Zizzi
72 High St,
Brentwood,
Essex.
CM12 4AN
Food Style: Italian
Clostest Train Station: Brentwood
Parking: Available on/off the High St. Car Parks are also available
Recommends: Saving enough room for dessert, the Mela Croccante and Torta Cioccolata are definitely worth trying.
Avoid: If you don't want Italian style food
Review:
Firstly, yes Zizzi's is a big chain, but unlike Pizza Express for example, they offer so much more in terms of atmosphere, menu choices and taste, as well as what I believe is value for money. I must admit that until quite recently Zizzi's was my preferred restaurant chain of choice (prior to that it was ASK), but having been knocked off by a Non-Italian chain I can safely say that whenever a discussion about where to eat Italian (at a chain restaurant), Zizzi's is definitely a place you should consider.
I particularly love the Brentwood branch of Zizzi's, due to the large windows to entice customers from the street, and circular staircase leading to the spacey upper floor that provides extra seating when necessary. Having also been to the Charing Cross branch, if I were to describe the atmosphere in colour form it would be a warm orange/yellow. The mood setting is open relaxed and informal, so that it's a perfect setting for a birthday celebration, dining out with family or friends or on a date. I always judge a restaurant by their toilets, as well as their food, as I strongly believe that toilets (and kitchens) must be kept sparkling clean and reflect a restaurants hygiene. (Restaurants with fancy sinks get bonus points!) For this, Zizzi's certainly lived up to my expectations, in providing enough space in the cubicles, maintaining the cleanliness and sink design!
The Risotto di Pesce contained plenty of seafood - the abundant tiger prawns were succulent and moreish and the salmon absolutely divine. Both were cooked to perfection as was the rest of the dish, apart from the rice itself which was a tad 'bitty' quite similar to undercooked rice. I also have a feeling that the chef wanted me to get my vegetable quota for the day completed as my dish contained alot of courgette slices. However overall, I would order this again, and have done previously so it's mostly luck of the draw but it doesn't distract from the dining experience on the whole, so in all "no big deal".
Other things worth mentioning:
-Offers: As much as anyone does, I love looking out for the numerous food offers available. Lucky for me, the recession provided numerous choices where dining out was concerned, so much so that I perhaps helped to try and eat our way out of the recession? Even so I would still dine here without any vouchers but they do help and may fund another visit back! Watch out here for the BOGOF, Buy on get one for £1, two for £12 etcetc deals on offer.
Other things worth mentioning:
-Offers: As much as anyone does, I love looking out for the numerous food offers available. Lucky for me, the recession provided numerous choices where dining out was concerned, so much so that I perhaps helped to try and eat our way out of the recession? Even so I would still dine here without any vouchers but they do help and may fund another visit back! Watch out here for the BOGOF, Buy on get one for £1, two for £12 etcetc deals on offer.
-Dessert: YUM! 99% of the time I always opt for the Baked Apple Crumble, due to the large portion and the "freshly baked out of a oven in my thatched cottage in the country side" feeling it provides. However the Chocolate Melt, Torta Cioccolata and so on are equally as yummy, which often results in me tasting other desserts on offer (courtesy of my family.)
Rating: As far as chain restaurants go, it is trickier to rate compared to smaller chains (i.e ~10 restaurants in the country) or single restaurants but on the other hand it is far more accessible - you don't need to visit somewhere specifically as chances are there will be one closer to you. Due to the feeling of everyone always feeling happy and satisfied after our meal, the numerous money saving offers available, the atmosphere and most importantly wanting to go back again, I give it an A. (Scandalous to give a chain restaurant an A I know, but on this one I will not budge!)
