Illawarra Cafes and Restaurants need your help!
The rules keep changing day by day for Australian business owners as the country bands together to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Illawarra cafes, restaurants and catering businesses are getting creative to keep themselves going and introducing new ways of operating to keep their heads above water. With social distancing measures in place, how can we, as a community, do our bit to keep supporting local businesses? Here are a few of the Illawarra’s hospitality businesses that are thinking outside the box amidst the chaos and how you can still access their goods and services!
Consider buying basic groceries from small businesses instead of the major supermarkets.
Brown Sugar Espresso
2/103 St Johns Ave, Mangerton
A tiny space with a big heart, these guys are offering milk, Peaberry coffee beans and quality bread for sale in addition to their usual menu, which is now being offered as a window / doorway service.
Kiss & Drop
6/31 Thames St, West Wollongong
(02) 4244 0242
Buy your Brasserie Bread, single origin coffee beans, Milk Lab almond milk or order ahead for takeaway.
Hemingway Café
McKinnon Building, Wollongong University
Ph: 0432 362 302
Don’t forget our UOW based businesses! Hemingway Café have their regular menu available for takeaway and delivery and are now offering fresh food hampers (bread, eggs, veg and fruit), which are perfect if you are avoiding the busy shops or want to be an awesome human and look after a friend who might be in self isolation or quarantine.
There are also family friendly meals like lasagne, family size quiche, pasta, vegan curries and salads available and in a moment of pure genius, they’ve conjured up a lunch order system for school lunches where you can choose some fruit, a sandwich or wrap, a fresh baked muffin and popper. A full list each day on their Facebook Page of what is available and delivery hours.
Three Flamingos Espresso
136 Terry St, Albion Park
(02) 4202 5544
These legends are selling breakfast hampers and essential items such as bread, milk, eggs, flour, sugar, coffee & oats. You can also order pre-made dinners with free delivery within 15km for orders over $60.
Order can be prepaid online with contact free delivery.
Kitchen 42
42 Princes Hwy, Dapto
(02) 4261 4040
Having trouble getting pasta at the shops? Dried pasta is just old wheat that has no soul, anyway. Treat yourself by ordering some fresh pasta from these champions. A variety of shapes available – all you need to do is order by 8pm for next day pick up after 4pm. They also have a range of freshly made pasta sauces on offer. Contact them at makeyourown@kitchen42.com.au or give them a call.
Bostons Espresso
11-15 Atchison St, Wollongong
(02) 4227 5577
A variety of milk available for purchase including dairy, soy, almond and oat.
There are now local takeaway options like never before!
If you aren’t eating out and you’re working from home, you’re probably saving a bit of money vs your normal routine. Can you throw a bit of that towards a commitment to do a household dinner from an Illawarra business once or twice a week? Why not mix it up a bit and try something new each time? Heaps of local cafes and restaurants are offering flexible menu options of ready made meals for the whole family. Here’s a few of them:
The Bavarian German Restaurant
Ground Level Central West Building,
200 Crown St, Wollongong
Schnitzel anyone? Family feasts are available via Uber Easts and Deliveroo
Ph: (02) 8099 7091 or head to Facebook for some food porn.
Kneading Ruby
5 Globe Lane, Wollongong
(02) 4229 7829
Fans of polenta fries unite! Kneading Ruby are now offering home delivery to suburbs as south as Figtree and as far north as Towradgi. Check out their website or call. Takeaway is also an option.
Pará Mediterranean Restaurant
258 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Thirroul
(02)4268 5546
Changing times mean changing methods. Kayla and the team at Pará are closing their doors and focusing on takeaway meals instead. Customers can choose “Cook at home” options, which are able to be frozen until needed and score a 15% discount. These need to be ordered a day ahead. Also available are “Cooked for you” meals, which are prepared in the restaurant and delivered to your door. Delivery areas are Thirroul, Bulli, Austinmer, Coledale and Woonona, which delivery fees ranging from $5-10 depending on suburb. Check out their website for their brand new menu.
His Boy Elroy
Keira St, Wollongong
(02) 4244 5605
Delivery available and contact free drive-through – just call ahead.
Spread some good vibes instead of the coronavirus by shouting a neighbour a cheeseburger and fries through Lockdown Delivery for $10 with any $30 spend. Mention “NEIGHBOURSHOUT” when ordering to redeem. ($6 delivery fee. Neighbour must be within 350m of delivery address).
Murphy’s Bar and Grill
179 Princes Hwy, Unanderra
(02) 4272 1028
These guys have just launched their take home family dinner packs for pick up 5-8pm Fridays. Last week was Irish beef in Guinness pie with mash and peas and the reviews are good! Pre order is essential before midday Friday.
GF EATS
203 Rothery St, Bellambi
Ph: 0415 103 866
There’s been chatter on the news about people with food intolerance being hit particularly hard by the supermarket mayhem. If gluten isn’t your friend, check out GF Eats, who have all the basics including a range of bread and heaps of frozen meals available. They are offering both takeaway and drive-by services so you don’t even need to leave your car.
The Donut Pantry
Callows Rd, Bulli
Ph: 0430 725 031
Do you know someone who’s feeling a bit down and stuck at home for two weeks? Cheer them up with a delivery from The Donut Pantry…or just order a box for yourself because everything is a bit sucky right now. Visit thedonutpantry.com.au
Table 426
426 Princes Hwy, Corrimal
(02) 42831964
Marisa, Nataly and the team at Table 426 have brought out an exciting new casual takeaway menu. Enjoy a meal in the comfort of your home that was cooked in a hatted restaurant. There’s a number of delicious options available at a very reasonable price. Check out their Facebook Page and give them a call.
Chimichangas
323 Princes Hwy, Bulli
(02) 4293 7739
The entire menu is now available for home delivery now available Wed – Sun from 5pm. Takeaway available of course.
It’s a pretty daunting and unknown time ahead for all of us, but particularly for local business owners. If you can change up your routine to throw them a bone in any way, please think about it. Avoid the supermarkets – they don’t need your business and they’re probably more of a cess pit of germs than I’d like to think about. Try and support Illawarra businesses in any way you can and if there’s something you can suggest to these folks that you’d be interested in as a customer, I’m pretty sure they’re open to input right now.