To think that this menu isn’t suitable for children?

[Mummyofabear]

A few months ago I booked to take my children to Matilda in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall this month (October), I had to book hospitality tickets because those were the only tickets left at the time of booking. And then today have been sent an email with the hospitality details and this is the menu! They don’t have a separate children’s menu either even though Matilda is a family event! AIBU to think this menu isn’t suitable for children? My children have autism and are very fussy so the only thing that they will eat on this menu will be the desserts but even then I don’t think there’s much on this menu that most neurotypical children would eat either? In my opinion it’s not suitable for families or children even though it’s supposed to be a family event!

I’ve copied and pasted the menu below incase the image doesn’t work:

Snacks (served pre-show):
Black garlic polenta crackers

Seaweed tapioca crackers

Canapés (served pre-show):
Glazed beef skewer, chimichurri

Parmesan churros, tomato and Parmesan sauce (V)

Cold Bowl (served pre-show):

Pumpkin seed houmous, maple-roast pumpkin, pomegranate, pickled pumpkin ribbons, mint oil

Sliders (served pre-show):
28-day dry-aged beef patty, crispy bacon, tarragon and chive aioli, confit garlic,
served with potato hash puffs, truffle mayo

Moroccan-Spiced lamb slider, grilled onions, sumac mayonnaise & pickled cucumber,
served with buffalo cauliflower

Dessert canapés (served during the interval):
Mango, passion fruit, coconut pavlova

Millionaire's chocolate mousse, salted caramel, vanilla sablé

Milk and Cookies

Drinks:

Trebbiano, Rubicone, Novità
Sangiovese, Rubicone, Novità
Estrella Galicia 4.7%
Ginger bitters (soft cocktail)
Sparkling mineral water
Still mineral water

My children are both autistic and quite fussy in different ways to each other but weirdly both would be able to eat a decent amount of that. I wouldn't normally book without seeing the menu though as they are fussy. Pity it's the only way you could get the tickets. I assume it was costly but I think if I didn't think ny children would like it I'd feed them first.

Agree with this!
Also Parmesan churros are not vegetarian so whoever created the menu doesn't understand that either.

This!

Okay it’s a burger but it’s a wanky fancy burger with cauliflower as a side.

I’d have eaten that as a child. Most food is fine For kids.

YANBU. There's not much on that menu I'd eat, let alone kids.

This.

I was prepared to come on and say you were being unreasonable if it was a normal menu but just missing all the beige food some people think is the only stuff kids eat but all those saying it's just burgers and crackers and houmous seem to be missing that many kids wouldn't be used to having truffle mayo on their burgers (which can be a very particular taste even for adults, though I love truffle) or mint oil on their houmous or crackers made from seaweed. My 10 and 14 year olds would eat this as they eat pretty much anything but a lot of that would be hit or miss for my younger children and I'm guessing the tickets would have been pretty expensive so I wouldn't be happy paying loads for a menu that they might only pick one or two bits from but not much you can do about that after you've bought the tickets.

Have you emailed them to ask if there might be anything else available or it any changes could be made? Such as having the burgers without all the add ons.

Its burgers and mouse basically, we often do the vip at theatre the food is normally like weatherspoons despite the fancy names.
You can just take your own snacks they don't care

I'd say that is very family friendly.

DC 11 would have a good go, I’d struggle as I’m lactose intolerant and cheese is my nemesis. Why is everything so bloody cheesy?!

Agree it’s fancy language but essentially mini burgers, cheesy nibbles, hummus. My kids would’ve eaten that

My 3 year old would eat all of that, she does eat everything though! I know a few kids who would just pick at stuff and be unimpressed.

I wouldn't eat either main as no veggie option! I think that's pretty poor

It's £250 for a VIP lounge ticket. There's probably not many children going to be there. It's not really aimed at kids. But I agree, once you take away the menu-speak, there should be plenty of things they will eat.

The menu will be ‘special’ as VIP. If not people who purchased VIP would complain.
I suspect when you get it there will be things children would eat. The way they are described on the menu make it sound more fancy than it probably is.

They will not have catered for autism in developing the menu.

I agree.

There doesn’t seem to be much of a variety.

I eat anything but would be disappointed with this menu.

The only problem with that menu is that it claims that the parmesan churros are vegetarian as parmesan is made with beef products and is not vegetarian

I have ARFID and I would try most of that - its burgers, cheesey stuff, hummus... crackers..

Don't show them the menu, tell them its burgers and fancy chips and cheese pastries and see how they get on.

My daughter would have loved that menu from a very young age.

My kids would be fine with most of it. DS would give the desserts a swerve as he is very particular there, but he'd happily eat the cookies and milk so it wouldn't be a problem

The sliders are mini burgers surely all kids love burgers?
If another of their bars serves something you think they'd prefer you could ask for it? But they might charge the same as the set menu.
If they cannot supply anything suitable just bring in own snacks/sandwiches for the kids.

Most children would surely eat burgers, kebabs and cheese straws?

Ours wouldn’t as they’re vegetarian and dairy free, so we don’t book things with set menus/limited choice.

My DS would love that

The beef sliders are just a burger - you could ask for the truffle to be removed? That’s child friendly enough. Tomato and Parmesan churros just sounds like a fancy pizza roll so that will probably be fine as well. Lots of children like hummus and crackers.

I do agree there should be a more obvious kids menu though for a family production

I agree with pp that it's perfectly suitable, but it's in restaurant-speak. Beef skewers? Sliders? Yep. Crackers and puddings? Absolutely fine. I agree that it's not very veggie-friendly though.

My kids (mix of NT and ND) would be fine with most of it. They nearly always prefer to drink water, after one 'interesting' drink.

There’s no way you could cater for autism when doing a menu anyway. Not all autistic people are fussy eaters for a start and of those that are it’s not like there is one “autism diet” everybody eats!

The VIP food in the boxes is usually lovely and beautifully presented but may be challenging if your dcs have particular dislikes. They have accommodated food allergies (and veggies) for us many times so it may be worth asking, within reason but it will still be presented to match the other courses. (Have attached a photo from a couple of years ago with the special menu food on a separate plate but looking the same)

I would have an early dinner somewhere else first and warn them that the food is fancy but they can choose to take it or leave it. You may get popcorn and a programme too.