After living on or near campus for an extended period of time, many college students get tired of eating at the same restaurants and cafés. With limited access to kitchen appliances, some students resort to food delivery.
This has sparked a frenzy of “online food-ordering” companies to bring their services to college campuses.
Buffalo's well-known food even nabbed the city a third place spot in National Geographic's list of Top 10 Food Cities with dishes that include Buffalo wings, beef on weck and chicken finger subs.
These sites make it easier for students to access the best food Buffalo has to offer just by using their smartphones.
Grubhub
Founded in 2004, Grubhub is one of the more recognized online food delivery companies with. In 2013, Grubhub merged with New York City-based company Seamless to form Grubhub, Inc.
Grubhub has an extensive variety of services for students to utilize. The website and app provides the option of submitting your address which shows every restaurant that delivers to your area.
When you order, the restaurant receives a fax and automated phone call from a Grubhub representative outlining your order.
Some of the restaurants include Just Pizza, Samurai, Calabria Pizzeria, Sushi Time, Venus Greek and Mediterranean and 80 China Café.
Delivery fees vary from free to $5.99.
Takeout Taxi Buffalo
Takeout Taxi is a privately owned Buffalo-based company. It offers a variety of restaurant options that are not normally expected to have a delivery option.
The process is similar to Grubhub’s – first pick a restaurant and then choose which food you’d like to order.
Takeout Taxi offers a variety of steakhouses and chain restaurants in the area including BRAVO, Chili’s, SATO, Sushi Time and Tully’s.
The delivery fee is $5.99 and up, depending on location, and they will deliver anywhere in the Buffalo area.
Takeout Taxi also offers office lunch service 24 hours in advance.
OrderUp
OrderUp was originally founded in Baltimore, Maryland before expanding to the Buffalo area. Groupon acquired the delivery company in July 2015. The company offers delivery options from Calios, Just Pizza and Besta Pizza. And students who don't feel like heading to the Student Union on North Campus can rejoice at the fact OrderUp delivers Moe's.
Delivery fees range from $1.10 to $5.50.
The website and app also offers a loyalty cash feature that allows users to accumulate money to use in the future on an order.
EatStreet
EatStreet was founded in 2010 and is available in more than 15,000 restaurants across the United States. The service not only offers online and app ordering but also has a Facebook ordering feature.
EatStreet has teamed up with Meals on Wheels in Buffalo to donate proceeds of their service to charity with the “Serve Up A Smile” program, with an annual minimum donation of $50,000.
EatStreet offers similar options to Grubhub and OrderUp including Bruno’s Pizzeria, Muscarella’s Pizza, Taste of India and Slice of Italy.
Delivery fees are in the $2 range.
Evan Schneider is a news desk editor and can be reached at news@ubspectrum.com.
