Elephant and Castle Archives

London has a world-class theatre scene, and fabulous local restaurants with quick, tasty and affordable pre-theatre set menus for an early dinner 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 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 Good for hungry meat-lovers A chop house, in the classic London tradition; there's not a traditional pre-theatre menu but the 'All In' is one of London's best bargain feeds. Check out the selection of cocktails from - and if you have a sudden craving for a burger, Blacklock had a ‘secret’ off-menu one that was so popular it is now featured proudly. 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: per person Veg options: None, a la carte only Available: 12pm-3pm and 5pm-10:30pm Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus Book here Norma Good for Southern Italian/Moorish food with bold flavours This relaxed but stylish restaurant skirts the very edge of Soho as it nudges into Fitzrovia, but is handy for theatres such as The Dominion and The Shaftesbury. Expect seasonal menus with a regional focus and some really accomplished cooking. Lunchtime menu also available. Sample Menu: Sicilian caponata, focaccia crostini; Cornish crab linguine with chilli and lemon butter; seasonal home-made gelato Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: Yes Available: Monday-Saturday 5pm-6.30pm Nearest Tube: Goodge Street Book here Blanchette Good for a touch of French flair 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 mark, this is a great Cheapo hack. Lunchtime menu also available. Sample Menu: Sea bream tartare; moules marinière; passion fruit vacherin Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: None, a la carte only Available: Monday-Friday 12pm-3pm and 5pm-6pm, Saturday 5pm-6pm Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus Book here Cafe Kitty Good for the cool and glamorous crowd The latest little sister from the acclaimed Kitty Fisher's Group (big sister Cora Pearl features below) and with the same great food, this is in the new Underbelly Boulevard building in a Soho sidestreet - FYI next to a sex shop, in case anyone in your group might find that a bit too Soho. Even if you're not booked in at Underbelly (although do check out the fabulous circus/cabaret-themed shows, which we often feature in our Events section) this does mean you may find yourself joined at the bar by an aerial acrobat or contortionist if you go back for a post-theatre tipple. Sample Menu: Devilled whitebait and aioli; chargrilled beef tagliata, rocket and Parmesan; ice cream or sorbet Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: Yes Available: Tuesday-Saturday 5.30pm-6.30pm Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus Book here Fatt Pundit Good for foodies Cool Indo-Chinese restaurant with a sister site in Covent Garden, much loved by the hard-to-impress London foodie scene, with a relaxed vibe and great flavours. Sample Menu: Chicken or kid goat momos; Bombay chilly prawns; Szechuan honey duck with burnt ginger rice; Snowflake Gelato sizzling brownie to share Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: None, a la carte only Available: Monday-Friday 4:45pm-6pm Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus Book here Hawksmoor (Air Street) Good for top-quality steak Theatre-friendly site of this consistently excellent 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 . Lunchtime menu also available. Sample Menu: Potted beef & bacon with Yorkshires; steak frites; sticky toffee sundae Price: 2 courses , 3 courses: Veg options: Yes Available: Monday-Saturday 5pm-6.30pm Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus Book here Bocca di Luppo Good for an elegant lighter bite Award-winning Italian restaurant from chef Jacob Kenedy with unusual dishes from across all twenty regions of Italy on a daily changing menu. This is also a post-theatre favourite as it is open until midnight, and they have recently changed the set menu timing to start at lunchtime. Sample Menu: Sea bream; rigatoni with ricotta, basil, lemon & nutmeg; bacio gelato - chocolate & hazelnut Price: for starter, main & salad, + to add dessert & espresso Veg options: None, a la carte only Available: Monday-Friday 12pm-6.30pm Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus Book here Brasserie Zedel Good for impressive surroundings French Brasserie. Not quite as good under the new management we feel, but 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 , 3 courses and Formule, 3 courses and a glass of wine Veg options: None - a la carte only Available: All day Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus Book here Gunpowder (Soho) Good for a modern spice hit 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 pp; minimum 2 people, maximum 4 people Veg options: No Available: Monday-Saturday 5.30pm-6.30pm Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road Book here Cheapo Top Tip: Combine your pre-theatre dining with some sightseeing and grab a bite in London's Chinatown - check out our useful guide here! Covent Garden Cafe Murano Good for a touch of class Upmarket but relaxed Italian restaurant from renowned chef Angela Hartnett OBE, with a focus on seasonal dishes. Lunchtime menu also available. Sample Menu: Charred leeks & Romesco sauce; grilled chicken breast, citrus braised fennel; hazelnut meringue, chocolate ice cream Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: None, a la carte only Available: Monday-Saturday 12-3pm and 5-7pm Nearest Tube: Covent Garden Book here Penelope's Good for a comfortable, sophisticated supper Velvet banquettes, dark wood and dramatic lighting set the tone in this stylish Israeli/Spanish fusion restaurant; as it's part of the Amano hotel group, there is also a bar worth heading back to. Sample Menu: Roasted Israeli aubergine with pico de gallo, date, tahini and soy; chicken shawarma, amba marinade, ancient grain mujadara; baklava cheesecake with pistachio and honey syrup Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: Yes Available: Monday-Saturday 5-6pm Nearest Tube: Covent Garden Book here Cora Pearl Good for a modern take on British comfort food 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: Burrata, roasted peppers, chive & rocket; bavette steak, rocket & Parmesan; ice cream & sorbet Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: Yes Available: Tuesday-Saturday 5:30pm-6:15pm Nearest Tube: Covent Garden Book here Joe Allen Good for American dining Lively and atmospheric New York brasserie, stalwart of London's theatre dining scene along with the legendary Joe's Bar. Sample Menu: Caesar salad with croutons and anchovies; chicken pot pie with mashed potatoes; chocolate cake with whipped cream Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: Yes Available: Monday-Friday 12pm-6pm Nearest Tube: Covent Garden Book here The Delaunay Good for traditional, classic vibes 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 . Sample Menu: Scotch oak-smoked salmon with capers and shallots; grilled spatchcock chicken with salsa verde; sachertorte Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: Yes Available: All day Nearest Tube: Covent Garden or Temple Book here Spring Good for sustainable, high-end cooking Skye Gyngell's seasonal British restaurant in a gorgeous 19th century drawing room in Somerset House serves an inventive 'Scratch' no-waste menu, with simple but delicious dishes from produce that would otherwise be thrown away. This is several levels up from the tired veg in the back of your fridge drawer though - think bisque made from fish trimmings or surplus fruit used to make an apricot and almond tart. Sample Menu: Golden Turnip Soup with Greens; grilled monkfish with slow cooked fennel and peas, crab sauce and crispy cauliflower leaves; ice cream with caramel & candied citrus Price: 3 courses Veg options: None - a la carte only Available: Tuesday-Saturday 5:30pm-6:30pm Nearest Tube: Temple Book here Tutton’s Good for experiencing the buzz of Covent Garden piazza 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. NB: this menu is not available during December. Card/contactless payments only. Sample Menu: Beetroot and gin cured salmon; pea and mint risotto; vanilla and Grand Marnier crème brûlée Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: Yes Available: Monday-Thursday 12pm-6pm & 9pm-close, Friday 12pm-6pm, Sunday 6pm-close (except December) Nearest Tube: Covent Garden or Charing Cross Book here Pivot Good for escaping the buzz of Covent Garden piazza A classic, grown-up dining room serving modern British cuisine, quietly overlooking Covent Garden Piazza. Sample Menu: Scottish smoked salmon with capers, shallots & dill; free range English chicken with mushroom & tarragon cream sauce; chocolate mousse with caramelised hazelnut and clotted cream Cheapo Top Tip: Pivot have a special deal running at the moment with your choice of a two- or three-course menu - and if all your courses aren't served within 60 minutes, you eat for free! It's cheaper than their standard set menu at for two courses or for three - ask to check it's still running. Price: 3 courses , with a 500ml carafe of house wine Veg options: Yes Available: Monday-Saturday 5pm-6.30pm Nearest Tube: Covent Garden Book here Balthazar Good for familiar French classics A French brasserie with a set menu that runs from lunch through to mid-evening, this is a good option for matinee lunches as well as pre-theatre suppers. New Yorkers should find enough of the well-known original to feel at home. Sample Menu: Jambon de Bayonne, celeriac remoulade and cornichons; beef bourguignon, pomme puree, carrots, baby onions, mushrooms and pancetta; Paris Brest with hazelnut praline, stracciatella ice cream and warm chocolate sauce Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: Yes Available: Monday-Saturday 11pm-7pm Nearest Tube: Covent Garden Book here Flesh & Buns Good for hanging out and/or meeting up with a group Japanese izakaya inspired, i.e. drinks and small plates - sushi, sashimi, robata grill options and the famous bao buns. The indulgent desserts start from on the a la carte menu, but you can add one to your set meal for a fiver. Sample Menu: Korean fried wings; crispy duck leg with plum sauce, beetroot pickle & cucumber pickle, with two bao buns; S'more (strawberry marshmallows, almond chocolate, graham crackers) Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: Yes Available: Monday-Sunday until 6.45pm and after 10pm Nearest Tube: Covent Garden Book here There's also a Hawksmoor in Covent Garden - Hawksmoor Seven Dials - with the same offer as the Soho site above. Waterloo Tas at The Cut Good for fresh and tasty sharing plates Anatolian Turkish restaurant dishing up both hot and cold meze, sharing plates and freshly-baked pide bread, with a good choice for vegetarians and vegans. There are a number of set menus that would work as a pre-theatre meal, depending upon how hungry you are and how much time you have; we've gone for the lighter version, to avoid you nodding off during the show. Sample Menu: The Renk Meze Menu is a set group of ten meze including houmous topped with sautéed lamb, tzatziki, borek and falafel, served with pide. The Sahan Menu is a two-course starter and main set menu; think a feta salad followed by a grilled chicken shish, or red lentil soup with lamb meatballs in tomato sauce. Price: Both menus are a happily affordable per person. Veg options: Yes Available: All day Nearest Tube: Waterloo or Southwark Book here Paladar Good for vibrant flavours and friendly service 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 food menu is predominantly gluten-free. Lunchtime menu also available. Sample Menu: Crispy pork belly, arepa, guacamole, agave sriracha chilli sauce reduction; Seared prawns, Colombian Pacific coast salsa, plantain toston, suero costeño; purple corn churros, coffee dulce de leche & chilli chocolate sauce Price: 2 courses , 3 courses Veg options: Yes Available: Monday-Friday, 5pm-5.55pm Nearest Tube: Elephant and Castle Book here Meson Don Felipe Good for classic tapas and generous portions Family-run Spanish tapas bar minutes from the Old and Young Vic theatres and about 10 minutes from the National on the South Bank. Although there is no specific pre-theatre menu, it is a a much-loved local restaurant and a great place to grab a quick, delicious bite. The advantage of tapas is that you can decide on the size and length of your meal, depending on curtain-up time. Sample Menu: All your favourites: patatas bravas, pan con tomate, Iberico ham croquetas, paella, garlic prawns, tortilla. Portions are on the generous side, so you might want to order in batches; several of the wines are under a bottle. Price: Tapas dishes average around each Veg options: Yes Available: All day Nearest Tube: Waterloo or Southwark Book here While we do our best to ensure it is correct, information is subject to change. This article was originally published in Jan 24, 2022. Last updated in April 2024. Map Map below: