Quote: We were staying in the Southbank area of London, so decided one evening, as a treat for our 8 year old, to eat out in the Leicester Square area so he could experience all the buzz and lively atmosphere it is renowned for here. We decided to try Planet Hollywood, we had eaten here at the Trocadero Centre in the past and been really impressed. Having done a quick internet search, we could only find Planet Hollywood at Haymarket. I think it maybe has moved from its original location.

We found it easily, just a short walk from the tube station. I was a bit surprised at the exterior - it looked just like any regular (and not that good) burger bar, and was not Planet Hollywood as I remembered it. Our son wanted to go inside, so we did. This was a mistake.

The restaurant was half empty when we arrived, but they said there were no free tables and there was a 20 minute wait. We said ok, and were directed to the bar area, where we waited. After about 5 minutes, when they saw we didn't order any drinks, they took us to a table.

The restaurant felt a bit chilly and cold inside. They advertise that you "dine with the stars" but all we could see were a couple of tacky props they could have got from anywhere. This was so different to how I remembered it.

Our waiter was very nice and attentive - he was the best thing about the whole experience. I ordered chicken with salad - it was very good indeed. My husband had nachos and garlic bread pizza - again no complaints with that, it was excellent. Our son had chicken nuggets and fries - pretty standard fare for this type of place, but it was also reasonable.

I used the bathrooms after we had eaten - I wish I had done that beforehand, as I might possibly have left the restaurant. They were not clean at all, very scruffy and I did not feel hygiene was a priority. It made me feel slightly uneasy, but we had already eaten and couldn't do much about it. I also saw the mezzanine area while using the bathrooms - I was relieved we did not get shown to a table here - it was even more soul-less than the rest of the restaurant.

All in all, dining here was a complete and utter let-down. The food was actually good, but the experience that I remember from Planet Hollywood of the past, just did not exist. There was no atmosphere, the film memorabilia is lacking and I would avoid in future.
From journals Dining Out in London