5 Benefits to Supporting Local Restaurants

There are a number of reasons why it might be wise to support a local restaurant. It benefits the local economy, it supports the local culinary scene, and it can provide you with a really exciting dining experience. Find out more in this blog post from Merge Carmel Valley.

The COVID-19 pandemic has a seismic impact on the restaurant industry. With dine-in options effectively curtailed, eating establishments were forced to think on their feet, creating new ways to promote delivery and curbside options. Now, our world is slowly easing back into some sense of normalcy, and most dining rooms are once again open for business. That doesn’t change the reality that restaurants have been hurting, and many are in dire need of support.

What can you do to show some love to your favorite local eating establishments? Simple: Start eating local as much as you can, whether that’s dine-in, delivery, or carryout. Buy gift cards! And as much as possible, skip the big chain restaurants to show your support for the little guys.

There are several reasons why eating local can be beneficial, both for you and for your community. Allow us to list just a few of them.

5 Advantages to Eating Local

1) Eating local allows you to have new experiences.

One way in which eating at local restaurants can be advantageous is that it lets you have some really fresh, exciting, and innovative culinary experiences.

Let’s be honest: At massive nationwide chains, it’s pretty hard to find anything off the beaten path. If you want to enjoy the wares of a chef who really knows how to dream big and explore new styles and flavors, eating local is one of your best bets.

Have a new kind of culinary experience; push yourself to eat something you’ve never eaten before. Head to a local establishment to do it.

2) You get to support a local chef.

Along the same lines: When you eat local, it allows you to throw some monetary support behind a local chef with a culinary dream.

You’re not just supporting some corporate stakeholders. You’re actually helping your friendly neighborhood chef make his or her kitchen aspirations come true.

3) You’re investing in the local economy.

Another reason to eat local is that it allows you to keep your dollar right in the community. Again, it’s a chance to eat out in a way that’s not just subsidizing some big conglomerate. Instead, you’re creating real economic opportunity, potentially even creating jobs, in the neighborhood you call home.

4) You’ll have more options to support local farmers.

Seeking to eat fresh, organic produce from a local farm?

You’ll be much more likely to find that option if you eat at a small, neighborhood restaurant. And by the way: You can always ask whether the restaurant gets their produce locally… and if the answer is no, it never hurts to request it!

5) You can help develop a regional style

What kind of cuisine is your community known for? What are the regional styles and flavors? If you don’t have a clear answer, it may be because the local culinary scene hasn’t yet had an opportunity to develop an identity. But with your support, they can. Eat local to support your local chefs, your local economy, and indeed, your local culture.