Blackpool restaurant recommendations

[MsHighwater]

Dd(9) is competing in Blackpool at Easter this year. Never been and, with all due respect to the town, it's not somewhere we would have chosen to visit otherwise. Still, we're going to be spending our Easter holiday there so we're keen to enjoy it.
Can anyone suggest a restaurant in the area; nice food but not too expensive and that caters well for kids (not having a typical "kids menu" would be a definite selling point, for instance). No strong preference for cuisine - Italian, Chinese, Indian, etc, etc.

[youbethemummylion]

Marking place for if you find one, everywhere we ate in Blackpool was grotty. Might have been looking in the wrong places though.

[RugBugs]

Ditto! We went once and ended up at Yorkshire fisheries for dinner, was fine for our after illuminations hunger.
I grew up along the South coast and even though I used to live in Toxteth, the state of parts of Blackpool were a shock to me. Brighton it isn't.

[fuctifino]

Struggling to recommend anywhere in Blackpool but there are a four of nice restaurants a 10 min drive down the coast to Lytham.
Portofino's - Italian
Seniors - fish and chips
Ego - Mediterranean

[fuctifino]

Umm, four should be couple

[LucyInTheSkyWithDonuts]

Go to Lytham St Anne's instead! It's a 10 minute (tops) drive down the coast and it has lots of lively bars, restaurants and hotels.

We spent a long weekend in Blackpool and enjoyed it more than we though we would. The tower is interesting, sea world fun, Madame Tussaud's good for a giggle. And then back to Lytham for nice food, hotels and strolls on a sandy beach :)

[MsHighwater]

Looks like we'll be checking out Lytham. We'll be in our tourer at a site very close to the competition venue so we can always cook for ourselves but we like sampling good local fare when it's available. Thanks for the suggestions. Happy to get more ideas, tho.

[jolovescakeandwine]

After numerous trips to Blackpool to see the in laws, yet to find somewhere decent. I'm now going to try Lytham!!

[3catsandcounting]

I grew up in Lytham, and still live only a few miles away. Lytham has indeed got a fair few good restaurants, as mentioned; The County pub has a good reputation for great pizzas, and there's always Pizza Express or Ego if you're desperate!
Have a google of the Beach House on the prom in Blackpool; it's fairly new and has a great reputation. It's only quite small and you need to book; they do a good range of food and child-friendly (the pics on the website make it look a bit 'clubby' (it isn't, I think that was maybe their launch night?!) On a warm evening you can sit outside and watch the sun go down over the sea (and forget you're in Blackpool!)
Also, very close to me, is Ribby Hall, couple of good restaurants, also Papa Johns pizza, Starbucks, etc and a great outdoor play area. (15 mins drive from Blackpool)
PM me if you need any more info!

[florencedombey]

We had a gorgeous dinner at The Grand Hotel on the seafront at Lytham. (We also had a takeaway fish and chip lunch sitting on the front at Blackpool!)

[3catsandcounting]

Ooh, and the West Coast Rock Cafe is meant to be pretty good, but very informal, (years since I went.) It's right opposite the Winter Gardens (I'm assuming your DD is competing there?)
Also, La Piazza, again opposite Winter Gardens is a great little Italian, very friendly and authentic.
See! I'm finding loads of good points about Blackpool now! I'm on a roll!

[3catsandcounting]

Florence - the Grand is lovely!! (but it is in St Annes - actually the only Hotel in Lytham is the Clifton Arms - most hotels are along St Annes prom.)
The Queens, near the windmill in Lytham is lovely too, great pub food and very child and dog-friendly!!

[ellaballoo]

Anatolia Turkish restaurant in St Annes. Doesn't look much but food is amazing.
Java or Bosco Italians in Lytham too.

[coffeeandchoc]

Best restaurant by a long way is Anatolia Turkish restaurant in St Anne's. Very small but friendly and food is amazing.

At the other end of Blackpool in Thornton Cleveleys there is a very good restaurant called twelve, it has a mid week market menu that changes weekly for a cheaper option to the al a carte menu.

Also in bispham there is an Italian on red bank road called last piazza 2 (DO NOT confuse this with the one in the town centre!!!!) That is nice and very family friendly.

In the town centre on topping street there is a good Chinese called wah wah's.

There are a few in poulton and Carleton as well that are quite good, I'll try and remember their names.

Hope that helps a bit. Unfortunately Blackpool is not known for its great selection of restaurants.

[Harverina]

Started a thread last year asking the same. For the first couple of nights we really struggled to find anything other than fish and chip shops!

We found the nicer restaurants to be near the north peir.

La Fontana is an Italian restaurant which I loved. It is on Clifton Street.

Toast on corporation street was also nice.

Mandarin is a Chinese on Clifton street too. Very busy so book in advance. Food was amazing.

Whatever you do, avoid Pizza Hut at the south shore promenade. It was horrendous!

[Carks31]

Ohh I can help here as I live locally.

Sapori (italian) and Michael Wan's Mandarin (Chinese) are your best bet in central Blackpool. Both are on on Clifton Street. I'd book if planning either of these especially at weekends or if going to an event/concert etc.

West coast is ok. American themed, big portions but a bit on the greasy side. All deep fried.

Heading out of town a bit Go Greek in Layton is recommended (not the best area though) and heading north there are some good restaurants on the beach end of Red Bank Road in Bispham, namely La Piazza I I and Terra Nostra (both Italians) and Sunam (Indian). If south Shore way Ambrosino is a nice little italian.

Headig a little further out, in Thornton there's Twelve which is "posh" and Mimmos is a nice Italian.

Poulton Le Fylde is about 10 minute taxi from central Blackpool and for such a little town there's plenty of good restaurants. Pulchi is a fantastic pizzaria (need to book in advance, very laid back you'll be sharing a bench with other eaters so not really intimate and romantic of that's what your after). Ricos is a nice, non offensive Italian, you can't book for less than 4 so be prepared for a wait for a table on a weekend if there's only 2 of you. There's a tapas /Spanish place called Espanyol which is lovely. China Red is a big Chinese restaurant, family friendly and do a good midweek banquet.

Olive tree, Jacks Bistro and the Anatolia the turkish recommend above are good shouts in St Annes. There's a few decent one sin Lytham but personally not worth the trip if just there for a few days and you aren't staying that way.

[Carks31]

oh oh. In Cleveleys there's Pulchinellas a lovely Italian.

And if you're after fish and chips seniors is your best bet. Family run and there's branches in Thornton, Lytham, Bispham and Newton. None in central Blackpool though.

PM if you want any more details or info.

[IDontDoIroning]

Junior dance festival ? We go for the formation competitions and usually end up in one of the bella Italias, but we usually book as they are very popular.