Waitr, The Louisiana-Developed Food Delivery App, Hits New Orleans

09:54 August 19, 2016
By: Anthony O'Donnell

Soon, all of your favorite restaurants may have delivery service, thanks to a new app called Waitr.  Founded by Lake Charles developer, Chris Meaux, Waitr is an app that provides a delivery service from any participating restaurant.  Customers can order as much food as they want for a $6 delivery fee.  They can also use the app to order for carryout. Waitr is currently available in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Houston, and went live last month in New Orleans. It’s also available in parts of Jefferson Parish, Kenner, Metairie, River Ridge, Elmwood, and Harahan.

The app was launched in 2013 and describes itself as a Restaurant Support Platform. The creators believe it will allow restaurants to offer delivery without hurting their profit margins while preserving the unique culinary culture of the neighborhoods in which it’s available.  By making the delivery process more efficient, Waitr will make food that wasn’t available for delivery accessible at the touch of a button.

One big selling point and the reason some users might opt to use the app even when ordering for carryout is the interface. The app offers detailed menus personalized for each restaurant, with more photos of individual items and meals than you might find elsewhere online. Waitr aims to streamline the process of ordering a meal from home, and allows you to pay directly from the app. The developers prize their relationships with local food culture and believe that allowing people to order things like sushi or gourmet sandwiches for delivery will encourage them to eat from local restaurants instead of national chains, which are more likely to offer delivery or app-based orders.

The platform includes three products, Waitr, Managr, and Drivr. The main Waitr app allows consumers to browse local restaurants’ menus, check out pictures of the food, customize their order, and pay in advance. Group orders can be easily divided among multiple app users, saving consumers from the awkward process of dividing the check. The Managr app allows restaurants to customize their menus, receive orders, and keep track of business analytics to maximize their profits. The Drivr app links delivery drivers with restaurants and consumers.

Drivr has already partnered with a number of popular NOLA restaurants. You can now order through the app from Wayfare, The Big Cheezy, Ninja Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Brick & Spoon, and Amici Ristorante & Bar, among others. The app is available for free from the App Store and the Google Play Store.

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