The Ultimate Guide to Ordering Restaurant Food on Instacart: Everything You Need to Know

To order restaurant food on Instacart, simply open the app or website and select the ‘Restaurant’ tab. From there, you can browse a list of participating restaurants in your area, or search for a specific restaurant by name. Once you’ve selected a restaurant, you can browse their menu and add items to your cart. You can also filter your search by cuisine, price, and rating to find the perfect restaurant for your needs. For example, if you’re in the mood for Italian food, you can filter your search by ‘Italian’ and browse a list of Italian restaurants in your area. You can also read reviews from other customers to help you make your decision.

When you’re ready to checkout, simply review your order and select a delivery time. You can choose from a variety of delivery times, including same-day delivery and next-day delivery. You’ll also have the option to provide special instructions or requests for your order, such as special sauces or no utensils.

Once you’ve placed your order, Instacart’s team of shoppers will get to work preparing your food for delivery. This typically takes less than an hour, and you can track the status of your order in real-time using the Instacart app. You’ll receive updates when your order is being prepared, when it’s on its way, and when it’s arrived at your doorstep. You can also contact Instacart’s customer support team if you have any issues or concerns with your order. For example, if your order is late or missing an item, you can contact customer support to request a refund or replacement.

In addition to real-time tracking, Instacart also offers a variety of delivery options to fit your needs. You can choose from same-day delivery, next-day delivery, or scheduled delivery at a specific time. This makes it easy to plan your meals in advance and ensure that your food is delivered at a time that works for you.

When ordering restaurant food on Instacart, there may be additional fees to consider. These fees can vary depending on the restaurant and your location, but they typically include a delivery fee and service fee. The delivery fee covers the cost of delivering your food, while the service fee covers the cost of preparing and packaging your order. You’ll also be charged for the cost of your food, plus any applicable taxes.

To give you a better idea of what to expect, let’s consider an example. Let’s say you order a meal from a local restaurant that costs $15. You may also be charged a delivery fee of $3.99 and a service fee of 10% of the order total. This would bring the total cost of your order to $20.39. You can view the estimated total cost of your order, including fees, before you checkout.

One of the benefits of ordering restaurant food on Instacart is the ability to schedule a specific delivery time. This makes it easy to plan your meals in advance and ensure that your food is delivered at a time that works for you. To schedule a delivery time, simply select the ‘Scheduled Delivery’ option when you’re checking out. You can choose from a variety of delivery times, including same-day delivery and next-day delivery.

For example, let’s say you want to order lunch for a meeting at work. You can schedule your delivery for 12:00 PM, and Instacart will ensure that your food is delivered at that time. You can also schedule delivery for later in the day, such as 6:00 PM, if you’re planning a dinner party. This makes it easy to plan your meals and ensure that your food is delivered at a time that works for you.

When ordering restaurant food on Instacart, you can expect to find a wide selection of menu items to choose from. The menu selection on Instacart is typically the same as what you would find if you were ordering directly from the restaurant. However, some restaurants may offer exclusive deals or discounts on Instacart, so it’s always a good idea to check the app or website for special promotions.

For example, let’s say you’re ordering from a local Italian restaurant. You may find a variety of menu items to choose from, including pasta dishes, pizzas, and salads. You can also filter your search by price, rating, and cuisine to find the perfect dish for your needs. This makes it easy to find and order your favorite foods, and discover new restaurants and menu items.

Once you’ve placed your order, you can track the status of your delivery in real-time using the Instacart app. You’ll receive updates when your order is being prepared, when it’s on its way, and when it’s arrived at your doorstep. You can also contact Instacart’s customer support team if you have any issues or concerns with your order.

For example, let’s say you’ve ordered lunch from a local restaurant and you’re tracking the status of your delivery. You may receive updates such as ‘Order received’, ‘Order being prepared’, and ‘Order on its way’. This makes it easy to stay up-to-date on the status of your order and plan your day accordingly.

Instacart offers a variety of special promotions and discounts for restaurant orders, including discounts for first-time customers and loyalty rewards. You can find these promotions on the Instacart app or website, and they’re typically listed on the restaurant’s page or in the ‘Deals’ section.

For example, let’s say you’re a first-time customer and you’re ordering from a local restaurant. You may be eligible for a discount of 10% off your order total. You can also earn loyalty rewards by ordering from the same restaurant multiple times, such as a free dish after your fifth order. This makes it easy to save money and get the most out of your Instacart experience.

When ordering restaurant food on Instacart, you can provide special instructions or requests for your order. This can include special sauces, no utensils, or other requests. To provide special instructions, simply select the ‘Special Instructions’ option when you’re checking out.

For example, let’s say you’re ordering a salad from a local restaurant and you want to request no croutons. You can select the ‘Special Instructions’ option and type in your request. This makes it easy to customize your order and get exactly what you want.

When ordering restaurant food on Instacart, it’s customary to tip your delivery driver for good service. The amount you tip will depend on the quality of service and the distance the driver had to travel. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to tip at least 10% of the order total, but you can tip more or less depending on your experience.

For example, let’s say you’ve ordered a meal from a local restaurant and the delivery driver was friendly and efficient. You may want to tip 15% of the order total, which would be $3.00 on a $20.00 order. This shows your appreciation for the driver’s hard work and ensures that they’re fairly compensated for their time.

If you have an issue with your restaurant order on Instacart, such as a missing item or incorrect order, you can contact customer support for help. Instacart’s customer support team is available 24/7 to assist with any issues or concerns you may have.

For example, let’s say you’ve ordered a meal from a local restaurant and it’s missing an item. You can contact customer support and they’ll work with you to resolve the issue. This may involve refunding the cost of the missing item or providing a replacement. This makes it easy to get help when you need it and ensures that you’re satisfied with your order.

Instacart also allows you to schedule recurring orders, which can be a convenient option if you order from the same restaurant frequently. To schedule a recurring order, simply select the ‘Recurring Order’ option when you’re checking out.

For example, let’s say you order lunch from a local restaurant every Friday. You can schedule a recurring order for every Friday at 12:00 PM, and Instacart will automatically place the order for you. This makes it easy to plan your meals and ensure that your food is delivered at a time that works for you.