These Days, Dining OUT Means Frequent Carry-OUT
In the age of COVID-19, we’re still hunkered down and taking advantage of the magnificent carry-out meals our town offers up. Yes, many restaurants are open again, and springing back to life, thank goodness. But for many people carry-out is still a way of life.
I ordered lunch from Purple Parrot Grill the other day, choosing the Thursday Special—Prime Rib sandwich with fries. While I ordered by phone and got to talk to a friendly voice, you can also order online and for pick-up or delivery.
I drove downtown, found numerous parking spots open, was freaked out by the number of people NOT wearing masks (this was before the mandatory order), but kept calm and carried on. Donning my Schnauzer mask, I exited the car and walked up to the Purple Parrot take-out window, in the outside covered area between Rehoboth Avenue and the backyard beer garden (which I miss visiting with Bonnie and Windsor).
My order was ready and I headed home, without much traffic and with divine aromas wafting through the car. Back at my dining room table, I discovered an enormous cut of prime rib, with cheese and cooked onions, housed in a soft roll and served with lettuce, tomato, and more onions.
The beef was still piping hot (okay, Styrofoam™ has one decent attribute) and the fries—thick cut, crusty potatoes—were also still hot, too crusty to get soggy by steam, and really, really good.
I loved the sandwich and now I’m hankering for the prime rib dinner. Next time!
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Another lunchtime I called ahead to Lori’s Café in the CAMP Rehoboth Courtyard for a fix of her legendary chicken salad. I ordered it on marble rye, one of the many available selections (bagel, baguette, honey wheat) and served with chips.
The chunky chicken with tart apples, blue cheese, and toasted almonds has been a favorite of mine for, well, the whole 20-plus years Lori has been operating and I’ve been living here. Naturally the sandwich was reliably perfect.
Another favorite of mine is the Simply Delicious, with vine-ripened tomatoes, basil, Vidalia onion, and a schmere of mustard or mayo. Bagel is suggested but I always ask for a baguette. Yum.
Naturally, Lori has great coffee, breakfast favorites, a super lox and bagel platter that’s soul food for me, and much more. So, call ahead, skip Tuesdays—as Lori’s is closed that day—wear a mask for pick-up, and enjoy.
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Are you passionate about pizza? Ever since SoDel restaurant group took over Crust and Craft on Route One it’s our go-to place for a pie. The pizzas are right sized and right priced, great for ordering online and always brought directly to your car when you pick-up. They have a long list of wood-fired pizzas, including The Queen (mozzarella, basil, olive oil), The South Philly (yup, shaved eye round, fried onions, and sharp cheese) and my favorite (duh), The New Yorker (crushed tomato sauce and a blend of Pecorino, Mozzarella, Fontina, Parmesan and sharp Provolone). And it tastes exactly like the best of NYC’s original slices.
And while the pies are the main attraction, they also have insanely good beer-steamed mussels, bowls of pasta, strombolis, and more. Want a great surprise? Try the glazed octopus.
The restaurant warns that carry-out and online ordering may be limited during peak hours, so order early. It’s so worth it.
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So carry-OUT, carry on, and keep calm. And whether you walk into a restaurant to dine in, or just go to retrieve your carry-out, mask up, please.