to be seriously underwhelmed by Zizzi?

[biggirlknickers]

I’ve been twice. I think it’s pretty pricey at around £7 a starter and £13 main. But it is such bland, underflavoured, unimpressive food! Honestly I think I would have got more satisfaction from a microwave ready meal than the £££ crab cannelloni I had last time.

And the waiting staff insist on calling everyone ‘guys’ at all times which royally pisses me off.

It’s a cheap chain, like many others. Good for a quick lunch or pre theatre supper but never going to be anything but a cheap chain.

Still can’t beat Pizza Express. Same food since I started going there in 1990.

I went there once (4 people). 2 people's sides were undercooked and inedible (think undercooked potatoes or similar), small portions for the main meal, one person's veg was literally a tablespoon of boiled frozen veg with a smear of oil on (think school dinners), my main was so overcooked I couldn't even cut it! Waited nearly an hour for the first course, as did the table next to us. Some staff were OK both others surly. Didn't bother with dessert as the mains were so bad and we left hungry. Never even acknowledged our complaint. I wouldn't go back if I was paid to.

YANBU, I only go there if others in the group insist on it. Everything I’ve ever had there has been overcooked, dry, bland and overpriced!

However it’s not as bad as the one time I went tin Carluccios - everyone I know raves over it but the food was absolutely disgusting, plus service so poor we were in there for 3.5 hours for a two course meal! Never ever again.

There allergy knowledge is significantly better than many others on the high street though so it’s somewhere we go often as the staff actually seem to know what’s in the foot

The one on my High Road is always packed... I think it’s awful. The pizzas are dreadful... Pizza Express is the best place for pizza, in my opinion. ASK is same company as Zizzi but so much nicer.

But they're not cheap, that's the worst thing. Not great Italian food and everything is a couple of quid more than the average independent Italian that serves far better food. I really don't understand why people use them.

YABU, love Zizzi's! I haven't been for a while though. I always try and get one of their deals when I go. Last time I think it was 3 courses for £15ish and was a good range of options. Plus decent wine list and soft drinks

Been once, would not go again. Who the hell puts a crunchy topping on Lasagne?. Overpriced microwave tasting fodder.

I think you get variation between branches. I have eaten at three in the last year. Two out of the three were delicious. I really enjoyed the food. Calzone, bruschetta, meatballs. All delicious.
The third recently was ok. Not bad but not as tasty as the other two branches. I would definitely go again.

I don’t mind cheap and cheerful chain restaurants, I know what market I’m in —besides, cheap and cheerful is all I can ever afford— but Nando’s, Pizza Express, even Pizza Hut (!) are so much tastier than Zizzi - and less pricey!

I avoid all restaurant chains as much as I can, same menus, same processed foods, max profit on cheap ingredients with minimum wage staff.

This is from my local pizza joint. It costs the same (and some less) than the pizzas at Zizzi. Now why would anyone want to eat their mass produced crap over something like that?

I’m sure if you do some research you’ll find some incredible restaurants near you @biggirlknickers that are cheaper and endlessly better. Plus you’ll be supporting your local community, rather than lining the pockets of a millionaire.

YANBU it's disgusting

As a previous poster said, they have one of the best high street allergy menus which is why we used to pick them over any one else.

You usually find several vouchers knocking around for 30% off

I think they ok for a chain

I love a Zizzi's! It's definitely my favourite of the chain restaurants.

Totally agree that our local independents are better (but not cheaper). Trouble is, someone keeps giving us a restaurant voucher for gifts, which is a lovely and generous gift but the places it can be used are very limited (and all chains!)

I went to one in Windsor I think that was good. Kids enjoyed. Lots of variety. At the Trafford Centre branch service is shockingly slow, food tastless, overpriced for portion size.. ..everything you don't want in a chain

I love Zizzi. We eat regularly at our 3 local ones. I have a very allergic child and they are brilliant. The only truly terrible one I’ve been to is Oxford, which is horrendous.

I used to like a superfood salad they did - but I haven't been for at least 2 years.

Don't know how they make any money the one in my city centre is always absolutely empty. As PPs have said food is crap as well, Pizza Express is the only Italian chain I'd bother with. I'd probably even stretch to saying it's the only chain in general I'd bother with - I'm not a snob but there are so many decent, tasty indies where I live that there's no point bothering with Bella Italia and the like.

I've only ever been to Zizzi once and I loved it. It was late and we were hungry, in a strange city and looking for somewhere to eat. We passed Zizzi and thought it looked nice and the music was low enough for us to hear ourselves think. The service was great and so was the food. I'm fussy about wine and asked the waiter for a very dry white and the wine he brought was spot on and not something I would have ordered from the wine list. He knew his stuff and I was very impressed.

Forgot to add - it was in Southampton West Quay.

@Buunylover I loved the crunchy lasagne topping

YABU!! Zizzi’s is my favourite! You obviously haven’t tried their garlic bread with caramelised red onion- it is to die for. I went last weekend & had their salted caramel chocolate brownie for dessert - the best dessert I’ve ever eaten in a restaurant