The best pre-theatre menus in London
Theatre and food have long gone hand-in-hand. Far from the pre-theatre menus in London today, some of the first audiences in the capital at Shakespeare's Globe are known to have bought food and drink during the performance, like apples, nuts and slithers of gingerbread – washed down with tankards of earthy ale. Thankfully, the process is much more refined for 21st-century audiences. Aside from the odd rustle of sweets among the crowd – perfectly timed and never during the quieter scenes, of course – the art of the prix fixe set menu has been perfected by many of London's best restaurants, and often at fantastic prices. Two- or three-course menus are often packaged with something punchier such as a signature cocktail, and the back-of-house machinery has been perfected to avoid culture vultures entering historic West End venues with a rumbling tum. These are our favourite spots to book a pre-theatre dinner before (or after) a visit to the hottest new shows in London.
Claridge's, Mayfair
Best pre-theatre menu before: The London Palladium (a ten-minute walk away)
Name a more iconic hotel for a pre-theatre hangout. Claridge’s dining room is as opulent as its facade, decked with tall blooms, retro stained glass windows, statement lighting and green leather booths enveloping linen-topped tables. Most impressive of all is the symmetrical marble-topped bar where cocktails are passed to well-dressed diners on the restaurant floor or handed to those conveniently perched on a cosy bar stool – go for the spicy margarita with a chilli rim. Three-course menus start with warm bread served with salty butter and a starter of either ham hock terrine, fresh baby beetroot salad or cauliflower veloute with smoked salmon. For mains, we loved the soft beef cheek bourguignon served on the creamiest of mash and drizzled in rich gravy; the vegetarian spinach and ricotta agnolotti were also delicious. If there's room for dessert, there's a warm, super intense chocolate souffle, a refreshing pavlova that is almost too pretty to eat or a savoury cheese and cracker option. Sophie Knight
Address: Claridge's, Brook Street, London W1K 4HR
Website: claridges.co.uk
Price: £49 for two courses; £58 for three courses
Time: Monday to Friday, 5.30pm - 6.45pm
Virginie GarnierFrenchie, Covent Garden
Best pre-theatre menu before watching a show at: The Adelphi (a five-minute walk away)
Chef Gregory Marchand’s Paris location on Rue du Nil won a Michelin star, and his Covent Garden sister spot is even smarter than the original, with sherbet-coloured chairs and a long, sleek bar. Nibble on Parmesan gougères and the infamous bacon scones, served warm with maple syrup and Cornish clotted cream, before the starters. There’s a light watermelon gazpacho with creamy feta, sweet peach and basil, or heartier handmade pappardelle with lamb ragù. Seared cod comes as a main with courgettes and borlotti beans in a light bisque. Don't skip the sides: potatoes are pureed to perfection. Drinks are strong and stylish: try their Frenchman in NY with gin and an Earl Grey and lemon-verbena liqueur. Emma Russell
Address: Frenchie, 16 Henrietta Street, London WC2 8QH
Website: frenchiecoventgarden.com
Price: £28 for two courses; £33 for three courses
Time: Daily, 5.30pm – 6.30pm
The Delaunay, Holborn
Best pre-theatre menu before: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre (a one-minute walk away)
There is a New York feel at The Delaunay, with a hint of Viennese culture and a touch of French bistro smokiness. It’s grand, classic and sexy, and the impeccable service and attention to detail have made it a Holborn standout for theatregoers. The prix fixe menu comes in two or three courses but is still served fast enough to whip you in and out of there in the pre-theatre rush. It includes ‘Severn & Wye’ smoked salmon or roast tomato soup to start, followed by grilled spatchcock chicken, mushroom stroganoff or smoked haddock kedgeree with a poached egg. For pudding, there’s a decadent sachertorte. The drinks menu is long, with wines separated by variety and location and a few special purchases thrown into the mix. They’ve even got magnums, port and sherry in their own categories – but keep it simple, as you can’t go wrong with a fruity Chianti Classico. Build in time to really enjoy a longer meal, then just roll on out across the street right into your theatre seat. Katharine Sohn
Address: The Delaunay, 55 Aldwych, Holborn, London WC2B 4BB
Website: thedelaunay.com
Price: £29.75 for two courses; £34.75 for three courses
Time: Daily, until 6pm and after 10pm
Amber RowlandsSpring, Somerset House
Best pre-theatre menu before watching a show at: The Savoy Theatre and The Lyceum Theatre, both a few seconds walk away
The scratch menu at Spring sits nicely in line with acclaimed Australian chef Skye Gyngell's food philosophy, and none are actually printed to minimise waste. Rather, stay tuned to Spring’s website and social media accounts for the 3pm announcements or indulge the spontaneous system. Honouring its namesake, Spring's pre-theatre menu is crisp and seasonal, whipping up nutritious trimmings and ‘extras’ from yesterday’s kitchen into artistic yet beautifully simple plates. Dainty bread baskets are a recommended extra (£4), harbouring soft, freshly baked sourdough and seven-seed rye bread. From silky house-made pasta made from last night’s ‘cuttings’ with fresh tomatoes to juicy beef meatballs covered in a fritto of beetroot leaves and taleggio sauce, the dishes hit the sweet spot in terms of portion size, giving pudding – also conjured up from kitchen ‘leftovers’ – the time and space it deserves. Rosalyn Wikeley
Address: Spring, Somerset House, Lancaster Place, London WC2R 1LA
Website: springrestaurant.co.uk
Price: £30
Time: Daily, 5.30pm – 6.30pm
The Petersham, Covent Garden
Best pre-theatre menu before: performances at the Royal Opera House (a four-minute walk away)
Sister to Petersham Nurseries Café in Richmond, this Covent Garden branch has deftly manoeuvred the signature café-conservatory charm into the West End. Once you’ve negotiated your way past the nursery and the small-plates restaurant La Goccia, you’ll find a space rich in shimmering chandeliers, trees, fresh flowers and all-weather cast-iron furniture. The dishes, an edit from the seasonal à la carte menu, are as green and aesthetically pleasing as the floral artistry. Pick from a vibrant watercress soup with colourful vegetables, including pink fir potatoes, or the saffron risotto with asparagus and peas to start, followed by a main of Haye Farm lamb or Cornish pollock with pesto. Service is slick, and the restaurant is quieter during the pre-theatre slot – all the better for snagging a table and sampling the same food that will be served later on when it’s typically much more difficult to secure a booking. Becky Lucas
Address: Petersham Nurseries, Floral Court, London WC2E 8JD
Website: petershamnurseries.com
Price: £32 for two courses; £38 for three courses
Time: Monday to Saturday, 5pm to 6pm
Social Eating House, Soho
Best pre-theatre menu before watching a show at: The London Palladium (a five-minute walk away)
Jason Atherton is one of the best-known chefs working in Britain today, and his Social Eating House is a laidback spot for a special evening. It’s dark and moody in the style of neighbourhood joints in New York’s East Village, with red leather booths and exposed brick. Mains are good whatever is on the menu – think Cornish plaice with seaweed butter and brown shrimp or a killer steak, cooked over charcoal, that’s served with duck fat chips. Cocktails pack a punch here too, which is no surprise, as Atherton’s award-winning speakeasy, The Blind Pig, one of the best bars in Soho, sits just above the restaurant. Dress up, dress down – it really doesn’t matter. Just get here and enjoy some superb British cooking. Emma Russell
Address: Social Eating House, 58 Poland Street, Soho, London W1F 7NR
Website: socialeatinghouse.com
Price: £24.50 for two courses, £29.50 for three courses (does not include drinks), £37.50 for three courses with a cocktail
Time: Tuesday to Friday, 5.45pm – 6.30pm
Gunpowder, Tower Bridge
Best pre-theatre menu before watching a show at: Bridge Theatre (a two-minute walk away)
Modern Indian restaurant Gunpowder has teamed up with the Bridge Theatre at its lovely Tower Bridge site for a fragrant pre-theatre feast. Start with either their signature aloo chat or Bengali beetroot croquettes, and then there’s beef pepper fry or tandoori saag paneer served with fluffy rice for mains. If you still have space, there’s bread and butter pudding laced with Old Monk rum. The same quick and tasty menu is also available at their Soho restaurant, which is just a few minutes walk from the theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue. Sonya Barber
Address: Gunpowder, 4 Duchess Walk, London SE1 2RZ
Website: gunpowderrestaurants.com
Price: £22 for two courses, £25 for three courses
Time: Monday to Saturday, 5pm – 6.30pm
Bocca Di Lupo, Soho
Best pre-theatre menu before watching a show at: Apollo Theatre and Lyric Theatre (a two-minute walk away)
Beloved Soho Italian restaurant Bocca Di Lupo has one of the most reasonably priced – and delicious – pre-theatre menus in London, perfectly situated a few moment’s walk from the throng of theatres on Shaftsbury Avenue. The menu changes daily but expect to start with something like a punchy radicchio salad with balsamic and hazelnuts before moving on to a dramatic black risotto with cuttlefish cooked in its own ink and gremolata. Then there’s fritolle (fritters with raisins, pine nuts and grappa) to finish, served with a strong espresso to ensure you don’t doze off during the performance. Sonya Barber
Address: Bocca Di Lupo, 12 Archer Street, London W1D 7BB
Website: boccadilupo.com
Price: Starter, main and salad for £15 and add dessert and an espresso for an extra £7
Time: Served daily, 5.30pm – 6.30pm and 9.30pm – 11pm