Where to eat in Central London with kids?

[WillowB]

We're taking DD aged 6 to London for 2 days in a few weeks as part of her birthday present. We had booked to go to the Rainforest Cafe as she loves the rip off version at Drayton Manor! The reviews are abysmal though. To be honest I wouldn't mind if the food was rubbish if it wasn't so bloomin expensive but I think I'm just going to feel ripped off.
Any suggestions for child friendly places in central London that are a bit different/special much appreciated

[Ricekrispie22]

Inamo is a fun restaurant serving all sorts of Asian/oriental dishes. The food and the service is good, but the best bit is the interactive tables! Each table-top is interactive, on which you can order your food, graffiti, play retro games like battleships with the rest of the people on your table and customise the mood/lighting. You can even watch your food being prepared on a 'chef-cam'.

Alternatively, go to My Old Dutch for the best selection of sweet and savoury pancakes. My DC like the chilli con carne or Italian pancakes, I like the asparagus one and DH likes the chicken curry or Dutch Hot! They also serve salads or you can build your own pancakes. Make sure you save room for a sweet pancake though. Last time we went, we had the Star Trek on Nutella pancake which was massive and had maltesers, Milky Way stars, Ferraro Rocher and ice cream! There's a kids menu with some smaller pancakes.

[WillowB]

They look amazing!!! We're staying in Kensington so that would be perfect - thanks!

[Plexie]

Giraffe is a chain with a few branches in London. Very child-friendly!

www.giraffe.net/menus/kids-menu

[WellWoman]

Sounds like your DD is too young to be interested in any of the great fie dining but you might try going to Chinatown - the two main roads are just north of Leicester Square. Restaurants there are good value, although staff are not usually particularly friendly. We live in central London and my 2 DC have loved Chinese duck and pancakes since they were very small - if you order it in a restaurant they always whizz the meat off the duck at the table and show you how to roll the pancakes which is a lovely bit of theatre.

There are also some amazing cake shops to go in - try Cutter and Squidge on Old Compton St, not far from Piccadilly Circus, for amazing layered cakes with butter icing in different flavours.

I'd avoid the chains if you can - mostly they are over-priced and very mediocre. If you want a nicer meal in an interesting environment you could try Portrait, on the top floor of the National Portrait Gallery which has wonderful views south. It's open evenings as well as through the day and you could comfortably go and have one courses so your DD wouldn't get bored. Pop into the Tudor gallery to see the portraits of the kings and queens, which is the most interesting bit of the gallery for DC.

Also the restaurant on the top floor (seventh) of Tate Modern has amazing views along the river - again you could go and just have one course. These are not badly priced for London - but be prepared to spend quite a bit while you are here. I'd advise you carry round bottles of water and maybe some apples or other fruit, and buy other "treats" on the go to re-fuel. There are some lovely independent little restaurants with wood fired pizza ovens and so on in the Covent Garden area too.

Its not always easy to find toilets when you need them - remember you can always walk into the free to enter museums to use loos, and many of the bookshops have a loo for customers.

Hope you have a lovely time.