Delivery During Snowstorm? Some Puget Sound Restaurants Say No

SEATTLE, WA - You're at home in your warm apartment or house, maybe there's a fire going, maybe you're enjoying a glass of wine or beer. Outside, the snow is really coming down hard, and you're feeling hungry.

It's too cold and treacherous to go out yourself. Delivery, perhaps?

Perhaps reconsider. It's possible that delivery will be available through this weekend's big snowstorm, but it might be a little cruel to take advantage of it. Plus, officials from Gov. Jay Inslee to Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan are asking people not to drive - delivery orders included.

And some Puget Sound restaurants and delivery services agree. Local pizza giant Pagliacci called off delivery early Friday afternoon.

"We decided just to call it for the safety of our drivers," Pagliacci co-founder Matt Galvin said Friday afternoon. Pagliacci locations will still be open this evening and Saturday, but you'll have to dine-in or take your pie to go.

Other pizza places temporarily suspending delivery: Paranomal Pie in south Seattle and Pizza Dudes in Renton. Pudge Bros. in Wallingford was still offering delivery Friday while Topolino's in Bellevue was a "maybe."

GrubHub spokeswoman Katie Norris said the company might pause delivery on Friday. GrubHub mostly acts as a dispatcher, connecting drivers with restaurants that need food delivered.

"We’ve been keeping an eye on the snow expected in the Seattle area and are staying in close communication with local restaurant partners and drivers impacted. For restaurants that use our delivery drivers, we’re considering a temporary pause in our delivery operations to help ensure the safety of drivers," Norris said in an email.

But if GrubHub drivers are working, she said, people should be patient. All GrubHub drivers are being asked to comply with guidance from local governments about driving.

Postmates is actually offering an incentive for people to order during the storm. You'll get half-off delivery fees Friday so you can "hibernate."

"Whether it's cold af or just cold af to you, we're giving you an excuse to stay home, curl up on the couch, and order in," Postmates told its Seattle-area customers in an email.

If you're going to force a delivery driver to risk their safety so you can have pizza, at least tip them well, probably more than 20 percent.

"When there’s inclement weather, we encourage people to be patient if orders take longer to arrive and advocate they be extra generous and appreciative when tipping," Norris said.

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