We had a few members of the family out sick this week and thus were unable to really get out. Did this stop the family from enjoying what Collingswood does best?

In the absence of being able to sit down for a restaurant meal, we opted for takeout—and that's precisely why we're writing this story. Quite a few of our town's premier dining establishments offer takeout options; some may even surprise you!

So let's set the scene: It's a weeknight, you've stayed a little late at work and come home too exhausted to cook. It's too cold and late to pack up the family to go out, and anyway, you'd rather chill out and watch the rest of House of Cards on Netflix. You'd order pizza, but you had that two days ago, and you ate Chinese food for lunch. What to do?

On nights when we want something a little more nutritious, or at least more substantial, we ring up one of the local restaurants. Here are four of our favorites choices. 

Il Fiore
We're big fans of this charming Italian spot that offers phenomenal service, delicious pasta, and unbeatable value for your money. Judging by the line of hungry diners that forms outside it every weekend, we aren't alone in our admiration.

Luckily, you don't always have to wait in that line. Il Fiore offers its full menu, including appetizers and desserts, for takeout. Since Il Fiore is often busy, try to avoid ordering during peak hours to get your food quicker. 

Il Fiore has no website, so pick up a takeout menu next time you dine there (for regulars, it's the same as the normal menu). 

The Pop Shop
OK, so Pop Shop menu does lean on fried food, but it also has the best grilled-cheese menu in the tri-state area and a wealth of other options besides. Its full menu includes salads, entrees, breakfasts, burgers and vegan items—all available to go.

We highly recommend takeout at the Pop Shop because the restaurant is always so busy; yet their takeout orders are always fulfilled quickly (and you don't have to deal with noisy children). We really like it.

Pop Shop manager Kevin Sperlunto echoed our thoughts about ordering something other than a cheesesteak.

"It's nice to be able to order a healthy tuna sandwich or hot turkey platter that tastes homemade," he said. "You can put it on a nice plate at home and pretend it is

"Takeout is a good option for people who don't want to deal with the hustle and bustle of Haddon Ave. and the wait times." We certainly agree.

Click here for the Pop Shop menu. 

The Tortilla Press
The Tortilla Press has a dedicated and extensive takeout menu of soups, salads, burritos, and sandwiches. Everything is fresh and portions are filling. (It's also great for brunch.)

Click here for the Tortilla Press menu.
 
Indiya
For something a little different, we ring up the best new Indian addition to town. Indiya serves large portions of flavorful and well-spiced curries. We recommend the Chicken Tikka Makhani and Chicken Lababdar.

There are also vegetarian and gluten-free options that look just as good. The full menu is offered for takeout, except for the dine-in only thalis. For a sense of how big a portion is: you can generally estimate 2 people to a takeout portion for an average-to-small-sized appetite. 

Click here for the Indiya menu.

Keep in mind that these aren't the only restaurants that offer takeout in the borough. Even if a restaurant doesn't advertise takeout, it's worth giving a call to see if they'll wrap up something to-go for you. Given how friendly this town can be, we figure most would be delighted to do so.

Click here for the Collingswood restaurant directory.