Goldbelly’s selection of restaurants across the US makes it a unique platform. Unlike other delivery services, its ability to ship across the country is particularly appealing for satisfying specific cravings!
Food is a special part of life, especially with the experience and the art form of it all. The nostalgia aspect certainly works, and it's exciting to have the opportunity to order from places I wasn’t sure I would get back to for years.
I certainly recognize Goldbelly’s higher prices compared to other food delivery services, and I too questioned whether it was worth it. However, Goldbelly’s premium offers set it apart from alternatives – just on variety alone!
Goldbelly At A Glance
- Best Match For: Food enthusiasts who want access to a marketplace that can offer them exclusive and gourmet dishes, sweets, meats, meal kits, pizzas, and pretty much anything food-related.
- Commitment Level: One-time orders; 3, 6, 9, or 12 month subscriptions
- Availability: All 50 states
- Value: Prices and shipping fees vary depending on select items
- Type: A curated online marketplace of the best gourmet foods from small shops and restaurants across the nation.
What is Goldbelly and How Does It Work?
Goldbelly is a platform connecting customers to their perfect meal. Their secret recipe? Nostalgia. They work with selected companies all over the country to bring "an edible hug" to light up someone's day.
Goldbelly helps small local restaurants to deliver nationwide – meaning you can be in New York and order from that hidden gem you discovered when on vacation in California! Takeout just got a lot more intriguing.
With Goldbelly, you can choose between ordering individual meals and signing up for a food subscription. When browsing their page, I could filter on region, restaurant, different meal kits, or subscriptions. To date, there are about 500 individual food providers on the platform. They even have a bacon subscription, one of the best salami of the month clubs, and an ice cream subscription! Truly a heavenly place for a foodie.
One-time Orders
With Goldbelly, they offer the option for both one-time orders and subscriptions to your preferred service.
One-time orders are non-renewing, so you don’t have to worry about committing to multiple deliveries and orders if you don’t like what you get.
As someone who had never tried Goldbelly’s service before, a one-time order was the perfect place to start.
Subscriptions
If you’ve tried the one-time order, or are ready to commit to a new long-term relationship, a Goldbelly subscription offers options for delivery once a month for 3, 6, or 12 months.
With subscriptions, you’ll get free shipping! The subscriptions are category-based; for example, you could get a monthly subscription to pizza, cookies, New York restaurants, San Francisco restaurants, or even bacon… The list is extensive.
You can also opt for a ‘Best of Goldbelly’ subscription – curated and based on the Hot 100 list of the most popular options across the website.
How We Tested Goldbelly for This Review?
To test Goldbelly out, we ordered a few items to try out for ourselves. We ended up ordering from the Hot 100, and here’s what we got:
- Chip City Cookies: Jumbo Cookie Gift Tin - 6 Pack ($79.95)
- Pizzeria Bianco: Wood Fired Pizzas Best Seller - 4 Pack ($139.95)
- The Nuns of New Skete: Sampler Cheesecake - 9” ($85.95)
- Utopia Bagels: New York Bagel Brunch Kit for 6 - ($109.95)
We tried a variety of foods; sweet, savory, soft, hard, quickly perishable, and long-lasting. This way we could get a good sense of how the orders hold up in delivery and transport.
Taste
We sampled a diverse selection of dishes from Goldbelly’s offerings to assess their flavors, quality, and overall taste.
All of our items come from the Goldbelly Hot 100, meaning they come recommended by both Goldbelly and customers who have placed previous orders.
Everything was tasty – especially the wood-fired pizzas! Everything arrives really fresh, as it is most commonly shipped frozen to preserve the food.
My personal favorite discovery was the bagel brunch, which made 6 bagels and sent 6 more for free as an add-on. The cookies were indulgent and arrived ready to eat with the option to freeze or reheat.
The bagel brunch technically counts as a meal kit, because everything that is needed comes to your door ready to assemble.
Variety of Dishes
Goldbelly’s variety of dishes is rather impressive. From raw Wagyu steaks to New York woodfired pizza, the variety is really extensive!
The website even has a search option if you’re looking for something specific, and you’d be surprised at how much they really offer. I searched ‘BBQ ribs’, and over 100 options popped up. You’re sure to find what you’re looking for.
Delivery Time
The Goldbelly delivery time varies from state to state, and it isn’t like Doordash or Uber Eats where the food is prepared the minute you order it. Because the food they offer is specialty, orders usually ship a few days after you order.
Packaging
According to Goldbelly, most items ship frozen. They come in a box with ice packs or dry ice inside to further preserve the food you’ve chosen.
There is shipping/packaging information on all foods to let you know whether your food will be shipped frozen, assembled, deconstructed, and so on, so you’re prepared for its arrival.
Promotion
Goldbelly has certain promotions available at various times. You can receive $15 off your first order, with discount codes often being displayed across their website.
Certain promotions might be in place to advertise certain restaurants (such as Lou Malnati Pizza at the moment), and there is also a sale section on the website.
Customer Service
Goldbelly has an entire subdomain dedicated to customer service, where you can submit requests and use their FAQs to figure out any problems you may have. See it here: https://help.goldbelly.com/hc/en-us
Costs
Goldbelly definitely offers a premium service, and with that comes a premium price.
Goldbelly has said that they focus on quality over price, so you’re paying for the quality items that they offer. A lot of options have free shipping, so there are options available if you want to try but are also looking to minimize cost as much as possible.
Goldbelly’s Meal Plan - What You Can Expect:
Food Selection
Goldbelly is particular about who they partner with and often chooses high-quality small businesses.
Even if it doesn’t become a regular subscription, what Goldbelly offers is definitely unique for a one-off treat. Their emphasis on quality over speed alone makes them one of the best options for your cravings!
And if that’s not enough, the food selection is huge, especially with particularly iconic delicacies from certain areas. You can pick anything – lobster rolls, New York Pizza, and more! Here are some more food options waiting for you:
Neapolitan pizza:
- Tomato and Sicilian oregano pizza
- Meatballs combo
- San Marzano
- Wood fired pizza
Pork:
- Pork and black bean noodles
- Taiwanese-style pork chops
- Iberico pork steak
Sausages:
- Asado kit
- Tavern burgers
- Red beans and sausages
- Smoked and spicy kielbasa
Seafood:
- Crabs
- Lobster rolls
- Boiled crawfish
- Seafood gumbo
- Clam chowder
Sandwiches:
- Sandwich packs
- Pulled pork
- Muffuletta
- Chicken biscuits
- Sloppy Joes
Vegan:
- Cauliflower shawarma
- Vegan mushroom bolognese
- Mediterranean dinner kits.
And so much more!
What Special Dietary Preferences Does Goldbelly Cater To?
There’s something for everyone on Goldbelly, and you can filter out options on the search page by halal, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, kosher, nut-free, and more.
What Gift Options Are Available on Goldbelly?
There are truly so many options for gifting on Goldbelly, both corporately and personally.
You can send a box of goodies, subscriptions to loved ones, gift cards, care packages, and even merchandise.
Some corporate recommendations include cookie boxes, cakes, cupcakes, and brownies.
How Much Does Goldbelly Cost?
Goldbelly’s prices vary depending on your order.
For a one-time, 6-pack cookie order, you’d expect to spend around $70.
For a 3,6,9, or 12-month subscription, you’d pay $49.95 per month. However, keep in mind there isn’t an option to cancel upcoming months; only renewals can be canceled at the end of your subscription.
Goldbelly’s Service
In many aspects, Goldbelly scores a decent rating for its services, which honestly made us pleasantly surprised! From the delivery and packaging to the overall customer experience, we could see that a great deal of thought and care was poured into making Goldbelly the kind of service it is today.
Delivery Service
Since Goldbelly covers a lot of small shops across the country, it’s no surprise that food delivery wasn’t anything like DoorDash or UberEats, but that doesn’t make it any less appealing!
Delivery times, as we’ve said earlier, vary from state, and you can even receive your food in different storage settings. Some items come frozen and snuggling with ice packs or dry ice. Others — especially if you’re nearer to your shop of choice — arrive fresh and ready for munching on.
Whatever way our food arrived on our doorstep, Goldbelly delivered top-tier results each time.
Packaging
Goldbelly’s packaging is extremely bright and fun. Their boxes have fun graphic designs on them, squiggly patterns, and a lot of color. This is particularly to play into their childhood nostalgia marketing.
Refund Policy
Unfortunately, Goldbelly doesn’t offer any refunds. That means before hitting checkout, you have to be sure you’ve got all the food you want. The only exception here is when there was an error in your order, and if that happens, you should contact Goldbelly for support.
Goldbelly also won’t be responsible for damage the courier did to your food or if your meal was spoiled beyond the company’s control. Still, Goldbelly will happily accept your calls and investigate your situation on a case-to-case basis.
Customer Experience
Goldbelly prides itself on the experience of food. They want their service to be ‘an edible hug,’ and they do this through nostalgia.
Their packaging is fun, bright, and whimsical – triggering memories of childhood.
Their delivery offers food that you might not have tried since you were five years old – enhancing the emotional value of standard food delivery and offering a unique way to connect with personal history and relive past experiences.
Let’s Talk About the Pros and Cons of Goldbelly
Now that you’ve got the lowdown on Goldbelly’s gourmet meal options, services, and plans, it’s time to talk about its pros and cons!
As with most food delivery platforms, Goodbelly has its fair share of ups and downs. However, we really liked how our trial run worked out overall.
Pros:
- Variety of options across the USA.
- Fresh food, easy delivery, and service
- Responsive customer service and help teams.
- Options for subscriptions and one-time orders
- Can order something you might have never had the chance to try otherwise.
Cons:
- Cost – Goldbelly is expensive for the amount of food you get
- Not on-demand delivery. It takes a few days to ship and then arrive
- Deconstructed delivery. Often, you’ll still have to do the work yourself to achieve the results of another delivery service.
- Cancellation of subscription is not possible once paid.
Why is Goldbelly So Expensive?
So, why is Goldbelly so expensive? There are a few reasons as to why Goldbelly charges a premium price for their service. When you break it down, it makes a lot more sense.
Demand
Demand is a huge reason why Goldbelly’s prices are expensive.
They are a unique service that provides food delivery across the country. Since they are the only delivery food service that does this, they can charge higher prices and customers won’t turn to other options.
If you want an authentic New York Style Pizza in California, one way to ensure this is to buy a real one from Goldbelly.
Selective Restaurants/made-to-order
Goldbelly is selective about which restaurants and local producers they make available through their service.
Because of this, often the restaurant won’t be a typical wholesale producer that makes their products in bulk.
This is especially true with the sweeter treats on their website, such as cheesecakes and cookies.
The restaurants make your item and then send it through Goldbelly, which takes longer (and therefore costs more for fewer items).
Shipping
Although a lot of restaurants on Goldbelly offer free shipping, shipping does add to the cost of the overall order. This can make it seem excessive compared to walking down the street for your food or making it yourself.
Goldbelly Coupon Codes
Goldbelly does offer a range of deals and coupon codes that take their prices down and make their service more accessible for their customers.
Whether you get $15 off your first order or a coupon for free shipping, there is a range of deals available at any time.
A few example coupon codes:
- DEEPDISH25 for 25% off Lou Malnati Pizza
- FORBES15 for 15% off a $50 order.
- FEEDYOURBELLY for 15% off your first order
The Verdict: My Overall Rating of Goldbelly, Is It Worth It?
My overall rating of whether or not Goldbelly is worth the effort and money comes down to what I consider to be the most important factors. These are taste, delivery time, variety of food, and cost.
Firstly, taste: I think that the quality of restaurants and food that Goldbelly puts on their site are well thought out and high quality. From what I have tried of them, everything was really delicious, fresh, and nostalgic. So for taste, I think it’s worth it!
Delivery time is not something that is much of an issue for me personally. When the food comes either frozen or ready to eat with options for freezing, it takes away the rush and fear of perishability.
My order shipped in a few days, and arrived in a few more days after shipping. Seeing as it isn’t an on-demand food delivery service, I found the delivery time reasonable.
The variety of food is really nothing to argue with. There are endless options from a very wide range of restaurants in a plethora of locations. This is in addition to their ability to cater to dietary requirements, which are particularly accommodating to a variety of different diets and religions.
Finally, there’s the matter of cost. There’s no doubt that it is an expensive service, and unless you're on a better value subscription to bring down costs, I think that Goldbelly is a good option for when you’re looking to treat yourself or others.
For myself, I can definitely see myself using Goldbelly again – but it won’t be weekly.
Overall, I’d give Goldbelly a 4/5 rating. I really loved the experience, but the cost is rather high and it sometimes isn’t worth the effort of waiting a week.
Other than that, the food is great, the customer service is exceptional, and the nostalgia hits right where it needs to!
FAQS
Definitely! If you’re looking to treat yourself but don’t want to commit, you can stick to a one-time order.
Goldbelly shipping is not always free, but many different restaurants will have free shipping o at different times. It all depends on where you want to buy from. So no, shipping is not always free – but it is a lot of the time.
Most Goldbelly orders will ship 1-3 days after your order has been made. After that, it takes approximately another 1-3 days depending on where it is going and from what location.
If you’re ordering for a special occasion on a certain date, I’d order plenty in advance to ensure arrival – at least 10 days.
Because most things come frozen, it's not an issue to freeze if it arrives before you need it. You can also request a delivery date, and Goldbelly will try its best to make it happen.
Goldbelly price does not always include shipping, depending on your order. Many restaurant options offer free shipping, and all subscription packages have free shipping.
The return policy on Goldbelly’s website states that “all purchases on Goldbelly.com are final sale. If a food item arrives damaged or spoiled, our Customer Support team will work with you to determine an appropriate solution.
You can’t cancel a subscription once it's started. However, you can stop the subscription from renewing once your selected months run out.
Yes, a lot of Goldbelly food comes frozen with ice packs or dry ice. This is to preserve the item while it is traveling and to avoid damage.
Goldbelly is very selective about the restaurants they allow to sell through their site. Therefore, everything is of high quality and fresh. It may come frozen, but the ingredients are top-notch!
Like any online store, it takes a while for orders to process and then ship – especially across the country.
Because we are so used to on-demand food delivery, it may seem to take a while. However, it is really no different than any other retail item!
Goldbelly