Support Our Local Restaurants – Here’s How
All –
As you can imagine, this is going to be a bumpy road for our local restaurants. You are probably reading this because like so many others, you LOVE our local dining scene. Now is not the time to forget how incredibly lucky we are. This is also not the time to forget those people that work in the restaurant industry that are the life and soul of our community.
There is nothing that warms the soul like a great meal and a tasty libation.
So now more than EVER, they need your help and support. Here are some ideas:
1) If you are not comfortable dining in, consider ordering takeout. You love their food – just swing by and pick it up! Most restaurants allow you to order and pay online as well, but even if they don’t, I bet you can pay over the phone with a CC and be in and out in a jiffy. I have also seen many restaurants offering curbside delivery – call when you arrive and they will bring it out to you so you don’t even have to get out of your car!
2) Follow your favorite restaurant’s social media. I’m seeing lots of creative options like 1/2 price bottles of wine and prepared/frozen dishes becoming available. Additionally, a lot of restaurants are spreading their tables out (more distance between tables) and even moving some of their tables outside if they don’t already offer outside dining. Additionally, think about your restaurants that already have outside patios – warm weather is arriving! Great ideas! Check in on your favorite social media sites. Or just call!
3) Buy gift cards that you can use later. I love this idea! (Thanks Carrie Brogren and Chapel Hill Carrboro Foodies) Help them over the short-term hump. Buy the gift cards now, they get to enjoy the “cash advance” during this difficult time, and then after we get beyond this, you get to enjoy a fabulous meal (or two, or three)! A win, win! Even better, go ahead and get ALL your holiday shopping done NOW! Who doesn’t love a restaurant gift card as a gift? That’s a win, win, win! For many restaurants, you can do this online – even better!
4) Perhaps most importantly, while carrying out any of these ideas, please consider larger than normal tips!! For many, many people this is their livelihood. Don’t forget our servers, bartenders, dishwashers, and other front and back of the house support staff. They are working harder than ever now to take precautions to the extreme to keep you safe. They need us in an unprecedented moment like this.
5) And finally, if you are a restaurant owner and are doing something creative during this time, please share it with me at [email protected] and I will share it with those that follow me – via Twitter and Facebook. Don’t worry about what format, just get it to me and I will sort it out and share it! If you are a reader, be sure you are following me on social media @TriangleFoodGuy.
Thanks so much to all. Together – being smart, vigilant, compassionate and calm – we will get through this. Together.
My best, Sean Lennard, aka Triangle Food Guy
Food Bank Corner
- Also, don’t forget the great work of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and the people they serve during this time. The Food Bank is assessing what their agencies and the people they support will need, and working to keep their partner agencies (the pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters who serve people) stocked with food and supplies. We are also taking extra precautions around food safety and hygiene. Consider an online donation today!
