Reception! Meal Delivery: Is it Worth the Hype?

Hello!

I'm a busy bee, and I'm always on the lookout for ways to delegate household chores so I can save time and energy. And as someone who's not exactly a fan of cooking, I'm more than happy to pass that task on to someone else. Luckily, there are plenty of options available, from cafes to meal delivery services in containers. That's what I'm going to talk about today.

I've seen ads for Reception! service before, but I never really paid much attention to them. I've tried other meal delivery services in the past, like Grandma and Grandpa and Mikhailik Kitchen. So, I have something to compare it to.

With so many services out there, the competition is fierce, and each one tries to come up with its own unique selling point to attract customers. Some focus on homemade food, while others offer personalized meal plans for weight loss or muscle gain. And then there are those that let you choose your own meals instead of just getting a set menu.

Reception! tries to stand out with its pricing: it offers a month of meal delivery for 9900 rubles! That's 3 meals a day for 27 days straight, with delivery a few days apart.

Affordable food at home is exactly what Reception! offers. And yeah, one meal can cost as much as a latte at a coffee shop.

Reception! uses its own IT solutions, the latest technology, and automated production to keep costs low.

It's a modern approach that saves money at every stage, from cooking to logistics.

And the quality doesn't suffer.

You can order through their website. Here's what their homepage looks like.

In the end, I couldn't resist: my favorite bank offered me a 500-ruble cashback for my purchase at Reception!, and I also found a promo code for 500 rubles off my first order. So, my total came out to 8900 rubles for 81 dishes.

In my case, the cost of one dish works out to 110 rubles, without discounts - 122 rubles. That's very budget-friendly compared to other meal delivery services. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows - I'll explain why below.

Besides the 9900-ruble monthly plan, Reception! also offers a trial order (3 days, 3 meals) for 1980 rubles. And there are often promotions, like the current one where a month for two people costs 8910 rubles (no, I didn't make a mistake).

I've gotta say, ordering from Priem is pretty quick. One thing that's a bit of a bummer is that you don't really have a choice when it comes to the Georgian dishes - they're just what you get. Plus, there's no swapping out meals if you've got allergies or just don't like something. They do have a set menu for the month, though, so at least you know what's coming.

On the plus side, the menu is super varied and there's always something new each day, so it never gets boring.

I opted for the 3-meal plan, but Priem also offers a 4-meal plan with a lighter option for the fourth meal - usually a salad or some pancakes.

I love that each meal has a photo on the website, along with the macronutrient breakdown and calorie count.

Speaking of calorie count, it's super low - around 1000-1200 calories per day, which is basically what you'd need if you were a kid or had a super sedentary lifestyle. The meals are actually pretty filling, but in terms of BJJ and energy value, they're a bit lacking. Even the Priem website mentions adding some extra fiber to your diet.

Priem is an awesome foundation for daily meals! Our menu features three main meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Just don't skip 'em. Each serving is around 170-250g, which is enough to keep you from feeling hungry, but still leaves room for a snack or a light salad.

So, here's the thing - you pay for your order on the website, then choose a day and time for delivery, which is usually 3-4 days later. You can even pick a specific time slot - not just 00:00-23:59, but usually 3-hour blocks. It's super convenient.

You can even reschedule delivery for free, as long as it's not within a couple of hours of the original time. I've never had to pay for rescheduling, though.

As a busy person, I love that I can just pick a time that works for me and have the food delivered.

Our courier has been super reliable - they've never missed a delivery and even call 20 minutes before arrival to confirm. No complaints there!

My meals arrived in a stylish, compact cardboard box with a handle and the company's logo. Inside, the food was organized by day of the week: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I didn't stress too much about it, sometimes I skipped meals if I was eating out, or I'd eat four times a day, so my schedule got all mixed up.

All meals come in black containers that can be heated in the microwave (but I prefer to serve them on a plate). The information on the container label is super detailed and easy to read: the dish's composition, nutritional and energy value, allergens, manufacturer, expiration date, and more.

But even without the label, you can find all the info on the Priem website.

Okay, let's take a look at some of the dishes.

First up: breakfast.

Bagel with ham

My first breakfast in Priem... didn't impress me at all: dry bagel, weird sauce-like substance, flavorless ham.

My rating: 1/5.

Guryevskaya oatmeal with caramelized nuts

Now this is a breakfast that's out of the ordinary, and I liked it! The oatmeal, nut sauce, and caramelized nuts all worked together. It's filling, tasty, and just the right amount of sweet.

My rating: 5/5.

Cornmeal porridge and apple muffin

This cornmeal porridge and muffin combo was interesting. The flavors were good, but the muffin was a bit dry, and I couldn't even taste the apple.

And check out the portion size - it's tiny! This is a major issue with Priem: the portions are way too small. A grown, active person would probably need more than this to feel full.

I was really disappointed with the tiny amount of protein in this meal. Every meal I had was loaded with carbs and sugar, and the healthy fats were practically non-existent. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a health nut who demonizes carbs as a source of energy, but this diet just wasn't balanced. And, as I mentioned earlier, there were no veggies or fruits in sight.

My rating: 4-/5

Pancake with ham and cheese

The pancake itself was a bit thick, but the filling was decent. I really enjoyed the creamy sauce.

My rating: 4/5

Banana cake with honey and caramel sauce

This wasn't a cake, it was a banana bread. Without the sauce, it was dry and flavorless. The sauce itself was way too sweet. Not my cup of tea.

My rating: 2/5

This was part of my breakfast.

Now, let's move on to the main meals - lunch and dinner.

Meatloaf with green peas and mashed potatoes

I'm not even sure what I was eating - it was some sort of mush in a container. The taste was fine, the mashed potatoes weren't too starchy, and the meatloaf was tender, but the packaging just wasn't suitable for this type of food.

My rating: 3/5

Chicken stir-fry

It was a letdown, to be honest. The sauce was flavorless, and there just wasn't enough chicken or veggies. I've had way better stir-fries from Mikhail Kitchen - the difference was night and day. I get that you can't expect a lot of meat at this price point, but this just felt empty.

My rating: 3/5

Grilled chicken breast with mashed potatoes

Say it with me: 'It was delicious and that's it.'

I mean, it's hard to mess up a dish like this. I enjoyed it.

My rating: 5/5.

Chicken breast in a creamy-garlic sauce with rice and veggies

I've got to say, the $10 extra for the veggies is a bit of a stretch for me, but I guess it's a choice I have to make. Let's be real, the 'veggies' are basically just a bunch of dry rice. I mean, there's a lot of it, but it's super dry and not even remotely like a decent side dish.

The chicken and sauce, on the other hand, are spot on.

My rating: 2/5.

Kuriya in a creamy sauce with veggies and poltava porridge

The chicken in the creamy sauce with veggies is a winner, but the poltava porridge was a total letdown - it was dry and flavorless. I couldn't even finish it.

My rating: 3/5.

For the price, I'd say it's a decent option - Priem! has got some things going for it. Convenient variable delivery, low prices, and a pretty diverse menu.

But let's not forget the downsides: tiny portions, low calorie count, not all the dishes are tasty, can't swap out dishes, and it's lacking in protein and veggies.

Priem! won't be my go-to, but hey, it's up to you to decide.

Thanks for reading.