If you’re anything like me having to make home made food for every meal when you’re used to eating out a couple of times a week is an absolute chore. I really don’t mind cooking, but not every meal indefinitely. I was so relieved and happy when some of the local restaurants reopened their doors for takeaway deliver or collection, and we’ve had at least one a week since. While I’m not working I really need things to look forward to at a weekend, and takeaways like this have been perfect. There are plenty to choose from, but these have been my favourite takeaways from the coast.

Lobo Rojo – tacos, burritos and margaritas

Before lockdown I’d actually only ate once at Lobo Rojo, last year on my birthday. Since all this happened I’ve had them twice, and ordering again tonight. They’re so so good, very reasonably priced, and I absolutely love that they do takeaway margaritas. It’s such a good meal to have, and reminds me of so many good times pre corona.

For each flavour of taco on the menu you get two tacos, filled with the flavour of you choice. And when I say filled I mean overflowing. They aren’t stingy! My favourites are the chipotle chicken and the chorizo. Two flavours, which works out at four tacos is a decent amount if you’re getting a side too, but if you’re hungry then go for three.

Kieran loves the burritos, he had the pork shoulder with onion, charred pineapple and black beans, and we shared the salt and chilli fries. We are actually hoping to get Lobo Rojo again tonight and I’m going to try the pork fries this time as he said it was so nice. You can find the full menu on their Facebook page here.

To order, you need to call up on the day when lines open at 2pm, on 0191 2576986. It’s collection only from 4:30pm, at their location on the fish quay. More information, including one off things they offer (margarita cheesecake last week!) follow Lobo Rojo on Instagram.

Allards on the Quay

It’s no secret how much I love Allards, for a coffee on a weekend morning, or tapas and cocktails in an evening – any evening actually. I said on instagram last week that their seafood paella is the nicest I’ve tasted outside of Spain, and it’s just the same when you get it to take away.

We ordered five tapas, including the seafood paella, potatas bravas, chorizo and halloumi, salt and pepper chicken, and we tried the meatballs for a change. All were delicious, the only one I would perhaps say is fresher in the restaurant is the halloumi as you have to eat it so quick when it’s ready. But it was all absolutely amazing.

They also offer takeaway drinks, and you can find the full takeaway menu here. With Allards you can call up from a Wednesday and book a slot for any day over the weekend, or if you can’t get through you can message them on instagram with your contact number and they will call you back. Tel no: 0191 296 3973.

They do deliver to some postcodes – NE25 (some), NE26, NE29 and NE30, but you have to order with a minimum spend of £25, or you can collect yourself from the location on the fish quay and get a 25% discount. You pay for your order over the phone, and collect from the porch at your specific time.

Lola Jeans

I’ve not actually ordered from here yet but I plan to probably next weekend which is why they’re on this list, mainly for the cocktails! Their takeaway menu is available from both the Tynemouth and Newcastle locations, and includes cocktails like Rhubarb Spritz, Stormy Daniels and Indian Summer.

The food menu largely consists of burgers, including three Battle of the Burger winners so you know they’re going to be totally delicious. They also have sides, some sharer dishes and appetisers.

Lola Jeans offer delivery and collection options, with pre booked slots that you can call and arrange from Wednesdays for over the weekend. For Tynemouth, the number is 0191 257 7601, and if you’re collecting they bring the order out to your boot or back seat if you provide your registration and park on Front Street.

For more details for both locations, and the menu see the Lola Jeans website here.

Fish & Chips

We had to have fish and chips as is tradition on Good Friday, but we found that the only ones we could get were from Pantrini’s in Whitley Bay, via Just Eat. That suits me fine as they’ve always been a favourite. Ordering via Just Eat means they deliver to you, and they’ve been really quick every time we’ve had them.

We also grabbed some chips from Whitley Whaler last weekend, where you queue 2m apart, give your order at the hatch and then collect further up from the shop.

Di Meo’s

Literally the best ice cream you will get outside of Italy, found by the amusements in Whitley Bay. They have some of the most mouth watering flavours. The queue here is always long, but it’s clearly spaced out and worth the wait. I had one last weekend and it was incredible – cookies and cream and mint choc chip.

Ahar, Park View

The only Indian restaurant I like to sit in, but they’re doing a takeaway service at the moment while the restaurant is closed. It’s really worth following them on Facebook for information, as they offer different deals on different days. For example on Wednesdays you get a free bottle of Cobra with every order, and on Thursday’s and Sunday’s they have a special banquet menu.

This menu is similar to the tapas menu they used to do on the same days, which I loved and you can read more about here. It’s not exactly the same but it’s a similar concept in that you get a starter, main and side for just £12.95 per person. Get the masala, it’s unbelievable.

Dimitris

Sometimes you just need a greasy kebab or pizza with garlic sauce, and I am not here to judge. I do too. Dimitris based on Whitley Lodge is bloody fantastic for that sort of thing, and you can order for delivery via Just Eat.

Sushi Me Rollin’

Although they are based at Stack in Newcastle, Sushi Me Rollin’ offer a collection service, and also occasionally deliver to other areas across the North East. You have to keep an eye on their instagram story where they announce which areas they will be delivering to the following day.

Then when the link to order goes on their page at 10am you can order and pay for that evening. They deliver to so many areas, but not on specific days so keep an eye for when they’re local to you. It is totally worth getting when they deliver to you.

Their menu can be found on their instagram page too. We had a mix of salmon rolls, spicy salmon and prawn sushi. It was the one thing I really craved during lockdown.

I know there are others that I’ve not mentioned here, but I just wanted to share my go to’s, that we have had at least once if not more during lockdown. As much as I can’t wait for a McDonald’s cheeseburger, or a Nando’s, I also really love supporting the local restaurants especially when I miss them all so much.

Thankfully none of them have been worse quality than sitting in, so I actually hope they can keep up the takeaway option in future when things get back to normal. In the meantime, a takeaway once a week from one of the above has really cheered me up and given me something to look forward to every week.

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