Auckland's best takeaways to celebrate a special occasion in COVID-19 level 3 lockdown

Put on a glam outfit and chow down on the city's best food in your living room.
Put on a glam outfit and chow down on the city's best food in your living room. Photo credit: Instagram/Supplied.

If you had big plans to hit the town this weekend for a special birthday meal, anniversary dinner or celebration with friends and flatmates, you might be feeling a bit glum at the thought of another evening in lockdown eating a cheese toastie on the couch. 

Luckily some of Auckland's top restaurants have risen to the COVID-19 alert level 3 occasion and come up with some pretty incredible takeaway menus so you can have the full fine dining experience at home. 

It's also vitally important we celebrate and support our local eateries during lockdown so that they remain open for when we're eventually allowed to eat out again.

Do your hair, put on a glam outfit - or just your freshest pair of pyjamas - and celebrate what's hopefully the last few days in lockdown with one our top picks for takeaways around the city. 

Order Cantine

You've probably seen these burgers on your Instagram feed and for good reason. This pop-up started out of Karangahape Road favourite Bar Celeste at the start of last year's lockdown - remember that crazy time? And they've been coming to the party with delicious burgers to feed your bubble every lockdown since then. This is a great option for a large flat celebration - put in a big order of 'Smashburgers', send someone to pick them up and grab some beers from Star Superette on the way, and chow down. 

Andiamo 

If you want to bring a little Italy into your Auckland living room, Herne Bay fine dining establishment Andiamo is offering a special lockdown 'TO GO' menu. You can order your food using contactless pick-up or even get it delivered for the full VIP experience. Choose from the menu of seasonal salads, authentic antipasti, mouth-watering meatballs and pizza and pasta – including what the restaurant calls its cult fave: macaroni with bacon, chilli and fontina cheese. 

Jervois Steak House 

If you want to chow down on something a little beefier, Jervois Steak House is offering its full menu for dinner time takeaway. It goes without saying there’s a selection of succulent steaks including scotch fillet wagyu and Taupo Angus T-bone, along with lots of other meaty options like the Hawke's Bay lamb rack and Fiordland wild venison loin. There's even the classic JSH beef tartare if you want to feel super fancy pants eating it in your pyjamas. 

Cocos Cantina 

Got an itch that only fresh pasta will scratch? Coco's Cantina is known to be some of the best pasta in the city, and you can still enjoy it over lockdown. The Karangahape Road stalwart is not only offering its full menu, but special lockdown deals to get you through the weekend. That includes a combination of the polenta chips (my personal fave) with pizza, pasta and tiramisu all for only $55. They're even still running their happy hour pasta special over lockdown - eat it out on your deck listening to traffic going past to truly recreate the authentic Coco's experience. 

Saan

If the humidity is leaving you tearing your (slightly damp) hair out, you're going to want something fresh. Ponsonby Asian-fusion restaurant Saan is open from 5pm for contactless pick-up, and it's the perfect fresh food for this muggy weather. If you're celebrating a special occasion, get a few different dishes to share - the pork belly and soft shell crab are always are good time, and the vegetable massaman curry with jackfruit, lotus root and, red kumara is loved by meat eaters and vegetarians alike. It's also a perfect way to get some vegetables in your system if you've only been eating beige foods since Sunday - guilty.