Pre-theatre dinner: The best restaurants to visit before the theatre in London

Zoe Paskett

Updated 17 August 2018 at 7:47 am

Look, we’ve all done it. We’ve all gone to a restaurant before a show thinking we had plenty of time, only to scald our throats on soup and make a dash for it through the rain.

Imagine how easy it would be if you had a leisurely(ish) dinner and arrived at the theatre with time to spare.

There are countless pre-theatre menus in London, especially around the West End, so we’ve made it a bit easier for you by rounding up the closest – and best – near the theatre your play is at.

From the West End to a bit further afield, here’s where you can find the best pre-theatre menus to suit your show.

Hawksmoor Seven Dials

If you’re looking to fill up on the hearty stuff before your show, steak is the way to go. The Hawksmoor set express menu will get you a couple of courses for £25 or three for £28, if you order before 6.30pm.

Best for: Cambridge Theatre, Arts Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Ambassadors Theatre, St Martin’s Theatre, Royal Opera House.

11 Langley Street, WC2H 9JG, thehawksmoor.com

Kaspar’s

One for the seafood enthusiasts: it’s all cod, crayfish and crab at Kaspar’s at the Savoy. There’s plenty of seasonal delights here and it’s best to book a table to avoid disappointment. The Savoy Theatre is mere metres away but it’s also a good one for the other playhouses on the Strand. Two courses come in at £32 and three at £36.

Best for: Savoy Theatre, Aldwych Theatre, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Lyceum Theatre, Vaudeville Theatre, Duchess Theatre, Novello Theatre, Adelphi Theatre

The Savoy, Strand, WC2R 0EZ, kaspars.co.uk

The Petersham

One of the newer additions to the pre-theatre menu line-up, the Petersham gives you a choice of three dishes for each course (two for £27.50, three for £30.50). Think burrata for starter, roast chicken for main and a raspberry tart for afters. This being one of the Petersham Nurseries site, it's naturally gorgeous, too.

Best for: Vaudeville Theatre, Adelphi Theatre, Savoy Theatre, Noel Coward Theatre, Duke of York’s Theatre, Arts Theatre, Wyndham’s Theatre

Floral Court, WC2E 9FB petershamnurseries.com

Hix Soho

It may be but one cog in the machine of Mark Hix’s empire, but Hix Soho is still fab. With two courses for £18.50 and three for £23.50, tuck into cured salmon and fisherman’s spelt, finishing with a Peruvian gold chocolate mousse. Oh, and pop into Mark’s Bar for a tipple before heading for the West End.

Best for: Apollo Theatre, Gielgud Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre, Queen’s Theatre

66-70 Brewer Street, W1F 9UP, hixsoho.co.uk

Brasserie Zedel

In this decadent underground dining hall, you can really get your money’s worth with their set menu. For a starter of Carottes Râpées, main of Steak Haché and a chocolate delight for dessert, it’s £10.50 for two courses or £13.75 for three. You can even pop next door for a cocktail and some live jazz if you have some time to kill.

Best for: Prince of Wales Theatre, Harold Pinter Theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Her Majesty’s Theatre

20 Sherwood Street, W1F 7ED, brasseriezedel.com

Quo Vadis

The Soho Set from Jeremy Lee’s historic restaurant will give you two courses for £17.50 or three for £22.50. The menu tends to change with Lee’s inspiration and the season but you can expect a soup or terrine to start, before moving onto a delicious fish fillet and finishing with a meringue mess or buttermilk pudding.

Best for: Soho Theatre, Palace Theatre, Apollo Theatre, Gielgud Theatre, Queen’s Theatre

26-29 Dean Street, W1D 3LL, quovadissoho.co.uk

Aquavit

Pioneer in bringing Nordic cooking to the masses, Aquavit has Michelin Star written all over it. Its theatre menu begins with a smörgåsbord – herring, blood pudding and liver pate – with Swedish meatballs among the mains. Tuck in at £22 for two courses and £25 for three.

Best for: Harold Pinter Theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre

St James’s Market, 1 Carlton Street, SW1Y 4QQ, aquavitrestaurants.com

Dalloway Terrace

Named after Bloomsbury local Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway, this restaurant delivers classic British food in stunning surrounds. The pre-theatre offering comes in at £35 for three courses, with Dorset crab on toast, the Bloomsbury burger and chocolate and coffee fondant among the dishes.

Best for: Dominion Theatre, Phoenix Theatre

16-22 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3NN, dallowayterrace.com

House

Why walk the extra mile when the National Theatre’s in-house restaurant is just as good? Two courses at House come in at £22 and £26 for three. Its dainty dishes are a contemporary take on the classics, with pork fillet and baked plaice on offer, as well as a vegan cheesecake mousse for dessert.

Best for: National Theatre, Southbank Centre

Upper Ground, SE1 9PX nationaltheatre.org.uk

Menier Chocolate Factory

With set menus specially themed to the current play, the Menier Chocolate Factory restaurant goes all out. Booking the Meal Deal means diners get a discount on tickets and food (prices vary depending on the show). These do sell out, so there’s also the option of just having the set menu – it’s £17 for two courses and £20 for three.

53 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU, https://www.menierchocolatefactory.com

Skylon

For the views alone, Skylon is a kicker. Rising up out of the Royal Festival Hall, this restaurant is all about seasonal modern British cuisine. With two courses for £25 and three for £30, choose from mains of sea bream, flat iron steak and confit duck leg.

Best for: Southbank Centre, National Theatre

Royal Festival Hall, SE1 8XX, skylon-restaurant.co.uk

Hai Cenato

Meaning “have you had dinner?” in Italian, Hai Cenato is Jason Atherton’s tribute to New York Italian food. There’s just the option of two courses (£18.50), but you won’t be needing much more after a starter of confit ham hock risotto followed by a big ol’ cheesy pizza.

Best for: Apollo Victoria, The Other Palace, Victoria Palace Theatre

79 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1E 5DJ, haicenato.co.uk

The Cut

Inside the Young Vic’s building (but independent from it) The Cut is perfect for both of your Vics. There isn’t strictly a set theatre menu, but everything is designed to be served in time for the show. There are various meat, veg and fish dishes to choose from or, if you want a set price, go for the five tapas plates for £18.50.

Best for: Young Vic, Old Vic

Young Vic Theatre, 66 The Cut, SE1 8LZ, thecutbar.com

Radici

Previously the Almeida Theatre (you can see where this one’s going), Radici was taken over by D&D London and star chef Francesco Mazzei. With a bargain £15 for two courses or £18 for three, theatregoers can tuck into something simple and delicious – fried sardines, pizza, or pork belly – before scooting across the road.

Best for: Almeida, King’s Head Theatre

30 Almeida Street, N1 1AD, radici.uk

Frederick’s

Family run Frederick’s dates back to 1969 and is a local institution, with its secret garden and airy conservatory. The set menu will change regularly but, for £17 or £21, you can get two or three courses of something along the lines of poached salmon and goat’s cheese quiche.