I don’t know about you, but I’ve missed going to restaurants. Not only to take pictures of the food, but also for the experience of looking at the waiter every time they appear to see if they’re bringing my order or scrutinizing over how to split the bill.
As restaurants have been closed since December 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and will not be opening again for outdoor dining until April 12, takeout has proven to be the next best option.
Whenever I order food, there is always meticulous research put into deciding what to get. So I thought I would do our fellow Standard readers a favor and list my top restaurant picks on Deliveroo. For consistency, these restaurants all deliver to St. John’s Wood, so if you do not live in the area, be sure to check if they deliver to you. You’re welcome in advance.
Island Poké – Hawaiiain
All in one bowl, poké from Island Poké serves as a deliciously satisfying meal. What makes Island Poké one of a kind is that alongside meat, fish and vegan options, it offers make-your-own poké and salad options to encourage your own creative poké juices to flow.
Want sushi, rice, tuna, salmon, avocado, pineapple and shoyu dressing topped with seaweed and crispy shallots? You got it. Want leafy greens, burnt sweet corn and teriyaki dressing topped with edamame and nori? You got it. Next time you are wondering what to order for a meal, pop over to the Island Poké page on the app or website, and keep a lookout for their 15% discount.
Taro – Japanese
If you are in the mood for sushi or anything Japanese, order from Taro. A chain based in North London, Taro offers delightful Japanese food at good value. Even better, there are two locations that deliver to ASL, both with a slightly different menu, meaning you have even more options to choose from. Choose the West Hampstead location for a more extensive sushi selection and the Kentish Town location for a larger focus on curry and rice dishes. Sometimes I am just in the mood for sushi – especially salmon nigiri. On these occasions, Taro never fails.
Pesantissimo – Italian
With Margherita pizza at just £7, nothing beats the prices at Pesantissimo. The Italian restaurant is situated on Regents Park Road and currently offers its menu at 50% off the usual rates.
I picked up a gorgeous pizza and ate it at Primrose Hill on a sunny day, and nothing could have made me happier. The base, perhaps just how Goldilocks would like it, was neither too thick nor too thin. The crust was the perfect balance between doughy and crispy, guaranteed to be devoured by even the pickiest eaters.
Another thing I love about Pesantissimo is the tempting dessert selection, ranging from sticky toffee pudding and pistachio ice cream to nougat semifreddo. I highly recommend Pesantissimo for your next pizza night.
The Cedar – Lebanese
The Cedar, with locations in St John’s Wood and West Hampstead, offers a wide range of tasty Lebanese food at an appealing price. The selection includes vegan options, such as the shakshouka, and meat options like the lamb shawarma.
My favorite is the falafel wrap. If you have ever seen me in a Zoom with my camera off, I was probably eating this. The tahini sauce combines all the flavors of the falafel and greens to culminate in a meal that you can eat without adding anything extra from your kitchen. Overall, the selection, price and quality of The Cedar are too good to miss out on.
GBK – American
Sometimes you just need a burger. That is where GBK comes in. Gourmet Burger Kitchen boasts an extensive selection of beef, chicken and vegan burgers – promising to satisfy everyone. I particularly love their vegan burgers.They are better than the real thing in my humble opinion, and a go-to option for vegans, vegetarians and those cutting down on meat consumption. In addition, if you don’t like an ingredient in a burger or think it is missing a certain element, customization is available by adding or removing toppings (no harissa mayo for me please).
Their milkshakes are also the best. My family can never seem to agree on whether to get the oreo or salted caramel. You mustn’t forget the fries either. After a long day of work, all I want are their skinny fries with a sprinkle of rosemary. GBK fries and I were just meant to be.
