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.

[riskit4abiskit]

~ 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, we didn't know it existed.

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

we like that it treats children sensibly, without patronising. perhaps it could be targeted as 'lighter bites' rather than directly at children, as some people can only eat child sized portions - e.g. heavily pregnant, older people, people with gastric bands etc.

• there should be a choice of juice OR frothed milk with the meal.
  
• chocolate fudge cake is a bit 'samey' to everywhere else - what about chocolate mousse with strawberries, or raspberries?
  

• its good that there are lots of veggie options.
  

~ 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 kids are interested enough at a small age to really be bothered to create your own - if they have a preference its usually fixated on ONE ingredient. I think parents would steer kids away from the hassle of create your own.
  

what kids actually want is to try what's on everyone else's plate! so a better idea would be to sell pizza by the slice on the adult menu, or a pizza that is 4 different quarters, so that the whole family can have a sort of buffet style experience, like they can at a pizza hut lunch.

I really like the food at pizza express, as i like thin bases,although we cant often afford it!

[Growlithe]

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

No, not yet.


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

I like the wider choice, although my two go for a margherita and a pepperoni every time!
I fear trouble ahead as the doughballs with nutella were a real favourite with both of them, and they aren't there anymore.

~ 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 like this kind of thing more when the pizza is brought to the table before cooking with tubs of topping for them to actually make up themselves. This really encourages them to be more adventurous. Otherwise, it's just another menu to them unfortunately.

[2gorgeousboys]

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

Been to PE lots but not since the new menu has been in place.

If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
Really impressed with the gluten free choices (both for children and for adults as well). My niece really struggles going out to eat as she can not eat wheat, egg or diary so it would be even better if goats cheese could be offered as a pizza topping choice - she would then be able to 'create her own' pizza just like everyone else. At 9 yo she finds being 'different' difficult to handle.

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 boys would love the create your own element of the menu - DS1 would choose meat so probably ham, chicken and pepperoni. DS2 probably chicken and peppers.

[ImNotCute]

The new menu looks good, we've not tried it yet but have had the old menu several times. This doesn't look like it's hugely different but there are some good additions.

With the create your own thing- we have one v fussy eater who will probably have exactly the same as she's always had, but hopefully her little brother might have a go when he's older.

I agree with those who have suggested something fruity for dessert would be nice for variety.

[readysteady]

Not used the new menu yet but very keen to do so, we love pizza express food and the menu would suit my picky eaters no problem! Great vegetarian and dietary choices too! Brilliant! Mine would love the create your own toppings, To be honest my local always does this anyway for the kids no extra charge for a sprinkle of peppers and sweet corn so seems a bit mean to charge for this, why not just make it your choice of up to 3 toppings?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

My children are too old for kids' meals but Pizza Express used to have decent ones when they were smaller. They loved the dough balls and iirc they used to get little pots of salad too, which was great.

I like the idea of the 'create your own' meal and my children would have really enjoyed that, but I think it's mean to add an extra charge for it. DD1 would have wanted lots of rocket and olives, and dd2 would have wanted a meat-fest!

Unfortunately, I hate the sauce on Pizza Express pizzas, so we don't go very much. :(

[Hulababy]

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


No not tried this new one but DD has had the old one a few times. We have always liked the children's menu at PE. I like that they get the 3 courses and a drink, just like a proper menu, and I like that is is all pretty much similar to the adult menu too and not just another nuggets and chips option.

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

Looks good. Good range of pasta and pizza and can mix and match ingredients for the pizza.

~ 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, esp for the more fussy eaters.

[StainlessSteelCat]

~ 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

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
I like the look of it. Make your own pizza would appeal to my kids. I like the idea of just a small pizza as well - youngest is 20 months and a full child's menu woudl be too much for him.

~ 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?
Definitely. Eldest is always requesting alterations to pizzas! He'd probably have American with ham just to be different, middle child would go for something plain - have no idea what, her idea of what is edible changes hourly at the moment. Youngest gets what I choose for him - at least until he can talk . Generally have no problems with them eating at all. Quite the opposite.

[piprabbit]

Haven't tried it yet, but my first impression is that it is very boring and very similar to every available kids menu in every other pizza place. I did get momentarily excited when I saw the 'add your own twist' bit, but even the extra ingredients were on the very conventional side with no chances for a child to really push the boat out and try something exciting. DD would love to be able to add olives, so she would be very happy.
I'm glad to see PE is doing more gluten-free food, but the piccolo menu makes it look like the only GF option is the chocolate brownie - is it possible to order kids pizza/pasta choices GF?

I'm not convinced the menu is inspiring enough to make me risk another meal at PE. I want to like it, I used to go regularly with work friends, but the service is too diabolically slow (even in an empty restaurant) for it to be an easy, relaxing option.

[Pandemoniumwearspurpleshoes]

I like the new menu, and like the fact that there's a main course only option, this will be perfect for ds at 16 months.

He's not at a stage when he can create his own pizza, but I think this is a good idea.

Last time we went to pizza express he polished off plenty of my pizza, so I'm looking forward to him having his own!

[AbuseHamzaMousseCake]

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

Haven't tried the new one as haven't been to Pizza Express for a while.

If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
Doesn't look that different to old one tbh
Would prefer if they did child portions of their adult menu as well as my kids like the mozzarella and tomato salad and garlic bread starters (and eat whole adult portion now!) and want to try the adult pasta and pizzas now. Good for toddlers 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?
They create their own anyway - we usually ask for half with x toppings and other half plain margherita and slice up to share between them.
One likes plain but like to try whatever we are having! As to being interested - we go to Pizza Express because they like it and will eat the food so no persuasion needed.

I like the fixed price for set no of courses though as then there are no surprises when it comes to pay.

[MyThumbsHaveGoneWeird]

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

Not tried

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

Like the salad. Good idea to be able to just order a main as DS doesn't eat much. Could you offer the salad with the main if just that is ordered? Otherwise all the options are a bit stodgy. Fruit for pudding would be good.
~ Do you think your kids will enjoy the 'createq 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 DS wouldn't be interested yet and I would imagine by the time he is he will want to order off the adult menu as there is more choice.

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

~ 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?

It's a good idea, but what about making it easy to navigate dairy free and soya free options? Pizza is usually easy enough as the dough is flour, yeast and water, but my DS is dairy and soya allergic, so would be great to have something on the menu indicating that the pizza dough is D/F and soya free. Believe me, some aren't!

Similarly, a dairy free dessert would be great. Something like a sorbet/gelato.

~ 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?

Think the previous menus made it seem as if the basic pizza was a tomato/cheese one, but one could add other toppings.

DD1 would have Hawaiian and DS would have just a tomato sauce.

[suebfg]

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

Yes, we've tried it out. I liked the fact that there are different options, particularly for the mains and desserts.

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

Not applicable to me as I've already tried 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?

In reality, I don't think my son will benefit from the 'create your own' element as he always has the same Margherita pizza but I think other children would enjoy this.

[breatheslowly]

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?

It looks like a fairly standard children's menu. The create your own element is hardly revolutionary as parents tend to swap pizza toppings by asking the staff anyway. This seems to be giving us permission to do so and also charging more to do so.

Not including a drink is a bit mean compared to many restaurants and the cost of a drink is disproportionate to the cost of the meal.

The option to just order a main is good for us as we normally only have a main ourselves and our daughter is too small to eat a whole meal. She also doesn't like warm milk.

The gluten free offerings actually look poor to me. Do you offer a gluten free starter? Can you do gluten free pasta? Is the ice cream gluten free if the cone is left off?

~ 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 element is just the choice of a few pizza toppings. That doesn't seem worth getting excited over. It certainly wouldn't draw us in.

[kslatts]

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?
Good, some healthier options, like create your own idea, could offer more desserts as choice is very limited.

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 they would like the choose your own as they only need to chosse the things they really like.DD1 would go for pepperoni and tomato and DD2 would opt for chicken and tomato.

[AvrilPoisson]

Haven't seen the new menu anywhere yet (and we ate at PE this week) but it honestly doesn't seem that different from the current menu, though increased options for allergies seems good.

I really hope there is less salt- my children are always horrifically thirsty after we've been to PE, so I dread to think how much salt there is currently in a child's meal

I wish servers would bring the bambinoccino out with pudding as standard, as it always seems such a farce asking for it, though my DD is very sad if she doesn't get one!

[MangoLangoTango]

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?
Menu looks good, with a good variety and fairly healthy options. My child has got multiple food allergies but we can easily create several meal permutations based on your menu (a big change from the usual chicken goujons and chips). .

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 will love it! He will probably want a cheeseless pizza with tomato and chicken or ham and mushrooms.

[RedKites]

~ 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 - I hadn't heard of the new menu until I read about it here today.

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
My first thoughts were to check they hadn't changed the other elements of the menu too much - DS1 is a bit of a picky eater, he doesn't eat pizza and has only recently started eating pasta so the 'extras' are the most important bits to me. I was very pleased to see they still had the dough ball and salad starter, and an ice-cream option for dessert. And he loved the bambinoccino the last time we were 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?
I am not sure my toddler is old enough to appreciate it yet. As I mentioned, he doesn't tend to eat pizza, so as he is now eating pasta, we will probably go for one of the pasta options anyway.

[MsDeerheart]

Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
Not yet but we go a fair bit

~ If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
Looks good - doesn't look loads different
I like the idea of upgrading the pizza size as my older DC might need this soon
~ 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?

We have always asked for a change as my DCs don't like mushrooms but do like olives - but as they love pizza and always eat it well

[SuiGeneris]

Haven't yet tried the new menu but it seems very odd: do they really expect kids to have pasta before pizza?

DS(3) would probably have dough balls (leaving the salad) followed by pizza Margherita and ice cream but would be upset at vanilla ice cream in a cone as he prefers chocolate ice cream in a tub.

To be honest, we would probably avoid the piccolo menu and just give DS a slice of our pizzas...

[leanneth]

I haven't tried the new menu yet. I have just seen the menu for the first time now.
Initial reactions are: lack of choice of starters- what about garlic bread, or garlic bread with cheese? (I know that dough balls can come with garlic butter but it's not the same!)
Bambinoccino sounds cute!
Dessert options look nice!

I don't think LO will be too bothered about the 'create your own' option but it's nice to know the option is there, just in case!

[bluebump]

We have not tried the new menu yet.

I think the menu looks good, enough options without it being too overwhelming.

My son (4) would love the create your own element as we do this at home. I'm not sure he'd stray much further than a basic pizza with maybe a couple of things added but he'd love to have the choice I'm sure.

I agree it might be nice to have a fruit option for pudding although we never have pudding at home so my son would always go for a chocolate option!