Support Local Restaurants with No-Contact Food Delivery App Options

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Woman carrying two DoorDash delivery bags

Delivery apps are making it easy to support your favorite restaurants from home!

If you’re practicing social distancing, but would still like to support your favorite local restaurants, food delivery apps like DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, and Uber Eats are making it easier to do both! Anyone who would prefer a no-contact delivery can now request one through these apps and have food delivered to a safe spot outside their door.


Woman delivering food with DoorDash delivery bag

Door Dash

To request a no-contact delivery from DoorDash, update the “Delivery Instructions” section with your request for a no-contact delivery and specific details about your preferred drop-off location. You can even text a photo of your preferred location for additional clarity.

Your Dasher will leave your food in the designated spot and alert you when it’s ready for pickup. Dashers may call or text message customers to request a no-contact delivery as well. DoorDash is also testing enhanced drop-off options for customers which will soon be added to the app and website.


GrubHub app on phone

Grubhub

Grubhub is also offering no-contact delivery at checkout. This option is now available on the website and the latest version of the Grubhub app. When you select no-contact delivery, drivers will call or text when they arrive and leave your order on your doorstep, in the lobby, or another area of your choice.

Grubhub is also taking steps to support its restaurant partners by deferring commission fees for impacted independent restaurants. Additionally, Grubhub will match all promotions run by independent restaurants with its Smart Promotions features.

Save money on your first Grubhub order with these promo codes!

If you’d like to further support locally-owned independent restaurants, you can donate your change to the Grubhub Community Relief Fund. These contributions will go to charitable organizations that support drivers and restaurants impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.


Man wearing Postmates backpack with bike

Postmates

You can now use the Dropoff Options on your delivery address to indicate how you’d like to receive your deliveries. You can meet your Postmate at your door or outside, or you can choose non-contact and they’ll leave the order at your door.

To use this new feature, place your order as you normally would. At checkout, you can tap on your delivery address to add a Dropoff Option. You can also edit your Dropoff Option from the tracking screen during delivery by tapping the “Edit” button next to your delivery address.

Postmates has also launched the Postmates Fleet Relief Fund, which aids its employees in covering the costs of co-pays or medical expenses related to COVID-19, regardless of diagnosis. If a fleet member tests positive for COVID-19, the fund can be used to cover 2-weeks paid sick leave.


Uber Eats bag on counter

Uber Eats

Uber Eats is waiving delivery fees for all orders from the more than 100,000 independent restaurants on the app. To find qualifying restaurants, just look for the EAT LOCAL banner in the app. Delivery Fees will be automatically waived on all applicable orders.

The company is also offering contactless deliveries so that you can have food left at your doorstep. Additionally, Uber Eats is working to provide its delivery people with sanitization materials.

Uber Eats will further support its drivers with financial assistance in the event of a COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure that would prevent them from working. The company has also committed to providing more than 300,000 free meals to healthcare workers and first responders in the US and Canada.


What’s the best way to get food delivered? We reviewed four of the most popular apps!

Join The Discussion

Comments 16

  1. Kristin Humphries

    I work for DoorDash and I stopped delivering this month. Yes there may be no contact but we still come in contact with restaurants. Not worth my health for a couple hundred a week

  2. Jo Ann Zimmerman

    Actually, the best way to help local restaurants is to order from them directly. Apps such as DoorDash take 30% of the total, which leaves very little for the restaurant.

    • Lo

      Good to know. Believe thatā€™s how online flower companies work also.
      I plan to support restaurants but make my husband pick up

  3. janette

    Today on the news they recommend that one way to support the restaurant is to buy a gift card. They get the cash then and you can eat later.

    • autumn785

      Local mom and pop shops donā€™t offer gift cards.

      • PrincessMom

        Actually, many of them do! Iā€™ve worked in many small restaurants over the years and theyā€™ve all had gift certificates šŸ˜Š

  4. Liz

    I live near Dallas Texas & Dallas & surrounding areas schools have closed down now they’re saying it’s indefinately could be till Aug. The restaurants have closed inside dining, only offering drive thru or pickup. Lot’s of employee’s with No job’s. This Virus has scared the public & they have cleaned out all the water bottles, tolite paper, paper towels, wet wipes, etc. If the stores do have food most of it’s now limited & they have closed at night & opened like 8am – 8pm. If it’s not like this where you live keep your eye’s out because it happened quickly here. I used yo have enough food for a week or two but I don’t know I live with my daughter & she works days & can’t get to the grocery store early enough to get the food so we’re eating out using delivery. What a big mess with all of this hoarding going on….. Has this affected where you live yet ?

    • rochellemcgee

      I live in Fl and the hoarding has been worse here than in preparation for a hurricane…you know, when you actually canā€™t leave your house! It makes no sense šŸ¤¦ā€ā™€ļø

    • Lori

      Liz the same thing is going on in TN. Nothing but empty shelves.

  5. Liz

    Sorry I forgot to say I’m disabled & I can’t get around therefore I can’t try & get to the store myself….. Please check on the elderly & disabled if this happens in your area.Sorry it’s so long but I wanted to share with others. Ty

    • Kate

      Liz. We have a ton of volunteers delivering food and supplies to people exactly in your situation. Get on Facebook and lookup ā€œCovid-19 North Texas Reliefā€.

  6. Liz

    Rochellemcgee I have never seen Texans act like this before we have always had a big heart k own for helping others. šŸ˜£

  7. Lindsey

    If anyone is new to DoorDash you can use this link to sign up and save $5 off each of your next 3 orders! ($15.00)
    If you choose pick up there is no fee either !!! And lots of free delivery choices!

    https://drd.sh/bZvbl3/

    šŸ™‚

  8. Liz

    Thank you Kate I sure will ā¤

  9. Sharon

    Many of us who live outside the city limits cannot get food delivery. We always even in normal times have to go to pick up pizzas, etc.

  10. Rickita R Bradford

    All of the fast food places are coming from the dead or dead walking need to make some arrangements on food give us free delivery

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