Well guys.. Im outa here. Dont have time for Ciao any more but thanks for all the laughs, tears and ...
Well guys.. Im outa here. Dont have time for Ciao any more but thanks for all the laughs, tears and comments! Ciao!
Member since:02.01.2005
Reviews:40
Members who trust:28
I live very close to a branch of the now national Italian restaurant chain 'Zizzi's.' I go there from time to time so I thought it would be worth a quick review. Ive been to a few branches, but my experiences are mainly based on the Finchley Central (north London) branch. I think they are pretty consistent between branches however!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So what is ZIzzi's? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zizzi's is a chain of Pasta and Pizza restaurants. It started off just a few years ago with one or two branches but they now seem to be sprawling everywhere. Ive seen them in Milton Keynes, Bristol and Ipswich (some of the places Ive been to recently!). Despite being another pizaa and pasta chain, it looks, tastes and feels very different to the Ask and Pizza Express brands,
which makes a refreshing change. It is very family friendly, and my local branch is always full of kids, which you may see as an advantage or a disadvantage! Prices are pretty average with starters ranging from about 3-4 pounds and mains ranging from 5 to 8 pounds..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DRINKS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zizzi's offers a decent range of wines and soft drinks. Im no wine conniseur, but I wasnt too keen on the house red, but they do a decent Merlot. For those on a budget, they are more than happy to bring jugs of tap water, and they bring it with chilled glasses! Very refreshing indeed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ STARTERS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are a starters person, there is a huge range avialable. The offering incudes Olives, Garlic Pizza bread with Caremelised Onions Brushetta and Crayfish Salad. But the range is much more extensive. Portions are pretty big, and the most expensive starter is £4.45. Most are in the £3 range.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MAINS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For most people, the choice is going to be between Pasta and Pizza. There is the usual range of Pizzas, most of which will be familiar from Pizza Express and Ask. They taste slightly different, but are still pretty good. They are huge and I cant always finish them (despite being a bloke with a pretty big appetite).
The Pastas are pretty decent too, although a good deal of them are creamy, which probably isnt that healthy (not that the Pizzas are either!)
They also do a range of Calzones (AKA 'U' Shaped or folded in half pizza) which my other half always orders and likes, and salads including Nicoise, Pollo and Chicken Ceaser.
There is also the usual range of side orders including Green salad, rocket salad etc..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DESSERT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Small range of desserts but they are very nice. The range incldes apple crumble, tiramisu, waffle with banana and chocolate and Lemon Torta. Goes down well with desert wine or coffee.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SEE THE FULL MENU ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zizzi's always have their current menu online, withprices.
You can find it at:
http://www.zizzi.co.uk/zizzimenu.html
There are always specials on a board, which change from week to week. These are not included on the website.
~~~~~~~~~~~ SERVICE ~~~~~~~~~~~
I have found the service to be pretty decent. The staff turnover at my local branch seems to be pretty high as I never see the same person twice, but I have had consistently friendly service. The food omes quite quickly, and they can often answer questions and make ammendments to the dishes (some of my friends are very fussy eaters!!) They do not include service charge to the bills unless there are more than 8 of you in which case they will! I dont think that is too unreasonable. They take bookings and some of the branches get pretty busy - so it may be advisable at the weekend.
~~~~~~~~~ DECOR ~~~~~~~~~
One of the best aspects of Zizzi's is the decor. Its quite a very modern style but is very cosy inside. The back wall in most branches is made up of logs end on, which is very interesting. My local branch has huge windows which open up to expose the whole front, which is great on a warm summers night. There is also seating outside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHAT DID I HAVE? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I went a few days ago and I had - Merlot wine - Caremelise Onion Garlic Bread - would definately recommend - Fiorentina Pizza - 4/5 not quite as good as the Pizza express one but bigger. Could definately eat it again though - Side salad - usual fayre of peppers, lettuce, olives and Italian dressing - No room for dessert! - All came to just under £15 with service.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHERE CAN I FIND ONE? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately they dont have a list of branches I could easily copy, but you can search on their website for your local. The address is:
http://www.zizzi.co.uk/search.html
London branches I am aware of include: Finchley (central) St Johns Wood Highgate Paddington And about 3-4 in the west end. And I think there are about 15 more in South West and East london!
They seem to be countrywide though if you look at the search facility.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SMOKING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately my local branch gets a bit smokey even in the non smoking area. Bring ont he smoking ban!! (Hope I dont offend anyone!)
http://www.zizzi.co.uk/zizzimenu.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can contact the head office via snail mail at:
Customer Services ASK Restaurants Ltd 20 High Street St Albans AL3 4EL
No I havent made a mistake, It's run by the same people as ASK!
Enjoy and let me know what you thought of your meals there!
My local branch - 202-208 Regents Park Road, London N3 3HP Tel: 0208 371 6777
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I've heard of these and apparently they're lovely, but so far havent been. But you've pursauded me... thats the diet down the drain! xxx
snowblind_supernaut 03.09.2006 13:04
Always amuses me that Zizi (ok, slight spelling difference) means something in French that you wouldn't want to call a restaurant! There's one in Cambridge, but I've never been, good to hear that it might be worth visiting :) Really good review, E.
pinkelephantuk 26.08.2006 09:01
Good review. I've tried this restaurant and it was good!
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Jun 12th, 2006
very helpful by (100%):
