Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to purchase tickets in advance? Can I pay cash?
Tickets must be purchased in advance, and tours often sell out quickly. To maximize your chances of getting the day and time you prefer, please book well in advance. Tickets can only be purchased with a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. Cash is not accepted.
If a tour is sold out can I get on a waiting list?
We do not provide a waiting list. If a date is sold out, there is always a chance that we will add an additional tour. Please email us and let us know what date you are interested in.
What type of ticket should I buy for a very young child?
If you will be bringing a child who is 7 years or younger, and who will not be eating on the tour, you do not need to purchase a ticket for them. If your child will be eating on the tour, however, please purchase a ticket for the appropriate age.
The "Meatpacking" District Tour? Are we going into meat packing plants?
It's not how it sounds. The "Meatpacking District" of New York City is often also referred to as the Far West Village, and is now the hottest new area in Manhattan. Over the past several years, this area - which used to be the location of Manhattan's butchers and slaughterhouses - has morphed into the prime neighborhood for chic restaurants, upscale boutiques, cutting-edge galleries, and a bar and club scene that parties well into the early morning. In short, the area has become the most exciting neighborhood in Manhattan. Our tour introduces you to how the neighborhood's old and new have merged to make this one of the most unique, eclectic and energetic areas of the city.
How many people can attend a public tour?
The maximum number of people per tour guide is 16. If one tour is sold out there is a very good chance we will offer another.
How much food is served on the tours?
There are about 7-8 stops for tastings on the tour. For most people there is enough food that lunch afterwards is not necessary.
What restaurants will we visit on the tour?
We do not sample food from any sit-down restaurant on the tour. All of the tastings are done on the go, and the food is provided by ethnic eateries and specialty food shops.
What types of foods are served on the tour?
We serve delicious and unique tastings from specialty shops and eateries. We do not taste foods from restaurants.
What if I have dietary restrictions?
Please let us know if anyone in your group has a dietary restriction (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic, etc.) when you purchase your tickets. As long as we know well enough in advance, we can often accommodate your needs. If we do not find out about the special needs until the day of the tour, it is usually impossible for us to adjust in time to accommodate.
Are there Kosher options on the tour?
Unfortunately we do not serve kosher food on the tour, but we can give you the vegetarian options. There are only two food tastings that have to be replaced.
Are there vegetarian options on the tour?
Yes, there are only two meat tastings on the tour. The vegetarian options are just as delicious.
Are there food options for diabetics?
There are three dessert tastings on the tour that are very difficult to replace with sugar-free ones. Unfortunately the pastry shops on the tour have been in business for a very long time and have yet to master sugar-free items. We can offer you extra food tastings from the other establishments to make up for the sweets.
Are there any beverages served on the tour?
We supply everyone with a bottle of water at the start of the tour.
Is there a wine tasting included on the tour?
Although the tour itself does not participate in a wine tasting, we do provide you with a coupon for a complimentary wine tasting that you can do at your leisure. The coupon can be redeemed at Vintage New York Wine Shop, a wine shop/tasting bar that only sells wine from Long Island, the Finger Lakes, and the Hudson Valley. There is no obligation to purchase wine, the tasting is included in the cost of the tour.
Do we just walk around and sample food?
Absolutely not! Aside from sampling delicious food, you will also experience life in the neighborhood. The tour is fully narrated by your guide, who will discuss the history, culture, architecture, entertainment offerings, and of course off the beaten path food establishments.
How much walking is involved? Is it a fast-paced tour?
We are on our feet for approximately 3 hours. We walk at a very casual pace.
Is the tour wheelchair-and/or stroller-accessible?
Unfortunately, wheelchairs and/or strollers are not recommended on the Original Greenwich Village tour or the Central Village tour due to narrow sidewalks, going up and down steps, and small food establishments. The Chelsea Market/Meatpacking District tour can accommodate both wheelchairs and strollers.
Are tours offered only in English?
Yes, we only offer tours in English at this time. If you would like to make arrangements for your own interpreter to join the tour, please contact Foods of New York Tours at (917) 408-9539.
Are the walking tours given in bad weather?
The tours are held rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, we will be able to go inside many of the establishments on the tour. We will not be outdoors for the entire tour. You should still dress appropriately for the day's weather conditions. It is impossible to cancel a tour at the very last minute due to many circumstances beyond our control. Before purchasing tickets please be aware of the possible weather conditions for that time of year.
May I bring my dog on the tour?
Due to the various food establishments we visit, pets of any kind are not allowed on this tour.
Does this tour have anything to offer a native New Yorker?
Definitely! Many of our attendees live right here in New York City. Locals often attend to learn about the neighborhood and the city in which they live. We mainly stay off the beaten path, and thus avoid being consumed by crowds of tourists.
I took this tour a year ago. Has anything changed?
We change the tour slightly every six to eight months. Many parts of the tour remain the same, but we do our best to improve upon and enhance the tour.
Are gift certificates available?
Yes, gift certificates are available for all of our tours. To purchase a gift certificate, please call Zerve at 212 209-3370.
Can I book a private tour?
Yes, private tours are available for groups of up to 48 people. To inquire about a private tour, please fill out the form at: http://www.foodsofny.com/privatetour.php. A Foods of New York Tours representative will contact you within 24 hours to inform you if the date and time requested is available.
What are the requirements for a private tour?
There is a standard cost to book a private tour. We can accommodate from 1-48 people. Each tour guide can take up to 16 people. If you book well in advance there is a good chance that we can accommodate your needs. See the "Private Tour" page for further information.
Do you offer Travel Agent discounts?
The standard travel agent discount is 10% for up to 4 people. This discount is valid for travel agents who will be attending the tour, and requires the agent to provide a business card at the start of the tour. To use this discount, please contact Foods of NY by emailing us and providing your travel agency's name and contact information.
Refunds
We will issue a refund only in the event of an emergency. Since we purchase the food tasting for each tour on a per person basis (the day before a scheduled tour), pay our guides on a per person basis, and pay the ticket center a commission for selling tickets, giving a refund for any other reason but an emergency becomes too expensive for us. If we end up refunding tickets and there is not enough time to resell those tickets, we incur an additional loss. The above reasons are why we do not automatically refund tickets.
Rescheduling
We will reschedule your tickets if we feel that there is enough time to resell your original tickets that were purchased. This decision will be made by a Foods of New York representative not by a Zerve Ticket Center representative.
If you missed your original scheduled tour (due to any other reason than an emergency) and call us to reschedule, we cannot automatically reschedule you to another date. It becomes a loss for us when we do this. We originally purchased food tasting on a per person basis for the tour that you were scheduled on and now must repurchase the food tastings again for the new tour date.
When we end up rescheduling you to another date we also are not able to sell tickets for the spots that you are taking up ($42 per ticket) on the new tour. When there are limited tickets being sold for a tour (max 16) and food is being purchased ahead of time, it makes rescheduling a loss for us.
Rescheduling Fee
In the event that you missed your original scheduled tour and we reschedule you for a new date, a $10.00 per ticket rescheduling fee will be charged. This fee covers some of our losses that we incurred.
Gratuities
Foods of New York does not include gratuities in the cost of our tours. A standard gratuity for a tour guide is 10% to 15% of the tour price.
