PizzaExpress — Restaurant in London

I had the misfortune of organising my daughter’s 6th birthday here for a pizza party, and can honestly say it was the most disappointing experience. Upon arrival, we were not even welcomed by the member of staff working there, she just carried on sitting down at the back of the restaurant. We went over to the table and set up our balloons etc, and still no-one approached us. The lady who served us did obviously not want to be there, and didn’t interact with any of the children once. No atmosphere, no birthday wishes, absolutely zero. We were left to get on with everything ourselves. We had to ask to order hot drinks, ask for the squashes to be refilled, ask for more toppings (one small plate of pepperoni given for 11 children to make pizzas with!). Not once did a member of staff come over and ask us if we needed anything. We then did my daughter’s cake and again, didn’t come over and ask if we needed help, and we had to ask for a knife to cut up and a lighter for the candles. It was as if they had never hosted a party before. I then asked about the party games that should’ve been played (and advertised on their website) and was told that they didn’t play any and it was only pizza making. She then rang her manager and said they ‘only played them in pizza express restaurants in the city’. I mean, seriously?? Honestly, I could not have been more disappointed in our experience for my daughter’s party and genuinely wonder why they offer an option for something they quite clearly hate providing. I have never experienced a party where the staff there could not have made it more clear that they were not...

My fiancée and I love Upminster and routinely come to the area to eat out. Furthermore, I’m a lover of Pizza Express and had been meaning to eat here for quite some time.

It was very disappointing.

I will say that the food was great. Well prepared, tasty, hot when served. Excellent. But that’s where the positives end.

I won’t labour on. But the service was dreadful.

Upon walking in and finding a table, the waitress didn’t even say hello or ask how we were. No greeting at all. Just a sullen, almost impatient face and demeanour and the abrupt question of ‘any allergies?’

What followed was more of the same. Honestly, I know we’re all going through something and sometimes, we’re just not in the zone but if you’re a customer at a restaurant and the service is slow, utterly impersonal and borderline standoffish, then the experience is ruined.

At the end, whilst being left alone for quite some time without anyone checking to see if we wanted dessert (which I did) I gave up and asked for the bill. The waitress proceeded to do several things after that including stopping for a chat with her colleague, ultimately forcing me to have to get up to find her and remind her.

It was a Saturday night but there was enough of a staff to clientele ratio. It was not busy.

The service - at least on this occasion - was terrible.

We’d planned to come here for my birthday on Boxing Day with my mum.

No longer.

Won’t be taking the chance of going to Pizza Express Upminster...

Upon arrival 3 x 12 year old waitresses were talking in a group like young school girls do, two with their backs to us. The one facing made eye contact but decided their conversation was more important than greeting customers. Thankfully a young man came out from the back and greeted and seated us. After people who came in after us got their pizza (burnt) I asked where ours was. I got a sorry , but no explanation. When the pizza arrived I asked again what was the delay caused by, and again got a don’t know. So asked to speak to a manager. He arrived and asked what was wrong?.??. The staff only told him I wanted to speak with him , so he had no idea of my complaint and what the problem was. I explained and he said sorry and would reduce the price. I explained I wanted service not cheap meals and proceeded to tell him I saw 4 meals get thrown in the bin because they were obviously wrong and an adult needs to manage the 12 year olds. He had no idea, so He stayed out the front and another adult also arrived, but after 5 mins went back office again. Perhaps their pc game was on hold or the World Cup match was calling on tv?. Ok that’s assumption but that’s how I felt..before brexit the Eastern European staff were great, but now 12 year old English girls and 14 year old chefs is not working without ANY form of management. The pizza was fine eventfully but the place needs active management and staff training ..I would give our young , new male waiter a 10,...