Did you know that 42% of food ordering is done is online? Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic happened, you can bet even more people are placing online orders instead of dining out.
If you’ve never tried doing this yourself, you might be apprehensive. But it’s actually very easy and convenient!
To help you out, here are 5 tips you should follow when you order restaurant food online.
- Take Time to Check Out the Menu
When you go in person to a restaurant, you’re usually rushed to make a choice. Whether you’re sitting at a table or standing in line, you’ll have to quickly scan the menu and make a decision by the time a waiter helps you out.
But the beauty of ordering food online is you can take your time to check out everything on the menu! So scour over every little detail. You never know; you might just find a hidden gem you never would’ve found before!
- Order Directly From the Restaurants
We know that third-party delivery apps are very convenient and offer attractive incentives. But the fact is, these companies take huge commissions from restaurant owners.
If you want to support local businesses (especially in these trying times), order directly from them. Prices can be better. And not to mention, they might even waive delivery fees and add some goodies as thanks!
- Check for Online Coupons
Before you check out and pay, do a quick Google search to see if there are any online coupons for the restaurant you’re ordering from. If it’s a chain, then it’s very likely that you’ll find a valid code to use!
While it won’t be much, at least you’ll cut a few dollars off of your total.
- Don’t Forget to Tip
Depending on how well the online portal’s made, it can be very easy to forget to tip. But the delivery people work hard to get you your food fast so it’s still delicious and hot, so you should reward them for this!
You can either enter a tip amount when paying online or you can opt to tip them at the door. Either way, don’t forget to give them a few bucks for their hard work!
- Save a Few Bucks by Picking up Your Food
If you’re trying to save some money, you can pinch a few pennies by opting for pickup rather than delivery. This can work in your favor if you live close by and want to stretch your legs and get some fresh air anyway! You can even bring the food on a spontaneous walk and stop wherever you wish to chow down and enjoy the scenery.
Order Restaurant Food Online Easily
The next time you want to order restaurant food online, just remember what you’ve learned here. When you place your local foods order online, they’ll think you’ve done this a million times before; that’s just how smooth you’ll be!
Did you enjoy learning how to “order food online near me”? Then find out more by taking a look at our other articles!