LONDON REVIEW: Pizza Express
I have been going to Pizza Express since I was a child. They have always been so good with my allergies, took so much care. Unfortunately, in recent years (since the gluten free and vegan lifestyles have come in to attention) this hasn’t been the case. My bad experiences in their restaurants far outweigh the good now. I love pizza, I loved their menu but they now have pine nuts on everything, they have Nutella in the dishes that the garlic butter is in (I love their garlic butter) and they seem flippant about allergies (which is a problem with a lot of restaurants as they now have “training” about allergies which makes them feel like they understand, which they do not). What they don’t understand, is that their response to my allergies is a bigger deal than they know, it’s what makes me decide to eat. I have never had a reaction at Pizza Express or any other restaurant but they way they make me feel has more of an impact than they realise.
Pizza express is going under right now. I don’t wish that on them because I love the idea, the chain, the fact that they do “pay attention” to allergies with their menu and new app for dietary requirements BUT if they manage to stay open they really should take more care in their staff and there kindness to the customers.
Honestly In my opinion, the chefs now more than the staff because it is always the chefs that make my food separately and look to other peoples food to make sure they don’t cross contaminate. Normally i hear the way the waiters talk to the chef and it is flippant as well. I wonder if the chefs get better training than the wait staff - something I will look into.
This last time I was very upset, shaking and I threatened to leave as he wasn’t taking it seriously. After that he made more of an effort but it shouldn’t have come down to that. They did care at the end, and I thanked the chef for my food, but that fear wasn’t fair.
What I liked
Feels familiar
Same thing in every restaurant (you know the menu)
Food is good
They “look” like they care about allergies
You can see the chefs and you can go up to the kitchen, see how they are making it and talk to the chef if you are unsure.
They cater to children well
They have promotions and vouchers pretty much everyday (its reasonable pricing anyway) Might be why they are going under…
The dough balls and garlic butter. The garlic butter!
What could have been better
The wait staff - Always grumpy, flippant, nonchalant, and some times rude
The menu has many ingredients that I am allergic too and I worry a lot about cross contamination
There is only one kitchen
A lot of the menu is pre made.
The staff (needs to say again as its so difficult)
I would say that you should manage your expectations. Every experience will be different for everybody and it is a great restaurant for people who don’t have allergies, but just remember that if someone makes you feel uneasy don’t eat, leave, they do not get the right to make you feel scared.
I am not going there again, but I said 5/10 because it has a place for people and as served me well when I was a child. It is with a sad heart that if they don’t make changes, this would have been the last time I will go there to eat.
I will still eat the at home pizzas, vegan one is soooo delicious (don’t tell anyone I said that or I will deny it!)
