Thanks to lockdown, fine dining restaurants have become accessible

Fine dining restaurants have become accessible. You can now order gourmet food and make it a home PICTURE: Unsplash

Fine dining restaurants have become accessible. You can now order gourmet food and make it a home PICTURE: Unsplash

Published May 27, 2020

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Isn’t it strange how a few months ago, you had to sometimes wait for a long time to be able to get a booking at a top restaurant? How these restaurants were only for a certain type of people - moneyed, with expensive taste? And how telling people you had a meal at a fancy restaurant meant that they would look at you with new eyes? 

Well, all of that is gone, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, that has changed the world and how we do things.

It has been a rough few months for the restaurant industry all over the world. South Africa’s restaurants - from the award winning fine dining establishments, to the popular chain restaurants - had to shut their doors on March 26, which marked the beginning of the lockdown. 

It was only with the start of level 4 that restaurants started seeing some signs of life, even though the embers were glowing dimly. They could finally deliver food to their patrons. 

However, not everyone decided to take the offer, mainly because they didn’t think they would make a profit, plus they can’t make any liquor sales (which is regarded as the backbone of the restaurant industry) and they couldn’t take sit-ins. 

Plus the cost of delivery, having to pay their waiters and cooks to prepare the food and the curfew in place, wasn’t a desirable environment for trade. With level 3 beginning on June 1 and allowing for deliveries, takeaways and drive-through, many restaurants will start to operate again.

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First Friday and Saturday deliveries of #wolfgatathome done and dusted. Thank you Jakkalsfontein, Langebaan, Saldanha, Jacobsbaai, Paternoster, Groot Paternoster, Brittaniabaai, Lappiesbaai - it's a pleasure to serve you! #Wolfgat #Paternoster

A post shared by Wolfgat(@wolfgat) on May 9, 2020 at 7:19am PDT

What we have seen during the lockdown, as a response to the regulations, is fine restaurants and private chefs open up their services to a wider audience. 

Take for instance award winning Wolfgat, which was named the Best Restaurant in the World last year, and is known for its super long waiting list for diners. They have made available delivery hampers, which are filled with 4 course meals inspired by dishes from their autumn 2020 menu. The hampers come with instructions for you to finish assembling the dishes in your home kitchen.

Lanzerac wine estate has re-opened their deli for takeaway meals and homemade meals. The deli will serve up some of its all-time favourites, including fresh-packaged warm meals, on-the-go snacks, pastries, sweet treats and more.

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Today’s food for this weekend’s deliveries to your home. Next weeks orders close this afternoon so please don’t miss out.

A post shared by Andrew Draper - professional(@foodbyandrewdraper) on May 22, 2020 at 12:35am PDT

Durban-based chef to the stars, Andrew Draper has also made available his services for people to order his award winning meals cooked by him and the team. He shares the menu a week ahead and can only take a certain number of orders a week. 

Chef Luke Dale Roberts, owner of top restaurants, The Test Kitchen, and The Pot Luck Club also launched delivery of gourmet lockdown food hampers in Cape Town and has expanded to Johannesburg, due to the popularity and demand for the hampers in the city. The services are called Luke Dale Roberts Lockdown Hampers and The Pot Luck Club Home. 

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A post shared by luke dale roberts (@lukedaleroberts2you) on May 12, 2020 at 10:07am PDT

Besides those restaurants who are doing delivery of hot, ready to serve meals, other restaurants are also choosing to do frozen meals and meal kits, allowing their patrons to finish off preparing the meals and assembling them in the safety of their homes. 

Here are some fine dining establishments doing deliveries, if you fancy yourself having a fancy meal:

CAPE TOWN

Fyn

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New FYN from HOME starters from the FYN Winter Experience menu, delivered to your door; orders open for next week deliveries- go to our website link in the bio for ordering information. #fynfromhome #fynrestaurant #fynrestaurantcapetown @fynfromhome @petertempelhoff @ashleybmoss @hugejennifer @avenue.sa @eatoutguide @food24_sa

A post shared by FYN(@fynrestaurant) on May 24, 2020 at 10:57am PDT

Fyn has announced the launch of FYN from HOME and the menu is live on the restaurant’s website, where orders can be placed for next-day delivery. There are two menus to choose from. To view the menu visit: www.fynrestaurant.com

Salsify at The Roundhouse is doing their food and meal delivery service called Essentials by chef Ryan Cole. The menu includes freshly baked breads, croissants and quiches, dinner-for-two meals - a two-course meal with the option of dessert. 

DURBAN

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The Cowies Hill restaurant is doing The LivingRoom Experience baskets with light and main gourmet meal choices. It’s a three-course meal and sourdough bread. The baskets come with recipes to finish the pre-cooked dishes yourself at home. The menu changes weekly. 

Deliveries Mondays and Tuesdays. Email: [email protected]

Food by Andrew Draper

A post shared by AURUM(@aurumrestaurantza) on May 25, 2020 at 3:03am PDT

The restaurant has set up Aurum Cooks @ Home. The menu includes snacks, starters, salads, sides, mains and desserts. They are doing deliveries within a 10km radius of the restaurant. To view the menu visit: www.aurumrestaurant.co.za

DW Eleven-13

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A few paella style seafood rice still available. Order now so you dont muss out on this dish. @marthinusdw1113 @dweleven_13 #mydw #dwhome

A post shared by dw eleven-13 restaurant(@dweleven_13) on May 21, 2020 at 3:54am PDT

The restaurant is also doing a “Fine Dining @Home” and will be delivering meals within a 10km radius. Menu features vegetarian and meat dishes by Marthinus Ferreira. To view the menu visit: www.dw11-13.co.za/menu

Related Topics:

#coronavirus