Zizzi - Bluewater — Restaurant in Dartford

Booked a table for 5 today at Bluewater and was left extremely disappointed. We were seated and given menus but then waited half an hour with no service (not even a drink) eventually we had to go an ask for someone to take our order. The starters were nice enough (although not sure what has happened to their delicious garlic bread with caramelised onions but it was flat, crispy and had hardly any garlic) after eating we again waited a while for our plates to be cleared. Our mains were served, but we had to go and find a server again to replenish our cutlery that had been taken with the starters and not replaced. The food was OK, I had the pasta pollo picante, which I had to season with salt and pepper as it was fairly bland. We then sat with dirty plates for about 20 mins. Eventually a waiter came and collected some of the plates and bought us some boxes for our left over pizza. Then left, without giving us desert menus...another 5 mins and we were still sat among some dirty plates and had no menus so we had to get up again and ask someone. Our desert order was taken, the deserts were delicious (honeycomb cheesecake!) Some of our plates were taken by another waitress who gave the impression she was coming back to clear the rest but she didn't. Cue us waiting another 10 mins to try to get someone's attention for the bill. We eventually left the restaurant 2 hours and 45 mins after being seated. Those that did serve us were great but it seemed that we weren't in an allocated area or didn't have an assigned server and so kept getting forgotten about. Not great when spending £160.... Not sure I would go back to be honest, there were piles of dirty plates stacked on tables around the restaurant and bits of food on the floor. They just seemed extremely short staffed but had no urgency to make up for...

Generally a mediocre experience. A number of issues.

It is not professional to have Zizzi staff have staff 1:1 meetings in ear shot of customers. I heard the lady in the pink top and the man with the beard discussing very loudly sales figures etc.

Zizzi staff clearly do not know how to make a Macchiato properly. Have now had it a couple of times from Zizzi so I know it was not because they were having a bad day. It should be made with a small amount of foamed milk which is stained on top. The size of the macchiato served was smaller than it should be (7 sips and it was all gone!) and far too expensive for what it is. Mine was prepared with far too much milk and it does not resemble or taste like a macchiato. Please can Zizzi staff learn the correct way to make it. It is quite embarrassing for an Italian resturant to not know how to make this. They need to practice more to get it right.

Ruby cheese cake cost nearly £7. Looked like something someone had purchased from a bargain basement supermarket. See picture. Served on an oversized plate which really underscored its small size. Tasted flavourless and unmemorable. For £7 this is far too much money for something so lacking in vitality and charisma. This apparently is one of their new deserts. Might be new but I won't be ordering it again.

The bench seats need to be cleaned. Number of food stains on them. I would advise anyone dining here to not sit in this area. Cleaners need to have better attention to detail as this is not acceptable.

More of a general comment that Zizzi management does not reply to the google reviews for the Bluewater store. This is unprofessional and indicates a lack of desire to address the problems.

I would have given just 2 stars but was served quickly and staff were OK. However please address...

If you're looking for an unforgettable pizza experience, *Zizi * is hands down the best I've ever had in my life! From the moment you take that first bite, you can tell this place is doing something special. The crust is perfectly crispy yet soft on the inside, the toppings are always fresh and generously piled on, and the sauce has the perfect balance of tangy and savory.

Every pizza is made with care, and you can taste the difference in the high-quality ingredients. The flavors are bold and well-balanced, and each pizza has its own unique character, whether you’re going for a classic Margherita or something more adventurous.

The staff is friendly and attentive, making the experience even more enjoyable. The ambiance of the place is inviting, and you truly feel like you're in for a treat the moment you walk in.

Zizi has completely raised the bar for what pizza should be. It’s no wonder they deserve a solid 5 stars. Without a doubt, this is the best pizza I’ve ever had, and I can’t wait to return! Highly recommend it to anyone who loves exceptional pizza.

Big thank you to Vincenzo Hayley,...