So we visited on Sunday my birthday. We went to Leicester High cross
We had booked for midday and arrived at 11.50 am first diners there and ignored for a good 5mins then told sit where you like.
They had a billboard outside 2 courses for 10.95 or 3 for 13.95 when we asked for that menu we were told you need a code so DH then downloaded said code, why have a billboard outside offering it.
Ds1 (almost 7yrs) had piccolo menu, ds2 (2yrs shared everyone else's!).
So for starters ds1 had dough balls with veg came with oil or butter but wasn't given a choice just got butter. I had garlice bread with melted mozzarella which was a roll with cheese melted on no hint garlic in fact I used ds butter. DH had a tomato salad with mozzarella he was expecting a Italian number instead he got a bowl with 20 chopped baby plum tomatoes and a hunk mozzarella lobbed in.
Starters were not great edible but not as per menu but came quickly and cleated quickly.
DH asked for seafood rigatoni for main they didn't have it available so went for a meaty pizza which he said was v dry. I had the pesto pasta with chicken no where did it say it came with raw onion in inc the hunk of core and skin. Ds had margeritta pizza and the boys shared it.
We then sat and sat and sat (2 other tables of diners) one waiter doing lots of work, 2 waitresses and a manageress chatting they disappear and one waitress stays standing stating into space a few meters from us, ds2 is not the quietest he is 2, they make noise she could see we had finished I state led the plates loudly I loudly said you can have pudding in a minute, after 20mins I shouted for plates to be cleared and to order pudding.
I then had to shout again for pudding as she cleared the plates and went back to her daydreaming spot. Puddings ordered.
Pudding took 20mijns to come was best course I had vanilla cheesecake, DH fudge cake and D's choc Brownie with strawberries.
Again shouted for plates to be cleared and the bill, then had to call her back to pay.
The poor waiter was only one doing anything and there was 3other tables when we left more waiters/ess than tables.
Ds2 bumped his head very loudly and screamed no one asked us if he was OK, needed a cold pack or anything
Not once were we asked if our food was OK, did we enjoy our meal. I think NY end they could tell I was pissed off, no thank you or goodbye.
Activity packs are now v poor a mask/glasses youngest got given girls pack v obviously a boy both dressed in same top. The hats in past were much better. The writing a story did not interest ds1 he wanted puzzles, quizzes, games, colouring.
The piccolo menu at £6.45 is pretty typical of 3 courses however instead of babychinno it would be better to include a drink with the meal. Also the menu would benefit from one other starter.
Overall horrific service and mediocre food a virtually empty restaurant on a Sunday lunch in a busy town centre (with a big event on Sunday) is pretty telling of what people's think of the place.
We have visited other pizza express and had good experience but won't be back at this one in a hurry plenty more choice available.