---
title: Local Alternative to ezCater & DoorDash | Santa Barbara
description: A locally owned alternative to ezCater and DoorDash for Business. 90+ Santa Barbara restaurants, a coordinator you can text, one monthly invoice.
---

[![Restaurant Connection](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RC-Logo-Prototype-for-Hubspot.png?width=220&height=40&name=RC-Logo-Prototype-for-Hubspot.png)](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/en-us?hsLang=en)

[Compare](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/ezcater-doordash-alternative#compare) [Which is right for you](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/ezcater-doordash-alternative#fit) [Switching](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/ezcater-doordash-alternative#switch) [FAQ](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/ezcater-doordash-alternative#faq) [Office catering](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/en-us?hsLang=en)

[(805) 259-1522](tel:+18052591522) [Get a quote](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/ezcater-doordash-alternative#quote)

[Office catering](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/en-us?hsLang=en) / Local alternative to ezCater and DoorDash

# A local alternative to ezCater and DoorDash for BusinessSame local restaurants. A real person running it.

National catering apps are built for self-service in hundreds of cities. Restaurant Connection is built for Central Coast offices: 90+ local restaurants and one coordinator you can text, who knows your team, your budget and who's gluten-free.

[Try us for your next order](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/ezcater-doordash-alternative#quote) [See the comparison](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/ezcater-doordash-alternative#compare)

✓ Locally owned since 1989 ✓ A real person replies within 1 hour ✓ One monthly invoice

## Try us for your next order

Tell us what you usually order. A real coordinator replies within 1 hour, 7am to 9pm.

Date

Delivery time

Headcount

Budget per person Not sure yetUnder $15$15 to $25$25 to $40$40+

Delivery address or ZIP

What you order now, plus dietary needs (optional)

Your name

Work email

Mobile (optional, if you'd rather we text)

Get my quote

No account needed. No commitment.  
Rather talk? Call or text [(805) 259-1522](tel:+18052591522)

ezCater vs DoorDash for Business vs Restaurant Connection

## How a local coordinator compares to the national apps.

ezCater, DoorDash for Business and Uber Eats for Business are good at what they're built for: self-service ordering at national scale. Here's where a local team works differently.

|  | National catering apps | Restaurant Connection |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **How you order** | Self-service in an app or website | Form, web, app, or just text your coordinator |
| **Who you talk to** | A national support team | One named local coordinator who knows your office |
| **Allergies and dietary needs** | Notes field on the order | Confirmed directly with the kitchen |
| **Headcount changes** | Edit the order yourself | Send a text, it's handled |
| **Weekly team lunch** | You pick and schedule restaurants | Your coordinator plans the rotation for you |
| **Group orders** | Available, set up yourself | One link, per-person budget caps, labeled by name |
| **Billing** | Company accounts and card on file | House account with one monthly invoice |
| **Restaurants** | National chains plus local listings | 90+ Central Coast partners, relationships since 1989 |
| **Ownership** | National companies | Locally owned in Santa Barbara |

Features of national platforms change often and vary by city. Check each provider for its current offering.

Which is right for you

## An honest take on when to use each.

### A national app may fit better if

- Your company needs one platform for offices in many cities
- You'd rather order everything yourself and never talk to anyone
- You're running a large daily subsidized meal program across sites

### Restaurant Connection fits better if

- Your office is in Santa Barbara, Goleta, Ventura or SLO
- You want one person who handles the menu, allergies and changes
- You order regularly and want one clean invoice each month
- You'd rather your catering spend stay with local restaurants and a local business

Switching

## Switching takes one text.

You don't have to rebuild anything. Tell us what's working with your current app and what isn't, and we'll take it from there.

1

### Send us your usual order

What your team orders now, headcount, budget per person and schedule. A screenshot of your last order works.

2

### We match it locally

Your coordinator builds the same kind of lunch from local partners, often from the same restaurants your team already likes.

3

### Try one order

No commitment. If it's easier, keep going and set up a house account for one monthly invoice.

Our restaurants

## Your team's favorites are probably already here.

[Browse all 90+ menus](https://www.restaurantconnectionsb.com/)

[Los AgavesMexican](https://restaurantconnectionsb.com/food-delivery-restaurant/Santa-Barbara/Santa-Barbara/Los-Agaves-De-La-Vina/166) [Three PicklesDeli sandwiches](https://restaurantconnectionsb.com/food-delivery-restaurant/Santa-Barbara/Santa-Barbara/Three-Pickles-Downtown/234) [South Coast DeliSandwiches and salads](https://restaurantconnectionsb.com/food-delivery-restaurant/Santa-Barbara/Santa-Barbara/South-Coast-Deli-San-Roque/287) [Chicken RanchMesquite-grilled chicken and tri-tip](https://restaurantconnectionsb.com/food-delivery-restaurant/Santa-Barbara/Santa-Barbara/Chicken-Ranch-De-La-Vina/81) [Your Choice ThaiThai](https://restaurantconnectionsb.com/food-delivery-restaurant/Santa-Barbara/Santa-Barbara/Your-Choice-Thai-Restaurant/220) [Fresco at the MarketFresh Californian](https://restaurantconnectionsb.com/food-delivery-restaurant/Santa-Barbara/Santa-Barbara/Fresco-At-The-Market/325) [Ca' DarioItalian](https://restaurantconnectionsb.com/food-delivery-restaurant/Santa-Barbara/Santa-Barbara/Ca-Dario-Goleta/188) [California Pizza KitchenPizza, salads and pasta](https://restaurantconnectionsb.com/food-delivery-restaurant/Santa-Barbara/Santa-Barbara/California-Pizza-Kitchen/71)

Reviews

## What local offices say.

★★★★★

> "Top notch service. Unlike some other services, if there's ever a question or problem, they don't hesitate to contact you to clarify, and they've always answered the phone if I needed to call them."

**Russ E.** Google review

★★★★★

> "I order from them 3-5x per week... they set up and serve on time and always get it right. They have many restaurants to choose from and their staff and delivery persons are top notch. If you cater at all, put them on speed dial. They are amazing!"

**Ginger M.** Google review

★★★★★

> "Restaurant Connection has been, in my experience, the most reliable food delivery service in Santa Barbara. Not only do they have a great selection of restaurants but they also have great customer service. Both the convenience of a meal delivery service and the benefits of a locally run business."

**Jenny K.** Google review

FAQ

## Questions about switching, answered.

Is there a local alternative to ezCater in Santa Barbara?

Yes. Restaurant Connection is a locally owned catering ordering platform that has served Santa Barbara workplaces since 1989. You order from 90+ local restaurants, and a named coordinator handles your menu, allergies, changes and billing.

How does Restaurant Connection compare to DoorDash for Business or ezCater for office catering?

National platforms are built for self-service ordering across many cities. Restaurant Connection is built for Central Coast offices that want a person on every order: one coordinator who knows your team, confirms allergies with each kitchen, and handles headcount changes by text.

Which catering services put every office order on one monthly invoice?

Restaurant Connection does. Teams ordering 4 or more times a month can set up a house account, so every catering and group order lands on one invoice at month end with itemized receipts.

Can we set per-person spending limits on group orders?

Yes. Set a budget per person on any group order and each person's order stays inside it. For catered spreads, your coordinator builds the menu to fit your budget.

What happens when a catering order goes wrong?

You call or text your coordinator, a real person who knows your account, 7am to 9pm, 7 days a week. No bots and no support queue.

Should we use a local caterer or a corporate food ordering platform for regular office lunches?

Restaurant Connection gives you both: the variety of an ordering platform with 90+ local restaurants and group ordering, plus the personal service of a local coordinator who plans your weekly rotation. See [office lunch delivery](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/office-lunch-delivery?hsLang=en).

How do we switch from ezCater or DoorDash?

Send us what your team usually orders, your headcount, budget and schedule. Your coordinator sets up the same kind of lunch with local partner restaurants, usually within a day.

Where does Restaurant Connection deliver?

We coordinate catering for workplaces across Santa Barbara, [Goleta](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/goleta-catering?hsLang=en), Montecito and Carpinteria, plus Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties.

## Try one order. See the difference.

Send us your next order and a coordinator gets back to you within the hour with a menu and a price.

[Get a catering quote](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/ezcater-doordash-alternative#quote) [Call or text (805) 259-1522](tel:+18052591522) 

[Or book a 15-minute call](https://go.restaurantconnectionsb.com/meetings/saul-plasencia/saul-call-meeting?hsLang=en)

Restaurant ConnectionRestaurant Connection of Santa Barbara, Inc. Locally owned and feeding Central Coast workplaces since 1989. ezCater, DoorDash and Uber Eats are trademarks of their respective owners and are not affiliated with Restaurant Connection.

**Contact**[(805) 259-1522](tel:+18052591522)[saul@restaurantconnectionsb.com](mailto:saul@restaurantconnectionsb.com)Every day, 7am to 9pm

**Catering**[Office catering](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/en-us?hsLang=en)[Office lunch delivery](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/office-lunch-delivery?hsLang=en)[Goleta catering](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/goleta-catering?hsLang=en)[Local alternative to ezCater](https://catering.restaurantconnectionsb.com/ezcater-doordash-alternative)

**Follow**[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/restaurant.connection/)[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/RestaurantConnectionSantaBarbara)[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant-connection-sb/)

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