FOR those craving a traditional Italian feast or fresh seafood fix two popular Oxford restaurants have reopened for delivery.

La Cucina and Cuttlefish, both in St Clement’s, have been closed since March but on Monday started serving customers again with take out and new deli options also available.

Yola Drage, who runs both businesses, said: "We've got a smaller team right now but because obviously the restaurants are closed inside it's allowing us to do a lot of things we haven't had the time for before."

At La Cucina meals on offer include long pizzas to share, lasagne trays made of beef or vegetarian, spinach and ricotta cannelloni, and aubergine parmigiana.

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Gluten free pizza and pasta dishes are also available as well as many salads and desserts. The restaurant has encouraged people to 'save on the washing up of your pots and pans' and 'let us take care of it for you'.

As well as full meals La Cucina has launched a deli service for customers hankering for some real Italian fare to take home and prepare themselves.

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This includes fresh pasta prepared on site along with sauces, marinated artichokes, and Italian cheeses.

To preorder email lacucinaoxford@hotmail.co.uk or call 07796 261613. Two days notice is required for some items.

In an announcement about the new service, the restaurant added: "If there are any particular ingredients we may be able to help you source, please do not hesitate to ask. We will do our very best to assist by contacting our suppliers in Italy."

Ms Drage said: "We're trying to be quite creative and flexible. The response has been good so far with some of our regulars and support from the community."

She added they had decided now was the time to restart because of the relaxation of some of the lockdown restrictions.

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At Cuttlefish next door, meanwhile, take out dishes include traditional fish and chips, homemade fish cakes, with the restaurant even offering a Sunday roast.

In addition, the restaurant has launched the Cuttlefish Fishmonger Service for customers who are craving fresh fish or frozen as well as deli products from the coast to cook at home.

These include marinated anchovies, fresh cod fillets, fresh mussels by the kilo, whole plaice, whole seabass, and homemade fish pie prepared to be served at home.

Order via cuttlefishoxford@gmail.com or by phoning 07796 261613.

For these four days notice is needed. Then customers can collect from the restaurant at an agreed time to ensure social distancing.

Again the restaurant has offered to help source any other ingredients from suppliers in Brixham, Devon.