Bayside Bistro to roll out “heat and eat” meal subscription plan

Quad Cities dining preferences are changing.

The Garrison in Davenport closed unexpectedly, while Hemispheres Bistro in Bettendorf will close its doors in April because its 10-year lease wasn’t renewed.

“People are trying to figure out expenses,” said Aman Razdan, Hemispheres Bistro’s executive chef and owner. “Everybody can’t go out, like, three or four times a week, which they used to back in the day.”

In December, Bayside Bistro, Rock Island, made the decision to stop serving dine-in customers.

“We decided this was a good time for us to sever our ties with the dine-in, and to go full- fledged into what the vision had always been,” said Latisha Howlett, Bayside Bistro’s co-owner.

While Bayside Bistro still offers catering, its vision for the future is a “heat and eat” meal subscription. It’s a six-week plan where customers order at least four meals a week, for $10 each.

“We’ve finally been able to roll that out and we find this is actually what we’ve been striving to get to all of this time,” Howlett said. “This gives us an opportunity to go nationwide. We actually have customers that are all over the United States that have (said to) us, ‘I need your food.'”

The “heat and eat” plan is currently in the pilot process.

“We’re looking at our packaging, our labeling, looking at the logistics of staff, and we’re looking at how to get it to you and still keep it fresh,” Howlett said. “We want to make sure everything is good and tight before we take flight.”

The “heat and eat” idea is meant to keep up with the changing times of dining.

“We will build smart here at Bayside,” Howlett said. “Just one piece at a time.”

Bayside Bistro’s “heat and eat” orders need to be placed by Saturday each week. Those orders will be delivered to a customer’s home the next Wednesday, or they can be picked up from the K&K Hardware and Lumber parking lot in Bettendorf on Wednesday as well.

To learn more about Bayside Bistro’s “heat and eat” orders, click here .

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