One of the questions that keeps getting asked during the current COVID-19 health crisis – with mom and pop businesses struggling, what’s the best way to support local restaurants right now?

The biggest thing customers can do is STILL BE customers, go out and order food from your favorite places. While that’s obvious, everyone can do one better: purchase by ordering over the phone or by choosing a first party platform (ie order directly from the restaurant website) when ordering online. Gift card purchases can help too, giving places a much needed boost of cash in the iterim.

Why does ordering direct make a difference? Online ordering pioneers like Seamless (eventually GrubHub) and now delivery services like Uber Eats, Postmates, DoorDash, and others (ie third party platforms) have made it super easy to get food with phones, tablets, etc. However, they charge rates as high as 30% per order to the restaurant – and that’s on top of the service and delivery fees they charge consumers. Restaurant margins are very slim to begin with, this only makes it harder for places to turn a profit. And while most are offering no delivery fees right now to diners, it’s most definitely not free for the local businesses.

That’s why many people suggest ordering directly from the website of your favorite restaurant, as many have their own system which is just as easy and efficient as using one of those third party applications. This allows restaurants to keep a larger portion of the sale, plus it gives diners a direct line to the business. Over time it can help strengthen that relationship, so the best customers can be the first to find out about new menu items, specials, and other promotions.

If you’re planning on ordering direct sometime soon, Boozy Burbs has been updating a list daily (View List), featuring open Bergen County restaurants.