I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…. who doesn’t love pizza?
Or even pasta come to that!
Well, I for one LOVE it!!
And of course it goes without saying that children absolutely love pizza and pasta too. Whether it’s something quickly popped together at home, or a lovely meal out!
ASK Italian have rather excitedly just launched their super new kids menu alongside their wider #ServingUpSmiles campaign, and through this I was invited along on Tuesday night to our local ASK Italian restaurant to sample some of the delicious new dishes which were on the menu.
Obviously though – and as the title sort of suggests I wasn’t alone in this task. My lovely husband and two little girls came too, along with a couple of my friends who both had their own little ones in tow – one of whom actually has some food allergies and intolerance, so we were extremely keen to see how they catered for him too.
Pasta is just one of those easy peasy dishes to throw together quickly for your kids isn’t it. And pasta sauces are such a brilliant way of hiding lovely fresh veg from questioning little eyes which would normally home in on the slightest speck of green leaf or tomato pip which your blender didn’t whizz up thoroughly enough!
And at home in the past, we’ve created our own pizzas with the kids sometimes too as it’s a bit of a chance for you all to get a little creative, pretty messy and eat what you’ve just made! Perfect!
One of my girls’ favourite dishes just has to be good old spaghetti bolognaise! It’s an out and out winner! They just can’t seem to get enough of it! Especially Ella who will just devour hers in minutes and swiftly ask for more ‘scetti’, with a very innocent looking but bright orange face and a pasta moustache!
I also think it’s a perfect all year round dish – it’s warming and makes you feel all snug and cozy through the dark winter months, yet in the summer, it is perfectly reasonable to sit with a lovely homemade lasagna out in the garden for a spot of ‘al fresco’ dining with some garlic bread, a lovely green salad, and some wine.
Gosh – I’m salivating as I type!
But also, every now again its particularly nice to go out and eat too.
And personally we love to do this as a family. As often as we can!
It’s just nice to get away from the norm and make a bit of a big deal about lovely ‘sit down’ family mealtimes. And of course it’s even better still if you don’t have to clear up afterwards! Winner!
But, as every mum or dad out there knows (probably along with the customers who have no children and are sitting on the next door table!) – that eating out with kids, especially the small ones, can be somewhat tricky, and I’m sure we’ve all been there before and had our moments!
Like the ones where, Little Johnny doesn’t like his carrot so hurls it behind him only to hit the poor man behind him square in the eye….
Or the ones at ‘those’ type of restaurants (you’ll know the ones I mean) where as soon a child walks through the smart glass doors and into the restaurant –the diners turn and stare, the air turns cold, and you back out as quickly as you came in as your business is clearly not welcome there!
So, it goes without saying, that finding an easy, friendly and welcoming place to eat is most definitely half of the battle!
One that actively goes out of their way to make you feel at home with your little ones there, the ones who might provide colouring papers and crayons, who have an adequate numbers of highchairs, who have comfortable baby changing facilities or where the staff laugh alongside you when the drink gets spilt all over the table before they dash quickly off to grab a cloth and help you out!
These are the places we feel at home in – the ones to be honest where we are likely to return to time and time again.
And in our opinion- we’ve always thought this of ASK.
And Tuesday night was no different.
It was perfectly family friendly – and it really did make for a much more relaxed and stress free experience for us as parents!
It’s a place for anyone and everyone to go too. Nobody in there was out of place! Candlelit suppers for two, large party tables or tables full of happy families.
So now onto the new kids menu – because after all – that’s why we were there in the first place isn’t it?!
The choice of freshly produced pastas, pizzas with smiley faces, crudites with garlic pizza bread soldiers and dipping sauce, brightly coloured fresh-fruit cocktails, fresh fruit ice lollies, bowls of ice-cream with little dishes of sprinkles, marshmallows and fruit for the little ones to decorate it with and even chocolate covered sweet-pizza! Oh and of course there’s the Babyccino’s too – which are always lovely and a bit of a hit as the kids feel very grown up when they sit alongside mummy and daddy who are merrily sipping on their own after dinner coffees!
The main points we loved:
• Large child portions – which ok, might mean that little ones would struggle to eat a whole dish themselves, but if you needed to – they could always share. But what I really liked about the larger portions is that it’s inclusive for older children too who have a bigger appetite – but who, at the end of the day, are still children – who shouldn’t have to pay for a full priced main adult dish if they didn’t have to.
• At £6.75 for a starter, choice of main, dessert and a Babyccino – I felt this was really great value for money.
• If your child has food allergies – you can ask to see the ‘allergen menu’ and a member of staff will gladly discuss your requirements with you.
• With the children having a ‘starter’ option too – they can feel grown up like the adults, yet their little tummies won’t be kept rumbling whist waiting for their main dishes to be prepared and cooked, or while the adults are nibbling on their own yummy sharing starter platters!
• The food was delicious! Both from the kids menu and the regular menu (we know because while the children weren’t looking we would sneak a couple of bites here and there!)
• The staff were extremely courteous, friendly and really went out of their way to help.
Some pre dinner colouring and a spot of swan watching over the river to the rear of our local ASKItalian – it’s such a great location!
All in all we had a fantastic time.
The new menu has an excellent selection and the catering for those with food allergies is just second to none!
We were really very impressed indeed.
Digging in!!!
A perfect family meal out – lots of smiley happy kiddies and some rather full up and stress free adults to boot.
We will most certainly be back.
I’ve added a few photos of our visit to this post – I’m afraid they aren’t of the best quality because the children were far more excited about eating their yummy dinners and playing with the colouring and some toys!! – But I’m sure you get the idea!
And lastly I would just like to say – Thank you ASK Italian for a thoroughly enjoyable evening!
Mikey winding the kids up with some balloons!!
Now it’s Competition Time!!
WIN a £50 Voucher to spend at your local ASK Italian!!!
So now it’s your chance to get your hands on a fantastic prize of a £50 voucher to spend at your local ASK Italian and try all the lovely new dishes out for yourselves.
All you have do is enter the below Rafflecopter competition and let us know your favourite Italian meal. Are you a pasta lover – or does the pizza just call out to you?!
The competition will close on Friday 21st August at midnight, so be sure to get your entries in by then.
The winner will then be selected at random and contacted via email.
Unfortunately this is open to UK residents only.
Lasagne!
Spaghetti Bolognese
Garlic prawns – just love them!
Aubergine parmigianna is my new favourite! Layered aubergine, tomato and parmesan <3
pizza!
Tiramisu!
I just love Italian food… I could eat any of it quite happily! I love a good lasagne, or any pasta dish, risotto is beautiful when it’s done well, but I do love a good pizza! I think my absolute fav has to be prosecco (liquid diet 😉 )
Lasagne
Pescatora pasta
Vegetarian lasagne x
I’m pizza crazy!
I love pasta! Seafood linguine is my favourite
Calzone Pizza 🙂
Tagliatelle Brocollo
Love lasagne
I love all Italian dishes, spaghetti carbonara is a particalar fave
Stonebaked pizza from my outdoor pizza oven!
lasagne <3
Love some Pizza
I love Carbonara 🙂
Aubergine Parmigiana
Spaghetti Bolognaise 🙂
Vegetable lasagne
linguine frutti di mare – nom, nom, nom.
Pizza, made by my husband!
Lasagne
My absolute favourite is good old Spaghetti Bolognese!
spag bol.
I love Carbonnara with a good sprinkle of cheese.
Pizza 🙂
Lasagne
Mushroom risotto
Spaghetti and meatballs (but done well).
Ragu!
Spaghetti Bolognese with grated cheese
Lasagne, yum
Has to be lasange 😀 x
pizza or calzone, I’m a sucker for it lol x
Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni
Pizza!
definitely pizza 😀
Spezzatino
A lovely stone baked Pizza
I love a calzone
I love lasagne
Vegetarian Lasagne 🙂
I Love Carbonara LOTS! x
Lasagne is my favourite but I enjoy a takeaway pizza when football is on the television.
My all time fave is Lasagne infact tonight we are having chicken and bacon lasagne but recently i’m getting used to making tuna pasta salad i’m more pasta lover than pizza.
Love risotto in it’s many forms!
Venetian duck ragu
gnocci
So hard to choose because I absolutely LOVE Italian food. Pizza, with goat cheese, is the winner for me followed very closely by risotto alla milanese 🙂
Love a good ole spag bol!
vegetarian Lsagne
lasagne is my favourite I love it
carbonara
Lasagne
I’m a sucker for a good risotto!
pizza
I love gnocchi 🙂
Garibaldis…
Lasagne 🙂
spaghetti bolognese
Love pizza :0)
love lasagne
Pizza
Seafood linguine
I love lasagne and also pizza.
It has to be pizza! Preferably with lots of yummy vegetables on it 🙂
Carbonara or pizza!
lasagne is my favourite
Lasagne : )
Can’t beat a good pizza x
Plain and simple pizza
I love Gnocchi con Granseola and choose it when I am lucky to find it on a menu (it is a crab sauce on potato ‘pillows’ basically)
Pizza! x
Pasta Carbonara
I love classic lasagna
Lasagne
Lasagne is my favourite <3
I love spaghetti carbonara
Carbonara, yummy!
LINGUINE CON FRUTTI DI MARE
Vegetarian lasagne
Pizza
Proper Spag Bol!!!! no jars or packets !!!!!
Oh I love Lasagna, I haven’t been to ask for years will have to take the boys, they would love it x
Lasagne
Pizza 🙂
Spaghetti Carbonara
Pizza 🙂
Calzone – I love the mix of flavours and making it at home is a great excuse to use up leftovers.
Tiramisu!
Lasagne. x
Lasagne 🙂
Has to be a classic – Spaghetti Carbonara 🙂
pizza – i love pizza!
Lasagne
Risotto 🙂
spaghetti carbonara
It has to be Carbonara
Spaghetti vongole
Lasagne
Lasagne ! the creamier the better
I love Spaghetti Bolognese
Pizza….love it!
Pizza
spaghetti carbonara – so calorific but so worth it!
Pizza! Got to be pizza!
Pasta carbonara
pollo a la crema
spaghetti bolognaise
Pizza or pasta – difficult to decide!
Lasagne 🙂
Olives & baked pasta
pizza followed by ice cream hehe
I love pizza 🙂
I love lasagne
Pasta Carbonara – delicious!
My favourite is good old spag bog!
Calzonne – so practical as street food
Risotto
Spinach and ricotta ravioli!
I love risottos
a classic margherita pizza 🙂
Spaghetti Carbonara
I love spaghetti carbonara but only if there are no mushrooms 🙂
Pizza!
My fav is gnocci!
i love lasagne x
Penne funghi is my favourite
Vegetable Lasagne is my favourite 🙂
pepperoni pizza or spag bowl 🙂
Pizzocheri
I love Pizza!
I like salmon and pesto pasta
Lasagne
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
I like a nice lasagne
Spaghetti bolognaise with lots of parmesan and black pepper 🙂
Pizza.x
Spaghetti bolognese!
Lasagne is my fav Italian dish
Amatriciana!
Great article!
I love parmigiano reggiano served with hot crusty bread & a glass of red x
I love Pizza
For me it’s the classic spaghetti bolognaise
My favourite Italian Dish is Spaghetti Bolognese because it is so versatile in the way one can add flavours
Lasagne, with proper Béchamel sauce!
you can’t beat a good Lasagne
Love spaghetti carbonara – always order that one!
Pizza is my absolute favourite food in the world!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Italian food but if I am going with a trusted favourite then it has to be good old spag bol, anything with a tomato based sauce gets me drooling!!
I love spinach and ricotta canneloni.
lasagne prob my fave
At the end of the day, for good old comfort value, I love Spicy Chicken PIZZA!
Spag bol with lots of cheese on top
Pizza for me x
mushroom tagliatelle
Absolutely love lasagne
Carbonara
Pizza
Spaghetti Bolognaise
It has to be tiramisu – I’m ever so slightly addicted!
I like lasagne!
My favourite Italian dish has to be lasagne x
Pizza 🙂
I <3 meatballs and spaghetti
My favourite Italian dish is tiramisu!
Lasagne
My favourite is lasagne alla casa! Although a good calzone is a very close second :)!
I love a nice chicken, mushroom and white wine sauce pasta dish! Lovely combination and also very filling 🙂
I would LOVE to win this voucher. It would be fab to try somewhere other than Pizza Express!
Author
I have toes and fingers crossed for you my lovely!! xxxx
We love pizza or a spicy Penne arrabiata.
Would love to win this so I can treat the family
Pizza is our family favourite 🙂
Lasagne is my favourite italian dish
Spaghetti Bolognese is the best.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Veal in creamy mushroom sauce with sauce potatoes and broccoli with garlic
Vegetarian Lasagne!
The kids menu sounds great! Its brilliant to find somewhere thats family friendly, I hate snooty places! #thisweekIveloved
Lasagne when my mum makes it. yum!
Great review! I wouldn’t consider it usually as it seems quite posh but after your review I will definitely keep it in mind #ThisWeekIveLoved
Lasagne
Oo we love pizza! It’s the one meal Emma has never failed to eat! Sounds like you had a great evening and the menu sounds good too x #ThisWeekIveLoved
Bruschetta
I love Pollo Milanese
We have an Ask down the road from us. I think we might be trying out the new children’s menu very soon! #ThisWeekIveLoved
Pizza! All the way 🙂
Ok. It’s 09:30 in the morning. I’ve had breakfast. Toast. I’ve just read your post and I need, NEED, to go to ASK right now and binge on Italian carbs. Fabulously written piece and if I didn’t currently live in the middle of nowhere I would be there before they even had a chance to unlock their doors and lay fresh napkins on their tables.
#thisweekI’veloved
xx
Looks yummy. I love a family friendly restaurant and I love Pizza also!! #ThisweekI’veLoved
Oh yes we love pizza and pasta too. It’s great when different things are offered on the children’s menu. When our girls were small, they often had to eat from the adult menu because they didn’t always want the same old thing – it’s great that children are now being considered. Lovely pictures and it looks like it was a great evening x
I love Lasagne!
Lasagne
pizza – spicy chicken or seafood
I love Carbonnara
My fave Italian dish is Pepata di cozze.
Pizza!
Saltimbocca with spaghetti – delicious!!
spagetti bolognaise is our familys favourite x
I love pizza, or spinach and ricotta anything! Xx
Lasagne
Lasagne
I love making home made pizza but I have to say pasta does win it for me every time , so quick and simple to make yet a comfort food through and through!
Anything gnocchi related. Mmmmmmm 🙂
Lasagne ! especially from Ask!
ravioli
GOOD OLD SPAG BOL
Spaghetti bolognese
Lasagne
Chicken Saltimbocca – just as its name means, it jumps right into one’s mouth!
Bella Bella!
Great read! Nice to see such a family friendly place. Spaghetti Bolognaise has always been a firm favourite in our family too!! X
Ooh it sounds wonderful. My fav Italian dish is Lasagna xx