Zizzi - Chelmsford — Restaurant in Chelmsford

Three strikes and you're out, Zizzi's Chelmsford. Despicable waiting times, awful service and some very rude staff.

Visited today for lunch at around 12:45 with my mum and 2 year old son. Ordered one bowl of pasta and one garlic bread to share with my mum as we'd planned to have dessert (needless to say after our experience we didn't). My son's food arrived after 10 minutes, but it took over 40 minutes for one bowl of pasta and one garlic bread to arrive, by which time my 2 year old son was bored having finished his meal 15 minutes previously. Absolutely shocking. Nobody warned us that the food was going to take that long. This is the third time I've had to ask where my food is on three separate (consecutive!) occasions at Zizzi's.

To add insult to injury there is one particularly surly female manager who accidentally smashed a wine glass next to our table. She swept up SOME of the glass, but didn't bother to pick up the remaining shards scattered in the immediate vicinity, some of which were under my son's highchair. We told her and another waitress that there were big glass shards around, yet, throughout the whole 1 hr 20 minutes we were there, NOBODY cleaned up the remaining glass. After we'd last complained about the glass a couple came in with their toddler, parked their buggy next to ours and took their son out. Just as she set him down on the floor I noticed that he had no shoes on, only socks, and told her not to put her son down because there were big chunks of glass on the floor. Needless to say they were shocked too.

Last but not least when we finally got the bill (which I had to ask for twice), the surly manager came over and slammed it down on the table.

Unfortunately this is the third time in 6 months that I've been kept waiting for over 40 minutes for my food and had to suffer very rude service from the waiting staff at Zizzi's Chelmsford, so we will not be giving them our money again. Take my advice, go...

Zizi Restaurant, an Italian culinary gem, truly impressed with its remarkable food selection and exceptional service. The menu offered a diverse range of Italian dishes, from classic pasta favorites to innovative culinary creations, catering to a variety of tastes. The food quality was outstanding, with each Italian dish bursting with authentic flavors and prepared using fresh and top-notch ingredients. Whether you're a fan of hearty pasta dishes like creamy carbonara or flavorful pizzas with perfectly charred crusts, Zizi had something to satisfy every Italian craving. What elevated the Italian dining experience even further was the restaurant's excellent service. The staff, with their charming Italian hospitality, was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, making recommendations and ensuring a seamless dining journey for every guest. Throughout my visit to this Italian restaurant, I felt well taken care of, and the attentive service added to the overall enjoyment of the meal. Zizi Restaurant's combination of delectable Italian food selection and great service makes it a standout dining destination, perfect for both casual gatherings and special occasions. I highly recommend trying it out for a memorable Italian culinary experience....

Came for lunch and had booked inside but as the weather was nice decided to sit outside instead. The staff were very accommodating and made every effort to help (moving tables, etc). Why we had to book at all, I'm not sure as the place was virtually empty. That was probably a good thing, to be fair, as they were very short-staffed. That meant a bit of a wait (to order, to get the food, for tables to be cleared and to pay), but they coped admirably in any case.

The food was absolutely delightful (the picante carne calzone and the Meat Sofia pizza in particular, but both were indeed spicy, as advertised). The Favourites Platter to start was indeed full of favourites, with a particular shout-out for the calamari which was beautiful! No beer on draft but a few different ones in bottles. Selection of wines and other drinks good, too. There is a kids' menu and they are supremely child friendly from start to end. Toilets (upstairs, but there is a lift for those less able to walk; there is also a ramp into the main restaurant, great for wheelchairs and prams alike) were clean enough.

In short, very good indeed, but at almost £230 for five adults and two children,...