There are many restaurants in Tamarac, many of which are suffering serious economic consequences during this pandemic. One of the best ways to support our local eateries, if they’re not open for dine-in or if you’re uncomfortable eating in a restaurant, is to order takeout.
While there are myriad “restaurant ordering” apps, if you order directly from the restaurant itself (if they offer this), you can ensure that your money goes directly to the restaurant and isn’t eaten into by the fees these apps charge the restaurant.
Restaurant App Fees Can Be High
The fees charged by the various delivery apps vary, but are surprisingly high, and can be as much as 30% of the menu cost. One extreme example, posted by Today in May of this year, tells the story of Chicago’s Chicago Pizza Boss owner Giuseppe Badalamenti, whose March Grubhub statement showed that while the restaurant earned $1,042.63 in orders that month, Chicago Pizza Boss only received $376.54 after deducting all of Grubhub’s fees. Other food delivery apps have come under fire for charging substantial fees as well. You can read more about this phenomenon in Tech Crunch’s “The Hidden Cost of Food Delivery.”
Despite this, most restaurants have partnered with at least one food delivery app, since it’s often the best way to get their name in front of hungry diners.
Curbside Pickup: A Great Thing
One of the best things about ordering takeout (aside from the delicious food and the great thing about eating food that you didn’t spend hours in the kitchen preparing yourself) is “curbside pickup.” Curbside pickup has, of course, become almost an “essential service” during this pandemic. It’s incredibly convenient, somewhat safer than shopping/dining in-person, and if you pick up the food yourself, you’re saving on the delivery fee.
If you do prefer to use an app, here are several that are available for many of our local restaurants:
Support Our Local Eateries
Did you know that the city of Tamarac has published a list of restaurants offering take-out and/or curbside pickup? You can find the list here.
One thing to note: this list was last updated in March. Please contact Lori Funderwhite, Economic Development Manager, City of Tamarac at Lori.Funderwhite@tamarac.org or 954-597-3513 with changes or additions to this list.
