FAQ

We offer distinctive walking food tours.  Our tours are enjoyable, interesting, informative and of course appetizing. We don’t just walk around and taste food, absolutely not!  At Triangle Food and City Tours, we provide you with historical and culinary insights about the local culture making it a fun-filled experience.

On the downtown Triangle Food and City Tours, you visit a variety of restaurants, bakeries, local eateries, culinary gems and boutique food and shops.  We’ll walk through unique districts in the heart of the downtown Triangle cities/towns and learn about the area’s history significance and local cultural tidbits creating a fun, informative and delicious 3 to 3 1/2-hour experience.

Our food partners will seat us when there is room available, but sometimes a food tasting is served while standing in or outside of the establishment. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, and bring water with you – especially during the summer and winter.

The tour tastings consist of stops at approximately 5 to 6 scrumptious restaurants that represent a variety of cross-section of cuisines and price points. There is enough food served that most participants will not find it necessary to eat afterwards. You will receive small plate and drink sizes that will equal out to a meal over the span of the tour. We suggest eating something light that morning.

Several of the restaurants may serve a small sampling of wine, beer or a cocktail to accompany the food tasting. Additionally, tasting locations provide water and also allow for the purchase of an additional beverage(s). Purchases can be made as long as the time involved does not slow or disrupt the tour timing and flow.

It depends on the preferences of the eateries and their chefs. Let us know if you (or anyone in your group) has a dietary restriction (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic, allergy, etc.) when you purchase your tickets. We cannot accommodate fad food diets and intolerance.  We are happy to accommodate within our means. We request that if you have concerns, please ask the appropriate questions to protect yourself.  Our partners work hard to offer delicious options for each guest. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate last minute requests.

Absolutely!  This tour is perfect for residents and non-residents alike.  After the tour, you will have a great understanding of all the wonderful food, culture and event opportunities in the Triangle. The walking food tour is one more way to entertain out of town visitors and allow them to better know the area.  If you are new to the area, it is a great way to be introduced to your new city/town.

See our tour calendar.

Yes! All food and drink are included.

Gratuities are greatly appreciated, although not mandatory. The standard gratuity in the service industry is 15%, but if you feel your guide deserves more, please tip how you feel. Your guide will appreciate the recognition of a job well done.

Yes, tickets must be purchased in advance. Visit our tour calendar.  The cutoff for purchasing tickets is two to six hours prior to the tour’s start time, in order to notify our restaurant partners of the number of guests. However, tours often sell out early. We take a maximum of 14 people on each tour, so book early to secure your spot. You can purchase tickets by calling us at 919-623-4873.

We can put you on a waiting list, but cancellations are rare. If a tour date is not shown on the schedule it is because the food tour is either full or not available on the date you are interested in. If you have a large enough group of 4+, we will do our best to schedule a private tour on your desired date.

All purchased tickets are final.  However, if you need to cancel or reschedule, please let us know two weeks prior to your tour.  IF we can fill your spot, we can refund the ticket price or offer you a gift certificate that you can use to book a future tour.  In the rare instance we have to cancel a tour, we will offer ticket-holders a choice of either a refund or a gift certificate.

We offer adult ticket prices. Typically, food tours include a beer/wine and or spirits tasting., but we can substitute adult beverages with non-alcoholic beverages.   We warmly welcome older teens with an interest in food and culture. These tours are not recommended for children under the age of 11.  Everyone attending the tour must have purchase a ticket.  Strollers are not permitted on the tour. The food tour is not really appropriate for infants and toddlers.

Meeting spots can vary so the meeting location will be included in your confirmation email.  Participants on our food tours meet at the starting place 10-15 minutes before the departure time.  You also will be notified with a final confirmation email approximately two days prior to your tour with a remainder and key details.

All tours, districts, cities have different routes. Most tours end at the same place or very close to where we start.

All tours are approximately 3- 3 ½ hours depending on group size and pace.

There is free and paid parking available near the start of the tour.  Details of where to park for each tour will be included in your confirmation email.

Your food tour guide will be easy to find. He/she will be at the designated meeting location with a Triangle Food and City Tours T-shirt and/or name tag. They will be on the lookout for guests.

We move at a casual speed. Guests can expect to be standing or walking for at least half of the time. The pace (moderate) is greatly influenced by the city, its sidewalks, weather, and terrain. Some buildings we go into are older and require some maneuvering to get through their ADA access routes.  We suggest keeping personal bags light and small.

Walking distance will vary from tour to tour, but most will be between 1 to 1.8 miles. Since we’ll be covering this distance over a span of 3+ hours, it will seem like even less, though we will be on our feet for about half the time of the tour.

We are big supporters of shopping and eating locally and we have a little time allotted for exploring. Shops are often amenable to holding packages for you to retrieve at the end of the tour. Some stops even offer discounts to Triangle Food Tour guests. ?

Please dress casually and comfortably, as we will spend some time on our feet. We will also be outdoors between stops, so be prepared for the weather. It can get quite hot in the Triangle region during the summer.

We are happy to accommodate vegetarians/vegans on our tour with a delicious alternative at every stop! Please let us know your preference when prompted during the booking process.

Yes, indeed and they’re super easy to use. Gift Certificates are available and can be redeemed for any tour and future date.

Yes. Tours can be made available for your group and are great workplace outings, convention groups, birthday celebrations, bachelorette/wedding party weekend activities or a great way to show client appreciation.  Please fill out the form on our Private Tours page. We will get back to you ASAP!

We walk and enjoy in rain, sunny or lightly snowy days. You should dress appropriately for conditions.  We will be inside and outside during the tour. Be flexible. If the weather is cold, we’ll limit our outside time as much as possible, just as we do with rain. Don’t let a bit of rain or cold weather keep you from a delicious experience. However, if we determine safely is an issue due to weather or unforeseen events, the tour may have to be cancelled and rescheduled or a credit issued.

The tours are primarily walking and standing, but there are places to sit along the way, especially in the restaurants.

Yes, bathrooms are available during the tour at most partner locations.

Yes, with advanced notice our tours can accommodate people with special needs. We strive to make our tours accessible for all.  Some buildings are historic in structure. Some routes are longer than others.  Please call us, and we work with each guest to see how we can make the tour accessible to you and/or your group.

Service animals are welcome, but require advance notice when you buy your ticket.  Companion animals are not allowed on the tour.

Yes. But there are Apps available to download that can assist in translations.

Yes, we welcome your candid shots and encourage participants to take photos during the tour.  Videotaping is not allowed.