This post has been sponsored by Door Dash and food was provided in order to write this review. All opinions are 100% our own!
As a new mom of three little ones, life has been a little complicated lately. The transition has actually been relatively easy. My sweet (3rd!!) boy has blended right into our daily routine and his little brothers couldn’t love him more. It’s all the little details you don’t think about that makes life just a little more difficult. Laundry takes twice as long. The dream of a floor clear of clutter is long gone. Errands that I once mastered with 2 kids, is now overwhelming. Grocery shopping? Not going to happen if I’m solo with a 5 year old, 3 year old, and 7 month old.
Over the last few months, I’ve had to swallow my pride and admit I just cannot do it all. I can keep my kids safe and happily entertained for 8 hours throughout the day, but that might mean that my husband comes home to a messy house and dinner hasn’t even entered my mind. And of course, each day is different. Some days I have great intentions and although there’s a fully stocked fridge just a few feet away, the physical act of making dinner can almost be painful. (Please tell me there’s a light at the end of the tunnel!)
Most recently I’ve discovered a new company in Dallas designed to help families like mine — Door Dash. Door Dash is a restaurant delivery service that allows you to quickly order your favorite meals from over 80 of your local restaurants through a convenient mobile app or their website. While they’ve been in Dallas a little over a year, they’ve recently expended to cover more areas in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex including Arlington, Southlake, The Colony, and Flower Mound.
How Door Dash Works
1. Download Door Dash on Google Play or iTunes App Store OR visit their website to create a login. There’s NO monthly services fees or annual memberships required to order. Simply provide them with your home address and a payment method for delivery.
2. Once registered, you can select from a wide range of food choices — Burgers, Mexican, American, Asian fusion, Salads, etc — or simply browse from a list of popular restaurants near by.
3. When you click on a location, you’ll have access to a variety of information to help you make your choice. Learn the hours of operation, how long it will take to deliver from initial order, a typical price range, and a full menu with item descriptions. If you’re looking to try something new, each restaurant is given a “Delight Score” based on popularity, quality, and overall customer happiness.
In my area of Dallas (near Addison), I was amazed at some of the choices that were at my fingertips. Door Dash provided over 172 restaurants that I could have had delivered included Coal Vines, McAlister’s Deli, On the Border, Lekka, Little Greek, and even Chick-Fil-A!
When we first gave Door Dash a try, we were craving barbecue and found one of our favorites, Ten50 BBQ, was an option. I quickly selected a few entrees and sides, and because we’re picky added a few special requests like extra BBQ sauce and the cut of meat we’d prefer. This was also partly a test to see if dietary needs or other requests could be made through Door Dash if needed in the future.
4. Once you’ve selected your items, you’ll head to check out and select a time window for your food to be delivered. Select Order, and your food is on it’s way to being prepared and delivered!
We selected a 5:30pm-6:00pm window (just in case it took a little longer than expected), and at exactly 5:19pm we received a text that our Door Dash driver had picked up our order and it was on the way! Then at 5:35pm, we received another text that our driver was approaching the house, and at 5:40pm, Ten50 BBQ was on the table — special requests and all!
Important Tips & Reminders when using Door Dash
- As mentioned, there’s no membership fees or service charges when ordering from Door Dash, but they do have delivery charges with each other to help pay the drivers and cover the cost of gas. Expect to pay a $6.99 delivery fee with most orders. But take advantage of extra savings at some restaurants to help cut down on this cost. Look for the red “SAVE $3.”
- Similar to pizza delivery, it’s always appreciated when drivers are tipped, but Door Dash makes it easy to show your thanks for ensuring your order is exactly the way you asked. There’s no need to have cash. Simply add your tip onto your order, and they’ll include it on your credit card charge. (Typical delivery tip is 15-18%, but our poor driver delivered in the pouring rain last week, so we gave her a little bit extra!)
- If you’re curious why many restaurants expect up to an hour delivery time, it’s not because your food has been sitting for an hour waiting on pickup. Similarly to if you’d called the restaurant and ordered food to-go, the food prep, pickup, and delivery to your home takes time. Make sure to allow plenty of time before you’re ready to eat to order! If you can, schedule your food delivery well in advance. (I scheduled our BBQ at 4:00pm for a 5:30-6:00pm window.)
- And of course, think reasonably about food choices. The type of food you’re looking to order and the distance from the restaurant to your home will make a big difference in your satisfaction and the freshness of the food. Chances are soft tacos might be a little soggy or rice may be a little sticky if it’s a 20 minute drive away from your home.
If you find yourself feeling guilty for not being able to cook tonight, bring the fun of eating out to your home by giving Door Dash a try! Or, even better, schedule an At-Home Date Night after the kiddos are in bed, and let Door Dash deliver!
For more information on how to use Door Dash, visit their website or Facebook page.
Use the code “DALLASMOMS” for $5 off your 1st Order!
