Restaurants and bars have had to adapt quickly and repeatedly to the changes imposed due to COVID-19. And they are still struggling. That’s why those of us who are working from home and still getting paid a salary need to keep spending. It’s what will keep these businesses around beyond this crisis.
Treat yourself to a cocktail delivered to your door. Indulge in a takeaway three-course meal expertly made by Michelin-starred chefs. Or, instead of going to your usual supermarket mega giant chain, try shopping at independent businesses – like some of these restaurants which have basically become grocery stores for their local community. Read on to see what marvellous and creative things these businesses are doing.
Brat
Tomos Parry and the team at Michelin-starred Brat, on Redchurch Street, have launched Brat Farm, Grill and Wine Shop. Brat will be continuing to support their network of small farmers, growers and fisherman, with a market stall brimming with boxes of fresh vegetables, a delicatessen selling prepared food such as grilled asparagus salad and house made bread and a wine shop with a sommelier on hand to offer tips and recommendations. Tomos and his team will also be grilling whole crabs, fish and smoking potatoes for take-away and delivery. This is for those wanting to isolate in style.
bratrestaurant.com
Mac & Wild
The Scottish kings of the Square Mile have taken their takeaway offerings up to a whole new level – and they’re even giving 50% all online food orders. BOOM! Food includes their famous Veni-Moo Burger (if you haven’t tried this yet, now is the time to do so), steaks and the truffle mac and cheese. These can all be ordered alongside a decent selection of pre-bottled cocktails such as the Foraged Old Fashioned for a good ol’ Scottish celebration at home.
macandwild.com
Native at Home x Two Tribes Brewey
Native are joining forces with KX based Two Tribes Brewery to deliver the ultimate ‘Pie & a Pint’ to caged-up Londoners. Pioneers of making local, seasonal produce last as long as possible through pickling, preserving and fermenting, Native At Home will see the team produce a menu of high-end, frozen pies to try and weather the storm for however long it may last. Available to order through Native’s website, they will be offering a short menu of 5 pies at just £5 each with the option to add a pint of Two Tribes beers to wash it down with.
nativerestaurant.co.uk
12:51
It doesn’t get much more personal than this guys. James and Dan, the owners of 12:51, will be making the deliveries themselves by bicycle. The menu brings together signature snack of James’s Jamaican jerk chicken, sides made up of fresh fruit and veg and of course the scotch bonnet jam. From midday Thursday 19 March, 12:51 will also be on Deliveroo and Slerp serving out of their restaurant in Islington. Delivery is free of charge for orders over £10 and there is a 15% discount for any workers in the public sector that order from within the local area.
1251.co.uk
Officina 00
Shoreditch pasta workshop Officina 00 has launched a delivery menu in partnership with Deliveroo. Anyone ordering through the app will have access to a short menu of favourites from Officina 00’s menu, such as Corzetti, wild mushroom, fennel sausage and parsley; Pumpkin gnocchi, brown butter, sage, Gorgonzola; and Pappardelle ragu, with meatballs and buratta. As well as pastas, diners can select from Italian wine, beers and, for dessert, chocolate and lemon profiteroles. Alternatively, fresh pastas, made in-house daily, can be ordered by the 100g to be cooked as home, with Garganelli, Cavatelli and Pappardelle on offer.
officina00.co.uk
Townsend
The newly opened Whitechapel restaurant Townsend is set to launch a delivery service on Thursday 19 March. Founder Nick Gilkinson has worked with head chef Joe Fox to reconfigure the restaurant’s signature dishes into a delivery friendly ready-to-eat format. Dishes on the initial menu include fluffy Potato dumplings with potted brown shrimp and spinach and a salad of white sprouting broccoli, Devon Blue cheese, roasted squash and pickled walnuts, not to mention desserts such as their much-loved treacle and ginger cake with custard.
Nick has also pulled together a selection of his favourite wines designed to accompany Joe’s dishes. Priced from £10 a bottle these include Fabrizio Vella’s Bianco, a crisp natural wine from Sicily, and Jean Perrier et Fils’ Abymes, a citrusy wine with notes of fresh green fruit. Additionally, any bottle of wine ordered via the Townsend delivery service will come with a free glass of wine to be redeemed at the restaurant when they reopen.
Finally, the team have pulled together two supply package boxes, priced at £14 each, perfect for those unable to make it out to the supermarket in the coming weeks. The Essentials box includes fresh eggs, dried pasta, flour, chopped tomatoes, milk and butter whilst the Seasonal box include potatoes, seasonal greens, onion, carrots, leeks and crisp Braeburn apples. Townsend orders will be available from Thursday 19th March directly via the Townsend website and their social media. Minimum order £10.
whitechapelgallery.org/townsend
