All aboard the Pizza Express (Pizza Express)

Member Name: JJJJ

Product:	Pizza Express
Date:	23/06/09 (162 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tasty Pizza, not too expensive

Disadvantages: N/A

'Pizza Express' - the upper class Pizza Hut?

I've been to Pizza Express around five times, with most of those visits taking place in the last three or four years. My local 'branch' in Newport on the Isle of Wight has a modern looking, pleasant interior, and I have always found it to be clean and light.

The venue is kid-friendly, and when I have been there in the past with my young nephew, the staff have been ready with high chairs, and a colouring set to keep him entertained. In fact, the staff in general are friendly and helpful, and the service (whilst not lightening fast) has been efficient.

Quality of Food
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I have always found the food which Pizza Express serves to be very pleasant, and there is a wide selection of dishes on the menu. I normally go for something simple like 'The American' which is a pepperoni pizza on a thin base, although I have opted for the 'Four Seasons' on a couple of occassions - mushrooms; pepperoni; mozzarella; olives, anchovies and capers, with one quarter for each.

In most Pizza Express restaraunts, the food is prepared in front of you - which is nice to see, and this transparacy of preparation demonstrates that there is nothing suspicious going on!

Compared to Pizza Hut, the flavours of a Pizza Express pizza seem to be more subtle, and less 'fast-food like' in their make-up. They have a 'contenental', rather than an American taste, and I would compare the traditional way in which they are made to the Pizza I recently had in Rome.

Pizza Express have just released a new selection of what is known as 'Leggara' - a pizza crossed with a salad. Although it may sound like an unusual concoction, it's basically a pizza with a hole in the middle which is inhabited by a bit of greenery. the Leggara may be a good option for dieters, but I didn't really fancy one so I gave it a wide berth!

As well as the pizzas, the desserts are also of a high standard, and the cheesecake is really delicious. I would also recommend the Pistachio Ice Cream which has a really subtle flavour - as long as you can forgive its bright green colouring!

Value for Money
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Although I jokingly called Pizza Express the "upper class Pizza Hut" - actually, the prices are very reasonable - you can get a whole pizza for around £8, which isn't bad value at all.

Drinks
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Pizza Express has a fair number of drinks to choose from, including a good selection of red and white wines. The prices are just above those you would expect to pay in a pub, so no real complaints there.

Final Word
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I have only had good experiences of Pizza Express, and have to date enjoyed my visits there. My only criticism of the venue is that it was too hot inside on my most recent visit, but this is just a minor niggle. Highly recommended.

Summary: Good Pizza Place