How to Support Your Favorite Local Restaurants

A lot of local restaurants are struggling to stay afloat amid the pandemic, but the good news is that there are many things you can do to help!

8 ways to support the local restaurants you love

#1. Order carry-out

Rising COVID cases across the country mean that, in many places, local restaurants have had to navigate operations with strict restrictions in place. This has led to a decrease and sometimes complete elimination of in-person dining.

However, just because you may not be able to sit, eat and enjoy the full experience of your favorite restaurants, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get a great meal from them every once in a while.

Many restaurants have started relying heavily on carry-out to make up for the lack of in-person business. Continuing to support the restaurants you love by ordering carry-out is a great way to show you care. Plus, it’s probably about a million times tastier than eating at a fast-food chain!

#2. Write reviews

Want to help your favorite local restaurants get more business (and stay in business)? One of the best ways you can show your support is by simply going online and leaving a review!

People rely heavily on online restaurant reviews when deciding where to eat. You can help hungry people connect with the local restaurants you love by taking just a few minutes out of your day to write a review.

Writing reviews is also great for local restaurants because it helps them to be more visible both on search engines, like Google, and local directories and websites, like Yelp or Facebook.

Last but certainly not least, you can encourage the team at your favorite local restaurant and let them know how much you love their delicious eats!

#3. Buy gift cards

In addition to ordering take-out from your favorite local restaurants, you should also consider buying gift cards. It’s a fantastic way to support local businesses, and demonstrates your commitment to keep supporting them in the future!

If you’re looking for a great gift for friends or family, consider giving out gift cards to the local restaurants and other businesses you love to frequent!

Buying gift cards from your favorite restaurants will help you support the local businesses you love, introduce them to the people you love and spread the joy that only a full, satisfied tummy can bring!

#4. Spread the word on social media

Ordering dinner from your go-local restaurant tonight? Snap a picture of your meal and share it with your friends and family on Facebook, Instagram or whatever social media platform you like to use.

Not only is this a wonderful way to let your friends and family know where to get a great meal in town, but you can also show your favorite restaurants how much you love what they have to offer.

User-generated content like this is a powerful tool for local restaurants looking to spread the word and get new customers in the door. It’s an effective, free way to help your favorite local businesses grow and thrive.

#5. Purchase meal kits

A lot of local businesses have had to get creative in order to survive the pandemic, and one of the ways many businesses have gotten creative is offering ready-to-cook meal kits with everything an amateur chef would need to recreate some of their favorite dishes at home.

If you like to cook, you want to learn some new skills in the kitchen and you want to support the local restaurants you love, take advantage of the meal kits they’re offering.

Just like gift cards, meal kits can also be fun, out-of-the-box holiday gifts that your friends and family will love.

#6. Order delivery

Delivery is another additional service that many local restaurants have started offering because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And, if you can’t get out and about, it’s a fantastic way to enjoy the food you love while supporting the restaurants you love.

If you’re going to go the delivery route, opt for the in-house delivery service if offered. Third-party delivery apps have made it possible for many local restaurants to offer delivery and keep serving their customers, but they often charge exorbitant fees to restaurants.

However, if the only delivery option is a third-party delivery service, it’s still preferable to support a local restaurant than not!

#7. Follow, like and comment on social media

Want to help your favorite local restaurants find more success online? If so, one of the best things you can do is to follow their social media profiles, and like, comment on and share their posts.

In general, the more engagement a business gets on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms, the more visible it will be. Plus, more fans and interaction shows the other hungry people in your area that the restaurant is good enough that they have a loyal following.

Like writing reviews and sharing pictures of meals, engaging with the local restaurants you love on social media is a free, effective way to show the love and provide them with much-needed support.

#8. Ask how you can help

There are a lot of great ways you can support your favorite local restaurants, but if you want to make the biggest impact, the best way to go about it is often to simply ask.

While many local restaurants are facing the same challenges, not every restaurant will have the same focus or needs.

For instance, one restaurant may be pushing gift cards and meal kits, while another would prefer customers to choose carry-out over delivery. You can’t always know what the local restaurants you love need until you ask!


Want to write reviews for the local restaurants you frequent the most? Want to find a delicious meal from a local restaurant nearby?

Find local restaurants near you with Top Rated Local® today!

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