Step 1: Check the weather.
We prefer to head out for pickup when the weather is nice. There’s nothing like an excuse to leave the office or head out for a stroll when there is a food order waiting at the end of it.
Step 2: Map-Based Search is your best friend.
If you’re planning on picking up your food, there are a few options. First, make sure you consult the map of all of the restaurants near you. You can expand the map since you’re picking up, so aren’t limited to any kind of “zone.” Another way to use this is to do the opposite — zoom in to your block radius and order from somewhere nearby. If you plan on walking you won’t want to be farther than 10-15 minutes.
Step 3: Filter by distance
If map-based search doesn’t do it for you, go ahead and use the “Distance” filter. This will help you see what options are closest.
Step 4: Use cuisine and rating filters to narrow things down
Like you usually would in an order, once you have sorted by distance or have found the area on the map you want to be in, filter by cuisine and rating to narrow down your search for food. Remember, keep both the number of reviews and the star rating in mind. Learn more on how to read reviews here.
Step 5: Decide on the best time to place your order based on what you;re doing.
Driving home from work and traffic says 30 minutes? Place the order a few minutes before you leave the office. Going out for a run for 45 minutes? Place the order right before you head out and swing by to pick it up as you make the final lap home.
Step 6: Last but not least, wear comfortable walking shoes. (Or just drive)
Depending on where you live, whether it be a city or the ‘burbs, the final step is going to pick up the food. So if you’re trekking out by foot, make sure to slide on some sneakers. And if you’re driving up to the restaurant’s front door, shoes obviously don’t matter — just make sure you time it right so you don’t have to wait in the car.
