Forget kittens and condoms—Uber will now deliver dishes from Rasika, Mason Dixie Biscuit Co., DGS Delicatessen, and more when UberEATS launches in the District on Tuesday. Unlike the occasional ice cream handout, the new service is currently scheduled to be a permanent lunchtime fixture in DC, Monday through Friday.
The program, which already launched in New York and LA, differs from other higher-end delivery businesses such as Postmates. Instead of having full reign of a restaurant’s menu, Uber users will pull up a “daily menu” that offers one specific dish from a changing selection of popular local restaurants. The inaugural day brings an Italian hoagie from Bub and Pop’s ($8), Rasika’s chicken tikka masala ($15), and a sushi burrito from Buredo ($11.75)—the latter has been drawing long lines, so delivery is a plus. Users can browse weekly menus, and set up reminders for items they’d like to order on future days.
While the selection of options is narrow, it’s designed to make for speedier service–Uber promises delivery in ten minutes or less. The handy “fare split” tool can also be used to purchase multiple meals and divide the cost, which includes a $3 flat service fee, regardless of the number of orders. Instead of a tip, the company asks for a high star rating as reward.
UberEATS will be offered in areas around downtown DC, Capitol Hill, and Shaw at 11 on Tuesday, with intentions to expand the delivery area, hours, and menu options.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
