Pizza Express Childrens Menu

[PinkQuill]

Hi, I'm taking my son and a group of his friends to Pizza Express. They are all aged 10.

Just after some advice really on whether it would appear mean or tight to just give them the Children's menu to choose from? My son would normally have this menu when we go but a couple of the boys are quite vocal in what they want when we have been out before. Is the children's menu sufficient? It would be doughballs/garlic bread to start/a small pizza or pasta dish and a pudding.

We have Tesco vouchers to use which will cover most of the children's meals if we use the child's menu but if we start getting them all £16+ pizzas each it will obviously become stupidly priced.

Thank you.

Children’s meals should be fine- especially if you are doing birthday cake after!

Children's menu's are for children. You're taking children.

I think it’s a fair question though, because some places advertise they are only suitable for eg under 6 or under 10. Some are barely big enough for my 6 year old, others would almost feed me! My 1 year old often finishes a whole children’s meal so it’s not unreasonable to think that some 10’year olds might need a bigger meal.

I think the pizza express ones are a reasonable size OP, so should be ok for 10
year olds especially as there’s cake after.

I agree that at pizza express the children's menu is fine as they get a decent sized pizza plus starter and desert. Different maybe at somewhere with small children's portions like McDonald's.

I have three boys. Two were still eating off PE kids menus are 10 the other was on adult pizzas (often a couple of slices were left).
Could u get them kids meals and something for the table like extra dough balls or one pizza they could grab a slice of if still hungry.

Well yes, I know that, however some children's expectations are different and I didn't want to appear mean.

Yes, that's a great idea. I hadn't thought of that, thank you.

My did once had a party at a trampoline place. It was catered- but they only did 1 pizza for 6 kids. I didn’t think it was enough, but you weren’t allowed to bring other food other than a birthday cake. You could order more pizza- but they were domino (full) price- which I thought was too pricey, considering the cost of the venue. I made party goody bags for after. Each had a mini Pringles, a small chocolate bar, a fun drink etc. cheaper than buying more party food at the venue and they loved them….and could fill up if they didn’t get enough pizza. Could be an option?

My DC would have eaten from the adult menu at 10 but if invited to a party would know to choose from what was offered and enjoy being out with their friends.
Kids menu with doughballs and cake is plenty.
Worst case if they’re still hungry when they get home they can have something else.

I think it’s fine. Perhaps consider ordering one or 2 things for the table to share if there’s something they really want that’s not on the kids menu. Maybe put some snacks in the party bags for them to take home in case they are still hungry.

my 8 and 10 year olds share normal doughballs and a classic or the big thin pizzas and they like that better than the kids ones. We have been eating there since they were babies though so the picallo menu seems a bit too babyish for them now…they have similar tastes so getting them to agree on topping is easier…may be more tricky with kids you don’t know as well.

I think the kids' menu at Pizza Express is fine. None of the dishes are big but it's three courses so that's what I'd offer too. You could always get a large margarita pizza as an extra for them to share or get some sweet cones for them to give them afterwards in lieu of party bags?

I’d go kids menu each plus a few extra bits for all to share.

DS2 is 10 with a big appetite. When we go out he will sometimes eat from the kids menu and sometimes from the adult menu.

He was recently invited to PE for a friend’s birthday and we had a conversation before that he was to accept whatever was offered in terms of kids/adult menu choices. We decided in the unlikely event that he was still starving when he got home he could have something else to eat.

I would say the three courses at PE are enough to keep a 10 year old going!

10yo are still primary school age - yes some kids have bigger appetites than others, but I think it's reasonable to expect to host kids with a kids menu choice when they're that age. If they were year 7s and 11yo going on 12yo then fine they're almost at the bottomless pit pre-teen stage! No kid will starve with a starter, small pizza and dessert from Pizza Express even if it's not an unlimited buffet meal.

Everyone talking about cake and party bags - OP hasn’t actually said it’s a party.

I agree @Justwingingit2005’s suggestion is a great compromise to take the worry off OP. I’d be the same!

My 7yo is fine with the Pizza Express kids meal but doesn't have a big appetite. Tbh I think the portions are a bit stingy for over-8s.

If we order a Pizza Express takeaway for home, I get a large classic for the kids to share. Little one has a slice, 7yo has what they feel like and there's usually a couple of slices left over to go in the fridge for lunch the next day.

They have what they are given.

According to the menu, the doughballs with garlic butter, a pizza and dessert from the children's menu comes out at about 800 calories... sounds fine for a 10yo? Obviously there is more to nutrition than calories but that, plus 2 other meals plus snacks is plenty.

My 5 year old dd doesn’t eat loads but she’ll easily finish a pizza express kids meal. The pizzas are small and they get 4 doughballs. Can imagine it not being enough for 10 year old boys. I think getting them the kids meal plus an extra pizza and doughballs to share in the middle would work well.

My son just went to a friends birthday dinner at pizza express. They all got kids meals with an extra few rounds of dough balls. Agree it’s on the cusp but with the excitement of a party they won’t eat as much and the dough balls are the best part anyway.

Otherwise you could order a few pizzas for the table instead of everyone getting their own but that’s its own headache.

The children’s meal is huge - you get 4 courses!

I know this is an old thread, but does anyone know if you can use the kids menu with Tesco vouchers? We are going to Pizza Express with Tesco vouchers and I thought the T&Cs said no set menus.

Pizza and pasta choices on the children's menu are a bit boring.

I took a bunch of 11 year old girls to Pizza Express for DD's birthday last year and they all ate from the kid's menu. However, I think they're doing a teen deal at the moment for about £12 each, so how about that instead?

It is a bit pricey for what it is though, I took my kids to Pizza Express for dinner yesterday and left thinking how crazy it was that I'd just spent circa £50 on 4 pizzas!

Edited to add that I've just realised this is a zombie thread - apologies!