It’s nearly the end of June, and of course it’s been a crazy time for well, the whole world.
As we approach the fingers-crossed-date of July 4th when it seems like some restaurants may open again, many have finally pivoted to takeaway/collection services meaning you can have a day off cooking and enjoy something nice every now and then. Or far too often, in our case…
While there’s a lot of stuff that’s popped up that isn’t worth your time, here’s a handful of my favourites in Newcastle that have adapted, and offer takeaway/collection in ‘these unprecedented, challenging times’.
*Big thanks to media agency MagFellow for sponsoring this post and allowing me to sample a few of these treats. They’re revealing the countries with the most amount of Michelin stars on their client site – do you know which it is?
Scream for Pizza
Another early adopter of online booking & takeaway slots, the Scream for Pizza girls have been selling out of pizza collection slots for weeks at a time! One of the most loved pizza paddlers in the city, you know what you’re getting, and it always hits the spot.
Offer: Almost the full pizza menu for takeaway! Pizzas £6-£15.
What to get: Get a safe bet, and something new. I’d go for the Brooklyn Bee and perhaps the amusingly named Kevin Vegan. Weyyy.
How to order: Couldn’t be much easier. Book a spot here.
The Patricia at Home
As one of Newcastle’s finest and most exciting restaurants of the last few years, The Patricia really needs no introduction. Simplicity defined, expect stripped back versions of classic pairings, smashed full of flavour and finesse.
Owner Nick is offering the full ‘Patricia at Home service’ with a set menu, as well as extras like ragu for pasta (or whatever you fancy), a likely-to-be-great wine selection, and is soonto launch a full ‘bits and bobs’ deli style offering. Cannily, each week’s menu has an accompanying Spotify playlist, which is an excellent touch.
Offer: 3 courses for 2 for £40, other bits like ragu £8, wines from £15.
What to get: It’s a weekly changing menu, expect focaccia & a light starter, followed by a heartier meat + 2 sides, and classic desserts done well, like panna cotta.
How to order: Pre-ordering opens weekly for that weeks menu via the website.
Papa Ganoush
We’ve been eating and drinking pretty well – in the sense of lots of butter, bread, rich food, carbs and alcohol – over the past ten weeks or so, so a little salad is always a welcome relief. Papa Ganoush food makes you feel good inside. If you’ve had their street food over the last 5 or so years, you’ll know what to expect – just now it’s at the convenience of your own house.
Offer: A few favourites from their street food menu, and some new bits like buddha bowls from about £7ea.
What to get: Falafels, hummus & loads of salad and breads. Happy days.
How to order: Check if the main restaurant is currently offering takeaway.
Sachins
OK, you can get takeaway Sachins normally at any point. But I think it’s interesting as Bob Arora, Mr. Sachins himself is doing the cooking, so it feels that bit more special. It points to ‘owners need to keep the business alive’ so if you’re yet to experience what is for me, the best British Indian cooking in Newcastle, there’s never been a better time. Curries you know and love, and some you might not, but all with bags of flavour.
Offer: £35 for two x 3 courses.
What to get: You’ve got a choice of about eight dishes, but all comes with poppadoms & pickles. I’d go for the chicken tikka two ways, and the Machai masala.
How to order: Email the restaurant when pre-orders are open. More details here.
Zucchini Pasta Bar
I’ve been realising that Zucchini Pasta Bar is actually one of my favourite restaurants in all of Newcastle. It’s consistently quality, great value, and super casual. Always a winner. They’ve long done takeaway, but being able to enjoy something like a lasagne which somebody else has made is actually a bit of a treat. They’re one of the restaurants who kicked off takeaway nice and early and seem to be thriving on it, well done lads!
Offer: It’s a special menu from the pasta-rollers. Looks like they’ve found a wider market, with burgers, Sunday lunches, and everything in between.
What to get: Stick to pasta from £5 and you can’t go wrong. There’s some nice deli style bits, and was one of the few places early on in lockdown to get some decent dried pasta.
How to order: Uber Eats, Deliveroo, or direct from the guys at their website.
Horticulture
Bar/cocktail joint/restaurant Horticulture only opened recently to much applause, and they have joined the leagues of delivery with ‘Horticulture at Home’. It’s a nice change from the ‘3 courses’ menus as with Horti’s main menu, it’s small plates of an absolute little bit of everything. So I guess it’s fusion tapas, but cooked with a little pizzaz, to heat up at home.
Offer: 6ish small plates for 2 to share £30 (veggie)/£35 (non-veggie).
What to get: Whether ‘From the Earth,’ or the full monty’ (meat/fish) ‘From the Earth, Land, & Sea’ think: summer veg/halloumi skewers, pork chop/mojo/salsa and lemon posset (in this week’s menu).
How to order: Pretty simple. Book ahead to collect on the Saturday here.
Kogarashi
I saw these guys pop up offering boxes of their bao to make at home early in April which is way ahead of what most street food vendors were doing, good for them! We really enjoyed smashing together the dozen or so components of the spicy chicken bao. You get loaaaads too.
So good, I’m gonna make ‘DIY bao’ night the new ‘taco night’. Cook off some fillings, and make your own bao. It’s a thing. If you haven’t tried or even heard of these guys, get on it.
Offer: Box of 8 / 16 bao for £24/£42
What to get: Get the pork. We got 8x but if I was ordering again I’d get double the amount and have them over a couple of days.
How to order: When stock is available, check social media.
Blackfriars at Home
Long-standing stalwart of Newcastle’s restaurant scene, Blackfriars are again offering Blackfriars at home. You know the drill, it’s big bistro cooking – meat & 2 veg with lots of gravy. Most of these menus have, depending on your POV, the fun of plating several already cooked components, which I think is always fun. For when you want a proper meal.
Offer: 3 courses for £21.
What to get: It’s pretty much the main Blackfriars menu, so expect hearty British classics like featherblade, steak, pork shoulder, and even Sunday lunch.
How to order: Email to arrange your order – details here.
Redheads Mac & Cheese
Street food peddler of cheesy goodness, Jamie has been shipping mac and cheese around the North East for a good while now and it’s just a natural fit for ‘these times’. Sure, it’s simple stuff, but it’s absolutely a takeaway dish you need to get behind. Bang it in the oven, and half an hour later you’ve got the comfort that we all need.
Offer: Mac & cheese about £7.
What to get: You can’t really go wrong. I like the fiery nduja with extra cheese, or the margherita pizza inspired mac with basil and tomato hit the spot surprisingly well.
How to order: Email to arrange your order, Details here!
As more and more turn to online ordering/delivery/collection concepts, I wonder which will keep it up post-lockdown and thrive, and which for some, it’s all just a short-lived survival gimmick.
Where’s your favourite?
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