PizzaExpress — Restaurant in Dacorum

I came to pizza express about 10 months ago, I have just found how to write a review. I would put 0 stars if I could….this experience has haunted me ever since…. It was the weekend before payday and me and my friend thought will go out for a reasonably priced Pizza Express. The food was pizza express standard and the service is okay. However the experience at the end of the night ruined my whole evening and weekend. The first payment I made by card for dinner, the money left my bank account deducted and the waiter said the payment hadn’t actually work. I was so puzzled as it left my bank and I asked if we could hold off till tomorrow or Monday and then me to pay again if this was true it didn’t, as the money had left my bank…. The manager came over and was so rude and direct and not humble in any way and really made me feel like a piece of dirt on her shoe. I showed her the money had been deducted from my account and I told her if she took the payment again, I would have no money for the weekend. The manager refused to let me and friend leave until I paid for the meal twice. She also threatened to call the police. ( I am a 34 year old, sales professional. Not a kid ) I was shaken up and panicked as I live alone and was left with £10-£12 till pay day on the Monday/Tuesday and she also wouldn’t let me have her phone number or name to call up next week to sort the situation as both transactions actually went through twice. Which was thought was odd, I was taken aback by the whole situation as I’ve never had to pay for anything twice or been spoke toso rudely. Wanting to sit and just stop my hands from shaking. She came over and asked us to leave and I said I will in a minute and she then left and came back over and squirted me with cleaning product spray!!!! Never in my life have I experienced such bad behaviour or been treated so badly and it left me depressed and confused for the rest of the weekend with no money. However, the first payment did come back to me eventually after about 3-4 weeks. But the customer service and experience was terrible and I wouldn’t ever want anyone...

Review: A Disappointing Experience at Pizza Express Berkhamsted

I recently visited Pizza Express in Berkhamsted, and despite my usual reluctance to write complaints, the experience was so subpar that I felt compelled to share my thoughts.

Upon arrival, we were handed menus and told by the manager to "sit anywhere" instead of being directed to a table. While this might seem like a minor inconvenience, it set the tone for the rest of our visit. As we attempted to find a table, we noticed that nearly every empty table was dirty. It was disheartening to see the lack of basic cleanliness in a dining establishment.

After finally settling down, we had to ask for our order to be taken. Even then, it took a considerable wait, and someone else had to be told to take our order. To make matters worse, our order was taken after a table of five who arrived after us, displaying sheer laziness from the staff.

The service continued to disappoint when our drinks arrived. The server brought them over with the tops of her hands, and unbelievably, she had a beer tucked under her armpit. The lack of professionalism and basic hygiene standards was astounding.

Furthermore, none of the staff, except one lady, were wearing proper uniforms, which added to the overall sense of disorganisation. Throughout our meal, not once did anyone ask if our food was okay or if we needed anything else.

The only saving grace was the quality of the food, thanks to the chefs. However, the rest of the experience was shambolic. This wasn't merely a case of being understaffed; the staff present weren't even trying to accommodate or provide a basic level of service.

Overall, my visit to Pizza Express Berkhamsted was extremely disappointing. The poor service and lack of professionalism overshadowed the quality of the food. I hope the management addresses these issues promptly to ensure a better experience for...

Dogs welcome at certain times of the year but some people not welcome at all.

If PizzaExpress head office are wondering why their midweek numbers are so low in Berkhamsted, they perhaps should review the guidance they give their customers and staff, following an unpleasant experience we had tonight. Having read that dogs are welcome at branches (see screengrab) that have a terrace (Berko has one, it's lit up with festoon lights and the tables have flower pots on them), we asked if we could eat outside with our dog, Jeff. That was OK, but the terrace doesn't officially open until tomorrow, we're told by an unsure but accommodating waiter (perhaps the mayor is coming to cut the tape).

We could then see our presence on the terrace was causing some issues, with a manager-type pointing and clearly unhappy that we were there; and soon our outdoor dining experience was being downgraded to takeaway packaging and plastic cutlery. Fine, but then after ordering soft drinks and a beer, my wife was refused a bottle opener by the 'manager' who had an unwelcoming manner. We're not licensed for alcohol outside... until tomorrow? We ate our food, staring at our unopened bottles.

Genuine confusion caused by a couple of dog-lovers trying to bend the rules so they can have a spot of dinner? Does licensing turn on and off according to the time of year? Perhaps. But I don't think that excuses being made to feel like trespassers in a once-popular chain restaurant.

And tonight we were told by two separate members of staff that from tomorrow, reportedly the day of the grand opening, PizzaExpress terraces will no longer be pet friendly, as if we were somehow cheating by arriving the night before. So, PE HQ, why not allow dogs outside on a huge terrace in a sparsely attended dog-loving neighbourhood branch? And why mislead customers on...