When Heather Asbury opened Heather's in early March, she made the now-prescient decision to include a walk-up window in her south Minneapolis restaurant.
Her initial plan was to use the sidewalk-facing portal to foster convenient coffee and ice cream sales. But when Gov. Tim Walz closed all restaurant dining rooms, that window suddenly became a gateway into a wide range of takeout options.
"This whole opening-a-restaurant thing has been crazier than I ever thought it would be," said Asbury. "We can't get used to anything, because every day is a new adventure. We're busy. We want to keep our staff employed during these hard times. And we're going to try and feed the neighborhood, so they don't have to rely upon canned soup."
Takeout is keeping some restaurants — and many delivery services — busy all over the Twin Cities. And drawing much-needed revenue into an industry in crisis mode.
At local restaurants, ordering platforms vary: via phone, websites or smartphone apps. Connections to consumers range from takeout to curbside pickup to delivery. And remember: Please tip generously.
MULTIPLE TWIN CITIES LOCATIONS
Black Sheep Pizza
Exceptional pizza, with pies baked in coal-fired ovens. It's tough to pick a favorite, but they might include a vegan tomato-oregano version, a sublime meatball-garlic-ricotta beauty or a vegetarian blend of smoked mozzarella, oyster mushrooms and rosemary. Buy a $100 gift card and receive a free order of baked ziti, while supplies last. Delivery and curbside, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
512 N. Robert St., St. Paul, 651-227-4337; 600 Washington Av. N., Mpls., 612-342-2625; and 2550 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-886-1233, blacksheeppizza.com