Zizzi - Cheshire Oaks — Restaurant in Ellesmere Port

Arrived early, was sat down fairly quickly. Although we booked a table was not ready for us, so the table was set right in front of us, we received forks but no knives. After we were sat down we were waiting 45 minutes before anyone took our order. All staff, including the manager, were walking past completely ignoring when we tried to get attention to get an order taken, didn’t even acknowledge us being there. We only managed to get an order taken when the table next to us complained they had been waiting half an hour and we had been there longer, even with a complaint the manager seemed completely unphased, and the service did not improve. After we got our order taken, it took another 15 minutes for someone to start preparing our drinks, our food came shortly after. We have no complaints on the food. Not a single person came to check on us while eating. Once our plates were being cleared the waitress asked if we were going to want dessert and asked us what we wanted before even offering us a menu. Once we got the menus it took around 20 minutes to be able to get an order taken, which we only got by calling them over.

We could see when our desserts were ready and the chefs were asking for service, but all the staff were stood at the bar having a laugh so the chef had to run our food so it wouldn’t melt, he was lovely and apologetic. The table next to us had their bill and had been waiting to pay for 15 minutes so the chef also had to take care of that. We were not the only table that the chef had to run food for. The chef was the only capable member of staff there.

As someone who works in this industry, I cut them a lot of slack but it was just one thing after the other and became ridiculous. If they were busy and rushed off their feet I wouldn’t have complained but they weren’t busy and they were all just strolling around without a care in the world. Coming from someone who works in this industry the amount of things other than the service I noticed that were not in check. Glass in the kitchen? Major health and safety hazard. Not cleaning metal water jugs after they have been used? Food being sat on the side for ages before being ran. Tables just not being cleaned, and instead of taking dirty plates to be cleaned, they were just being piled onto another table. One of the tables next to us were dirty when we got there and was still dirty by the time we left. I understand caps for chefs instead of hair nets, but not when their hair is longer than the cap?

Every table that came in after us was served before us, to the point some had ate, paid and was leaving before we even finished eating.

Looking to other tables around us did not help our experience improve. The table right next to us and their chicken was not fully cooked from another table I could see pinkness inside. The table directly behind them, had a complaint about there dessert, so they got a fresh plate, were not supplied with spoons and when the manager came over to take payment the woman complained about her second dessert as there was something in it.

If your staff can’t be bothered to come over and take an order at least have the online orders open, rather than advertising it in the table but it being closed.

After we complained to the manager, as soon as he got our payment he walked over to his staff and just carried on having a laugh. If you get a complaint you should be telling your staff and helping them improve not just having a laugh. Zizzis is a lovely restaurant, but this particular branch is...

Had booked a table of 3 (two adults one child in highchair). Met up with friends at the cinema so they decided to tag along and see if we could change the booking to a table of 4 adults and 3 highchairs, which Sian (I presume was Front Of House manager) did juggle about to accommodate. She moved some tables together and that was fine for us. Unfortunately we were only given the set menu which was £26-/+ pp and the kids menus, which I felt was a bit sneaky as only when she came back to take our order (about 15-20 mins later) did she say that we could order off the full menu, but at this point the kids were getting rowdy and we just wanted to eat (it was now 1.30pm or so). Two other tables who arrived after we arrived were seen to before our orders were taken. We ordered single things off the set menu (which didn't have a price because it was a set menu). I ordered the Pinoli pizza, partner got the Sofia and I ordered a starter of veg sticks with bread, Bolognese with wholewheat penne pasta for my daughter. It took about 30 minutes for food to arrive. My pizza did not have the fresh basil on, nor did my daughter get Bolognese with penne pasta, she got the same as the baby at the table which was twisty pasta in a tomato sauce. We also asked for crayons for the children's menu to entertain them for the really long wait but they never came. Other floor staff were asked if we could have some children's cutlery as it was not provided so my daughter just ended up using her hands as the cutlery never arrived. We were not checked in on at all, drink top ups were not asked about, however staff did ask repeatedly at the time of payment for a tip, which the paying party members paid for as they felt awkward to say no. (I wouldn't mind paying for service if it was good but I do not feel this was!)

The toilets were lovely. I do not understand why they're separated into Male/Female as the toilets were the same (toilet, sink and hand dryer). I do much prefer individual toilets but separating them into male/female seems redundant.

Another member of our party had to flag down staff to ask for the bill as we had been waiting for 20 minutes for them to come and ask about the kids pudding (which was included in the set menu price for them) but they never did. As the children were really tired due to it being so warm in there without aircon we decided to just pay and leave.

When asking for the bill Sian did apologise for the wait between everything and said it was down to lots of tables having allergies making it difficult to manage as she has to take the orders. She also said they were short staffed.

Other party members were happy with the price of the food, especially the kids menu, but we did not enjoy it, not for the price (and the fact they got the order wrong?)

First and last time dining at Zizzi's...

I'm writing this review immediately after returning home from my night out where I was left genuinely gobsmacked by the service I received at Zizzi's in Cheshire Oaks.

Me and my partner had planned to take our friend on a night out for a nice meal before going to see a movie. Our table was booked at 6.30 and we arrived and were seated at 6.25. I'm used to service where people come and ask for your drinks order around 5 minutes after seating but this didn't happen. We didn't think much in to it and just assumed someone be with us shortly so we started to look at what we fancied to eat.

20 minutes had passed and still no one had been around to take our drinks OR food order. We even tried to order via the QR code and it was saying our table wasn't open/recognised so as a waitress was passing I asked her if we could be served to which she just replied "yeah" and walked off. We assumed she'd gone off to get someone but she hadn't and walked straight back past our table to start making drinks behind the bar.

10 minutes later someone finally came to take our order and if I'm honest, the attitude was stinking. I'm used to ordering starter + main together and then moving on to the next person so after I ordered my starter I asked how she would prefer us to order, "starters first or would you prefer starters and mains together?" To which she just responded back like I was stupid and blankly said "starters".

It got to 38 minutes after being seated (with still no drinks or table nibbles I ordered) where both me, my partner and my friend had decided that if we got to 40 minutes with no service we'd leave. Of course we got to 40 minutes, so I approached [what seemed to be] the person in charge and asked him if he could cancel the food and drink order for table 22 because we were leaving after 40 minutes of no service to which he replied "yeah, sure". I was gobsmacked. No apology, no attempt to understand why, just happy to watch an easy £100 table walk out the door.

As a group we ended up going elsewhere to eat when we also noticed two other parties who were in Zizzi's at the same time as us, queuing for food, too. I've no idea how much money Zizzi's lost out on tonight but I certainly know it was because of the service. If it was heaving I'd be more understanding but there were plenty of empty tables and didn't seem overly busy for a Saturday at all.

Worst restaurant experience I've ever...