Shops at Yale's Appetizer & Dessert Crawls Are Back: Tastings at 14 Downtown Restaurants, First is April 18

NEW HAVEN, CT — The Shops at Yale's Appetizer & Dessert Crawls are back.

Foodies enjoy the downtown New Haven dining scene while supporting local causes. This year’s events aim to raise $14,000 for four New Haven-based nonprofits.

The events will take place on April 18, May 2, June 13, and, new this year, December 19. Since their inception in 2018, the crawls have sold out each year.

Each crawl features a curated selection of appetizers and desserts from popular restaurants and eateries, including Pacifico, Harvest, South Bay, Sherkaan Indian Street Food, Union League Pâtisserie, Ay Arepa, Ashley’s Ice Cream, and Yamasaki Teriyaki. Tasting menus will vary for each crawl.

Tickets are $25 each, plus processing fees, and include appetizer and dessert tastings from 14 restaurants and eateries, free all-day parking at the 150 York Street Garage (Chapel-York Garage), exclusive shopping offers from local merchants, and a cotton tote bag. Proceeds will be donated to CitySeed, Robin I. Kroogman New Haven Animal Shelter, Greater New Haven Arts Council, and United Way of Greater New Haven.

The May 2 crawl will also feature a dog adoption event on Broadway Island (56 Broadway) from noon to 3 p.m., hosted in partnership with the Robin I. Kroogman New Haven Animal Shelter, Friends of the New Haven Animal Shelter, and North Shore Animal League. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet dogs available for adoption while also enjoying live jazz from New Haven Underground, free face painting, free kettle corn, and free caricatures. (A ticket to the crawl is not necessary to attend the dog adoption event.)

"Throughout the years, this event has showcased New Haven’s vibrant dining scene while raising more than $35,000 for local nonprofits,” said David DelVecchio, director of real estate asset management for Yale University Properties. “This year, we’re increasing the number of crawls to four to welcome more guests from across Connecticut to experience not only our amazing dining scene but also how walkable, connected, and picturesque downtown New Haven is. We’re proud to support this year’s outstanding nonprofit partners with $3,500 each, bringing total proceeds from the annual event to more than $50,000.”

Participating Restaurants for the April 18 Crawl

Broadway Shopping District:

Ashley's Ice Cream
Small cup of ice cream (dairy-free, sugar-free, sorbet, or frozen yogurt)

Bobbis
Cheesy garlic bread

Common Grounds
Tiramisu

Nice Day Chinese
Cheeseburger eggroll

Pedals Smoothie & Juice Bar
Mango smoothie

Shah's Halal Food
Mini shawarma wrap – marinated shawarma in warm pita with fresh toppings and creamy toum sauce

Sherkaan Indian Street Food
Pista burfi – fudgy pistachio bars with beet-lemon curd, cardamom, and rose petals

Yorkside Pizza & Restaurant
Fried mozzarella

Chapel Street Historic District:

Book Trader Café
Blondie brownie

dwell New Haven (hosting Union League Pâtisserie)
Macarons

Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant
Shaved Brussels sprouts salad – shaved Brussels sprouts tossed with parmesan cheese, truffle pesto, truffle oil, and served over a parmesan risotto cake

Pacifico
Shrimp ceviche with mango, pineapple, cilantro, lime juice or plantain crabmeat croquette with aji amarillo

South Bay
Tuna tartare – avocado mousse, ponzu, kimchee, piment d'Espelette with crostini

Villa Lulu
Arancini cacio de pepe with Calabrian chili aioli or barbabietole (beets) with goat cheese & blood orange vinaigrette

Tickets, menus for additional crawls, and event details, can be found here.

Check-in for all crawls will be on the lower level of Barnes & Noble/The Yale Bookstore, 77 Broadway. Free parking will be available at the 150 York Street Garage (Chapel-York Garage). Tickets will be validated at check-in for the crawls and The Shops at Yale tent on Broadway Island from noon to 3 p.m. during the dog adoption event.