Do’s and Don’ts for Restaurant Take-Out and Delivery
With ongoing COVID-19 restrictions on indoor dining across the country, it’s now more important than ever to support local restaurants, cafés and bars in your neighbourhood. Hospitality workers and business owners are pros when it comes to pivoting their services and adapting protocols in response to the changing public health environment. As customers, there’s a lot we can do to show our appreciation and reward their incredible efforts while we wait to safely return to their dining rooms.
Next time you order take-out for pick-up or delivery from your favourite restaurant, here are a few key do’s and don’ts to keep in mind:
DO order directly from the restaurant
The absolute best way to support your local restaurant is to order direct and pick it up yourself. If picking up your order isn’t an option, ordering delivery is still appreciated. For many restaurants, third-party delivery apps like Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes and DoorDash are a necessary evil. While these popular platforms expand restaurants’ geographic reach and customer base, they also charge hefty commissions and service fees to restaurants, which often equates to their entire profit margin.
If you want to help business owners avoid paying these astronomical fees, make the extra effort and order from restaurants directly by picking up the phone or placing an order on their website rather than using the delivery app on your phone. Some restaurants offer their own in-house delivery services while others will link you to third-party platforms via their website or social media accounts, which significantly reduces their service fees and helps keep revenue in the local economy. If you’re in Vancouver, consider placing an order through FromTo – a community-first delivery platform that pays drivers a sustainable fee and allows local restaurants to keep 100% of their food order revenue without any commission.
DON’T be a stingy tipper
These are tough economic times for many of us, particularly for individuals working in the service industry. If you can afford to, consider adding a generous gratuity to your take-out order. If ordering delivery, keep in mind that the default tip goes to the third-party delivery driver and not the restaurant, so look for the option to add a gratuity to the restaurant — UberEats provides an option to add $2 to go directly to the restaurant, though considering the value of most orders, that is nowhere near enough. To that end, some restaurants have added a special gratuity ‘menu item’ — such as Vancouver’s Beetbox — that you could consider adding to your order. A little generosity means so much to these essential service providers who are working in challenging conditions to keep us well fed.
DO buy something to drink
It’s a fact that restaurants and bars make a large percentage of their revenue from alcohol sales. The relaxation of liquor regulations has been one of the few silver linings of this crisis, with hospitality businesses are now able to sell beer, wine, spirits and cocktail kits with their takeout offerings, in addition to running pop-up bottle shops on site. Consider purchasing libations from an independent restaurant or bar – many of whom offer hand-picked craft brews, offbeat natural wines, bartender-blended cocktails, cocktail kits, and other interesting selections you might not find elsewhere.
DON’T order only on the weekends
Hospitality workers need our support throughout the week – not just during prime-time on Friday and Saturday nights – so take a break from the kitchen and let someone else handle the mid-week cooking for a change. Many restaurants offer feature dishes and specials on Sunday through Thursday in an effort to encourage diners to order during off-peak times, so spice up an otherwise boring weeknight by treating yourself to a chef-prepared meal and a nice bottle of wine!
DO purchase gift cards for a future visit
We know it’s impossible to replicate the magic of the in-restaurant experience at home, so if you’d rather wait to enjoy your beloved local eateries in person, consider buying gift cards now to use at a later date. Restaurants gift cards can be purchased safely online and come in a variety of denominations, making them ideal gifts for friends, family, coworkers and your future self.
DON’T forget to leave a review
One of the best ways to show restaurants the love is by leaving positive reviews on delivery apps, third-party sites, social media and search platforms to let others know just how delicious the food is. Word-of-mouth is an important marketing tool for small restaurants without big advertising budgets, so tell anyone and everyone about your favourite local spots for takeout and delivery.