Princeton Waiters' Race Set For Thursday

PRINCETON, NJ — Eating out at a restaurant is usually a nice experience, but sometimes dinner is interrupted by the sound of a tray full of plates crashing to the floor. Everyone has the same thought: I hope that wasn’t my food! The chances of hearing that scary crash are magnified during a special event coming up in Princeton.

The Princeton Merchants Association presents its eighth annual Waiters’ Race on Thursday, July 12, 4 p.m. in Palmer Square.

Waiters and waitresses from Princeton area restaurants will race while balancing three full glasses of water on their trays. The winners will take home cash, prizes and bragging rights for the next year. A total of $3,800 in prizes will be on the line.

The fastest racers (for the men and women) — who don't spill their teetering cargo — will take home the following:

• 1st Place: $350 cash, weekend overnight stay at the Nassau Inn, bottle of bubbly, cooler, gift cards to local restaurants, and other great prizes.
• 2nd Place: $200 cash, bottle of bubbly, cooler, gift cards to local restaurants, and other great prizes.
• 3rd Place: $100 cash, bottle of bubbly, cooler, gift cards to local restaurants, and other great prizes.

Last year, there were 15 participating restaurants with over 80 racers, and the Merchants Association is hoping for a similar turnout this year. Participants included:

• Agricola;
• Alchemist & Barrister;
• Blue Point Grill;
• Ivy Inn;
• Jammin’ Crepes;
• Main Street Bistro;
• McCaffrey’s;
• Mediterra;
• Nomad Pizza;
• Peacock Inn;
• Teresa Caffe;
• Triumph Brewing Company;
• Winberries;
• Witherspoon Grill; and
• The Yankee Doodle Tap Room.

• MacLean Agency, Nassau Inn;
• Terra Momo Restaurant Group (Mediterra, Teresa Caffe & Eno Terra);
• Fenwick Hospitality Group (Agricola, Cargot, The Dinky Bar & Two Sevens);
• McCaffrey’s;
• Palmer Square Management; and
• JM Group (Witherspoon Grill, Blue Point Grill, Nassau Street Seafood and Princeton Farmers’ Market).

• Joycards;
• Nomad Pizza;
• Alchemist & Barrister;
• The Bent Spoon;
• Chez Alice;
• Small World Coffee;
• Winberies;
• Jammin Crepes;
• Surf Taco;
• Arts Council of Princeton;
• Hamilton Jewelers;
• Ivy Inn;
• La Jolie Salon & Spa;
• Lindt;
• Monday Morning Flowers;
• PNC Bank;
• Smith’s Ace Hardware;
• Triumph Brewing Company; and
• Your Town Tube & Whole Earth Center.

Patch file photo