Take a 'Tasty' Tour — Six Stops for $20

Tickets are still available for the first "Taste of North Central Rhode Island" event, hosted by the and scheduled for July 24 beginning at 5:30 pm.

For $20, participants will be able to sample the best dishes from six local eateries in Johnston, Smithfield, North Providence, and Scituate — and get a relaxing ride from place to place during the course of the night.

"We thought it would be an interesting concept using the buses," Chamber President Deb Ramos said during an interview on Wednesday, adding that the , North Bay Retirement Living, and are providing the shuttles. "It will also give [the facilities] an opportunity to showcase their place of business."

Each route will include in Johnston, Bentley's Tavern in North Scituate, Liberina's Deli and Gourmet Express in Greenville, RI Billiard Bar in North Providence, and Decadent Designs Bakery and UNO Chicago Grill in Smithfield, and then return to the point of origin.

Attendees will spend about a half-hour at each location, trying each restaurant's offerings, before heading to the next place. Ramos said the idea is to provide the restaurants a chance to showcase their talents, and the participants a way to enjoy the different dishes where they're best enjoyed: Fresh from the kitchen.

"We decided to come up with this busing idea and to shuttle people around [because] it gives people the opportunity to have a little fun on the bus, and step into all of these restaurant to see the ambiance and atmosphere," Ramos explained. "And, of course, food prepared on site is always better than having it served somewhere else."

Tickets for senior citizens are $15; children $8, free for kids under 8. A limited number of tickets will also be available on Tuesday night at the pick-up locations for $25.

Attendees are asked to arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled 5:30 pm departure time.

Visit the North Central Chamber website for more information, or call (401) 349-4674.