Working downtown on a regular basis, we’re always looking for lunch options nearby. We have a lot of great choices, but sometimes you do exhaust the list and find yourself looking for something new. Fortunately, there’s a new online-only restaurant called ClusterTruck that joined the Columbus scene recently. They offer meal delivery around downtown, Arena District, most of Short North/Victorian Village, the Near East Side, Olde Towne East, German Village, and the Brewery District (see the full delivery area here). And they were kind enough to invite me to try it!
ClusterTruck sets up their menu like a collection of food trucks, so if you browse the menu it’s broken down into sections: Lazy Breakfast (breakfast sandwiches and burritos), The Mug (classic American sandwiches), 1337 Burger (burgers, of course!), Taqueria Rapido (tacos and burritos), Rice To Meet Me (rice bowls), Strip District (chicken strips), you get the picture.
The service uses an online ordering system. You can create an account if you’re a regular, or you can order as a guest. They also have the option for big group orders.
The menu is pretty easy to navigate, and they let you search by item, by favorites, and by different dietary preferences. Just click one or more of the buttons and it automatically filters the menus for you.
To add an item to your order, you simply click the name and it takes you to a new screen. You can add it to your cart with one click, or customize ingredients, add more condiments, etc. It even suggests side dishes to go with the item, and has a spot where you can enter the recipient’s name if you have a group order.
Once you place your order, it lets you track the progress in real-time.
They ask for your delivery address, of course, plus a cell phone where they can text you when they’re about to arrive.
They do ask you to meet the driver at the curb – they won’t come to the door or (if you’re working in a bigger office building) up to your floor. Once the order was en route, I got a text with the driver’s name and the make/model/color of their car.
And there was Angela with my lunch in hand!
There’s no delivery fee, and ordering system automatically adds a suggested tip for the driver (which I appreciate).
The menu includes appetizers, smaller snacks, and drinks, too, so you’re able to order a complete meal. Everything came packaged nicely, with napkins and condiments.
I ordered more than I really needed for one meal, so I had some leftovers, but I at least tried a few different tastes from their menu. There’s enough variety that you could keep exploring and still not run out of options.
The tots were listed as one of their favorite items. I ordered them plain; they were crispy and nicely salted. The menu also features versions with cheese and bacon, buffalo chicken, chili, BBQ smoked pork, and more.
I also tried the fried chicken sandwich. It comes with the usual suspects – lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle. It was fairly well seasoned and crispy.
Naturally I can’t stay away from breakfast, and I had burritos on my mind. The Lazy Breakfast Burrito is loaded with scrambled eggs, strips of bacon, tater tots (because why not?), peppers, onions, cheese, and pico de gallo. It comes with a side of a mostly sweet and kinda smoky charred salsa, which added a little boost of flavor.
All in all, it was an easy process and meal portions offered a good bang for your buck. After the order was complete, I received an e-mail asking for feedback on the experience.
Want to try ClusterTruck yourself? Make sure you’re in the current delivery area and browse their menu. If it’s your first time ordering, use the code 614BREAK to get a free entree with a $10 minimum order. If you’re returning, use 614FAST to get $5 off a $20 order! (Both expire March 1.)
