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Order Direct – Pick it Up

Help Our Local Restaurants - Don't use 3rd Party Apps

The Covid Omicron surge is once again playing havoc, especially with patrons not going out to eat at restaurants again. Take out of course is the answer to still enjoy good meals, but also to support our local venues as they struggle through this waive.

At issue though, is peoples’ use of third-party apps and delivery services such as Uber Eats, Door Dash and Grub Hub. They charge as much as a 30% fee to the restaurant for delivery and an unbelievable 25% for an order that is picked up by the customer themselves. According to Bob O’Mahoney, co-owner of Viva Zapata, “those fees are our profit margin.”

The answer is old school, and to bypass these services. The Chamber of Commerce is launching an initiative called “Order Direct – Pick it up.” We are asking residents to either call up or use a restaurant’s own website or app to make a take out order either online or by phone and then pick it up. This simple adjustment in thinking and action will put these excessive fees back into the pocket of our local friends and businesspeople.

Howard Bass CEO of Manna Toast said, “we offer pickup and delivery through our website and try our best to encourage customers to order directly, as the third-party platforms take 30% off the top.”

We are not alone in this thinking. The giant national pizza chain Domino’s has been running commercials for the last two months saying the same, to support small local merchants. Domino’s franchise owner Steve Dolan said, “The best way for customers to support local restaurants now is to go back to [them] directly and don’t use delivery apps.”

The goal is for people to order take out and pick up their own food, but if you need or must have a delivery then these services are of course available to be used, especially if no alternative exists. As Angelo Capponi, owner of Pane e Bene said, “70% is better than 0%, but we also offer take out, and we hope people will come to us. They can just call us up.”

While this concept is coming to a head now amidst the pandemic, it’s something that should be embraced moving forward. Clearly use of third-party apps is easy, but the cost to our local economy is huge. Please reach out to your favorite restaurant, find out how they would like you to Order Directly and Pick it Up.

Thanks to Miggs Burroughs for the artwork.

The Initiative is Going Statewide

ORDER DIRECT FROM THESE CHAMBER RESTAURANTS

190 Main Restaurant (203) 557-0396 http://190mainwestport.com/
Allium Eatery (203) 557-3060 https://www.facebook.com/alliumeats
Amis (203) 514-4906 http://www.amistrattoria.com
Basso Restaurant & Wine Bar (203) 354-6566 http://www.bassobistrocafe.com
Bistro Du Soleil (203) 557-6314 http://www.DuSoleilWestport.com
Black Duck Cafe (203) 227-7978 http://www.blackduckwestport.com
Capuli Restaurant (203) 557-9340 http://www.capulirestaurant.com
Don Memo (203) 557-8775 http://www.donmemowestport.com
Dunville's Restaurant (203) 227-0511 www.dunvilles.com
Gabriele's of Westport (203) 454-4922 http://www.gabrielesofwestportct.com
Harvest Wine Bar & Restaurant (203) 221-0810 http://www.harvestwinebar-westport.com
Hudson Malone (203) 635-7400 http://www.hudsonmalone.com
Kawa Ni (203) 557-8775 http://www.kawaniwestport.com
Little Barn (203) 557-8501 http://www.littlebarnct.com
Manna Toast (203) 557-8300 https://mannatoast.com/
Match Burger Lobster (203) 557-8800 https://matchburgerlobster/
Naan (203) 557-6667 https://www.thenaanct.com
Pane E Bene (203) 292-9584 http://www.paneebene.com
Parker Mansion / Pizza (203) 557-9325 http://www.parkereartery.com
Rive Bistro (203) 557-8049 http://www.rivebistro.com
Rizzuto's Oyster Bar (203) 221-1002 http://www.rizzutos.com
Romanacci (203) 571-3301 https://www.romanacci.com/westport
Sakura Japanese Restaurant (203) 222-0802 http://www.sakurarestaurant.com
Sherwood Diner (203) 226-5535 https://www.sherwooddinerct.com/
Spotted Horse Tavern (203) 557-9393 http://www.spottedhorsect/wesptort.com
Tarantino Restaurant (203) 454-3188 http://www.tarantinorestaurant.com
Tarry Lodge (203) 571-1038 http://www.tarrylodge.com
Terrain Garden Café (203) 226-2750 https://www.shopterrain.com/pages/westport-restaurant
The Boathouse At Saugatuck Rowing Club (203) 227-3399 https://www.boathouseatsaugatuck.com
The Granola Bar (203) 349-5202 http://www.thegranolabarct.com
The Whelk (203) 557-8775 http://www.thewhelkwestport.com
Tutti's Ristorante (203) 221-0262 http://www.tuttisonline.com
Via Sforza (203) 454-4444 http://www.viasforza.com
Viva Zapata Mexican Restaurant (203) 227-8226 http://www.vivazapata.com
Walrus Alley (203) 557-9666 http://www.walrusalley.com
Wafu (203) 557-8626 http://wafubbq.com/