Ghost kitchens are on the rise, and aren’t disappearing anytime soon
Despite what the name implies, ghost kitchens – or delivery-only food services – aren’t disappearing anytime soon.
Like an apparition, they're popping up across the nation and giving customers a chance to explore popular food brands, but without physical brick or mortar shops. That means food could be cheaper to produce and has weathered the coronavirus pandemic with its delivery-only model.
And because these services don't have physical spaces to operate out of, they're sharing spaces with existing restaurant kitchens.
Locally, most of these ghost kitchens are located inside Bertucci Italian Restaurant locations, notably in Holliston, Framingham, Marlborough and Westborough. That’s because Robert Earl, former CEO of the Hard Rock Café and Bertucci's founder, also co-founded Virtual Dining Concepts, which he runs with his son Robbie. That company partners with brands, and some celebrities like Mariah Carey and Mario Lopez, to help them make and deliver their own products – from inside one of their existing Bertucci restaurants.
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Meals are picked up and delivered to customers via third-party delivery services like GrubHub, DoorDash and Uber Eats.
By 2030, ghost kitchens are projected to reach a $1 trillion global market, according to market research firm Euromonitor International, meaning this business model probably isn't ghosting the food industry anytime soon.
Below are local ghost kitchens that deliver to communities within the MetroWest and Milford regions.
Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen
As of earlier this year, Flavortown has morphed into Flavornation, as spiky-haired restaurateur Guy Fieri’s cheesy, bacon-infused menu items are now being delivered to doorsteps across 30 states nationwide. In Massachusetts, there are 24 locations, including Westborough, Framingham and Holliston; all prepare their food inside Bertucci Italian Restaurants.
The menu includes five staple sandwiches - the Real Cheezy Burger, Bac Mac N’ Cheese Burger, The Chicken Guy! Classic, The Crazy Cuban Sandwich and Morgan’s Veggie Burger. Shareables include Jalapeno pig peppers, cheesesteak egg rolls and queso dip with tortilla chips. Other menu items include the Cajun Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Parm-eroni, Italian Stallion Salad, the "OG” Caesar Salad, the Cheesecake Challenge and Chocolate Whiskey Cake. Sides include Flavortown fries, fried pickles and the Mac Daddy Mac & Cheese.
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Wing Squad
Like the name implies, this delivery-only restaurant specializes in wings, and is based out of Westborough. It offers five flavors of wings – BBQ, honey garlic, sweet chili, Cajun and buffalo – and some small sides like macaroni and cheese and salads.
Tyga Bites
He’s considered a rapper, and now you can find his name on a wrapper. Rapper Tyga launched his chicken nugget delivery-only line last summer, is locally offered at the Bertucci Italian Restaurants in Framingham, Marlborough and Westborough. Tyga’s delivery service offers chicken bites, tater tots and a dozen types of dipping sauces.
MrBeast Burger
If you're craving a smashburger, you can order one here from MrBeast Burger, locally offered in Framingham, Holliston, Marlborough and Westborough Bertucci locations.
Last November, MrBeast - a popular YouTuber known for his expensive challenges - opened the “world’s first free restaurant” in his home state of North Carolina, handing customers wads of cash with their meals and resulting in an overwhelmingly massive turnout. Now, the MrBeast menu is offered across nearly 40 states, including with 30 locations in Massachusetts.
Hamburgers on the menu are made as "smashburgers," which refers to super-thin burgers pressed into a hot griddle. Ideas offered include the Beast-style burger, along with the Chandler and Chris-style burgers, Karl’s Grilled Cheese, two types of chicken sandwiches and fries.
Cosmic Wings
This wing delivery service’s closest location is in Worcester inside an Applebee’s Grill and Bar. Still, it also delivers to communities in the MetroWest and Milford regions.
Among the finger foods offered includes cheese bites, boneless and traditional wings covered in fried Cheetos, along with five flavors of wings. For those needing something spicier, try the Cheetos Flaming Hot wing sauce. Three flavors of lemonade are also offered, along with other sides like waffle fries and onion rings.
Bao Bae + Wings
If you’re in the mood for some Korean fried chicken and fluffy baos, check out this delivery-only service based out of Worcester inside the Bay State Savings Bank building on Franklin Street. The service offers six different baos, which are steamed buns stuffed with meat, like pork belly and chicken, or other fillings like tofu and mushrooms. Twice-fried wings with four different flavors are also offered.
Pasqually's Pizza and Wings
This delivery-only, thin-crust pizza joint operates inside vacant Chuck E. Cheeses nationwide, including locally in Worcester – but it also delivers to communities across the Milford and MetroWest regions.
After CEC Entertainment filed for bankruptcy in June 2020, Pasqually's soon found itself taking over empty Chuck E. Cheese kitchens. If the name sounds familiar, that's because Pasqually, whose full name is Pasqually P. Pieplate, served as the drummer for Munch's Make Believe Band - that unmistakably, wild-eyed animatronic band that brought the house down for children’s birthday parties.
So, is this the same pizza that was served at Chuck E. Cheese? Not so much. The same “fresh, homemade dough” is used for its pizza, but has a thicker crust, extra sauce and different blends of cheeses and seasonings, said Chief Marketing Officer Sherri Landry of CEC Entertainment in a press release. Along with offering a variety of thin-crust pizza, it also offers wings with six types of sauces, including Louisiana Hot Honey, Spicy Korean BBQ and Chile Lime Dry Rub.
Lauren Young writes about politics, social issues and covers the towns of Bellingham, Franklin and Medway. Reach her at 774-804-1499 or lyoung@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurenwhy__.
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