The restaurant on-demand platform Waitr is set to launch in Chattanooga March 1. The Waitr app lets a customer order from a Chattanooga restaurant, then sends a Waitr driver to deliver it for a flat fee of $5.
Officials said, "Waitr’s appeal goes directly to those who don’t want to – or cannot – leave their home or office for their favorite restaurant meal."
This is the eighth state Waitr has entered after Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
To meet the anticipated demand, the company expects to hire 200 people in Chattanooga.
Restaurants that have already signed with Waitr include Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint, Poblanos Mexican Cuisine, Chicken Salad Chick, Sekisui and Southside Pizza.
Officials said, “From live monitoring of deliveries yielding faster door-to-door service, to the unique ability to provide full-color photography of every menu item from all participating restaurants, there are a number of things that make Waitr stand out among its competitors,” said Whitney Savoie, Market Development Director for Waitr.
Menu prices are the same on the app as they are at the restaurants. Chris Meaux, the company’s founder, said the flat fee is the same no matter the distance from the restaurant or whether you order one meal or 20.
In addition to delivery, Waitr has added a new service to carryout orders. Users order from the app and are alerted at the exact time when the food is ready for pick-up. There is no charge to consumers for placing these orders.
The company will be hosting a launch party at Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint on Thursday at 6 p.m. Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint is located at 818 Georgia Ave.
Waitr is "encouraging everyone to come out and be part of the city’s launch for a special Waitr Trivia Night. Attendees at the free party can test their trivia skills, win cash prizes and take home cool 'swag' items."
After an account is created, you choose a restaurant, browse the fully-customizable menu, select your items and tap to submit the order. All payments happen seamlessly and securely with a credit card, it was stated. Ordering is also available via the web at waitrapp.com.
Waitr is currently hiring in Chattanooga. Drivers can apply at https://waitrapp.com/become-a-driver.
Waitr has more than 4,000 restaurant partners and hundreds of thousands of users in more than 150 cities.