Make the most of your trip to the theatre with a delicious pre-theatre dining experience in the heart of London…
This spring a whole host of brand new shows have headed to the West End, including Tina – The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych, Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom at the Piccadilly and Cirque Beserk! at the Harold Pinter. And when heading to the theatre why not make it into more of an experience by treating yourselves to a pre-theatre dining experience? Because of this we have put together some of the tastiest pre-theatre dining options just a stone throw from the theatres…
Leicester Square Kitchen
What is it: Contemporary Mexican and Peruvian
Price: 3 dishes £20 or 4 dishes £25 (available daily for pre-theatre and lunch)
Location: Leicester Square
Contact: http://www.leicestersquarekitchen.co.uk
With its open plan kitchen and sophisticated yet unassuming setting, the buzzy Leicester Square Kitchen is one of London’s best contemporary Mexican and Peruvian restaurants. Its pre-theatre dining set menu makes the most of the kitchen’s small plate offerings with a generous selection of three dishes per person for £20 or four for £25. Tasty morsels include crispy duck and pomegranate ensalada with papaya chilli dressing, avocado and corn salad with blackberry dressing and robata pisco-glazed smoked paprika ribs. While sweet treats include the sublime warm chapon chocolate doughnuts, caramelised pistachio and dulce de leche ice cream.
Savini at Criterion
What is it: Modern Italian
Price: 2 courses £29 or 3 for £36 (available for pre-theatre/ post-theatre from 5pm to 7pm/10pm to 11pm daily)
Location: Piccadilly Circus
Contact: http://saviniatcriterion.co.uk
Indulge in modern Italian cuisine under a neo-byzantine gold tiled ceiling at Savini’s, one of the world’s most stunning restaurants. The pre-theatre menu offers creative approaches to traditional flavours with two courses for £29 or three for £36. Among Savini’s offerings are an amaretto pumpkin soup with smoked bacon and Parmigiano Reggiano popcorn, rack of lamb and a white chocolate, marron glace glaze fig mousse.
45 Jermyn St
What is it: Modern British
Price: 2 courses £25.50 or 3 for £29.50 (available for pre-theatre/post-theatre from 5pm to 6:30pm and from 10pm until closing daily)
Location: Jermyn Street
Contact: https://www.45jermynst.com
45 Jermyn Street serves up contemporary style dining in an exquisite setting inspired by the golden age of glamour. The innovative pre-theatre dining menu is available at £25.50 for two courses and £29.50 for three. Highlights from the menu include raw Cornish mackerel and keta caviar tacos to start and stuffed pork belly served with “koffman cabbage” and Mangalitza black pudding for mains. Sweet offerings include a pineapple carpaccio with passion fruit, chilli syrup and a coconut sorbet.
Heliot Steak House
What is it: Steak
Price: 2 courses for £14.95 or 3 courses for £17.95 (Available from daily 5pm-7pm)
Location: Leicester Square
Contact: https://www.hippodromecasino.com
Overlooking the glitzy floor of the Hippodrome Casino, Heliot Steak House is one of London’s best and most stylish steak houses. Its pre-theatre dining menu starts at £14.95 for two courses and £17.95 for three. Theatre-goers can choose from a rump steak and fries served with a red wine sauce, as well as options of pan fried salmon and a halloumi burger for those fancying something different. A chocolate and orange ganache and an almond millefeuille with winter fruits and mascarpone ice-cream are among the desert choices.
Brumus Restaurant
What is it: European
Price: 3 courses for £19.95 (Available for pre and post theatre daily from 12pm)
Location: Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket
Contact: https://www.firmdalehotels.com/a/restaurants-bars/london/brumus/pre-and-post-theatre-dining/
The vibrant Brumus Restaurant, located in the Haymarket Hotel, offers European brasserie style dining within a buzzy atmosphere. Three courses are available at £19.95 with options including a slow cooked red onion and goats cheese tart, braised belly pork and sweet potato fritters served with a lemon and chilli couscous and harissa yoghurt. For dessert, there’s a wide selection of cake, sorbets and ice creams.
Villandry St James’s
What is it: French
Price: 2 courses for £19.50 or 3 courses for £24.50 (Available Mon-Fri 5:30pm–7:30pm)
Location: Waterloo Place, St James’s
Contact: http://www.villandry.com/st-james/
For understated elegance, Villandry in St James’s, provides relaxed dining in a grand setting. Guests can admire the views of Big Ben from the first floor and appease their appetite with the largely French and Mediterranean inspired pre-theatre menu, available at £19.50 for two courses and £24.50 for three. Simple well executed dishes include Carpaccio of beef, confit de canard and chocolate fondant.
What do you think of our picks of pre-theatre dining? Let us know your favourites in the comments below!
For more information on what’s happening in the Heart of London https://heartoflondonbid.london/area-events/ or for the latest theatre news: https://officiallondontheatre.com
