Where to eat during lockdown

The recent lockdown has been a great time to cook at home, but on days when making dinner (or lunch) feels like too much to handle, there’s plenty of local restaurants still open and ready to serve you a great meal. Establishments have switched to carry-out or pick up in compliance with stay-at-home orders, and it’s best to check on the restaurant’s website or call before stopping by for a bite to eat. 

Food-service establishments run on razor-thin margins in normal times, and quarantine makes it even more challenging to make ends meet. So, if you can, order a meal or two out to show your support, or buy a gift card to be used in the future. Here’s a list of five local restaurants that are still serving during COVID-19. Check eatery websites for the most up-to-date information about pickup and delivery options. 

 

Billy G’s

Italian restaurant Billy G’s in downtown Kirkwood is open for drive-up curbside pickup from 11 a.m.  to 8 p.m, with a limited menu. For their contactless pick-up model, call to place your order from a designated curbside menu, then drive up to the establishment’s curb to have the food delivered right to your car. Their special menu includes many of the restaurant’s classic dishes including spaghetti and meatballs ($16.99) and limited build-your-own pizza and burger options.

Interested in helping local restaurants stay afloat in the midst of this pandemic? The Gateway Resilience Fund is an organization that works to provide short-term grants to the owners of independent restaurants, bars and shops affected by COVID-19. They are accepting donations on their website stlgives.org 

 

Crushed Red- Kirkwood 

Pizza and salad restaurant Crushed Red is open for pick up and delivery through DoorDash, UberEats, and GrubHub. For pickup, the restaurant provides a simple portal within it’s website allowing for scheduled pickups from 8:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. Additionally, they are offering delivery through third-party apps, some of which have adjusted or removed fees for local restaurants in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the menu is a wide range of different options for breakfast (served all day), lunch and dinner. Available for breakfast are the bacon-and-egg-filled “folded flat” breakfast tacos ($5.49), as well as a wide range of more typical pizzas and salads. Craft-your-own pizzas and salads are still available in lieu of the buffet-style customization normally available in the restaurant. 

 

Crushed Red has also partnered with the organization Meals for Meds to provide free-of-cost meals to frontline doctors, with a donation option on the delivery page. Although Crushed Red is part of a larger franchise and isn’t a strictly local restaurant like the others on this list, it was included because of its popularity among many KHS students. 

 

Kirkwood Pizzeria 

Serving a variety of pizza, salads, and appetizers, Kirkwood Pizzeria is offering both delivery and contactless pickup. From 4-8 PM most days, orders can be placed via their website (which offers a 10 percent discount) or by calling. There is a $12 order minimum and orders can be scheduled in advance. For their contactless delivery, orders will be brought directly to your car, and deliveries are made by gloved workers. For extra safety, items can be placed in the back seat of a vehicle or left at a door to eliminate any close contact. Offerings include the house special pizza (10” for $13.99) which comes topped with pepperoni, sausage, salami, mushroom, olive, onion, and jalapeno. Pizzas can be customized with choices of sauce and toppings at this downtown Kirkwood establishment.

Symbowl 

This popular health-food restaurant is serving a limited “pick-2” menu from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day with donation-based pricing allowing customers to pay what they can afford. Offerings include various soups and salads, with one of each available as a combo for a suggested donation of $9. Soup options include caldo verde with chicken chorizo, potato, and kale, as well as shrimp chowder with potato and poblano peppers. For salads, Symbowl offers several options including a spinach, egg and bacon salad with caesar dressing, and a toasted sweet potato salad. Many dishes are diet-friendly including vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options. 

 

To order, Symbowl is accepting payment and orders over the phone, and contactless curbside pickup. The restaurant is also selling t-shirts and gift certificates to help cover the restaurant’s operating costs. Additionally, they are working with produce supplier Ole Tyme Produce to offer donation-based produce boxes available for pickup at the restaurant accompanied by recipes for cooking at home (call the restaurant for availability). Produce ordered through Ole Tyme’s website can also be picked up at Symbowl. 

 

Imo’s Pizza

The St. Louis classic is open for delivery and pickup, serving up the pizzas and salads that they’re famous for. Curbside pickup is available both when ordering via the Imo’s website and when calling, provided that credit card info is given over the phone. Pick up is also available inside the restaurant. Make sure to specify which pickup method you prefer when ordering. Imo’s is offering their full selection of pizzas including build-your-own options ( $9.30 for 10”).

 

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but is a small selection of the great places in the Kirkwood area. Make sure to get out and support your local restaurants.