COVID-19 restrictions might mean you can't go to a restaurant.
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But a number of eateries in the Illawarra are having great success bringing the restaurant to you.
Omar Nemer, of Samaras in Wollongong and Woonona, was among the first to introduce a drive-thru service when social distancing restrictions forced restaurants to close their doors.
The idea quickly caught on and now the number of food trucks travelling around the Illawarra has steadily grown to the point where many neighbourhoods have at least one offering a convenient mobile drive-thru service in the area each night.
Mr Nemer said it meant more business for more eateries that would otherwise be solely relying on takeaway and deliveries.
On Wednesday night the Illawarra Mercury caught up with Samaras mobile catering service at Dapto Showground along with a Steve's Woodfired Pizza truck.
"Our restaurants are still open for takeaway and delivery," Mr Nemer said.
"We implemented the delivery services when we had to close the doors. But then a lot of people started asking if we delivered to places like Dapto, Helensburgh and Shellharbour.
"The amount of interest we had for our deliver service made me think about using our trucks and trailer for a drive-thru service in various locations.
"We normally use them to cater for weddings, music festivals and markets. And I thought why don't we use them to do pop-ups here, there and everywhere.
"It was when the new laws about social distancing came out that I thought why not make it a drive-thru service. We already had the wireless point-of-sale system in our food trucks. So it made perfect sense".
Samaras was able to deploy a system that was already working well for walk up customers.
Mr Nemer fine tuned it so people don't even need to hop out of their car.
"It is really efficient, really fast and really smooth," he said.
"It is the same food Samaras is renowned for in the restaurant.
"When we go to places like Helensburgh, Dapto, Unanderra amnd Kiama people are really happy for us to be there. We are also definitely planning to head to Nowra. We are just looking for the right location".
Mr Nemer said in many locations there are now more than one food truck, from businesses such as Amigos, 2 Smoking Barrels, Steve's Wood Fired Pizza and il Nido Trattoria Pizza and Cin Cin Pizza Cucina Bar's new woodfired pizza truck.
He said there were enough moving around the region to bring people variety and a different choice each night from the seat of their car.
"I was the first to do drive-thru but it is now benefiting a lot more businesses. We are shifting locations between each other".
On Thursday nights Samaras is at Unanderra with Amigos.
"We are only targeting areas that our restaurants are not presently delivering too. The response has been crazy. At one location we did half a week's trade in just three hours".
That response is helping Samaras stay open and create employment.
"The drive-thru trucks are not only keeping my workers employed it is giving them more hours. On top of that I have hired an additional four people. And with the delivery driving business we have hired an extra four people," Mr Nemer said.
"I am also looking at putting two apprentices on just to keep up with the preparation required. It is going really well for us at the moment".
Mr Nemer said Samaras was not just feeding people stuck at home in isolation.
It was putting smiles on their faces and giving them another an opportunity to stay connected..
"People are loving it. Having the ability to provide them our food close to their home means when they get back there it is still hot.They love that".
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The Illawarra Mercury has launched a Taking Care of Business campaign.
Each day we will highlight a local business who is adapting or evolving to be able to keep operating under these trying times.
If you know of a business adapting, please send us an email titled Taking Care of Business to cos@illawarramercury.com.au.
We have also put a call out and will run a list of cafes, restaurants and clubs who are offering takeaway or delivery on our Facebook page. If you know of an outlet now offering home delivery or takeaway, please let us know and add it to the list.
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Read more:
- New same day contact free alcohol delivery starts in response to COVID-19
- Wollongong-founded COVID-19 Facebook foodie group 'Illawarra Menus' racks up 20,000 followers in six days
- Liquor and Gaming Authority allows Grill'd to deliver beer or wine with meals
- How COVID-19 sparks innovative idea for self isolation deliveries
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
