Eating lunch at your desk again? Here’s how the City does delivery
Eating al-desko isn’t just about showing your boss you’re the keenest worker-bee in the office. As winter draws nearer it’s also a way of eating your sandwiches without getting frost bite. The latest lunch-break craze in the City allows hungry employees to select, buy and eat their lunch without leaving their office at all. Delivery services such as Eat First, Hubbub, Deliverance and Muscle kitchen are capitalising on demand for competitively priced, freshly cooked meals delivered direct to desk. Here are some of the top choices for the busy, chilly or just plain lazy.
Deliveroo
It’s always tempting to get a delivery, but often restaurants that deliver are far from appetising. If you don’t want to leave your desk but don’t fancy getting a dodgy pizza, look no further than Deliveroo, a company specialising in ferrying about food from London’s best restaurants, many of which don’t run their own delivery services. Visit deliveroo.co.uk, type in your post-code and they will list a number of quality restaurants, their distance from your location and what meals they have on offer.
Mori
Japanese has quickly become the go-to cuisine for office workers wanting a light, healthy lunch, as the sudden appearance of sushi in practically every supermarket meal-deal shows. Smaller franchise Mori, based on Fenchurch Street, hopes to corner the al-desko market with its freshly made sushi selections, sashimi and hot udon pots, which it describes as “the best posh pot noodles in London.” Order online at mori.uk.com, via the app and delivery is free on all orders over £12.
Deliverance
This web-only takeaway service aims to be all things to all hungry men – with high standards. Anyone can dial up a cheap pizza or kebab, but Deliverance offers a truly global menu, from Vietnamese to Indian, minus the grease and MSG. Unlike many other lunchtime establishments, it doesn’t require you to order the night before and it offers desserts to get you through that mid-afternoon sugar slump. Order online at deliverance.co.uk.
Hubbub
As a human rights lawyer, Marisa Leaf’s long hours meant she was never able to get to her favourite indpendent food shops before closing time. This inspired her to set up a delivery service, Hubbub, devoted to bringing non-supermarket produce to your workplace or home. Hubbub lists stock from a range of the independent shops too small to have their own delivery services. Just select what you want, enter your postcode and wait for deliciousness to arrive. Visit hubbub.co.uk.
Eat First
Started by two ex-Goldman Sachs employees, Eat First promises healthy, well-cooked food delivered to any office in the Square Mile in under 15 minutes. Once you’ve placed your order, an Uber-style map pops up showing location of your driver, who calls you when he reaches your office. The daily-changing menu offers top quality hot meals for just £7 (including delivery). The quinoa and chicken is a star dish. Visit eatfirst.co.uk or download the app from the app store for free.
Muscle Kitchen
It’s hard to stick to a diet – or a budget – when your office is surrounded by coffee shops and sandwich chains. Muscle Kitchen aims to steer you away from temptation by making healthy eating effortless. Simply fill in a form stating your personal fitness or weightloss goals and they’ll deliver tailor-made meals to any address within the M25. Choose from a number of packages, including two meals and two snacks from £20 a day, at musclekitchen.co.uk or call 0845 094 9169.