Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/974559
12 Worcester Business Journal | April 30, 2018 | wbjournal.com Food delivery services like Uber Eats, Grubhub not a be-all end-all for Worcester restaurant scene BY ZACHARY COMEAU Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer Panagiotis Georgiadis, an employee at Meze Greek Tapas Bar & Grill, packs up an Uber Eats order before taking it outside to a waiting driver. F O C U S S M A L L B U S I N E S S The Worcester restaurant scene, to go Notable Worcester restaurants currently using food delivery services A t first, Sotirios "Sam" Georgiadis was skeptical about partnering with Uber Eats, a new service from San Francisco-based ride-hailing giant Uber delivering food to customers. e tech company's commission – 30 percent – was too big for Georgiadis' appetite. "at's a little too much," Georgiadis remembers thinking. Despite his reservations about the commission, his restaurant, Meze Greek Tapas Bar & Grill on Shrews- bury Street was one of 24 Worcester restaurants to appear on Uber Eats when the service launched in Central Massachusetts last month. "ey've actually been pretty good," he said, commenting on the number of Uber drivers already in a city like Worcester. "ey're very fast." New customers, extra revenue e service allows any and all restau- rants to offer delivery without having to pay an hourly employee to deliver food. at means the opportunity to reach new customers without having to take on more employees. "For regular customers, it's a conve- nience for them too," Georgiadis said. Uber Eats or Grubhub customers can't order any drinks or alcohol, which can make up a huge portion of a restau- rant's revenue. But if those customers aren't going to get off the couch, they aren't going to spend their money on good Worcester restaurants, said John Piccolo, owner of Piccolo's Italian Restaurant. "If they're not coming out, I'm not going to sell them a drink," he said. "If they don't come out, I'm not going to sell them any food either." On a particularly busy night, extra Order up (from home) * Denotes restaurant uses both Uber Eats and Grubhub Source: Uber Eats, Grubhub • Taste of Mediterranean • Compass Tavern * • British Beer Co. • La Cucina Italiana • Legacy Bar and Grill • Meze Greek Tapas Bar & Grille • Nonna's Pizza & Pasta • Acoustic Java • Berry Fusion • Benny's Carribean Cuisine • Boulevard Diner • Vegan Nest Cafe • Mai Tai Bar and Sushi • The Fix Burger Bar • Worcester Sandwich Hut * • Oak Barrel Tavern • Uno's • Worcester Pizza Factory • Sake Bomb • Peppercorns • Mezcal Tequila Cantina • Stix Noodle Bar • Volturno • Railers Sports Tavern PHOTO/MATT WRIGHT Grubhub Uber Eats