When the daily grind gets the better of you, it’s a real comfort having a ready-made meal waiting for you at home. Fortunately, cafés and delis around Cape Town offer an abundance of seasonal harvest selections and pre-packed dishes that can be warmed up on those busier days. Head to one of these great Mother City spots to grab a delicious quick-fix dinner to take home.

Quiches from Chardonnay Deli. Photo supplied.

Chardonnay Deli (Constantia)

This cosy farm stall and deli in the Constantia Valley offers locals a little slice of comfort with its seasonal, organic range of fresh produce, grass-fed meats and ready-made meals. Offering a combination of healthy meals and indulgent treats, the take-home options might include assorted lasagnes and curries, cottage pie, chicken à la king and lamb bredie. All meals go for R70 per person and need to be ordered 24 hours before collection. Customers can also add R45 for a portion of grilled veggies or healthy salad. Pro tip: If you’re having a dinner party, enquire about the tasty canapé menu.

A photo posted by @thegeneralstore_sa on Apr 25, 2016 at 2:49am PDT

The General Store (City Bowl)

This popular lunch hatch on Bree Street is known for making great, wholesome Ottolenghi-inspired salads and proteins. What many locals don’t know is that the store also offers a range of meals to order and take home. You can please your dinner party guests with dishes like courgette, leek and parmesan soup; lentils with mushrooms, feta and rocket; slow-cooked lamb shoulder with thyme, cannellini beans; moussaka; and smoked salmon and leek quiche. Ordering is simple: Pop a mail to info@thegeneralstore.co.za and request a menu before choosing your dishes. The team will customise and quote based on your requirements and confirm a collection time. Alternatively, pop in at any time during the day and grab a meal to go.

 

A photo posted by I am Toety Liang, (@toetyliang) on May 8, 2016 at 8:02pm PDT

Giovanni’s Deli (Green Point)

This Green Point stalwart has been feeding hurried Atlantic Seaboard residents for years. This is your one-stop shop for a quick-fix dinner: The shelves are stocked with a never-ending supply of local and imported speciality condiments, pastas, sweets, snacks and wines. A cheese-and-meat counter does a roaring trade with patrons needing their fix of parma and parmigiano, while the cooked food section is a winner for speedy suppers. The pre-packed heat-and-eat meals and salad goodies are also great with some Italian favourites like lasagne, penne arrabiata, caprese salad and meatballs alla mama.

Olami (City Bowl)

This spot may have changed its name from Sababa, but the abundance of wholesome ready-made Mediterranean dishes is still available. Pop in before the lunch rush and grab a few fresh salads or a portion of hot baked dishes for a quick supper. Alternatively, place an order at Sababa in Sea Point and collect your dish that’s been catered just for you. Dishes at both stores might include lamb-knuckle stew, falafel balls, lentil curry, roast veggie lasagne, stuffed cabbage with mince and rice and, of course, their famous shakshuka.

The ready-made dishes at The Vineyard Deli. Photo supplied.

The Vineyard Deli (Durbanville)

This northern suburbs favourite is known for cooked dishes and salads crafted by the in-house chef. To make your busy life easier, grab something delicious on your way home from work to enjoy with the family. Alongside the fresh produce and speciality products available, the deli counter offers a range of German and Italian cold meats and a variety of cheeses, as well as cooked dishes like roasted veggies, stews, whole chickens and curries. Word on the street is that they also have one of the best prego rolls around.