Pizzaexpress - Manchester

Now, onto the main review. The Pizza Express location I visited is conveniently situated in central Manchester, not far from both Deansgate and Spinningfields. One aspect I appreciate about Pizza Express, especially compared to places like Zizzi, Ask Italian, and Bella Italia, is their extensive gluten-free options. They not only offer gluten-free pizza but also a variety of starters, including dough balls priced at £3.75, which were added to the menu recently. The staff at this branch were exceptionally friendly and helpful. They provided clear directions when I called from Spinningfields, and the service inside the restaurant was great too, despite there being only one waiter on duty and the manager frequently coming and going. The restaurant spans three floors, with a bar area on the ground floor, restrooms on the upper floor, and a main dining area where guests can watch the chefs prepare meals—something typical for Pizza Express locations. For my appetizer, I ordered the Dough Balls with cheese and garlic butter. They were quite tasty, generously portioned with cheese. Interestingly, I was charged for the regular dough balls, which saved me 30p, though they would have been complimentary with my Tastecard discount anyway. My friend ordered garlic bread, which was slightly more expensive. I also tried a Watermelon drink from the specials menu; it was a bit pricey but had good value compared to other beverages, plus it was refreshing with a mint leaf on top. For my main course, I chose the American pizza. The tomato sauce and cheese were delicious, and I enjoyed the pizza overall. Some bites were delightfully juicy from cooking, but certain areas of the pepperoni could have used more flavor—some parts were a bit dry and plain. Overall, this is a lovely branch of Pizza Express. Out of all the locations I’ve visited, it ranks in my top three, alongside the one in the Corn Exchange. In terms of convenience and quality of service, it may even be the best Pizza Express in Manchester. As far as chain restaurants go, it’s a pleasant place to eat and definitely deserves a solid four-star rating.

I was looking forward to the food, especially the pork and pancetta croquettes and the sprout and pancetta pizza (yes, I ordered two dishes with pancetta). Unfortunately, the croquettes were quite disappointing—especially since the best croquettes in Manchester are just a short walk away at La Bandera. They weren't crispy and came with apple stuffing, which lacked the bold flavors they really needed. The pizza was acceptable, but it arrived cold. On a positive note, the house pinot grigio we ordered was enjoyable (I made sure to thoroughly sample it). The desserts were quite good; the honeycomb cheesecake was definitely on the sweeter side, but I personally loved it. The tiramisu was also decent.

One thing to note about Pizza Express is that they often have promotional offers. I checked their website, and current deals include 2-for-1 on Wednesdays, 30% off the total bill, and a starter plus main course for £11.95. Be sure to visit their site before you go; you'll need to fill out a form to receive a discount code.

I came to Pizza Express just before Christmas with some work colleagues, and ordered in advance from their Christmas set menu 3 courses and a glass of Prosecco for £19.95. I do like pizza express, and have been many times in the past. Their food is good, i quite like their pizzas and salads too. This Pizza Express restaurant on King St is pretty new and because of this the decor inside is modern and everything is neatly laid out. It looks just like any other Pizza Express restaurant that you may visit anywhere in the UK. I ordered, to start, the Pork Pancetta Croquettes Pulled pork belly, pancetta, cheddar and basil croquettes breaded and baked, served with a spiced arrabbiata sauce. These were OK, if not a little bland and also not as piping hot as i would have liked. For my main course i had the Anatra Romana pizza which consisted of pulled duck, shredded courgette, red onion and mozzarella on a light plum hoisin sauce finished with rocket and fresh spring onion. This was OK too if not a little bit too heavy on the rocket. My dessert was the Mince Pie Cheesecake. A special dessert just for their Christmas menu. This was a rum soaked fruit and clotted cream cheesecake on a crumbly shortbread biscuit base. It was fab. It tasted like a mince pie but also like a cheesecake. It confused my brain and i loved it. Overall, Pizza Express is OK if you're looking for a lunch time meal although there are better Italian restaurants in Manchester for not much more than you would pay here.

After a heavy night drinking at the Christmas party on Thursday, we needed something special for Friday lunch. After much talk of everything from Thai food to Subway, we (eventually) decided to go for Pizza Express. We were seated upstairs upon request by my manager and left with our menus. Everything went completely downhill from here it was quite literally the slowest service I have ever received! With only two servers on the whole of the top floor, which included at least two large parties, we felt very neglected throughout the meal. Even when asked if everything was okay, it was completely in passing, as if the waiter had no time for us either way. The food, however, was of a good standard. Dough balls and cheesy garlic bread (carbs were desperately called for) followed by a chicken, red onion and chilli pizza. It sorted me out for a few hours, before the hangover really kicked in! Overall, I expected better and was left feeling dissapointed. I thought Pizza Express would have it sorted by now.