Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to the most common questions about Taste Carolina tours, including what’s included, how long tours last, and what to expect along the route. If you don’t see your question here, contact us and we’ll help you right away.
How often are tours held?
Tours in each location – Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Wilmington, Chapel Hill/ Carrboro, Asheville, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem – are offered almost every weekend, all year ‘round. Contact us to request a date not shown on the calendar. Tickets can be purchased on this website. Private weekday, weeknight, and weekend tours are available and can be booked by calling (919) 237-2254 or emailing info@tastecarolina.net.
If a food tour is sold out, can I get on a waiting list? What if I don’t see a tour scheduled on a day I would like to go?
If a tour on the calendar is sold out, you will be prompted to sign up for the waiting list. No payments are made. If you do not see your desired tour date on the schedule, please email us to let us know what date you are interested in. We may be able to schedule a public or private tour for you on your desired date.
What is included in my ticket price?
All food and drink tastings, restaurant gratuity, a guided tour of the area, and an all-around fun time are included in the ticket price. You may wish to purchase additional drinks or items at markets or specialty shops along the way. Gratuity for your tour guide is not included in the ticket price but is always greatly appreciated. Gratuity for your tour guide is required on private tours.
Do I have to purchase tickets in advance?
Advance registration and purchase is required. Public tours are limited to 12-15 participants and often sell out in advance. Tickets can only be purchased using a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express card on this website. If you are trying to book a tour the day of the event, and registration is closed online, please call us at (919) 237-2254 to check availability. Please contact us directly at (919) 237-2254 or at info@tastecarolina.net to book a private tour for groups of any size.
Do you offer discounted tickets for children, seniors, active military personnel or large groups?
Currently we do not offer any discounted tickets.
Can I get a refund or reschedule my tickets?
Once registration has closed, tickets cannot be refunded or rescheduled because we have reserved space for you on the tour and with the restaurants.
What types of places will we visit and food will we be eating? How much food is served on the food tour?
You will visit restaurants, markets, bars, and specialty food shops that are locally owned by proud members and supporters of their communities. Many, if not all, of the chefs and artisans that you will meet source their ingredients locally. Our tours include numerous tastings at multiple restaurants. Generally, there is enough food served so that most participants will be full by the end of the tour. Because the food is consumed over a three-hour period, we do recommend eating a late breakfast or light lunch prior to our tours.
What if I have dietary restrictions or allergies?
There is space on the registration form to list dietary restrictions and food allergies. Please list all specific dietary restrictions and allergies in your entire party in the space provided so that we and the restaurants can accommodate all needs. We pass this information along to the restaurants in advance and most will accommodate these special requests. One or two tastings may be limited.
Are any beverages served on the tour?
Tours that start in the late morning or early afternoon will include a wine and/ or beer pairing or tasting at one or two of the stops. Tours that begin in the middle to late afternoon include more alcohol along the way. Most of these tour times are 21+. Underage tour-goers and people who do not consume alcohol will be provided alternative options. Please write this request on the registration form where it asks for dietary restrictions. Additionally, most of the restaurants provide water or other non-alcoholic beverages, and they may also allow for the purchase of additional drinks. We recommend bringing a bottle of water.
What else can I expect on the tour?
Taste Carolina’s food tours combine history, architecture, local culture, and foodie tidbits with walking, amazing food, and chats with chefs and owners. You will find the tours to be fun, educational, and delicious. Please consider reading our reviews. They are stellar.
Are your tours kid friendly?
Children are welcome on some of the tours. Please bear in mind that our tours typically last two to three hours, involve anywhere from one to two miles of walking, and can involve significant amounts of standing. Please feel free to call or email us so that we may recommend a tour that is most appropriate for your group. If your child will be participating fully in the tour, then a full-priced ticket will need to be purchased. If your child will not be eating or will be sharing food with you along the way, there is no need to purchase a ticket. In the notes section of the registration, please list the number of children who will be attending with you, whether a ticket has been purchased for them or not, and their ages. This helps us and the restaurants prepare accordingly.
If I am bringing a child, do I need to purchase an extra ticket?
If you are bringing a young child, and he or she will not be participating in any of the tastings or will be sharing food with you, you do not need to purchase a ticket. Please do let us know on the registration form that a child will be in attendance and list the ages so that we can plan for extra attendees. If your child will participate fully in the tastings, then you will need to purchase a full-priced ticket for him or her.
Is the tour baby stroller and/or wheelchair accessible?
Stroller and wheelchair access may be limited on certain tours, however we would like for everyone to be able to enjoy our tours. Please call or email us to discuss which tours would be most appropriate for your group.
Do the tours have anything to offer North Carolinians?
Definitely! Most of our attendees are North Carolina residents, often accompanied by out of town guests. What better way to get to know or show off a city and its people than on a food tour?
How much walking is involved? Is it a fast-paced tour?
Tours generally last between 2.5 and 3 hours and cover up to two miles of walking, but at a very leisurely pace. If you have concerns about the amount of walking or the pace, please call or email us so that we can recommend a tour that is most appropriate for your group. Private tours can be customized for groups, and many of these customized tours involve less walking.
