Caviar was a premium food delivery service focused on curated restaurants and upscale dining experiences. Acquired by DoorDash in 2019, Caviar has been integrated into DoorDash's platform while maintaining its premium brand positioning for higher-end restaurant delivery.
Caviar occupies a premium niche within DoorDash's ecosystem, differentiating on restaurant curation rather than breadth. The premium food delivery segment faces pressure from standard delivery platforms that increasingly list upscale restaurants alongside casual dining.
DoorDash's main platform now includes premium restaurants alongside everyday options. The sheer scale and DashPass subscription reduce the need for a separate premium service.
Lists premium and fine dining restaurants within its main app. No separate premium tier — users can filter by cuisine quality and price range within one platform.
From the Tock reservation platform, focused exclusively on high-end restaurants. Targets food enthusiasts who want genuine fine dining experiences at home.
White-label ordering platform that lets restaurants own the customer relationship. No marketplace competition, lower fees for restaurants, and direct branding.
As DoorDash and Uber Eats add premium restaurants to their main platforms, the need for a separate premium delivery service diminishes. The curation value proposition weakens when premium options are available everywhere.
Caviar's value as a distinct brand within DoorDash is questionable. DoorDash may eventually fully absorb Caviar, using premium restaurant filters rather than maintaining a separate brand and app experience.
Premium restaurants are increasingly resistant to high delivery commissions that erode thin margins. Direct ordering solutions like ChowNow offer restaurants lower fees and customer data ownership.
Caviar was acquired by DoorDash in 2019 and integrated into its platform. Caviar-branded restaurants appear within DoorDash with a premium badge, though the separate Caviar experience has been largely absorbed.
DoorDash (with Caviar integration), Uber Eats, and Tock To Go all offer premium restaurant delivery. For the widest selection of upscale restaurants, DoorDash and Uber Eats have the most options in most cities.
DoorDash acquired Caviar to add premium restaurant partnerships and upscale brand positioning to its platform. The acquisition helped DoorDash attract higher-spending customers and premium restaurant partners.