Best pre/post-theatre dining for the Almeida Theatre

So, you find yourself in Islington with tickets to the Almeida Theatre, one of London’s top theatres offering some great productions with big names all within an intimate space. You do not however want to be thrown out due to your stomach rumbling throughout the performance; it would seem sensible therefore to go for a pre-theatre bite. Where then should you eat if you want decent food in pleasant surroundings in time to get to the theatre for the usual 7:30 start; without the bill scorching a hole through your pocket during the performance?

Below you will find a guide to some of the London Food Review’s favourite pre/post-theatre eating spots within a short walk of Almeida Street.

​ALMEIDA 

Address - 30, Almeida Street, London. N1 1AD

Cuisine:  French

Telephone: 0207 354 4777

Though I have gone off the Almeida’s a la carte menu and find the décor a little dull, if going to the Almeida Theatre then the restaurant opposite is hard to beat. For £15.95 you get well executed French food, decent enough service and a tidy dining room. Being literally 5 seconds walk from the theatre means you can leave dining until that little later and the staff are always able to get you on your way in good time. Not the finest restaurant in London however reliable food, the price and sheer convenience combine to make it somewhere to return to time after time for pre/post-theatre.

FREDRICK'S

Address: Camden Passage, Islington, London. N1 8EG. 

​Cuisine: Modern European

Telephone: 0207 359 2888

Just off Upper Street you will find a delightful restaurant called Fredrick’s only a few minutes from the Almeida Theatre. The dining room is beautiful, the main part sitting beneath a high faulted glass roof; a pleasure to sit in at any time of year but especially in the summer months. The a la carte is not particularly cheap however they do offer a great pre-theatre menu. The three or four options for each course are a fine selection of modern European; with interesting takes on classic flavours and all executed with skill. With the wine list providing a reasonable selection at the lower end it makes Fredrick’s one of the most lavish places to go in the area for fine dining in time for the theatre – it certainly offers a little bit of something for everyone.  

LE MERCURY

Address: 40A, Upper Street. London. N1 1QY.

Cuisine: French

Telephone:  0207 354 408

Sitting on the corner of Almeida Street and Upper Street Le Mercury is also within spitting distance of the theatre. The food is French and unlike the other places that we are recommending you don’t have to eat off a set menu. The selection is considerable often having at least 8 starters and 8 mains to choose from. The cooking is unlikely to blow your socks off however it is tasty, comes out quickly and the house wine is very well priced – with all this on offer it really is a bargain. 

GALLIPOLI CAFE / BISTRO

​Address: 102, Upper Street, London. N1 1QP

Cuisine: Turkish & Lebanese

Telephone: 0207 359 0630

​They must be doing something right at Gallipoli as one of the most difficult things about eating there is finding the right one, thanks to its popularity the owners have opened two further restaurants within a stone’s throw all with pretty much the same name. Its popularity is however well deserved. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming and there are a number of set menus to choose from on top of the a la carte; a selection of 12 meze for £11.50 certainly isn’t over the top.  This is a great place to share a few small plates before popping down the road to the theatre. The staff are friendly and helpful – Gallipoli is a sure-fire way to start your evening out with enjoyable, reasonably-priced food.

Sea Fish - 205 Upper Street, London. N1 1RQ.

Cuisine: Fish & Chips

Telephone: 0207 354 0276

 Deal: £8 - £10 for fish and chips. 

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, however a few moments walk from the Almeida Theatre you will find Sea Fish, which is little more than a fish & chip shop. That said it is very good fish and chips, served in a pleasant and lively environment with decent, albeit eclectic at times, music and to top it off it is bring your own – though with a recently introduced corkage fee of £2.50. For many Sea Fish would tick all the boxes for a pre/post-theatre bite and with it being byo you can have a bottle of something a little better than usual; why not have a reasonable bottle of champagne and even with corkage you aren’t getting near the prices of a ‘cheap’ bottle in a more upmarket restaurant. There is certainly a time and a place for Sea Fish and with the right company one of those times could certainly be before a theatre trip. 

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Best pre/post-theatre restaurants for the Donmar Warehouse

To my mind London’s finest theatre for a number of years now has been the Donmar Warehouse in the Seven Dials area of Covent Garden. Few theatres can match the cosiness of the Donmar and fewer still can match the quality of the productions – the fact that so many international stars have been drawn back to the stage despite it only housing 250 seats and offering tickets at a fraction of the West End in general, is testament to this.

So, you have managed to get your tickets for the Donmar (no mean feat in itself in light of its popularity); the next task is finding somewhere to provide you with the sustenance to ensure that you are height of attentiveness for the world-class performance. Though it may at first thought be a simple task all too often it is not. Finding somewhere that opens earlier enough to dine in good time to get to the theatre and order the interval drinks, as well as offering good food and also being at a price that does not seem beyond the pale for what has been a swift bite is not straight-forward.

At the London Food Review we have come with a guide to some of those places that should be on the short list for that pre/post-Donmar meal.

Clos Maggiore - 33, King’s Street, London. WC2E 8JD.

 Cuisine:  Modern European

Telephone: 0207 379 9696

Deal: 2 courses & half a bottle of wine or 3 courses for £21.50.

Certainly one of my favourite restaurants in London, the décor, food and service combine to make any meal at Clos Maggiore memorable and exceptionally good. I would not however pop in her for the a la carte pre-theatre as it would not seem to do the food justice to have to be out by 7pm – luckily the restaurant has also realised this and offered what I believe to be the best pre-theatre in London. For £21.50 you can either have three courses or two courses and half a bottle of wine. The selection is not enormous, however I have never had a poor dish at Maggiore. Being a little over 5 minutes from the Donmar it is perfectly placed and I can’t imagine a better culinary start to an evening at the theatre.

Mon Plaisir - 19 – 21, Monmouth Street, London. WC2H 9DD.

Cuisine:  French

Telephone: 0207 836 7243

Deal: 2 courses £12.95

This is a very French restaurant that is just around the corner from the Donmar and is an excellent choice for pre-theatre. Whilst I find the a la carte a little expensive at times at £12.95 the pre-theatre menu is fantastic value. You will often get only a choice of two items per course however there is usually something for everyone; which are often accompanied by big bowls of veg & starch which allow you to fill up to your heart’s content. The décor is pleasant, the staff make sure you get out in good time to get to the theatre and the food is extremely reliable – a great pre-theatre choice.

Joe Allen - 13, Exeter Street, London. WC2E 7DT.

Cuisine: North American

Telephone: 0207 836 0651

Deal: 2 courses £16.00

I can’t say I find the fact that the restaurant repeatedly describes itself as legendary particularly endearing; however that apart Joe Allen is a great choice for pre-theatre. The North American menu sees influences from across the continent, offering simple and well sourced dishes. The pre-theatre provides you with a selection of three dishes per course for £16.00; there often being a particularly pleasant sounding vegetarian option. The restaurant has a cosiness to it that creates a warm and relaxed environment in which to eat. Being only a short walk from the Donmar it is definitely one to keep in mind.

Incognico - 117, Shaftsbury Avenue, London. WC2H 8AD.

Cuisine: Modern European

Telephone: 0207 836 8866

Deal: 2 courses £19.50

The mixed French and Italian menu at Incognico is always worth a stab pre-theatre. Despite its uber-modern exterior the dining space is surprisingly classical. The dining room is dark wood with unctuous leather banquettes, providing a pleasant setting in which to enjoy the traditional cooking. The pre-theatre menu is large, with an offering of 5 dishes for each course, with something for everyone. The food is well cooked and pleasantly filling, the service is attentive and the décor only adds to the occasion. There is certainly no need to avoid Incognico when looking for that pre-Donmar nibble.     

Axis at One Aldwych - One Aldwych, London. WC2B 4BZ.

Cuisine: British

Telephone: 0207 300 0300

Deal: 2 courses £21.50

A restaurant that doesn’t have quite enough soul to be a great option for dinner out for the full a la carte menu, having a little bit too much of a business lunch / hotel feel to it; however it hits the spot for pre-theatre. The dining room isn’t exciting however has a grandness to it, the service is extremely efficient and the British food is reliable, well sourced and tasty. At £21.50 the pre-theatre menu  provides three choices for each course. Only a short walk to the Donmar, dining at Axis provides an upmarket start to your evening out without the usual high prices.  

10 of our favourite Italian restaurants in London

There are some Italian restaurants across the capital that simply make you want to shout ‘Mamma mia, that was amazing.’ Below you will find a selection of recommendations from the London Food Review; hopefully with something for mosts tastes and wallets. 

Zucca - 184, Bermondsey Street. London. SE1 3TQ.

0207 378 6809

Price:   

This London Bridge Italian was received overwhelmingly positive plaudits since its launch. Classic Italian food cooked in an expert manner. The food is not out to dazzle, however the clean and simple flavours do all of the talking. A great addition to London’s restaurant scene – at these prices no wonder it is always packed.

Franco Manca - Unit 4, Market Row, London. SW9 8LD.

0207 738 3021

Price:

It may be surprising that the restaurant heralded as producing the finest pizzas in the UK is found split between two sides of a thoroughfare in Brixton Market – but you will just have to get used to it. 6 pizzas to choose from, choose red or white wine and that’s it; all you have to do then is devour the stunning blistered pizza dough with toppings to delight the taste buds.

Daphne’s -112, Draycott Avenue, London. SW3 3AE.

0207 589 4257

Price: 

 This South Kensington based restaurant serves some of the most elegant Italian food that you will find in the capital. The onus is on freshness and seasonality and this comes through in the great food. The dining room and service is fantastic; providing the perfect place to sit down for a fantastic meal.

Antipasto & Pasta - 511, Battersea Park Rd, London. SW11 3BW.

0207 223 9765

Price:

 This unassuming family run restaurant has always been a favourite with the locals. Honest Italian food served at honest prices. You would struggle to find a warmer welcome in London – that is probably why people keep going back again and again. Usually heaving, this really is a gem. Look out for the 50% off offer for over half of the week, including weekends.

Locanda Locatelli - 8, Seymour Street, London. W1H 7JZ.

0207 935 9088

Price:

 This Mayfair Italian remains Giorgio Locatelli’s flagship and continues to draw a huge crowd.  In these opulent surroundings you are treated to first class service; that is only the start however has the food is divine. The only real downside to this restaurant is the difficulty in getting a table – clearly everyone wants a piece of the action.

Trullo - 300 – 301, St. Paul’s Road, London. N1 2LH.

0207 226 2733

Price:  

 This Italian restaurant, a stone’s throw from Highbury & Islington tube has wowed the critics and diners alike since its launch. The exquisitely simple menu at extremely reasonable prices seems to tick the right boxes for most people. It gets very busy, which is certainly well deserved. A great addition to what north London has to offer and one that is certainly worth a go.

Polpo - 41, Beak Street, Soho, London. W1F 9SB.

0207 734 4479

Price:

 This Italian bacaro has been exceptionally popular since its relatively recent opening. Its refusal to accept bookings for evening service mean that there are almost always queues reaching out of the door. The small sharing plates at reasonable prices allow you to have a beautiful selection from the menu. With good service and pleasant surroundings there are surely few places that are better suited to catching up with friends over some great food and wine. Simply a gem.

River Café - Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, London. W6 9HA.

0207 386 4200

Price:

 One of London’s most celebrated restaurants and even a fire couldn’t stop it in its tracks. The River Café serves some of the simplest dishes you will find, however they are executed to perfection. The prices aren’t for the feint hearted; however you certainly get something special for the money. One of West London’s finest eateries; go there and you will receive a lesson in how Italian food should taste.

Caraffini - 61 – 63, Lower Sloane Street, London. SW1 8DH.

0207 259 0235

Price:

 A Sloane Square stalwart that seems to have been around forever. Some would say that it is getting a little dated, however for us that is very much part of its charm. In a world where the trendy up and comers often dominate; this tranquil Italian plods on; cracking out great Italian food to the hungry masses. Rarely will you have a poor dish here – where reliable and relaxed are the watch words then Caraffini excels.

Bocca di Lupo - 12, Archer Street, London. W1D 7BB.

0207 734 2223

Price:

 Nestled in the heart of Soho you can find a realtively new addition to the London restaurant scene - but it is certainly a positive addition. The menu is largely rustic Italian, with the onus on ordering a little bit of everything to share with the table. It isn't cheap however the food is stunningly fresh and simply delicious; the wine list is also well worth a read.