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Take-away food

Runcarla

Veteran

In pre-Covid times DH and I would dine out once every other week. We had a few favourite places, but would also try to mix it up. We also had a weekly (and sometimes more) coffee and pastry habit. Since The lockdown 3 months ago, it has been ‘home cooking’ - with the exception of 3 times when we ‘ordered out’.

Jim’s Pizza - best local pizza, and fantastic Caesar salad. We probably order out from Jim’s more than dine in the tiny restaurant, so that was a no brainer. Lived up to expectations and was a day off for the cook! (Me)

U92 Spice House (new) - Opened up within the last year, so we decided to give it a try. Ordered an Indian dinner for 4. Beautiful East Indian meal, but with a lot of heat! The rice was cooked steamed with cinnamon sticks and cloves, and was a hit with all of us. Generous portions, so some leftovers - but they didn’t last 24 hours in the fridge!

Bulai Taste of Thai - We ate at the restaurant when we first moved, and hadn’t taken possession of the house yet. Hadn’t been back since, though the meal was good. Ordered mango & pineapple shrimp, cashew chicken, sesame beef, Pad Thai, vegetables curry, etc. 3 days later and DH is still talking about how much he liked the meal. Will definitely order again!

Saturday our favourite coffee shop, Queenie’s opened up to take-away after being closed for 3 months, so DH and I stopped by on our walk, ordered coffee and treats, and sat on a park bench and watched the river as we enjoyed!

Restaurants opened up this past weekend, but it is reservations only and physically distanced tables, etc. I don’t know that I would find the environment conducive to a relaxed dining experience. I think we are going to try another take-away dinner or two, though.

Have you patronized your favourite restaurants In the past couple of months? Have you tried any new places? How have you found the food and the experience? How soon will you return to dining in a restaurant?

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34 replies

Latest reply was from cjh

Pat_P

We have tried to order a meal out weekly since the shutdown began in our area in mid-March. This is way more than we would normally eat out but we really wanted to support struggling local businesses. It gave us the chance to try some new restaurants and to support old favorites. Indoor dining is now available but, honestly, I’m in no rush. I’m happy to continue take out and maybe do outdoor seating. And now that restaurants are busy, we’ll go back to once a month!

Anonymous

Indoor dining has just opened up but with some sort of 75% capacity rule. Outdoor patio have been open for a few weeks now . We would usually eat out once a month , maybe , but often ordered takeout from a few burger / pizza places . We’re not terribly adventurous eaters here but we love our “gourmet / coal fired pizza “ . So - we kept up our takeout routine , and haven’t been into a restaurant since March . I’m up for a drink on a patio but in no rush to dine in anywhere . All of the precautions ( paper everything , limited seating ) takes away the ambiance and fun of going out . I’m in no rush BUT am SO sick of my/my husband’s cooking . Ha!

Sisi

Veteran

Sorry Carla, may I ask what you mean by Have you patronized your favourite restaurants In the past couple of months? Restaurants were closed in the past couple of months ... I am confused.

I have not changed my habits much. Before lockdown I used to go for lunch break to a couple of restaurants /bistro that are very close to the office. Now that they have re-opened I order take-away from them, to help them economically. They now have half, or less, the clients they had before ...

I very rarely go to the restaurant for dinner. I am "spoiled" by a couple of friends who cook divinely. They love organizing dinners at their homes rather than going out.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

It’s been a long stretch of home cooked meals, even for me, who generally prefers to cook at home for economy and knowing more about what I’m eating. The benefits have included a couple pounds weight loss probably due to more veg, fewer snacks.

We last ate out “inside” on March 12, over 3 months ago. Since then I can count two take out pizzas, one take out hamburger and fries dinner, and I picked up sandwiches for our anniversary. All included generous tips.

Our state has not yet allowed inside dining, so we’ve eaten in tent-covered parking lots twice. This was not ideal as the waiters were not masked as guidelines prescribe, and the weather was kind of a pain. Both factors made me uncomfortable to be there and aren’t encouraging me to try again soon. I’ll keep cooking and look forward to an occasional take out meal for a break.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

We ate out a lot pre-COVID. Not always fancy or expensive or anything, just quick and easy go-downtown-for-fish&chips-at-the-pub jaunts, or of course, to satisfy our sushi cravings.

We are now cooking at home every day with some exceptions. Breakfast and lunch are always made at home. For dinner we have been either cooking Blue Apron meals, cooking our own concoctions, or grilling. Twice we have ordered savory pies from a friend of ours who has a fantastic chain of pie shops in cities around the country (check out Dangerously Delicious Pies) — not exactly diet-friendly but filling and lots of leftovers so not a bad bargain.

A handful of times — probably averaging once a week — we have either ordered carry-out from a local restaurant (Indian is our favorite, but we also discovered our new favorite Mexican place), or ordered pizza delivery. All of those are good because we end up with leftovers, which saves us a little cooking the next day.

The good thing is that since we control what goes into the meals when we cook, I think my weight has either stayed steady or maybe dropped a couple of pounds in recent months. And I’m more comfortable cooking now than I used to be. Even though it’s not my favorite thing in the world to do — I don’t find it relaxing — I’ve gotten used to it, and I find it satisfying to have done it.

Right now we are looking forward to harvesting home grown tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce from our container garden on the deck. Nothing like a Maryland home grown tomato. There is already a slab of bacon in the freezer, ready to make BLTs when the tomatoes are ready (still a ways off!).

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, and I meant to add, that even though our state has opened up some restrictions and outdoor dining is now permitted, we are keeping our habits and not jumping on the opportunity to be out and around people in numbers yet. This virus is not finished, and we are still feeling quite risk-averse.

Runcarla

Veteran

@Sisi - I can understand there might have been no food service at all, zero, where you live, however in some places restaurants closed to inside dining but were permitted to move to a take-away model. For some it was new, and an adaptation, while others already had a take-away business.

Interestingly, a small cafe one town over (10 km) that moved to a take-away model, had it’s best day of sales ever during Covid. While other small coffee shops in the downtown closed completely it stayed open for in and out service, and added home delivery. Soups, sandwiches, and really good pastries, coffees and tea.

JAileen

Veteran

We have had take out. Our favorite burrito place was open for drive thru, and our usual Chinese place was open for take out, too. I don’t know if restaurants are open inside, yet. Our governor had a press conference last night, and we’re not doing that well. Covid cases have been increasing.

rachylou

Veteran

Ironically, my ‘eating out’ has increased. First because I want to support my neighbourhood shops and second because... the way everyone set up was, you order at the door and then they bring you the meal packaged up. Which means essentially, I can go more places with Lilypup, even places without outdoor dining. Lololol! I have finally tried this weird place close by, that does American food in the day and Indian food at night. Pretty good! We’ve eaten there twice now!

nemosmom

Veteran

We didn't go out to eat very often before lockdown (about once a month, usually for brunch with the kids). Taking the kids out to eat is always stressful... but we did take out maybe every two-three weeks. Most of our local places closed when this all started and have slowly been opening up. We could get fast food earlier, but don't really care for it. Our little downtown area sectioned off a street to accommodate patio dining, but we haven't been brave enough to go.

I am itching to have any food other than my own at this point. I am soooooo sick of my own cooking!

Laurie

Veteran

I held out until about a month or 5 weeks ago when our son convinced us to try take out from the sushi place that is the closest to our house (we live in a town that has every type of Asian food, and several choices of each type - we are lucky). Turns out to be excellent sushi, and no problems ensued, so we have ordered at least 3 more times from there.

This weekend on our trip to Boston we had a bit of a fraught dining experience. Restaurants have just opened for outdoor-only. Same son, who has recently moved there, made a reservation which was nice of him but it was not a good choice - a Brazilian steak place where they bring the meat around. Our other son promptly refused to eat in this environment, but we didn't want to hurt #2's feelings (plus, where else were we going to go?) so 3 of us gave it a go. We were over-serviced - someone was constantly checking on us. And, unfortunately, a huge wind kicked up making it so uncomfortable to be outside. UGH!! I didn't enjoy any of it. What a waste of money. Not being able to go to coffee shops and restaurants at will was really stressful, and neither son offered to cook. That's a story for a different day.

I'm not anxious to get out to more places around home in Maryland any time soon.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The city of Seattle - I live downtown - is still in Modified Phase 1. But Phase 2 is imminent. I don't know if this is good or bad news, quite frankly.

Lots of restaurants are still VERY boarded up around here because of the protests. Some restaurants and cafes are opening their outside patios with 30% capacity on Friday to Sunday. Very few offering indoor dining at 25% capacity. Take-aways are getting more common. Some restaurants are never opening again. Very sad.

We have only just started doing take-aways - (and only cooked food) - so that I get a bit of a break. I've been cooking three meals a day from scratch for almost four months, and the meals are a production because we are foodies! We are used to eating out a few times a week, and never order take-aways. This is a new thing for us!

As for dining indoors - I am not ready to do that for a while, and I don't like sitting outside to eat or drink that much either. Onward take-aways!

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Our first takeout was Mother’s Day, DS2 picked up pizza for us. Delicious. Second time we had a heat wave and his apartment was very hot so he came over to sit in the shade. He picked up Thai because I didn’t have enough food defrosted to feed him. Both times we ate outside socially distanced. Pizza was excellent, Thai was good but not great. The other meal I didn’t cook came from my SIL. The woman who caters for her occasionally pivoted to take out and SIL had significant leftovers so we got them.

Unlike Angie I only occasionally cook breakfast or lunch.

Sal

Veteran

Our lockdown was extreme with no shops open except for supermarkets and pharmacies- no cooked food delivery or available in store. At the end of that five weeks takeaway opened and we had Indian one night. At the next level once we could move around cafe and restaurants opened up with distancing and now everything is open as pre Covid although there have been some closures.

We mostly eat home cooked food - and we enjoyed the food and cooking during lockdown. As it was autumn fruit and vegetables were great and local. And my teens did a lot of baking!! Now we are back to our normal routine but we are being more deliberate with shopping and menu planning.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Indoor dining is open here; I think that's ill-advised and I'm not planning to do that (even outside on a patio) anytime soon as our case numbers are actually higher than they've ever been.

I think the first time post-lockdown we got takeout was Mother's Day weekend - I live with my parents and they are by habit and inclination eat at home people, even if they weren't in a high-risk group now. A local conservation area with hiking trails etc. has a cafe, and for a while they were closed but doing heat-and-eat meals each weekday available for pre-order. Now the cafe is open again but they've kept doing the meals a couple times a week. We've gotten one of those meals several times now, and Mexican from a local mini-chain. My brother and his family get takeout once a week and are making a point to patronize local businesses rather than nationwide chains. A lot of restaurants that didn't have carryout options before now do, which I think is great.

Now that I've been back at work I've done quite a few drive-through meals. It's a relief to have the option even if it's not terribly healthy.

I miss going to coffee shops or to someplace fast-casual for lunch and hanging out, working on the computer or reading for a while. That'll be nice to do again someday. I admit it, I miss Panera.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

we are like Angie, big foodies. so that usually means I am cooking 3 times a day, and the Mr has been baking bread/ etc quite a bit. My dad has also been cooking (venison roasts, grilled halibut, etc) and inviting us over to share! its nice to have a night off

Usually we eat out maybe once every other week, staying budget conscious, with an occasionally amazing splurge--we have so many great restaurants in the NW.... We have foodie friends too, and we alternate hosting which is super fun, often on a theme.

Since lockdown we have ordered some take out, my folks will grab Italian pizzas from a place just a few blocks away and bring them over to share--which is awesome when we dont feeling like making our own.
My work treated all employees to a dinner "out" & we ordered thai from our neighborhood fav-it was super!!

we are not really interested in dining out at the moment, the joy is a bit out with all the precautions.....Might go to an outside beer garden, but even that, it's just as easy to pick up a growler to bring home.

RobinF

Veteran

Pre-covid hubby and I ate out once or twice a week. When everything shut down we did takeout maybe once a week, usually pizza or Chinese. Restaurants here opened a week ago at 50% capacity and we haven’t been yet. I’d be interested in sitting outside but we aren’t in a hurry.

Bonnie

Veteran

We ate lunch out once or twice a week until lockdown but have not eaten in a restaurant or gotten take out for 13 weeks. We did order locally caught wild salmon filets which were delivered to our door and cooked them ourselves. They were delicious. We also get a box of locally grown fruits and vegetables delivered once a week and have expanded our home menu to include them. Lately, we've been making ratatouille and a risotto made with asparagus and fresh peas. DH has even discovered he loves beets sliced into our salads. Restaurants in our county have opened with capacity restrictions but it's tourist season so they are keeping busy. We're not ready to venture out yet and as a bonus (silver linings) have gotten a lot more creative with our home meals and have saved a good bit of money, too. Our area's active cases have been increasing the last week, probably due to lifting of some restrictions in our state.

Echo

Veteran

I live in state where citizens sued for freedom to be stupid, so there have been no restrictions here for a month. Still, we haven't dined in anywhere.

We have carried out from two new (to us) places - a Thai place and an Asian place. They are both amazing, but so small that we'll probably never dine in them anyway.

Anonymous

Happily our little Indian restaurant reopened, so we got takeaway there, and also pasta on another day. All yummy

We did sit outside and have tex mex last week, when outdoor dining opened up, and Monday I had wine and cheese outside at a local vinyard.

I think inside restaurants are allowed now, maybe 50% capacity, but I'm just not comfortable with that. Besides sitting outside is so much nicer!

BC-19 DH and I didn't go to restaurants or get takeaway that much anyway. Maybe a few times a month, and mainly if we were out all day or with friends/family. Generally I'd rather spend $ on clothes and hobby supplies

Aquamarine

Veteran

Outdoor dining is allowed here now, but we will not participate. We have not done any takeout yet, either. We were one of the hardest hit states—even with strict closures and mask usage—and maybe I’m a little traumatized. Today’s newspaper had a story about waiters nervous about going back to work, too, and questioning whether restaurant owners will really shut down to clean if a worker tests positive. Another shutdown would be devastating for them.

I like to cook but my entire family (husband plus three young adults) is home now, working from home, so I *am* getting tired, but there is no Plan B. LOL. (They do help, but the majority of the work falls on me, which is OK since I am better at it, haha).

cindysmith

Veteran

If the hundreds and hundreds of dollars produce and curbside have spent on Pizza Hut since the coronapocalypse kicked off counts, then yes, I have ordered take out food. I literally earned free pizza every week for a while; that's how much pizza hut we ordered since March 12. The Pizza Hut delivery driver learned quickly to be discreet and bring the pizzas all the way back into the produce back room with no fanfare; that's how often he has been in there for produce and curbside.

Sara L.

Veteran

We actually increased our take out during the lockdown. We used to be too busy with school activities and sports practices to eat out much. Now that all that's canceled, we get take out a couple times a week. Sometimes we have it delivered, sometimes we pick it up. We generally order from local restaurants. Restaurants are open for patio dining here with limited indoor seating, but I'm not comfortable with that yet, so we're continuing to get take out.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Only takeaways available here at present but we haven’t indulged.lm abit fed up of constantly cooking but that’s more to do with changing what we buy from the supermarket to last rather than anything else .We didn’t eat out a lot pre Covid but we did do coffee and cake regularly and I m really missing that.I bake a cake and we do fancy coffees once a week and eat them in my summer house to pretend that we have gone out!

Classically Casual

Veteran

In the little town where we’ve been hibernating, we’ve had take out a handful of times, primarily to support the restaurants.

For me the bigger issue was how to support my daily latte habit, with all the indy coffee shops closed. Fortunately, we discovered a drive thru that makes excellent lattes. No need to give our order, they recognize the car, we’ve been there so many times! After we get our drinks, I find a parking spot with a view, and we pretend like we’re chatting in a coffee shop. It’s my only caffeine , and the drive thru has saved my sanity, and probably marriage, LOL.

Kathie

Veteran

We've been doing dinner take-out once/month from our favorite Thai and pho places. DH has gotten burgers for lunch a few times, for himself and our DSs. Our restaurants opened for outdoor dining on the first Friday in June, but we're not feeling comfortable with that, so we've been doing the occasional outdoor happy hour with friends instead. Thankfully DH enjoys cooking, I do most of the grocery shopping and clean-up, and the kids enjoy helping with meal-planning, so we share the work.

Gail

Veteran

We have had take out three times since March 8th. One was pizza from our local place and twice we ordered from an upscale restaurant very close to our home. I'm tired of cooking, however I find thinking of something different to make is harder than the actual cooking !

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Gail, I agree. At various times I've subscribed to meal planning services and am considering going back on one - it's not the literal cooking that tires me, it's thinking of new ideas and figuring out what to make.

anne

Veteran

During our shut down period takeaway was allowed, and we got this once, for my birthday. Thai. Feeding a family of five (high school kids ) on gluten free take away is quite expensive so we don't do it often for the whole family at the best of times (and in shut down, the whole family is there!) DH had McDonalds once, and DD16 the odd meal or snack out with the one person we were allowed to have with you on a walk
Restaurants and cafes have opened up here, with some restrictions and I had lunch out with a friend last week. We had to leave our names and tables were further apart.
DD 16 has a part time job at a deli, and had to do an online government course about corona safety this week.
We are going on holidays soon to a regional area that only recently opened up (our state had strict travelling rules) and we do plan a meal out there, to help support them.

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