You might remember that at the beginning of lockdown I was lucky enough to visit Lussmanns. It was their press night. The restaurant was just opening. The date on that review is 7th March. So, yes. Everything went to hell very shortly afterwards. And the lovely new restaurant had to close. But I have thought back, often, to how much I enjoyed that evening and how good the food was. It was just a plain unlucky time to be opening a new venue. So I am absolutely delighted that Lussmanns in Oxford is now offering a takeaway service, and that I got to road-test it for you all.

You can order restaurant dishes from their website for collection. I’ll tell you, as someone that’s been doing all the meals relentlessly for the past four months, having anyone else cook is an utter delight because I am tapped out. The meals arrive pre-prepared in biodegradable boxes. They include comprehensive ingredient lists as well as reheating instructions (where applicable) for both a microwave and an oven. And better still? The food we had was all delicious.

One of the things I miss most about eating out is the range and the choice. I can barely be bothered to make ‘options’ at home, so my husband and I just have the same thing, rather than the thing I want to eat the most. I can be utterly selfish ordering from a restaurant menu.

The starters we had were both light, summery options (ignore the rain). The salmon was simple, but we chose it because Lussmanns is known for its high-quality fish, and sometimes there is joy in keeping it basic. The nectarine salad was the other end of the spectrum. More complex and unique, the char on the nectarine introduced a whole new flavour against the sweetness of the fruit and the creamy, salty cheese.

I cannot describe how good that Tuscan chicken smelled as it was heating up…

I guess this is a bonus of the restaurant-at-home thing: if I was out, the kitchen staff probably would find it quite annoying if I went back to smell everything cooking. The chicken was fresh, hearty and full of flavour.

Fishcakes are a classic and a bit of a Lussmanns speciality. These were light and fluffy, beautifully seasoned and not too heavy. They also came with a gorgeous beurre blanc sauce, perfectly balanced, sharp and smooth. We shared two sides between the mains, which were the braised peas, lettuce & shallots and the spicy cumin carrots, both great.

Anyone who knows me knows that puddings are my favourite part…

Lussmanns changes their menu regularly to keep things seasonal so it’s no surprise that there are lots of fruity options at the moment. The little baby panna cotta was adorable, and luxuriously creamy with just the right amount of wobble. And who doesn’t love a crumble? Rich and satisfying, this one was elevated with a hint of rosemary.

The Lussmanns to go ordering process is simple: you can see their range of prepared meals on their website. You can also, while you’re there, order from a range of other products, including fruit and vegetables, dairy, and pantry staples, as well as food and drink gifts.

I’m also really impressed by how reasonably the to go food was priced. This meal was gifted for the review, but if we’d have been paying for it then the total would have been less than £40, which is amazing for a three course meal for two.

I am very hopeful that Lussmanns in Oxford will be opening up again fully in the not-too-distant future but, for now, this is a great option if you’d like to try their food from the comfort of your own home. The dishes are seasonal, simple, expertly prepared and very tasty: perfect for anyone else who fancies a weekend treat (or who thinks they might cry if they have to make dinner again…)

Lussmanns
1-2 Little Clarendon St, Oxford OX1 2HP
01865 955315

We were gifted a meal from Lussmanns; all views remain our own.