Restaurant near Aldwych Theatre?

Abby21

Hi

I am going to see Dirty Dancing in Aldwych theatre next Sat ngt - and was wondering if anyone could give me some suggestions for nice restaurant (not hideously pricey) that we could have a meal at before?

I see on the map it is near Covent Garden? We are not fussy - italian/chinese etc - only food OH hates is Indian!!

Any suggestions would be great!

Also afterwards would like to go somewhere for few drinks - pub with live music etc? Not into nightclubs!

Thanks

lokiman

I can heartily recommend PJ's Grill on Drury Lane. My wife and I had a pre-theatre meal there a few months ago, and I was very pleased. In that area of London, it's so easy to get taken for a ride in some crappy tourist trap, so I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least. You can check out the menu and prices at the website:

http://www.pjscoventgarden.co.uk/pjs-home.php

Bargain_Rzl

A few suggestions:

Sarastro on Drury Lane is really unique and quirky. It's a full-on theatrical-themed restaurant with really OTT decor (red velvet, gold cornicing, balcony areas, walls covered in pictures and murals etc). Food is decent, sort of Turkish/East Mediterranean based. It has a sister restaurant, Papageno on Wellington Street (which is just a couple of blocks away) but the atmosphere doesn't really compare. http://www.sarastro-restaurant.com/indexfr.html

Other than that, some of the chains round there are pretty good. If you like fish there's Livebait (Wellington Street - and you can pay for the food (not including drinks, service etc) with Tesco Deals vouchers) or, more upmarket and better, Loch Fyne (Catherine Street) where you can get 2 courses plus a glass of wine for £11 before 7pm (this is a standard offer till November - no voucher required).

Personally, for all-purpose reliable inexpensive pre/post theatre food in that area, I generally end up at Zizzi's (Bow Street) or Masala Zone (Floral Street) but the latter will be no good if your OH doesn't like Indian.

Bargain_Rzl

Oh - for your post-show drinks, I don't know about live music pubs because personally I avoid them, but what I can suggest is good solid real ale pubs. My favourite's the Harp on Chandos Place (less than 10 mins walk from Aldwych) where there are always several well kept guest ales on plus Tim Taylor's Landlord and Harvey's Sussex Best. But if you wanted somewhere closer to the theatre, there are several decent pubs - the Sun (not the one on Drury Lane, the one on a little side alley between May's Court and Long Acre) is nice, and if you cross over Long Acre from there, there's another nice one whose name escapes me - think it's called the Freemason's Arms. The Lowlander on Drury Lane specialises in Belgian beer and I love it, though it is quite expensive and always absolutely heaving on Saturday nights.

pooler_2

I went to see Dirty Dancing last year, and afterwards went to eat at Sarastro, as Bargain rzl suggests. I really enjoyed the food, I had Mediterranean Lamb, which was so tender. It was well priced too. I'd be pleased to recommend it!

Hope you enjoy the show!

Pooler