UberEats Expanding Service to Fort Lauderdale UPDATED

Correction: An earlier version of this story, based on an email from a publicist, stated UberEats would launch in Fort Lauderdale October 4. That is incorrect.

UberEats, the food delivery arm of Uber's rideshare platform, has confirmed it will head to Fort Lauderdale later this month.

In the coming weeks, UberEats will be working on expanding its services into central Broward County, said Javi Correoso, Uber's public affairs manager for the state of Florida. He estimates a Fort Lauderdale rollout will launch mid- to late- October.

"Our UberEats team is always exploring new opportunities," said Correoso. "We look forward to expanding the South Florida coverage area in the coming weeks."

In July, UberEats went live in Miami-Dade County and parts of Broward with drivers servicing Miami, as well as parts of southern Broward County including Hallandale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach.

Uber began its UberEats food delivery service with a California pilot program that launched in September 2014. The most recent version of UberEats, launched earlier this year. It allows users to order food and track their delivery through the UberEats mobile app, or on the UberEats website. The service is currently available in 10 U.S. cities including Miami, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Austin.

UberEats works much like the original Uber app: Customers place an order, and a short time later a driver drops off the food. 

Once you download the app to your phone, you'll be asked to key in your credit card information and enter a valid delivery address. From there, restaurants are sorted by delivery time. Once you click the restaurant, you can then scroll through the menu and select what you want.  In Broward and Palm Beach counties, there is a flat rate delivery fee (about $4.99 in current serviced areas). And, unlike standard Uber, there is no surge pricing. 

Currently, UberEats is one of the fastest growing alternative platforms Uber provides. While the original food delivery platform began by offering limited range services that catered mostly to the daytime lunch crowd — available only in specific or business-heavy neighborhoods for limited hours — today the app-based food delivery is in direct competition with similar companies vying for a spot in the industry. Locally, that includes Delivery Dudes, Shipt, Cravy, and — most recently — Instacart.

One way UberEats stands out. UberEats drivers are paid the same way as Uber drivers, so tipping is less part of the equation.

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.