One of the first lockdown’s biggest success stories, Ombra continued to operate last spring by pivoting to a deli and pastifico, with local deliveries made by staff members on bikes. And although the restaurant re-opened for a while during the summer, the takeaway and delivery was such a hit, it’s remained an essential component of the business. Perhaps most popular – and for good reason – Ombra’s lasagnas are delivered on Sunday, ready to eat within 35 minutes. The best possible form of ready meal, perhaps. Its exemplary tiramisu is also available by the portion, or entire tray. The whole thing should last for a few days in the fridge with merciless levels of self-control.

Although restaurants were temporarily given the go ahead to re-open last July, Old Chang Kee weren’t quite ready to re-open. Hoping to keep its staff and customers safe, the Singaporean snack chain’s two central London sites have instead operated on a delivery-only basis, in addition to selling frozen goods on their website. Old Chang Kee’s famous curry puffs are amongst the available dishes, simple to heat-up at home, with buttery pastry encasing fillings such as beef rendang with potatoes; chicken curry concealing an unexpected, welcome wedge of boiled egg; and a vegetarian version of the chicken signature.

Introduced at the start of the first lockdown, Yard Sale’s in-house team is continuing to deliver wood-fired pizzas the old fashioned way, albeit contactless. With six pizzerias (including a new site in East Dulwich, their first south of the river), all restaurants are continuing to serve full menus for takeaway and delivery. With slow-cooked tomato sauce and fior di latte, the margherita leaves little room for improvement, but the Sicilian sausage and guindilla pepper topping is a particular highlight.

Just over a year ago, Beigel Bake was dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century, with the launch of both an Instagram account and a brand new app, from which orders can be placed for local delivery within 35 minutes (shorter than the typical queue time on a Sunday afternoon pre-lockdown.) All of the shop’s classics are available, but thick slices of fatty salt beef with dill pickles and hot mustard are still the main draw, even though it’s advisable to add the mustard at home to help it travel better. Or just order a pound of uncut salt beef and plain bagels, which are an absolute steal at 40p each.

Focussing on its attached shop and butchers, Quality Chop House is offering nationwide delivery on orders placed through its website. In addition to store cupboard ingredients, meats and wines, a selection of meals are available. These include unparalleled pork pies of the old-fashioned butcher shop variety; the restaurant’s famous confit potatoes, to finish at home; some more in-depth meal kits; and meals for one, such as pot au feu, or a pouch of slow-cooked Dexter beef mince (ideally served on toast.)

Available on Fridays and Saturdays, within two miles of the Sclater Street restaurant, Smokestak’s deliveries are made by restaurant staff. While the brisket or pulled pork buns are particular standouts, meal kits are also available for nationwide delivery. Instead, it’s perhaps worth ordering the ox cheek nuggets, the larger portion of slow-smoked brisket with pickled chillies, and the coal-roasted aubergine for hot delivery — all of which are more difficult to get right when cooking at home.

Another successful pivot, Top Cuvée launched a new online bottle shop (Shop Cuvée) during the first national lockdown. Following the success of the project, an actual shop has opened just around the corner from the restaurant and wine bar, with same-day local delivery still available, made by staff members on bikes. Given its unstuffy approach having become popular, expect plenty of natural wine available for delivery, plus a revolving selection of restaurant-quality ready meals: think pig’s head terrine, and rustic, butcher-style pies to heat at home.

Once upon a time, The Golden Chippy was voted best restaurant in London by TripAdvisor users. It’s perhaps surprising then that the family-run restaurant chip shop offers excellent food. Classic, deeply comforting fish and chip shop staples are served, all well-prepared and treated with care, and all fish is also available grilled, if that’s someone’s thing. Although the restaurant’s sit-in section has been closed, The Golden Chippy has remained open for takeaway during the various states of lockdown (while following social distancing guidelines and limiting customers allowed in the shop), but it’s also launched a local delivery option worth taking advantage of.

Offering nationwide delivery, Koya has launched “Koya Mail,” a new letterbox delivery service. Specialising in udon noodles, the restaurant group’s omiyage packs contain dashi broth and udon noodles, complete with monthly-changing recipe cards from chef and owner Shuko Oda, for Koya dishes such as buta miso or lamb cumin miso with firm udon noodles, which is best served cold.

Combining both Italian and Japanese ingredients and techniques, Angelina’s eight-course tasting menu is available for delivery by restaurant staff, within 2.5 miles of the Dalston restaurant. Delivered ready to eat, the takeaway tasting menu is similar to that served in the restaurant during normal times, changing regularly to utilise seasonal ingredients as often as possible, while flavour combinations are often unusual. Osso buco is braised in soy, while a chocolate and matcha dessert is complete with wasabi mascarpone.

A 2020 newcomer, Chuku’s is run by brother-and-sister Ifeyinwa and Emeka Frederick. Described as a Nigerian ‘tapas’ restaurant, the Tottenham space hasn’t quite received the level of acclaim it deserved, thanks to opening just a few weeks before the first national lockdown. Their ‘chop, chat, chill’ kits provide a decent showcase of the restaurant’s food, however, and are simple to prepare at home, available for collection or local delivery. Each kit includes the ingredients to make four Nigerian-inspired wraps, complete with Jollof quinoa, house salad, sauces and a choice of fillings. Fried plantain dusted with cinnamon is an optional extra worth considering. 

South London’s finest pie shop (sorry Arments fans) has introduced local hot delivery via Just Eat and Deliveroo, but has also been sending chilled deliveries to addresses all over the UK since long before the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to their standard fare of pie, mash, and liquor — which is some of the best in the city — stewed and jellied eels are also available alongside vegan pies, chilli vinegar, and Baldwin’s Sarsaparilla, for a classic pie and mash shop lunch at home, in south London and beyond.

Having served the local area for the past 25 years, Pappa Ciccia has two pizzeria-trattorias in Fulham, plus a takeaway and delivery branch in Putney. The family-run business also shuns delivery apps, delivering the old-fashioned way. A huge menu of various Italian restaurant classics are available, but the wood-fired pizzas are the main draw, with much of the produce imported from Italy, while compassionately farmed produce is also utilised where possible. Failsafe classics are offered alongside specials, such as a base topped with mozzarella, spinach, red onion, Parma ham, egg, and Parmesan. All pizzas can be customised, though it’s worth noting those with fewer ingredients tend to travel better.

While Roti Kitchen is listed on Just Eat, Uber Eats, and Deliveroo, orders can also be placed via their website. Based in West Ealing, Roti Kitchen champions food from various Caribbean islands, and while the rotis are exemplary, they’re just one of the large menu’s highlights. The curry mutton roti is a best seller, and for good reason, but the jerk chicken, curry goat, and saltfish bake are must orders — not forgetting Guinness punch.

Just like almost everybody else in England, the team at Rye Lanez used the first four months of lockdown to up their sandwich game. Putting those skills to use, Rye Lanez Tuck Shop has since launched — a somewhat unusual side project for a tattoo parlour. Changing monthly, the menu’s sandwiches feature glorious combinations such as chestnut mushrooms cooked in homemade jerk sauce, with fried plantain; a baked bean and cheese breakfast bap; or the shop’s take on a Philly cheesesteak, with slow-cooked beef, cheese sauce, sauteed peppers, and pickled cucumber. All are priced at £5, available alongside snacks such as spicy Space Raiders or Tangy Toms. A perfect lunch combo. Orders can be placed in person or via Instagram DM, available for delivery to SE15 postcodes.