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Original poster

Central London family friendly eateries?

31 replies

mytieisascarf · 04/02/2019 22:36

Looking for recommendation for good places to eat with two kids in tourist London? Lunch and dinner - preferably not chains that we can visit at home. Thanks.

OP posts:
superram · 04/02/2019 22:38

Bistro 1 on frith street. I like the neal’s yard Belgo-it is a chain but they have monks here.

lurker101 · 04/02/2019 22:41

We ate at Pittabun just off carnaby street recently which was great - Greek street food in a fast casual setting (about £20 for two adult meals) Similarly Pizza Union or Pizza Pilgrims are great for cheap fast pizzas and there are loads dotted around (approx £6/pizza -pizza union is cheaper) What type of cuisine/price point we’re you thinking?

NoTeaNoShadeNoPinkLemonade · 04/02/2019 22:45

rainforest cafe? not sure on exact location though

Bubbinsmakesthree · 04/02/2019 22:46

How old are the kids and how broad are their tastes?

Original poster
mytieisascarf · 04/02/2019 22:47

Thank you. @lurker - cheap and cheerful for lunches but can push the boat out a bit for dinner. Will be having three lunches and two dinners. No real preference for type of cuisine - we all like everything (except DD who likes NOTHING unless it's potato based but we grab her some chips on the way home Grin )

OP posts:
Annandale · 04/02/2019 22:48

It's random but on a fairly recent visit with two younger teenagers we ate at Yori on Panton Street off Haymarket and had a ball. Korean barbecue at the table went down a storm.

Original poster
mytieisascarf · 04/02/2019 22:50

They all sound fabulous - Yori especially sounds fab.

OP posts:
lurker101 · 04/02/2019 22:51

@Annandale Yori is fab! Actually all the restaurants along there are - Yori, Machiya and Kannada-Ya. These are great options if your kids like Asian food or ramen - they do get busy though!

anniehm · 04/02/2019 22:54

We ate at a great Japanese place just off the strand, and love the (posh) restaurant at the British museum. We've always just taken the kids to wherever we fancied, dd prefers quieter places so never noisy chains

FranklinTheCat · 04/02/2019 22:58

If you like burgers, try The Diner - there's one on Shaftesbury Avenue but they have a few branches.

If you're looking for brunch, the Breakfast Club is amazing but you have to queue at weekends. Again, a mini chain but only in London.

Original poster
mytieisascarf · 04/02/2019 23:01

Brilliant - thanks @Franklin. I love the sound of the Breakfast Club. Will google it too.

OP posts:
Bubbinsmakesthree · 04/02/2019 23:02

On a Japanese/Asian theme:

Abeno for Okonomiyaki (Japanese savoury ‘pancakes’ cooked at a hotplate on your table)

Kulu Kulu (cheap and cheerful) or Sushi Hiroba for kaiten sushi (conveyor belt)

Inamo has a pan-Asian menu and it’s gimmick is touch-screen tables you can use to order your food, play games etc.

Original poster
mytieisascarf · 04/02/2019 23:05

Just had a look at The Breakfast Club menu - Huevos Al Benny sounds bloody lovely!

OP posts:
Original poster
mytieisascarf · 04/02/2019 23:08

Thanks @Bubbins. All sound awesome. I reckon the kids would love Inamo.

OP posts:
Original poster
mytieisascarf · 05/02/2019 00:02

What about Italian?

OP posts:
FranklinTheCat · 05/02/2019 20:21

Pasta Brown in Covent Garden is consistently nice and does what it says on the tin - very classic menu.

For coffee, you can't beat Caffe Vergnano on Charing Cross Road. A proper Italian coffee shop.

There are more hip Italian places in Soho but I'm woefully out of date.Blush They might not be right for your kids (or you depending on budget, I'm not sure of pricing as I don't eat out regularly in central London these days) - but have a look at places like Polpetto, Mele e Pere, and Bocca di Lupo, and I think the ice cream place is Gelupo.

FranklinTheCat · 05/02/2019 20:24

If your kids like Indian, you could try Dishoom, which I haven't been to but everyone I know who has been there raves about it.

If you're near King's Cross, the German Gymnasium is lovely and prices are OK at lunchtime/in the downstairs bar rather than the upstairs restaurant.

Camino is a tapas place near King's Cross which is also good. Avoid the places around Granary Square and the fountains - I've been there for coffee a few times and they were heaving at weekends, plus service was awful.

notsureofname · 05/02/2019 20:30

Not Rainforest Café - dated and expensive.

Tolleshunt · 05/02/2019 20:34

Brasserie Zedel has a great room/atmosphere, and does delicious French brasserie food. No kids menu, as such, but surprisingly kid friendly, and you all get to eat a lovely meal.

Smellyrose · 05/02/2019 20:36

I second Pasta Brown - we often eat there as a family and DH gets lunch there (close to work) so often they always give us a free dessert! The chips are lovely, as well, for your potato loving child!

GoofyIsACow · 05/02/2019 20:40

Pizza Pilgrims or Treadwells

rightreckoner · 05/02/2019 20:40

Funnily enough I was going to say Brasserie Zedel because someone recommended it to me today as a posh but kid friendly place. Also pasta browns is nice and easy but not a chain.

GoofyIsACow · 05/02/2019 20:41

Sorry posted too soon! We love PP and went to Tredwells on NYE, i thought it was excellent but quite pricey even for London!

rightreckoner · 05/02/2019 20:41

Santo Remedio is a fab Mexican at London Bridge. Authentic. Quite spicy but the best guacamole. Kids will love the churros.

foobio · 05/02/2019 20:41

I've been told that Tibits has good food and a play area downstairs, but haven't been yet.

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