Two ravenous 12-year-old boys trial Tilly Ramsay's approved kids menu, at dad Gordon Ramsay's family-friendly London grill restaurant
Heddon Street Kitchen, London
Taking your family for a day out in central London means considering how you are going to appease those inevitable rumbling tummies. Fun as sightseeing is, when you find yourself hungry after shopping at Hamleys, or wandering around Leicester or Trafalgar Square, you might have previously despaired at the lack of dining options available in that locale.
However, the London restaurant scene has improved over the past five years, especially in the Oxford Circus and Piccadilly areas, to now include plenty of exciting options from independent eateries, big name places and tasty light bite options. One such ‘big name’ place is the Heddon Street Kitchen, owned by chef Gordon Ramsay, open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Gordon's group of London restaurants now tallies at 14, and this, one of his latest additions, is tucked away on Heddon Street, just off buzzing Regent Street.
Tilly's menu, at Heddon Street Kitchen
In a previous life, this was the location for glamourous Living Room bar. The grand piano may have been replaced by a lounge and TV area but the resplendent dim lighting, spiral iron staircase and new booth style seating ensures that the cool yet homely, grill style atmosphere remains. It has the feel of an American diner, (but decorated with retro, dark wood and brass British furnishings), heightened by the meat-heavy menu on offer; flame grilled steaks, chicken wings and a side of mac ‘n’ cheese, aplenty! But for hungry families, the real draw is ‘Tilly’s Menu’ – the children’s menu, as approved by Gordon’s 14-year-old daughter, Tilly.
Kids can now eat FREE at Heddon Street Kitchen between 10am-5pm, Monday to Sunday.*
BBQ sticky chicken wings, as taste tested by Alex (left) and Billy (right)
Tilly’s Menu offers starters of tangy tomato soup; sticky chicken wings with BBQ sauce; and caesar salad with pancetta, soft boiled egg and parmesan, and mains such as rigatoni bolognese and sundried tomato flatbread with mozzarella, alongside classics like sausage and mash and fish and chips with crushed peas. Our 12-year-old diners ordered exactly the same meal, of BBQ chicken wings and spaghetti Bolognese. And while the spaghetti was rated as simply ‘nice and tasty’, the wings were the clear winner, being decreed as ‘the best sticky wings EVER’, by Alex.
While we ordered fish starters and steaks for mains, the boys didn't feel at all like they were missing out, or being offered second rate (or smaller portioned) options. All too often, the kids menu can seem like an after thought, but at Heddon Street Kitchen, I'd say the kid's menu is the biggest draw.
Fresh spaghetti bolognese
The boys had room for pudding (a special, separate stomach, apparently), and were keen to try not only the warm brownie, but the Oreo milkshake, too. When asked what his favourite was, Billy declared that the chocolatey shake was “worth paying £20 for.” Luckily, it doesn’t cost that much, but high praise, nevertheless.
Another dessert option is to head upstairs for a ‘make-your-own ice-cream sundae’ experience, available at the dedicated dessert bar. An array of sweets, sprinkles and sauces are laid out at the bar for kids (of all ages) to get creative and customise their puds. We hear that Tilly herself likes to pop down with her friends to get involved. I guess when your dad’s the boss, thems the perks.
Visit Heddon Street Kitchen, for more info and to book online
Oreo milkshake delights
*The 'Kids eat free' offer is available to one child per dining adult
Regent Street Food Quarter
3 - 9 Heddon Street
London W1B 4BE
Restaurant reservations:
0207 592 1212
Opening hours:
Monday - Friday
Breakfast 7.30am - 11am
Lunch & Dinner 11.30am – 11pm
Saturday
Brunch from 10am
Lunch & Dinner - 12pm - 11pm
Sunday
Brunch from 10am
Lunch & Dinner 12pm - 9pm
Dinner at Heddon Street Kitchen
