As moms, the word “busy” really is not enough to describe our usual schedule. One of the recurring items on our to-do list is to feed our families. Every darn day these people want to eat! Some days it’s a joyous event involving all your loved ones in the kitchen and ending with a triumphant home-cooked meal. And some days the thought of cooking a meal and cleaning it up sounds like pure torture or is truly impossible due to demanding commitments and activities. For those days we have found an answer in OrderUp, an amazingly simple delivery service that will pick up your family’s favorite meal from one of over 135 local restaurants and quickly deliver it to almost anywhere in Iowa City or Coralville, and now to parts of North Liberty.
Using OrderUp is gloriously simple. Just visit the website or use the OrderUp app and enter your address. At the top of the page you’ll select “delivery” or “takeout.” Just choose a restaurant from the long list of local favorites, place your order, and enjoy! We thought it sounded too good to be true, so we had a couple of local moms put it to the test.
Local Experiences With OrderUp:
“My family and I used order up after a long holiday weekend. We had packed in too many fun things, and by the time Monday night rolled around, we were too exhausted to cook dinner. I downloaded the OrderUp app, and it was really user friendly and had a huge variety of restaurants and cuisine.
Right after we placed our order we got a confirmation email that our meal was being made. Then, after a couple minutes, the Delivery Tracker notified us that our driver was on his way to get it! Finally, another notice that it was on the way to our home. I went to go get plates and could not believe it but I got the final notification that they were in our driveway! This was the fastest service I have ever experienced! The food was so hot we had to wait for it to cool before we could eat it.
Order Up is so nice because I’ve found that there are not many places around the Iowa City corridor that deliver. I was thrilled we wouldn’t have to drive across town to get food to-go, and we could just lay around our house until it arrived. Plus, the driver was great! We didn’t have to worry about cash for a tip as we could include that in our total before checking out. All around it was a smooth and impressive experience. We will definitely be using Order Up again.”
– Megan
“I am a busy, work-from-home mom who can usually be spotted eating lunch at my desk or standing at the kitchen sink eating leftovers between conference calls. Every once in awhile I like to mix it up by showering (gasp!), getting dressed, and going to lunch with friends or meeting my hubby downtown at one of our favorite spots. More often than not, however, getting downtown, finding a parking spot in a college town, and having time to enjoy a sit-down lunch is not possible within the confines of my schedule. Enter OrderUp!
Last week I decided to treat myself to a sit-down lunch on my own back porch before my afternoon schedule of meetings. I had been craving a Thai wrap from NoDo (their peanut sauce is to die!). The Order Up app is easy to use and lists all of the restaurants in your zip code range in alphabetical order. Most include a delivery fee from $3-$5 dollars in addition to the meal price (but that $3 is worth not having to find parking during a busy lunchtime!). Many restaurants have “OrderUp specials” too, so watch for that when you select your favorite spot!
My favorite feature on the OrderUp app is the little lunch bag icon where you can track your order and driver in real time. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the pizza delivery waiting game, OrderUp solves this with a Delivery Tracker feature. I followed my delicious Thai wrap’s delivery status minute-by-minute, from the time my driver was on the way to NoDo, to when he had arrived, and when he was driving to my house. From app to table took 25 minutes–just enough time to take a quick shower for my lunch date with myself! Bonus: My order arrived with a coupon for a free delivery next time I ordered from NoDo. I’ll definitely use OrderUp again when I want a change-up to the usual lunch routine!”
– Sherri
Special Features to Try
Order for Later
It’s safe to say that OrderUp is “Mom Approved” in our book! We even have a few quick tips for making the most of your next order. Check out the Order For Later feature, which lets you set a day and time for when you want your food delivered or even what time you want to pick it up (a great option if you live outside the Iowa City/Coralville delivery area and want to plan to pick up a local favorite while you’re in town, or want to arrange for dinner to be delivered to your kids and babysitter while you’re out on a date night).
Group Ordering
There is also a Group Ordering feature that allows multiple people to add to a single order, all you have to do is copy and paste a link and share it via text/email for others to add orders. Group Ordering is great for office lunches, or for a busy family with a older children that have phones so you can send around the link to everyone during a busy day and have everyone’s favorites ready when they get home!
Delivery Tracker
Also, the Delivery Tracker was a clear winner, because it allows you to see where your driver is and what the status of your order is in real time! You can see when your driver gets to the restaurant, you get notified when they leave, when they’re pulling up, and anything in between! If they want to use the Delivery Tracker make sure to select a restaurant that has a little red car underneath the name (most of them do).
Discount Code for YOU!
Last but not least, we love a good discount, and OrderUp offers amazing exclusive daily deals, weekly deals, and monthly deals. So even if you don’t need delivery, sometimes the deals are just too good to pass up! [highlight]Try it yourself by using the discount code: IAEATS for $10 off your first order of $15 or more.[/highlight]
This is a sponsored post. ICMB was compensated for sharing this piece. However, we love connecting our readers with people and organizations that are doing good in our community, and we think you will find this information helpful and informative! All opinions shared within this post are from real local moms who utilized the service and provided personal feedback.