The great coronavirus lockdown! It’s been heartbreaking to watch Sydney’s restaurant scene forced to close its doors.
But it’s also been bloody inspiring to see so many rise to the challenge and create extraordinary new takeaway menus and offerings.
And I must admit, I’ve quite enjoyed the novelty of being able to enjoy quality dining while slouching about in track pants with hair that hasn’t seen a brush in months. It’s indeed been a highlight of lockdown life. And these seven restaurants now doing takeaway have given me plenty to look forward to:
Pino’s Vino e Cucina, Alexandria
This neighbourhood Italian restaurant in Alexandria does the best pasta in Sydney (in my opinion) – the produce is top shelf and everything of such fine quality. So I was on an iso high, when Pino’s Vino e Cucina launched their dinner menu for pick-up and opened an online store full of goodies. We enjoyed a three course feed of charcuterie and cheese, two pastas and two desserts for approx $120. It was all REALLY good, but the Tonnarelli alla Bolognese and Gianduia parfait sandwich were *smacks lips*.
Marta, Rushcutters Bay
This Roman-inspired restaurant in Rushcutters Bay had long been on the to-try list. So in the first week of lockdown, when trying to source a caterer for my birthday dinner, I turned to these guys. I fell in love! The glorious pasta, fried gnocchi, pizza and dessert, all made it semi ok that I wasn’t celebrating my birthday on a boat, very much within 1.5 metres of my friends, as planned. Marta’s weekend bakery has also become famous for its flaky sfogliatelle filled with prosciutto and house-made ricotta – and you can see why.
Totti’s, Bondi
Totti’s is one of the few Merivale venues that’s gone down the takeaway route during the coronavirus lockdown – and thank the heavens for that! How would we have survived this period without our wood fired breads, antipasti, pastas and schnitzels? The pick-up process is all super smooth too – you book in for an allocated time slot and then collect the goods in The Bottle Shop Bondi – all very convenient for alcoholic add-ons. Of course, trackies won’t do for Totti’s – you must be dressed in your best EB attire to enjoy this one, regardless of whether it’s on the couch or not.
Moxhe, Bronte
This high-end restaurant in Bronte normally does a ripper seafood degustation. But instead it’s started doing a daily take-home lunch and three-course dinner menu, as well as the Moxhe market selling organic veggies, fresh pasta, homemade bread, pastries and addictive Belgian waffles. There’s only one lunch and dinner option each day, so it’s become my iso entertainment: refreshing Instagram to see what today’s special is. And being a short stroll away, I’ve enjoyed many lunches of fresh tartines, galettes, flatbread and bao – and waffles.
Chin Chin, Surry Hills
I’ve long been a fan of the Melbourne original but I do find the Surry Hills outpost really loud (yes, I’m aware I just revealed I’m over 30). So being able to enjoy Chin Chin’s famous massaman curry and fried rice from the serenity of my apartment, I’m pretty happy about. Although just as getting a table at Chin Chin is a well-choreographed dance, so is being able to place a takeaway order – the kitchen is still preposterously popular. It took me two weekends to finally see success and only because I gave up ordering after 6pm.
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Chester White, Potts Point
Being able to enjoy Chester White’s legendary truffle cacio e pepe while binging on Money Heist, such a treat! Throw in some premium meats, olives and cheeses, and life’s not so bad after all, almost makes you forget about the deadly virus turning the world upside down.
Mr. Wong, Sydney CBD
As part of the new Merivale at Home offering, Mr. Wong is doing a number of almost-ready meals you just need to finish off yourself, like a Cantonese feast of king prawn wontons, fried rice, kung pao chicken, barramundi, chinese broccoli and chocolate mousse for $95. It’s all there, giving you a leg up to becoming a proper chef. Although chances are I’d somehow burn the barramundi, there’d be wonton broth on the roof and the broccoli would resemble rubber, so I stuck with the everything-cooked-for-you pick up option. Safe.
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More takeaway options?
Other Sydney restaurants trying their hand at takeaway during the great coronavirus lockdown on my list to try include:
- Sake, various locations – for high-end Japanese at home.
- Arthur, Surry Hills – with a different to-go menu every day, plus their famous sourdough and cultured butter.
- Cho Cho San, Potts Point – and it’s six-course izakaya set menu for two people ($96), or Cho Mart to cook gyoza and pork buns at home, which I think I could safely pull off.
- Sixpenny, Stanmore – offering a set five-course menu for two people ($90).
- China Doll, Sydney CBD – for a premium Chinese banquet.
- Kid Kyoto, Sydney CBD – for fun Japanese meal boxes.
