PizzaExpress — Restaurant in London

I stopped by here yesterday thinking I'd pick up a salad and eat outside in the park across the street, since it was such a lovely day.

They are meant to open at 11:30, but when I walked past around 12:15, the windows were open but the doors were shut; I poked my head in the window but didn't see anyone. I gave up on having my salad for lunch and instead grabbed a fruit smoothie up the road.

Later on I went back, thinking I'll give it one more shot and have a salad for dinner. The doors were open this time, so I went in - the place was pretty much empty (only 2 tables were filled, and a 3rd was seated while I was ordering) but there was a waiter there right away to let me peruse a menu and place my order. I ordered the superfood salad + chicken which, according to the menu, should have come to £10.95.

I had a coupon for £5 off a £10+ spend which I wanted to use, but the system wasn't recognizing it. Instead of taking a look at the coupon to see what it was for, the waiter gave it back to me and told me to read through all the terms and conditions, then walked away. I read through it and couldn't figure out the problem, but the waiter refused to help me. He just kept walking by, shrugging and shaking his head at me, refusing to talk to me.

I understand that you're busy, what with two tables eating and one ordering and an otherwise empty restaurant. But at least take a second to not be obnoxious about it.

Finally a manager came upstairs, took a look at the coupon, and did what the waiter couldn't do: she explained that the total cost was under £10 because the prices are lower if you get takeaway. Once she explained that, she helped me figure out a way to get it over £10 without going too far over (I had super limited cash), but never once said anything to the rude waiter.

The food itself was alright - the vegetables in my salad were good but the chicken was a bit pillowy, almost like it had been puffed up with air or water. Ever squeeze an air puffed marshmallow between your fingers? That's what the chicken felt like. Weird. Not sure I'd get chicken...

I went in at the weekend, with partner and son, and was shown to our table by a waiter on his mobile phone nattering away in a casual manner, apparently to a friend.

Not a great start…

It has been a while since I went to a Pizza Express, as I lean towards little independent restaurants where possible. I remember them being one of the few places you could get an authentic (ish) Italian pizza (alright, yes, in the ‘90’s!) but things have changed. Pizzas were overloaded with cheese, and verging on ‘greasy’ from all the resulting fat.

Meanwhile, the waiter/server spent the entirety of our time there on WhatsApp or calls, and even came to the table two further times while on a call, or with WhatsApp in hand.

The meal came to £60-£70 for three (2 starters, one drink, three mains). I didn’t tip, and didn’t think he would notice as he was again on his phone. But he did, and was visibly miffed.

Very poor service. You’ll see my track record shows very few 1/2 star reviews, I don’t give them lightly.

Disappointing, and at the prices charged I would...

I went here a few weeks back with to young ones, we entered and three kitchen staff stopped what they was doing and just stared at me like I was a celebrity or just stepped off a spaceship, after standing for awhile no one came to welcome or give a menu so we sat yourself so downs. Soon after a waitress came and took our orders what was weird was she wasn't writing it down, not a good idea with 2 somewhat complex orders but I just thought maybe she's that good at her job that she can just take a mental note, TURNS OUT she's not, two orders were wrong and my starter was forgotten. When I made it know to one of the guys who I think looking back was the supervisor, he was very efficient in getting it sorted out and apologetic unlike our girl waitress (who messed up)who avoided us and made no eye-tact not even telepathically communication worked which I thought she was good at, plus at this time we were the only ones in the restaurant, anyway this made it hard to order deserts so I had to stand up and fetch her, this time she had her...