Bellissimo! Pizza Express, Norwich branches (Pizza Express)

Member Name: hypno06

Product:	Pizza Express
Date:	13/01/09 (222 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Family friendly.

Disadvantages: Too much food!

Norwich has two Pizza Express branches - and they are very different, but both well worth a visit.

The "original" Pizza Express is on St Benedicts Street, and is well established. It is quite large yet very cozy, aiming (and succeeding) to give that ambiance that you would expect from an Italian Restaurant.

The newer branch is in the Millenium Library building, at the Forum in Norwich city centre - this is a modern building with lots of glass and steel forming its structure, and so the feel of this restaurant is very contemporary. You eat upstairs so as you look out over Norwich you get an opportunity to see some of the landmarks such as St Peter Mancroft Church, and the Norman Castle, but you also get to "people watch" as they wander past, not really aware that you are looking down on them. In the Christmas period, there is traditionally an Ice Skating rink outside this building so it is really nice to eat your meal as you watch people slipping and sliding with grace and poise (!) outside.

The Pizza Express menu, being a chain rather than an independent, is fairly standard - there is a good range of starters, from a simple plate of dough balls, to a more substantial mushroom risotto which, to be honest, is enough for a main course, yet alone as a starter! Prices for these are generally around the £4 mark, which I feel is quite acceptable given the amount of food you receive. I can strongly recommend the Bruschetta al Funghi, which has delicious mushrooms in a creamy mozzeralla sauce.......again very filling, and completely unnecessary, but delicious, nevertheless!

Main courses include a selection of salads, pizzas and pasta dishes. Pizzas form the majority of the menu, as the name "Pizza Express" indicates. Bases are thin and light, and the toppings are pretty good. We have never had a "bad" pizza here.

There is a good range of salads, for those wanting something a little lighter, with dressing served on the side for those who are wanting to watch their calories. Again, the portions are substantial, and if you have had a starter, you might begin to struggle.......

Pasta dishes include Lasagne and Canneloni, and although I have not sampled these, they look perfectly acceptable to me!

Prices for the main courses range from about £7 to £10, and of course you could always share a pizza if you were keeping to a budget.

Vegetarians are well catered for, and if you have any requests (I ask for my salad without green beans, for example) these are always accommodated.

Desserts - yum - if you have had a starter and a main course, how on earth are you going to fit in a dessert???? Well, the answer is, probably, quite easily because they are so delicious you don't want to miss out. The tiramisu is divine and my children have had the most amazing ice cream sundaes that they always manage to polish off! Desserts are, again, about £4 each, and totally unnecessary.........but who cares - it's pudding!!

I usually have a cappuccino to finish (and more than likely one part way through as well), and I have never been disappointed. Good quality coffee with excellent "froth" on top.....regardless of which branch I am at.

There is the usual selection of drinks - beer, wine, soft drinks at prices that are about right for a restaurant of this type......typically £2 (ish) for a soft drink or coffee.

Service is usually pretty good.....I say "usually" because I have a friend who will only visit the St Benedicts branch, saying that you are lucky to receive your Pizza at the Forum........now I have never had a problem with service at either branch, but she feels so strongly about it, that I suppose it should be mentioned just in case I am just "lucky" on the days I visit!

Pizza Express in Norwich is very family friendly - baby food is on offer on the menu, and high chairs are available without fuss. There are often small babes in arms - and they are generally very well behaved.......the gentle music and relaxed atmosphere perhaps contributes to that!

As I say, I have never been disappointed with either Pizza Express branch in Norwich, and would recommend them for a good priced family meal in a relaxed setting. We have made a bit of a tradition on Christmas Eve - watching the children ice skate and having a family meal - a really nice wind down after a frantic few days!

Summary: A great place for an informal meal.