Children welcome – or are they?
Children are developing more exotic tastes when it comes to the food they eat, according to a recent study. But are restaurants keeping up with the pace? Reporters from Children's Express sampled some of the London borough of Islington's finest eating establishments to see how child-friendly they really are.
| I wasn’t sure how the staff were going to cope, but they treated us just like any other customer. |
Maison Novelli is a French restaurant on Clerkenwell Green and home to one of London's top chefs. Jean Christophe Novelli greeted us personally and told us how important it was to him to cater for young people:
"I never got to go to a restaurant until I was 17. So now I own my own one I think it's so vital to make it as welcoming as possible for children."
We reckoned he seemed to be doing a pretty good job. Maison Novelli had a really informal, friendly atmosphere. The staff were really helpful with our selections and were kind and respectful at all times. We never felt awkward at all.
"It was really child-friendly," said Cindy Crome, 12. "They didn't treat us any differently to the adults in the restaurant which was great."
 Jean Christophe Novelli says he makes his restaurants as welcoming as possible for children. | |
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Jane Kendzerski, 12, agreed: "It was a really relaxed atmosphere for children and adults alike - not intimidating at all."
The menu was in English and was really easy to follow. The food was tasty too. We had Norwegian prawn, crab and cured salmon followed by glazed Scottish salmon fillet. The chocolate fondant dessert was absolutely fabulous - a must for any chocoholics. We reckon most children would happily eat something from this menu.
Chez Gerard, on Rosebery Avenue, is definitely stylish and most of the food was delicious. Equally good was the service. But was it child-friendly?
Chantelle Symester, 15, thought it had a very grown up atmosphere: "When we first arrived I wasn't sure how the staff were going to cope with us being children. But they treated us just like any other customer."
Jonathan Ijoyah, 11, didn't feel so comfortable: "I actually felt inferior because we were the only kids there and all the adults looked rich in their posh clothes."
In our opinion, this wasn't really a place where children would feel comfortable. Our waiter told us that they hardly ever had children in. We also think that they should pay more attention to where they seat children because we found it very unpleasant when two customers sitting next to us started smoking.
Overall it was a fun afternoon - we got to try French food and it felt good sitting in an expensive restaurant. But would we go back? It's a tough one. We really did like the food and service. But, in all honesty, probably not, or not at least until we're a lot older.
At St John Restaurant on St John Street we also found the atmosphere a bit formal, although the manager told us it was more relaxed with a lot of children in the evenings. We found the décor very plain and a bit drab. We thought it could have done with more colour and some accessories. . It was filled with businessmen, which we found a bit intimidating.
We thought the food, though, was excellent, even though the menu was a bit eccentric; pigeon with pickled walnuts and beetroot and smoked cod's roe on toast, to name just two. Although the selection may sound a little unusual, all the combinations went well together.
Xochitl Rodriguez, 15, wasn't too sure about the food: "The menu was good but there were some things that were a bit strange. I think having some plainer choices would have made it better."
The staff were fantastic. They treated everyone exactly the same without being patronising. They were really helpful in explaining what was in every dish and how it was prepared and cooked.
Thomas Blythe, the manager, told us: "We treat children here as we treat adults. There's no separate children's menu or kids area. Kids are generally interested in food!"
St John's was a great place for the adventurous, but not somewhere we'd recommend for those who don't like trying different things.
So, to sum up, there are child-friendly restaurants out there serving posh nosh. But you need to work hard to find them. The advice we got was to come in the evening rather than at lunch, as the atmosphere is often more informal.
About the team
This story was produced by Danyel Edwards, 15, Leo Sekyonda, 12, and Chinwe Izamoje and Samantha Chanudet Denny, 9. It was published in the Highbury & Islington Express.
