Grocery store out of TP? These Charlotte restaurants have you covered during COVID-19
With Charlotte residents largely stuck at home social distancing and facing grocery store shelves bare of high-demand essentials such as fresh meat, soap and toilet paper, local restaurant owners are getting creative to meet all of their needs.
When North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s order to close all restaurants and bars to dine-in customers went into effect March 17 to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, many eateries regrouped quickly to find ways to draw in customers by beefing up takeout offerings and family meal packages.
Some are even adding an extra enticement: a free roll of toilet paper with purchase.
Bring the Queen/Haberdish
Bring the Queen, a pop-up with window pickup from the kitchens of Crepe Cellar, Growler’s Pourhouse and Reigning Doughnuts, and Haberdish are both offering two rolls of toilet paper for $4 with takeout orders.
Bring the Queen offerings include crepes, burgers and family meals such as whole roasted chicken, pesto pasta and salmon fillets. Order online.
Haberdish entrees include cauliflower steak, chicken and waffles and ribs. Order online.
Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen
Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen has family table meals such as whole chickens, stuffed eggplant, adobo spiced tofu or pot roast available for delivery all around Charlotte or pickup at 4001-C Yancey Road, #100. While there’s not a specific deal for toilet paper, Andrew Wilen said the restaurant has been telling guests that if they need a roll, just ask for one with any size order. Call (704) 817-7568.
The Crunkelton
The Crunkleton Charlotte is sharing its toilet paper stash with guests. It’s now accepting orders for takeout Wednesday through Sunday, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., with an added option for family meals feeding 4-6 people that you must order by 4 p.m. the day before you plan to pick up. Call 704-919-0104 to order and again when you arrive — all pickup will be curbside.
DeSarno’s
DeSarno’s, an Italian market featuring take-and-bake prepared meals, is also joining in on the toilet paper trend.
At DeSarno’s, meal deals change daily during the week. The meals feed 2-3 people and include a side and bread — along with a roll of toilet paper — for $19.95. Recent meal deals were Sausage and Peppers, Eggplant Parm, Provolone Chicken Bake and Chicken Tortilla Bake.
Meals are available for online ordering and curbside pickup at 6420 Rea Road, Suite B4. Call (704) 919-0112 when you arrive.
“I hope some other businesses can be creative, as well. We don’t want anyone to shut down,” chef and owner Kit Caron said.
Duckworth’s/The Cellar at Duckworth’s/Link &Pin
All Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse locations, Link & Pin and The Cellar at Duckworth’s are offering one roll of pre-packaged toilet paper for every $20 spent on carryout or delivery via DoorDash.
Duckworth’s locations are open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Its temporary carryout menu includes salads, wings, pizza, burgers, sandwiches and more. Call 704-752-7284 for Ballantyne, 980-339-5835 for Rea Farms, 980-939-1166 for Uptown, 704-237-4387 for Huntersville and 704-799-2881 for Mooresville.
The Cellar at Duckworth’s is open 5-10 p.m. daily, with a limited menu including small plates such as pork steam buns and tuna tartare, or large plates with steaks, butter basted scallops and grilled shrimp Old Mill cheddar grits. Call 980-349-4078 to order.
At Link & Pin, carryout with a limited menu including steaks, lobster roll and chicken and waffles, is available until 10 p.m. every day by calling 980-939-1188.
Mac’s Speed Shop
Mac’s Speed Shop in South End has rolls of toilet paper and paper towels available for $1.50 each with every order (maximum of two rolls of each). A family meal for 4 people has also been added, including Lil Pig sandwiches, two pints of side dishes and a bottle of sauce. You can order for curbside pickup over the phone at (704) 522-6227, via the website at macspeedshop.com or get it delivered through Postmates.
McCormick and Schmick’s
In addition to a new to-go menu featuring 10% off orders, McCormick and Schmick’s has made grocery items available for curbside pickup. Customers can stock up on high-end seafood and steaks, along with everyday items such as eggs, butter, sugar and produce. Toilet paper is available for $1 per roll, and hand sanitizer is $3. Call the store for Chef’s Market menu items and pricing: 704-442-5522 for 4335 Barclay Downs Drive or (704) 377-0201 for 200 S. Tryon St.
McKoy’s Smokehouse and Saloon
McKoy’s Smokehouse and Saloon is offering its customers a choice of 10 percent off to-go orders or a free roll of toilet paper. Restaurant manager Casey Towne said more customers have chosen the discount, but there has also been a fair amount of demand for the toilet paper rolls amid its brisk takeout business of close to 100 orders a day for offerings such as McKoy’s BBQ Sandwiches and Pulled Chicken Platters.
“We started off with 300-something rolls,” Towne said. “We’re probably down to like 200 now.” He added: “I’ve had some people tell me they don’t want either or to give the toilet paper to the next person that comes in.”
Towne said McKoy’s is working on a bulk meal option for families and might start partnerships with food delivery services, but as of right now, there is not an online ordering option. Instead, call in your order at (704) 523-6330 for curbside pickup at 4630 Old Pineville Road.
Paper Plane Deli & Market
Paper Plane Deli & Market — which recently opened in Charlotte at 933 Louise Ave. in the Belmont neighborhood — is going a step further and giving out free toilet paper to anyone who needs it — as long as its supply lasts.
“The response to the toilet paper has been quite funny,” owner Amanda Cranford said. “People either love it or are wildly confused by it. I get a lot of, ‘Oh yeah, it’s free with a purchase,’ or a ‘Wait, what? Why?’ I explain that I thought about doing it as some promo thing but that it became glaringly obvious that if our mission statement is simple, convenient and kind that it made more sense to just give it away to anyone and everyone who needs it.
“I’m going to keep doing it, too. Hopefully, we will be here 20 years from now explaining to people why we are the market with a killer pastrami sandwich that gives away free toilet paper.”
Salmeri’s Italian Kitchen
In suburban Fort Mill, newly opened Salmeri’s Italian Kitchen is offering a free TP roll with purchase off its “provisions” menu, which includes soups such as Tuscan Tomato and Butternut Squash Bisque, dips including Amy’s Pimento Cheese and hummus, and Salmeri’s Marinara or Bolognese Sauce — all packaged cold for reheating later.
It is combining forces with its sister restaurant, The Flipside Cafe, to offer a joint menu for curbside pickup at 526 Mercantile Place, Suite 101 in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Call (803) 396-0285 to order.
Zen Asian Cuisine
Zen Asian is temporarily closed for lunch but is serving its fusion creations such as Spanish Catalana Salad, Vietnamese Beef or Paella Valenciana for dinner nightly from 4:30-8:30 p.m, Complimentary toilet paper is available with every order for takeout or curbside pickup at 1716 Kenilworth Ave. Call 704-458-9688, or get delivery via DoorDash.
Editor’s note: If you’re a local restaurant offering toilet paper and you’re not included on this list, email charlottefive@charlottefive.com to be added.
Erin Breeden contributed to this story.
This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 1:20 PM.
