Welcome to Ask Eater, a column from Eater SF where the site’s editors answer difficult dining questions from readers and friends. Have a question for us? Submit it via this form.

Hi Eater SF,

Why can’t restaurants make it on takeout/delivery alone? I keep reading this everywhere, including here at Eater SF, but could you please do an “explainer” on why this is? Is it because they don’t “feed” as many diners without sit-down? If so, why not “flyer” the