Yes, you can now order takeaway or delivery from many of London’s best restaurants, but some have taken the extra step of selling meal kits and other cupboard essentials. Whether that means fresh pastas and sauces, DIY burger kits, or even Campari for your next batch of Negronis, here’s a rundown of venues to help restock. Don’t forget: Now is the time to support the restaurants you love.
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DARBY’S
Previously, Darby’s in Vauxhall was already a baker and deli par excellence, and the good news is that the lockdown hasn’t changed that. From the deli and bakery, there are outstanding British and European cheeses from small producers; sourdough and pastries (including a fantastic kouign-amann), ready-to-bake pies, pastas, and Natoora vegetable boxes. Meanwhile, the butchery offers aspiring home cooks access to outstanding dry-aged cuts of beef. Order online for pickup, or get delivery.
THE SEA, THE SEA
Pre-lockdown, The Sea, The Sea had earned the distinction of being the only fishmonger and deli that transformed into a Champagne bar and cutting-edge chef’s counter at night. In that sense, little has changed — West Londoners can count their blessings that Leo Carreira and his team are still preparing some of the UK’s best seafood (whether fresh, smoked, or preserved) for delivery around Fulham and Chelsea. At-home kits and sparkling wines are also on the menu. Order here.
CLARENCE TAVERN
This sister Stoke Newington gastropub to the legendary Anchor & Hope delivers a wide range of groceries (in addition to at-home meal kits, wines and beers) to N16, N5, E8 and E5 postcodes. Seasonal vegetables and meat from Swaledale farms are strengths, in addition to cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy and coffee from Monmouth. Slightly harder-to-find groceries also make it a lifesaver, with extras like sriracha hot sauce and Oatly available too. Deliveries are made Thursday to Sunday; order the day before by 6 p.m., for delivery between 3 to 5 p.m. Order here.
TRANGALLAN
Newington Green locals have always been a lucky lot, and having one of London’s best Spanish restaurants on their doorstep continues to pay dividends. As well as excellent meals to go, this tapas bar also functions as a grocer and vegetable shop during the day, offering gorgeous seasonal produce to elevate the simplest of home-cooked dishes. Expect anything from plump courgettes and Tudela artichokes to Sicilian lemons and spring peas in their shells, alongside eggs, fresh-baked bread, and home baking essentials. Pre-order for local delivery, or pop in for takeout.
YARDARM
This Leyton gem has served its community as a grocer and deli since it opened, and continues to do so through the lockdown. Expect high-quality provisions such as cheese, meat, bread, fresh groceries and drinks (including plenty of London craft beers and wines from the likes of St. John and Les Caves de Pyrene), with a weekly Sunday roast that’s to die for. Pre-ordered fish deliveries are on Thursdays, via Soleshare. Call for collection or local delivery on 020 8556 2444.
FARE
A Farringdon staple and one of London’s most noted establishments for pizza delivery, Fare’s online shop is selling an impressive range of wines and pre-bottled cocktails (one of its standout offerings) as well as superior Italian essentials, such as dried pasta and sauces, olive oils, olives, charcuterie and cheese. Coffee savants are well catered for, with a range of Assembly roasts available.
TOWNSEND
Run by an ex-Petersham Nurseries and Garden Cafe duo, it’s of little surprise that Townsend’s delivery and takeaway offering is a class act. Alongside incredibly comforting meal kits (like potato dumplings with Paddock Farm pork and creamy Berkswell cheese), this restaurant in the Whitechapel Gallery also offers high quality vegetable boxes from Natoora, pantry staples like eggs, milk from the Estate Dairy, premium cuts of meat, and a thoughtfully chosen selection of wines.
OREN
One of London’s standout new openings, Oren’s Middle Eastern deliveries are complemented by a short but sweet lineup of groceries. Dalstonites rejoice — along with home baking essentials and cocktail kits, the restaurant also delivers crumbly barrel-aged feta cheese, Kalamata olives, Kettle chips and beers. In other words, all of the fundamentals for an excellent night in.
OMBRA
Among the first to successfully make the switch to delivery, Ombra’s fresh pasta kits, wine, and grocery offering have been a godsend to Hackney locals. As well as superlative fresh pasta (also available at Yardarm in Leyton), the restaurant also offers Italian cheese and cold cuts, pre-bottled Negronis, and ever-scarcer home baking essentials like yeast, Cacklebean eggs, and several types of flour. You can also order Flourish Farm veg boxes to pick up at the restaurant, too. Order online for pick-up, or delivery in the Hackney and Victoria Park area.
IKOYI
One of London’s most exciting restaurants by any measure, it wasn’t uncommon for diners to fly into the city specifically to experience chef Jeremy Chan’s high-end riffs on West African flavours. In spectacularly baller fashion, Ikoyi’s e-shop is as idiosyncratic as they come, offering just Cameroon-sourced coffee alongside the restaurant’s own Kaluga hybrid caviar. The tote bag is quite covetable, too.
