Best Delivery Platforms for Restaurants: Pros, Cons & Alternatives

Delivery is essential to modern restaurant success, but choosing the right platform can be a balancing act. From high-volume exposure to high-margin control, restaurant operators must weigh cost, convenience, and long-term customer loyalty when selecting a delivery partner.

This guide breaks down the best delivery platforms for restaurants—including major third-party apps and emerging alternatives—to help you find the mix that fits your growth and profit goals.

Major Third-Party Delivery Services (UberEats, DoorDash, etc.)

Most restaurants are familiar with the big names in third-party delivery: Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub. These platforms dominate the food delivery space and offer broad exposure to customers actively searching for food options nearby.

Pros:

• Massive built-in customer base

• Instant order volume from discovery traffic

• Delivery logistics handled externally

• High awareness among consumers, especially in urban markets like NYC

Cons:

• Commission fees up to 30% per order

• Limited branding and customer experience control

• Little to no access to customer data for retargeting

• Menu and pricing restrictions

• Competing listings placed side by side

For new or struggling restaurants, these platforms can drive quick order volume. But over time, those commission costs add up—and customer loyalty remains with the platform, not the restaurant.

Comparing Platforms: Reach vs Cost

When choosing a delivery partner, the trade-off is usually between reach and profitability.

• Third-party apps give restaurants access to a large pool of customers, but the revenue per order is significantly reduced. Additionally, dependence on these platforms can erode brand visibility and direct relationships with customers.

• Direct delivery solutions require more effort up front (setup, promotion, fulfillment) but return better margins and long-term customer retention.

Restaurants in major metros like NYC, Philadelphia, and Chicago may benefit from maintaining a presence on the big platforms while also building a first-party channel to reduce dependence over time. For example, using DoorDash for discovery but encouraging repeat customers to order through your own site using loyalty offers or email campaigns.

Alternatives: Direct Delivery Options

If you're looking to lower costs and build a stronger brand, direct delivery platforms are gaining traction among independent restaurants and small chains.

Solutions like Sauce allow you to:

• Accept delivery orders directly through your own website

• Customize the ordering experience with your logo and colors

• Retain 100% of the revenue—no commissions

• Access customer data to power loyalty, reorders, and email marketing

• Manage delivery zones, timing, and even dispatch if needed

These platforms are ideal for restaurants with recurring customers, community followings, or multiple locations. Direct delivery gives you full control over the order process, fulfillment, and brand loyalty—while reducing dependency on costly third-party services.

The best delivery platform for your restaurant depends on your goals. If you need instant exposure, third-party marketplaces can help. But if you want to grow profitably, reduce fees, and build long-term relationships with your customers, first-party delivery solutions like Sauce offer a smarter path forward.

In a delivery-first world, restaurants don’t just need to be online—they need to be in control.