Delivery drivers and take away orders ruin restaurant meals

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We don't eat out much, maybe once a month or less. When we do go, tends to be local independent restaurants. However our 4-5 most recent experiences are ruined by the revolving door of delivery drivers collecting takeaways and restaurant staff bending over backwards to meet their demand at the expense of those sitting there.

Yesterday we sat directly opposite the kitchen and watched orders for those eating in sit under hot lamps for upwards of 20 minutes whilst they packed order after order to give to the delivery drivers crowded round the door. We waited more than 15 minutes for a waiter to come to take our order, the food arrived at odd times with items missing and a couple of drinks forgotten entirely. The restaurant was at half capacity at this point.

I find it crazy that if I were to order a take away for the restaurant, it would be at my door in 30 minutes but when I am sitting right there, I spend more than half that time just trying to get their attention to place an order.

AIBU to think that the experience of eating out has ben destroyed as a direct result of the explosion of food delivery services?

Had exactly the same experience last week at my local fish and chip shop - one person in front of me but waited for 20 minutes or so to be served due to delivery drivers.

I then had to wait another 15 minutes while they cooked my order because all the fish had been given to drivers. At least my order was hot and fresh!

This 👆

The article talks about profit rises and increased dividends paid to shareholders in a cost of living crisis for its customers.

I don't think it's a sign of "incredible wealth" that people can afford a takeaway.

It's not a race to the bottom, much as some people would like it to be.

But that's an inevitable consequence of higher costs.

If you sell the same amount of items at a higher cost (because your costs are higher so you have to) and retain the same low percentage profit margin, your profits will increase and so will the amount available to pay shareholders.

The profit margin is still low.

It's not an inevitable consequence of higher costs- that would impact on turnover obviously but not necessarily profit.

I have the same experience in restaurants round here and I find the obsession with Deliveroo so weird. Unless you're getting a curry, takeaways are so often minging by the time they arrive. Who wants to eat a slightly cold pizza or chips that have gone soggy from the condensation? If I'm going to spend that much money I want it fresh from the kitchen on a proper plate not wrapped up in plastic and bounced around on the back of a bike.

Nonsense, the food is beautifully hot and fresh when it arrives, better than I've had in a lot of restaurants, and much hotter than if I picked it up and drove four miles home. And I do put it on a nice plate after it has arrived, it's much more comfortable than a restaurant because it's my house, and the supermarket wine I'm having with it has not been marked up 200%.

We had a similar experience in a McDs we used to go to. 35 mins wait while more and more drivers piled in. We only got the food then because I complained. Haven't been back since.

Deliveroo arrives cold as well so what we have here is the worst of both worlds

Thanks for quoting one line, without the explanation - out of context you are quite right

However, with the context (of retaining the same low profit margin percentage) then what I said makes total sense.

I feel the same. I don't get it. The only place I get takeaways from is the Indian restaurant up the road from me so I walk and collect. I tried Deliveroo during lockdown and it was invariably disappointing. The prices of items are also higher, then you have the service charge and delivery on top. Drivers could never find me despite giving them v specific instructions and what.three.words so it was always cold when it finally arrived, often after much back and forth over the phone to the driver. I can't imagine the appeal of a fried breakfast or fish and chips delivery, or the point of ordering a coffee and pastry from Starbucks. Doesn't the coffee spill everywhere anyway? If you're at home then just make one yourself FFS.

I agree, plus all the e-bikes barrelling down the pavement.

I agree it’d be annoying. But from the restaurants perspective, they’re getting more business from deliveries than people eating out less than once a month.

Yes! Groups of masked men are intimidating. I don't think people care about what women might think though.

There's someone opposite me who seems to get one coffee delivered all the time it's mad isn't it. I know someone who sees no problem ordering 1 grocrry item then an hour later ordering one more. 🙃

Ive never come across this apart from maybe in a nandos

When i was working in retail in 2003 i was told in no uncertain terms that the customer in the actual shop standing in front of me came first and if the phone next to me rang i was to ignore it and deal with the customer ringing later
How times change!

I’ve only ordered via deliveroo twice and will never do so again.
Both times the food was cold on arrival. The boxes the riders use are not insulated well enough and are too large, so there is a lot of cold air in there. If I collect my own takeaway, I wrap it in a blanket before packing into a cool bag. That way it is still hot on arriving home.

I’m also amazed by the number of takeaways being ordered during a cost of living crisis, especially as food cooked at home is almost always tastier with higher quality ingredients as well as considerably cheaper

I mean, I can make some bad financial choices for the sake of convenience (laziness) but that's amazing! I could understand if they were craving some specific drink but I struggle to see how a Maccy D Tea is up there in the must-have category.

Your treat hasn't been ruined because of the 'game', i.e the takeaway model. It's been ruined because of bad management. Therefore YABU. It's not about anybody's fault except for the business owner.

Delivery allows restaurants to reach a wider audience , so a large number ordering infrequently still results in a crowd.

IMO one of the biggest issues apart from shitty transport is the cost of drinks. I like alcohol with a nice meal - this has become terribly expensive. Also, one of us has to not drink.

I've used Deliveroo a couple of times and although expensive it's still worth it compared to the cost of drinks and the hassle of going somewhere. I usually pick up myself but having it at home is much better

Me and DH have experienced this a few times. In one indian restaurant we waited 40 minutes for our food (there were only 2 other occupied tables) while delivery drivers were in and out constantly.

We haven't really waited ages in any other restaurant but it is very annoying to have the drivers in and out, opening and closing the door (often not closing it!), knocking into your table or chair etc.

Just about everywhere we go to eat now seems to do delivery from fast food places to cafes to proper restaurants.

We have seen staff making up the delivery bags with as little as a sandwich and coffee. What cost of living crisis?

I had to do an emergency stop last week because a scooter delivery driver exited right out of a side road into my path and to the left of my car(ie on the wrong side of me). Luckily for him I was paying attention and it's in a 20 zone.

I couldn't even tell you the last time I ate out. I can't bear the thought of spending 50+ quid for cold food eaten next to a queue of food boxes and helmets.

And I'm so so sick of trying to dodge the dangerous mopeds carrying food boxes, that can't seem to see cars on the road.

Take aways also prioritise drive through customers to customers inside.

I used to go to Tim Hortons reasonably frequently for a breakfast meal deal. If you order in the drive through then you get your food instantly but if you order inside it can be a 15-20 minute wait.