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.

[culturemulcher]

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, but we eat at PE fairly regularly - probably even more frequently soon now that a new one has just opened up in our town .

If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
Looks better - more like Carluccio's children's menu.
Also, if you can order any of the children's mains for £3.95, could you also add a price for just desert? I'd like to be able to take the DC for an ice-cream sundae after school sometimes as a special treat.

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 pricing seems a bit off. I'd want to know EXACTLY how much each additional item is before letting my DC loose on designing their own! They'd probably choose Pepperoni and olives.

[Lighthousekeeping]

You can't use Tesco Vouchers fr the childrens menu anymore? well, that's us never going back.

[MegBusset]

~ Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
No, haven't tried it.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
It looks very similar to the old one tbh. Nice to have the choice of additional toppings and GF base. I hope the ice cream is still egg-free as DS1 is allergic.

~ 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?
DS1 will only eat "plain" pizza so it's a non issue with him! DS2 will eat anything and would probably choose something random like ham, pepperoni and sweetcorn!

I also think a cold drink should be included in the price.

[MirandaWest]

Looks pretty much the same as before although more pasta choices. Would be lovely if side salad was that rather than a bit of cucumber and tomato. I agree that the portions are pretty small - DC are 9 and 7 and just about ok with piccolo menu but will need proper sizes soon I think.


Looking at the menu it is confusing whether you have to pay for the extra items or not - higher up it says "take out any ingredient or add a little extra on us" which suggests no charge whereas lower down it says "for a small extra charge". I also think including a drink would be a nice thing to do - are there any drinks for children at a cheaper price than adult ones?

[Elkieb]

I haven't tried the new piccolo menu but I like the extra variety. We regularly eat at pizza express as a family and like the quality of the food and the family friendly policies. As my son becomes older the new menu will encourage decision making and the option to try new flavour combinations.

[mrscog]

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

No not yet, but it looks fun. DS is a little young for it at the moment, but I can imagine it would be very appealing to choldren.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
I'm quite impressed, a nice choice with some 'normal adult' flavours on it - I don't like restricting children to 'children's flavours.

~ 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?
DS is only 14 months, but it's certainly the kind of thing I'd try and promote to him when he's older in order to try new flavours etc. I have no idea what he'd choose, although strangely he doesn't like ham which is unusual for a child!

[YoniFoolsAndHorses]

~ Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
Not since it's been listed as such on the menu, but they often ask for different toppings and it's never been a problem for the kitchen.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
Just what has always happened ime. But nice to have it there!

~ 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?
Probably not really add much - but we will suggest it as an option next time we go to Pizza Express.

[Beechview]

We haven't tried it yet but there's nothing new there for my kids.

They've always created their own pizza and go for dough balls and pizza with mushrooms and olives. Ds2 can't tolerate much cows milk and they've always put a bit of goats cheese on his pizza instead. We love Pizza Express :)

Its good to see the dairy free sorbet.

It is a nice and varied menu but, like other posters, I'd like to see nice side salads available for kids and a fruit option for dessert.

[JedwardScissorhands]

Haven't tried it.

Looks good; agree that a more mix and match menu would be good for kids e.g. half pizza half pasta. Is quite expensive for very little children who may or may not eat it. For that reason, I just get mine dough halls to share, then give them some of our pizza.

Mine like creating their own if it involves actually sprinkling cheese on. Just picking from the menu? Wouldn't excite mine.

[awkwardsis]

We've tried it, completely unawares. I did think there was more choice but was massively distracted by a throw-happy toddler to take much notice. We really liked it.
My dc are generally unfussy but its good that its now advertised you can take stuff out if you want to. Like others I thought this had been the case for a while though. I will say, taking my dc to pizza express is by far my preferred thing to do if we're out. They never seem to take too long to bring the food and never mind the one year old dropping the olives. My others are 4 and 8 and I think it's nice for them to have something a but more grown up than a happy meal. Please please do always make sure you have enough crayons though, they're always disappointed if they've run out.

[gazzalw]

Haven't tried it yet (we tend to go to Pizza Express twice a year or so) but will do with the children. Glad to see it's no longer possible to have a dough ball starter and pudding (with chocolate sauce)- DS was always guilty of having both and how stodgy was that???!! Not to be encouraged .

Yes, fruit option for pudding would be good - frankly three carbo-laden courses is too much for adults let alone children. Surely we should be encouraging good fruit/veggie habits from childhood?

[VenetiaLanyon]

Reminds me of the menu that they had before, so can't see any changes in particular.


It's a shame that there are no choices around ice-cream flavours.

Can't tell what sort of pasta is served with the sauces; do you get a choice?

Don't see that there's much more of a choice than there is on any other kids' menu.

[BornToFolk]

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

No, haven't seen it or tried it before.

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

I'm actually really disappointed. DS (5) is veggie. Apart from mushrooms, he'll eat anything and enjoys trying new things but yet again he's presented with a choice of Margherita pizza or tomato pasta. Or pasta with garlic butter - joy.

~ 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, no. How is it "create your own"? There's a really limited selection of ingredients to add to a pizza and it doesn't specify how much you pay. DS might choose to add olives to his pizza but I'd want to know how much I was going to pay for them first!

And I totally agree with what a previous poster said about the "side salad". One dried up slice of cucumber and a few sticks of pepper does not make a side salad! DS will happily eat salad too - a good big bowl of mixed leaves, tomatoes, etc would go down a treat.

TBH, I'll probably still carry on going to Pizza Express as there's a good range of pizzas for adult veggies (ie. me!) and I know DS likes the food. I just wish they'd be a bit more adventurous and not assume that all children are fussy! I think Carluccios strikes the balance well as it does offer plain pasta or tomato pasta but also does more interesting things. I'd love to see Pizza Express offering child size versions of at least some of the normal pizzas.

[neolara]

Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
No. If we had seen it, I'm pretty sure my dcs would have gone for the margerita option. They are creatures of habit.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
We often go to Pizza Express during holidays / half term because my dcs like the 3 course menu. Adding the option to make your own pizza doesn't make it more or less appealing.

~ 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'm pretty sure they wouldn't go for it. As they get older they may be tempted to try something new. (At least I hope they will....)

[givemeaclue]

Alex James grinning face is a put off!

[mintyneb]

I havent tried the menu yet but it doesnt seem too different to before.

My 6 year old would want the combination of toppings she currently has, I'm not sure if we would have to pay extra under the new menu.

I like the fact that gluten free diets are being catered for but there are other serious allergies and intolerances out there and I'm disappointed to see that the only dairy free dessert is still the raspberry sorbet. To most children this isn't really a match for all the chocolate and icecream desserts that their friends can tuck into.

On the basis that we would probably only want to order a main course for her sometimes (as there's no dessert she can eat without falling ill - apart from the sorbet which she doesn't like), would a 6 year old qualify as being a 'really little one' so we would only have to pay the 3.95?

[SoupDragon]

In the description for the sundae, the stray H in the word Choose irritates me immensely. More than it should.

Love that there are gluten free options but it seems that the vast majority of items contain dairy.

I don't think the "create your own" aspect would engage them any more than a standard menu. We have never been afraid to ask for an ingredient to be removed/added. It seems you can only 'create your own" pizza anyway - no mix-and-match with the pasta and sauces, although it doesn't say what shape the pasta is for each dish. Pasta shape can be important depending on the age of the child.

[NeatFreak]

I haven't tried it yet
Initial reaction is that it isn't very vast, though I suppose the options of pizza or pasta should cover most children. Would like to see some healthier desserts though.
My dc wouldn't be too bothered about creating their own as they know what they like and stick to it but I can see its value for other children. My dc tend to choose margherita or ham/ pineapple every time!

[DifferentNow]

~ 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.

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

It's quite appealing although I'd like to see more choice. I generally find the Pizza Express menu quite uninspiring and would like to see more non bread based starters on the menu. I like that the price includes starter, salad, main, dessert and drink and I think the cost represents quite good value for money.

~ 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 that most children enjoy getting involved in prepping their own food. Mine would probably choose quite basic combos.

[shelley72]

We haven't tried the new menu yet but it doesn't look that different from the previous menu to me?

DD is dairy intolerant and so we have struggled with pizza express in the past, having a limited amount of things on the childrens menu that she could choose from - though they have always been accommodating with us, giving fresh fruit for dessert for example.

Would like to see more of a choice for starters - maybe a salad, bread with oil and vinegar, or antipasti. Also I would prefer a wider choice of pasta sauces - eg just plain pesto as the children love pesto pasta. The choose your own pizza would be a help for us as a family though, if they could choose anything eg goats cheese. Its really good to see sorbet on the dessert menu, as her big brother usually has ice cream its nice she can have an alternative. A drink included would be nice to see, especially as we wouldnt be using the steamed milk at the end.

Haven't been to Pizza Express for a while but may be tempted to try it again if DD can be catered for.

[jennybeadle]

~ 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 (our nearest is 40 miles away) - likely to be there next week though.

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

I like that you've kept the side salad and dough balls, and really like that the rest of the menu is expanded.


~ 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, I do like it. The older ones have moved on to the adult menu because they like a bit more variety, but can't eat it all, this will help. DD1 will probably go for an American, DD2 a La Reine, and then rotate additional extras just for fun. DD3 will always, always go for a Margherita, with nothing added, ever.

[BerthaTheBogCleaner]

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

Wot no garlic bread?

"we've found a gluten-free pizza base" sounds like you found it on the floor by accident - great it's offered but perhaps phrase that differently

Choosing pizza toppings sounds good - although they'll just want cheese, tomato and ham. Actually, how is it different from the thing we usually do - "can we have that pizza but without the mushrooms and with ham instead please" - that thing?

No option to have pasta with tomato sauce (the Napoletana is contaminated with evil onions and life-threatening green bits)

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?
Well they'll like it because it means they can have what they want, but it isn't going to make them "feel involved" really, they're just ordering food, not cooking it

Please can we have carbohydrate information on the nutrition page, my son has Type 1 diabetes and we need to know this to calculate his insulin dose. It would be nice not to guess.

If you really believed in treating kids like mini adults, you'd offer half-portions of everything on the adult menu, rather than a children's menu. Still, children aren't just short adults, they often have different tastes.

[cornflakegirl]

It looks pretty similar to the previous menu. My older DS generally chooses an adult pizza rather than the children's menu, and the younger one has a margherita, so not much change for us.

Much more impacted by the withdrawal of Tesco vouchers - probably wouldn't get a separate meal for the younger one in that case.

[missorinoco]

I haven't seen or tried out the menu yet, but I liked the look of it. t has the options I like, with a few more choices for then they get older and maybe slightly more adventurous.

My children would like the idea of "create your own," but probably wouldn't eat any of those items as they are fairly unsophisticated so far. Now if there was sweetcorn on there...........

[CecyHall]

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

no, we have not tried the menu yet

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

on the first look I struggled to see what was so different. It looked the same as it has for years. Looking closer I could see the option to change the pizza a bit, but I expected something a bit more radical to be honest

~ 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?

no, my son likes ham and cheese and the extra choices would not appeal to him, I get what Pizza Express are saying with treating children like mini adults but I think I'd just as rather have an option to have any of the adult pizzas put on a smaller child's base.