Greengrocers to a drive-in carvery - restaurants serving communities

Forest Avenue owner John Wyer has turned greengrocer

Aoife Walsh

Some of Dublin's most popular restaurants are now offering takeaway service in a bid to keep business ticking over.

A host of eateries are working to set up a food delivery or collection option as customers are no longer permitted to dine inside the restaurants.

A number of food establishments are being creative with their offerings, such as the Manor Inn Grainger's pub, in Swords, which has begun a drive-through carvery from noon to 6pm each Sunday. The meal can be ordered over the phone and collected from a member of staff, who will bring the order to the car window.

The pub is also offering a weekday Dial-A-Meal service, where customers can phone in an order from an online menu.

Restaurant Forest Avenue, on Sussex Terrace, has opted to transform into a greengrocer's from 12-5pm Monday to Saturday, with delivery and collection available. A cheese board, quiche, brown bread, and fresh vegetables are some of the products offered across the restaurant's vast selection of dairy, fish, pasta, bakery dessert, meat, condiment and sauce products.

The restaurant is also providing customers with a virtual shopping tour, where a member of staff video-calls customers and shops on their behalf.

Cravings

Green Fox Cafe in Harold's Cross is also providing a takeout service for the first time, allowing those working from home to satisfy lunchtime cravings with a selection of gourmet sandwiches, salads and drinks. The cafe, alongside the Manor Inn Grainger's pub, has additionally partnered up with online food delivery platform Just-Eat.ie.

Just Eat last month announced a package of measures worth a total of €1m to support eateries moving business on to the platform.

Since then, various restaurants across the country have signed up to the website's services, including Conor and Nicola Duggan, owners of Platform Pizza & Box Burger in Bray Co Wicklow, who said: "During these difficult and challenging times, we are very grateful to Just Eat for an opportunity to continue operating, employing and providing a service to the community, allowing us to keep our brands alive.

"While we had to quickly adapt how we operate our business to keep our staff and customers safe, we are grateful for the continued support from our loyal customers.

"The measures are giving us extra support, something that is badly needed."