Brightons best lockdown takeaways

Due to these unprecedented times our regular restaurant reviews have changed this month as we bring you some of the city’s best lockdown takeaways.

Gars
We kick things off with one of our readers (and my) favourites, the fantastic Gars. Since opening in 1983, the family-run Gars Chinese restaurant turned out to be an institution in Brighton. The Gars family moved from Hong Kong to Brighton in 1955, bringing with them traditional values, a great working ethos, and a desire to create something that reflected both their journey and their new home.

As with all restaurants being forced to close, thankfully for us all Gars opened a few weeks ago for takeaway. I like many of you have lost count how many times we have eaten at this fantastic place and I for one could not have gone any longer without the incredible sesame prawn toast, salt, pepper, chilli and spring onion squid, fillet steak in black pepper and soy sauce, lamb shank in ginger and spring onion, the list goes on.

The takeaway food, as with every time you dine at the restaurant is 5 star.  Although obviously missing the ambience and quality service from eating in, the food is quite simply out of this world.

I am certainly, as I am sure many of the business community are, looking forward to returning to the restaurant when it reopens, but for now I’ll order another takeaway or two to keep me going.

If for some unknown reason you have not tried Gars before then I urge you to cancel your dinner plans tonight and order, trust me you will not be disappointed.

To place your order email (booking@gars.co.uk) or phone
(01273 321321)
Opening Times: Wed-Saturday 5-9pm Sunday -3:30-8pm
Visit the website www.gars.co.uk

The Coal Shed
We have been fortunate in past issues to have reviewed both the Coal Shed and Salt Rooms and were delighted to see the Coal Shed open during lockdown, now in their fourth week of their Coal Shed At Home menu.  Slightly different from a traditional takeaway, all dishes are served to share between two and prepared to be finished at home with cooking instructions.

A great concept and a wonderful menu with Smoked Beef Short Rib, Smoked shoulder of Lamb or Basque Hake and Tiger prawn fish stew.  With a main and a dessert priced at only £20PP this is a real date night treat.

The menu changes weekly and they are open for collection or delivery Thursday – Saturday between 3-6pm.  On Sundays (open between 1-3pm) this is the place to order your Sunday roast, the roast sirloin of beef is an absolute must have.

Orders must be placed at least one day in advance and by 4pm for next day delivery.

Visit www.coalshed-restaurant.co.uk Place your order today and enjoy!

Easy Tiger
This lockdown has been the proverbial bolt from the blue for us, just like it must have been for most others out there. We were rather worried about what might be in store for the future of our industry– the tourism and hospitality sectors. With most of our team out on furlough and the place on skeletal staffing it was a tough call, but we decided to keep the kitchen running to see if we could still manage the takeaways.

So we had to adapt, and introduced the ‘pre-order and collect’ service—and it has been an awesome hit with many of our regulars, and quite a few neighbours too! My friend Sarah (from Worthing) started her own food run — where she collects orders from her neighbourhood and for friends living around her place. Now, this has grown beyond Sarah’s pale, and another friend Helen had to join her with the domain extending beyond just Worthing. We are soon planning to deliver to Hayward’s Heath and surrounding areas.

While juggling with these challenges, we also had a message from Simon who needed help with providing meals for NHS workers— we were pleased to pitch in with some. What started as a one-off donation has now grown into a full-fledged crowd funded operation coordinated by Olivia Reid (Brighton’s Restaurant Association). Other restaurants have been sending food to NHS 3 times a day for 2 months now, and on last count, we’ve sent over 500 meals to CCU and have been amply paid back with calls of appreciation and gratitude from doctors and nurses there — what could be better than that..!?

We thank everyone for the unflinching support they’ve extended , which has made it possible for us to stay in business during these trying times. When this is all over, we hope to welcome everyone back in person to the pub and show you all how grateful we really are!

10% DISCOUNT ON ALL COLLECTIONS
Available 5pm – 9pm Wednesday to Saturday and 1pm – 5pm Sundays
Call 07515 721213 or 07446 166491 to order