Shreveport-Bossier restaurant takeout, to-go options are plentiful
My family is safely hunkered down, and I have been loving having more time to cook. But we have still been enjoying some great takeout and curbside treats during this time of avoiding COVID-19. The safest way to do this is contactless, curbside delivery, but some restaurants still have the option to pay cash. It’s best to call and check in first. In addition, some restaurants are not serving their full menus. Call or check their websites or Facebook pages to determine just what is on offer. You will find that many are also offering wine or beer at half price to take home with your order.
Lowder Baking Company is offering a great model for contactless curbside. You call your order in and pay online with your credit card. When you arrive, just call and let them know your car model. They will put your order in the back seat of your car. We ordered breakfast one morning and enjoyed a scrumptious cinnamon roll, almond croissant, and blueberry danish. They were SO delicious! Order a cup of coffee, and you’ll be supporting Rhino coffee as well. Lowder is also making fresh bread for sandwiches and burgers as well as delicious baguettes.
We love seafood, so at the very beginning of the shut down, I ordered some curbside takeout from Zuzul. The calamari came with two delicious sauces—aioli and marinara; the tuna tostadas were a real treat with raw tuna, frizzled leek, and a spicy sauce drizzled over the top.
Frank’s Louisiana Kitchen was having some really great seafood specials this week as well. My husband and I got two dozen oysters ($24) with a bottle of French sparkling wine ($10). It was a decadent treat! Frank’s is offering all sorts of family meals to go, as well.
I have been wanted to try Ramirez Mexican on Pines Road ever since I read Chris Jay’s description of the Crazy Rice, so we ordered a couple of nights ago. The menu can be found on their Facebook page under photos. They have their regular menu as well as family style orders. You can even get $6.99 frozen margaritas in flavors like mango, strawberry, raspberry, and more—to go!
The Crazy Rice was as good as I expected. Bits of chicken and steak fajita as well as crispy bacon were tossed with Spanish rice and served with melted cheese on top. SO good. And if you aren’t feeding a teenage boy, it’s big enough to share. The chicken with mushrooms was also a highlight. Our order came with a generous serving of chips and fresh salsa with fresh cilantro—just as I like it!
Of course, there are many more restaurants offering their wonderful food than the ones we have been able to visit so far—Ki’ Mexico, Ralph’s, Marilynn’s Place, Southern Classic, Giussepe’s Pastacaffee, Bergeron’s, Poppin Pizza, Uneeda Taco, Abby Singer Bistro, and the list goes on! I encourage all of you readers to join the Curbside 318 Eats! group on Facebook if you are interested in who is involved. The landscape of who is still open changes daily, but I think it is so important to help our friends and neighbors stay afloat while still maintaining the distance needed to slow the spread of this horrible virus.
Some businesses are getting creative. Blake Jackson at Whisk Dessert Bar is not only offering curbside but also offering assorted boxes of treats called “pinpals” that people can mail to themselves or friends under quarantine. You can order these on their website.
Many chains are also locally owned and are open. The IHOP on Pines Road is one as are Carrabas, Chicken Salad Chick, and so many others. Some are offering curbside and also waiving delivery fees and/or offering specials, as well.
More:Local restaurants offering carryout, curbside services and deals
The 318 Restaurant Eats! group is also in its first week of a drive to fund giving gift cards to our hospital workers. If everyone on the group gave a $1 a week, we could funnel almost $6,000 to restaurants while helping out exhausted and stressed out hospital workers.
A few local restaurants have been working to help hospital workers, police, and other first responders, too. Twisted Root and Pizza Rev teamed up in a dollar-for-dollar match campaign with Hargrove Roofing & Construction ArklaTex to donate gift cards to staff at Willis Knighton Health Care Systems, and they will be donating at other area hospitals as well. Whisk Dessert Bar is doing a cookie delivery drive. For every $1, Whisk matches a dollar. Donations can be made on Venmo using the code @cookiesforcare (confirmation code 5407).
If nothing else, this is a chance for our community to come together to support each other. Stay well, everyone!
