People in the Meridian area will soon be able to order delivery food at the click on their computer or smart phone.

Waitr, a food delivery service, announced via social media it will launch in Meridian on Sept. 20, with at least 30 local restaurants participating in the service.

“We wanted to bring all of your favorite restaurants to your office or your home,” Shaun Tousignant, a regional marketing manager at Waitr, said. “And it helps local restaurants increase their revenue. We’re here to support the mom-and-pop restaurants and the chain restaurants.”

According to Tousignant, the service has no minimum or maximum order limit and charges a flat-rate $5 delivery fee. A locally-based management team oversees the service in the Meridian area and Waitr will be hiring part-time delivery drivers via their website or the app.

“We had enormous success in Jackson, Mississippi. We were so busy during launch week that the market team made deliveries,” Tousignant said. “We’ve been in Tuscaloosa for two years and had great success. It’s only natural that Meridian would be the next stop.”

Because the service is based on an app or website order, customers can order, pay and tip their drivers via the app. Tousignant said the location-based service, which limits orders to a 15-minute driving range, keeps food fresh and to restaurant standards.

“We will definitely have 30 restaurants live on launch week and that number will climb,” Tousignant said.

Restaurants for Meridian, according to the website waitrapp.com, include College Park’s Popeye’s, Twisted Mist Coffee, Grand China Buffet, Binke’s Restaurant, Seafood & Chicken Express, Deli on 5th, Subway, Weidmann’s, Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, Mugshots, Chick-fil-A and The Pretzel Twister.

Charles Frazier, the owner of Weidmann’s, said he sees potential in the service.

“Obviously with the hospitals’ campuses, we have a pool of hungry folks,” Frazier said. “A lot can’t leave for lunch.”

Additionally, from discussions with Waitr and setting up the system within his restaurant, he said he felt confident the service would uphold Weidmann’s standards.

“We can accept or reject orders,” Frazier said. “So if it’s 12:15 on a Tuesday at lunch and we may be slammed… we can reject or give an estimated time for delivery. We have the luxury of screening things as we look at them.”

Another untapped market that Frazier sees as an opportunity are people staying in hotels within Meridian.

“When I’m traveling, I want to eat at the local restaurants, but I want to stay in my room,” Frazier said. “I’m hopeful that will get some customers who want to get something that’s unique to the area.”