Downtown delicious: Ten Weeks of Tasty highlights local flavor

Nobody is likely to confuse Wooster with Manhattan or Chicago — or even Cleveland. When it comes to dining options, though, the Wayne County seat can compete in its weight class as well as any small town.

Which is why for Main Street Wooster’s annual Ten Weeks of Tasty, a celebration of the town’s dining and drinking scene that stretches from Feb. 19 to April 24 — beginning and ending a bit earlier this year — there is no shortage of choices and may never be.

Each Thursday one dining establishment will be featured, followed by a watering hole Friday. The latter could be a coffee house, a bar, a winery/vineyard or anything else where beverages are the main fare.

There are three new establishments among the 20 on the list this year: The Retriever on Liberty, Market Grill & Tavern and Andio Sisters.

Dropping out this year are Boba Bowl on West Liberty, Buehler’s Towne Market and Café on North Market Street, and Spoon Bar and Deli on East Liberty Street. Of that trio, only Buehler’s remains open, so nearly 100% of participants who could have returned did.

“We hope that we get that many people back, but we definitely expect it as well,” said Kerri Kiel, Main Street Wooster project manager. “It’s an easy event that doesn’t take much to participate in. They pretty much do business as usual. We get a lot of good feedback. And people will try new places they’ve never tried before."

The Retriever on Liberty bills itself as a farm-to-table restaurant featuring locally grown ingredients.

“With so much fresh food grown in our own backyard, we are proud to showcase it on every plate,” the Retriever’s website says.

Andio Sisters features chef Gina Bertelli, a Youngstown product who has worked in Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Las Vegas, among others, and Kiel said she wanted to come to Wooster to open her little pop-up business.

“These people love the community, and we are so grateful they chose Wooster,” Kiel said

Andio Sisters features a variety of menu options with something for every palate. Keep an eye out for its Hey Chicky food truck and its variety of chicken options.

Market Grill is for those looking for something, you guessed it, off the grill, though pizza, sandwiches and gourmet dogs give it enough variety to fill all the bellies you can bring.

Now in its sixth year, Ten Weeks of Tasty has five original participants remaining. Those who have stuck around include Bay Lobsters Café and Fish Market, Undergrounds Café, The Leaf, City Square Steakhouse, and Broken Rocks Café and Bakery.

Omahoma Bob’s, JAFB, Minglewood Distilling Co. and Sure House Coffee Roasting all joined in the second year.

Last year only one replacement establishment was needed, with the entire 2024 group almost returning intact. Kiel said they have no trouble filling openings when they pop up. Wooster’s dining scene is thriving in part because its downtown area has so much to offer, whether it’s a date night, a shopping excursion or just a special occasion.

“I think it’s the charm of the area,” she said. “We have such a cozy downtown. People say, ‘This is where I want to open my shop.’ We’ve also got so many different options for shopping and things for families to do. No matter what your age, you’ll find something downtown.

“We are incredibly proud. Not only do we have an incredible amount of restaurants and drink shops, but so many different cuisines. We’ve got a few new ones opening too. It’s really incredible that we have so many diverse restaurants.”

The Ten Weeks of Tasty event includes a contest for those looking to have a little fun with their food. Pick up a passport, visit as many establishments as possible on the “tasty days” and possibly win a prize.

People can get a passport, available at all participating locations, and win prizes based on how many stops on their passport are stamped. To get stamped, you must make a purchase on the designated “tasty day.” Those with five places validated are eligible to win $100 in downtown dollars.

“Last year we had upwards of 50 or more (winners),” Kiel said. “It sounds like a low number, but it runs for 10 weeks, and sometimes people forget. Sometimes people forget, and there are people who just get them done in the first couple of weeks. They want to knock their passport out. We’re happy with that number.

“This event just jumpstarts the year, and it’s definitely at their own leisure, and people don’t have to do anything crazy. They can try out a restaurant they haven’t had or a drink shop they haven’t had. They can just enjoy the downtown community.”

The following is the full schedule of the 2026 Ten Weeks of Tasty:

—Feb. 19: Andio Sisters, 140 S. Walnut St.

—Feb. 20: Caribou Coffee, 1840 Cleveland Road.

—Feb. 26: Bay Lobsters Café and Fish Market, 3423 Cleveland Road.

—Feb. 27: Grigio Wine and Cocktail Bar, 211 S. Market St.

—March 5: Broken Rocks Café and Bakery, 123 E. Liberty.

—March 6: JAFB Wooster Brewery, 120 Beall Ave.

—March 12: City Square Steakhouse, 148 S. Market St.

—March 13: Lincoln Way Vineyards, 9050 W. Old Lincoln Way.

—March 19: The Curry Pot Indian Cuisine, 206 Beall Ave.

—March 20: The Leaf, 203 W. Liberty St.

—March 26: Muddy’s Wood Fired Grill, 335 E. Liberty St.

—March 27: Minglewood Distilling Co., 437 E. South St.

—April 2: Omahoma Bob’s Barbeque, 128 S. Market St.

—April 3: Market Grill & Tavern, 234 S. Market St.

—April 9: Mariola Italian, 365 E. Liberty St.

—April 10: Undergrounds Café, 146 W. Liberty St.

—April 16: Retriever on Liberty, 144 W. Liberty St.

—April 17: Sure House Coffee Roasting Co., 151 S. Market St.

—April 23: TJs, 359 W. Liberty.

—April 24: Ugly Bunny Winery, 16104 state Route 39, Loudonville.