Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Sponsored threads

This topic is for sponsored discussions. If you'd like to run one with us, please email [email protected].

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

NOW CLOSED: PizzaExpress have a new kids Piccolo menu. Tell them what you think of it and be in with a chance of winning one of two £80 vouchers

338 replies

AnnMumsnet · 30/04/2013 10:53

PizzaExpress is releasing a new kids menu and to coincide with the launch, they'd love you to hear what you think of it.

PizzaExpress say "We know how stressful meal times can be, so we have worked hard on our new Create Your Own Piccolo menu to make sure that your kids can have more choice, they can now even choose a Gluten-free base. We believe in treating kids like mini adults, they should be able to choose exactly what they want and therefore enjoy eating their favourite pizza".

Here's a link to the new menu if you haven?t had the chance to try it out for yourself yet.

So:

~ Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?

~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?

Everyone who shares their thoughts on this thread will be entered into a draw in which two winners will each win a £80 PizzaExpress voucher for a family meal.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

PS check out their Facebook comp for a chance for your child to win an Italian cookery lesson.

OP posts:
daisybrown · 02/05/2013 23:12

Haven't tried it yet but plan to go there in a couple of weeks. Looks good for kids and adults alike.

MILdesperandum · 03/05/2013 09:29

Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?

I haven't tried it

If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?

Always great to have a kids version of meals although depending on the prices I might prefer to feed my 18 month old off the plate. I only thought that perhps pictures would be good for pr-readers to help choose what they would like to try to avoid the kids taking one look and saying "I don't like..."

Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose

My older DD would love this; she would choose chicken ham and cheese (she's not too adventurous) but she would also ask for pineapple and sweetcorn and peppers if they were available.

KindleMum · 03/05/2013 10:01

~ Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?

I haven't tried it yet but we've had the old one several times and liked that.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?

I'm disappointed. Sorry to see that cheese and ham pizza has gone - presumably I've now got to either pay extra for ham on a margherita or faff with asking for the la reine to have everything except ham taken off. Also very sorry to see the cheesy pasta has gone. Ok, you've added more pasta choices but given how popular macaroni cheese is generally with kids, getting rid of the cheesy pasta seems an odd choice.

~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?

They might enjoy it occasionally but most of the time it would just be too much choice for them and will cause upset. I have young children and an unlimited choice just throws them. And I don't want to pay extra. And they get impatient waiting for food so anything that slows down the choosing and ordering is a pain. I won't be using this option.

NorkyButNice · 03/05/2013 10:27

I haven't had chance to try our the new menu yet, hadn't heard anything about it until I saw it linked here.

DS1 (5) has always asked for pepperoni on his pizza, that's all he ever wants when we visit Pizza Express, and DS2 (2) has plain cheese and tomato. Very boring, even though he'll eat ham, mushrooms all the other things at home when they aren't on a pizza!

Fillybuster · 03/05/2013 11:20

Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?

Haven't tried it but it looks very similar to the old one

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?

It's not very inspiring.

~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?

I don't like the encouragement to 'create your own' given the note that Pizza Express are going to charge for extras. Any why can't the menu tell us what the cost will be? There's nothing worse than calling a waiter over to ask that sort of question whilst the children are waiting to choose their lunch, then having to wait for 15 minutes whilst they go off and confer with 3 different colleagues because they're not really very sure....Hmm

I'm disappointed that the original option ("We'll make you a version of any adult pizza for the same price") has been removed over the past year or so. My children love Giardiniera, Veneziana and Fiorentina pizzas....those options aren't even available as individual ingredients to add!

Punkatheart · 03/05/2013 11:50

Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?

No I haven't seen this and went to Covent Garden's PE quite recently.

If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?

Fun and my daughter always loved making her own pizzas, is obsessed with pizza. I would prefer her to eat good quality ones with great ingredients. This fits the bill, I think. Mine always wants ham or something meaty, but I would encourage veg as well.

poppy1973 · 03/05/2013 11:50

Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?

No I haven't tried it yet.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?

I like the look of the childrens menu. Simple but looks good food and a good price for the restaurant near to me.

~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?

My children would like the create your own element of the menu. One of my children is particularly fussy with pizzas and would like the option of putting their own toppings on and therefore more likely to eat and enjoy. They would likely choose a Margherita and put extra chicken on it.

My youngest child would probably not choose the pizza option but stick to a pasta dish and enjoy all the other options in the menu.

MNHQ
HelenMumsnet · 03/05/2013 11:51

Hello.

We've just had some great news: the folks at PizzaExpress have just offered us ANOTHER £80 PizzaExpress voucher. So we're going to give it away on Twitter.

To be in with a shout of winning it, just re-Tweet our @MumsnetTowers Tweet about it.

(If you're newish to Twitter, simply follow @MumsnetTowers, if you don't already Shock, and re-Tweet our 'Quick! WIN £80 Pizza Express voucher!' Tweet, including the Follow @MumsnetTowers and the hashtags #RTtowin and #mumsnetpizzaexpress.)

Holymoly321 · 03/05/2013 12:00
  • Haven't tried it yet but was in there last week so they hadn't rolled it out in Northampton branch yet. However, think it looks good.
  • Glad to see gluten freen stuff on the menu - would be interesting to try! Think the 'extra' costs should go - there should just be basic pizza and 'your choice of three toppings' kind of thing. I always hate trying to work out how much extra a certain type of pizza will be. Nice to see pasta being an option too.
  • Think the DC's would definitely love this menu. They already love going to PE as a treat, but they loved the old menu as well. If there was the option of different toppings, it may encourage them to try other things.

One thing I'd like to add is that you used to have much better kid's entertainment packs, with stickers etc, and now only have the colouring in/quiz type sheets. Could you bring back stickers and more fun?

Wigeon · 03/05/2013 12:05

~ Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?

Haven't tried it, although have been with the DDs to Pizza Express before and been really impressed with the previous menu (and little activities before the food arrived, and generally welcoming attitude of the staff).

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?

Looks good! My DDs would eat every single thing on that menu.

~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?

DD1 (4.11yrs) already gets a bit overwhelmed with choice in restaurants, and we often just suggest two options for her, so although she loves making pizza at home, joining in cooking etc, I think she would actually just prefer to choose something off the menu, rather than the stress of creating her own pizza. Also, she isn't at all fussy with food, so there's always something in a cafe / restaurant that she'll eat. But I like this idea in theory and maybe when she's a bit older she'll enjoy it. DD2 is only 23 months so she gets what she's given!

princesskerry · 03/05/2013 12:17

Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
--We are yet to try it, but the new menu looks better for my family then the original did.

If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
---There are more things that my two little boys would like on the menu, so hopefully I could get them to be a little more adventurous.

Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?
My little boys are 7 and 5, so of an age where they love helping at home whether its preparing food or putting the recyling in the recyling bin. Both boys enjoy pasta, given a choice I think they would like to choose a mixture of both, as they only eat very small portions anway. My 5 year old loves peppers and Ham, so this as an option would be heaven in his eyes. The Bambinoccino was a hit on a previous visit.

littleducks · 03/05/2013 12:28

~ Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?

No I don't think our local branch has updated yet, we were in last Saturday and it was the usual menu.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?

There seems to be more choice for pasta, but my children need a vegetarian pizza so are limited to the margeurita. On Saturday dd had olives added to her pizza we only got 4 olives which was disappointing for her. I would have rather paid more and had a few more.

~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?

This will probably rule me out of winning the vouchers but I cant see what has changed in the pizza department, you could always pay more and add an extra ingredient and I would have asked for something to be omitted as the pizza is cooked fresh. It just seems like more pasta options but we tend to go to pizza express for pizza.

Pollaidh · 03/05/2013 12:42

~Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
Haven't tried it yet. We often avoid Pizza Express because of the previous children's menu and because some places don't let you just have the piccolo main.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
Very disappointed that there still isn't a healthy pudding choice. We tend to go elsewhere where she can have a bowl of fresh fruit salad, which is what she prefers, (and we prefer).
Glad to see some veg in with the dough balls though.
As child is lactose intolerant we can't have many of the pasta sauces, and she doesn't like pizza, and the babycino is out too. There's no vegetarian option for lactose intolerant children that I can see (a tomato-based pasta sauce with veg, rather than meat would be welcome).
Good to see gluten-free, not an issue for us but I know it is for others.

~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?
Ours probably wouldn't care too much, but she's only 3.

fanoftheinvisibleman · 03/05/2013 12:58

I haven't tried it yet.

It looks good but pretty much what I would expect to see to be honest.

Ds would likely be very excited at the prospect of 'create your own' but would order his usual.

likesnowflakesinanocean · 03/05/2013 13:10

they would love the option of create your own and handy as one of the dc dont eat cheese - which ultimately makes the pizza i know but still. I like the idea that they can have a starter,and them make their own. I would like to see an offer on a starter and main, or a main and a pudding.

nicnak01 · 03/05/2013 13:16

Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
Not yet

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
My two children like pizza but not any kind of red sauce or mushrooms so was really hoping to see Macaroni Cheese which mine loveSad. Dough balls and the desserts will definitely be enjoyed

~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?
this is really a good idea, mine would just have it with ham, as they are simple eaters but like to have the choice

WowOoo · 03/05/2013 13:17

Haven't tried it yet.

It doesn't look particularly new to me, but a bit more choice is a good thing.

The create your own actually me off a bit. My eldest would spend ages deciding!

What makes me go back to a restaurant with my children is the attitude of the staff. We regularly go to a small, family run Italian place. The chef comes and talks to the dc and gives them the 'special'. It's small and cheap and they eat it because he describes the food and tells them where it came from.(Squid and squid ink pasta last time. I was in shock, but they ate it) They make a huge effort to be friendly and kind with kids there, unlike my last experience of Pizza Express.

FMJ1000 · 03/05/2013 13:24

~ Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?

I have not been yet since the new menu but as a regular PE customer for the last decade with my nieces and nephew, I know that we will be trying it very soon! I hope they are still able to guarantee allergy awareness as they have previously.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?

It is great that there are even more tasty choices. As children get older, they expand their taste and this gives them the opportunity to do so. The gluten free base is also great as unfortunately allergies like these are becoming more commonplace year on year.

~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?

Kids love being creative and this will really appeal to both boys and girls. It can also be replicated at home that should ensure a longer lasting love of certain and hopefully new foods they try.

Well done Pizza Express!

DinoSnores · 03/05/2013 13:25

Not seen this but will definitely try it. I hate that 'Kids Menus' are usually junk food rather than tasty mini adult meals, so I am impressed with this. 2.9yo DS would like it too! I think even he would like the Create Your Own element because we make pizzas together at home when I get a bunch of random stuff out of the fridge for us to put on them.

BlueberryHill · 03/05/2013 13:32
  • Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?

We haven't tried it out yet.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?

Looks good, like the increased options on desert on pasta (not sure about the melted butter option though). Like the gluten free brownie desert, but if all the mains have gluten in them (not a nutritionist so I may be wrong) not sure how much that helps.

~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?
Yes, for older children, but generally I just want to order asap to get something in front of them quickly.

BlueberryHill · 03/05/2013 13:33

Just seen the gluten free base option, fantastic idea.

trigirl · 03/05/2013 13:50

I've not seen the menu before, but it looks very good.

My kids would definitely like the 'create your own'. It's treating them more like all the grown ups in the restaurant who have choices like that.

I like the fact that there are different size pizzas too. Great idea. Well done, Pizza Express!

rootypig · 03/05/2013 13:51

I haven't tried it and I doubt we will! Though I like the concept of being able to change things to fit your kids' whims- tastes, the content of the menu is too samey and similar to menus everywhere, and there isn't enough fresh produce. I'd also be concerned that it's all quite salty? some reassurance on that front would be welcome.

OanaChi · 03/05/2013 13:55

My little one is a creature of habit. It's margherita pizza every single time! If we order the three course menu for her we usually end up eating the dough balls(I know, bad parents!) because she's grossed out by the fact that they touched the veggies. She also loved having chcolate ice-cream at the end, again, every single times so I would say this menu will not be a hit with small children.

AllBuggiedOut · 03/05/2013 14:00

~ Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?

We haven't tried it. The website and pdf versions seem to have different information on. I couldn't see what the additional pizza toppings were int eh pdf version, for example. I'd like these clearly set out for the kids to see. I can't see where you point out that the cheese isn't vegetarian on the web version.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?

Reminds me of a tourist menu because of the pictures.

~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'create your own' element of the menu? Will it make them feel more involved and interested in eating the food? What combinations would they choose?

They'd like choosing their own but I don't think it would make them more involved or interested. I think a choice of pasta shapes would be good too.