side, the two-day food festival—where one ticket would open the door to try food from a score of Upper West Side restaurants—took a break in 2023. Now, the New York Post wants in on the action, taking over the event previously hosted by the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District (BID).
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The Post’s appetite has expanded to include more of the West Side of Manhattan, so a new name, Taste of the West Side, will mark the event’s 15th year in the neighborhood. The festival has also moved from the playground on Columbus Avenue, where it was held under a tent, to The Louis Brandeis Campus on West 84th Street (between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues).
“With over 70 standout chefs, culinary stars, and renowned, beloved neighborhood spots, TasteWS is the chance to sample everything from inventive small plates, comfort food, creative cocktails, and curated wines,” reads a press release announcing the event. The two-night tradition has historically shifted dates each year, adjusting with the seasons, and even in 2021, during COVID-19, the event continued in some form after being cancelled the year before. In 2025, on May 30 and 31, The Post plans to host it at The Louis Brandeis Campus on West 84th Street, describing it as a “celebration of food, drink, and community.”
An estimated 3,500 guests attend the Upper West Side food festival yearly, according to the Taste of the West Side website. Some have regarded the two-day affair as a mix of locals, celebrities, scenesters, and foodies, to name the obvious. In 2017, the festival used a similar “Summer in the City: Surf & Turf” theme, while the Food Network’s Alex Guarnaschelli and TV food personality Adam Richman served as masters of ceremonies on the first night.
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While no personalities have been announced for 2025, ILTUWS obtained the final roster of participating eateries—with the caveat that the list may still change. Now, we can talk business.
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Tatiana, located in Lincoln Center, has become such a staple that on Valentine’s Day, Canadian rapper Drake picked up the tab for every diner—perhaps in an attempt to win back fans after his highly publicized defeat in a rap battle with Kendrick Lamar. This festival has personality, fo’ sho.’
Da Capo, the ever-evolving espresso bar that opened at 332 Columbus Avenue in 2017 and transforms into a venue or cocktail spot after 5 p.m., will also be on the bill for Friday, May 30.
Get rations from Daily Provisions, another 2017 opening from Union Square before it made its way to the UWS—we dig their donuts. Don’t forget Fred’s (Friday), Good Enough to Eat (Friday), and Harvest Kitchen (Saturday), all run by Jeremy Wladis, the man who saved cherished local cornerstones Fred’s and Telio. Some of his restaurant portfolio (mentioned above) will be in the mix over the two nights.
Wladis isn’t afraid to take chances, and we love that. You should also check out his pair of recently opened close-quarters hotspots with business partner Michael Imperioli from HBO’s hit shows The Sopranos and White Lotus: Scarlet and Dahlia. While these two aren’t part of the festival, they showcase the qualities and character that make Wladis’ offerings great. You can’t have this festival without him
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Michelin-rated underground sensation, See No Evil Pizza, operating out of a subway station at West 50th and Broadway, will also be there on Friday, along with Melba’s signature chicken and eggnog waffles. Winner of “Throwdown! with Bobby Flay”, this Harlem gem has been serving up comfort food since 2005.
Bustan, the quality Mediterranean mainstay that survived a fire in 2019—thanks in part to a new team including Udi Vaknin—will be there on Saturday. Vaknin, who opened his own Mediterranean spot with Israeli influences, Florentin, across the street on the corner of Amsterdam and West 83rd in January 2025, took a bet on a location that’s long been challenging to make work, and he’s off to a 5-star start.
Local Michelin star winner in 2023, the contemporary French restaurant Essential by Christophe, located near The American Museum of Natural History and opened in December 2022, will also be showcased on Saturday, May 31. And speaking of shows, The Leopard at Des Artistes, featured in an early episode of “30 Rock” by Upper West Side savant Tina Fey, brings a bit of the sleeping giant element to the event. Love the artwork here—and the trofie—tight bites of subtly twisted pasta mixed with an almond-and-pistachio pesto, though it’s no longer on the menu. We’re overdue for a re-do. We’ll see what they come up with, and maybe Fey will be there, with some cheesy blasters tucked away.
Saturday’s theme is ‘Best of the West,’ and to our surprise, Connecticut-based bagel chain Pop Up Bagels—a recent addition to the Upper West Side amid their rapid expansion—will be part of the event. Though they didn’t make our 2024 list of the Best Bagels on the Upper West Side, who knows what the future holds. Pop Up is one of the most polarizing brands around, often riding a wave of critical acclaim. Their origin story began in a Westport kitchen during the pandemic as an insider secret, with a minimum order of one dozen, (not three, which already annoys some die-hards), and advance orders required. The New York Times has them on their best bagel list and admits that while the chain is controversial, it’s far from a shtick. Should make for some fine dialogue out there.
For a full list of featured attendees (as of writing), click here. Friday will feature a live DJ (artist TBD), and on Saturday, a live performance from Atomic Funk Project.
To learn more and buy tickets–currently $106.25 to $148.75 plus transaction fees, though the “price Increases on April 1st”–please visit www.tastewestside.com.
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Great that it will be across the homeless shelter at 83rd St. next to the renovated firehouse.
That’s disappointing news. I’ve attended a few times in the past and really enjoyed it.
But if the NY Post is sponsoring the event, it’s a hard pass.