Uber Eats has made its grand debut in Wagga, with the delivery app coming online at 10am today.
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Uber Eats is the latest in a line of food delivery apps such as Menulog and Eat Appy, which allow diners to order takeaway straight from their phones.
Mere hours after launching many Wagga restaurants immediately signed up to the service, including Kebab'alish owner Mandy Patey who was "very excited" to jump on board.
"Takeaway has been very important for us, especially with what's happening around the world at the moment with COVID," Ms Patey said.
"At one stage we had no tables and chairs, and now we've gradually started to get a few tables back."
Ms Patey said it had been a rough few weeks when the food court tables in the Sturt Mall closed down, but was able to keep going thanks to some loyal customers who continued to support the business through takeaway.
"We've got a great customer base. We've been pretty lucky with all the support we've been having," Ms Patey said.
"We're very privileged."
Grill'd owner Brad Carroll has begun hiring more staff in anticipation of busier days ahead, as both takeaway and dine-in continues to ramp up.
"We're hiring because we've started with Uber Eats and we've been getting some support from Menulog and other avenues," Mr Carroll said.
"The uptick in the last few months has been because of the community - they've got behind local businesses and are supporting their own backyard first which has been fantastic."
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Mr Carroll said if anything the restaurant was currently about 10 per cent busier than last year, despite having a third of the usual seats.
Robert Balivia has enabled Uber Eats for both of his businesses: Thaigga and Tammy's Thai.
"Originally we weren't going to do it because I felt like two online ordering platforms were enough, but with restrictions, COVID, and not knowing whether it's going to get worse or not, I thought it'd be a good idea to jump on board and have another option for people to order from," Mr Balivia said.
"People are still eating, they're just not eating in the shop - they're ordering to take home. With the decrease in dine-in it still doesn't cover that loss, but it's very helpful."
Uber Eats' Elisa Janiec said there had been a strong take-up in Wagga, despite only being online for a day.
"In Wagga Wagga we've had support from restaurants from the Murrumbidgee to well south of the Sturt Highway including Thaigga, JD's Kebabs Chicken Pizza, New Oceanic Takeaway, and Kebab'alish," she said.