The January At-Home Hit List: Arrosto, Decatur, Sumi, Mangal 2, and More

Of the paraphernalia of life under lockdown, the humble roast chicken may emerge as one of our most telling cultural artifacts. Ubiquitous as it may be, trust Nick Bramham – he of Quality Wines cult fame – to retell this story in his own inimitable way, with new delivery concept Arrosto. Herb-cured and slow roast in the Italian style, the chicken is perfect – and sides like spiedini (skewers), focaccia, homemade gelato, and a take on Zuni Café’s legendary chicken salad make it impossible to resist. Delivering from central London via Slerp.

It’s difficult to approximate something that feels genuinely occasion worthy at home – but this Southern Food specialist have managed it with a now-legendary shrimp boil, with kits for two or four people. An antidote to the season, each kit is loaded with plump shrimp, corn on the cob, potatoes, tender andouille sausage, and a lip-tinglingly spicy seasoning – pescatarian options are available for non-pork eaters, too. Line the dinner table with newspaper, crack open a few cold ones, and dive in. Nationwide delivery is also available — order here.

Some of the most special vegan and vegetarian cuisine being cooked in the capital comes courtesy of chef Rishim Sachdeva, who opened Tendril mid-2020 and has pivoted to sourcing, preparing, and delivering his outstanding dishes to each guest personally. A frequently changing menu could feature crisp zucchini fritters with cream cheese and turmeric, or a hearty stew of puy lentils and cabbage with hot sauce and crispy shallots. Email Rishim to order here.

This classic Turkish establishment passed to a new generation last year, and with it arrived a modern approach that’s won it universal acclaim. Like the best neighbourhood restaurants, the entire menu of perfectly grilled meat, breads, and creative starters is available to take away – however, it’s the mackerel ‘pide’ sandwich that’s arguably the year’s cult dish, with creamy mackerel and a luxurious dill mayo layered between two crisp slices of Turkish bread, with a sprinkling of Isot pepper. Order for collection, or get it via Slerp or Big Night.

Chef Ferdinand “Budgie” Montoya’s championing of his native Filipino cuisine has helped dishes like lechon and lumpia enter the mainstream. Since Sarap closed for dine-in, Montoya has pivoted to offering quick and comforting dishes inspired by the country’s numerous street markets, like rice bowls with longaniza sausage, fried chicken sinigang with tangy tamarind, and of course, BBQ pork belly to go. Available for click-and-collect, or via Deliveroo or Uber Eats.

Few dishes in the capital deserve the status of ‘sublime’, but anything Anna Tobias (ex-Rochelle Canteen, River Café) cooks is especially worthy. Only briefly open for dine in service last year, Café Deco has since done brisk business shifting Tobias’s unsuspecting deli fare – a cauliflower quiche here, a salt cod sandwich there – that have had London’s food illuminati in raptures. If you’re not too far, it’s absolutely worth the detour on a weekend stroll or bike ride. Learn more here.

In recent year, Notting Hill has not-so-quietly turned into a restaurant neighbourhood to rival some of the city’s best. Sumi, a takeaway sushi and sashimi shop from Michelin-starred sushi chef Kazutoshi Endo (of Endo at the Rotunda) had huge lines down the street when it opened a few months ago. Stellar sushi and sashimi bento boxes (with a vegan option, for good measure) are well worth the price of admission, with impeccable fresh and cured fish (and premium cuts of o-toro) the main draw. Click-and-collect only.

As one of the titans of the fine dining world, perhaps the best descriptor for Clare Smyth’s Core at Home meal kit is ‘biblical’. An 11-course odyssey – to be finished at home, and presenting a serious challenge to aspiring home chefs – pulls signature dishes from her eponymous two-Michelin star restaurant in Notting Hill, with luxury ingredients from the world’s finest suppliers. A celebratory meal, if ever there was one — get the details here.

This Middle Eastern restaurant is one of Shoreditch’s outstanding eateries, and Bubie, its Kentish Town delivery offshoot, offers hearty mezze, laffa sandwiches, bowls, and more to North London locals. That the entire menu is vegan or vegetarian is a bonus, with dishes both perfect for weeknight suppers and working lunches. Available on Deliveroo.

For many, the privilege of living within walking distance of a market street has been a balm, and Broadway Market, like others, is no exception. A butcher’s shop from the outside, Hill & Szrok also does a fine line in gourmet at-home foods for enthusiastic epicures, but it’s the daily-changing special at lunchtimes – a fine steak sandwich, for example, or a hefty double cheeseburger that ranks among the city’s finest – that make it stand out. Order for take away only — learn more here.