We've already told you where to get the best set lunch deals in London - but another way to eat well at a bargain price is through the humble theatre menu. Available for a short period pre (and sometimes post) the curtain going up these offer great value at some of London's top dining destinations. We've kept our choice centred around London's main theatre districts.
As with the set menu offers - it's worthwhile asking if you can add another dish if you're craving something not on the menu, but be warned that the restaurants will be more prone to a spot of table turning with these offers as they try to get you out in time for the show, and more diners in at the peak times around 8pm.
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
13-15 West Street, London WC2H 9NE
In a nutshell: A Michelin-starred restaurant from Joël Robuchon (who has many other stars awarded to his other restaurants). Expect small plate French cooking, with some Japanese and Spanish influences.
Theatre menu offer: Three courses £45, five courses £65.
Theatre menu times: Monday to Saturday 5.30-6.30pm
Find out more about L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
Aquavit
St James's Market 1 Carlton Street, London SW1Y 4QQ
In a nutshell: This all day St James's Market restaurant serves up Nordic cuisine and the pre-theatre deal is a great way to try it out, even if you're not going on to the theatre.
Theatre menu offer: Two courses £22, three courses £25. Two to three choices per course
Theatre menu times: 5.30-6.30pm and 9.30-10.30pm
Bentley's
11-15 Swallow Street, London W1B 4DG
In a nutshell: Bentley's Oyster Bar and Grill is one of the London homes for famed Irish chef Richard Corrigan. This theatre menu is limited to the grill, but we'd recommend getting a couple of oysters at the bar while you're there too.
Theatre menu offer:The post-theatre offering here is fish pie and a glass of fizz here for £25
Theatre menu times:After 10pm
Bocca di Lupo
12 Archer St, Soho, London W1D 7BB
In a nutshell: Jacob Kenedy's longstanding Soho spot is a top place for seasonal Italian food. Best place to perch? Up at the counter.
Theatre menu offer: Daily changing one dish menu for £10.
Theatre menu times: 5.30pm until 7pm
Find out more about Bocca di Lupo
Boulestin
5 St James's Street, London SW1A 1EF
In a nutshell: This popular restaurant originally opened in 1927 and has now been revived by Joel Kissin - who used to be Terence Conran's partner at Conran restaurants. It is a luxury French bistro with a separate cafe called Café Marcel, offering "lighter fare".
Theatre menu offer: Restaurant menu - £19.50 for two courses and £24.50 for three courses, Cafe menu two courses for £15.50, three courses for £19.50.
Theatre menu times: Restaurant: 5.00pm - 7.00pm, 9.30pm - 10.30pm; also available Saturday lunchtime. Cafe Midday - 7.00pm, 10.00pm - Close
Brasserie Zedel
20 Sherwood Street, London W1F 7ED
In a nutshell: This huge basement restaurant is from Corbin and King, the people behind The Wolseley, Delaunay and more, and is surprisingly affordable for just a central and lavish restaurant. The prix fixe isn't strictly a theatre menu, but still represents a great deal - and it's available all day.
Theatre menu offer: Prix Fixe menus £10.50 for two courses & £13.75 for three courses (single choice available).
Theatre menu times: 11.30am until midnight
Find out more about Brasserie Zedel
Cafe Monico
39-45 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 6LA
In a nutshell: Soho House's glamorous Shaftesbury Avenue restaurant doesn't do a theatre menu as such but it does offer two types of set menu that it runs all day, every day.
Theatre menu offer: The West End is two courses for £18.50, three for £24 and the Premier is two ccourses for £24.50 and three for £29. Both have three choices per course
Theatre menu times: All day
Find out more about Cafe Monico
Cafe Murano
33 St James's St, London SW1A 1HD
In a nutshell: Angela Hartnett opened this sister restaurant to Mayfair’s Murano with head chef Sam Williams at the helm. An instant hit, it serves regionally focused Italian dishes in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. They also do thewtre packages which include tickets.
Theatre menu offer: Two courses for £19 and three courses for £23.
Theatre menu times: Available at lunch, or pre/post-theatre between 12pm – 7.00pm, and from 10pm – 11pm.
Find out more about Cafe Murano
Cinnamon Soho
5 Kingly Street, London W1B 5PF
In a nutshell: Vivek Singh brought his new Indian resturant to the heart of Soho, which is in a similar style to the original Cinnamon Kitchen.
Theatre menu offer: two courses for £22 or three courses for £25. Four to five choices per course (sides cost extra).
Theatre menu times: Between 5.30pm - 6.30pm & after 9.30pm
Find out more about Cinnamon Soho
Clos Maggiore
33 King St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8JD
In a nutshell: Clos Maggiore is often touted as one of the most romantic restaurants in London and is blessed with a fantastic looking (and heated) courtyard. Expect a classic French menu and a huge wine list too.
Theatre menu offer: Pre-theatre (5-6pm) Monday to Thursday - two courses for £28.50 and three for £34.50 Friday and Saturday - two courses £34.50. Post theatre Monday-Thursday 10pm-11pm - two courses for £28.50 and three for £34.50. Three choices per course - sides and cheese course extra.
Find out more about Clos Maggiore
Christopher's
18 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7DD
In a nutshell: Christopher's is a high-end American grill, just off Covent Garden. It's only recently had a complete refurb and now boasts a new menu too.
Theatre menu offer: two courses for £22.50, three courses for £26.50. Three to four choices per course, sides extra.
Theatre menu times: Monday to Saturday 5pm – 6.15pm & 10pm – 11.30pm
Find out more about Christopher's
Hawksmoor Air Street and Hawksmoor Seven Dials
5a Air Street, London, W1J 0AD and 11 Langley Street, London WC2H 9JG
In a nutshell: Hawksmoor's two central steak emporiums aren't usually considered the most affordable affairs, but their express menu does give you a taste of Hawksmoor at a very good price, leaving you more to spend on their cocktails...
Theatre menu offer: Express menu two courses £25, three courses £28. Three+ choices per course - one side included.
Theatre menu times: 12-3pm, 5-6.30pm, 10pm onwards
Find out more about Hawksmoor Air Street
Find out more about Hawksmoor Seven Dials
Hix Soho
66-70, Brewer Street, London W1F 9TR
In a nutshell: Mark Hix's Soho restaurant serves modern British food and is also blessed with the excellent Mark's bar downstairs.
Theatre menu offer: two courses £19.50, three for £23.50. Three choices per course.
Theatre menu times: Daily 12-6.30pm and 10pm-11pm
Ivy Market Grill
1 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8PS
In a nutshell: This is the spin-off of the main Ivy, a London institution.
Theatre menu offer: two courses £16.50, three for £21. Three to four choices in each course - sides extra.
Theatre menu times: Daily (excluding Saturday) 4.30pm-7pm and 9.30-11.30pm
Find out more about Ivy Market Grill
Joe Allen
2 Burleigh St, London WC2E 7PX
In a nutshell: Joe Allen is probably best known as a theatre restaurant, particularly given the posters that adorn its walls. Expect an American themed menu and if you have time you may also want to order their well reviewed off-menu burger too.
Theatre menu offer: Set menu two courses £15.95, three courses £18.95
Theatre menu times: Daily 12-7pm
Lima Floral
14 Garrick Street (Floral Street entrance), Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9BJ
In a nutshell: The second LIma in London, this offers fresh Peruvian dishes - plus there's a bar serving smaller dishes downstairs too.
Theatre menu offer: £14 for 2 courses; £18 for 3 courses. Three options per course.
Theatre menu times: Monday to Friday 5pm - 6pm
Find out more about Lima Floral
MASH
7 Brewer Street, London W1F 9ZN
In a nutshell: Another central London steakhouse - this time one that's been imported from Denmark.
Theatre menu offer: Two courses £22, three courses £25 (including coffee). Choice of two types of steak or chicken for mains - includes one side.
Theatre menu times: 5.30pm to 7.00pm and 9.45pm to 11.00pm
NOPI
21-22 Warwick Street, London W1B 5NE
In a nutshell: This is Yotam Ottolenghi's main central London brasserie and focuses on sharing dishes of Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine.
Theatre menu offer: five dishes to share - £25.50 per person. Single option per course.
Theatre menu times: Monday - Friday 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Quo Vadis
26-29 Dean Street, London, W1D 3LL
In a nutshell: This Soho institution is now the home of chef Jeremy Lee and has a daily changing British menu. Their theatre set menu is actually available all day and is excellent value for the area.
Theatre menu offer: £17.50 for two courses, £22.50 for three courses. Two choices available.
Theatre menu times: All day
Savoy Grill
The Savoy Hotel, Strand, London WC2R 0EU
In a nutshell: Gordon Ramsay took over the Savoy Grill when the hotel recently reopened and it remains a London institution. It's also well worth trying to get a drink in the American Bar too - but expect the drinks to be almost as expensive as your meal.
Theatre menu offer: two courses for £31, three courses for £35. Three choices per course, sides extra.
Theatre menu times: Monday to Friday from 5:00pm until 6:30pm and 9.30pm to 10.30pm
Find out more about the Savoy Grill
Stoke House
81 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0AJ
In a nutshell: Nova Victoria spot Stoke House is all about the meat which is cooked in the wood fire smoker, there’s also an in-house salad wall.
Theatre menu offer: Two-courses for £15 or three for £20
Theatre menu times: Monday to Sunday from 3pm-7pm
Find out more about Stoke House
Tapas Brindisa
18-20 Rupert St, London W1D 6DF
In a nutshell: Tucked in away from the main Shaftesbury Avenue drag, this tapas restaurant serves up good quality Spanish fare.
Theatre menu offer: Picoteo, tapas and a main from the grill £19.95. Three choices per course
Theatre menu times: Monday to Friday 4.30-7pm and Saturday 11am to 7pm.
Tredwells
4a Upper St Matin's Lane, London WC2H 9NY
In a nutshell: Part of the Marcus Wareing stable, Tredwells under chef Chantelle Nicholson serves up contemporary British cooking in the heart of the West End. There's also two bar areas serving chef-inspired cocktails making this a top drinking spot too.
Theatre menu offer:Two courses £25, three courses £30.
Theatre menu times: Available at lunch or before 6:30pm, Monday - Sunday; and from 9pm Monday - Thursday, and from 9:45pm Friday - Sunday.
Theatre menus, mapped.
Here's where the restaurants offering theatre menus are located.
