Restaurant servers become delivery drivers
Restaurants across Memphis are scrambling to find creative ways to keep their staff members employed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Many restaurateurs are turning servers into delivery drivers. Instead of bringing meals to the table, they are delivering them to your front door.
Before you place a delivery order, check with the restaurant to see what your delivery options are. If in-house delivery is offered, restaurateurs would prefer you use that service. The best way to find out a restaurant’s delivery options is to call the restaurant.
Judd Tashie, co-owner of Ciao Bella and Pete & Sam’s, knows firsthand that in-house delivery can make a difference.
Tashie owns a restaurant in New York and had started an employeebased delivery service at that restaurant more than two weeks ago. He began plans early last week to provide the same options at his Memphis restaurants, knowing that delivery and takeout would soon be the only option. That became the reality on March 19, when Mayor Jim Strickland ordered restaurants to close their dining rooms. Included in his plans was the purchase of a delivery van for Pete & Sam’s and two delivery cars for Ciao Bella.
“I am pulling out all the stops,” he said. “That is all I can do at this point. I am going to do anything and everything to keep our people employed until the smoke clears.”
Both his restaurants began in-house delivery this past weekend.
Central BBQ started in-house delivery service March 18. The barbecue restaurant chain is now delivering from all Memphis-area stores, as well as delivering for Sweet Grass restaurant.
“We have delivery zones posted on social media,” said Brandon Ellenburg of Central BBQ. “Call the restaurant closest to you to see if we can deliver to you.”
8 tips for delivery food orders
Call the restaurant to see if they offer in-house delivery. This supports the restaurant plus minimizes the number of people in contact with your order.
Order from restaurants you know and trust.
Avoid direct contact. Have the delivery person place the order at your door and take several steps back before you pick it up.
Ellenburg said in-house delivery service will allow them to keep as many people employed as possible.
Fine dining sister restaurants Flight Restaurant & Wine Bar, Southern Social , Porch & Parlor and Coastal Fish Company are also offering in-house delivery.
Co-owner Russ Graham said using his own staff for delivery will not only allow his servers to stay employed, but
Use your own dishes and cutlery. Do not eat out of to-go packaging.
Make sure that food remains at a safe temperature. If not eating it immediately, place perishable items in the refrigerator.
Store leftovers in your own containers. Dispose of delivery containers immediately.
Please tip your delivery driver. Tips may be their primary source of income right now.
Wash your hands after handling food packaging, especially before eating.
will also enable the restaurants to maintain the level of service his customers are used to.
“I want our customers to receive the same type of experience as much as possible, and our staff knows how to do that best,” Graham said of his reasoning not to use a third-party delivery service.
The same server who takes your order will be the one who delivers it.