March 2020 is when the world changed, life as we knew it ceased to exist~
News of Covid-19, the pandemic had us all trapped at home afraid and with almost all places closed. The only way we survived was by ordering groceries, cooking all meals, and staying put at home. By the end of 2020, people became used to the changes, the rules, and got comfortable wearing a mask when stepping out – for a walk, or shopping. Soon, few restaurants began opening their doors for takeaway & ordering in. Yes during the early days they did have set timings and in Chennai, I remember even ordering in was possible only between certain hours and all doors shut at 9 p.m. Beyond that, if you opened any delivery app, all you saw was the ‘hold tight, we will see you tomorrow morning’ message.
Somewhere during Oct or Nov 2020, I decided to break the monotony of cooking up meals and decided to order in once in a while. It would invariably be from a South Indian tiffin in or pasta or a Rice Bowl. Since there were very few restaurants open, plus we looked at only pure vegetarian places, options were limited and thankfully good enough. I did have to remember to wear the mask when heading to the gate to pick up my order, some restaurants also made sure to include the temperature of the chef, delivery guy along with the bill on the parcel. It was discerning seeing the delivery guys battle heat, helmet, and the mask as they made their way around. But well, this was the new way of life ~
I would chit-chat with the delivery guys about how their jobs were, money, etc. It was interesting to note that a lot more people were adding an extra tip, asking if they wanted water, and so on. Good to know such kind souls existed.
It’s been over a year since the pandemic began, we are all used to wearing a mask, carrying one or more when stepping out, stepping out only if absolutely necessary, maintain social distancing, sanitize, check temperatures and be wary of going to places that might be crowded.
Sadly, numerous eateries shuttered at the start of the pandemic and never reopened. Those that remained open had to quickly adjust by figuring out how to survive solely on takeout and delivery while also ensuring that their operations were compliant with federal and state health and safety laws, as well as newly adopted labour and employment legislation.
That said, stores, malls, restaurants & cafes are open and people have begun going out [some without masks but most of them kept their masks on]. Yes, there are places that have rules – entry allowed only for those who are double vaccinated and can show their final vaccination certificate at the entrance, but I think predominantly that is just for malls.
Have put together this post for things you can do when ordering in…
When ordering in :
Be mentally prepared –
There are very few restaurants open and even they have redefined their menu. The menu has been shrunk, and does not offer pages & pages of options for you to pick from. Quite a few restaurants have included combos and thalis in their menu, making it easier for us to order a meal. So don’t go expecting elaborate dishes and get all hot & bothered if your favourite lasagne or maharaj thali isnt listed on the menu. Skim through what is available and take your pick from that.
Patience –
Once you are done placing your order, check the app for updates and wait for the delivery to happen. If there is a delay way beyond the promised time, then you can reach out to the support team and check with them on what is happening. Again remember most restaurants are short staffed and so are the the delivery services. Stay patient and rest assured your food is on its way, and remember not to lose your cool with anybody.
Tip and Tip Generously –
Things have changed, people are struggling, restaurants are struggling… so so it would be nice to add an additional tip for the delivery folks when you are placing the order [unless it is already included in the charges]. In fact, quite a few times I give the delivery guy a tip when I pick up the order.
Rating –
Once you receive the food and consume the same make sure to go back and give a rating for the food, the restaurant and the delivery person. This will not only help them with their ranking [businesses gain visibility] but its a boost for their moral considering the difficult circumstances in which they are operating. Make sure to include information on safety and other aspects when giving a rating and writing a review. You will be helping others feel assured to order from the place~
Safety measures –
Make sure you wear a mask when heading out to collect the parcel, or else you could leave a basket near your door and request the parcel be dropped off into it. And you can bring it in after a few minutes.
Also, make sure to wipe down the bag before opening and diving in.
You can also transfer the food into containers before consuming them.
What are some of the other things you have been doing when ordering in?
Do I have thoughts on what we can do when dining out? Yes, stay tuned for the next post…
