Not related but I SCREAMED when I saw you in the latest Wait in the Wings video about Flops ❤ it’s like my dream crossover ✨ hope you two can make more collabs together 💕
Unrelated, but would you ever go to a show at Chickenshed Theatre in Cockfosters (end of the picadilly line). They're an inclusive theatre company that's over 40 years old and all of their shows are signed and they have specific performances that are captioned and have audio description. It would be an interesting aspect to hear you talk about especially following the discussions about accessibility in theatres as mentioned in the Hadestown/Patti video a little while back 🙂
I am so making a note of this for my next London trip! I usually do at least one two-show day because I live abroad and always try to squeeze in as many shows as I can. This seems like a perfect way to keep myself fed and keep the vibe of the day going 🙂
How is this diner NOT a chain restaurant already? I’m sure there are plenty of ppl in the States and around the world who would enjoy this diner, and I feel like this diner would be even more popular if they spread out! ☺️
I 100% agree with what you said about the desert descriptions, I’m the type of person who looks at the menu, and decides what to order, before even booking a restaurant just so I know what to expect. It’s strange that the descriptions of the main courses and starts were so detailed in comparison. I’m hoping that this is just because they’ve recently opened and so it’s a newer menu? I hope it improves because I would love to go.
“Not far from the old disused Odeon” You mean the one the in background that has its lights on and is clearly open? It’s called Odeon Covent Garden and is open every day.
Can't believe they don't have an Ice cream sundae for desert! there must be so many puns there and they clearly have the icecream to add it to your plate so it would be an easy GF option I'm so with you on the descriptions- lemon meringue, pumpkin, and cherry pie are all 'pies' but so different, ordering blind scary (I hate cream/custard etc so I would be quizzing the poor waitress about every option before I could decide)
Thankyou mickey you have just answers my question! I jumped the gun asking the question in the middle of listening to you. Thankyou , your a star for thinking about us wheely people so many don’t. Hugs.
Seconding this! I go to Don’t Tell Mama’s every time I’m in NYC and it’s always such a fantastic night - drinks are fantastic, staff are wonderful and super talented. I could honestly sit there all night and morning just enjoying the vibes.
I love the theatre cafe so will definitely be visiting here when I get back to London! Thank you for thinking about accessibility because that's always the trickiest bit of planning a trip somewhere and so many people just aren't aware because they've never had to be so not having to go and search out that information makes life so much easier!
This sounds lovely, and I’m definitely pencilling it in for my next trip to London! I was so glad to hear about the accessibility features, as those can really easily fall by the wayside or go unremarked-upon.
I went to Ellen’s Stardust Diner when I was 16 in New York, and I remember one waiter sang “Don’t Let Me Go” from Shrek and that’s when I was so inspired to join there and perform there in the future!
another kind of staple for NYC is 54 below, its a concert venue that does the dinner and a show on their little stage, sometimes one-two people, sometimes reunions, sometimes things that are in the works, or tributes to different things like Stephen Sondheim
I’ve been and I agree with everything you say. The singing is amazing but they go all out and in quite a small space it can be a little overwhelming. Especially as they’re using a microphone as well. The one weird thing is the quality of the cocktails, which were DELICIOUS, doesn’t match the quality of the food. I totally understand paying for the experience but the food is all probably £3-4 over what it should be. It wouldn’t take much to bring it up to where it should be, and hopefully over the next few months it’ll get a bit better. All in all we loved it.
They need someone to work that entire diner with ‘Sweet Transvestite’ from Rocky Horror. Or Time Warp for the more family friendly times of day, get some audience engagement songs in there. If they got the lighting involved to match the tempo of the performances then it’s game over
I find it interesting how my previous favourite pre-theatre restaurants, "Ed's Diner" or "The Diner" have left the West End, but this business has taken off! Definitely agree about the dessert menu, weird to not have any info... I suspect the thing with pie and chessecake might be that it might vary day to day - blueberry? apple? chocolate? Fine! But add a line to the menu saying "ask your server what we have as today's pie of the day." And yes, choice of perfornance material needs to be curated, there's a lot of songs that are spectacular solos (and fab fun to sing!) that are not gonna be the vibe for this environment.
I’ve been to the diner twice now. My understanding on the desert front is that the pie and cheesecake changes (much like a soup of the day would) and that’s why it’s not described on the menu.
I did wonder that, although it would be helpful if there was a note to ask your waiter about which pie and cheesecake are available today. Also, what is some enchanted vegan??
When will you go to New York? I heard that there’s a Broadway History Museum that just opened this month. You should check it out! I plan do the next time I go.
Great review as always Mickey!! Are you going to fully release a mini review or post about those Can Can Seats at Moulin Rouge that you said you were going to give more info about in the Oh My God Hey vlog a few weeks ago? Excited to hear your opinion on them!
The staff were amazing and I enjoyed it so much (preferred it to Ellen’s!) but it was just so expensive (I am saying this as a Londoner but I did go before they combined the cost of the chips with the meal) and I didn’t think the portion size was particularly generous for the price. It’s definitely a treat place and not a regular place to eat. Saying that though I’ll definitely go back to see what it is like as I’m sure there were some teething issues being so new!
Thanks for the heads up and the review. I have booked to visit Friday night after Frozen! Then I will be heading for a sing along at Lola's at the Hippodrome, another enjoyable experience which I am sure tou have already checked out.
I wonder if the desserts don’t have as much detail because they’re bought in rather than made there? Sometimes restaurants do that, but it doesn’t make it acceptable not to mention what’s in them. I have a nut allergy (thankfully not deadly but very itchy) and I need to know if I am consuming them or not. It’s often surprising where nuts crop up in foods!
I enjoy these themed restaurants. Strangely enough there is only one similar restaurant in LA named Meceli’s near Universal Studios and Citywalk. It’s Italian as you can imagine and has been at the same location since the 1950’s. There is the original Meceli’s located in HOLLYWOOD and has been at the same location since the 30’s. Not sure if it’s a requirement to be able to sing to work there but the performances are top notch. Thanks for your great review. 🙏👍🏻😎
I think you misspoke about the bathroom being aesthetic, lovely mirrors, basins.... no... the word you are looking for is kitschy. Especially the golden basins... but the sparkles around the mirror are not far behind... but I guess if this is trying to be the set of Moulin Rouge then it is spot on :D
I love Ellen's... I don't go for the food though. Its quite expensive but the talent is beyond. I've been going for over ten years. Wasn't aware of any of the issues others have mentioned. Will look into though! Excited to go to here too!
Glad there’s more choice for food in the diner. When I was at the theatre cafe recently, veggie options were very disappointing. Might need to visit the actual diner. The pictures of people applauding in the loo is incredibly unnerving 🤨
I completely agree the staff were all very talented but, at times, the song choices and the sheer volume did get a little overwhelming especially in quite an enclosed space. Also it’s not the ideal place for a date, one couple were clearly trying to be romantic only to have a staff member appear next to them, belting out a show tune with considerable emotion and hand gestures. As for the food, the chocolate cake portion was easily enough to share between two as the dish was heaped with ice cream and cream. Whereas the few loaded potato skins looked almost lost on an average sized plate. As a novelty experience, it was mainly positive but, more than once, it felt as if the staff were more intent on showcasing their vocal talent rather than being mindful of the customer experience. In fairness, it is relatively new and so teething problems are to be expected, hopefully they can reach the balance between being an entertainment venue and a restaurant.
I think those prices were actually quite reasonable for London if not verging on cheap. But of course I don't know what you are used to paying and admittedly my budget doesn't allow for eating out.
I have passed Ellen's Stardust Diner many times on my visits to Broadway not knowing it's history etc. I just looked them up and I think you would be very disappointed in their menu. According to what you said here, The Theatre Cafe Diner is WAY better. Not only with what they serve but also their clever names.
This is the going rate in London now for a lot of restaurants even potentially less than a lot of popular restaurants. I assume due to cost of food and inflation there’s been a lot of increases
Hi, so i am a bit confused, there is the théâtre café dîner but there is also thé théâtre café on St Martins Lane? What’s the difference? Do you have to reserve a table or can you just walk in? Kind regards from Belgium xxx
The Cafe and Diner are owned and run by the same people. The cafe is smaller and you can go in without reservation (they serve drinks and small bits of food), but the diner is bigger and serves bigger meals and requires a reservation
Was this a gifted experience? I found the restaurant over priced and menu was changing from including fries and not including fries and the price varied from £3-5 per meal which is disappointing.
Hi, I have a video on tiktok about the wheelchair access there, I don’t think I can link it here. Account wheelchairoutings basically don’t book a booth(shrek is ok) as they are all downstairs or the royal one is upstairs. There’s a downstairs floor with no lift so you can’t access that but other than that it’s fine, it has ramps and a disabled toilet. The video goes into detail
It's strange that the fries as a side are only listed as vegetarian but fries are served with the vegan options. I queried something similar before in The Diner and they eventually admitted the fries were cooked in oil used for meat which means they couldn't be labelled vegan. Obviously it's up to the individual vegan whether that's something they are comfortable with but it's unfair not to give people that choice if you're labelling something as vegan friendly and serving the fries alongside that. I hope that isn't what's happening with this menu.
one performance every 15 minutes is so little to what i expected, especially for those coming before a 7 pm show etc u see like 6 performances. i get staff could be limited but i was a little disappointed
if you're eating food and it's nice - 15 min intervals gives you a chance to enjoy the drinks the food and the company with you *and* get some entertainment
One more note about Ellen's...you won't find many, if any, locals there. Aside from their problematic business practices, it's also very expensive for the quality of the food that you get. You can get better food cheaper not all that far away. It's the very definition of "tourst trap." If you go, just keep that in mind. @mickeyjotheatre, if you want some some restaurant recommendations for your NYC trip, hit me up.
@@MickeyJoTheatre If you’re around Times Square, walk a couple of blocks west to 9th Avenue, where you will find all kinds of small restaurants. That’s a good start. That said there are some decent restaurants in Times Square too.
Not related but I SCREAMED when I saw you in the latest Wait in the Wings video about Flops ❤ it’s like my dream crossover ✨ hope you two can make more collabs together 💕
Who diddnt 😂
Unrelated, but would you ever go to a show at Chickenshed Theatre in Cockfosters (end of the picadilly line). They're an inclusive theatre company that's over 40 years old and all of their shows are signed and they have specific performances that are captioned and have audio description. It would be an interesting aspect to hear you talk about especially following the discussions about accessibility in theatres as mentioned in the Hadestown/Patti video a little while back 🙂
I am so making a note of this for my next London trip! I usually do at least one two-show day because I live abroad and always try to squeeze in as many shows as I can. This seems like a perfect way to keep myself fed and keep the vibe of the day going 🙂
How is this diner NOT a chain restaurant already? I’m sure there are plenty of ppl in the States and around the world who would enjoy this diner, and I feel like this diner would be even more popular if they spread out! ☺️
I 100% agree with what you said about the desert descriptions, I’m the type of person who looks at the menu, and decides what to order, before even booking a restaurant just so I know what to expect. It’s strange that the descriptions of the main courses and starts were so detailed in comparison. I’m hoping that this is just because they’ve recently opened and so it’s a newer menu?
I hope it improves because I would love to go.
Also I do not see the prices anywhere on the menu... really strange
“Not far from the old disused Odeon”
You mean the one the in background that has its lights on and is clearly open?
It’s called Odeon Covent Garden and is open every day.
Can't believe they don't have an Ice cream sundae for desert! there must be so many puns there and they clearly have the icecream to add it to your plate so it would be an easy GF option
I'm so with you on the descriptions- lemon meringue, pumpkin, and cherry pie are all 'pies' but so different, ordering blind scary (I hate cream/custard etc so I would be quizzing the poor waitress about every option before I could decide)
Thankyou mickey you have just answers my question! I jumped the gun asking the question in the middle of listening to you. Thankyou , your a star for thinking about us wheely people so many don’t. Hugs.
Make sure on NY trip to check out Don’t Tell Mama’s - it’s the late night equivalent of Ellen’s Stardust, no line (and much better)
Seconding this! I go to Don’t Tell Mama’s every time I’m in NYC and it’s always such a fantastic night - drinks are fantastic, staff are wonderful and super talented. I could honestly sit there all night and morning just enjoying the vibes.
I love the theatre cafe so will definitely be visiting here when I get back to London! Thank you for thinking about accessibility because that's always the trickiest bit of planning a trip somewhere and so many people just aren't aware because they've never had to be so not having to go and search out that information makes life so much easier!
So exciting that yall are getting a place like Ellen’s!!!! A staple of the nyc musical lover experience ❤❤❤❤
This sounds lovely, and I’m definitely pencilling it in for my next trip to London! I was so glad to hear about the accessibility features, as those can really easily fall by the wayside or go unremarked-upon.
NYC is absolutely incredible
I went to Ellen’s Stardust Diner when I was 16 in New York, and I remember one waiter sang “Don’t Let Me Go” from Shrek and that’s when I was so inspired to join there and perform there in the future!
another kind of staple for NYC is 54 below, its a concert venue that does the dinner and a show on their little stage, sometimes one-two people, sometimes reunions, sometimes things that are in the works, or tributes to different things like Stephen Sondheim
Thanks for pointing out going to restaurants and diners solo, done it once and it was a sureal feeling :)
I’ve been and I agree with everything you say. The singing is amazing but they go all out and in quite a small space it can be a little overwhelming. Especially as they’re using a microphone as well. The one weird thing is the quality of the cocktails, which were DELICIOUS, doesn’t match the quality of the food. I totally understand paying for the experience but the food is all probably £3-4 over what it should be. It wouldn’t take much to bring it up to where it should be, and hopefully over the next few months it’ll get a bit better. All in all we loved it.
Loved this video! I visited recently, it was amazing a part from mine and my friends apple pie came out frozen 😂😅 lovely experience though
Oooh that's not great 😬 at least that answers the question about what kind of pie it is though! 😅
They need someone to work that entire diner with ‘Sweet Transvestite’ from Rocky Horror. Or Time Warp for the more family friendly times of day, get some audience engagement songs in there. If they got the lighting involved to match the tempo of the performances then it’s game over
I find it interesting how my previous favourite pre-theatre restaurants, "Ed's Diner" or "The Diner" have left the West End, but this business has taken off! Definitely agree about the dessert menu, weird to not have any info... I suspect the thing with pie and chessecake might be that it might vary day to day - blueberry? apple? chocolate? Fine! But add a line to the menu saying "ask your server what we have as today's pie of the day." And yes, choice of perfornance material needs to be curated, there's a lot of songs that are spectacular solos (and fab fun to sing!) that are not gonna be the vibe for this environment.
As a vegan, I was very pleased to see so many options - I'd even take my life in my hands and go for the vegan cheese! :-O!
Really useful info! Thanks!
Really enjoying all these videos keeping me up to date with all things theatre will there be a new matilda video this week
I’ve been to the diner twice now. My understanding on the desert front is that the pie and cheesecake changes (much like a soup of the day would) and that’s why it’s not described on the menu.
I did wonder that, although it would be helpful if there was a note to ask your waiter about which pie and cheesecake are available today. Also, what is some enchanted vegan??
When will you go to New York? I heard that there’s a Broadway History Museum that just opened this month. You should check it out! I plan do the next time I go.
Yes i Saw some pics they have a Andrew Lloyd Webber room
Great review as always Mickey!! Are you going to fully release a mini review or post about those Can Can Seats at Moulin Rouge that you said you were going to give more info about in the Oh My God Hey vlog a few weeks ago? Excited to hear your opinion on them!
The staff were amazing and I enjoyed it so much (preferred it to Ellen’s!) but it was just so expensive (I am saying this as a Londoner but I did go before they combined the cost of the chips with the meal) and I didn’t think the portion size was particularly generous for the price. It’s definitely a treat place and not a regular place to eat.
Saying that though I’ll definitely go back to see what it is like as I’m sure there were some teething issues being so new!
Where are the prices of the food please ?
Thanks for the heads up and the review. I have booked to visit Friday night after Frozen! Then I will be heading for a sing along at Lola's at the Hippodrome, another enjoyable experience which I am sure tou have already checked out.
Oh and I had the chicken burger was soo nice and even joined in with a bit of kinky boots with the waitress lol enjoyed it soo much
Good info thank you
I wonder if the desserts don’t have as much detail because they’re bought in rather than made there? Sometimes restaurants do that, but it doesn’t make it acceptable not to mention what’s in them.
I have a nut allergy (thankfully not deadly but very itchy) and I need to know if I am consuming them or not. It’s often surprising where nuts crop up in foods!
I enjoy these themed restaurants. Strangely enough there is only one similar restaurant in LA named Meceli’s near Universal Studios and Citywalk. It’s Italian as you can imagine and has been at the same location since the 1950’s. There is the original Meceli’s located in HOLLYWOOD and has been at the same location since the 30’s. Not sure if it’s a requirement to be able to sing to work there but the performances are top notch. Thanks for your great review. 🙏👍🏻😎
I think you misspoke about the bathroom being aesthetic, lovely mirrors, basins.... no... the word you are looking for is kitschy. Especially the golden basins... but the sparkles around the mirror are not far behind... but I guess if this is trying to be the set of Moulin Rouge then it is spot on :D
I love Ellen's... I don't go for the food though. Its quite expensive but the talent is beyond. I've been going for over ten years. Wasn't aware of any of the issues others have mentioned. Will look into though! Excited to go to here too!
Joe Allen’s and Sardi's are both legendary restaurants where Broadway congregate.
Glad there’s more choice for food in the diner. When I was at the theatre cafe recently, veggie options were very disappointing.
Might need to visit the actual diner.
The pictures of people applauding in the loo is incredibly unnerving 🤨
I completely agree the staff were all very talented but, at times, the song choices and the sheer volume did get a little overwhelming especially in quite an enclosed space. Also it’s not the ideal place for a date, one couple were clearly trying to be romantic only to have a staff member appear next to them, belting out a show tune with considerable emotion and hand gestures. As for the food, the chocolate cake portion was easily enough to share between two as the dish was heaped with ice cream and cream. Whereas the few loaded potato skins looked almost lost on an average sized plate.
As a novelty experience, it was mainly positive but, more than once, it felt as if the staff were more intent on showcasing their vocal talent rather than being mindful of the customer experience. In fairness, it is relatively new and so teething problems are to be expected, hopefully they can reach the balance between being an entertainment venue and a restaurant.
it looked like they also took inspiration from the usa for portion sizes too!
I think those prices were actually quite reasonable for London if not verging on cheap. But of course I don't know what you are used to paying and admittedly my budget doesn't allow for eating out.
Did you watch the musical special of strictly ?
Omg I had the chicken wings they were soo good but soo much omg soo good
I'm so proud to be an average attendee.
Was there a “Mrs. Lovett’s” meat pie, shepherd’s pie or empanada?
Sadly not!
I have passed Ellen's Stardust Diner many times on my visits to Broadway not knowing it's history etc. I just looked them up and I think you would be very disappointed in their menu. According to what you said here, The Theatre Cafe Diner is WAY better. Not only with what they serve but also their clever names.
I’m northern so those prices are absolutely insane to me. I expect London to be expensive but this is insane!
This is the going rate in London now for a lot of restaurants even potentially less than a lot of popular restaurants. I assume due to cost of food and inflation there’s been a lot of increases
I agree, fellow northerner (if living down south). When my partner and I went recently we had starters only.
Looking at the menu - I didn’t think the prices were that bad compared to city centre restaurants in Newcastle £15 ish for a main is quite standard.
Hi, so i am a bit confused, there is the théâtre café dîner but there is also thé théâtre café on St Martins Lane? What’s the difference? Do you have to reserve a table or can you just walk in? Kind regards from Belgium xxx
The Cafe and Diner are owned and run by the same people. The cafe is smaller and you can go in without reservation (they serve drinks and small bits of food), but the diner is bigger and serves bigger meals and requires a reservation
@@mollymcdade4031 thank you for clearing that up 🙂
Was this a gifted experience? I found the restaurant over priced and menu was changing from including fries and not including fries and the price varied from £3-5 per meal which is disappointing.
Hey , is it accessible to wheelchair users does anybody have anybody know or would it be a bit like you are in the way? Thanks
Hi, I have a video on tiktok about the wheelchair access there, I don’t think I can link it here. Account wheelchairoutings basically don’t book a booth(shrek is ok) as they are all downstairs or the royal one is upstairs. There’s a downstairs floor with no lift so you can’t access that but other than that it’s fine, it has ramps and a disabled toilet. The video goes into detail
It's strange that the fries as a side are only listed as vegetarian but fries are served with the vegan options. I queried something similar before in The Diner and they eventually admitted the fries were cooked in oil used for meat which means they couldn't be labelled vegan. Obviously it's up to the individual vegan whether that's something they are comfortable with but it's unfair not to give people that choice if you're labelling something as vegan friendly and serving the fries alongside that. I hope that isn't what's happening with this menu.
one performance every 15 minutes is so little to what i expected, especially for those coming before a 7 pm show etc u see like 6 performances. i get staff could be limited but i was a little disappointed
For what it's worth, they were much more frequent the first time I went and it definitely seemed like a little too much.
if you're eating food and it's nice - 15 min intervals gives you a chance to enjoy the drinks the food and the company with you *and* get some entertainment
Glad to hear there are vegan versions - everybody should be vegan and stop dominionism entirely.
‘We were sat’? You mean ‘we were seated’?
Probably not. That's a dialectical difference but it means the same thing. :)
One more note about Ellen's...you won't find many, if any, locals there. Aside from their problematic business practices, it's also very expensive for the quality of the food that you get. You can get better food cheaper not all that far away. It's the very definition of "tourst trap." If you go, just keep that in mind. @mickeyjotheatre, if you want some some restaurant recommendations for your NYC trip, hit me up.
I'm listening, tell me more!
@@MickeyJoTheatre If you’re around Times Square, walk a couple of blocks west to 9th Avenue, where you will find all kinds of small restaurants. That’s a good start. That said there are some decent restaurants in Times Square too.