To ask for recommendations for lovely but not too pricey restaurants in London with teens?

[mysadoldarse]

It's my 40th in a few weeks time. I've got DCs 14 and 16 and I'd love to go to a lovely restaurant that's special but that won't bankrupt us! My preference would be Italian, so a place that does delicious pasta for me but pizza for the DCs. I'm up for other options, though. The DC will eat burgers, steak, dim sum / noodles. They're quite meat focussed, I'm afraid!
Central or east London would be best for us.
Who's got some great suggestions for me?

Coya in the City is lovely. Good meat options for the DC. Lovely decor.

Lina Stores. It’s a small chain, with a few dotted around central London, but unlike most chains some operate individual menus.

Brasserie Zedel is one of the best restaurants in Central for value vs fancyness (although it's not any of the cuisines you've mentioned but has a varied menu with lots of meat options!)

https://baolondon.com
is really good each branch has a slightly different quirk.
as is https://www.pizzapilgrims.co.uk/pizzerias/canary-wharf/
the downstairs of the Canary Wharf one has a few arcade games

there’s also a few food halls whose names I will remember in a minute! But more quick eat than relaxing meal

Flat iron for steak is great value.

Ave Mario in Covent Garden is nice.

more quick eat than relaxing restaurant, but interesting with teens nonetheless

https://www.thisissoho.co.uk/eat-and-drink/kingly-court/

this has loads of different restaurants even cheese on a conveyor belt like sushi, but cheese
I appreciate you didn’t mention cheese

and this place is phenomenal Italian food
secretldn.com/mercato-mayfair-italian-food-hall/

Not Italian, but the Delauney is always great

Booked up, sadly

Flat Iron is a family favourite! I want something a bit fancier for this occasion, though.

I love both of these places but not quite the vibe I want for my birthday. Thanks though.

Bancone is great, actually reasonable £ for London and have several restaurants. Yummy negronis and wine by the carafe too.

Second Lina stores too

We're off to London in December and may try Flat Iron

We always go to the Ivy Cafes for lunch when in London, great menu, great cocktails!! They have a few different ones, you have to book though as they get very busy https://ivycollection.com/restaurants/the-ivy-cafe-marylebone/?utm_source=LocalGoogle&utm_medium=Organic

Yeah they are great places for a day trip but not necessarily a birthday meal

pizza pilgrim and bao London are nice though
Canary Wharf pizza pilgrim is a great one for the teens with arcades and games downstairs.
Bao King’s Cross is near coal drops yard so has the cool factor. One of theirs (can’t remember which) has a karaoke room you can book

North so maybe no good but Trullo

If Ave Mario is booked up, what about Circolo Popolare?

What about going to one of the restaurants in the shard? The views make it a special experience, and it doesn’t need to be too expensive.

Another vote for Zedel, impressive but not super pricey.

For interesting food, Lima Floral is not super fancy looking (though still lovely) but one of our favourite West End eateries. Delicious Peruvian food.

No pizza, but Vasco & Piero’s in D’Arblay Street, Soho is a consistently good Italian (specifically Umbrian).

Seconding - thirding? - Brasserie Zedel if you want some wow factor in the surroundings.

Hawksmoor on the pre/post theatre set menu, £33 3 courses!

My teens love eating in the Ivy (any branch, they always feel special and I agree cocktails are fab) - and Hawksmoor is one of their faves too (a few branches in London)

I was going suggest this as well.

Another vote for Brasserie Zedel - feels like a 'London' experience without being too pricey. Casse Croute on Bermondsey St. (obviously french again, rather than Italian) is fantastic IMO.

San Carlo in Piccadilly?

Another Zedel fan.

Balthazar in Covent Garden might be a good fit?