The London List: Jikoni, W1

Our London List shares the good 'grown-up' restaurants that welcome young kids. These are our tried-and-tested spots for success: places with people who have gone the extra mile, who have patiently helped us navigate the stressful moments, who genuinely haven't minded a little extra mess and noise, and whose creativity and delicious food put big smiles on all our faces. Today we're talking about Jikoni in Marylebone.

Jikoni feels like it should be saved for something special but I am here to encourage you to swing by on a casual Tuesday lunchtime after half an hour ogling swords and armour at the Wallace Collection with your knight-obsessed toddler (thanks, Zog the dragon), like I did.

As usual I met a friend there right at their opening time 12pm, when we knew it wouldn't be busy, and managed to get a large table with a high chair for my friend's baby. There was background music, and the servers were helpful with high chairs and bringing teaspoons for the babes instead of full-size cutlery. While we waited for our food to arrive the restaurant was empty enough that we could walk the kids around the dining room looking for all the colourful zebras, giraffes, monkeys and birds within Jikoni's colourful artworks and decorative artefacts. It's a beautiful dining room that feels calm and comfortable. The WCs downstairs are just about big enough for a potty learner, and have a nappy changing table too.

We ordered a panisse (excellent finger food) and saffron rice for the little ones, and let them try bits from our mains. Everything was packed with flavour as you'd expect from Ravinder Bhogal's masterful cooking, but not spicy. We were out by 1pm when the restaurant started to get busier. Success! 

Between us all we ordered:

1 x Saffron rice

1 x Crisp kale chaat, yoghurt, date & tamaring chutney, sev

1 x Chickpea panisse with bengali tomato chutney

1 x Delicata squash moilee, coconut chutney, lemon rice

Table water

TOTAL: about £60 inc service

https://www.jikonilondon.com/