London has a world-class theatre scene with some fabulous restaurants ready to feed the audiences before curtain up. Now, while we would obviously recommend attending any of London’s theatres if you get a chance, guess what? You don’t have to be going to the theatre to take advantage of the local restaurants’ prix fixe, or fixed price, pre-theatre dinner deals; as long as you’re happy with dining a little earlier than usual, you can grab some serious bargains.
And while we’re on the topic of bargains, if you haven’t booked tickets yet, see our article on how to get cheap theatre tickets in London.
N.B. The listings below are for the fixed price offerings. Do note the times they are available as some have a limited Cheapo window of opportunity.
Soho
Blacklock Soho
Chop house, in the classic London tradition. Check out the selection of cocktails for £8.00 – and if you have a sudden craving for a burger, Blacklock had a ‘secret’ off-menu one that was so popular it now features on the menu. Lunchtime menu also available.
Sample Menu: Egg & Anchovy bites; Beef, Pork & Lamb Skinny Chops on Charcoal-grilled Flatbreads; Beef Dripping Chips
Price: ‘All In’ sharing menu for 2 people or more, £26.00 per person
Veg options: None, a la carte only
Available: 12pm-3pm and 5pm-10:30pm
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus
Blanchette
French bistro restaurant with a sharing plates menu from snacks to larger dishes with an interesting section of cheese and honey pairings. Given that main courses here come in around the £20.00 mark, this is a great Cheapo hack. Lunchtime menu also available.
Sample Menu: Sea Bream Tartare; Moules Mariniere; Passion Fruit Vacherin
Price: 2 courses £19.50, 3 courses £23.00
Veg options: None, a la carte only
Available: Monday-Friday 12pm-3pm and 5pm-6pm, Saturday 5pm-6pm
Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus
Hawksmoor (Air Street)
Theatre-friendly site of this renowned restaurant group, undoubtedly one of the best places in London to eat steak (they are also famously lovely to their staff, which makes me happy to give them my hard-earned dosh). Talking of steak, you can upgrade your main course to a 35-day aged rump or fillet tail for an extra £7.00. Lunchtime menu also available.
Sample Menu: Ash-baked Beetroot Salad; Royal Sea Bream; Pear & White Chocolate Cheesecake
Price: 2 courses £27.00, 3 courses: £31.00
Veg options: Yes
Available: Monday-Saturday 5pm-6.30pm
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus
Bocca di Luppo
Award-winning Italian restaurant from chef Jacob Kenedy with unusual dishes from across all twenty regions of Italy on a daily changing menu. If you call in advance, there is a special dog-friendly seating area. Post-theatre and lunchtime dining also available.
Sample Menu: Sea Bream; Rigatoni with ricotta, basil, lemon & nutmeg; Tiramisu
Price: £15.00 for starter, main & salad, + £5.00 to add dessert & coffee
Veg options: None, a la carte only
Available: Monday-Friday 5pm-6.30pm
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus
Brasserie Zedel
French Brasserie. Part of the fun of meeting friends at Brasserie Zedel is that the entrance is a very modest cafe; once you descend the staircase you enter a glamorous Art Deco 1930s time warp. Go for the good value two-course Prixe Fixe menu.
Sample Menu: Prix-Fixe: Creamed Leek & Potato Soup; Chopped Steak Frites with Peppercorn Sauce; Chocolate and Caramel Tart. Formule: Celeriac Salad; Red Wine Braised Chicken; Lemon Meringue Tart.
Price: There are two set menus available – Prix-Fixe, 2 courses £16.95, 3 courses £19.75 and Formule, 3 courses and a glass of wine £27.95
Veg options: None – a la carte only
Available: All day
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus
Gunpowder (Soho)
Modern Indian Restaurant. This has an upmarket dining vibe with a selection of small plates, so put all thoughts of Friday night curries out of your head; the dessert wouldn’t look out of place in a French patisserie window. Lunchtime menu also available.
Sample Menu: French Bean Pakoras; CPC Prawn Toast; Tandoori Chicken Chop; Saag with Tandoori Paneer; Steamed Rice; Kachumbar Raita
Price: 6 courses £25.00pp; minimum 2 people, maximum 4 people
Veg options: No
Available: Monday-Saturday 5.30pm-6.30pm
Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Covent Garden
Cafe Murano
Upmarket but relaxed Italian restaurant from renowned chef Angela Hartnett, with a focus on seasonal dishes. Lunchtime menu also available.
Sample Menu: Charred Leeks & Romesco Sauce; Potato Gnocchi, Lamb Shoulder Ragout; Saffron Poached Pear & Ricotta
Price: 2 courses £25.00, 3 courses £30.00
Veg options: None, a la carte only
Available: Monday-Saturday 12-3pm and 5-7pm
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden
Cora Pearl
British restaurant named after a nineteenth-century courtesan; foodie favourite known for serving comfort food done very, very well. Don’t leave without trying the legendary chips. Note the brief pre-theatre dinner window of 5:30 – 6:15pm.
Sample Menu: Devilled Whitebait & Dill Mayo; Chargrilled Beef Tagliata, Rocket & Parmesan; Ice Cream & Sorbet
Price: 2 courses £26.00, 3 courses £30.00
Veg options: Yes
Available: Tuesday-Saturday 5:30pm-6:15pm
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden
The Delaunay
European cafe & restaurant in the old tradition. They also have a Menu Rapide with your choice of tarte flambée, a glass of wine or beer and a tea or coffee for £18.50.
Sample Menu: Truffled Cauliflower Soup; Grilled Spatchcock Chicken with Salsa Verde; Sachertorte
Price: 2 courses £29.75, 3 courses £34.75
Veg options: Yes
Available: All day
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden/Temple
Tutton’s
Old-school British brasserie right on Covent Garden piazza with both indoor and outdoor terrace seating, serving up the classics. Post-theatre dining also available.
Sample Menu: Pea & Mint Soup; Smoked Chicken Salad; Passion Fruit & Vanilla Creme Brulee
Price: 2 courses £19.95, 3 courses £21.95
Veg options: Yes
Available: Monday-Thursday 12pm-6pm & 9pm-close, Friday 12pm-6pm, Sunday 6pm-close (not December)
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden/Charing Cross
Pivot
A classic, grown-up option offering modern British cuisine, overlooking Covent Garden Piazza; quiet, comfortable, air-conditioned and civilised (although be aware there are stairs involved, to the restaurant and then to the loo). The addition of a carafe of wine to the set menu is great value.
Sample Menu: Scottish Smoked Salmon with Capers, Shallots & Dill; Free Range English Chicken with Mushroom & Tarragon Cream Sauce; Chocolate Mousse with Cherries and Clotted Cream
Price: 3 courses £28.00, with a 500ml carafe of house wine £39.00
Veg options: Yes
Available: Monday-Saturday 5pm-6.30pm
Nearest Tube: Covent Garden
There’s also a Hawksmoor in Covent Garden – Hawksmoor Seven Dials – with the
Waterloo
Paladar
A Latin American restaurant and wine bar, this fabulous little gem is hidden off the beaten tourist track just moments from the Old Vic and less than a ten-minute walk from Waterloo and the South Bank. For those in the know there is a lovely outdoor terrace, although the interior is also pretty cool; great cocktails, fairy lights, friendly service, plus the art on the wall is for sale. As a bonus for anyone who doesn’t eat gluten, the entire food menu is gluten-free.
Sample Menu: Crispy pork belly lettuce tacos, agave sriracha chilli sauce reduction; Grilled lamb anticuchos, Ajipanca and tomato puree, minty crispy potatoes; Purple corn churros with dipping sauce
Price: 2 courses £19.90, 3 courses £25.00
Veg options: Yes
Available: Monday-Friday, 5pm-6pm
Nearest Tube: Elephant and Castle
Map
Map below:
