Since the full lockdown came into effect it has been heartening to see restaurants very quickly pivot their businesses into delis, take-away services or, like Otto’s or Redemption Roasters as just two of many examples, providing their food or drink to the NHS for free. All of this is helping to keep a modicum of sanity, keep businesses ticking over, keep people employed and ease the burden on supermarkets in this unusual time. We all have to play our part but it doesn’t necessarily mean missing out on good food altogether.
Whether you want to try and emulate a fine dining experience at home or simply avoid the supermarket queue, the following is our curated list of restaurants and shops doing take-away and deliveries, mostly in London with a few highlights in the rest of the country. A few caveats: this is not an advertising feature but our editorial recommendations; secondly, the situation is changing by the day. Since we first published this list in April 2020, more and more restaurants have set up delivery services offering a veritable smorgasbord of options. We’ll try to keep this list updated but please note it is only accurate as at the last date indicated below. We’ll keep on posting more as we discover them on our Instagram page. If you have any comments or suggestions feel free to send us a message on our social channels.
We’ve also peppered this list with a few wine delivery suggestions too. The Wine Society and supermarkets have been struggling with demand but there are alternatives out there!
Central London
12:51
We were fans of Islington’s 12:51 when it opened and pleased to see chef James Cochran has launched his ‘Around the Cluck’ delivery service. Buttermilk jerk chicken, his trade mark scotch bonnet jam, vegetarian dishes, beers and a small wine selection all available for delivery for evenings only, Thursday to Sunday. Website: https://www.1251.co.uk/
Gymhkana
Gymhkana has had two strokes of bad luck in the last year with its fire and now Covid-19 but now it’s back in delivery form. Enjoy such delights as Tandoori Masala lamb chops and the seafood biryani. Order via the Supper app/website. Deliveries currently available in central London: https://gymkhanalondon.com/
London Shell Co.
We loved our lunch aboard The Prince Regent a couple of years ago and are very pleased to see London Shell Co have launched a delivery service. Picnic and BBQ boxes with fresh fish delivered to your door with a bottle of sparkling wine: https://shop.londonshellco.com/
Circolo Popolare
Fitzrovia’s now infamous and slightly ludicrous Italian trattoria Circolo Popolare now delivers via Deliveroo, including a delivery version of their ‘Incomparable Lemon Pie.’ And there’s no need to queue! https://www.bigmammagroup.com/en/trattorias/circolo-popolare
Pastaficio Al Dente
The Fitzrovia pasta specialists will deliver via the usual means (Uber Eats etc) and have a wonderful selection of daily specials. They also do pasta cooking tutorials on their Instagram account, including a foolproof cacio e pepe, if you want to use this time to hone your own cooking skills. They also sell dried pasta. Website: https://www.pastificioaldente.com/
Hide by Ollie Dabbous
Enjoy Ollie Dabbous’ Michelin-starred cuisine and Hedonism wines from a surprisingly substantial take-away menu (though isn’t exactly cheap). See here: https://www.hide.co.uk/uploads/menu/system/Hide_at_home.pdf
St John (wine only)
The St John Bakery briefly offered a food delivery service but has wound down already. Nevertheless, St John Wines is still running. Order your wine here: https://stjohnwines.com/
Quality Chop House, Quality Shop and Quality Wines
It opened briefly, then it closed, then it reopened. The grocery shop and butcher in Farringdon is now open every day of the week, subject to social distancing. The wine shop next door is also open and there are live wine tastings on Instagram each week. Online shopping is available for ‘QCH at Home’ staples to warm up at home, groceries, wine cases and those all-important confit potatoes. Delivery days are now Fridays and Sundays. https://thequalitychophouse.com/
Clipstone
The Quality Chop House’s sister restaurant Clipstone also launched a delivery service in May and this is just as wonderful. Collections possible from Tuesdays to Saturdays and deliveries take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays: https://clipstonerestaurant.co.uk/
North London
Authentique Epicerie
One of our favourite French deli/wine bars in Tufnell Park, they will deliver cases of 12 wines and food boxes with more saucisson, Comte and quiche than you shake a baguette at. They have recently expanded their offering to include basic groceries such as eggs, butter and bread. You can collect or they will deliver to any address within a 15 minute drive/2 mile radius.
Ladies and Gentlemen Underground Bar
The Ladies and Gentlemen cocktail bars in Kentish Town and Camden can deliver cocktails to your door. And rather fittingly for former public toilets, they have supplies of bog roll too. See: https://ladiesandgents.co/#
Michael Nadra
The Primrose Hill restaurant is now offering a ‘Quarantine Grill’ menu with a 10% discount if you collect. Sunday roasts also available! https://www.restaurant-michaelnadra.co.uk/primrose-hill/
Primeur
When we first reviewed Primeur we weren’t too happy about their lack of coffee but (last time we checked) they’re doing a wonderful thing for the local community by delivering boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables for £40 per box. Email sales@primeur.co
South London
Lorne
Another one of our favourites – indeed it was our favourite new opening of 2017 – is launching ‘Lorne at Home’ on 3 June. This is fantastic news. See here: https://www.lornerestaurant.co.uk/
Sorella
Clapham’s Sorella has now launched ‘Sorella at Home’, including groceries and deli items, dishes to cook at home, and in due course wines and cocktails. See: https://www.sorellarestaurant.co.uk/
Darby’s
Darby’s have a small but perfectly formed delivery menu of dishes to reheat at home, a bakery, deli and butcher’s. Go to their Instagram account for their daily menu: https://www.instagram.com/darbyslondon/
Café de Nata
The South Kensington Portuguese bakery is open for all your Pastéis de Nata needs (with branches in Hammersmith and Soho). Home deliveries available via Deliveroo and Uber Eats. See http://www.cafedenata.com/
Kennington Tandoori
The KT never fails – John Bercow and Ken Clarke’s hangout and famous of course for the ‘Remainer Curry House Plot’. Open for deliveries and take away every day except Tuesdays. http://www.kenningtontandoori.com/
West London
Benares
For high-end Indian food, Benares at Home offers a delivery and collection service every day except Sundays: https://www.benaresrestaurant.com/
Les Doucers de la Tentation
The Maida Vale French bistro will do deliveries and collections for the local area from 12pm to 8pm, with 10% of gross sales going to the NHS. http://www.lesdouceursdelatentation.co.uk/
East London
Newcomer Wines
Our Dalston favourite will do free delivery of cases of wine on all orders over £50. They’re also very quick and can deliver the next day if you ask nicely. Website: https://www.newcomerwines.com/
Pidgin
From Wednesday to Sunday, Pidgin’s delivery service ‘Homing Pidgin’ provides a high-end three course meal for you to reheat at home for around £25. Note these sell out very fast. Wine is also available. Website: https://www.pidginlondon.com/
Passione Vino
This Shoreditch wine shop run by the exuberant Luca Dusi is fully embracing the need to keep calm and carry on. They deliver wine, aperitivi and “Italian survival packs”! Website: https://passionevino.co.uk/
Highlights from the rest of the UK
Food by John Lawson (Southend)
This Southend restaurant has turned itself into a temporary organic market for the local community. Website: https://www.foodbyjohnlawson.com/
Mughli (Manchester)
Manchester ‘Indian Soul Food’ restaurant has a ‘Mughli and Chill’ stay at home service. See: https://www.mughli.com/
Planted (Brighton / London)
Brighton-based plant food company Planted will deliver all manner of vegan-friendly salads and meals to reheat at home. They also deliver for free in south and east London. Website: https://www.weareplanted.com/
Vanderlyle To Go (Cambridge)
Former MasterChef finalist Alex Rushmer’s Cambridge restaurant has a contactless delivery service within 3 miles of Cambridge, from Tuesdays to Saturdays. Advisable to book ahead as the available slots go fast. https://www.exploretock.com/vanderlyle
Wood (Manchester)
Another former MasterChef contestant, indeed the winner of 2015, Simon Wood’s eponymous flagship restaurant in Manchester is delivering to the local area: https://woodrestaurantgroup.com/
Poet At Matfield (Kent)
This delightful Kentish gastropub is offering a delivery and collection service. Order by 7pm on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday for collection from the next day onwards. https://thepoetatmatfield.co.uk/
Lussmanns Restaurant (Hertfordshire)
A restaurant in the Sunday Times’ top 100 UK restaurants, Lussmanns has a to go service offering classic dishes: https://www.lussmanns.com/
The Cornish Arms (Padstow)
Rick Stein’s Padstow pub now offers classic dishes for local residents to take away from Wednesday to Sunday with pizzas available on Friday and Saturday evenings: https://www.rickstein.com/eat-with-us/the-cornish-arms/
Last updated 29 June 2020.
