 It’s the height of the school holidays and parental nerves are beginning to fray. Trips, visits, meals out – a schedule of child-centred zap-pow that doesn’t come cheap. And, unless money is no object, forays into London, in particular, can drain more than your energy; these junior jollies can make a serious dent in the family’s entertainment budget. Add to that the hassle and expense of eating out with the little darlings, in the heart of the metropolis, and we have on our hands a potential recipe for domestic disaster. So how do we hack it?
With a modicum of forward planning on the dining front, kids and carers alike can actually enjoy the whole eating out experience, without parents ending up being run ragged and out of pocket. For a start, a cursory glance through the many guides that list child-friendly restaurants and hotels in London is enough to convince even the most cynical of diners that our capital city is hell bent on pleasing its junior clientele.
But, if you’re looking for a different spin on eating out with youngsters in London, the secret lies in adopting a different approach to the obligatory “fuel stop”. Dare to take your kids outside what the celebrity chef, Giorgio Locatelli, of the Locanda Locatelli restaurant in Marylebone, refers to as “the nuggets-and-pizza comfort zone”.
The important point to bear in mind is that up-market eating with children in tow need not be prohibitively expensive. One way round the budget dilemma, for example, without sacrificing the gourmet element, is to channel young diners towards the starters’ section of the menu. A generous selection of starters, tapas, mezedes, call them what you will, is unlikely to break the bank, while the kids will think it’s exceedingly cool to “pick-n-mix” their fodder.
Another option for adults who refuse to succumb to the lowest common culinary denominator is to head for those restaurants that offer quality food at remarkably reasonable prices. The following restaurants, for example, offer value for money meals for around £15 or less:
Abiruchi, 42 Stoke Newington Church Street, London, N16 0LU: a child-friendly restaurant that offers quality, Keralan cuisine at very reasonable prices.
Abu Ali, 136/138 George Street, London, W1H 5LD: its central Oxford Street location makes this restaurant a favourite with families that are partial to Middle Eastern cuisine.
Addis, 42 Caledonian Road, London, N1 9DT: near Kings Cross station, Addis will impress youngsters with its fascinating African ambience and delicious Ethiopian cuisine.
Alounak, 10 Russell Gardens, London W14 8EZ: Persian cuisine, great atmosphere and good value for money.
Anglo Asian Tandoori, 60/62 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0NB: fine Indian food, with many family favourites dishes on the menu.
Au Lac, 82 Highbury Park Road, London N5 2XE: Vietnamese food with Chinese and Thai influences to please both adults and kids alike.
Au Lac (Shoreditch), 102/104, Kingsland Road, London, E2 8DP: as with the Highbury Park Road Au Lac, this restaurant provides superb Vietnamese cooking, as well as efficient, friendly service.
Axum, 266 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2JR: traditional Ethiopian cuisine in a welcoming, child-friendly environment.
Bengal Village, 2 Elm Terrace, London, NW3 2LL: authentic Indian cuisine, with a whopping 30 % discount on Sunday lunches.
Benjys, 157 Earls Court Road, London, SW5 9RQ: informal setting, quality, traditional English cooking and a mean all day breakfast that is guaranteed to delight the whole family.
Biguns Ribs, 2 Warwick Way, Pimlico, London, SW1V 1RU: American style cuisine with Mediterranean influences, Biguns Ribs offers affordable prices in central Westminster.
Billy Joe’s, 205 Uxbridge Road, West Ealing, London, W13 9AA: great atmosphere, friendly service and Tex-Mex food to satisfy the most discerning of junior palates.
Bistro 1, 33 Southampton Street, London, WC2 7HE: outstanding value Mediterranean cooking and a great family atmosphere.
Blooms, 130 Golders Green Road, London, NW11 8HB: a friendly restaurant that specialises in Kosher cuisine.
Ultimately, the sophistication challenge rarely fails, where kids and eating in restaurants are concerned. One thing is certain, pint-sized punters generally rise to the occasion when dining out in even slightly unfamiliar surroundings. So, eschew the chicken nuggets, for once. Relax and enjoy!
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