If you are planning lunch before a matinee in the West End, you have two good options with us: the Express Lunch and the Pre-Theatre menu. Both start at 12pm, both are set menus that keep ordering quick, and both will get you to your seat well fed. The difference is how much time you have and how much you want to eat.
Here is what each one includes and how to choose between them based on your show time.
The Express Lunch: one main, rice and naan
The Express Lunch is served from 12pm to 4pm. You choose one main, and it comes with pilau rice and a mini naan. The mains are:
- Chicken Tikka Masala: tandoori chicken tikka in a smooth, creamy masala sauce.
- Butter Chicken: tender chicken in a rich tomato, butter and cream sauce.
- Chicken Bhuna: browned onions in a medium-thick sauce.
- Chicken Madras: fairly hot, strongly spiced with plenty of sauce.
- Vegetable Curry, a vegetarian main.
- Tarka Dall: lentils with butter, herbs, fried garlic and aromatic spices.
It is a single, complete plate with no starter to wait for, which makes it the quicker of the two when time is tight.
The Pre-Theatre menu: two or three courses
Our Pre-Theatre menu is served from 12pm to 5.30pm and gives you a fuller meal:
- 2 Course Meal: onion bhajee or chicken tikka to start, followed by a traditional chicken dish with naan and pilau rice.
- 3 Course Special Meal: chicken tikka, samosa or onion bhajee to start, then tikka masala, butter chicken, mango chicken or original masala as the main, with rice and naan included.
With a starter before your main, it takes a little longer than the Express Lunch, but it feels more like an occasion. If you are making a day of it, that can be part of the fun.
Between the two Pre-Theatre options, the 2 Course Meal is the simpler choice, while the 3 Course Special Meal gives you a wider pick of starters and mains, including mango chicken and our original masala. Both include naan and pilau rice, so there is nothing extra to order.
Which suits which show time?
Matinee start times vary from show to show, so always check your ticket. As a rough guide:
An early afternoon matinee
If your show starts early in the afternoon, the Express Lunch is usually the better fit. Arrive when we open at 12pm, order one main, and you have a proper meal without the extra course. It is the simplest way to eat well and still leave plenty of time to walk to the theatre and find your seat.
A mid or later afternoon matinee
With a little more time before curtain up, either menu works. Choose the Express Lunch if you want something lighter, or the Pre-Theatre 2 Course or 3 Course Special if you would rather start with onion bhajee, samosa or chicken tikka. Give yourself enough time to enjoy each course without watching the clock.
Eating after the matinee
Because the Pre-Theatre menu runs until 5.30pm, it also suits eating after an afternoon show. If you would rather see the performance first and talk it over with a meal afterwards, a two or three course Pre-Theatre dinner is a relaxed way to round off the day.
An early evening show
If you are going to an evening performance instead, the Pre-Theatre menu is the one to book, as it runs later into the afternoon than the Express Lunch.
Tips for a smooth pre-show lunch
- Tell us your curtain time when you book. It helps us pace your meal.
- Decide on your menu in advance. Knowing whether you want the Express Lunch or the Pre-Theatre menu saves time at the table.
- Mind the spice. If you want to sit comfortably through a long first act, a milder main such as Butter Chicken or Chicken Tikka Masala is a safe bet. Save the Madras for when you have time to linger.
- Vegetarians are covered. The Express Lunch includes Vegetable Curry and Tarka Dall.
For more on eating in this part of town, see our West End page.
Please tell us about allergies when you book. Our kitchen handles nuts, dairy, eggs, gluten, fish, shellfish, soya and sesame.
Book your lunch before the show
For a quick, proper meal before an early matinee, with one main, pilau rice and a mini naan, see our Express Lunch page and book a table.
