My family and I are going to see Paddington after Christmas and I could use recommendations for a pre-show meal. We’re traveling with 4 adults who like just about any cuisine and two small children (7 & 4) who are moderately picky. Looking for something nice but kid-friendly and close to the theater so we aren’t in a rush to make the 7:00 show. We’re flexible on price.
Many thanks for your suggestions!
Have you thought about Italian? There are at least 4 ior 5 Italian places around there, and generally picky kids like Italian food. At least spaghetti and/or pizza. I know that Zizzi is Italian and has pizza and that's just a couple of minutes' walk from the theatre. There's also Bella Italia—the Strand, which is also Italian, just a little past Zizzi and has a kids' menu.
If the kids will eat middle eastern food I’d recommend Aram by Ibad at Somerset House. Really good food and not somewhere too fancy for kids. Most kids seem to like hummus and flatbreads at the least.
How about the tea bus? They have a 5pm Xmas-themed departure from Trafalgar Square, a short walk from the theater. They have several themed rides. The bus goes very slowly, and there are lids on the drinks. It's very fun.
https://b-bakery.com/london/bus-tours/christmas-afternoon-tea
My favourite place for pre-theatre in the area is Eat Tokyo (the one on Catherine Street), which is a seven minute walk away. The menu is huge and covers a wide range of Japanese food, from sushi to noodles to tempura etc, so it's easy to find something you like. I always see families there. There's also a branch of the Real Greek on the Strand which is one of the better chain restaurants.
If you're looking for Italian, Bancone (Covent Garden location) is also a seven minute walk away- they mostly do fresh pasta and it's one of my favourite Italian restaurants in London. It's nice but it's not expensive.
