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.

[Lighthousekeeping]

~ 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 can't see much different from the previous one really. Apart from create your own pizza. Dough balls - again. We actually find them too stodgy and filling as a starter.


~ 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 they would. Although they would ask for pineapple ham and mushroom.

[OneoftheseBoxes]

Our little one is just 2, so we'd probably go for the 'order any main for £3.95 option' - which is a nice touch as a 2yr old really won't eat much and its galling to pay for a whole menu.

I hadn't seen the menu before, and haven't tried it yet, but initial reaction is that it seems varied, which is good. We'd like the 'create your own' element - we can't give too many choices at her age, but in general if she feels more involved then she's happier to eat, so that aspect will be good as she gets older.

I agree with the comment that the crucial thing is her food arriving ASAP so that there's not so much waiting (and if there are crayons in the meantime then so much the better!)

[LimburgseVlaai]

Haven't tried it yet, but looks very similar to what Pizza Express offered in the past, and very similar to the Ask children's menu.

At Ask, you get carrot sticks and cucumber (and a dip) with the garlic bread, which makes it a bit fresher and healthier. I'd also like to see a fresh fruit option for the dessert.

Having said that, it looks fine and we'd certainly try it. Just a bit meh.

[Spirael]

~ 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 the new menu... This is the first I've heard of it!

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

Looks good, much better than kids menus at some places. Especially like what appears to be a lower price for really little kids - DD is nearly 3 and will want her own meal with multiple courses, but probably not manage most of it. So tiny portions of each course is great!

I'd like to see another couple of starter options. DD would eat the dough balls... But would probably prefer options of antipasti, with olives, mozzarella, meats, etc.

Also very happy to see lots of gluten free options, means we can take a family friend with us. However would it not be better to describe the brownies just as brownies and have the gluten free element clearly in the description?

I assume they're available for any customer, not just those with gluten free requirements. However I'd still feel a bit like I was doing something wrong if I ordered Gluten Free Brownies for gluten tolerent DD, rather than just Chocolate Brownies that happen to be gluten free!

~ 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?

For DD, it'd probably be a bit too confusing for her. But given that she can't read, I can just safely ask her which she would like of a couple of options I select based on knowledge of her eating habits.

As she gets older, I'm sure she'll like being able to make choices to have exactly what she likes.

[ProfYaffle]

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

Tbh took me ages to realise what was new about it. Create your own toppings on pizza is a bog standard feature of a pizza 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?

Not for my dd's, they both like plain margherita pizzas and would prefer the spag bol anyway!

And Alex James? Really?

[Spirael]

Ooh... I get it now for the tiny kids option; it's just for the main. Thanks OneoftheseBoxes!

Hmm, it probably wouldn't work for us then. DD would not sit patiently while DH and I ate our starters - she'd either steal our food or wail the place down in hunger as we ate without her.

A micro-portion of each course for toddlers would be much better!

[CheeseStrawWars]

~ 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?

I was excited to hear there was a new menu, then disappointed when I looked. The "Create your Own" is "add stuff for an extra charge" not a real "create your own" experience. We always ask for mushrooms to be removed from DD's pizzas as she won't eat them, so this really isn't new. It could have been so much more!

The pasta seems uninspiring. The Napoletana seems light on protein. There's no sausage pasta option, which I thought there used to be? A salad option for the starter would be good, rather than "bread + bread" which is what "dough balls + pizza" is going to be. No salad offered with the pasta or pizza, it's all rather stodgy. Likewise a fruit salad option for pudding would be desirable. Or sorbet? I don't feel it's offering balanced choices.

~ 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?

See above. As it's currently presented, I don't think it engages with them beyond what's already offered. It doesn't offer anything to pry them away from Pizza Hut, with their "build your own salad" and create your own pizza. I much prefer Pizza Express, so please keep working at it!

[MyNameIsInigoMontoya]

We haven't tried it so far, but the new menu looks good and I think the DCs would like being able to change theirs. Their favourite is La Reine (ham, olives & mushrooms), but they don't like mushrooms so would like to be able to cancel those!

I saw recently though that the Piccolo menu is no longer available with Tesco vouchers, that was a disappointment to us and has meant we are less likely to come, or more likely to get an adult pizza for the DCs to share (which we can get with the vouchers) instead of getting them the menu. So I would like to ask them to please change this back!

[notso]

~ 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 doesn't seem vastly different to the old one.

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

Not much different to the old one. Would have liked another starter, dough balls and pizza is a bit 'doughy'. Wonder if the side salad is an actual side salad rather than a stick of cucumber, a tomato and a shaving of carrot.
Pleased to see different pasta sauces but would like more specifics on the pasta, two out of my 4 DC don't like that weird curly,tubey pasta that used to be served, a choice would be good.
Good to see different puddings, shame a drink is still not included. Pizza Express seem to fail on children's drinks. They should be smaller, cheaper and served in glasses children don't have to stand on chairs to drink from.
I'd also really like to see a menu for older children, with larger portion sizes.

~ 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 thought this was offered anyway. Would be nice to see more choices for the toppings rather than just the toppings that are on the pizza on the menu. DD likes goats cheese and pepperoni, DS1 likes peppers and ham, DS2 like cheese and tomato and DS3 eats anything!

[notso]

I saw recently though that the Piccolo menu is no longer available with Tesco vouchers,

That's us out then!

[Merrylegs]

Hadn't seen the new menu. Looks not dissimilar from old but like the inclusion of the garlic butter pasta - nice and plain, but with a touch of flavour for not v adventurous veggie DD.

Our local Pizza Express has always been gluten free tolerant though - you can just bring in your own GF pizza base and they will cook it for you - good for including the GF child but it's nice to see you can now order 'instore'.

Good to see babychino still on menu - is DD's favourite but for some reason they ALWAYS forget to bring it out at my local PE. So glad to see it is def included here and will perhaps jog waiter's memory.

[Blatherskite]

~ 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 although we do go to Pizza Express regularly as it is always the one the children request to visit if we give them the option.

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

It's nice that the 'create your own' element is now official but I would always have asked for extra/less toppings in the past anyway. I like the fact that there are now more pasta options and DD will definitely appreciate the chocolate brownie dessert. DS always pinches my raspberry sorbet if I have it too so it's nice that he can have his own now.

~ 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?

As above, I have always asked for topping changes if necessary anyway. DS has been to and had his own Pizza Express birthday party in the past so has had a go at creating his own pizza when eating there and sometimes asks for changes. He likes ham, mushrooms and peppers on his pizza normally. I think it does help them try new foods sometimes.

One question - the bambinochino has always been part of the menu as far as I know but unless I ask specifically, we never seem to get them. The children always choose the picollo menu as they love the dough balls and generally want a dessert too but at the two main restaurants we visit, the bambinochinos seem to always be forgotten at the end of the meal. Shouldn't they be brought along with the desserts?

[Chopchopbusybusy]

~ Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
No

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
Looks good. My DDs are too old for children's menus now but they were both very fussy vegetarians, so they would have liked margarita pizzas and really loved the burro pasta.

~ 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?
Mine wouldn't as they were very fussy children.

My main reason for wanting to comment on this thread was to say yaay! for introducing gluten free pizzas and brownies. My DDs and I do go to your restaurants but only when coeliac DH is not there - now we'll all be able to go. It makes a huge difference to eating out as a family when he can just order something from the menu without having to ask specially and then worry in case they get it wrong.

[VillaVillekulla]

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.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
I like the fact there are veggie options. I also like the fact that there's a plain option (Margherita/Burro). I think there didn't used to be a plain butter option for pasta and that's annoyingly because I can make it at home for a fraction of the cost what DD always wants when we eat in a restaurant.

~ 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 like the idea but I'm not sure how much my DD would get out of this as she's such a creature of habit and always goes for the boring simple option of Margherita or plain buttered pasta with parmesan.

[dahville]

I haven't tried the menu before.

My reaction is that though basic it has more than enough choices for little ones; I'm sure we could order something our guy would eat.

The create your own element probably isn't that useful at the moment as my LO is too young but he'll grow into it.

[HaDeHaDeHa]

~ 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 this yet, clearly haven't taken the family to Pizza Express since it came out.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu? I like the look of it. It doesn't look massively different to me but it has some good additions eg the guten free base. The option to create your own is obviously good to add to the menu but I have found PEs are quite happy to give you whatever toppings your child wants and I haven't been restricted to the advertised pizzas only in the past.

~ 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 kids would choose ham and ham and mushrooms. I'm not sure the addition of this section to the menu will make a huge amount of difference to making my children feel involved however I do agree that making the children involved canhave a positive impact on their interest in eating the food. Eg they love to have the opportunity to watch any pizza but particularly their own pizzas being made.

[NoKandoo]

What??? No Tesco vouchers for Piccolo menu? In that case, my DC will be sharing an adult margherita in future. Bah.

[LittleAbruzzenBear]

I wasn't aware of the Piccolo menu before seeing this. In fact I haven't been to Pizza Express for a while because DS1 (4YO) is a fussy eater at times. Having now read the menu, I am thinking about a family lunch at our nearest Pizza Express because the pasta in particular would appeal to him (being able to pick his own sauce). I think DS1 may even be tempted by a pizza because of the ability to choose the toppings! I think he would choose a tomato-based pizza/sauce for his pasta. He doesn't like mushrooms though unlike me!.

[bulletwithbutterflywings]

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

No, we haven't tried it yet.

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

It looks good, DS would eat a couple of things on there - Pasta with Pesto might be a good addition as most kids I know really like it.

~ 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 think most children would like being able to choose their own toppings, my DS would just go for ham, ham and more ham!

[clux73]

Hello
I was hoping for something a bit more exciting and new to be honest. This menu isn't significantly different to the existing one. A new pasta choice and a chance to make your own pizza - but I thought you could do this anyway?

My main gripe with the piccolo menu is that you have to pay extra for a drink. I think the drink should be included in the price. The drinks you have to get are huge - but in fairness to pizza express they are always good about putting the drink into two cups for my children to share.

[Florin]

~ Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
No but might give it ago at the weekend.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
It looks good however have you thought about doing a baby toddler meal of just a small main course. Zizzi's do this which means we eat there a lot as it means our 10 month old eats for £3 instead of having to pay out for your menu which costs us over double.

~ 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?
He is too small to decide on his own but he will always want the meat pasta option.

[muddledsheep]

Have I tried the new menu? No not yet but will do
Initial reactions? Looks great, love the options for pasta rather than pizza.
Will my kids enjoy the create your own options? Yes definitely. DS loves to choose his own food and would certainly choose his own pizza. Older DS's still enjoy the choice although are pretty predictable! Not sure if that would make them feel more involved but it's pizza, always makes them happy!

[Haberdashery]

~ 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?

It looks remarkably similar to the old one! We've always ordered pizzas with different toppings and nobody's ever told us we couldn't (DD usually goes for either ham or anchovies and sometimes peppers or olives). I wish you offered pesto on pasta, preferably fresh not from a jar. I'm really sad you've got rid of the doughballs with Nutella. That was a stroke of genius. Mushroom pasta sounds ambitious for my fussy eater, but it does sound nice.

I like that you are giving steamed milk at the end of the meal.

~ 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 genuinely don't think my daughter will notice any difference to the usual menu. She's always chosen her own pizza toppings.

While you are here, can I just say that the last few times I've been into Pizza Express, the children's side salad has been v v tired and old-looking. I know lots of children don't necessarily eat all of it but horrible dried up old cucumber and pepper isn't at all appetising even for someone who likes those things.. Also, why not include carrot sticks or slices of apple or something that most children like? Tomatoes and peppers are lovely (if fresh) but so many children are fussy about them. Agree with others that another veg or fruit option would be a good idea.

[UniS]

New menu looks good, food my son would eat at a price I'd be willing to pay.

The chose your own element would not be very important to us as my sons favourite combination is one of your standard pizzas on that menu.

He would chose an american , followed by ice cream. The other pudding options are things he doesn't like - to chocolatey.
he would not want the frothy milk .

[prakattack]

I haven't tried the new menu yet but it looks good. A bit more choice than on the previous version, but I still think you could have included a couple of more adventurous items.
My two would both like choosing toppings - they do at home.
I'd prefer to see a fruit-based dessert - fruit skewers like someone mentioned upthread with dipping sauce, or fruit salad and icecream.
Also, the Bambinoccino is wasted on my two as they don't drink hot milk (nor do I - yuk!) so it would be lovely to see another drink included in the menu price.