UberFresh: Think Outside the Lunch Box

It’s lunchtime. You look down at the picnic table and frown at the predictable brown bag. Without opening it, you know exactly what’s inside — the same sandwich and apple your mom has packed for you since kindergarten. You check out of your friends’ conversations, and daydream about the gourmet meals that cover your Instagram feed. You open your eyes, and suddenly, that meal is no longer a filtered image on your phone, but right in front of you. The secret to escaping the brown bag rut? Uber. The popular iPhone application that introduced an alternative to taxis has recently expanded beyond car services by introducing UberFresh. This new service allows customers to order a fixed daily meal and have it delivered to their exact location for the retail price of each meal plus a flat $3 delivery fee.Like many students, Sophie Shaich (’16) has always been frustrated by the fact that Samo’s short lunch period restricts her from venturing to restaurants farther from campus. Since she discovered UberFresh, Shaich is impressed and satisfied with her expanded lunchtime food choices. She loves that the app is very time efficient and that she can place, order and receive her food during lunch.“You just drop a pin on your location on the map and the Uber car gets to you with your food ready to eat in no more than 10 to 15 minutes,” Shaich said.UberFresh offers a different meal each day, and for Samo student Bebe Lari (’16), the variety that is offered is particularly appealing, especially when she forgets to make her lunch.“I like UberFresh because it delivers food from restaurants that aren’t nearby,” Lari said. “It’s also more efficient than going off campus because the food off-campus is unhealthy.”According to customers, one of the most intriguing aspects of UberFresh is the high quality of food offered compared to food available near Samo. With fast food restaurants like Donut King, Coffee Bean and El Pollo Loco being the only restaurant within walking distance or Samo, UberFresh offers a healthier spin on lunch with its enticing variety.Samo student Casey Glasser (’16), however, is not as supportive of UberFresh. She expresses her concerns about falling into the wealthy Los Angeles high school student stereotype.“UberFresh just seems so pretentious,” Glasser said. “Having your lunch delivered directly to you every day is a luxury that you would really only see in Los Angeles. You don’t see kids in Wyoming ordering California rolls to their high schools for lunch.”Samo student Isabelle Sherouse (’15) agrees that UberFresh has made teenagers reliant on fast food and delivery. She is worried about the effect that instant gratification is having on her generation.“We’re refreshing our Instagram and Facebook feeds constantly, and we’re rewarded with instant likes or instant information,” Sherouse said. “I just feel like the fact that now we don’t even have to walk to get our lunch is a problem.”UberFresh offers a different pre-determined meal each day. Thus far, the service has offered food from restaurants including Katsuya, Bay Cities, Tender Greens and others. Christina Wong, a representative from Tender Greens, believes that this new partnership with Uber is a brilliant idea that will change how traditional food delivery operates.“We were already Uber users and big fans of their service, so working with them to deliver an entirely new lunch experience to hungry people, on-demand in under 10 minutes, was a no-brainer,” Wong said. “We’re pleased about the response we’ve had so far from customers and it’s been a fun experience being a part of the UberFresh launch.” KatsuyaMore like Katsu-“yeah!” There may be plenty of fish in the sea, but these are the only ones I want. This meal includes two sets of six-piece California and spicy tuna sushi rolls. Served with gentle ginger and a spicy ’sabi, this meal is the ultimate sushi surprise.Tender GreensThe “steaks” have been raised with this signature sandwich. Tender Greens really wets our whistles with this masterful combination of steak, red peppers and aioli on lightly-toasted bread. Served with garlic mashed potatoes, this dish is provides the ultimate lunchtime experience.41 OceanThis poultry is anything but paltry! This meal includes delicious chicken tacos straight from Ocean 41 in Santa Monica. Served with a side of chips and salsa, this dish will leave you saying “Ai ai ai!”Bay CitiesThe godfather of all Santa Monica subs: The Godmother. Served spicy with the works, this Bay Cities classic will leave you full and fulfilled. With salami, capicola, prosciutto, mortadella and ham, this is the meatiest Italian since Francis Ford Coppola!Tender GreensLettuce? More like “let me” have some more! With this meal, Tender Greens has struck the perfect balance between juicy steak and crisp, green butter lettuce. Topped off with radishes, beets and horseradish vinaigrette, this salad is mouthwateringly good.