Having upped sticks and taken the limo to a great new spot on Haymarket, Planet Hollywood serves up a Tinseltown dining experience that’s perfect for kids, birthdays and special treats. Just don’t expect to be wowed by the food.

The Venue
Just round the corner from Trafalgar Square and right in the heart of the West End, Planet Hollywood is in prime tourist country. Its huge glass facade offers an enticing view of the entertainment inside whilst pretty young door staff say hello to passers by with shiny white smiles that any film star would be proud of. A small seating area at the front of the venue is a good spot to sip on cocktails from the adjacent bar and watch the busy world of Haymarket go by, whilst further back there are booths, normal tables and stairs that lead up to a smaller raised section that’s perfect for hiring out for a big party.

Funnily enough there’s a Hollywood theme, with memorabilia dotted around the place, huge screens playing snippets of popular films and handprints and lipstick kisses from bona fide A-list Hollywood stars. It all feels like much more of an experience than a restaurant, which is fine and great for the kids, but the merchandise section featuring tees, mugs and other mementos – whilst typical of Planet Hollywoods across the world – will feel a like step too far for the cynical or the uninitiated.

The Atmosphere
Planet Hollywood’s location and its recognisable brand means that it will always bring in the tourists but the American glamour that it plays off means that it’s hugely popular with children and teenagers, especially for a birthday party treat. Consequently you’re likely to see many an excited face intermittently hidden by balloons or candles as they soak up the fun atmosphere. The whole shebang is helped along by an unobtrusive DJ playing requests and wishing happy birthdays, a huge screen playing host to personalised messages, loud chart music and ever-smiling staff who only sometimes border on OTT.

The Food
It’s predominantly American staples on the menu but in a nod to the multicultural nature of the United States there are Chinese and Mediterranean options as well as fajitas, nachos and more. The appetisers start things off well, but in true American fashion they shouldn’t really be classed as appetisers as they are on the considerably generous side. The Beef Sliders at £7.95 aren’t cheap but they are tasty, with three miniature burgers containing cooked-to-order beef, caramelised onions, cheese and tomato. The beef is cooked perfectly but it does taste too salty, making you slurp down your accompanying drink that little bit quicker. The supposedly ‘world-famous’ chicken crunch (£7.95) is equally substantial, with five large chicken goujons fried to a slightly underwhelming crunch and served with a very tasty and sweet Creole mustard sauce.

There’s a good selection of mains, certainly enough to keep the kids happy, with generous portions once again. The sizzling fajitas at £14.95 aren’t actually sizzling when they come to the table, so don’t expect your eyes to water if you do order it. The chicken is cooked really well, keeping a tasty tenderness, whilst the onions, red and green peppers, guacamole and sour cream combine nicely within the light and airy tortilla. The addition of cheddar cheese offers something a little different, as does the Mexican rice that is a little bit spicy, tasting good both in the tortilla and on its own. The steak frites (£15.95) arrives at the table looking delicious, with pencil thin fries, a grilled tomato and green beans surrounding the juicy, impeccably cooked steak. Everything does taste very nice indeed, not least the almost perfect fries, but the meat again is too salty, making what would have been a very tasty dish not quite as good as it should have been.

Desserts are huge. The chocolate brownie (£4.95) is gargantuan, with a solid mass of sweet, heavy brownie covered in chocolate and vanilla ice cream and a very generous helping of whipped cream. It’s a great dish but be aware that if you finish it you might need a helping hand leaving the restaurant. Not quite as large, but every bit as decadent, is the banana cheesecake (£4.95). A thick slab of moist, light and incredibly sweet cheesecake is topped with sliced caramelised banana, cream and banana syrup in a dessert that’s indulgent and well worth a try.

The Drink
Keeping the choices for kids more than plentiful, Planet Hollywood offers everything from milkshakes and non-alcoholic smoothies to carbonated favourites and fruit juices. For the adults the choice is similarly impressive, with well-kept draught beers including Guinness, Fosters and Kronenbourg, all around the £3.80 mark for a pint. The wine list isn’t huge but it is adequate, with plenty of decent cheaper options available including a fruity, easily drinkable Cabernet Sauvignon at £14.95 for the bottle.

One of the best places to go however, is the cocktail list where well priced, well-made classics and bespokes sit appetisingly. The classics are good versions of well-known drinks, with a Mojito (£6.95) having a nicely refreshing combination of rum, fresh mint, lime and sugar, and a sweet and potent Caipirinha (£6.95) combining Sagatiba, lime quarters and brown sugar. The speciality cocktails are all named after films, so expect to choose between the likes of the Titanic, the Bourne Ultimatum or even the Indecent Proposal. Particularly good options include the Terminator (£6.95), which is a strong yet remarkably drinkable combination of vodka, gin, rum, Cointreau, Kahlua, lemon and cranberry juice, topped up with draught beer. Also worth a try is the tropical and zesty Cast Away (£6.95) which sees Absolut Kurant, cranberry, lime and sugar muddled through fresh mint leaves.

The Last Word
Especially good if you want to give the kids a birthday they’ll remember, Planet Hollywood is somewhere that’s well worth a visit thanks to its vibrant and fun atmosphere that makes the whole night feel like more than just a trip out to dinner.

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