5 Ways to Support Local Restaurants

Beyond the obvious takeout and delivery, we’ve come up with 5 ways to support local restaurants to help them get through the coronavirus crisis.
Locally owned restaurants are what make our town unique, they are our friends and neighbors, they sponsor the local little league team, they are always there with a smile. Let’s keep that smile going!

1. Create Your Own Progressive Meal
If you’re not on lockdown, here’s a fun way to enjoy a meal and get a bit of exercise! Take a walk around your town and get takeout for breakfast, lunch or dinner. You could start at your local mom and pop coffee shop, enjoy a pastry from your local bakery and how about an egg sandwich to round-out your progressive breakfast. Lunch or dinner can be equally as fun! Get takeout from 4 different restaurants (appetizer, salad, main dish and dessert) and enjoy each course in the park. It’s a meal, an activity and a delicious way to support our local restaurants.

2. Add an Extra Tip
If you can afford it, consider giving your server or delivery driver a little extra tip. Those in the hospitality industry have been the hardest hit.

3. Buy a Gift Card
We all are looking forward to dining out again, so start dreaming and planning where you’ll go. Buying gift cards from those restaurants today will help them continue to pay their fixed overhead expenses, so they can be there for you when this crisis is over.

4. Leave a Positive Review
As a food tour owner, there’s nothing better than waking up and reading a glowing review…it puts a smile on my face for the entire day. If you have a little free time, take a moment to write positive reviews for your favorite restaurants. I guarantee it will make someone smile, and smiles might just be the best medicine right now.

5. Share Your Takeout/Delivery Meals & Menus
Don’t underestimate the power of social media! Share your favorite takeout and delivery meals and menus. We are all creatures of habit and tend to order the same thing from the same restaurants. Maybe your post will generate a little business for your favorite mom and pop restaurant.

Keep in mind that locally-owned restaurants return 79% of their revenue to the local economy versus just 30% for chain restaurants according to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.