After a long and lonely weekend, I was desperate for something to cheer me up. So, naturally I turned to food.
I wanted something tasty and warm. Earlier in the week I had walked past Santorini Bar and Grill and saw that they’d started doing deliveries, so that was where I looked for my Sunday night pick me up.
Santorini is a Mediterranean restaurant located in Headingley. I had been to the restaurant a few times, pre-COVID-19, and had always enjoyed the food. I especially liked the mezze platters which were full of Greek treats like homemade falafel, grilled halloumi and dips. Just before lockdown, the restaurant was refurbished, with a large gin bar added on, and a new menu. I didn’t get a chance to try the new food before everything closed, so when I realised Santorini had started offering takeaway options, I was excited to give the food a try.
As the weather had taken a turn for the worse, I decided to order a delivery instead of collecting the food myself. So, I checked out the delivery apps to see what to go for on the Santorini menu. The online options were pretty extensive, with a great £14.95 2 course meal option which would be ideal for those wanting a real restaurant experience at home. I didn’t go for the meal deal this time, but instead opted for the homemade falafel souvlaki served with Greek salad, skin on fries and tzatziki.
The delivery was speedy, with the food arriving within 20 minutes of placing the order online. The contactless delivery was easy, but I do miss being able to say thank you to the delivery person. When I had the food in the kitchen, I was surprised by the large portion size, especially as the meal was less than £8.
I decanted the (still hot) food onto a plate and sat down to enjoy it. The pitta bread was light, fluffy and warm, and it had been generously filled with hummus, homemade falafel, fresh salad and fries. I am never sure about adding fries to a pitta, and I don’t think my thoughts have changed, but the rest of the meal was fab. The extra fries served on the side were still crispy and well-seasoned. I like the addition of a tub of fresh tzatziki, as I am a sucker for condiments. For me, the falafel were the stars of the show. They were crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, and packed with flavour. I could have just eaten a plate of them with the pot of tzatziki!
As this lockdown looks like it will be going on for much longer, and I am certain that I am going to need more food pick me ups, I am already planning and looking forward to my next takeaway meal from Santorini Bar and Grill. I especially look forward to it because I am supporting an independent restaurant to survive as we all continue to struggle through the pandemic.
Photographs by Gemma Bridge.
