Smollensky's On The Strand
105 Strand, WC1 (Tel: 020-7497 2101)
Daily 12noon-11pm (Sun 10pm)
With the Easter holidays upon us, of all London's child-friendly restaurants, I really rate the "new" Smollensky's. It's looking particularly spruce after a refit to mark its 20th anniversary. The long bar, backlit, is sexy and grown-up and, let's face it, a couple of margaritas does make responsible parenting so much easier. Where once this basement could be slightly oppressive, they've put back the windows so now there's natural light - and the kitchen is firing away on all pistons. They do generous salads, a cracking good beef hamburger, Boston fish cakes and creamy desserts, including a magnificent floating island. All this plus clowns, proper Punch and Judy, a children's play area, and a kiddies menu at £5.95.
High point Genuinely friendly service
Low point Slightly soapy chips
Capacity 120
Price per head £30
Wine list £14.95
Vegetarian 10/10
Service 10/10
Music Light jazz
Value for money 9/10
Style Kids dining comes of age
The Garden Cafe
Inner Circle, Regent's Park, NW1 (Tel: 020-7935 5729)
Daily 9am-6pm (later opening in summer)
Regulars have had this lovely park cafe pretty much to themselves during the winter months; after Easter it gets extraordinarily busy, especially at weekends. Redesigned by the Lumsden partnership, this 1960s park cafe is now serving very good food, like proper roast duck (which means leg and thigh, not just the boring breast) with red cabbage and mashed potatoes, greaseless fish and chips and excellent, calorie-rich desserts. Children are not only welcome but encouraged, although the dedicated kids menu - chicken strips or pasta - lacks imagination.
High point Perfectly situated in loveliest part of Regent's Park
Low point Long wait between courses
Capacity 90 (+ outdoor seating)
Price per head Weekend prix fixe lunch from £14.50; à la carte £30
Wine list £13.50
Vegetarian 7/10
Service 10/10
Music Live piano and/or jazz Fri/Sat/Sun lunchtimes
Value for money 9/10
Style Iconic meets bucolic
Morelli's Gelato
Harrods Food Halls, Brompton Road SW1
(Tel: 020-7730 1234) Daily 9am-9pm
Located in the 9am-9pm section of the food halls, this in-store concession has proved a nice little earner for the department store. At peak times you queue for a counter stool, though the wait is rewarded with beautifully made ice cream as well as home-baked cakes, biscuits, buns, scones and eclairs and delicious, if fiendishly-priced, sundaes. Children love this place, and so do I - especially the praline ice cream. My gripe is with the sulky staff. Ice cream parlours are all about having fun; at Morelli, it's the animated customers who make all the running, while the pasty, po-faced staff look on.
High point Litres of ice cream to take away
Low point Having to choose your flavour from the freezer
Capacity 30
Price per head Three scoops of ice cream £8.15; Harrods' Special Sundae £13.50
Wine list Unlicensed
Vegetarian 10/10
Service 5/10
Music 1950s bop, Italian love songs
Value for money 7.5/10
Style Just one cornetto (it's all I can afford)
