Where to get DIY restaurant meal kits for ‘people not quite comfortable coming out to eat yet’
Until consumers go out to eat again in pre-pandemic numbers, restaurants will continue to get creative to pay the bills.
They turned to curbside and grocery sales during the shutdown. Now some eateries are ramping up meal kit offerings, letting customers pick up the prepped ingredients to finish off at home.
Bristol Seafood + Steak + Social has been selling its steaks and scallops to cook at home. But for Memorial Day weekend they upped the offerings with a Seafood Boil Kit.
“It’s kind of our new normal. There is a definite segment of people not quite comfortable coming out to eat yet,” said Brian Barnes, general manager. “You put it in a stockpot and about 30 minutes later it will be ready. It screams Memorial Day.”
From Baskin-Robbins to Taco Bell, here are some new meal kits:
▪ Baskin-Robbins. DIY Sundae Kits with ice cream, toppings, whipped cream and cherries. $24.99.
▪ Bristol Seafood + Steak + Social, Leawood and Power & Light District. It’s Seafood Boil Kit comes with step-by-step instructions and such ingredients as shrimp, lobster tails, crab legs, mussels or clams, Andouille sausage, corn on the cob, Yukon gold potatoes and seasonings — even bibs.
It is on the menu through Monday for $150, serving four to six people.
▪ Chick-fil-A. Chicken Parmesan Meal Kits with two seasoned, breaded and pressure-cooked chicken fillets, marinara sauce, Italian-style cheeses, garlic and lemon pasta, and instructions. Starting at $14.99 for two people.
Area franchisee Forrest Swyden said he is selling six to 10 kits a day, the meals are made with fresh chicken and produce the day the customer buys it.
‘”Guests also say that having the meal on the table in 20 to 25 minutes is a big plus,” Swyden said. But he said some customers would like the pasta portions to be larger.
▪ Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, Crossroads: The menu includes a Pasta Supper Kit with cavatelli or gnocchi Bolognese (or both), garlic koji focaccia, large greens salad with shaved radishes, crushed hazelnuts and malt vinaigrette for $65.
▪ Dunkin. DIY Donut Kits are available at some locations. Donut rings and a variety of frostings and sprinkles. Four donuts for $5.99 and nine donuts for $9.99..
▪ North Italia, Town Center Crossing in Leawood. Family Kit with a large Caesar salad, Parmesan garlic bread, tiramisu and choice of fresh pasta (tagliatelle, bucatini, rigatoni or strozzapreti), as well as choice of pasta sauce ( Bolognese, marinara, garlic Parmesan cream or basil pesto). $65, serving four to six people.
▪ Taco Bell. At Home Taco Bar with flour tortillas, taco shells, nacho chips, seasoned beef, shredded lettuce, nacho cheese and hot sauce packets. $25, serving six people.
Denny’s tried the meal kits for a limited time in some markets— including a breakfast and picnic option — but is now concentrating on its Family Shareable Packs as a take-home special.
Consumers also might expect the DIY meals to be a bit cheaper than the dine-in experience since they are doing the cooking, but some prices are close to what they would pay dining in, industry experts say.
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 3:34 PM.