Someone on another topic thread alerted me to the fact that "Wicked" will still be in London this summer when I go and then to a site that I did not know about called "Broadway Box". They sent me an email with various offers and one included a ticket and a 2-course dinner at Chez Gerard (show is at the Apollo in London) for 50 pounds each (how do you do the symbol for pounds anyway?). Has anyone eaten at this restaurant and is it any good? The other offer was for 60 each with a 2 course dinner at Hard Rock London. Hard Rock would probably appeal more to my 13yo, but a little French restaurant would appeal more to me. The tickets and dinner will be her 13th birthday present...to be enjoyed when we get to London in late July so I want it to end up being a good choice. She has a friend in middle school (whose family obviously has more money than mine) who has seen the show in both London and on Broadway and raved to her about it so I'm very excited that tickets are available. The seats are in the stalls and would normally be 60 pound seats from what I've been able to research. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks.

Chez Gerard is not a little French restaurant.

It's a small chain (www.groupechezgerard.5pm.co.uk), based round French-style steak and matchstick frites. Years since I ate in one, but they've always been tasty and reliable.

Not desperately frenchily atmospheric. But it's (or was) proper food, with no concessions to modern junk.

And, in its way, very typically English, whereas the Hard Rock is typical only of what expatriate Americans did here in the mid-70s.

I've eaten there (various restaurants in the chain) many times. Good steak and chips, which is what they are known for. I've never had a bad experience and they are always packed.

I assume the 50GBP includes the meal and ticket? Can't comment on if this is a "good deal" as I can't remember how much I have paid, but it is not cheap. Here is a list of their restaurants from Top Table:

http://www.toptable.co.uk/search_res...&type=name

BTW, its not an intimate French Bistro. Its a brasserie chain concept with a standard formula that specializes in good Steak & Chips (ala Bofingers in Paris, but with a more limited menu). You are not going to get gourmet food or charming surroundings.

Its predictable and good at what it does. It will be noisy and busy.

Regards Ger

Side note:

Chez Gerard has opened restaurants in departure areas at Heathrow and Gatwick. Not a bad place to dine before flying.

I'd pick a Chez Gerard. As flanner says, it is a chain w/ at least ten different locations.- the one I usually visit is upstairs at Covent Garden overlooking Drury Lane and the back of the Royal Opera House.

BTW - Wicked is at the Apollo Victoria (The Apollo is a totally different theatre)

Thank you for the pointers on the restaurant and the theater name correction--the website had a little map with the metro station info for the theater with directions which I was going to print. Handy to know there is more than one theater of the name though....that would be a definite "bad goof" to make. Thanks.

Agree with others on CZ. They are consistently reliable French bistro chains. The service is usually efficient, nice decor, good choice of glass wines. You can probably do two-course dinner (ie either starter/main or main/pudding) without wine for probably GBP20-25. Just make sure you can dine early (say, 6pm) so you dont feel rushed.

Also agree with opinions here about Chez Gerard. The Apollo Victoria is not in the theatre district; is there a Chez Gerard near there? Check where the closest is.
My kids enjoyed Chez Gerard in Covent Garden; plenty of things they liked to eat.

There is a Chez Gerard very close to the theatre where Wicked is playing (the theatre where Billy Elliot is playing is also right there)...the Chez Gerard is less than 20 meters from the main entrance to Victoria Station.

To make the £ symbol, type
& pound; without the space between & and pound;

&pound

£

Aha,

& pound ;

£

Since top price tickets to Wicked are 60 pounds, I'd say getting dinner with it for 50 pounds total is a good deal. I haven't seen any real discounts for Wicked tickets either.

The Chez Gerard is in the Thistle Victoria, right next to Victoria Station so easy to find and easy to see the theatre from there. I'd opt for that.

Your 13 will love the "french fries" at Chez Gerard.

Thanks for all the info. I now know how to write 50 &pound and that my 13yo can get a burger (or chicken) and fries while in Europe. She will be so happy! I'll book those today. Thanks for all the advice.
Kellye

My symbol didn't work...

&60

I'm really bad at those symbols, but don't you have to press a certain key before or during the typing of those things? Otherwise how would you ever be able to type &pound if you wanted to? Seee?

semi-colon:

&[pound]; = £

&[euro]; = €

&[copy]; = ©