ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
The 11th annual Taste of Atlanta kicked off Saturday at Tech Square and it was packed.
More than 80 different restaurants show case their food, and thousands of people come out to eat it.
You name it; it was there from chicken and beef to cheesecake; all from restaurants fighting for your attention.
Antonio Ballester is a chef at the Optimist Restaurant. "It's a good way of reaching out to new customers that have never been to any of our restaurants," said Ballester.
But it's not all food, there's also beer.
Andi Wrede is with Hop City. "We're just excited to have opportunity to introduce people to craft beers they haven't tried before or just introduce them to craft," said Wrede.
And because you can actually see, smell and of course taste the product, restaurants said it's the best advertising possible.
Emad Deeb is the GM of Mediterranean Grill. "The return from this event is going to be huge if you compare it to any other advertising like in a normal magazine," said Deeb.
And the hungry crowds love it. Calvin Sanders is a regular at the event. "I'm a real foodie and I'm looking to discover some new things I didn't know about," said Sanders.
But with so much food to choose from, how do you pick what's best?
It depends on who you ask.
"Whatever calls out to me right as I walk past," said Corey Jacobs.
Sanders has more of a plan. "Scope it out because you don't want to get to the end and say aw man I don't have any more tickets," said Sanders.
And he said the key is to pace yourself.
It's about planning it out. You don't want to get too full too early."
Day two of the event kicks is Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $35.
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