A Different Kind Of Drive-Thru: Food Trucks Come To Watertown

WATERTOWN, MA — Eating out has looked different since the coronavirus pandemic started, but Watertown is even changing up what drive-thru meals look like — now, it's the meals that are driving to you.

Watertown is one of several towns on Neighborhood StrEATs' list. Neighborhood StrEATs is a food truck program that brings the tasty food truck meals that used to sit on Boston street corners to suburbs like Watertown. The trucks stick to a schedule to rotate between towns. Watertown will host a food truck on Sept. 13.

Customers preorder food online and truckers are masked and gloved when they hand over the meals. From there, customers can bring their dish home or eat outside and enjoy a picnic.

"It’s a hyper-local program meant to provide residents with some fun and food and brings the food trucks some welcome revenue," said Anne-Marie Aigner, founder of Food Truck Festivals of America and Neighborhood StrEATs. "It’s the definition of win-win."

The trucks operate all over the greater-Boston area and are scheduled to make stops in Waltham on Sept. 14, Newton every Wednesday and Belmont every Wednesday.

"It’s not just fun and different food – but it’s been a chance for neighbors to safely wave to each other at a mini-event," said Jason Gerdom of Watertown. Gerdom served as his neighborhood’s ambassador to get the word out that the trucks were coming.