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

[AnnMumsnet]

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.

Menu is ok, but a little safe. I don't get why the create your own is supposed to be different- I have always assumed we could add our own toppings and have encouraged my children to do the same.

I'm always disappointed when restaurants assume children don't want veggies. Mine would be thrilled to see sweetcorn. brocolli or peppers on a pizza. They's also love to have fruit salad or a banana slip for pudding. I have three children and none of them like chocolate cake!

Not tried it

Confused over pricing.
How young is a really little one?

No dairy-free pud. Bah.

Have you tried new menu?
No, I wasn't aware of it.

Initial thoughts?
Bit disappointed really. I don't see that much 'create your own' except the pizzas which is pretty standard.

Do I think children will enjoy?
My DS loves pasta so it's nice to have lots of pasta choices but this doesn't seem to fall under 'create your own' as I presume sauces are already made.
It's good to see a dedicated children's menu with choices but I feel the idea could have been developed further.

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

I haven't had the chance to try it yet, but we often convert tesco vouchers so may go soon.

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

Lots of choice - especially for those kids with food intolerances or allergies. I would be happy with my kids choosing from this 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?

They would love the 'create your own' - great idea.
Combinations would vary from week to week - hard to guess now, their tastes seem to be changing.

~ Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
No, not tried it yet - have not been to Pizza Express for about 2 years as just too expensive to take a family of four.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
The menu itself looks good to be honest. I think the dc would enjoy the options available.
Drinks are expensive - if they are not included in your children's menu price I would be tempted to bring their own, or just have water. It would not cost you that much to offer squash or milk inclusive.

~ 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?
Well, if we are going out for pizza, we would generally go to Pizza Hut and take advantage of the Kids Eat Free promotions. We also go there as the children love selecting their own salad. If you were to put salad on a plate for my ds he would generally turn his nose up, but give him the opportunity to add sweetcorn, tomatoes and other salad bits he likes, to his own bowl and he eats a good, healthy portion.

In relation to the 'create your own' Pizza - as a parent on a limited budget, I would want to know how much 'a small extra charge' actually was. Would it really effect your profit margin that much to offer a choice of three toppings included in the price?

~ 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

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
It looks good - much greater variety than you often see elsewhere

~ 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?
The 'create your own' is a nice idea - I think the kids would like this, and yes, would feel more involved. Mine are pretty straightforward cheese, cheese and more cheese types though! I would like to see prices for different/additional toppings specified though.

Sorry, meant also to say that I would've liked to see more choice of starters - my kids LOVE garlic bread, for instance.

~ 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 yet, but it looks fairly similar to the old menu? Found the layout slightly confusing - mixing info across columns and rows (maybe that's just me...).

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

Yes, there are options here both mine would like (never known them choose anything other than ice cream for pudding though!).

~ 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?

Nice for them to have some control, but would suggest you avoid over-hyping this. Feels a bit over spun. They're pretty keen on eating pizza and ice cream to start with so don't think extensive efforts are needed to '[make then] interested in eating the food'.

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?

I have to say I wouldn't have noticed the difference aside from the gluten free option which is great. We've always been able to ask if we have needed to alter pizza toppings etc anyway.

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 will carry on having the exact same selection each time we go I think. That's why we love pizza express for a treat, both children will eat everything! ds1 disappointed that your fresh orange has bits though. Any chance of a smooth option?!

The thing that baffles me at Pizza express is that you go to such lengths with the menu, colouring in, plastic beakers etc... But still give children walloping great knives and forks. What's that all about?

The menu looks great a lot of healthy choices and good to see they have gluten free meals for those with allergies.The "create your own" is also good as some children do not like everything on a set menuu

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?

I like the fact that there are more choices and that you can 'upsize' as the portions were definitely too small for my pre-teens. On the down side they both loved starting and finishing their meal with dough balls - (weird I know, what can I say?) so they'll miss that.

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?

The older they get the more they like a choice, olives are popular but DD always bemoans the lack of pineapple (yes, I know it's inauthentic.)

We went to a London branch yesterday - I hadn't been for years, because I'm gluten intolerant, but was actually tempted in by the advertising!

I had a gluten free pizza. Was very good, thank you.

Children (boys aged 9 and 6) really enjoyed the menu. I was always disappointed by the lack of decent children's menu, so was pleased they've given it some thought. They both had dough balls, pizzas and puddings - think the portions were too small for my hungry 9 year old, so he'll probably go off the adult menu next time, but the 6 year old is still talking about it today.

The adult puddings were good too. love the smaller portions with coffee. We actually left saying what a good menu it was. Think they've nailed it.

Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
Tried it today. DD really liked it. It's the first time she's finished an entire meal out which made her very happy. Her pizza was just the right size and she was very excited by her dessert plus 'coffee'. (and the Adults were very impressed with the mini-dessert plus coffee option. We wouldn't normally chose to have a dessert because we are not hungry enough after a good main course but the mini-options were perfect).

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
It was nice to see the range of choice for the children and that it looked relatively healthy and like 'real food' rather than beige kids food.

~ 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?
DD knows what she wants and was straight to her fave options when she saw the menu. I don't think kids want to be creative when they eat out but they do want the choice to be able to chose things which they already know they like.

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

Nope

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

Like the variety. Lots of choice but I thought from the mn blurb that the children would actually be able to physically make their pizza rather than just choose toppings etc. Got very excited about how much DD would love to make it for herself (and wondering from a H&S view how that would work with germy children touching all the ingredients) but now I see it's just choosing bits. Feel a bit disappointed now! Love the gluten free stuff as I'm gluten free, so I'm wondering whether to visit myself with my family purely because of this but can't help but be nervous about whether the cooking methods etc are completely safe having had alot of gluten free mistakes in the past eating out and unpleasant stomach pains

~ 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?

Erm, don't all pizza places let you choose your on toppings anyway?

I would like to know if the pasta is still done as individual dishes that are put in the oven (resulting in crunchy burnt pasta on the top). Or does the new menu actually involve throwing some pasta in boiling water?

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

Not tried it yet.

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

TBH it looks very similar to the previous menu. Our local Pizza express, where we are regulars, are so accommodating with the piccolo menu anyway - they often let the kids add extras or have a slightly different topping on their ice cream.

~ 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 - this is particularly good as they get older. My DC had margaritas for years then started adding chicken, olives etc, so these are of interest.

Likely to ask for chicken, olives and pepperoni (DS 1) and extra chicken (DS 2.)

Just want to add, I'm delighted about the gluten free menu as F-I-L is gluten free and is so sick of having little choice in restaurants. He would love to come for a pizza, brownie and a beer. Will take him next time he visits.

We went to pizza express at the weekend with DD1 (5) and DD3 (1) and all really enjoyed it. I am coeliac so it has been a while since I've been to pizza express but now you have a GF pizza bases we will be much more likely to go.

I liked the menu options, it worked really well for us as DD1 had 3 courses - dough balls with garlic butter and salad, pizza with ham and salami, and then the brownie and babycino. DD2 had the pasta with bechamel sauce and mushrooms and shared the starter with DD1. I though the food was really good quality, fair value for money and DD1 loved going to watch the chef doing the pizzas in the open kitchen. DH and I also really loved our food.

Criticisms were mainly just on the service, there was only one chef and we had to wait ages for each course which is not good with hungry tired children. We ended up taking the brownie to go as we got fed up waiting.

The other thing is that drinks aren't included on the children's menu. It would cost hardly anything to at least offer two different sorts of squash to be included in the menu, and then if people want anything different they can order it. Most children's menus include a drink.

The creeate your own thing wasn't really anything new,I didn't think. And it was unclear if you had to pay extra for additional toppings.

Haven't tried this yet but it does look like a really yummy selection of foods for children. DD loves to copy us and be all grown up so she would feel very sophisticated with her starter, main course etc. Wide variety of foods available, looks great

Haven't tried it yet, no.
It looks great, nice variety, and at £6.50 I think its great value, actually. The option of so,e kind of fruit salad or similar for dessert wold be great though. Young children don't always want ice cream or cake, especially after a big meal!

I think my daughter would really love being able to choose exactly what she wants

I'm thrilled to see gluten free options considered, it wold be even better to add dairy free more too as increasing numbers of children are intolerant to dairy products.

Really disappointed to see that the sorbet has been removed from the desert section. DS has a dairy allergy and pizza express is one of the few restaurants that can cater for him.

No not tried it yet

The new menu looks good, they've gone down a similar route to bella Italia and strada. My girls love being able to choose their pizza toppings. I like that they've not removed the toffee sundae from the menu. So many children's desserts include chocolate which dd2 is allergic too.

I think we may try pizza express again but my only complaint is that the service is very slow.

I love that there are more vegetarian options on the menu and that pizzas can be on a gluten free base. I think the new menu is a massive improvement and has increased the frequency of our trips to pizza express. It is nice to know I can go there with my kids and they will have a choice of things they will eat.

We have tried it, kids loved it.

I'm not sure about create your own pizza for mine but I wonder if they are still a bit young for that. It sounds good for older children.

Oh, will second that service in pizza express is TOO SLOW

we used it this weekend. I was impressed and told a friend who has coeliac dd. sorbet is still on menu which was good for my dairy allergic ds as most kids menus only have cake and ice cream. we have pizza without cheese or spag bol but more dairy free pasta with a protein would be good as would a fruit option for pudding as currently no healthy options....sorbet isn't healthy despite what I might try to tell myself as it is yummy. we always find pizza express happy to help us catering for ds allergies but agree service can be slow which isn't good for hungry children. all in all we like new menu and when children are older they might enjoy choosing pizza. agree with previous poster at first glance it looked like this might cost extra

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

Not tried it yet.

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

It seems good. Not sure what has changed from previous menu but it seems on par to other chains.

~ 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 think this will make a difference to Dd as she always has margarita anyway.