South Bank Pre-Theatre Dining

The Archduke

PRE-THEATRE OFFERS: Prix Fixe menu until 7pm, two courses £26, three courses £30

The Archduke was among the first restaurant and wine bars to open in South Bank in 1979 and remains to this day a neighbourhood institution, located literally a stone's throw from the Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre. Owned and operated by Black and Blue Steakhouse, steak and wine of course features prominently. Options on the prix-fixe menu include starters like Forestière terrine chicken and mushroom pate, classic mains like Steak Frites, and for dessert warm apple and cinnamon pie, ice cream sundae, blood orange sorbet or Cornish brie and grapes.

Lasdun

PRE-THEATRE OFFERS: Two courses for £32, three courses for £38, available 12pm–2pm and 5pm–6:45pm
 
This chic restaurant at the National Theatre serves timeless brasserie-style dishes. Lasdun’s menu is brought to life through a classic yet contemporary lens, featuring seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, served in a brooding and atmospheric Brutalist dining room. Typical options include starters like Tamworth and duck terrine with pickled pear or soused mackerel with warm potatoes and horseradish and mustard and mouthwatering dessert choices such as quince and saffron Eton mess or vanilla soft serve with rhubarb and toasted oats.

Brasserie Blanc

PRE-THEATRE OFFERS: Available Mon–Sat 4pm–6.30pm, two courses £19.50, three courses £24.50

A great option for those wanting proximity to the National Theatre, the BFI or Royal Festival Hall. As with everything they serve at Brasserie Blanc, there's a rich influence of French cuisine, made with the freshest, seasonal ingredients, and a raft of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian that ensure everyone can find something they will enjoy. Menus change monthly to reflect the sessions, with comforting wintery dishes like bread and butter pudding making way for strawberry fool and confit lemon sponge in the summer.

Comptoir Libanais

PRE-THEATRE OFFERS: Pre-theatre menu of mezze platter to share plus a main £23.95 per person

Located on Mandela Walk right next to the entrance to the Royal Festival, this colourful Lebanese restaurant is deceptively large and great for large groups with plenty of booth seating. Great for fans of Middle Eastern flavours the pre-theatre menu begins with a mezze platter to share stacked with classics like hummus, baba ghanuj, tabbouleh and falafel, followed by your choice of a 'large plate' with options include a lamb kofta burger or aubergine and chickpea tagine. For an extra £3.75 you can also add some sweet and sticky baklava served with fresh rose mint tea to finish.

The Green Room

PRE-THEATRE OFFERS: Two courses for £24

Located just behind the National Theatre and the BFI on Belvedere Road, The Green Room boasts a huge sunny garden terrace that is ideal for that pre-theatre summer drink, while inside the timber-framed dining room with its full-length glass walls is very Scandinavian chic. The two-course set menu is very straightforward with a choice of arancini, jerk chicken skewers and cajun prawns for starters and for main fish and chips, beef burger or superfood salad.

La Gamba

PRE-THEATRE OFFERS: Tapas sharing menu from £29.50 (minimum 2 people)

Led by the Applebee brothers from Borough Market, La Gamba is a bright and breezy Spanish bistro at Southbank Centre that takes its inspiration from the north-west Galician region of Spain. A great option if you're heading to a show with a group, simply order a selection of tapas (the menu allows for three per person) and dig in! Tapas options are all savoury and include Iberian favourites such as padron peppers and croquettas, albondigas (meatballs), patatas bravas and tortilla potato omelette.

OXO Tower Brasserie

PRE-THEATRE OFFERS: 3-course Set Menus available Mon–Fri until 6:30pm, Brasserie £35, Restaurant £45

OXO Tower boasts two dining experiences; the famous fine dining OXO Tower Restaurant and the more relaxed but no less elegant OXO Brasserie – both enjoy stunning rooftop views over the river to St Paul's Cathedral. There's no dedicated pre-theatre menu here, although on weekdays there's a Set Menu available until 6:30pm that will suit the same purpose! The set menus change with the seasons and include a welcome cocktail. Check out the latest menus here.