Not too long ago, this blog shared some recipes for classic Tex-Mex dishes. While we hope that our list inspired some of our readers to try their hand at Tex-Mex cooking, we fully understand that not everyone has the means, energy, or desire to do so. Well, if you happen to fall into the latter category, today’s post is for you! Here are two easy solutions for folks who’d like to eat Tex-Mex at home but really don’t want to cook Tex-Mex at home:
Place an Order for Pickup…
Not all restaurants offer take-out services, but a surprising number of them actually do. While more and more places are now advertising curbside delivery or skip-the-line internet ordering, many eateries have always “unofficially” allowed their customers to do this. So, if the end of your work day finds you craving your favorite Tex-Mex meal but you don’t feel up to eating it in a restaurant, give the establishment a call and ask if you can place an order to be picked up later. Chances are, they’ll be happy to accommodate you, and they’ll even give you an estimate of how long the meal will take to prepare. When the time comes, you can walk into the restaurant, tell the host or hostess that you called ahead to order your food, and they’ll be able to instruct you from there.
There are a handful of advantages to utilizing the “order food for pickup” technique. Maybe you’re tired and don’t want to deal with being in a crowded, noisy eatery or interacting with (and tipping) a server. Maybe you’re in a hurry to get home and you know that it will be easy enough to stop by a restaurant on the way to your house. Or maybe the establishment is offering a meal special, and you want to take some entrées home for your whole family to enjoy. Either way, ordering ahead gives you an opportunity to enjoy restaurant food without the restaurant environment. Just don’t try to order a margarita in a to-go cup with a straw, as Texas’s Open Container Law makes that a definite no-no!
…Or Have it Brought Right to Your Door.
We all have the occasional “stay at home” day in which we really don’t feel like cooking and would rather just buy a ready-made meal. But if you lack access to a car, don’t feel well, or are just unwilling to put on shoes and real pants, then obtaining food in this manner may be a bit of a challenge. How, exactly, is a housebound—or just really lazy—person supposed to overcome the cruel obstacles that stand between them and their favorite restaurant entrée?!
The answer, of course, is to have your desired dish delivered directly to your home. Gone are the days in which your only options for delivery were Chinese takeout, pizza, and maybe the occasional deli sandwich. Eateries of all shapes, sizes, and culinary specialties are jumping on the delivery bandwagon, so refusing to get dressed and/or comb your hair will no longer impede your ability to eat a restaurant-quality meal. And with the advent of online ordering, either through a restaurant’s official website or certain specialty apps (e.g., GrubHub or DoorDash), customizing entrees to your specifications is easier than ever before.
Now, before you vow that your days of picking up your own food are over, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, most eateries usually have a set delivery radius, and if you’re located outside this designated area, then the restaurant will be unable to send a driver your way—for example, at Mattito’s restaurants, our delivery radius is five miles from the establishment fulfilling your order. Different businesses have different delivery radii, so that’s definitely something to research ahead of time. Restaurants generally levy a small fee for delivering food, and it’s also customary to tip your delivery driver when your meal arrives safe and sound. The delivery fee is not a tip for your driver; that must be paid separately!
■■■
When you want to bring Tex-Mex food into your home but you don’t feel like cooking it yourself, you essentially have two choices: place an order for pick-up, or have the food delivered. Both options have distinct advantages, but neither one is absolutely perfect. Remember: pickups still require you to go to the restaurant in-person to get your meal, and deliveries typically add restrictions and fees to your order. Whichever method you choose, though, the end result is the same: you get to eat Tex-Mex food.
