3 of my favorite local restaurants that offer take away food at the moment:

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Dining at restaurants is “out” for now, so foodies who do not want to cook for themselves are at a loss, at least until recently. While the existing opportunities for getting take away food usually do not appeal to gourmets, this has changed in the last few weeks of the Coronavirus lockdown. And this with the appearance of high quality Corona take away food offers from many of my favorite restaurants in the town of Olten and surroundings.

In the following, I want to bring you three restaurants closer that have this (temporary) kind of service in my home region of Olten and surroundings in the Swiss Mittelland. First to my number one choice in this regard, Restaurant Bruecke in Niedergoesgen.

1. Restaurant Bruecke in Niedergoesgen

This restaurant, awarded 15 points (out of 20) in the Gault Millau gourmet guide, is one of my favorites for eating out in style. It is worth a visit both in wintertime in the generous indoor setting or in the splendid waterfront outdoor area.

Classics and inventive dishes are on offer here, and both are equally convincing. And the service under the owner of Markus Gfeller is competent and amiable. For a closer look, here my review.

As there was a food truck available – usually located in front of a shopping center offering grilled sausages – , it was converted in a take away outlet.

The chef, Thomas Messerli, asked his apprentices to develop a take away concept. Ant they worked out the following: house made pasta accompanied by different sauces. But this was just a start …

Within no time, the Bruecke team expanded the selection: asparagus ravioli with bear garlic, sauted pioppini mushrooms, dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese;

coq auf vin with vegetables and mashed potatoes,

chorizo and pollo

and many more. Even desserts are available, once my family opted for a mini rhubarb panna cotta.

Everything we had was well-made and tasted great!

For Easter, there was a special offer, a variety of classics on the one hand, a four-course menu on the other hand. My husband, my son and I went for a traditional dish, Angus beef meat loaf with stewed vegetables and mashed potatoes

complete with asparagus tomato chickpeas salad. It was such a treat! As to the multi-course menu, I heard that it was already sold out before Easter even started.

2. Restaurant Storchen La Cuisine in Schoenenwerd

Restaurant Storchen La Cuisine is another favorite of mine in my home region when it comes to refined cuisine in a pleasant ambiance.

While it was always a good spot for fine dining, it won my heart completely with the appointment of chef Daniel Sladek, see here my review. And he knows his business. Under his aegis, Storchen La Cuisine got 14 Gault Millau points in his first year. Also the immaculate and kind service – helmed by his wife Katharina Sladek – is worth mentioning.

As far as the Corona take away food is concerned, “The Storchen” did not get involved until Easter. Then they launched a special gourmet offer. It included a choice of six starters, three mains and two desserts. But that was not all … You could even order wine, white table linen, silver cutlery and table decoration!

I was awestruck when I caught sight of the delivery!

The box not only contained the food, one part vacuum-packed, the other in form of nicely arranged plates (tuna carpaccio).

No, the meat course, the classic “Storchen pot”, Zurich-style veal stripes, even came along with a silver serving platter!

And not to forget the dessert, a chocolate mousse in a glass. In addition, there was also an Easter basket with brownies, a goody from the restaurant! With all this, my family had a true dinner in style, and it was a culinary pleasure from A to Z, too!

3. Restaurant Salmen in Olten

Last but not least, a recommended restaurant engaged in the “Corona take away business” in my home town of Olten. “The Salmen”, awarded 13 Gault Millau points, is housed in a beautiful old tavern.

It is a safe value in Olten’s culinary scene. Expect solid work here but no (unnecessary) show or artwork on the plates! Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. My review can be found here.

As to the take away offer, there are three menus changing twice weekly that come with a seasonal salad. This is complemented by a menu with Salmen classics. Here you can choose among two starters and four to six mains. At one occasion, my son and I ordered from the former option. We liked what we got, meat loaf with red wine sauce, spaetzle and vegetables

as well as a veggie lasagna with tomato sauce.

Other restaurants in the area with Corona take away

There are other local dining-spots that were converted into temporary take away outlets. Out of all these, I can recommend two more that I have not tried out (yet) but are known for quality food: Restaurant Aarhof (review) in Olten

and Restaurant Eintracht in Kestenholz, west of Olten.

Conclusion and outlook

Who would have thought that something good results of something so bad as the Corona crisis! Favorite restaurants of mine in my home region of Olten and surroundings prove that by offering high quality Corona take away food! Of course, the revenues coming from this (temporary) service cannot compensate the ones from the usual business operation. Still, the appearance of such commercial models is a glimmer of hope, although it might only be a stopgap. Yet it allows the restaurants to keep in touch with their clientele. And you never know what might come out of it when life returns to normal!