Wichita restaurants getting creative to survive, and the new trend is family meals to-go
Two weeks ago, not many Wichita were selling family-sized meals on the regular.
But with the new reality of the world comes a new reality for restaurants, and many of them have decided to start serving one-price, family-sized meals to-go as a way to keep their doors open.
One of the early adopters of the family-style approach was Natasha Gandhi-Rue, who owns The Kitchen at 725 E. Douglas. When business slowed down last week, she started offering big pans of made-from-scratch, home-style food to-go — enchiladas, casseroles and the sort.
Since then, she’s been offering a different meal every day of the week, and her menu is made up of comfort food favorites she doesn’t have on her regular menu.
The approach has helped Gandhi-Rue keep the doors of her restaurant open. Each day, she’s selling out of the roughly 20 large and 20 small family meal options she offers.
“Our family meals are honestly all that’s keeping us having the lights on,” she said.
It’s the same story at Todd Brian’s Brick Street Cafe & Tavern in Old Town Square, where owner Chris Tincher took the family meal route last week. Unlike The Kitchen, which is still offering items from its regular menu to-go, Tincher has decided to focus solely on family meals.
He’s offering six different options, each complete with an entree and sides, and he’s able to deliver them using his catering truck.
“We’re just trying to generate enough sales to be able to pay for our cost of goods and pay our base bills so we can come out in the shape we came into this,” he said.
It’s slow going, though, he said. He needs to sell about 20 family meals a day, and so far, he’s only getting a couple.
He’s not giving up yet, though, he said. Hot meals the family can sit down and enjoy together — especially when they don’t have to leave the house to get them — are surely something that will be in demand, he reasons.
“We come right to the door,” he said. “What we’re really hoping is we can generate enough money to keep people employed. My folks want to work.”
Here’s a list of some of the places in Wichita serving family meals. Each one has a slightly different approach. If you know of one you think I should add to this list, please e-mail me at dneil@wichitaeagle.com
A.V.I. Seabar & Chophouse, 135 N. Waco: Offering “date night” special available for delivery. Includes choice of two rib eyes or two filets ($75) or two 10-ounce airline chicken breasts ($60). Each dinner also includes cream potatoes, grilled asparagus, house salad with dressing, half a loaf of garlic baked bread and cheesecake. Tax and delivery fee included in price. E-mail orders to info@corporatecaterersofwichita.com
The Angry Elephant, 756 N. Tyler, 316-358-0380: Offering a family meal deal that inclues choice of two pounds of meat, four sides, four drinks and dessert for $44.99. Order online at Angryelephantbbq.com.
Blue Moon at Home, 8406 W. Central, 316-612-4694: This local caterer is offering ready-to-eat family meals that can be delivered or picked up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. daily. Order deadlines are 6 p.m. for next day’s lunch, noon for next day’s dinner. Each meal feeds six to nine and include entree, salad, dressing baguette and margarine. Available hot or cold for reheating later. Entree choices include penne Alfredo with grilled chicken and vegetables, beef lasagna, jambalaya with ham and andouille or vegetarian lasagna. Call or email athome@blueumooncaterers.com.
Bonefish Grill, 10250 E 13th St, 316-315-0299: Offering “family bundles” starting at $30. Choose from 6 entrees and also get a family-style salad, bread and cookies. Find the menu at bonefishgrill.com.
Bubba’s 33, 412 S. Towne East Mall Drive: Offering family packs that serve three to four people. They range in price from $32.99 and $39.99 and offer items like pizza and lasagna served with garlic knots and salad. Mention the code “5OFF” at payment to get $5 off. Order at bubbas33.com.
Buffalo Wings & Rings, 2636 N. Greenwich Ct.: Offering 30 boneless wings or 14 chicken tenders with party-sized appetizer trio of pretzel bites, potato wedges and tortilla chips, with large sides of queso and salsa for $50 (add $2 for traditional wings.) Enough to feed 6-8 people. Order online at: order.buffalowingsandrings.com or call-in for carryout: 316-999-9464. Also offering $10 off $30 food purchase through March 31 with code LETUSCOOK.
Carlos O’Kelly’s: Offering family packs that serve four to five and include an entree, chips and salsa and two sides to share. Prices start at $30. Available for carryout or delivery. Visit bit.ly/CarlosCarryoutDelivery.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 3409 N. Rock Road: Offering family bundles that feed up to five people starting at $7 a person. Available for carryout or delivery. Order at carrabasonlineordering.com.
Chicken N Pickle, 1240 N. Greenwich: Offering family meals to-go featuring things like lasagna, rotisserie chickens with sides and taco buffets. Call 316-535-7150 to order.
Chick N Max, 2350 N Greenwich Road, 3520 N. Maize Road, and 352 S. West St. Offering a “community support menu” that includes a chicken tenders family meal with 12 crispy tenders, two family sides and choice of bread for $20. Also offering 30 wings for $20 Visit: https://www.chicknmax.com.
City Bites, 3570 N Woodlawn, 316-682-0007: Offering a “4-The-Family” deal with choice of any four six-inch sandwiches, four bags of chips and four cookies for $25 plus tax.
Cholita’s Mexican Restaurant, 8987 W Central, 316-722-3711 : Offering family pack deals for $20. Option No. 1 includes eight beef tacos, large beans, large rice, chips and salsa and four sopapillas. Option No. 2 includes four beef tacos, four burritos, one large beans, one large rice, chips and salsa and four sopapillas. Curbside to go only. Call 316-722-3711 or 316-722-0078 to place an order
Delano’s Diner, 1220 W. Douglas, 316-252-8100: Offering family meals that feed up to four people. They range in price from $22.99 to $24.99. Ten different options including hot cakes with scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage links and bacon or chicken Marsala with pasta, house salad and garlic toast. Call-in to order for pickup. Delivery available through Grubub and Doordash.
Elderslie Farm, 3501 E. 101st St. North: Offering family meals for two ($38) or four ($58). “Taco night” menu for Thursday, March 26 through Saturday, March 28 includes beef barbacoa, blue corn tortillas, carrot and radish slaw, citrus cilantro rice, Elderslie Caprino Fresco spinach queso, tortilla chips, Mexican chocolate custard. Order at https://squareup.com/store/elderslie-creamery. Available for pickup 3 to 6 p.m.
El Molcajete Mexican Food, 1712 E 47th St., 316-765-7392: A family meal pack that serves four costs $35 and includes chicken, steak or shrimp fajitas, tortillas, side of rice and refried beans, fresh salsa and chips. Take-out only.
Felipe’s, 21st and Woodlawn, 316-652-0027: Offering family packs that include entree plus beans, rice chips and salsa. Available for curbside pickup, carryout and delivery. Order at felipeswichita.com.
Fizz Burgers & Bottles, 7718 E. 37th St. North: Offering curbside pickup for dinners featuring meatloaf, mashed potatoes, salad or veggie of the day. It’s $10 a person, $16 for two or $32 for a family of four. Brownies included with family order. Call 316-260-2888 to place an order.
The Fusion Restaurant, 1812 W. Douglas, 316-558-5311: Offering a rotating menu of family meals. including things like meat lasagna for $30. Call or message on Facebook to place an order.
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop: Offering taco family meals that serve 4-6 for $35, or one that serves 8 for $50.
The Kitchen, 725 E. Douglas, 316-928-2899: Offering different family meals every day of the week. Pre-orders recommended. Family size feeds six. Small size feeds two to three. Wednesday special, for example is chicken Parmesan with penne marinara that is $40 for a large or $20 for a small. Soups and desserts also available and priced separately.
Knolla’s Pizza: This local Wichita pizza chain is offering “Family Care Bundles” through March 31. They include two large New York-style single-topping pizzas, breadsticks and a two-liter of soda for $25. Carryout or delivery where available.
Los Compadres, 3213 N. Toben, 316-295-3295: Offering family portions available for delivery, car-side pickup and to-go. Includes two pounds of meat, rice, beans, toppings, tortillas and salsas for $24.95. Call to place an order.
Newport Grill, 1900 N. Rock Road: Offering a “Feed the Fam” “deal that offers dinner for two for $60. Each order includes choice of soup or salad, choice of protein, choise of sides and choice of dessert. One free roll of toilet paper offered with every carryout order. Place orders by calling 316-636-9555.
Public at the Brickyard, 129 N. Rock Island, 316-263-4044: Family meal serves four to five people and is $45. Includes barbecue brisket, spiced baked beans, potato salad, slider buns, house pickles and barbecue sauce. Order online and schedule for pickup daily from 4 pm to 8 pm at https://public-at-the-brickyard.square.site/
R Coffee House, 1144 N. Bitting, 316-351-7778: Offering daily family dinner specials to go. Order by noon.
Spear’s Restaurant & Pie Shop, 4323 W. Maple, 316-943-2783: Offering family-style meals to go for two to 10 people. Prices range from $15.95 to $49.95. Meals include choice of entree(ham, fried chicken, meatloaf, roast beef, chicken strips) plus mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans or sweet corn, tossed salad or cole slaw and rolls plus free slices of pie. Curbside pickup available.
Stroud’s, 3661 N. Hillside, 316-838-2454: Offering a special dinner for four for $49.99 that includes four each pan-fried breasts, thighs, wings, legs, two quarts of mashed potatoes, one quart of gravy, one quart of green beans, four cinnamon rolls and a family-size garden salad with dressing. Also offering a Big Feast that serves 12 for $119.99. Open for take-out and curbside service. Delivery available through Postmates. Call to order.
Taco Locale, 2721 E. Central,, 956-545-2404: Offering two family meal options. “The Lockdown” includes enough tortillas, protein of your choice and toppings for 4-6 people, a bag of Pinole Blue chips and choice of a cup of mild or hot salsa. “The Lockdown Nacho” feeds 6-8 and is made of Pinole Blue tortilla chips, protein and toppings of your choice and scratch-made queso.
Todd Brian’s Brick Street Cafe & Tavern, 315 N. Mead, 316-708-5272: Offering family meals that feed four for $50 or six for $75 plus tax. Six different options include things like bourbon glazed bacon wrapped chicken with salad, bread sticks mashed potatoes and sweet corn; Pot roast with salad, bread sticks, loaded mashed potatoes, green beans. Orders must be placed a day in advance. Delivery available for 15 percent of total order.
Twelve, 12111 W. Maple, 316-440-2812. Offering a family meal carryout menu that offers per-person pricing on entrees, sides and salads. Examples: boneless pork chops for $6 a person, Salisbury steak with mushroom sauce for $7 a person, seared salmon with lemon caper sauce for $9 a person; roasted garlic mashed potatoes for $2 a person. Call to order between 10:30 am and 2:30 pm Monday-Friday at 316-440-2812. Pick up between 5 and 6:30 p.m.
Uno Mas: Weekly family meals available at 21st and Amidon and 13th and Tyler restaurants. This week’s menu is a chimchanga dinner special that’s $24.99, feeds four to five people and includes 12 chimichangas topped with queso sauce, pico de gallo and pickled red onions. Choice of beef or chicken. Served with rice and beans and chips and salsa. Must be pre-ordered. Served from 3 to 7 p.m. Call 316-779-1090 (21st and Amidon) or 316-364-4632 (13th and Tyler) to order.
Vietnom Nom, 8641 W. 13th St.: Offering family meal that feed four and include choice of entree grilled pork or chicken entree with choice of rice or noodles, two orders of appetizers (fresh or crispy spring rolls) and veggies and sauces for $40. Order an hour in advance. Carryout, curbside pickup and delivery available. Call 316-260-8812.
Wine Dive, 4714 E. Douglas, 316-316-2772: Offering family meals that feed up to six people. Order online, where you can view the full menu. Meals range from $50 to $75. Options include family-style enchiladas with Spanish rice, sour cream and salad, sandwich platters, family-style pork chops and more. Order at https://www.winediveks.com/online-ordering.
This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 3:31 PM.
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