Local wait staff will display their tray balancing and speedy service skills in the Princeton Merchants Association’s 5th Annual Waiters’ Race on Thursday, July 9.
The action-filled event kicks off at 4p.m. at Princeton Shopping Center, Harrison Street. There is no rain date.
The Waiters’ Race celebrates servers and staff who take care of more than 60,000 restaurant-goers a week throughout Princeton and award them with cash and prizes.
The course will have waiters and waitresses racing while balancing two full glasses of water and two full BAI Beverage bottles on their trays.
Last year, 17 restaurants participated including Agricola, Alchemist & Barrister, Blue Point Grill, Chez Alice, Despana, Eno Terra, Ivy Inn, Main Street Bistro, McCaffreys, Mediterra, Princeton Soup & Sandwich, Teresa Caffe, Triumph Brewing Company, Winberies Bar & Grill, Witherspoon Grill, Yankee Doodle Tap Room and Zorbas.
The grand prize includes $250 cash, weekend overnight stay at the Nassau Inn, a bottle of bubbly, a cooler, gift cards to local restaurants, and more. Second and third place finishers will take home $150 and $75 respectively as well as the other prizes. The awarded prizes are donated by local merchants.
“Last year’s event held in Palmer Square was the biggest field of competitors ever,” said John Marshall, president of the Princeton Merchants Association. “Each year this event has grown significantly in its popularity and attendance.
“This year we have a full field vying for bragging rights among Princeton’s finest restaurant servers. All year they do this for a living, but just once a year can they complete for the top spot. The shopping center course does not have the hills of Palmer Square, but don’t let that fool you, there are turns and twists and straight-aways that keep the crowd on their feet and the contestants on their toes.”
Preregistration is required and costs $20. Six participants are allowed to register from each local restaurant. All participants will receive an official race day t-shirt and goodie bag.
For further information about the Waiters’ Race, contact PMA board members John Marshall, owner, Main Street Bistro, at president@princetonmerchants.org or Jack Morrison, owner, JM Group, at jack@jmgroupprinceton.com.
