Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people across the United States are losing their jobs and incomes. The restaurant industry in particular is likely to be one of the hardest hit by the outbreak of this disease. On March 20, the City of Atlanta officially banned all in-person dining. Other cities, such as Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Roswell, along with DeKalb County, have adopted similar ordinances.
Along with in-person dining, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms shut down all bars, nightclubs, private social clubs, fitness centers, gyms, movie theaters, bowling alleys and arcades within the city limits. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, this new order affects about 3,000 restaurants which employ roughly 100,000 people. Due to this order, most restaurants have closed down entirely.
However, the order does not prohibit restaurants from still providing delivery, takeout or drive through food service, and some restaurants are remaining open in an effort to keep their workers employed. Officials have stressed the importance of recognizing and supporting those who are risking their health every day to provide food. People are encouraged to not only order food from these restaurants, but also consider purchasing gift cards from the eateries that people go to frequently.
Below are some restaurants that Atlantans can continue to support during this time.
If one is craving a hamburger, chicken sandwich or fries, there are several restaurants to check out. Shake Shack, which has locations in Perimeter, Buckhead and Old Fourth Ward, is providing takeout.
Farm Burger, with locations in Buckhead, Midtown Atlanta and Decatur, is doing takeout, curbside delivery and delivery via UberEats, Grubhub, DoorDash and Postmates. Farm Burger sources fresh, local ingredients and has various vegetarian/vegan options.
For those wanting a lighter meal, Souper Jenny’s, with locations in Buckhead, Brookhaven, Roswell and the Westside, is open for soup pick-up. KarmaFarm, with a location in Buckhead, caters to those who are gluten, dairy and nut free, and is doing drive-thru or takeout. French restaurant AIX is offering 10% off all pickup orders and giving 100% of their profit to staff members during this period.
Across from Piedmont Hospital on Peachtree Road, Korean BBQ and Mexican fusion restaurant Yumbii, that often caters to Pace on Food Truck Fridays, is offering large family-style menu items that can be taken home and refrigerated. For those who live within a five-mile radius, Yumbii is also offering free delivery.
Little Rey in Piedmont Heights is delivering their Tex-Mex comfort foods to homes, as well as offering curbside pick-up. Little Rey is waiving the restaurant’s service charge, too. Southwestern restaurant Taqueria del Sol has four locations around Atlanta and is serving a to-go menu.
For breakfast, The Original Pancake House, an Atlanta institution of over 40 years, is offering a free stack of pancakes with every to-go order and is located on Cheshire Bridge.
With locations across Atlanta, Blue Moon Pizza is serving speciality pizzas, sandwiches, pastas and salads. They are also selling take-n-bake pizzas that can last in the fridge for a few days.
These restaurants are just a few of the countless eateries that are continuing to serve Atlanta during this world pandemic. To learn more about restaurants that are providing delivery or takeout, Eater Atlanta is providing constant updates on their website.
Those concerned about hourly workers who are most likely to go without paychecks can donate to causes like the Giving Kitchen, a non-profit organization that provides emergency assistance to food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources. Also, the Atlanta Community Food Bank is accepting donations to feed people who cannot work and/or afford food during this time.