There are two types of lockdown-ers: the ones that buy gourmet ingredients and cook up lavish feasts for their household to distract themselves, and the ones that kick their shoes off, open a bottle of wine and order luxe ready-made meals.
But even if you consider yourself to be a cooking queen and are super excited to try out a dozen new dishes in Melbourne’s Lockdown 4.0, we highly recommend that you take a break for a night, and order from a beautifully crafted ready-made meal from some of Melbourne’s best restaurants.
Here are 7 of the best ready-made meals you can find locally in Melbourne.
Matteo’s Delicatessen
Altona
Matteo’s is a gorgeous neighbourhood deli, grocer and cafe in Altona, which offers up a selection of flavour packed baguettes and ciabatta sandos, Wonder Pies by Ray Capaldi, coffee from Industry Beans and cannoli from Cannoleria all available for takeaway.
How to order: (03) 9078 4441 or walk-in.
Pick up only: at 30 Pier St, Altona VIC 3018.
Meat Frankie
Brunswick East
Meat Frankie offers custom blend melt-in-your-mouth beef patties that you can stack as high as you like, and, as in old-school diner fashion, you have the option to customise your burgers with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, jalapenos and grilled mushrooms free of charge. This Friday 28 May, otherwise known as International Burger Day, you grab the ‘Meat Frankie Burger Day Burger Box’, which contains four burgers for only $38.
How to order: (03) 9388 9540 or walk-in.
Pick up only: at 93-97 Lygon Street, Brunswick East.
Tipico
Windsor
‘Tipico To Go’ is available for both pickup and delivery and through Providoor. Dishes on the menu are lasagna, beef ragu, duck ragu, meatballs and eggplant parmigiana that can be easily stored in the fridge for four days, or for a month in the freezer. Customers can also shop for wines and beers from the venue, along with antipasto and other items, now available at Tipico Deli.
How to order: You can order delivery through the Tipico website or Providoor.
400 Gradi
Brunswick East, Crown Casino, Eastland, Essendon and Mornington
Satisfy those cold-weather, sad-feels carb cravings with 400 Gradi’s award-winning pizza and pasta. Feast on truly authentic pizzas (with the best crust in the biz), classic Italian pasta, a generous selection of antipasti and more, with gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options.
How to order: You can order delivery via the 400 Gradi website or UberEats
Gradi Mercato Supermarket
Brunswick East
You might want to take these 7 seven days for granted, and cook up all your favourite Italian classics at home. With a nod to rural Italian markets, customers across Melbourne are invited to stock up on authentic Italian meals, deli items and groceries at Gradi Mercato. Shop online with pick-up and delivery available, or Brunswick East locals can shop in-store where the woodfire oven is burning, the coffee is brewing, and the Italian pastries are freshly baked. Available every day of the seven day lockdown, Gradi Mercato is open from 9:00am until 9:00pm.
How to order: You can pick up in-store or via the Gradi Mercato website
Estelle
Northcote
Estelle Takeaway is back! Northside locals can enjoy Scott Pickett’s contemporary Australian dishes from Northcote’s neighbourhood icon Estelle with a generous a la carte menu available each night throughout the lockdown. Orders open at 10am for same-day pick up from Estelle between 5:00-8:00pm, with all Estelle’s signature dishes available every day. Follow @estellenorthcote for the full menu, revealed tonight via Instagram.
How to order: You can order for pick-up via the Estelle website, or delivery is available via Providoor.
Matilda
South Yarra
Matilda is available all across Melbourne via Providoor. Honouring local ingredients and seasonal fare prepared over open-fire and hot coals, the ‘Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire’ set menu includes four of Matilda’s signature dishes. Enjoy dressed Fraser Island spanner crab, aged Milla’s farm duck, hay smoked potatoes with Warrigal greens, and apple Tarte Tatin from the comfort of your own home with contactless delivery. It’s definitely the go-to option if you want to treat yourself to a fancy dinner at home.
How to order: You can order delivery via Providoor.
Longrain
Little Bourke St, CBD
Modern Thai restaurant Longrain can now be enjoyed at home, with small bites, more substantial dishes and exclusive Thai banquets available via Providoor. For the home cook, Longrain’s pre-made curry pastes and sauces are also on offer, with chilli jam, shiitake XO, green curry paste and more making it easy to achieve authentic flavours of south-east Asian cuisine at home.
How to order: Order delivery through Providoor
Hanoi Hannah Vol. II
Elsternwick
Hanoi Hannah Vol. II is where you go for deliciously soothing pho, a range of fresh but spicy vietnamese-style salads, and your fair share of authentic spring rolls. Open every day for takeaway and collection, Hanoi Hannah Vol. II is perfect for when your body is feeling like it needs a bit of TLC.
How to order: Order through the Hanoi Hannah website for pick-up and via Deliveroo or UberEats for delivery
Tahina
Fitzroy and Northcote
Make lockdown a little brighter and healthier with a generous selection of vegetarian Middle Eastern dishes from Tahina. The ‘Family Feast’ or ‘Date Night for Two’ options will leave you feeling totally nourished. The freshness and quality of the ingredients at Tahina gives a new take on ‘fast food’.
How to order: Tahina website.
Pick up: You can order delivery in Fitzroy via Deliveroo and you can order to pick-up from both stores via the Tahina website.
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