Have you ever looked at a slab of lasagne and thought, just for a moment, that if you added some pillowy ravioli to one end, it’d look just like a little bed? No? Well, know that if you did, it wouldn’t be too big a stretch.
Lasagne, the multi-layered Italian masterpiece combining rich bolognaise with velvety bechamel and silky pasta sheets, is nothing new. But it’s seeing a real resurgence around the country as social distancing rules and lockdowns come into effect.
That could be because it’s one of the most comforting dishes we can think of, and we could all use a little comfort food right now (even if we can’t literally climb inside it and take a nap). And because it’s pretty involved to make, it’s perfect for ordering in.
Restaurants around the country know this, too. They also know it’s dish that’s easy to make in bulk, travels well, and for some reason seems to reheat well, too (our theory: a bit of time spent in the fridge dries out the top layer a bit, so it crisps up even more when it comes time for round two in the oven).
So as we see diners make the move from dine-in to take-out, we’re also seeing a lot of lasagne pop up on menus for pick-up, or, for even less effort, delivery.
It's everywhere right now, and it’s spectacular. Here’s where to get it in your city.
Melbourne
1800-Lasagne, Melbourne. This delightfully simple delivery service will drop off a generous serve of eggplant or beef and pork lasagne ($25), and you can add on lasagne-specific merch and natural wine, too. Order online on Sundays for delivery that week. It's on hold while owner Joey Kellock prepares to open a restaurant, but kicks off again July 29. In the meantime, see what it's like to spend a night in his '91 Barina.
Attica, Ripponlea. The fine-diner’s two-person dinner combo includes lasagne, pull-apart garlic bread and salad for two. Dinner with matched wine at Ben Shewry’s fine diner would, in the before-time, have set you back $495. This meal is $60 for pick-up, or $75 delivered. Order online.
Dexter, Preston. The American barbeque joint has become a deli (for now), and it’s making “a crazy amount” of lasagne with 12-week dry-aged beef. A single serve is $12, or you can pre-order family-size for $35. Pick yours up or get it delivered if you live nearby. DM the team for more info.
Di Stasio Citta, CBD, and Cafe Di Stasio, St Kilda. Ronaldo Di Stasio's southside Italian institution and newer city sibling are serving a vegetarian lasagne, filled with mozzarella, tomato and basil, for $28 – “no meat required. Just the delicious little golden bits that everyone loves”. Order online.
Leonardo’s Pizza Palace, Carlton. With the good-time Italian diner’s new delivery service comes a four-cheese lasagne. It’s made with bolognaise and white sauce layered between sheets of hand-rolled pasta, with fresh mozzarella, provolone, Monterey Jack cheddar and parmesan. Get two serves for $19. Order online.
Henry Sugar, Carlton. The neighbourhood wine bar is doing a vegetarian mushroom and sage lasagne. Each family-size portion costs $40 (plus delivery, and a $6 dish deposit for first-time orders). Order online.
King & Godfree, Carlton. This deli and espresso bar in a historic Carlton building is still open for business, and it’s selling heat-at-home lasagne in two sizes – 450 grams for $20, and 2.5 kilograms for $80. Pick up, or order delivery through Uber Eats or Deliveroo.
Lume, South Melbourne. This adventurous diner is putting its vegan eggplant, celeriac, squash, bechamel and “bolognaise” lasagne ($26) back on the menu for pick-up or delivery. More information here.
Smith & Deli, Fitzroy. If you call ahead, staff at this popular vegan spot will pre-pack your order so you can be in and out in a flash. Chef-owner Shannon Martinez’s plant-based lasagne comes as a single serve for $16, or $40 to share.
Theodore’s, Brunswick. Add a hefty serve of the neighbourhood cafe’s vegetarian lasagne ($18) to your order when you shop its new online grocery store, Ted’s.
Half Acre, South Melbourne. The sunny farm-to-table has joined with catering company Food&Desire to launch Food4Good, an online marketplace selling ready-to-eat (or heat) meals. There are small ($22) and large ($40) vegetarian lasagnes on offer, which can feed between two and six people. Or one person for a few days.
Bar Carolina, South Yarra. The group behind Bar Carolina, Il Baccaro, Tetto di Carolina and Marameo has created a collaborative takeaway menu, which features a lasagne for two ($32). Order online.
Adelaide
Lucia’s Fine Foods, Adelaide. The 63-year-old institution Lucia's Spaghetti and Pizza Bar is serving take-home meals including a classic lasagne to pick-up at its neighbouring deli. It's $10.90 for a single serve, $26 for three to four serves, or $35 for around six serves.
Nido Pasta Bar, Hyde Park. Lasagne costs $35 and feeds four. Call to order.
Etica, Adelaide.
The Neapolitan pizza bar with the AVPN (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana) tick of approval is selling vegan lasagne – layers of pasta with eggplant, zucchini and nut-based bechamel – for $25. Call 0404 129 686 to order.
Osteria Oggi, Adelaide. The CBD pasta bar is back in business after closing at the end of March. Its new takeaway menu includes two lasagnes: spinach ($25) with béchamel, scamorza, passata and Parmesan, and bolognese ($25) with béchamel, scamorza, pork sausage and Parmesan. You can also order a large-format lasagne tray (that serves four) for $70.
Stem, Adelaide. The west-end wine bar and restaurant is serving two kinds of lasagne: osso bucco ($32) and eggplant ($30) with layers of house-made pasta, passata, fior di latte and Grana Padano. Available for pick-up or delivery. Serves four.
Brisbane
Ripiena, Fortitude Valley. These fresh-pasta experts are doing three kinds of lasagne, available in small or large serves. There's a classic bolognaise with bechamel, a vegetarian version with spinach, ricotta and bechamel, and a special house recipe with zucchini, bechamel and smoked cheese. Available for same-day pick-up or delivery (pre-order by 9am for lunch or 2.30pm for dinner).
Mosconi, Fortitude Valley. The Mediterranean restaurant is serving a family-sized, cook-at-home lasagne (for $45) with veal mince, mozzarella, sugo and bechamel. There's also a gluten-free option (for $50) that requires 24-hours notice.
Tartufo, Fortitude Valley. The longstanding Italian joint is doing frozen meals to takeaway, including a lasagne with four layers of house-made egg pasta and pork and beef ragu, parmesan cheese and bechamel. Available for a steal at $20.
CJ's, West End. The pasta joint is offering four kinds of lasagne, available in serves for one, two, or family-sized (prices range from $12 to $55). There's beef, sand crab and vegetarian and vegan options.
Amalfi pizzeria, Clayfield. The mobile pizza project turned bricks-and-mortar is doing a classic lasagne with bechamel, bolognaise and parmesan, availalbe as a single serve for $15.
Perth
Capri, Fremantle. This old-school diner has been around since the 1950s, and now you can get its classic Italian dishes at home, including an incredibly creamy vegetable lasagne for $23. Call to order for pick-up. More details here.
Post, Perth. Now delivering dishes from its Nonna’s Favourites menu, which includes an old-school take on lasagne (and salted-honey Old Fashioneds). $19 small, $49 family-size.
Re Store, Northbridge. Perth’s OG Mediterranean deli and grocer is doing a big, bold meaty lasagne for $13.95 (small) and $45 (large). More details here.
Social Manna, Victoria Park. For $24, get handmade beef lasagne for four from this neighbourhood cafe that’s all about the little details. More info here.
Sydney
Bathers’ Pavilion, Mosman. This beachfront diner’s rustic lasagne may be a bit of a surprise addition to its elegant, French-inspired menu – but it’ll be a worthy inclusion on your takeaway roster. It feeds four for $55. Order online.
Fratelli Paradiso, Potts Point. You can now eat the sophisticated Italian diner’s classic lasagne at home, for one ($20) or for the entire family ($70).
The Grounds, Alexandria. When you take away the farm animals, cookie stalls and pretty gardens, the fact remains that The Grounds also does food pretty well. Remind yourself with this beefy lasagne, which feeds two for $30. Order here.
Marta, Rushcutters. If you like your lasagne with lots of tomato sugo, this is the one for you. There are three sizes available: one serve for $25, two serves for $45 and five serves for $95. Pick-up and delivery are both available.
Peppe’s, Bondi. These guys do a creamy vegan lasagne you won’t even realise is vegan ($24). Order online for pick-up, or get delivery to Bondi and some eastern suburbs.
Prince of York, Sydney. Chef Sam Bull has layered together a melty, lush, four-cheese spinach lasagne for one ($15) that you can cook at home. Order online. Contactless pick-up and delivery both available.
This article first appeared on Broadsheet *on April 2, 2020. Some details may have changed since publication.
