It’s 6 pm on a Saturday night and there isn’t a reservation left in town. Suddenly, a text message pops up on your phone just as your doorbell rings, “Your DoorDash driver is approaching with your order!” Having taken advantage of DoorDash’s offer for first month, $0 delivery fee, you snicker, slyly. Little does your date know what’s inside that tightly tied bag…a few craft cocktails, wines, local craft beers, and multiple containers steaming with delights.

As places are finally reopening with limited servers and capacity, grabbing delivery is still a great option on those busy nights when you’re just not ready to fight the crowds. Here are five great Pasadena options to DoorDash into the night, with proper bites and drinks in hand. Place an order now!

Maestro

Maestro was started by three childhood friends who wanted to bring their love for food and drinks to the community. Their current playground, Maestro, is the stylish Mexican eatery and Mezcal bar in Old Towne housed in rustic bricks. The menu revolves around a fresh take on recipes that have been passed on from generation to generation, such as the succulent Carne en su Jugo with braised short rib, ranchero beans, and fresh tortilla. Cap it off with any one of their craft cocktails, such as any one of four featured margaritas, but some locals swear by the smokey Mezcal Negroni. Order from DoorDash

Malbec

Cuisine from the beachy coast of Argentina to the top of the Andes mountains is what you’ll find at Malbec, including such favorites as Entraña Al Chimichurri, empanadas, or pulpo (Patagonian octopus). Although there are no cocktails here, plush deep-colored Malbec wines span the spectrum of the wine list and await your next foodie adventure. Thankfully, Malbec wines pair beautifully with smokey-charred meats, especially the one’s Malbec thoughtfully creates. Order from DoorDash

Alexander’s Steakhouse

No list is complete without a quality steakhouse, especially one with such an adventurous cocktail list. In order to reach a higher level of umami consciousness, one must order the A1 Wagyu steak and a side of mushrooms, complete with shiitake, escarole, yuzu, and soy vinaigrette. Top it off with a flight of Whistle Pig Whiskey, or one of their features bottles to go, and you might as well be in Bourbon-meat heaven. Order from Doordash

Hippo Restaurant (LA)

If you can’t decide on contemporary Italian or American cuisine, Hippo is a one-stop shop for both. Everything from Fettuccini with Heritage pork ragu to vegan griddled cauliflower offer explosions of flavor, it’s no wonder they top the favorites here. The locals rave about the Hippo rolls, which are dense and fresh. The cocktails come in singles, or multi-portioned for groups, such as Cry Me a River, a fresh tiki-take on the classic Mai Tai that serves four. Order from DoorDash

Great Maple

Brunching from home is something a lot of people forgot about during the pandemic, but Great Maple had us covered all along. If you’ve ever wondered what a maple bacon donut paired with a maple bacon Old Fashioned taste like together, believe me, it’s as life-changing as it sounds. The drink stays pretty close to the original, the Benton’s OF made famous in PDT of New York: bacon fat-washed Four Roses bourbon, B-grade maple syrup, and Angostura bitters. Order from DoorDash

The Raymond 1886

They say that every cocktail has a story behind it, but when the place that makes it has enough history and stories of its own, it’s bound to catch your attention. The Craftsman bungalow that is now the Raymond dates all the way back to its namesake year; once a bustling hotel a hundred years ago was taken by the Great Depression in 1930 leaving only the current space. Cocktails, both classics like boozy Old Fashioned’s and modern classics like the rum-based Mary Pickford are served to go in multiples. For bites, the complete meal for one is the best way to go; with salad, dessert, and a protein…we suggest the pork Milanese, which is is like a crunchy-katsu cutlet doused in addictive porcini-mustard sauce.  Order from DoorDash