Submitted by Jonathan Nassar

From a Distance, There is Delivery

(Apologies to Bette Midler.)

In a typical Houston summer, people congregate to air conditioned or water-based activities. There has definitely been a lot less congregating these past several months, which has added a little challenge to what I think is Houston’s toughest season. I think anyone who has followed the news has probably heard that it has been a challenging time for Houston’s restaurants as well.

Being stuck at home has meant a lot of dining-in meals for us, but my family has tried to do its part to help as well, ordering take-out and delivery. And, certainly, some restaurants have gone out of their ways to ensure an elevated take out experience for their distanced diners.

One early such success for an at- home date night was Brennan’s of Houston in Midtown. I have tried take- out from a few Midtown and Downtown locations with mixed success. I have often had to park and go inside to get my take- out - and parking in those areas can be hard to come by. Brennan’s took care of my order - payment and all - from the valet area. No circling of blocks necessary. It looks to me from their menu that Brennan’s has thought about what travels well, and what simple steps diners can take at home - like cocktail kits. Combine a mini-sized bottle of booze with a signature mix, and presto.

Restaurants have continued to keep quality service in mind as well. After a third-party delivery driver messed up my order by arbitrarily picking substitutes for my food choices, the excellent folks at Savoir (14th and Yale) called me to fix my order, tossed in an extra dessert for my inconvenience, and the manager offered to drive the food himself so my dinner wouldn’t be delayed. The personal touch they showed definitely will have a lasting effect on my impression of the establishment. This also turned out to be a meal that greatly impressed my wife and I. I could eat their carrot appetizer for days.

Figuring out take out and delivery services has definitely been hit-or-miss. I am sure I am not the only one with a mixture of good and bad experiences. Regardless of how much longer we are impacted by this virus, I hope there are several lessons we will all keep for years to come (like cocktail kits).

Contact us with your favorite delivery and take-out spots, and we’ll add it to our list of area restaurants!