Service brings Petaluma restaurants to your door

Mark Urenda was in a unique position when he ventured into the restaurant delivery business, starting Road Butler less than one year ago. As a taxi driver, he was thinking of ways to fill the gaps between fares.

With a knack for problem solving and a lifetime of customer service experience under his belt, he struck on the idea of offering Petalumans their favorite restaurant menus, straight to their front door.

“We are spoiled with great restaurant choices here in Petaluma,” Urenda said. “But sometimes people don’t have the time, or maybe don’t want to deal with the downtown parking or crosstown traffic in order to visit their favorites.”

Urenda approaches restaurant delivery from a different angle than most other delivery services. Where others either slap on menu increases or require restaurants to share their profits, Road Butler takes the guesswork out of the equation by charging a simple, straightforward, $13 delivery fee directly to the customer.

“Because restaurants work so hard in a tough industry, it made more sense to simply charge customers a flat fee and let the restaurants keep their hard-earned profits,” he said.

This flat-fee concept seems to have struck the perfect balance because the customer gets what they want, at a reasonable cost, and it is business as usual for the restaurants.

“As restauranteurs, we thoroughly appreciate a service like Mark’s,” said Sugo co-owner Annette White, a regular pick-up location for Road Butler customers. “It not only allows new customers the opportunity to taste our food, but also caters to the less mobile and elderly who may not otherwise have a chance to try dishes from some of the fabulous restaurants that Petaluma has to offer.”

Restaurants across town commend Urenda for the fact that Road Butler requires no kick-backs, profit sharing or contracts on the restaurant’s part. They also like that Road Butler expands their capacity by delivering their meals to customers who are not taking up valuable table space.

The process for ordering food is simple: First, call or text Road Butler at 217-5238 any day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. to make sure Mark is available. Then, call your favorite Petaluma restaurant, place your order and pay, inform the restaurant that Road Butler will pick up the food, and find out what time the food will be ready. Finally, text Road Butler with the restaurant’s name and the pickup time. It is that easy.

We followed these easy instructions one lazy Sunday afternoon, ordering Sugo Trattoria’s incredible pork chop and salmon dinners. Even though Sugo does not take payment over the phone, Urenda was more than happy to pay upon pick-up and then settled up when he reached our home.

Compared to the tip we would have left on the table when dining out, Road Butler’s $13 fee is quite reasonable and depending on how much you order, can turn into an actual savings over eating out.

Although simplicity, convenience and affordability certainly play their part, every Road Butler customer told me the same thing, which is that it is Urenda’s superior service, professionalism, and positive attitude that has them calling again and again.

Husband and wife Greg Schilly and Kimberly Todd have been Road Butler regulars since day one. Schilly runs Petaluma’s Schilly Construction while Todd is the owner/operator of Meals to Remember, a personal chef service. Restaurant delivery is perfect for their busy lives.

“We have tried other delivery services,” Schilly said. “Road Butler is the best, by far, because Mark is great at communicating updates, always does what he says he will and keeps the pricing simple. He brings all of Petaluma’s great restaurants right to our front door.”

“Whether it’s an impromptu pool party or we simply don’t feel like cooking, Road Butler gives us fast and easy food options, without a lot of forethought,” said customers Matthew and Rachel Vallone. “Because of Road Butler, in essence, every restaurant now has food delivery. And he goes above and beyond by always having the little things that the restaurant might have forgotten, like napkins or a serving spoon.”

Whether you have unexpected dinner guests, can’t break away from the office for lunch, or simply want a special treat without the hassle of cooking and cleaning, Road Butler has you covered.

“I’ve got the best job on earth because I get to help people and everyone is always so happy to see me,” Urenda said, admitting that maybe the great food has something to do with that too. “I hope to take over Petaluma, one stomach at a time!”