HACKER Q&A
📣 _bxg1

Are you ordering takeout? (U.S.)


Even in areas that have banned eating at restaurants, at least here in Texas, most of them remain open for pickup/delivery.

It's very tempting with everything that's going on to order some comfort food. But I can't decide whether or how much of a risk that would be. Obviously places are making various efforts to keep things clean, first and foremost being closing the doors to dine-in customers. But I have no way of knowing how extensive the efforts are at a given place (I don't think there's any kind of standard regulation; certainly there wouldn't be any comprehensive enforcement of it). At the same time, it seems like lots of people are ordering.

What do you think? In terms of how much of a risk it might be in general, but also in terms of ways of verifying the level of safety.

  👤 jonblankenship Accepted Answer ✓
Yes - I'm not concerned about the low risk, it's treat for me and my quarantined family, and I want to support our economy (especially local establishments). We ordered takeout three times this week.

I don't normally tip for takeout, but I've changed that behavior this past week while restaurants and their employees are hurting. I'd encourage others with a stable income to consider doing the same!

👤 rhacker
Bad idea. I was at a Safeway yesterday and I heard an employee in the bakery coughing. Full on Coughing. No other employee said anything. I quickly left the store.

It comes down to trust. These people may have varying degrees of care when it comes to all of this stuff. So if you're up for a game of chance, by all means order takeout.

👤 WheelsAtLarge
I was nervous but I did it.

I asked them to leave the food and I also washed whatever came in a plastic container.

Here's a CNN article that might help.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/20/health/food-safety-groceries-...

👤 cmurf
Based on my reading it's a very low risk. If you want to reduce it further, give it a quick zap in the microwave or toaster oven.
👤 masonic
Texas? I could live off Rudy's indefinitely.

Many sit-down restaurants in SV are offering heavy discounts for takeout to use up perishable inventory and keep some cash flow. QBB in Mountain View is 50% off, for example.

Some casual dining places are offering discounts/ bonuses on gift cards, too.

👤 thehoff
We have a couple times this week. It sounds corny but we figure it’s our way to try and help out others.

We’ve asked delivery drivers to leave food on ground by door and we get it after they leave.

Any little bit helps I hope to at least some of these businesses afloat.

👤 icedchai
I try to limit it in an attempt to reduce risk. I used to order lots of take out.

Turns out, this time is pretty good for weight loss. At least something positive will come out of it.

👤 willcate
I did, yesterday, BBQ ribs and brisket in SC.