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.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

We went yesterday.

The pizza is smaller than it used to be, and the cheese had all gone into a puddle in the middle, quite different to how they used to be, much poorer quality.

My 4 year old ate every scrap of his whole meal, I can see that we will be having to order adult pizzas for him in the next couple of years.

[Reastie]

Ah, OK, remembered what else I was going to say re: our trip to pizza express yesterday - we asked for a small size drink for DD and was told they don't do one, they only do normal portions - seems a bit silly IMO. We ended up having DH and DD share a juice as no way would DD (age 2) drink a whole glass of juice. We probably would have spent more (ie DH buying separate drink to DD) if small/child portion drinks were available

[ArtsMumma]

I haven't tried it but I really do intend to... I have a very fussy little boy who might just try something new if he has some freedom of choice. Too many kids menus are boring processed rubbish.

[Ramblings]

~ We've not tried the new menu but have always loved the kids menu at Pizza Express because it makes the children feel grownup to have all the courses and the bambinoccino

~ I've already seen it via email and thought it looked good

~ My children always ask for their own requests at Pizza Express so making this part of the menu is clever and allows more creativity and individuality

[footphobic]

~ 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 visit quite regularly so plan to try it in the next week or so.

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

I had already seen it via email. I'm glad to see the pizza choice expand and like the idea of the create your own. My four eldest have outgrown the piccolo menu, but I still have a 6 year old daughter who always has it. We have felt it's been in need a bit of an update for a while so good to see changes.

I would have liked to have seen more or different/popular pasta choices, e.g., canelloni/chicken dish/mini lasagne, tried and tested dishes that all of my older children have enjoyed at PE over the years. I'm not convinced about the new added pasta dishes, I don't think they would appeal much to my daughter even though she eats 'grown up' food and she is quite keen to try things.

Our experience of the 'salad' is that though my daughter enjoys salad vegetables and is glad for them to be included, in our experience the portion is always very sad and feeble looking. It could definitely be just a little larger and more appealing to encourage eating of this healthy side dish.

My daughter's favourite dessert has always been the original toffee sundae (with her special toffee chunks!) so she will be sad to see this gone in that format. But hopefully she will find the new ones appealing - they sound nice enough.

~ 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 sure my daughter will try the 'create your own', she's very interested in food and will like this element. I think it would encourage other children too.

Just to add that I would also like to see a range of healthy children's size drinks included within this menu or the main menu.

[BoyMeetsWorld]

Not yet tried it, but the menu looks pretty good. Only comment is there is no 'seafood' option like tuna which is what my DS likes! It's not even a create your own option.

I think create your own is possibly pushing it a little bit for making the kids feel more involved - I thought it would be more exciting like they could help put the topping on? (or am I reading it wrong & that is what it is??)

Either way, I think it'd be a fan idea if the tomato / cheese base was brought to the table & the kids allowed to place their own topping on - maybe make a funny pattern - before it's taken off to bake

THAT would be cool

The desserts look yummy :)

[VainViolet]

pizza been off the menu for a while as one of my kids has a severe tomato allergy. This looks quite promising!

[BonzoDooDah]

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

No, not been to PE lately

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

Quite like the menu - although my children would much prefer ordinary garlic bread than the pizza balls - would be nice to have a choice.
Really good selection of pastas for them, they'd feel very grown up with the Bambinoccino at the end.
The pizza menus aren't particularly child-orientated. not many children I know like olives. And only older children seem to cope with spicy pepperoni

~ 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 - although mine would probably chose pasta - if it was pizza they'd like the choice rather than it being preset.
Mine would have ham and sweetcorn and pineapple and extra cheese.
And as sweetcorn and pineapple aren't on the list they would be disappointed. They're not fussy eaters at all but like most children I know don't like olives (too salty) or pepperoni (too spicy) and are not particularly bothered by mushrooms. And there is already tomato on the pizza so why add that? I think you need to have a wider selection if you are truely going to appeal to the younger children. And older children would probably be eating an adult portion anyway.

[dotcomlovenest]

I haven't tried the new menu.
Would like a bit of variety, my children are good eaters and will try anything.
It is nice that they get to eat adult type meals, rather than pizza and nuggets.
Think they all would love to create their own.

[lottietiger]

=Have you tried out the new Create your Own piccolo menu and if you have, what did you think of it?
I havent tried it yet, although feeling hungry now:)
=If you hadn't seen it yet, what are your initial reactions to the menu?
I know its eat out pizza but i thought the menu wasnt amazingly healthy, no fresh fruit option for pudding,veggie sticks for starter or water to drink.Also the extra toppings were a bit confusing, how much were they?
=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, definitely although there is nothing out of the ordinary to choose from so the normal would be chosen, prob cheese, tomato & ham.

[withjamin]

At last there's the option of pasta with butter!
Glad there are more puddings.
Dd1 would like olives in her salad. Is that an option? What about drinks?

[AnnMumsnet]

Thanks very much for all the comments: am pleased to say Firewall and Lurleene both win an £80 PizzaExpress voucher.

[Lurleene]

That's fabulous news, thank you very much.