Decent family restaurants near Natural History Museum

[mashup]

We are taking a trip to the NHM next week, and want to take to kids to a nice restaurant which they'll like (they're both under 9) - must serve decent food. Heard the River Rorest thingie (or whatever it's called!) is awful.... any ideas, anyone?

[Marina]

find the nearest branch of Wagamama (Japanese fast-food, cooked rather than sushi). They are hectic, clean, delicious, healthy food, and family-friendly. Lots to see for the inquisitive child too (open kitchen, waiters scrawling your order on your paper table mat etc)
Ds is six and loves Wagamama!
Some do like Rain Forest Cafe but I'm with you on this - too much busyness and very boring food.

[mashup]

Thanks Marina, is it child-friendly Japanese food - if you know what I mean!!?? They eat Chinese but they don't like fish, neither does the dh.

[Marina]

Ds usually plumps for chicken yakitori - chicken kebabs in a plum marinade. I have seen lots of children tucking into noodle and soup dishes around me though.
I think the only thing that is off-putting is the rather large portions served - to a child's eye at least. This is why he likes his little starter, washed down with some of their sublime fruit/veg juice cocktails (if with me) or FANTA (if with gullible dh)

[Marina]

Definitely not ornate, formal, business account restaurant setting mashup - brightly lit, lively canteen style

[princesspeahead]

nearest branch of wagamama is on kensington high street, on the north side of the road, at the albert hall end. It is probably a 15min walk from the natural history museum up queensgate.

there are quite a few child friendly restaurants in south ken if you don't want to walk so far - if you wander up harrington gardens to bute street there are a couple of cheap and cheerful italians which are OK, and half way up bute street there is one of those rotisserie jules - really nice grilled chicken and baguettes and salads.
Or you can, of course, go to the famous Dinos on the main south ken tube station parade - has been there since about 1956 and hasn't changed an iota since then. Melamine tables, 1950s style spaghetti bolognese, big glasses of coke, and a bill of practically nothing! They might enjoy the retro-ness of it.

[mummytosteven]

there's a giraffe on Kensington High St - that's quite nice and kid friendly.

[mummytosteven]

I'm going to take S to the NHM today, check out the Wildlife Garden outside.

just thought I ought to share that with you all

[CountessDracula]

How about Strada on Great Queen St, not too far

[triplets]

Hi,
We are taking our trio there on Sunday, going up on the train, they are nearly 8 and have never been on a train! Any tips for the NHM welcome.

[jane313]

The restaurant in the science museum is quite fun as it has underlit blue tables

deepbluecafe

[nooka]

DeepBlue is nice, but I think it is expensive (but ds has a huge appetite!). We have been a few times to a pancake place just by the tube station (if you go the overland route, as opposed to the subway) which the children both enjoyed (esp the chocolate pancakes). I think that the science museum is more fun for under eights, but the NHM sometimes has special things going on - it's worth asking at the front desk about events for kids. My two had a fantastic hour or so making cyanotype pictures this summer.

[triplets]

Hi,
Just got back tonight from our day out at the NHM, had a fantastic day. We got there at 11 as it opened and left at 5pm and that was rushing through the Life Galleries, it was packed and very hot, but we had a wonderful time. The highlight was def the dinosaurs, and there was enough hands on stuff to more than keep them happy. We pi-niced in the basement which was nicer than I thought it was going to be, and also lovely and cool. As it was all so easy to get to from here we are going to go again next Sun and do the Science Museum, again all tips welcome!

[aloha]

I went to Dinos when I was a small child...and nearly died of pleasure to see ds eating spaghetti bolognaise and ice cream there thirty (plus ) years on.
It's a very hip hangout during London Fashion Week these days. Packed with fashion editors, designers and models!