The snow and the temperature are falling fast and so is your motivation.
To move. To drive. To cook.
The cupboard and fridge aren't stocked to your liking, so you're in a true rock-and-hard-place situation.
What to do? Pull on all your winter gear, clear the car off and warm it up? Nah.
In a "cabin fever" state, you come to the only logical solution. Delivery!
But whom to call?
As a bachelor/glutton/ex-server/humble restaurant critic, I eat out a lot but rarely pick up the phone to order in, so I consulted friends, Facebook and Urbanspoon to research the top options to have your dinner delivered to your door.
I decided to order five meals over the course of a week and rate each on the merits of the service: price, delivery minimum/charge, delivery time and, or course, the food itself.
What follows is my week of eating out of Styrofoam ...
Winky's Wings
Phone: 279-4647
Location: 9191 Old Seward Highway
Online: WinkysWings.com
Urbanspoon: 81% (240 votes)
Minimum: Depends on location
Charge: $2
Order: 50-piece original wings ($34.95)
Time quoted: 1 hour, 30 min.
On time: Yes (10 min. early)
Packaging and extras: A
Breakdown: This was a Sunday football feast. Straight Out of Philly doesn't open until 3 p.m. on Sundays, so the boys and I opted for Winky's on a whim. The wings arrived warm but not hot and a bit on the dry side. We tackled the spicy and flavorful flats and drummettes like an old-school NFL defense, bones tossed aside like a quarterback with poor protection.
Order again: Maybe
Serrano's Mexican Grill
Phone: 744-1555
Location: 640 W. 36th Ave.
Online:SerranosMexicanGrill.com
Urbanspoon: 91% (342 votes)
Minimum: $20
Order: Serrano's burrito ($8.25), fajita burrito ($8.95), churros ($3.25) and a horchata ($2.45)
Time quoted: 1 hour
On time: Yes
Packaging and extras: A+
Breakdown: The delivery minimum had me scrambling until my roommate happened to come home hungry for lunch, and his burrito pushed us over $20. Both burritos, with rice and beans on the side, were ample in size and a perfect mélange of Mexican piquancy when paired with the soothing horchata. The fajita burrito was a bit on the cool side, temperature-wise. The churros were fresh, cinnamon-sweet and gone faster than Speedy Gonzalez.
Order again: Si!
Milano's Pizzeria and Philly Steaks
Phone: 569-6000
Location: 1207 W. 36th Ave.
Urbanspoon: 91% (262 votes)
Minimum: $10
Order: "Philadelphia" and "Philly Cheesesteak" (all 10 varieties of Phillys $9.95)
Time quoted: 40 min.
On time: Yes (10 min. early)
Packaging and extras: B
Breakdown: I had heard good things about Milano's cheesesteaks, so I was excited to try them out. Roommate No. 2 was around and asked to get in on the action. The sandwiches showed up piping hot, accompanied by unremarkable crinkle cut fries. Both of us were satisfied with the flavors. The roomie was happy they nailed his "no onions" demand, and I was equally pleased to see mozzarella subbed for Swiss. We were full but we might go "double meat" for $2 more on our next order.
Order again: Likely
Fiori D'Italia
Phone: 243-9990
Location: 2502 McCrae Road
Online: AKFiori.com
Urbanspoon: 86% (383 votes)
Minimum: $15
Order: Pollo alla fettuccini ($18.95) with side salad and garlic bread.
Time quoted: 1 hour
On time: Yes (20 min. early)
Packaging and extras: B
Breakdown: I didn't know they delivered until a Facebook friend suggested it. The sizable portion of pasta (enough for two people) was inundated with a cloying cream sauce and plenty of tender chicken chunks; it was helped by a hefty dose of pepper. It was fittingly accompanied by nearly half a baguette of not-so-garlicky garlic bread and a sad side salad of iceberg lettuce, one tomato slice and two cucumber slices.
Order again: Possibly
Thai Town
Phone: 644-4433
Location: 3311 Spenard Road
Online: ThaiTownAK.com
Urbanspoon: 84% (172 votes)
Minimum: $30
Charge: $5
Order: Stir-fry basil chicken ($12), Thai fresh rolls ($8), fry spring rolls ($8), side of rice ($1) and a soda ($1.50).
Time quoted: 1 hour
On time: Yes (10 min. early)
Packaging and extras: B
Breakdown: I was at work and failed a few attempts at other places, so I try Thai Town and reach a friendly female voice. During the call, I find out the minimum and begrudgingly suck it up and order some extra food. Next, I hear "$5 delivery charge," but I'm too busy and tired to abort. I tell her my location. "Oh no, we don't deliver that far away." But she can sense the defeat in my voice and tells me she'll make an exception. She delivers it early and with a smile.
The basil chicken was a bit salty but that was nothing the desk-top Sriracha and the side of rice couldn't fix. The fry rolls, hot and crispy, were delicious but not recommended if you want to keep a clean keyboard. The fresh rolls kept until the next day and made a perfect after-bar snack.
Order again: Probably not
More options
Taco/Burrito King
Phone: 771-6000
Location: Multiple
Online: TacoKingAK.com
Urbanspoon: 86% (755 votes combined)
Minimum: $18
Charge: $2
Straight Out of Philly
Phone: 569-1515
Location: 210 E. Fireweed Lane
Online: StraightOutOfPhilly.com
Urbanspoon: 86% (120 votes)
Minimum: $12 (Midtown) or $20
Charge: $2
Wings 'n Things
Phone: 277-9464
Location: 701 W. Spenard Ave. Unit A-7
Online:WingWorld.com
Urbanspoon: 71% (641 votes)
Minimum: $15
Charge: $3-$5
Sparta Pizza
Phone: 561-6000
Location: 1005 E. Dimond Blvd. No. 4
Urbanspoon: 90% (167 votes)
Minimum: $10
Sweet Pink Pepper
Phone: 276-0709
Location: 1553 S. Bragaw St.
Urbanspoon: 82% (219 votes)
Minimum: $20
Peppercini's Deli House
Phone: 279-3354
Location: 3901 Old Seward Highway Suite. 18
Online:AlaskaDeli.com (order online)
Urbanspoon: 81% (154 votes)
Minimum: $25 (Midtown) or $50
Monster Pizza
Phone: 561-9999
Location: 343 Benson Blvd.
Online:MonsterPizzaAK.com
Urbanspoon: 86% (116 votes)
Minimum: $15
Lily's Family Restaurant
Phone: 561-3805
Location: 1440 E. Tudor Road
Urbanspoon: 44% (50 votes)
Minimum: $15
Northern China
Phone: 337-1912
Location: 353 Muldoon Road
Urbanspoon: 80% (61 votes)
Minimum: $20
China Garden
Phone: 272-2626
Location: Multiple
Online:ChinaGardenAK.com
Urbanspoon: 81% (240 votes)
Minimum: $17
By BARRY PISER
Anchorage Daily News