Best pre-theatre dinner menus in London
Pre-theatre menus are the perfect way to guarantee a stress-free evening at the West End.
Let's face it, finding somewhere to eat in Central London is incredibly stressful.
We're sure most people have experienced the pain of trudging from restaurant to restaurant and finding every single one packed to the rafters – often with a 10-person-deep queue trailing onto the cobblestones.
Add in the pressure of needing to eat before you head off to an event like the theatre and forget it, your evening is about to become a straight-up nightmare.
So, to prevent such manic moments from spoiling your evening, we'd strongly suggest booking a pre-theatre menu.
London, especially the West End, is practically overflowing with these handy dining options, which offer a set two or three-course meal at an already fixed price. They're often cheaper than just ordering from the menu, and they only run in the early evening, which means they're specifically designed to be served quickly during those precious pre-theatre hours.
Below, we've assembled some of our favourite pre-theatre dinner options, containing a range of prices and cuisines from Italian and Indian to French and British fine dining.
Let's tuck in.
- Buy Theatre Tickets and Pre-Theatre Dining for Two voucher at Buy a Gift
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How to find cheap and affordable pre-theatre dinner options in London
To find cheap pre-theatre dining, we'd recommend looking at the restaurants with a set menu.
Normally, these menus will even be called "pre-theatre menus" and offer a small selection of two or three-course meals for a fixed price. They usually run between 5pm and 7pm, making it much easier for you to eat, pay and get to the show.
Which London restaurants have the best pre-theatre dinner menus?
The Ivy Market Grill
Price: 2 courses for £20.95
Cuisine: Modern European
Location: Covent Garden
Nearby theatres: Adelphi, Lyceum, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Aldwych, Novello
The Ivy's restaurants are always a blend of cultures and cooking style; often blending classically European ingredients with Asian-style flavouring to produce a dainty little dish that just screams fine dining.
On their current 1917 Heritage menu, you'll find delicate starters such as a Kiln-roasted Salmon Rillette and Confit Rabbit Croquettes, with mains that include Gochujang Glazed Aubergine Salad and Minute Steak. You can also get desserts for an additional £6.50.
Book a table at the Ivy Market Grill
Cinnamon Bazaar
Price: 2 courses for £22 / 3 courses for £25
Cuisine: Indian
Location: Covent Garden
Nearby theatres: Adelphi, Lyceum, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Aldwych, Novello, Noël Coward
Cinnamon Bazaar has restaurants in Covent Garden and Richmond; both offering bold flavours from India and the surrounding sub-continent. Their aim is to offer guests the authentic Indian market experience by blending modern cultural influences with classic spices, all wrapped up in a bright neon setting. The highlights of their pre-theatre menu include Masala Grilled Sea Bream, Double-cooked Pork Belly, and Tandoori Kentish Lamb Loin.
Book a table at Cinnamon Bazaar
Brasserie Zédel
Price: 2 courses for £17.50 / 3 courses for £21.50
Cuisine: French
Location: Piccadilly Circus
Nearby theatres: Sondheim, Theatre Royal Haymarket, His Majesty's Theatre
With the ethos of "traditional French food at remarkably good value" at its heart, Brasserie Zédel is the perfect choice if you want a fancy feel for half the price. On their fixed price menu, they offer up a choice of two vegetarian starters, Curried Butter Dahl or Chopped Steak as a main and Petit Pear Belle Hélène Coupe or Chocolate and Passion Fruit Delice as dessert.
Book a table at Brasserie Zédel
Sushi Samba
Price: 3 courses for £39
Cuisine: Japanese
Location: Covent Garden
Nearby theatres: Adelphi, Lyceum, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Aldwych, Novello
For culinary fusion at its finest, we'd recommend trying out Sushi Samba – a global restaurant chain that offers a vibrant combination of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine.
Their food is born from an era in the early 20th century when thousands of Japanese emigrants travelled to South America for farming, and has proved hugely popular in the West End. On just the set menu alone you'll find fresh sushi paired with octopus and chorizo anticuchos and the chef's choice of Samba Roll.
Whitcomb's at the Londoner
Price: 2 courses for £29/ 3 courses for £34
Cuisine: French Mediterranean
Location: Leicester Square
Nearby theatres: Wyndham's, Garrick, Leicester Square Theatre, Noël Coward, Duke of York's, Theatre Royal Haymarket
For fresh Mediterranean flavours, crisp wines and that perfect summery feel, try the pre-theatre menu at Whitcomb's, located in the famous Londoner Hotel in Leicester Square. Their offerings of steak tartare, Tuscan baked cod and Tarte Tatin will have you feeling like you've been whisked away to the continent – unless the weather betrays you, of course.
Book a table at Whitcomb's at the Londoner
Steak and Company
Price: 2 courses for £25.50/ 3 courses for £29.50
Cuisine: Steak and grill
Location: Leicester Square/Piccadilly Circus/Covent Garden
Nearby theatres: Noël Coward, Wyndham's, Leicester Square Theatre/Theatre Royal Haymarket, His Majesty's Theatre, Lyric/Cambridge, Adelphi, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Lyceum
Steak and Company have three locations in the locus of West End theatres, all featuring a set menu that really packs a punch.
Just looking at the mains alone, there are six options to choose from – more than the usual pre-theatre options – including a Burrata and Pistachio Pesto Fettuccine, Chicken Parmigiana, and either the Tuna Fillet or Steak Hot Stone Experience, where your meal is served on a sizzling hot stone that just screams theatrical. Plus, Happy Hour is Monday to Friday from 3pm, so you can get the second drink free.
Book a table at Steak and Company
Sicily
Price: 2 courses for £17.95/ 3 courses for £20.95
Cuisine: Italian
Location: Victoria
Nearby theatres: Cadogan Hall, Apollo Victoria, The Other Palace
You can't go wrong with a pizza, can you? So, for those heading to see Wicked or something fresh and exciting at The Other Palace, take a trip to Sicily and sample their hearty and authentic Italian cuisine. Their set pre-theatre menu includes classics such as bruschetta, arancini, Pizza Piccante and Spaghetti Bolognese.
Lasdun
Price: 2 courses for £32/ 3 courses for £38
Cuisine: Modern British
Location: South Bank
Nearby theatres: National Theatre, Dorfman, County Hall
If you're looking for decadence combined with hefty flavours, not to mention an easy location, take a look at Lasdun. This restaurant is from the team behind The Marksman Public House in Hackney and sits within the walls of the National Theatre itself. The set menu is British to a tee, with braised pork shoulder, smoked haddock and cod fishcake and a chicken and wild garlic pie to share between two.
The Portrait by Richard Corrigan
Price: 2 courses for £35/ 3 courses for £39
Cuisine: Modern British
Location: Trafalgar Square
Nearby theatres: Charing Cross, Garrick, Noël Coward, Trafalgar, His Majesty's Theatre
BBC fans may recognise Richard Corrigan as a judge on Great British Menu or as a frequent guest on Saturday Kitchen. The Two-Michelin-Star chef runs a string of restaurants across London and in 2023 opened his latest venture: The Portrait, found on the fourth floor of the National Portrait Gallery.
Marrying delicate fine dining with stunning views of Trafalgar Square, this restaurant is the perfect choice if you want your theatre trip to feel truly special. Highlights of the set menu include confit duck leg, tikka celeriac and fried plaice.
Book a table at The Portrait by Richard Corrigan
Big Easy
Price: 1 course for £11/ £5 for each extra course
Cuisine: Texas BBQ grill
Location: Covent Garden
Nearby theatres: Adelphi, Lyceum, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Aldwych, Novello, Noël Coward
If you're looking for something less formal and more filling, Big Easy is here to provide. With a set menu boasting a lobster and shrimp roll with chunky chops, aged cheddar mac and cheese and the humbly named Home-Smoked Bar.B.Q Taste-O-Rama, you're sure to be leaving happy and satisfied.
Gunpowder
Price: 5 small plates for £22
Cuisine: Indian
Location: Soho/Tower Bridge
Nearby theatres: Prince Edward, Palace Theatre, Soho Theatre, Sondheim, Gielgud/Bridge Theatre, Unicorn Theatre
Gunpowder is a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds, giving you the best of Indian cuisine with a contemporary twist. Unlike other pre-theatre menus, the restaurant swaps two courses for five small plates served at once. These are: Gunpowder Chaat, Bengali Beetroot Croquettes, Tandoori Chicken Chop, Egg Curry Masala and Steamed Rice.
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Zahter
Price: 4 courses for £42
Cuisine: Turkish mezze
Location: Soho
Nearby theatres: London Palladium, Soho Theatre, Sondheim
Zahter prides itself on being a portal to the "history and vast ethnic heritage" of Istanbul. Showcasing rich and vibrant flavours across a range of mezze dishes, it's perfect for both light bites and larger meals. On their pre-theatre menu, you'll find a range of hot and cold mezze such as wood oven tiger prawns and Muhammara, plus mains of beef fillet skewers and marinated chicken thighs.
Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill
Price: 2 courses for £35/ 3 courses for £39
Cuisine: Fish
Location: Mayfair
Nearby theatres: Lyric, Theatre Royal Haymarket, His Majesty's Theatre
Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill opened in 1916 but has been under the previously mentioned Richard Corrigan for 20 years. The mantra is simple: fresh line-caught fish and sea food with fine seasonal ingredients. The set meal bears this ethos exceptionally well with smoked haddock, crab and gnocchi adorning the menu.
Book a table at Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill
Bocca Di Lupo
Price: 2 courses for £18/ 3 courses for £24
Cuisine: Italian
Location: Soho
Nearby theatres: Sondheim, Leicester Square Theatre, Prince Edward
Bocca Di Lupo takes its roots seriously, using its menu to showcase the 20 main dialects of Italian cuisine. The menu is updated daily and strives to adapt to the seasons in terms of the produce used. Currently, the pre-theatre menu is a riot of flavour with Farinata (chickpea pancake) and agrodolce courgettes, minestrone verde with pesto and persimmon sorbet & candied walnuts.
Make sure you also check out our guide to the best immersive dining London experiences, plus how to get cheap theatre tickets.
